Books

13 more Halloween books you’ll love

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Lindsay Books

I have already shared 13 Halloween picture books we love and then more Halloween favorites in another post. What can I say? We really like Halloween books, and I’ve added a few others to our collection I want to share. Check out these books for a spooky October.

Ghost Afraid of the Dark by Sara Conway. The illustrations in this book are so cute, and the cover glows in the dark! Ghost is (as the title explains) afraid of the dark and has to learn to be brave and overcome his fears. What I love, though, is that he asks for help and ends up realizing he has many friends that are there for him.

The Little Kitten by Nicola Yoon. I love ALL of Nicola Yoon’s animal friend books, and this one is such a sweet story. Ollie finds a lost kitten and helps it find its way home, but in the process she gets separated from her own cat, Pumpkin. When they finally find each other, they enjoy a surprise together. The gorgeous illustrations and die-cut pages with pretty foil detail make this one stand out.

She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lynn Fulton and Felicita Sala. Shake things up by adding a nonfiction book to your Halloween reads! This one is a biography of author Mary Shelley, who wrote Frankenstein, and how she came up with the story. Mary Shelley was the ultimate feminist, so I especially liked reading this to my kids and explaining how cool it was that a woman wrote this story 200 years ago. The illustrations also complement the book so well.

The Ghosts Went Floating by Kim Norman and Jay Fleck. So many rhyming books fall short when it comes to rhythm, but this one is perfect. You’ll find yourself singing it because it’s set to the tune of The Ants Go Marching. It helps kids learn to count while also introducing them to different Halloween characters like ghosts, witches, zombies, and mummies. This would be a fantastic read-aloud in a preschool or elementary school classroom.

Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley. We’ve owned this book for years because my kids were obsessed with it when they were in preschool. Even now, they still love it, and it’s perfect for Halloween. You turn the die-cut pages to build a monster with scraggly hair, sharp teeth, and huge eyes. Then, since you’re NOT scared of the monster, you take away all the pieces of the monster and tell him not to come back. Just trust me on this one. Kids adore it.

Can You See What I See? On a Scary, Scary, Night by Walter Wick. From the same author/photographer of the I Spy series, this fun book has a bunch of spooky scenes with hidden images to find. It doesn’t give you any hints, so it can keep kids (and adults) busy for hours. I ordered this from the Scholastic book fair last year for a great deal, so I recommend buying it there rather than through Amazon.

Sammy’s Spooktacular Halloween by Mike Petrik. I am not a fan of pranks or any kind of mischief, so I was wary of this one about a boy who plays tricks on his family all year long. Luckily, it’s really cute and all about working together as a family to make holidays fun. Plus, none of the pranks he pulls are hurtful. This one is adorable.

Frankenstein Doesn’t Wear Earmuffs by John Loren. If you have read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, you know that Frankenstein is the name of the scientist who creates the monster, NOT the monster himself. So I will confess here that I get annoyed when people call the monster “Frankenstein” like they do in this book. However, it’s SO creative and cute that I am willing to overlook this pet peeve of mine. Anyone who grew up with freezing cold falls and winters knows how annoying it is to have to wear a coat or gloves or a hat with their costume. This kid’s parents keep adding layers to his costume so he’ll stay warm, but he draws the line at earmuffs.

At the Old Haunted House by Helen Ketteman and Nate Wragg. This is another book that would be perfect for preschool or kindergarten. The story introduces different characters who live in the haunted house, slowly counting from one to 10. The illustrations are really cute and make this more fun than scary.

Which Way to Witch School? by Scott Santoro. I actually think this would be fun for back-to-school time, too, but it’s all about a bunch of witches who go to school together. It has a great rhyme scheme and cute illustrations, and the witches learn science and regular subjects along with broom-flying and potion-making.

Monster Trucks by Joy Keller and Misa Saburi. No, this book is not about monster trucks, the trucks with giant wheels that crash into each other in arenas. It’s about monsters who drive trucks and tractors during their “off-seasons” when they aren’t scaring kids at Halloween. If your kids love vehicles, they’ll dig this book (pun intended).

How to Scare a Ghost by Jean Reagan and Lee Wildish. You’ve probably read How to Babysit a Grandpa or one of Jean Reagan’s other books, and this one is written in the same vein. It gives step-by-step instructions for kids to find a ghost and then scare it. Of course, when the kids realize scaring a ghost isn’t much fun, they also have instructions for playing with the ghost and including it.

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown. I cannot tell you how much I love this book and its sequel, Creepy Pair of Underwear. The black-and-white illustrations with pops of orange are perfection and the tongue-in-cheek humor is amazing. Just buy this one and prepare to laugh every time you read it. I crack up every time I see the carrots in the bathroom.

Have I missed any of your favorite Halloween books?

The best book series for first and second grade

Posted on September 14, 2021 by Lindsay Books

Because I have seven-year-old boy/girl twins, my kids have read books with everything from dragons and unicorns to slime monsters and narwhals. While my daughter definitely prefers the unicorn books, she will read the monster books my son enjoys too — and my son happily plows through the princess and unicorn books at times, too.

The point is that even if you have a boy who talks nonstop about fighter jets (me) or a girl who wants every shirt to have a unicorn on it (also me), you might be surprised by what they like to read. Here are 18 book series for first and second grade your kids will devour.

Narwhal and Jelly by Ben Clanton. This dynamic duo (a narwhal and a jellyfish) makes me laugh out loud. If your kids like the Frog and Toad series or Elephant and Piggie, they will like this one. As an added bonus, the books include facts about sea creatures, and we’ve all learned so much from these.

Unicorn Diaries by Rebecca Elliott. Both my kids love this cute series about unicorns who go to school together and help each other with their unique talents. I appreciate how gentle these books are. There’s no name-calling or rivalries like you get in many books about school settings, and they also promote individuality and kindness. Rebecca Elliott also writes the Owl Diaries series, which is similar and also beloved at our house.

Notebook of Doom by Troy Cummings. I have never seen my son finish books so fast as he did with this series. He kept asking me if I’d gotten the next book, so I was at the library almost every day until he finished these. My daughter also loved them, and I picked one up and understood why. They feature a group of kids who are fighting monsters that keep appearing around their school. However, these aren’t like the creepy Goosebumps monsters (though I think I’ll be introducing my kids to that series soon). These are gooey and funny monsters that don’t freak kids out. Troy Cummings also has another series called Binder of Doom my kids have been asking for.

Wallace and Grace by Heather Alexander and Laura Zarrin. This series only has a few books in it, but my kids really enjoyed the detective owls Wallace and Grace who solve mysteries around their forest. These stories also introduce kids to bigger words and help them understand them. My second-graders are probably too old for these now, but my son still reads one every now and then. Note: We actually have Easter and Halloween-themed Wallace and Grace books that were only available through the Scholastic book order, so check there if your kids like this series. Amazon’s selection is limited.

Unicorn Princesses by Emily Bliss and Sydney Hanson. I discovered this series by accident when my kids got free books through the library’s summer reading program. My daughter LOVED it and read all 10 of the books, which feature unicorn friends living in a magic kingdom. I just found out that Emily Bliss is releasing a new series called Pegasus Princesses this month.

Secrets of Droon by Tony Abbott and Tim Jessell. A few months ago, we were on a road trip and my kids finished their books early. We went to a thrift store and found the first Secrets of Droon book, and my son was hooked. He read more than 20 of these before deciding he was tired of them (I think there are 35 books total). The first book was published in the late ’90s, so these will be harder to find at the library. It’s worth a shot if your child likes stories about dragons and magic.

Baby-Sitters Little Sister by Ann M. Martin. I LOVED The Babysitters Club series when I was a kid and had SO many of the books. However, I think I loved Ann M. Martin’s series about Kristy’s step-sister Karen even more. My mom found a bunch of my old Little Sister books, and then I ordered a bunch to fill in the gaps from eBay. My daughter has read all of the books we have (at least 50) and is still re-reading them. Yes, these are from the early ’90s, but they also feel timeless. If you don’t want to scour eBay or thrift stores for the original books, Scholastic is reprinting this series as graphic novels, so your kids may enjoy these, too.

Eerie Elementary by Jack Chabert and Sam Ricks. My kids are just finishing this series and absolutely loving it. If you haven’t noticed already, we are big fans of Scholastic’s Branches book lines, and this is among those. Kids team against their scary school when strange things start happening. This series is similar to Notebook of Doom and perfect for kids who want something scary but not TOO scary.

Princess Pulverizer by Nancy Krulik and Ian McGinty. We flew through this series, and my kids loved it so much they asked for the books for Christmas. It features a selfish princess who wants to be a knight and must serve others before going to knight school. She also has a timid knight and a feisty dragon as sidekicks, and they eat a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches. The books are so fun, and I like that they also show what happens when you start caring about others more than yourself.

Stick Dog by Tom Watson. If your child struggles to read big words, you may have to help him or her with this series. However, these books help kids build vocabulary and also understand irony in literature. Just as it sounds, they follow a dog called Stick Dog and a bunch of his other dog pals (also drawn as stick figures) on many misadventures as they try to score food. Both my kids loved this series, and they are excited to get the latest book when it comes out. Tom Watson also wrote the Stick Cat series, which I also highly recommend and may like even better in some ways.

Never Girls by Kiki Thorpe and Jana Christy. Disney lovers will adore this series about four girls who journey to Never Land and help Tinker Bell and other fairy friends. My daughter got so excited about these books and then finished the Finding Tinker Bell series shortly after. If your daughter also loves building fairy gardens outside like mine does, she will have so much fun with these magical books.

Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen. Who wouldn’t love a series about a pig who loves toast with lots of butter? This is another one of those series that helps kids stretch, since it includes some big vocabulary words (characters call Mercy a “porcine wonder”). We also like the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series that shares back stories on some of the characters living on Mercy’s street.

Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce. These books are pretty big, even for graphic novels full of illustrations. I was surprised at how fast my kids read them. While the storyline sounds similar to the Princess Pulverizer books — a kid who wants to be a knight goes on a journey to become one — this series focuses more on how the Midknights band together to dethrone an evil king and restore the kingdom. A word of caution: These books have more potty humor in them (like passing gas) than the rest of these books. It’s not over-the-top, so it doesn’t bug me. As long as they’re reading, right?

Mermaid Tales by Debbie Dadey and Tatevik Avakyan. I picked up the first book in this series on a whim, and my daughter is flying through all the books now. They focus on mermaids (and mer-boys) at a school called Trident Academy and the dynamics of getting along with different kids.

Baloney and Friends by Greg Pizzoli. Honestly, Greg Pizzoli could illustrate a greeting card and I would gladly buy it. He is one of my favorite author/illustrators, and these graphic novels make me laugh out loud. They are similar to Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie books, with short tales about the friends’ adventures. Also, Krabbit is the world’s most underrated book character and my favorite part of these books.

Rainbow Magic by Daisy Meadows and Georgie Ripper. This series began nearly 20 years ago, so your library may no longer have all the books. However, my daughter has found several of these books at thrift stores and absolutely loves them. They each focus on a different fairy and her magical adventures with friends. Daisy Meadows (clearly a pen name, but let’s go with it) also wrote several other spin-off series, including the Magical Crafts Fairies, Night Fairies, and Dance Fairies. If your kids like these books, just search for “Daisy Meadows” on Google or Amazon. You’ll find a bunch of different options.

Magic Treehouse by Mary Pope Osborne and Sal Murdocca. If you grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, you probably read these books as a kid. They’re a great way to introduce kids to history. Since there are 36 books in the series, you can keep a reader occupied for a while if they like them. I still remember reading Pirates Past Noon as a kid and loving it.

Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham. We have long been fans of this series about a crime-fighting princess who also manages to entertain guests at the palace when she’s not battling monsters. When schools and businesses were shut down, my kids flew through all the available books in this series. It has a soft spot in my heart. The latest book is coming out next year, and my kids will be thrilled.

We are always on the lookout for new books! Tell me your best book series for first and second grade. And by the way, picture books are still a GREAT option for elementary schoolers. Check out the reasons I will always love picture books for all ages.

Picture books for Hispanic Heritage month

Posted on September 3, 2021 by Lindsay Books

September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month! We’ve loved reading books from Hispanic writers and illustrators and learning more about their rich culture. Here are some picture books for Hispanic Heritage month your kids will love.

Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built by Angela Burke Kunkel and Paola Escobar. I included this in my list of the 10 best books of 2020 for good reason. It’s the amazing story of a garbage collector in Colombia who picked up discarded books along his route and started a library. I seriously got chills even thinking about this book and bought it for our own home right after we read it.
Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle and Rafael Lopez. The illustrations in this book are so vibrant and beautifully complement the text. I had never heard the story of Teresa Carreño, a girl from Venezuela who fled with her family to the United States and later played the piano at the White House. It’s so inspiring.
Across the Bay by Carlos Aponte. This wonderful author and illustrator paints a gorgeous story of a boy who travels across San Juan, Puerto Rico, in search of his father. I love books that mix Spanish and English words to help you learn Spanish, and this one is really sweet.
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales. Every time I see this book on a shelf or on a site, I remember the stunning illustrations and the lyrical way it was written. Dreamers is the true story of Yuyi Morales, who came to the United States in 1994 when her son was a baby. It reminds you that dreamers are important and that they bring wonderful gifts with them when they enter the United States.
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise and Paola Escobar. Well, if it’s not obvious already, I LOVE everything Paola Escobar illustrates. I also loved this story about New York’s first Puerto Rican librarian and the way she encouraged others to tell stories and stocked shelves with bilingual books. This one will touch your heart.
My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero and Zeke Peña. On the surface, this looks like a simple story about a girl who’s enjoying a motorcycle ride with her dad through a small town in California. It’s also about how a city is changing and how some favorite shops have closed as a result of gentrification. This is a great way to engage kids in discussions about what they like about their hometowns and about building roots.
Miguel and the Grand Harmony by Matt de la Peña and Ana Ramírez. I am the LAST person to ever recommend a book that’s based on a movie, but this one is wonderful. If you and your kids like Coco, you’ll love this beautiful story that complements the film and focuses on Miguel’s love of music. The illustrations are gorgeous, too.
Tito Puente, Mambo King by Monica Brown and Rafael Lopez. This is another book that brilliantly mixes Spanish and English words while telling the story of the musician Tito Puente. I absolutely love the pictures and the way Lopez brings the characters to life. You’ll want to listen to Puente’s music after reading this.
Little Red Fort by Brenda Maier and Sonia Sánchez. We are big fans of retold fairy tales at my house, and my kids often pull this book off the shelf because they love the twist on The Little Red Hen. When Ruby asks her brothers for help building a fort, they refuse. She ends up building a space all her own (with help cutting and hammering from adults, of course). This is a more gentle version of the fable, though, as Ruby does end up sharing with her brothers at the end when they decide to construct a mailbox and help her paint.
Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez and Jaime Kim. I don’t think I can even describe how much I love this book. A little girl is asked “Where are you from?” at school and is discouraged when the classmate isn’t satisfied by her response. Her grandfather tells her about the land where she is from, which includes pampas and mountains. I am so impressed with books that help kids understand microaggressions and racism in a positive way. This would be a great addition to any library, and I need to order a copy for our own home. I always end up buying more books when I put these lists together!
Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border by Mitali Perkins and Sara Palacios. Oh, man. This book had me in tears. I’m not sure why it isn’t as well-known as some of the other titles on this list. It’s the story of two kids who visit their grandmother along the border of California and Mexico for Christmas because she can’t enter the U.S. The little boy wants to give his grandmother a gift but isn’t allowed to pass it through the border. Then he figures out a creative way to get it to her. We had a great talk about immigration laws, and this book helped my kids understand them a little better.
Frida Kahlo and her Animalitos by Monica Brown and John Parra. I will admit that I did not know a lot about Frida Kahlo before reading this. I definitely did not know she had so many pets, including a fawn, an eagle, and two turkeys! This is a fun way to introduce kids to an important figure in Mexican culture and talk about her influence on art.
Federico and the Wolf by Rebecca J. Gomez and Elisa Chavarri. Yes, it’s another fairy tale, but this time it’s the story of Red Riding Hood. Federico gets the ingredients to make pico de gallo and encounters the wolf dressed as his abuelo. Fortunately, he can use the spicy ingredients to defeat him. This is told in rhyming text and has a bunch of Spanish words throughout. It’s so fun to read aloud!
Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal. I bought this book for my kids because I love the message about the importance of names and of heritage. The illustrations are SO sweet (look for Swashby and the Sea by the same illustrator), and it’s a great conversation starter about your own name or your children’s names.
Jovita Wore Pants by Aida Salazar and Molly Mendoza. I had never heard of Jovita Valdovinos, a Mexican revolutionary who fought for religious freedom during the early 20th century, before reading this book. She also defied cultural norms by wearing pants (which my daughter found fascinating) and cutting her hair short to lead the Cristero Revolution. This was an incredible story about an important woman from history.
Plátanos are Love by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris and Mariyah Rahman. Plantains are a big part of Latin culture, and this book about a grandmother and her granddaughter highlights how important they are to cuisine but also to their ancestors’ history. The illustrations and Spanish words throughout make this book sparkle.
La Mala Suerte is Following Me by Ana Siqueira and Carlos Vélez Aguilera. We all really enjoyed this story about Miguel, who believes he brought La Mala Suerte (Mrs. Bad Luck) upon himself because everything keeps going wrong in his life. How can he get rid of the bad luck for good?
A Flicker of Hope: A Story of Migration by Cynthia Harmony and Devon Holzwarth. I adored this story about a family whose papá travels north from Mexico to find work, just as monarch butterflies also migrate each year. Our family learned so much about butterflies from this book, and we also had a great conversation about migration and the people who work so hard in the United States. This is a gorgeous book that I bought for our library.
The Ofrenda That We Built by Jolene Gutiérrez, Shaian Gutiérrez, and Gabby Zapata. Technically this is a story about Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, so you could probably include it in your Halloween books as well. But I loved this homage to The House That Jack Built so much and loved all the information about this beautiful tradition. I’m also getting a copy of this story for our home.
A Crown for Corina by Laekan Zea Kemp and Elisa Chavarri. Corina is celebrating her birthday, and her abuela allows her to choose flowers from the garden for a special crown to wear. She adds flowers that remind her of her family and also symbolize the person she wants to be. The illustrations are so pretty, and I love the message of family and self-actualization.
Three Pockets Full: A story of love, family, and tradition by Cindy L. Rodriguez and Begoña Fernández Corbalán. On the surface, this is a story about a little boy who is refusing to wear a traditional Mexican shirt to a wedding. I sometimes have this battle with my son about collared shirts for church, so I can empathize. What the story is really about, though, is a boy grieving the loss of his father. I adored this book.
A Girl Named Rosita: The Story of Rita Moreno: Actor, Singer, Dancer, Trailblazer! by Anika Aldamuy Denise and Leo Espinosa. You will admire the incomparable Rita Moreno even more after reading this fantastic picture book biography. I didn’t know much about her outside of her starring role in West Side Story, and this book does a great job of highlighting this remarkable woman’s life.

Now it’s your turn! What are your favorite books for Hispanic Heritage month?

2021 summer reading programs

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Lindsay Books

My kids officially finished first grade today, and many other schools have either just ended or will ending in the next few weeks. I put together a list of summer reading programs last year and thought you might find it helpful this year, too. Hopefully it is MUCH easier for you to get books this year now that most libraries and stores are fully open! Check out these 2021 summer reading programs to keep your kids on track.

Utah State Fair Read & Win program. You’ll love this program if you’re a Utah resident! Kids in first through sixth grade must read just 10 books between May 1 and July 16. Then parents either fill out the online form or mail the book list to the fair administration building. Prizes include:

One children’s admission ticket to the Utah State Fair
One free drink coupon to redeem at the State Fair Store
A free carnival ride
A ribbon bookmark
One free ride on the giant yellow slide

We go to the Utah State Fair every year, and the giant yellow slide is our favorite ride. This is a great incentive for kids who might be a bit more hesitant to read during the summer.

Salt Lake County Tails & Tales challenge. Again, Utah friends, this one is awesome. If you live in Salt Lake County, download a form or pick one up at your local branch. Then have your kids color in a shape each day whenever they complete one of the activities. This includes reading but also encourages kids to play, create, learn, and connect in the community. When your child turns in their form, they’ll receive a free book and also be entered in a drawing. As an added bonus, you’ll receive a one-time fine waiver of $5 per card for signing up.

Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Journal. We did this last year with my kids, and it is the easiest challenge ever. Have your kids read eight books, write down the title and author and their favorite part. Then return the journal to any Barnes & Noble store and your child can pick one of the books listed on the form. I love that this program rewards kids with age-appropriate books and that several are also available in Spanish! This is for kids in grades 1-6.

Camp Book-It. You may have participated in a Book-It challenge when you were a kid. I remember doing this and LOVING it because I got Pizza Hut pizza. While it’s available for pre-K thru grade 6, this program does have more hoops to jump through. Sign your kids up and then receive reading incentives for them through email!

Scholastic Summer Reading. I will admit that I have not yet signed my kids up for this one because I limit their time on tablets and still prefer paper books for them. I also know that I’ll forget to have them log on daily and record their reading activity. However, if you have older kids or have kids who prefer phones and tablets, this may be a great option! Kids can log onto Home Base and read books and articles and also connect with their favorite authors. There are a lot of virtual events, too.

Do you participate in a summer reading program you love? I want to hear about it!

10 books for Jewish-American Heritage Month

Posted on May 27, 2021 by Lindsay Books

Jewish-American Heritage Month picture books

May is Jewish-American Heritage Month. Saddened by the wave of anti-Semitism in part due to the conflict in Israel, I checked out a bunch of books featuring Jewish characters and traditions to read to my kids. I am a firm believer that the more open you are about current events, the more you can understand and empathize with many types of people. Here are 10 books for Jewish-American Heritage Month.

The Bagel King by Andrew Larsen and Sandy Nichols. This is the SWEETEST book about a boy and his grandfather who bring bagels to their friends every Sunday morning. Then when his grandfather falls and is ordered to rest for two weeks, the boy decides to carry on the tradition on his own. I guarantee this book will make you crave bagels (I am craving them just writing this). More importantly, though, it has Yiddish words sprinkled throughout and is a great way to talk to your kids about Jewish culture.

A Scarf for Keiko by Ann Malaspina and Merrilee Liddiard. I actually included this in my list of picture books featuring AAPI characters last month. However, what’s unique about this book is that the boy, Sam, is Jewish and realizes when his friend Keiko is forced to relocate to a Japanese internment camp, it’s similar to what people of his own faith are experiencing in Europe. I love the way this story helps kids connect to the world around them.

Just Like Rube Goldberg: The Incredible True Story of the Man Behind the Machines by Sarah Aronson and Robert Neubecker. You’ve probably heard the term Rube Goldberg used to describe a complex machine meant to perform a simple task (like buttering bread). You might not know that Rube Goldberg was actually a Jewish engineer-turned-cartoonist. I’ve shared this book before, but it’s an amazing story of perseverance.

A Hat for Mrs. Goldman: A Story about Knitting and Love by Michelle Edwards and G. Brian Karas. In this cute book, a Jewish woman, Mrs. Goldman, knits hats for everyone in the neighborhood. Sophie thinks knitting is too hard, so she makes pompoms for the hats instead. Once winter comes and Mrs. Goldman is still serving everyone else, Sophie decides to try to make a hat for Mrs. Goldman herself. I love the Yiddish words like mitzvah (kind deed) and keppie (head) in the story and how it also shows kids that knitting is for everyone.

It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach. I first discovered this book last year at the height of the pandemic when I was feeling particularly sorry for myself. It’s a Yiddish folk tale about a man who comes to his rabbi complaining that he and his wife and their six children live in a one-room hut. The rabbi keeps giving him advice that makes the situation worse and worse (like adding animals to the mix), and he realizes that the cure for most ills is gratitude. It may have been the time in which I read this book, but it has stuck with me ever since. I even bought a copy of it for my family.

Here is the World: A Year of Jewish Holidays by Lesléa Newman and Susan Gal. If you’re unfamiliar with Jewish holidays and traditions (I was really only aware of Passover and Hanukkah), this is a great introduction to them. It has simple rhyming text and also includes more in-depth explanations of the holidays at the end.

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy and Elizabeth Baddeley. There’s SO much I loved about this book: nontraditional gender roles (Marty Ginsburg cooked dinner for the family every night), perseverance in the face of anti-Semitism, and a dedication to equal rights. RGB is my hero. The book even explains Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s collars and why her Supreme Court decisions were so important.

Chik Chak Shabbat by Mara Rockliff and Kyrsten Brooker. This story reminds me a lot of Thank You, Omu! (another favorite) but with a Jewish twist. Goldie cooks cholent, a type of stew, every Friday for shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath day), and all the neighbors in her apartment building join her despite not sharing her faith. One Friday, Goldie gets sick and doesn’t have time to make the cholent in time for shabbat. Luckily, her neighbors help her feel better by bringing their own specialties to her home to eat on shabbat. Note: Several Amazon reviews point out that Goldie does not observe the Torah because the neighbors bring non-kosher food. If you are Jewish or want to teach your kids more about shabbat, this might not be the best book for your family.

Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman. If you’ve read Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree, this story will seem familiar. Joseph’s grandfather makes him a beautiful blanket when he’s a baby. As Joseph gets older, the blanket is worn, so his grandfather makes it into a jacket for him. Then it becomes a vest, a tie, a kerchief, and a button. The illustrations are endearing, with a little family of mice making clothes, tablecloths, and blankets from the scraps of Joseph’s blanket each time Grandfather cuts it down. I like the moral of using what you have until it’s gone, and the message that you help others when you reuse things, too.

The Polio Pioneer: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine by Linda Elovitz. While this book focuses much more on Dr. Salk’s work creating vaccines, it does touch on Salk’s heritage. He was born to Jewish immigrants who had nothing, and he determined to spend his life helping others. I also had no idea that Dr. Salk helped to create a flu vaccine in response to the 1918 flu pandemic. This book is especially timely given our current pandemic. It also helps kids understand why vaccinations are important.

I would love more recommendations to teach my kids about Jewish culture! Please share your favorite books for Jewish-American Heritage Month with me.

Picture books featuring AAPI characters

Posted on April 9, 2021 by Lindsay Books

I’m so sad about the hate crimes and racism against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) over the past year. While we need far more than books to heal our country, I firmly believe that learning about a culture and people helps you to be more understanding. You can’t hate someone once you’ve walked in their shoes.

If you’re like me and want to help your children learn more about Asian-American and Pacific Islander culture, this list will help you start. Read on for my favorite picture books featuring AAPI characters. Asian authors and artists wrote and illustrated almost all of them, too!

Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho. I saw this new release on Amazon as a preorder months before it was published and should have bought it then. It nearly brought tears to my eyes the first time I read it. This beautiful story is about a little girl who notices she and the other women in her family all have “eyes that kiss in the corners.” She learns to love and accept herself even though she looks different from her friends. I adore the empowering messages of this book, and the illustrations are stunning, too. Every time I see this book on our shelf, I smile.

Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis. The lyrical text and illustrations in this picture book will blow you away. It’s written in a “House That Jack Built” style and explains how a Hawaiian family harvests taro to make poi for the village luau. I seriously wanted to go back to Hawaii when I read this. I also better understood the culture of family there. This book also reminds me a bit of the film Moana (and that is one of my favorites).

A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin. All of Grace Lin’s books are great (I also love the Ling and Ting series), but this one is so magical. It tells the story of Little Star, who can’t resist taking nibbles of the giant mooncake she made with her mother. As she nibbles a little bit more every night, the pictures also clearly show the mooncake in different phases of the moon. I love that this is a simple, cute story that also helps kids explain how the moon changes.

The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee by Julie Leung. I was so inspired by this book and can’t stop gushing about it! Hazel Ying Lee was the first Chinese-American woman to fly for the U.S. military. She got her chance to be a pilot after years of discrimination when the military hired Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) during WWII. We loved reading her story, and my son, who wants to be a pilot himself, was SO impressed. I’ll probably be buying this one.

Ocean Meets Sky by The Fan Brothers. I loved this so much when I first read it with my kids that I immediately bought it. The illustrations are steampunk-inspired and very different from the art you normally see in children’s books. In the story, which the authors say nods to their Asian heritage, a boy named Finn is devastated to lose his grandfather. Fortunately, he can imagine their world together (in ships in the sky) and find comfort in that.

Bee-Bim Bop by Linda Sue Park. This is SUCH a fun book to read out loud. It’s all about a Korean-American girl who’s making bee-bim bop (a traditional Korean dish with rice, meat, and vegetables) with her family. The text rhymes and has a great rhythm to it, and it’ll make you want to cook with your kids. It has a recipe, too!

A Scarf for Keiko by Ann Malaspina. We first read this about a year ago, and when I talked to my kids about the racism currently happening to Asian-Americans, they both remembered the book. That says volumes about its impact on them. In this story, a Japanese-American girl is forced to move to a camp during WWII and leave her school behind. I especially love that the book includes facts about the mistreatment of Japanese people during the 1940s. In fact, because of this book, I learned about Japanese-American camps in both Idaho (where I grew up) and Utah (where I live now). It’s a sad but important part of American history kids should learn about..

It Began With a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way by Kyo Maclear. I have read several of Kyo Maclear’s picture book biographies and loved all of them. This one is about Japanese-American illustrator Gyo Fujikawa, who broke racial barriers by drawing children of all races in her children’s books. The illustrator paid homage to Fujikawa with her depictions of diverse kids, and it’s really cool to read more about Fujikawa’s life at the end and see a timeline.

Our Favorite Day by Joowon Oh. Books about grandparents’ relationships with their grandchildren always warm my heart, and this one is adorable. The grandfather follows a specific routine every day (which is reminiscent of Mr. Rogers’ routines). On the day his granddaughter comes to visit each week, everything changes. The illustrations are adorable, and I love the simple text and the love you can feel through the pages. Such a cute book!

Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang. We all loved this cute story about a girl who keeps trying to make bao with her family but gets frustrated when it doesn’t turn out perfectly. My son is also frustrated when he can’t draw something the first time. This was a good message for him (and all of us) about perseverance. As an added bonus, it includes a recipe (and it will make you crave bao).

Maya-Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines by Jeanne Walker Harvey. Did you know that a Chinese-American architect designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1981? I did not know anything about Maya-Lin until I read this book with my kids, and it’s quite the story. Despite racism and sexism, Maya-Lin achieved her dreams, and her beautiful monument is now an icon in Washington, D.C.

The Empty Pot by Demi. This is a classic fairytale that lots of kids hear in elementary school, but somehow I never did. The emperor of China is growing old and has to choose an heir. He decides to give each child in the kingdom a flower seed and see who can grow the prettiest flowers. A little boy named Ping tries his best but can never get the flowers to grow — and he learns that everything is not as it seems. I love fables, and this one has a great message about honesty.

My First Day by Phung Nguyen Quang. I just read this brand-new release to my kids a few days ago, and it is stunning. It begins with a Vietnamese boy embarking on a journey alone in a wooden boat. He encounters huge waves, a creepy forest, and lots of rain but finally reaches the destination: his school. This book is absolutely beautiful and definitely fun to page through. It also helped me start a conversation with my kids about what it would be like to ride a boat to school every day.

Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuko Ando by Andrea Wang. I asked my husband to walk to 7-11 (it’s around the corner from our house) to get me some ramen noodles after reading this book last year because we did not have any and I desperately wanted some. Even if you don’t like ramen, you will love this true story about the man who invented the instant noodles.

Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Kim. When Danbi starts at a brand-new school in America, she is understandably nervous. She feels even worse when she doesn’t know the language and can’t seem to get anyone to play with her. Fortunately, she comes up with a new game that brings everyone together. This is such an important and sweet story about acceptance and love. Everyone has been the new kid at one point, and this one just warms your heart.

Do you have favorite books featuring Asian-American and Pacific Islander characters? Please share!

10 picture books for Easter

Posted on March 21, 2021 by Lindsay Books

Easter is one of my favorite times of year. I adore the pastels, the tulips poking up through the ground, the warmer weather, the newborn animals and, of course, the time to reflect on my Savior, Jesus Christ. I have also begun collecting a few spring- and Easter-themed books to read with my kids each year. They look forward to seeing them on our shelf each spring. Here are nine picture books for Easter you’ll love.

Rechenka’s Eggs by Patricia Polacco. I absolutely love this story about a Russian woman everyone calls Babushka, who is known for the eggs she paints each year for the Easter festival. She rescues an injured goose she calls Rechenka, and unfortunately Rechenka accidentally breaks the eggs Babushka painted for the festival. Luckily, Rechenka has a surprise in store. This is a sweet folk story about kindness, but it really stands out because of the gorgeous illustrations. I always want to paint eggs after reading this.

Hush, Little Bunny by David Ezra Stein. I always smile when I see books from this author-illustrator because of the muted colors he uses and the cute creatures he draws. This one is a play on the classic lullaby “Hush, Little Baby” and focuses on a little bunny and his papa. Though the little bunny is sad that winter is over, the papa tells him all the reasons why spring is wonderful. Such an adorable book, especially if you have toddlers.

The Runaway Egg by Katy Hudson. We bought this book several years ago because my kids thought it was SO funny. They still love this story about a mama hen who asks Chick to keep an eye on his baby brother for a few minutes until she gets back. The twist is that his baby brother still hasn’t hatched yet — but of course he pokes his legs through soon after Mama leaves and runs off, making Chick chase him all over the farm.

The Little Rabbit by Nicola Killen. All of Nicola Killen’s books are adorable and have the most beautiful foil-printed pages. In this gentle story, a little girl sets off to explore with her toy bunny after the rain stops. As they’re walking outside, her bunny comes to life and takes off to follow some other bunnies. Ollie has to catch her bunny and somehow get back home. If you’ve read Nicola Killen’s other creature books (like The Little Reindeer) you’ll love this one.

The Bunny Book by Richard Scarry. This is one of those classics you’ll probably remember from your childhood. When a little bunny is born, all of his family members ponder what he’ll be when he grows up. One family member believes he’ll be a firefighter. Another suggests the bunny will be a policeman, and someone else thinks he’ll be a pilot. As each family member gives ideas about what the bunny will be, he thinks about what he wants to do.

Egg by Kevin Henkes. I say this every time I share a Kevin Henkes book, but I seriously love everything he writes and illustrates. This one is a graphic novel, with the pictures showing how four eggs (pink, blue, yellow, and green) start to crack and hatch. The twist at the end will surprise and delight you. Even though we’ve read this book many times, it always makes me smile.

The Golden Egg Book by Margaret Wise Brown. My mom could tell you that this was one of my favorite books as a kid, and I read it over and over. I’m really not sure why I found it so interesting, but Leonard Weisgard’s illustrations are enchanting. It’s a simple story about a bunny who wants an egg to crack open, so he pushes and rolls it and tries to get it to crack. Eventually, the bunny falls asleep and a baby duck pops out of the egg and starts pushing and prodding the bunny. It’s really simple, but I absolutely loved this when I was about four years old.

The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by Du Bose Heyward. I never read this one as a kid, and I actually think it means more to me as an adult. A mama bunny who has 21 children (!) spends all of her time cooking and cleaning for her family but yearns to be picked as the Easter bunny. When Grandfather Bunny is seeking a replacement, he picks her for the job. She and her family then work together to make sure she can deliver the eggs. This book was published in the 1930s and was seriously ahead of its time.

The Good Egg by Jory John. Who can resist a book full of egg puns that also teaches kids about the dangers of perfectionism? My kids LOVE all of the books in the Jory John/Pete Oswald series (The Bad Seed is my favorite). This one about an egg that starts to crack from the pressure he puts on himself has a great message and really endearing illustrations.

Pick a Perfect Egg by Patricia Toht and Jarvis. We LOVE all of the books from this author and illustrator, and this brand-new book about Easter traditions would be a great addition to your collection.

These books focus on springtime and the secular parts of Easter because I feel the Bible does the best job teaching kids about Christ. However, I’m interested in religious books if you share those with your kids.

Do you have favorite picture books for Easter? I’d love to know what you’re reading!

Picture books for Women’s History Month

Posted on March 20, 2021 by Lindsay Books

I have been reading so many books with my kids for Women’s History Month over the past few weeks and am loving the conversations we’re having. Both my son and my daughter are very interested in women’s achievements and keep asking which book I got from the library that day. Whether you have daughters or sons (or both), taking time to celebrate this month helps everyone understand more about equality. Here are several picture books for Women’s History Month to help you kick off the dialogue.

Dear Girl, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal. I’ve raved about this book before and bought it for my kids several years ago, but it’s worth including again. The book focuses on empowering girls and talks about all the things girls can do, including being brave, being kind, being adventurous, and even being emotional. I adore AKR’s books and was so sad when she died (the boy version of this book written after she passed away is not as good).

Bertha Takes a Drive: How the Benz Automobile Changed the World by Jan Adkins. A few weeks ago, I was reading a book about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake that referenced people driving cars and discovered that a German woman, Bertha Benz, was instrumental in helping her husband create one of the first cars. I immediately looked for a picture book about her, intending to write one if it didn’t exist, and found this great one about a 60-mile drive she took with her sons. It was really cool to read this with my kids and talk about how her inventiveness and courage made it possible for cars to continue evolving.

Shirley Chisholm is a Verb by Veronica Chambers and Rachelle Baker. I was completely blown away by this book a few weeks ago when we read it as part of Black History Month. It’s a new release and definitely would have made my list of top 2020 books had I read it earlier. This bio gives tons of details on Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American congresswoman and the first African-American to seek the nomination for president. She was amazing and I loved learning more about her, but the reason this book stood out so much is because it highlights different verbs throughout that describe what Shirley Chisholm accomplished (like learn, negotiate, and accomplish). I have this in my cart to buy. It was so great.

A Girl Like You by Frank Murphy and Carla Murphy. I bought this one for my kids right after we read it, and I also included it in my top 2020 picture books. It’s such an empowering book about not giving up and being yourself, and I think everyone should own this. The illustrations are also gorgeous and so inclusive. You’ll find girls of all abilities, shapes, sizes, and colors in this book, and I love that.

The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid by Jeanette Winter. My kids and I read this a few years ago and loved Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid’s unique style. Did you know she designed the London Olympic Aquatic Centre to look like a huge seashell? If you google her work, you’ll be absolutely amazed by the many buildings she brought to life and her love of curved lines. The book has illustrations of many of her most famous works, too.

The Only Woman in the Photo: Frances Perkins and her New Deal by Kathleen Krull and Alexandra Bye. I love discovering books about women that changed American history, and I had never heard of Frances Perkins until a week ago when I read this book. She was the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet and also the mastermind behind President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal! She also created many of the factory and safety regulations we still have in place today. We all learned so much from reading this book.

Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars by Laurie Wallmark and Brooke Smart. You’ve probably heard of Alan Turing, cryptanalyst who helped to break the Nazis’ Enigma codes during WWII. However, you probably haven’t heard of Elizebeth Friedman, an American cryptanalyst who also broke the Enigma codes and deciphered hundreds of coded messages during both WWI and WWII. This book made me want to read more about the women who were part of this effort now that we know about them (the government classified this information until 2015).

Anything But Ordinary Addie: The True Story of Adelaide Herrmann, Queen of Magic by Mara Rockliff and Iacopo Bruno. I will read anything Mara Rockliff writes, and this one about Adelaide Herrmann, one of the first women magicians, is so fun. If you’re interested in performing magic yourself, the book also includes the steps to do one of Herrmann’s famous tricks at the end.

Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry and Jessica Curry. I considered including this in my Black History Month list, but I think it also fits well with Women’s History Month books. It’s the true story of a little girl, Parker, who went with her family to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., and stood mesmerized at a portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama. This is such a gorgeous story about how important representation is.

Anybody’s Game: Kathryn Johnston, the First Girl to Play Little League Baseball by Heather Lang and Cecilia Puglesi. This book both infuriated me and inspired me. I had no idea that until 1974, girls were not allowed to play baseball in the United States. Kathryn Johnston joined a team in the ’50s pretending to be a boy, and when they discovered her true identity at the end of the season, organizers wrote a rule blocking girls from the game. I’m so glad that Kathryn paved the way for girls to play, because 50 years ago, that wasn’t an option.

She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger. Normally I am not a huge fan of picture books that have biographies about several people because they don’t go into enough detail or are TOO long and my kids lose interest. This one is a great length and highlights some important women I hadn’t heard of previously. We own it (I’ve found several copies at thrift stores!), and I love that it features Senator Margaret Chase Smith, who stood up to Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s when few people did.

Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Youszafai and Kerascoët. I was so inspired by Malala’s biography a few years ago, and I love this picture book that makes her story more accessible to kids. It doesn’t shy away from the fact that she was shot by the Taliban for encouraging girls to get an education, but it doesn’t go into detail about the violence and instead focuses on what kids can do to be activists in their own communities.

There Goes Patti McGee!: The Story of the First Women’s National Skateboard Champion by Tootie Nienow and Erika Medina. Skateboarding legend Patti McGee passed away in 2024. I had never heard of her and was excited to find this excellent picture book about her life and how she persevered even when people didn’t believe women should skateboard.

Abzuglutely! Battling, Bellowing Bella Abzug by Sarah Aronson and Andrea D’Aquino. This book has just the right amount of cheek and tells the story of outspoken Jewish activist and politician who fought fiercely for women’s rights. It’s a perfect complement to the book about Shirley Chisholm, as they were contemporaries, and so inspiring. My whole family loved it.

Trudy’s Big Swim: How Gertrude Ederle Swam the English Channel and Took the World by Storm by Sue Macy and Matt Collins. WOW. Gertrude Ederle was an impressive person, and this book details the years it took for her to be able to swim the English Channel back in 1926. I don’t even like to get my face wet when I’m swimming, so I’m always in awe of women who are powerful swimmers.

Princess Diana: A Little Golden Book Biography by Sonali Fry and Hollie Hibbert. One of my good friends from high school illustrated this book and did an amazing job! Beyond the illustrations, though, this is an excellent biography of Princess Diana that details her humanitarian efforts and her personality.

The Queen of Chess: How Judit Polgár Changed the Game by Laurie Wallmark and Stevie Lewis. I admittedly know nothing about chess, and yet I was captivated by this story of the youngest chess grandmaster in history, Judit Polgár. Laurie Wallmark is also one of my favorite authors and often writes about women in STEM, so any books by her are a great addition to your library.

I could keep going with picture books for Women’s History Month. We’ve read so many awesome books that celebrate amazing women over the past few years. Tell me your favorites!

11 picture books for Black History Month

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Lindsay Books

I recently shared 10 favorite picture books for Martin Luther King Day, and many could also work for Black History Month. However, I think this is such an important month and worth highlighting with even MORE books. My kids love learning about these amazing men and women from history.

Don’t have kids? I promise they’re interesting even for adults, and this is a great way to learn about black history when you’re short on time. Check out these 11 picture books for Black History Month.

Young, Gifted and Black: Meet 52 Black Heroes by Jamia Wilson and Andrea Pippins. I got this from the library for my kids last week, and we are still making our way through it and absolutely loving it. The amazing people spotlighted in this book include legends like Harriet Tubman and current heroes like Serena and Venus Williams. It’s really colorful and easy to digest, even for 6-year-olds.

Ready to Fly: How Sylvia Townsend Became the Bookmobile Ballerina by Lea Lyon, Alexandria LaFaye, and Jessica Gibson. This was one of my all-time favorites from 2019. It’s the true story of a girl who taught herself ballet by reading books from the bookmobile since she wasn’t allowed to take dance classes. My own ballerina daughter adored this one, and so did I.

All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson and E.B. Lewis. I didn’t know what Juneteenth was until 2020. Not sure what it is either? The holiday, celebrated June 19, commemorates the day slaves in Texas were finally freed from slavery. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect more than two years earlier, many slaves weren’t free because there weren’t enough Union soldiers to enforce the law. This lyrical picture books shows a family learning they are no longer slaves.

Starstruck: The Cosmic Journey of Neil deGrasse Tyson by Kathleen Krull, Paul Brewer, and Frank Morrison. Everyone has heard of Neil deGrasse Tyson. However, most of what I knew about him came from Big Bang Theory episodes and hearing people gushing about his books. This beautifully illustrated story was SO well-done and really captured deGrasse Tyson’s passion for science and his amazing life.

The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist by Cynthia Levinson and Vanessa Brantley-Newton. Want to wow your kids? This one will do it. My kids were fascinated to learn that a nine-year-old marched to protest segregation and was held in jail for several days. This would be a great one to read in a classroom and inspire other kids to help where they can.

Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton and Don Tate. This is a really fun story about the man who invented the Super Soaker water gun by accident when trying to cool fridges and air conditioners. The illustrations really make this one shine, and it’s a lighter story among many that focus on segregation and racism.

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard and Oge Mora. I have shared this book several times before, but I still think about it often. Born into slavery, Mary Walker worked many jobs throughout her life, raised a family, and didn’t learn to read until she was 116. Keep a box of tissues close for this one. It’s an amazing story.

Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine and Kadir Nelson. What a ride! This boy literally mailed himself in a crate to the north so he could escape slavery. It’s both heartbreaking and inspiring. I especially love Kadir Nelson’s illustrations (he often graces the cover of the New Yorker).

When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by Pam Muñoz Ryan and Brian Selznick. Maybe it’s because I’m a singer myself, but this book absolutely blew me away. It’s about famed opera singer Marian Anderson’s 1939 performance at the Lincoln Memorial, where an integrated crowd gathered to hear her sing. Keep in mind that this was a BIG deal, since it was years before the civil rights movement.

Hammering for Freedom by Rita Lorraine Hubbard and John Holyfield. Yes, I’m including two books by the same author because I LOVE her work. This one is about a blacksmith who saved enough money through his work to save not only himself but his entire family from slavery. I still can’t fathom earning money to buy freedom that should have been yours all along. Such an inspiring story.

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly and Laura Freeman. Read this rather than watching the film. Seriously. The part where Kevin Costner rips down the bathroom sign is completely fabricated and makes me mad. This tells the same story but focuses more on the four female mathematicians who worked at NASA and helped make space travel possible.

There are so many great books out there about amazing black people in history, and I’ve loved reading these with my kids. Did I miss one of your favorites? Any new releases I should know about?

The 10 best picture books of 2020

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Lindsay Books

I recently shared my list of the best 2020 books, including young adult, fiction, and nonfiction. Now I have to share my 10 favorite picture books from last year!

It was hard to get new releases for most of 2020, since every library but our tiny local one shut down for months. I’m hoping this list will help you find books you missed that are worth checking out!

Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built by Angela Burke Kunkel and Paola Escobar. I gushed about this on Instagram a few weeks ago when I finally got a copy of it from our library. Then I immediately bought it. It’s the true story of a trash collector in Colombia who rescued books from the curb and started a library for kids. I get chills even thinking about it. SUCH a great book about the importance of learning.

The Next President: The Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of America’s Presidents by Kate Messner and Adam Rex. Since 2020 was an election year, I was looking for books I could read with my kids to help them understand our government. This one was SO good and packed full of facts. It tells lots of facts about former presidents and then connects them to future presidents. For example, it explains how many future presidents were alive when George Washington was president and connects all the presidents who were related to each other. The illustrations are great and help make this book even more interesting. I would actually recommend this to adults who want to brush up on history and don’t want a dry presidential biography. I learned so much.

A Girl Like You by Frank Murphy, Carla Murphy, and Kayla Harren. Remember when I cried reading the same author’s A Boy Like You when it came out in 2019? This one geared for girls is just as good. It’s empowering and teaches them to be brave and smart and not to apologize for everything (something I still do). I think what I love best about this, though, is the illustrations. They’re so inclusive and diverse, and one of the girls even has vitiligo. I have never seen that in a children’s book before. Go buy this one.

Sugar in Milk by Thrity Umrigar and Khoa Le. I love folk tales because of the culture and the lessons woven in, and this Persian story is just beautiful. It’s the story of a young immigrant girl feeling alone in America. Her aunt tells the tale of a king who refused to allow immigrants into his kingdom, holding a glass of milk to signify that the country was full. The immigrant leader then dissolved sugar in milk to show that new people add sweetness. I’m making the story sound trite, but the illustrations are stunning, and the overall message about diversity and kindness is wonderful.

The Little Mermaid by Jerry Pinkney. This retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s original not only has gorgeous illustrations but a girl-power message about never giving up your voice. I love the African characters and the lack of romance (there’s no prince to fall in love with in this story). This is a fairy tale I’d be proud to have on my shelf. As I’m writing this, I’m realizing I probably need to buy a copy of this, too.

No Reading Aloud: The WORST Read-Aloud Book Ever by Raj Haldar and Chris Carpenter. If you love wordplay and puns, this is the book for you. It’s called “the worst read-aloud book ever” for a reason. Each page has sentences that sound the same when read aloud but have different meanings. “The hero had super vision” and “The hero had supervision” is just one example (in the second sentence, the “hero” is a sandwich). The illustrations make the differences clear. I laughed so hard reading this one with my kids and also learned several new words I’d never even heard before. Younger kids will not appreciate it, but I think it’s perfect for the 6-and-older crowd.

Goodnight, Veggies by Diana Murray and Zachariah OHora. This is the strangest concept for a bedtime book, and yet I loved it so much. It has a perfect rhyme scheme, and you learn about vegetables as they get tucked into the soil for the night. Zachariah OHora’s illustrations are colorful and cute, and the whole effect is soothing. My son just saw a picture of this book and asked if we could get it again from the library. Clearly they loved it as much as I did.

If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall. One of my very favorite illustrators, Sophie Blackall always turns out gorgeous books. This one is both beautifully illustrated and written. She explains what happens if you come to earth, how you’ll meet lots of different people and may not get along with everyone. The book is full of diversity and lots of life lessons. It’s similar to Oliver Jeffers’ book Here We Are (though I liked this one better). This would be a great baby gift or really a good gift for any child (or teacher or grown-up).

Why Do We Cry? by Fran Pintadera and Ana Sender. I’ve mentioned probably a hundred times how much I adore picture books that teach kids to express feelings. I love how this one literally explains the different reasons people cry. It’s written in such a poetic way that helps you understand and empathize, and the lush illustrations complement the text so well. Teachers, this would be especially good to read in your classrooms.

Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Bigelow-Thompkins and Luisa Uribe. I don’t know what it’s like to have a unique name people always mispronounce. I do know how frustrating it is to have people misspell it. This book is a great reminder about how important and meaningful names are and a gentle way to help people try harder to pronounce them. The illustrations are joyful, and there’s even a pronunciation guide to ensure you can say the names in the book correctly.

I seriously love putting these lists together because I remember all the wonderful books we read over the year! Did I miss any of your favorites?

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Lindsay

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