picture books

Back-to-school picture books your kids will love

Posted on September 9, 2024 by Lindsay Books 0

School supply time and fall are my FAVORITE times of the whole year (if the title Newly Sharpened Pencils didn’t clue you in). I first published this post in 2020, when school looked very different. For our family, it meant online-only first grade until January. While I was fortunate that both my husband and I are currently working from home and can take turns helping our kids, it’s a challenge to make school exciting.

Whether your kids are back in the classroom or learning from home, these books can help the school year feel a little bit more normal. Here are a bunch of back-to-school picture books I love.

The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley-Newton. This book was released right before my kids started kindergarten last year, and I’ve had a soft spot for it since. I love that it empowers kids to be confident and have a good attitude about going to school. The pictures are adorable, too!

Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard and James Marshall. No back-to-school picture books list would be complete without this classic. If you haven’t read it, you’re in for a treat. James Marshall’s illustrations are hilarious, and my kids love listening to this in the car, too. When Miss Nelson’s students start misbehaving, they quickly realize they had it pretty good when Miss Viola Swamp takes her place.

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard and Oge Mora. I cried reading this inspiring story of former slave Mary Walker, who lived an incredible life and finally learned to read at age 116. What an amazing message that you’re never too old to learn something new! Oge Mora’s illustrations are especially stunning in this book. Buy this one.

My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I Am Not.) by Peter Brown. My kids and I love this book so much, and they frequently pull it off the shelf to read it again. Bobby complains about how mean his teacher is and calls her a monster. Then he runs into her outside of school and realizes that she is not as bad as he thought. I am laughing just thinking about this story. So, so good.

School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex and Christian Robinson. If you’ve got a kid who’s apprehensive about going back to school (and who isn’t right now), this is a great option. School narrates the story, and she is nervous because she’s brand-new and has never had students before. The illustrations are retro and fun, and both School and the kids learn to accept each other.

When Pencil Met Eraser by Karen Kilpatrick, Luis O. Ramas Jr. and German Blanco. I really liked that this book doesn’t focus solely on how erasers remove mistakes. It shows that you need both pencils and erasers to create amazing art, because the eraser softens the image and also can show things that weren’t there before. It’s a great way to talk about art concepts and friendship at the same time.

Ally-saurus and the First Day of School by Richard Torrey. The illustrations make this book so charming and fun for kids (and grownups). Ally loves dinosaurs and insists on being called “Ally-saurus,” but when she goes to school for the first time, she realizes that not all kids love dinosaurs like she does. This can be a starting point for talking about how everyone is different and that we don’t all have to like the same thing.

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes. I think I love every single book Kevin Henkes has ever written. He seems to totally get kids and their frustrations. Lilly, a cute little mouse, takes her purple purse to school and can’t keep it to herself. When her teacher takes it away for the day, she gets angry and wants to get back at him, but she realizes she may have been too hasty. I love that this shows both the teacher and the student’s side, and the illustrations are so darling.

Butterflies on the First Day of School by Annie Silvestro and Dream Chen. In this sweet book, students who have “butterflies” in their stomach on the first day of school have them fly out of their mouths as they talk to each other and start to feel less anxious. I love books that illustrate idioms kids don’t really understand, and this one does it beautifully. Even the mom has a butterfly escape from her mouth when she learns her daughter had a good day at school. This is such a darling book.

The Pigeon Has to Go to School by Mo Willems. We all love the Pigeon books. Pigeon reallllly doesn’t want to go to school, but it helps when he learns that he gets to ride a bus to school and play on the playground. And when he realizes the teachers are there to help him. This is a great addition to your shelf if you love Mo Willems.

Too Much: An Overwhelming Day by Jolene Gutierrez and Angel Chang. My kids have a little girl in their grade who struggles with a sensory processing disorder. I’m sure your children or students know someone who has this or face it themselves. This is an excellent book that explains why some children and adults (like me) struggle with bright lights or too much noise or stimulation and how to help them. Every librarian should read this one to students.

Yenebi’s Drive to School by Sendy Santamaria. I was completely blown away by this story about two sisters who live in Tijuana and commute across the U.S./Mexico border to school every day. We had some great conversations with our kids about immigration and borders and also about how valuable education is.

The Brilliant Ms. Bangle by Cara Devins and K-Fai Steele. My mom is an elementary school librarian, and I know she would LOVE this book about a brand-new librarian who has to win over some tough-to-crack kids after the beloved former librarian leaves the school. It gives me Miss Frizzle vibes in the best way.

The World’s Best Class Plant by Liz Garton Scanlon, Audrey Vernick, and Lynnor Bontigao. In this cute story, the class complains about how boring it is to have a class plant when the other classes have pets. Then they start to give the plant more attention and give him a name (Jerry), and he becomes A LOT more interesting.

Mr. S.: A First Day of School Book by Monica Arnaldo. This book is REALLY goofy and quirky, which means kids will absolutely love it. On the first day of school, the kindergarten class is waiting for their teacher but he never arrives. Instead, the chalkboard says “Mr. S.” and a sandwich is sitting on the desk. Could the sandwich be their teacher? The illustrations show what is really happening to the teacher, and they’re hilarious.

The Loud Librarian by Jenna Beatrice and Erika Lynne Jones. I loved this book about a little girl who is assigned to be the class librarian. She adores books and is great at organizing, but the problem is that her voice is too loud. For any of you friends out there who, like me, also have a loud voice, this is a wonderful story about finding your place.

Missing Violet by Kelly Swemba and Fabiana Faiallo. I have to admit that this story broke my heart a bit, because my daughter had a best friend named Violet who moved away. However, it’s an important reminder that friends will sometimes leave and that your classmates can help you remember the good times and find even more friends.

Rick the Rock of Room 214 by Julie Falatko and Ruth Chan. Yes, this story is about a class’s pet rock, and yes, it is quirky. Rick the Rock decides to go on a journey outside after the teacher reads a book about nature, but he realizes it isn’t quite what he expected. Can the students help him find his way back to the classroom?

Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang and Hyewon Yum. I adore all of Andrea Wang’s books, and this one is really sweet. Luli goes to an English as a second language class for the first time with many other students who also can’t speak English — and can’t communicate with each other. Fortunately, she knows how to bring them together: a tea party!

How to Get Your Octopus to School by Becky Scharnhorst and Jaclyn Sinquett. My kids really liked this book about a little girl who has to get her VERY reluctant octopus dressed and ready for school. It kind of has an If You Give a Mouse a Cookie vibe to it, too, which is fun.

Salat in Secret by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Hatem Aly. Please read this book with your family. It’s amazing! Muhammad receives a salat rug for his seventh birthday and is encouraged to pray five times a day as part of his Muslim faith. However, he is really nervous about finding a quiet place to pray at school where other students won’t make fun of him. This story has such a great message about acceptance.

This Is a School by John Schu and Veronica Miller Jamison. This is such a beautiful book about what schools mean to a community, including a place for discovery, helping, sharing, healing, and hoping. I want to buy a copy for every school library.

Pa, Me, and Our Sidewalk Pantry by Toni Buzzeo and Zara Gonzalez Hoang. I love Toni Buzzeo’s books, and this one is a sweet story about a grandfather and grandchild who work together to offer their neighbors not just books but food when they need it. Since there are several little free libraries in walking distance of my kids’ school, we particularly liked this book.

My First Day by Phùng Nguyên Quang and Huỳnh Kim Liên. This book is similar to Yenebi’s Drive to School in that it focuses on the lengths one little boy must go to travel to school. In this story, Vietnamese boy An has to navigate the waters around his home in a little wooden boat. The illustrations are stunning.

One Wish: Fatima al-Fihri and the World’s Oldest University by M.O. Yuksel and Mariam Quraishi. I had never heard the story of Fatima al-Fihri, an extraordinary Muslim woman who founded a university in Morocco more than a thousand years ago. Her school still exists today!

Home in a Lunchbox by Cherry Mo. You’ll want a tissue when reading this book about a young girl, Jun, who moves to America from Hong Kong. While she only knows a handful of words in English at her new school, she can feel the love of her family in the food her mom sends in her lunchbox. Soon her new classmates want to try her food, too, since it is so different from their own lunches. SUCH a sweet story!

The Great Banned-Books Bake Sale by Aya Khalil and Anait Semirdzhyan. This is a particularly timely story about a young girl who discovers that books about kids of color have been banned from her school library. She helps to organize a bake sale and use the proceeds to buy diverse books for libraries. The book is also personal, as the author’s book The Arabic Quilt (which I also love and included in my list of books for Arab American Heritage Month) was briefly banned from a Pennsylvania school system.

Paula’s Patches by Gabriella Aldeman and Rocío Arreola Mendoza. Paula rips her jeans and is embarrassed by the hole in her pants and tries to hide it from her classmates. She then creates a patch to cover the hole and discovers that lots of kids have secondhand backpacks or stains or rips—and they all love the patches Paula makes and end up with their own. I love that this story is about not being embarrassed to have something secondhand but that it’s also about reusing and fixing things instead of immediately throwing them out. My son also has a favorite shirt that my sister sewed a patch on when he accidentally ripped it, and he proudly told me that her patch “made it better.” This book will definitely launch important conversations about consumerism.

The Yellow Bus by Loren Long. While this book isn’t specifically about school, it focuses on a yellow school bus that ends up being many things to many different people and animals as it ages. The author and illustrator was inspired to write the book by seeing an old yellow bus in his neighborhood and wondering how it got there.

I’m hoping you love these back-to-school picture books as much as we do. I want to know. What does school look like for your kids this year? And what books do you read to start off a new school year?

Picture books for Juneteenth

Posted on June 16, 2023 by Lindsay Books

I’ve read a bunch of picture books for Juneteenth to my kids over the past week and am so excited that this special day is now a federal holiday. If you’re unclear about the meaning of Juneteenth, essentially it commemorates June 19, 1865, the day enslaved people in Texas finally learned they were free. Though President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation two years before, it took a long time before enslaved people received word. Read on for a list of picture books to help you and your family celebrate this holiday together.

All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson and E.B. Lewis. I initially shared this in my first Black History Month post, but it is a great introduction to Juneteenth. I especially love the joy you can feel through the illustrations.

A Flag for Juneteenth by Kim Taylor. My kids and I were so enamored with this story! I’m planning to buy it and add it to my picture books for Juneteenth. follows Huldah, whose tenth birthday falls on the day Union soldiers announce that enslaved people are now free. She and her family and friends join together to celebrate the day, then called Jubilee Day, and surprise her with a beautiful quilted flag for her birthday. The entire book looks like a quilt, and my kids LOVED that.

The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States by Alliah L. Agostini and Sawyer Cloud. This book explains how Juneteenth became a holiday, first in Texas and then nationwide, and helps you better understand some of the traditions and celebrations.

Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan and Keturah A. Bobo. I had never heard of Opal Lee before reading this book, and I’m so glad I know her name now. Opal Lee helped organize Fort Worth’s annual Juneteenth celebration and campaigned for years to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, which finally happened in 2021. She also watched white rioters vandalize and then burn down her home on Juneteenth when she was only 12 years old, spurring her to activism. This is an incredible story.

Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise by Lavaille Lavette and David Wilkerson. Younger kids will like this Little Golden Book about Jayylen, a little boy who learns about Juneteenth from his grandfather. Jayylen also learns about zydeco music and learns to play it, surprising his grandfather with his new abilities and a special guest. I had never heard of zydeco music and really like it!

Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper. I LOVE Floyd Cooper’s beautiful books, and this one is no exception. It follows Mazie, a young girl who is celebrating Juneteenth but learns a lot about her ancestors and heritage from her father in the process.

Have you read any great picture books for Juneteenth? I’d love to expand my collection!

Books for Arab American Heritage Month

Posted on April 20, 2023 by Lindsay Books

I am passionate about having my kids read books with diverse characters and viewpoints. Fortunately, we found a lot of great books for Arab American Heritage Month, which admittedly, I did not know much about before we began reading. Whether you are celebrating this month or simply want to learn more Arab culture and history, this list will help you get started.

The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad, S.K. Ali and Hatem Aly. I originally shared this in a 2019 roundup of my favorite picture books, and it continues to be a favorite. Asiyah is wearing a hijab to school for the first time, and her younger sister Faizah stands up for her and explains the hijab when other students ask questions. If you like this one, you’ll also love The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship, which tells Faizah’s story.

Abdul’s Story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Tiffany Rose. This sweet book is about a boy who has a difficult time writing and getting his ideas out of paper. Fortunately, a professional writer talks to his class about the process of writing, and Abdul realizes it’s OK (and normal) to be messy while writing.

The Night Before Eid: A Muslim Family Story by Aya Khalil and Rashin Kheiriyeh. Eid is a really important holiday in Muslim culture, and this book helps everyone to better understand it. The story focuses on a boy and his grandmother making a special treat to share with his school.

The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham, Karim Shamsi-Basha, and Yuko Shimizu. I loved this true story about a man in Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, who saved cats and created a sanctuary for them when others were fleeing the war there. The illustrations are wonderful.

Halal Hot Dogs by Susannah Aziz and Parwinder Singh. We learned so much about Jummah, the Friday prayer in Islam, from this book! Musa looks forward to the family treat they have each week after the Jummah prayer at the mosque and is trying to get his family halal (allowed) hot dogs from a vendor. Of course things don’t go as planned, so he has to figure out a new snack his family can eat. I loved that this book also includes a glossary of Arabic terms at the end!

The Arabic Quilt: An Immigration Story by Aya Khalil and Anait Semirdzhyan. I got chills reading this beautiful book. Kanzi has moved with her family from Egypt to America, and she is trying to fit in. She gets embarrassed when her mom brings a kofta (ground beef and lamb) sandwich to school wearing a hijab. When she writes a poem about the Arabic quilt her grandmother gave her, Kanzi’s teacher has all of the students create a paper quilt with their names in Arabic.

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Khan and Merhdokht Amini. This simple book explains the colors of Islam while also exploring the religious tenets and traditions. It rhymes and is really easy to read, but the illustrations are what make this book shine. We also loved Crescent Moons and Minarets (about Islamic shapes) from the same author/illustrator duo.

In My Mosque by M.O. Yuksel and Hatem Aly. If you buy ONE book for Arab American Heritage Month, make it this one. I love how it beautifully explains Islam and also makes it clear that Muslims have much in common with Christians. The illustrations are stunning and filled with people of all shapes, sizes, colors and abilities.

Under My Hijab by Hena Khan and Aaliyah Jaleel. My daughter especially loved this book and likes to point out when girls at her school are wearing their colorful hijabs. We all learned a lot about hijabs ad how there are different ways to wear them. Most importantly, the book follows strong women in different walks of life. You should probably buy this one, too.

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story From Iraq by Jeannette Winter. Books about libraries and those who lose access to them always make me emotional. This true story of Alia Muhammad Baker, who helped to save thousands of books from her library in Basra, Iraq, when war broke out is SO inspiring. We had some good discussions after reading this book, too, since many people are currently banning books across the United States.

Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper and Kenard Pak. This picture book impressed me so much when it was first published in 2020. It’s about Lina, who is walking through the snow to visit her grandmother, Sitta. Because Sitta can no longer see very well, Lina thinks about ways she can describe the snow to her and realizes how it sounds. Grandparent/grandchild relationship books are so special, and this one is especially delightful.

Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi and Lea Lyon. My kids and I really enjoyed this story about Lailah, who recently moved to the U.S. from the United Arab Emirates. She is afraid to tell her classmates that she is fasting for Ramadan and decides to hide in the library rather than going to the lunchroom. Her librarian encourages her to write down her feelings, and together they figure out a way she can explain her culture and religion to others. This is such an excellent book!

Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine by Hannah Moushabeck and Reem Madooh. In this incredible book, a father tells his three daughters his memories of Palestine, the homeland he had to leave years before. This story really makes Palestine come to life and captures the emotions of being unable to return to the country of your birth.

Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Luisa Uribe. This book is important for EVERYONE. After multiple teachers and classmates mispronounce a little girl’s name, she expresses her sadness to her mom. Fortunately, her mom takes the time to tell her that her name (and other names) are musical and have meaning. Such a great reminder that names are important!

A Girl Called Ghengis Khan: How Maria Toorpakai Wazir Pretended to be a Boy, Defied the Taliban, and Became a World-Famous Squash Player by Michelle Lord and Shehzil Malik. I had never heard of Maria Toorpakai Wazir before reading this, and as the LONG title suggests, she did in fact become a famous squash player despite all odds. My daughter especially loves stories about girls/women who enter spaces traditionally reserved for men, so this was a big hit for her.

What are your favorite books for Arab American Heritage Month? We had so much fun reading these books together, and I would love more recommendations.

24 more Christmas picture books

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Lindsay Books

Covers of Christmas picture books, including "How to Trick a Christmas Elf," "Christmas in the Big Woods," "Ho Ho Homework," "The Christmas Carpenter" and "Piñata in a Pine Tree."

I own enough Christmas picture books to wrap up 24 and put them under our tree each year for an advent, and I’ve shared that list for several years. This year, I decided to create another list of our favorites so you have even more options to choose from. There are so many great books celebrating this holiday — and I always end up buying a few more after writing these. Here are 24 Christmas picture books to check out.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and Brett Helquist. Apparently this one is out of print, so maybe check eBay for a copy? I bought this one immediately after we read it a few years ago because it beautifully tells Charles Dickens’ classic story — and the illustrator, Brett Helquist, is known for the Series of Unfortunate Events. I love his illustrations and the depth he brings to this book. Seriously, you need to find this one somewhere and add it to your Christmas books.

Dasher by Matt Tavares. I adore Matt Tavares’ art (buy Red and Lulu if you haven’t already) and knew we needed this book when it came out a few years ago. Dasher longs for a different life and sets out on her own to pursue adventure, eventually meeting Santa and being asked to pull his sleigh.

Lighthouse Christmas by Toni Buzzeo. Yes, this one is also out of print, but I have confidence you can find it on eBay (where I bought mine) or at a thrift store. Why do the prettiest books go out of print? In this one, a brother and sister live with their dad on an isolated island where they man a lighthouse. They are determined to make Christmas special even though they can’t be with the rest of their family, and then an unexpected visitor makes the holiday sweeter. I would love to live near a lighthouse and am basically obsessed with nautical stories, so I love this one.

Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck and Mark Buehner. When I was a kid, we had a VHS with a short video produced by BYU called The Gift from the 1970s. I was surprised to discover that it was based on this Pearl Buck story about a boy who gets up early to do the chores for his dad Christmas morning so he can see everyone opening their gifts. This is a really awesome reminder about how service is the best gift you can give.

The Carpenter’s Gift: A Christmas Tale About the Rockefeller Center Tree by David Rubel and Jim LaMarche. I scored this for $2 at Savers a couple months ago and was so excited to add this to our collection. We have several books about the Rockefeller Center tree, but this one centers on a boy who grew up during the Great Depression and wants to pay kindness forward when strangers build his family a new home on Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas by Lara Hawthorne. If you want to sing your way through a book (or even if you don’t), this is a beautifully illustrated version of the traditional 12 Days of Christmas carol. Lara Hawthorne’s Silent Night is also a favorite.

Merry Christmas, Anne by Kallie George and Genevieve Godbout. This book is a pairing made in heaven. A classic story from L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables and Genevieve Godbout’s dreamy illustrations? I need to buy this one for our collection because it makes me ridiculously happy.

Carla and the Christmas Cornbread by Carla Hall and Cherise Harris. We read this cute story last year about a little girl who worries she ruined Christmas by eating the sugar cookie left for Santa. Luckily, her grandma helps her make cornbread with cinnamon butter for Santa instead. There are not enough Christmas books out there with characters of color, and this is an excellent one!

How to Trick a Christmas Elf by Sue Fliess and Simona Sanfilippo. Sue Fliess is a MASTER at rhythm, and we own several of her holiday books because they’re fun to read aloud. This one instructs kids on tricking an elf into letting them see what’s on Santa’s list. By the way, I DESPISE tricks (April Fool’s is the worst), so know that this is more about crafting than it is teasing. All of Sue Fliess’ books also have instructions for creating your own craft in the back, too, which is so fun.

Christmas is Joy by Emma Dodd. Sometimes you want a really quick, beautifully illustrated Christmas story to read for bedtime. This sweet book featuring two reindeer in the snow fits the bill. I love the gold foil and the calming rhythm.

A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas by Pat Mora and Magaly Morales. We all LOVED this Latino version of the 12 Days of Christmas! There are dancing donkeys, piñatas instead of partridges, and singing moons, among other items. I really like bilingual picture books, and this one has Spanish words sprinkled throughout and a full glossary. So fun!

Merry Christmas, Strega Nona by Tomie DePaola. Everyone in my family is a big Strega Nona fan, probably because we have listened to the audiobook of the first book at least 50 times. Strega Nona and Big Anthony are back in this story, but this time Strega Nona has a strict rule about not using magic at Christmastime. Luckily, Big Anthony is willing to help with the feast.

Christmas in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Renee Graef. I had this book when I was a child and rediscovered it a few years ago. If you grew up loving the Little House on the Prairie books, you’ll love this picture book version of Laura’s Christmas memories in their little cabin in Wisconsin.

Here Comes Santa Cat by Deborah Underwood and Claudia Rueda. All of the Cat books are fantastic! In this one, Cat is worried he is on the naughty list and won’t get any gifts, so he tries to redeem himself by getting into the holiday spirit. These books are a delight because of the illustrations and the playful narrator that interacts with Cat. We love them.

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto and Ed Martinez. This is another book I remember loving as a child that still holds up. Maria gets to help make tamales for Christmas dinner and tries on her mother’s beautiful diamond ring when she leaves the room. Suddenly, Maria has misplaced the ring and is sure someone will choke on it when they eat the tamales. She and her cousins decide to eat their way through the tamales so no one gets hurt. I love the Mexican culture displayed in this book and the family that bands together.

Cookies for Santa by America’s Test Kitchen Kids and Johanna Tarkela. I am admittedly not a baker (or a cook), but I love this story about Santa losing his family’s Christmas cookie recipe. Every year, he bakes cookies for his elves and reindeer to show his appreciation, and he’s worried he won’t be able to without the recipe. Fortunately, families around the world band together to bake and make sure Santa can have a happy Christmas. Like other America’s Test Kitchen books, this one includes a recipe and is all about encouraging families to cook and bake together.

Santa Claus and the Christmas Surprise by Dorothea Lachner and Maja Duskov. This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of two kids whose village is snowed in for Christmas. Though Anna and Michael worry that Santa won’t be able to get through the snow to deliver gifts, he makes it — and his gift requires everyone to dig through the snow and come together.

Ho Ho Homework by Mylisa Larsen and Taia Morley. If you need a book to read in a classroom, this is PERFECT. Jack and his classmates have a new substitute teacher, Mr. Clausen, and he has a long white beard. He also eats milk and cookies as a snack. Is he Santa Claus?

One Starry Night by Lauren Thompson and Jonathan Bean. I love this simple and gorgeous book about the night Jesus Christ was born. It focuses on the animals who are also comforting their babies during that starry night and would be perfect for bedtime.

Arthur’s Christmas by Marc Brown. Nineties kids, you’ll love this one! My brothers and sister and I were OBSESSED with Arthur growing up, and this book inspired the TV series. Arthur is looking for the perfect gift for Santa for Christmas, and his little sister D.W. ends up helping him (with some mishaps along the way). If you aren’t familiar with the Arthur books, D.W. is really the star of the show. Her wit is the best.

Christmas Farm by Mary Lyn Ray and Barry Root. WOW. This book is stunning. I love this story of a woman who plants thousands of balsam seedlings in a garden and then nurtures them over the years with the help of her young neighbor, Parker. I had a real Christmas tree growing up and had never considered all the work that goes into growing these beautiful trees.

Maple & Willow’s Christmas Tree by Lori Nichols. I love the sweet relationship between sisters Maple and Willow in all of Lori Nichols’ books. In this one, Maple and Willow are in the woods about to get their first real Christmas tree. Unfortunately, Maple starts sneezing whenever she gets close to the trees, so it looks like they won’t be getting a real tree after all. Willow has plans to make the holiday magical for her sister anyway.

Olive, The Other Reindeer by Vivian Walsh and J. Otto Seibold. This quirky book is based on the line in the song “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” that says “All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names.” When Olive the dog hears this line, she assumes she must really be a reindeer and heads to the North Pole to help Santa with Christmas.

Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman. My kids loved this book when they were in preschool, and it’s perfect for little kids and even older ones. Bear normally hibernates during the winter and sleeps through Christmas, but his friends are determined to keep him awake so he can enjoy the holiday.

Please share your favorite Christmas picture books with me! I always get great suggestions whenever I post these lists.

10 picture books for Native American Heritage Month

Posted on November 22, 2022 by Lindsay Books

picture books for Native American History month

Like most American kids, I learned very little about Native Americans in school and especially around Thanksgiving. I’ve been excited to read picture books for Native American Heritage Month and learn about their extraordinary heritage with my kids. Here are 10 books you can share with your family for November, which marks Native American Heritage Month. They are great options for Thanksgiving as well.

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal. I included this in my Thanksgiving picture books list as well because it’s a beautiful story about Native American culture. It’s also about the history of fry bread (which taught me so much!) and gorgeously illustrated by one of my favorite artists, Juana Martinez-Neal.

Powwow Day by Tracy Sorell and Madelyn Goodnight. I absolutely adored this book about a little girl who is ill and sad that she can’t participate in her community’s powwow. She ultimately learns about the healing power of powwows and is welcomed by those who dance on her behalf. My kids and I learned so much about the dances and rituals from this story!

I Sang You Down From the Stars by Tasha Spillett-Sumner and Michaela Goade. Parents, you’ll want a tissue reading this book (or at least I did). It focuses on a mother preparing for her baby to be born by gathering a medicine bundle with a white feather, sage, cedar, a stone, and more. I love the illustrations and the emotions of this book and the beautiful traditions it explains.

Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving Story by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, Alexis Bunten and Gary Meeches Sr. This story helped me talk to my kids about the first Thanksgiving and how the Wampanoag people were instrumental in helping the Pilgrims make it through their first winter. I also really appreciated that this book includes a pronunciation guide and Native American words throughout. It turns out I was pronouncing Wampanoag completely wrong.

Still This Love Goes On by Buffy Sainte-Marie and Julie Flett. I am a big fan of Julie Flett’s work, and this book featuring song lyrics about the Cree people is gorgeous. It’s also about gratitude for your heritage and for the earth, so it’s perfect for Thanksgiving as well.

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell and Frane Lessac. Members of the Cherokee nation use the word otsaliheliga to express gratitude. This book goes through the different seasons and talks about Cherokee traditions and ways the people are thankful. Like the other story above, it also includes a glossary to help you pronounce the words used throughout. I love this book and bought it for our home.

Berry Song by Michaela Goade. As I turned the pages of this stunning book with my family, I was reminded of my own (very different) summers picking huckleberries as a kid. The story centers around a girl and her grandmother picking berries and fishing and singing a song of gratitude to the earth. I need to buy this one for our collection.

Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp and Erwin Printup, Jr. This is another book I’ve included on a Thanksgiving list because it is all about being grateful for the things we have. It includes a traditional Iroquois ceremonial address as well.

The Circle of Thanks by Joseph Bruchac and Murv Jacob. I am trying to find more books that introduce my children to poetry. This compilation of 14 poems about nature and Thanksgiving from Abenaki author Joseph Bruchac is beautiful and a wonderful reminder of the importance of gratitude.

Stolen Words by Melanie Florence and Gabrielle Grimard. While this is a heavier book for kids, I think it does a wonderful job of talking about schools that separated indigenous children from their families. The story follows a little girl who asks her grandfather to say something in Cree. When he responds that his language was stolen from him as a boy, she helps him reclaim his language and heritage. Check this one out for sure.

I would love to know your favorite picture books for Native American Heritage Month! I’m especially interested in those written and illustrated by Native American authors.

31 picture books for Halloween

Posted on October 5, 2022 by Lindsay Books

Covers of "Creepy Crayon," "A Spoonful of Frogs," and "There's a Ghost in this House"

I’ve shared 13 of my favorite Halloween books, 13 MORE favorites, and then even MORE favorites here. However, I thought I’d put together a big list you can easily save for the library (or buy books from if you want to add to your collection). Here are 31 picture books for Halloween you’ll love for your whole family!

Creepy Crayon by Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown. I LOVE the Creepy Tales series so much, and I actually preordered this one (which I never do). It did not disappoint. Jasper is struggling in school until he finds a creepy purple crayon that magically helps him finish his work.

A Spoonful of Frogs by Casey Lyall and Vera Brosgol. This new release had my kids and I laughing out loud and reminded me of one of our favorites, How To Give Your Cat a Bath: In Five Easy Steps. In this story, the witch is trying to make frog soup and needs to add the final ingredient: a spoonful of frogs. Of course, it’s impossible to get the frogs into the pot, so chaos ensues.

There’s a Ghost In This House by Oliver Jeffers. Who doesn’t love Oliver Jeffers’ illustrations? I love that this one uses vellum to deposit little ghosts in different areas of the house as you turn the page.

Brains! Not Just a Zombie Snack by Stacy McAnulty and Matthew Rivera. I adore everything that Matthew Rivera illustrates. This one has the double-whammy of being creepy enough for Halloween and also teaching kids about how the brain works.

The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt by Riel Nason and Byron Eggenschwiler. This story turns what you know about ghosts being transparent and white on its head. This ghost looks like a quilt. However, quilts provide warmth (unlike sheets), so this ghost has an experience with kids trick-or-treating he otherwise wouldn’t have.

The Witch Who Lives Down the Hall by Donna Guthrie and Amy Schwartz. This one is harder to find, since it was published in 1985. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the story of a little boy who is SURE his neighbor is a witch. His mother reassures him she is not, and as the story progresses, he learns how sweet his neighbor really is.

Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes and Yuyi Morales. I am a big fan of bilingual books, and this one throws in Spanish words like bruja (witch) and esqueleto (skeleton). The rhythm in this is also excellent, perfect for reading aloud.

Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins. It’s a favorite in our house for a reason. Lucy Ruth Cummins’ illustrations are beautiful, and I love the story of a pumpkin who just wants to become a jack-o-lantern.

Sir Simon, Super Scarer by Cale Atkinson. I laugh out loud every time I read this book to my kids. When a boy and his grandmother move into a house Simon currently haunts, Simon decides to get the boy to do his scaring for him.

A Tiger Called Tomás by Charlotte Zolotow and Marta Alvarez Miguens. The illustrations make this repurposed 1960s story from Charlotte Zolotow shine. I think everyone can identify with the little boy who is too shy to try to make friends. When Halloween comes, he happily puts on a costume, only to realize it doesn’t hide his identity. PLEASE buy this book. It is so sweet.

Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht and Jarvis. I can’t say enough good things about this book. It has great rhythm, inclusive and gorgeous illustrations, and a fun story that will make you want to go to a pumpkin patch with your family.

The Little Kitten by Nicola Killen. We own all four books in Nicola Killen’s animal friends series, and I love this sweet story! Ollie returns a lost kitten to its home, only to realize that her own cat, Pumpkin, is now lost. The foil on the pages and cover make this book a keepsake and also beautiful for displaying.

How To Make Friends With a Ghost by Rebecca Green. You need to buy this one, too, because it is perfection. Like all good how-to books, it provides easy-to-follow steps for enticing a ghost to be your friend. Hint: They love bedtime stories.

Bonaparte Falls Apart by Margery Cuyler and Will Terry. This was one of the first Halloween picture books I ever read to my kids, and we still love it. A skeleton, Bonaparte, is nervous for the first day of school because his bones keep falling off. Luckily, he has some kind friends who help him pull himself together.

Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman and S.D. Schindler. I know many teachers love this book, and it is perfect for elementary-age kids because of its rhythm and repetition. The witch grows a huge pumpkin and can’t get it off the vine to make a pumpkin pie, so she enlists the help of friends to move it.

Winnie the Witch by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul. Though this is another one that’s hard to find, it’s absolutely worth it if you can get a copy! Winnie the Witch lives in a completely black house and is always tripping over her black cat, Wilbur, so she comes up with a creative way to see him.

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. You probably already own or have read this book, but it’s a classic we love. The witch keeps allowing more animals to fly on her broom with her until it gets so heavy it cracks. The ending will surprise you! Also, Julia Donaldson is the QUEEN of rhythm. We also love The Gruffalo by this author-illustrator duo.

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda D. Williams and Megan Lloyd. This is another one your kids will probably be familiar with from school. A little old lady is walking home in the woods and hears some noises behind her. Because she’s not afraid of anything, though, she refuses to let the loose pants, shirt, shoes, and gloves scare her.

The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat by Stan and Jan Berenstain. I have collected almost every Berenstain Bears book ever written for my kids, and I have always loved this one. Brother and Sister are going trick-or-treating with friends, but they don’t want to go to Old Miz McGrizz’s house because they think she’s scary. Luckily, they realize that appearances can be deceiving.

Ghosts in the House! by Kazuno Kohara. This book is ADORABLE and so creative. When a girl moves into a house that turns out to be haunted with ghosts, she comes up with a clever solution. Soon, ghosts become tablecloths, curtains, and blankets for the bed.

What Was I Scared Of? by Dr. Seuss. Kind of similar to The Little Old Lady book above, this classic Dr. Seuss book is about a character who is terrified of a pair of pants he sees floating around. He learns that the pants are just as scared of him. As an added bonus, some of the editions of this book have glow-in-the-dark pants on the pages.

She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lynn Fulton and Felicita Sala. I love picture book biographies, and this one is about feminist author Mary Shelley! I like to throw in a good nonfiction book at Halloween when we’re surrounded by supernatural stories.

Ghost Afraid of the Dark by Sara Conway. Yes, another book with glow-in-the-dark illustrations! This one also has a great message about asking for help and surrounding yourself with good friends.

Frankenstein Doesn’t Wear Earmuffs by John Loren. I grew up in east Idaho, where it often snowed before Halloween, so I can relate to the boy in this book. His parents keep making him put on layers so he’ll stay warm while trick-or-treating, but he is not thrilled that they’re ruining his costume.

Gustavo, The Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago. If you loved the movie Coco or love the Mexican holiday Dia de Los Muertos, you’ll love Gustavo. This cute ghost wants to invite some people over to celebrate the Day of the Dead and make some friends, but he’s really shy and not sure they’ll come.

Can You See What I See? On a Scary, Scary Night by Walter Wick. The illustrator of the I Spy books has this super-fun Halloween book with pictures to find throughout the pages. Your kids will love it.

Sammy’s Spooktacular Halloween by Mike Petrik. My kids liked this cute story about a little boy who likes to play tricks (only harmless ones) on his family and has been planning his Halloween antics all year. I like that it focuses on family and NOT on pranks, because I don’t like pranks.

Snowmen at Halloween by Caralyn Buehner and Mark Buehner. We all love the Snowmen books at our house (there are five books in the series), and this Halloween one is darling. My kids also like looking for the hidden mouse on each page.

Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley. This was my kids’ FAVORITE book when they were about three, and they still pull it off the shelf every once in a while even though they’re eight years old now. The pages have die-cuts of scraggly hair and teeth and eyes that allow you to build the monster and then take everything away. It’s adorable!

Goodnight Goon: A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex. If you read Goodnight Moon to your kids a lot like I did when mine were babies, you’ll love this parody that keeps the rhythm of the original.

How to Scare a Ghost by Jean Reagan and Lee Wildish. You may have read this duo’s book How to Babysit a Grandma. This one is similar, with steps that explain how to scare a ghost. Like other Jean Reagan books, How to Scare a Ghost has a lovable ending.

Did I list your favorite picture books for Halloween? Tell me what you’ve been reading with your family in the comments!

13 great picture books for spring

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Lindsay Books

Utah is being sneaky right now and surprising us with sunny days and temperatures in the 70s — followed, of course, by snow again. I have a post of favorite Easter books already, but I felt spring needed its own post as well. If you’re like me and love seeing the tulips and crocuses pop up, you’ll enjoy these stories about nature and the beautiful colors of the season. Here are 13 picture books for spring.

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak. I absolutely love everything this wonderful author/illustrator creates, and his books about changing seasons are my favorite. A boy and his dog take a walk in nature and watch how winter is ending and spring is beginning. The illustrations are so pretty!

The Hidden Rainbow by Christie Matheson. We have enjoyed all of Christie Matheson’s books because they’re interactive and fun for kids. In this one, bees need the reader’s help to find different plants to pollinate. Each page showcases brightly colored flowers in rainbow colors and also teaches kids how gardens work. I also love her book Plant the Tiny Seed for spring.

Carl and the Meaning of Life by Deborah Freedman. If you told me five years I would love a book about an earthworm, I would have laughed at you. Don’t be deceived by the cover and the idea that an earthworm is explaining the meaning of life, though. This story is all about how we all have a purpose, even earthworms, and also helps you better understand science and ecosystems.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal. I find all of the books in Kate Messner’s botany series so interesting, and I don’t even like gardening! In this one, you learn what happens above ground in the garden that you can see (plants growing) and what’s also happening in the dirt below (insects are moving). I have learned so much from this book and her others, and my kids love them, too.

Singing in the Rain by Arthur Freed and Tim Hopgood. Normally I would not enjoy a picture book that is literally the lyrics of a famous song, but I make exceptions sometimes. This one has the most beautiful and happy illustrations, and I love the images of children with many different skin tones. If you’re looking for a book that makes rain seem fun, this is it.

The Forever Garden by Laurel Snyder and Samantha Cotterill. This book will tug at your heartstrings. It focuses on a little girl named Laurel and her friendship with Honey, the woman who lives next door. Honey and Laurel spend a lot of time together tending the garden, until Honey has to move away to take care of her mother. Laurel worries about what will happen to the garden when Honey is gone and comes up with a solution.

We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines and Julianna Swaney. I am not a fan of Joanna Gaines’ other book, but this one is really sweet and made me want to garden with my kids! (Remember how I said earlier that I don’t enjoy gardening?) It’s about the journey her then-four kids went on to create a garden at their home and offers tips on creating your own.

Bloom Boom! by April Pulley Sayre. You will want to plant a million flowers after reading this gorgeous book full of amazing photographs. The text is sparse but has a great rhythm and rhyme, and at the end of the book you learn more about the flowers pictured. This would be so pretty on a bookshelf in your home or library. I like April Pulley Sayre’s book Full of Fall as well.

When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek. If it’s got Kevin Henkes’ name on it, you can bet that I will read it and probably buy it. His wife also illustrated this one, and it’s so sweet. Each page describes what you can look forward to as winter leaves and spring arrives.

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert. Is it obvious yet that I am drawn to bold illustrations? Lois Ehlert’s beautiful paper collages are SO fun. In this story, a mother and daughter plant seeds, seedlings and bulbs and watch as they grow into flowers. If you like this one, you’ll love her other books, like Leaf Man.

Rain! by Linda Ashman and Christian Robinson. Raise your hand if rain makes you grumpy sometimes. I’ll admit that I identify more with the grumpy old man in this story who is cursing the rain and the puddles. On the other side of the city, though, a little boy is excited about the rain — and then he meets the grumpy old man. This is also a book about how a positive outlook can help cheer others up, and I love it. I also love Christian Robinson’s illustrations!

In a Garden by Tim McCanna and Aimée Sicuro. This book has such great rhythm and also explains the way gardens grow and how insects and soil contribute to that. SO many books are clunky to read aloud, but this one is actually fun. The illustrations are so pretty, too. I would even give this to an adult who loves gardening. It’s got to be included on a list of picture books for spring.

The Little Lamb by Judy Dunn and Phoebe Dunn. As I was thinking about books I loved as a child, this one came to mind. I ADORED this book because of the beautiful photos of a little girl taking care of her lamb. It may be hard to find at your library since it’s 40+ years old now, but there are plenty of used copies available on eBay and Amazon.

What are your favorite picture books for spring? Do you ring in the season by planting new flowers?

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?

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?

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

Lindsay

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