A Park Connects Us by Sarah Nelson & Ellen Rooney (Children's Picture Book Review)

 We received a temporary digital copy of this picture book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

A Park Connects Us
Words by Sarah Nelson
Illustrations by Ellen Rooney
Published by OwlKids Books
on March 15, 2022
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 3 - 8 years

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Synopsis:
A celebration of urban parks and the many ways they connect us to community and nature. 

This love letter to public parks depicts an inclusive and accessible space where community flourishes. Without a screen in sight, it gently hints at the adventures to be had offline and encourages readers to venture into nature and connect with their neighborhoods. 



Our Thoughts:

A Park Connects Us is a beautifully inclusive look at public parks and all that they afford us, from a place to play or ride bikes or fly kites to a place to have a family picnic or a wedding.

This picture book has a wide array of verbs included and seems to be focused entirely on what a park can do or be for all of us!

The illustrations show us many of the fun or relaxing things we can do at a park and all the beauty it holds as well. Each page is filled with active and friendly park-goers of all ages, races, cultures, and more, sharing a community space that is welcome to all. 

There's also a beautiful reminder that parks are something that we, as a community, make possible and a bit of information about popular parks around the world and what they mean to those communities. 


Do you have a favorite park that you visit regularly?

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Ocean: Waves For All by Stacy McAnulty (Children's Nonfiction Picture Book Review)

 

 

Ocean: Waves For All
(Our Universe #4)
Words by Stacy McAnulty
Illustrated by David Litchfield
Published by Henry Holt & Co.
on May 5, 2020
Genre:  Children's, Picture Books, Nonfiction
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 pages

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Synopsis:
From writer Stacy McAnulty and illustrator David Litchfield, Ocean: Waves For All is a light-hearted nonfiction picture book about the formation and history of the ocean--told from the perspective of the ocean itself. 


Our Thoughts:

The 'Our Universe' series continues with Ocean: Waves For All, personifying Earth's ocean as a super-cute, free-spirited being that has been flowing around for about four billion years and rejoices in bringing its waves to all. 

Learn all about the ocean, from how old it is, to the life that began in it, to its depths, layers, secrets, and more in this fun and informative picture book! Learn about its relation to Earth, the moon, and even human beings over time.

There are a few fun extras in the back of the book that include a letter from the author, a collection of number-related facts, a fun interview with Ocean themself, and several great tips on how to be a great friend to the ocean.

We have adored every book in the 'Our Universe' series so far!

If you are looking for a way to teach your young children about the world in a way that will keep their attention, this nonfiction picture book series is perfect for you! Each book in this series personifies the subject, allowing them to explain their life and history, creating a super fun and memorable way to learn.


Be sure to check out our reviews on the rest of the Our Universe series:

Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years
Sun! One In A Million
Moon! Earth's Best Friend

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Beneath the Trees: A Fine Summer by DAV (Children's Picture Book Review)

 We received a temporary digital copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Beneath the Trees:
A Fine Summer
by Dav
Published by Magnetic Press
on May 31, 2022
Genre: Children's, Picture Books,
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 3 - 8

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Synopsis:
It's summer and the laughter of children echoes under the trees. But for some of the older animals, the frivolous abandon of childhood is far behind them. Old Mr. Owl and Mr. Toad get the crazy idea to relive some of their youth if that's even possible anymore. 

The stories in this four-book series take place in the same forest over the course of four seasons. Each one can be read independently, exploring the complexity and richness of relationships with family, friends, and loved ones. 


Our Thoughts:

The sounds of summer carry through the trees in this anthropomorphic forest community. Kids play and splash all day and two local old-timers, Mr. Owl and Mr. Toad, aren't too pleased with the noise. At least, not until they find a way to enjoy themselves again. 

This picture book is one in a seasonal quartet featuring a woodland community with different characters in each installment that is illustrated in a 'Disney-inspired style' that we have come to love! The woodland characters are super cute (even the grouchy ones) and the attention to detail in the backgrounds has me hoping for more from this author/illustrator.

Some of the previous installments were wordless sequential art from what I remember but 'A Fine Summer' has both dialogue and lots of onomatopoeia on nearly every page. The books in this seasonal quartet do not need to be read in order but all are lots of fun with good humor and subtle life lessons for both young and adult readers! 

More in the 'Beneath the Trees' quartet:

The Autumn of Mister Grumph
Winter Chills

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A Day For Rememberin': The First Memorial Day by Leah Henderson & Floyd Cooper (Children's Nonfiction Picture Book Review)

A Day For Rememberin':
The First Memorial Day
by Leah Henderson
Illustrated by Floyd Cooper
Published by Harry N. Abrams
on May 11, 2021
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction, Picture Books
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 6 - 9 years

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Synopsis:
A moving tribute to the little-known history behind the first Memorial Day, illustrated by Coretta Scott King Award winner Floyd Cooper.  

Inspired by true events told through the eyes of a young boy, this is a deeply moving story about what is regarded as the first Memorial Day on May 1, 1865. Eli dresses up in his best clothes, Mama gathers the mayflowers, Papa straightens his hate, and together they join the crowds filling the streets of Charleston, South Carolina, with bouquets, crosses, and wreaths. Abolitionists, missionaries, teachers, military officers, and a sea of faces Black, Brown, and White, they march as one and sing for all those who gave their lives fighting for freedom during the Civil War. 


My Thoughts:

Experience a fictional account of what may have been the very first Memorial Day, through the eyes of a young Black boy who no longer has to worry daily about his parents being sold and sent away and can go to school freely, all thanks to the Union soldiers who fought in the Civil War. His family prepares and off they go to join in on the procession headed to the Washington Race Course where one of the worst Confederate prisons was turned into a peaceful resting place for the Union prisoners who died there. 

Both beautiful and heartbreaking, this important picture book shares a little-known side to the history of Memorial Day, starting with the very first Decoration Day. On this day grateful families and individuals honored those lives lost in the Civil War by decorating their graves with flags and flowers.

Includes archival photos in the back of the book, as well as extra information on the roots of Decoration Day, a timeline of events, and more. 

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Little Homesteader: A Summer Treasury by Angela Ferraro-Fanning (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

 We received a temporary digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Little Homesteader:
A Summer Treasury of Recipes, Crafts, and Wisdom
by Angela Ferraro-Fanning
Illustrations by Anneliesdraws
Published by Ivy Kids
on May 22, 2022
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction, Nature
Length: 35 pages
Ages: 6 - 8 years

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Synopsis:

Families looking for nature-based fun away from phones and screens will adore this wholesome children's collection of cooking, crafting, and gardening projects, locally printed on 100% recycled paper. 

The latest from the Little Homesteader series, with these books readers can get creative, practice self-sufficiency skills, handcraft items for themselves or as gifts for loved ones, learn about nature and celebrate the best of each season. 


Our Thoughts:

This children's treasury of recipes, crafts, and wisdom is the perfect way to keep your family busy and happy this summer! 

This fun little book includes super cute illustrations that will appeal to little listeners and parents attempting to keep their children busy during the hot, summer months! 

Included are lots of fun activities, recipes, and more to keep you busy and crafting throughout the season. Learn how to grow tomatoes from seed and then make a tomato salad or sun-dried tomatoes from the harvest. Learn about honeybees and butterflies and what flowers to plant in your garden to attract them. Even better, learn the life cycle of a butterfly and how to observe it yourself! 
With several more recipes and activities, this fun and instructive book will keep you busy all summer long! 

This treasury is perfect for homeschoolers, wildschoolers, or just families trying to find something to do during summer breaks!

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Be Thankful For Trees by Harriet Ziefert (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

 

Be Thankful For Trees:
A Tribute to the Many & Surprising Ways Trees Relate to Our Lives
Words by Harriet Ziefert
Illustrations by Brian Fitzgerald
Published by Red Comet Press
on March 29, 2022
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 80 pages
 Ages: 4 - 8 years

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Synopsis:
What gives you a seat, a floor for your feet?
A place you can sit with your family to eat?
The pum-pum of a drum, a guitar's twangy strum...
Tree wood makes music zing, ping, and hum.

Using lilting, rhyming couplets, this book explores the many items that are made from trees. But it doesn't stop there! Kids will also learn about the many uses of live trees--and the environmental danger to trees posed by forest fires, floods, and deforestation. Kids are encouraged to be kind, not only to one another, but to the environment as well. 

This book is printed on responsibly sourced, 100% recycled PSC paper. 


Our Thoughts:

Happy Love A Tree Day!

Be Thankful For Trees is a beautifully illustrated tribute to the many ways trees relate to our lives, from the furniture we sit or sleep on to the musical instruments we play to the books we read and more. Would life even be possible without trees?

Broken down into seven main messages, the rhyming couplets in this picture book remind us of the food, shelter, comfort,  recreation, and more that we obtain thanks to trees and what life would be like without them. 
Can you think of all the ways trees improve our lives? 

This seems like a longer read for its age group with eighty pages but the text is very minimal with only a few words per page for most of the book and no more than a sentence or two on a few others.

Be Thankful For Trees would make a great read-aloud for outdoor storytime or 'wildschooling'. 

Similar reads: 

Bathing in the Forest by Nivola Uya

Forest Magic: A Guidebook For Little Woodland Explorers by Sarah Grindler

The Secret Life of Trees by Moira Butterfield

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We Belong by Laura Purdie Salas & Carlos Velez Aquilera (Children's Picture Book Review)

 We received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

We Belong
Words by Laura Purdie Salas
Illustrated by Carlos Velez Aguilera
Published by Carolrhoda Books
on March 1, 2022
Genre: Children's, Picture books, Poetry
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 7 - 8 years

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Synopsis:
We all belong! 

You and I, we're alike,
but we're different too.
That's not good.
That's not bad.
It's just what is true.

Explore and celebrate who you are and who others are too! Rhyming verse by Laura Purdie Salas invites others to notice the diversity of our world and affirm that we all belong, just as we are. Bright illustrations by Carlos Velez Aquilera feature a diverse group of children, playing and learning in an urban setting. 


My Thoughts:

We Belong is a beautiful poem that celebrates our differences AND similarities and reminds us that it's ok to be just as we are, whatever and wherever that may be. We all belong.

This inclusive picture book is perfect for young readers and includes lots of onomatopoeia and fantastic rhymes that help the reader realize their own importance in the world. 

With amazing illustrations featuring an incredibly diverse cast of background characters, including different races, religions, and physical abilities, We Belong will help readers from all walks of life feel like they matter! 

We read this for Mental Health Awareness Week! 


More from this author:

Water Can Be... by Laura Purdie Salas

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Walking Toward Peace: The True Story of a Brave Woman Called Peace Pilgrim by Kathleen Krull (Children's Nonfiction Picture Book Review)

 We received a temporary digital copy of this picture book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

Walking Toward Peace:
The True Story of a Brave Woman Called Peace Pilgrim
by Kathleen Krull
Illustrated by Annie Bowler
  Published by Flyaway Books
on March 23, 2021
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction, Biography
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

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Synopsis:
She gave up everything: her home, her possessions, even her real name. She called herself Peace Pilgrim, put on her sneakers, and started off on her quest to walk thousands of miles all around America. Step by step, mile after mile, Peace Pilgrim traveled tirelessly, inviting everyone she met to consider a world where each person and each nation chooses peace. 

   This true story about a little-known woman who sacrificed everything for her convictions inspires us to step not for what we believe in, gathering others to join us along the way. 


Our Thoughts:

There once was a woman who decided to give up all her worldly belongings, including her name, to walk the country spreading kindness and friendship. She would become known as Peace Pilgrim. She started her journey in California, walked all the way to the East Coast, and returned only to start all over again. With a beginning goal of twenty-five thousand miles, Peace Pilgrim beat that and went on to walk and spread good cheer for twenty-eight years, meeting and keeping many new friends along the way!

Walking Toward Peace is a beautifully illustrated children's biography that highlights the personal journey of the woman known as Peace Pilgrim, sharing her long treks across the United States. Spreading peace wherever she went, Peace Pilgrim made a big impact on those she met and became friends with many who would go on to follow in her footsteps.

This children's biography features a unique and inspiring woman who found a way to make a difference in the world, travel to new places, and meet tons of new people while doing it. This would be a fantastic addition to anyone looking for more books about peacemakers!

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It Starts With A Bee by QEB & Jennie Webber (Children's Picture Book Review)

 We received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

It Starts With A Bee
by QED
Illustrations by Jennie Webber 
Published by QEB Publishing
on April 5, 2022
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Nature
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 6 - 9 years

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Synopsis:
With lyrical text and enchanting illustrations, It Starts With A Bee takes you on a journey through the seasons as you follow a busy bee that pollinates a wild garden. 

Teach your children about the crucial role bees play in the beautiful cycle of life in this charming tale of the workings of the natural world. 


Our Thoughts:

It Starts With A Bee is a beautifully illustrated picture book with poetic text that shares the beauty of the busy bee and the world it lives in. 

Nature lovers will adore this realistically illustrated picture book with its' busy little bees and gorgeous flowers and other lovely sceneries. It highlights a day in the life of a bee, from the hive to the garden and back, from season to season, and shares their most important qualities and the impact they have on our world and the things we eat! 

We loved how this book made us feel like we were right in the garden alongside the buzzing bees! 

Includes a fantastic page about 'the process of pollination' at the end of the book! 

Many thanks to the publisher for the chance to read this beautiful picture book! 

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It's A Wonderful World by Jess French (Children's Nonfiction Picture Book Review)

 We received a temporary digital copy of this picture book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

 

It's A Wonderful World:
How to Protect the Planet and Change the Future
by Jess French
Published by DK Publishing
on May 3, 2022
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction
Length: 72 pages
Ages: 7 - 9 years

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Synopsis:
Our world is wonderful, and it's up to us to take care of it. You may feel small, but your actions can make a big difference.

This title encourages children to take care of the planet, but it doesn't just focus on the problems--it teaches practical solutions to the issues facing our world today. Veterinarian, author, and TV host Jess French guides kids through taking care of our planet, from living a sustainable lifestyle to using their voice in politics. Unlike many books about the environment, Jess not only covers how to take care of plants and animals but also the positive contribution that humans can make to each other's lives.
Discover how to reduce your carbon footprint, understand the importance of preserving our forests, oceans, and endangered animals, and learn the best ways to stand up for what you believe in. 

Bright, cool illustrations by Aleesha Nandhra combine with photography to create vibrant, engaging spreads. Jess French's encouraging and instructive text empowers kids to look after the environment, themselves, and each other.



Our  Thoughts:

An exploration of Earth and our place in it, combined with how we can help take care of our one and only home. 

Learn all about our wonderful world in this fascinating nonfiction about Earth and everything that makes it unique, from its place in our solar system to its atmosphere and soil to its animal biodiversity, life cycles, landforms, and more but with a focus on learning how the planet renews itself as well as how we impact it and how we can help preserve it for generations to come. 

This is a fantastic resource for learning about planet Earth, with tons of great facts and photos to peruse and tons of helpful hints and tips on how to help conserve, recycle, upcycle, support your local wildlife, and more!

It's A Wonderful World would be a great addition to any home or school library and perfect for any aspiring environmentalist or conservationist. 

Many thanks to DK Publishing and Netgalley for the chance to read this fascinating children's nonfiction. It was the perfect Earth Week read! 

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The Know-Nonsense Guide to Grammar by Heidi Fiedler & Brendan Kearney (Children's Nonfiction Picture Book Review)

 We received a temporary digital copy of this fantastic children's nonfiction picture book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Know-Nonsense Guide to Grammar:
An Awesomely Fun Guide to the Way We Use Words!
Written by Heidi Fiedler
Illustrations by Brendan Kearney
Published by Walter Foster Jr
on April 1, 2017
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction
Length: 64 pages
Ages: 8 - 11 years
Grade levels: 3 - 6 

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Synopsis:
Get kids excited about learning!
The Know Nonsense Guide to Grammar is a hilariously illustrated, quirky, and fun guide that kids will love!

Turn each page in this book to learn a new basic grammar concept, including alliteration, similes, hyperbole, and much more, turning what can at times be dry topics into something approachable and fun. Full of quirky and hilarious illustrations, kids will love learning so much they might even laugh out loud. Flex your literary muscles, and soon you'll be a regular wordsmith!


Our Thoughts:

The Know-Nonsense Guide to Grammar is perfect for introducing young learners to the concepts and rules of language! 

This wonderfully informative book breaks down the eight parts of speech, grammar rules, and literary devices for children to learn and better understand the rules of language. Each is paired with a fun and colorful illustration as well as descriptive sentence and a paragraph that breaks down and explains the rules in easy-to-understand and memorable ways.

The eight parts of speech include nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, pronouns, and conjunctions. The grammar rules include capitalization, punctuation, collective nouns, the sequence of adjectives, and how to use commas. 
This book also includes literary devices such as alliteration and analogies, idioms and irony, cliches, metaphors, and more.

We especially loved the tips for 'proper grammar-snob etiquette' at the end of the book! 

This is a great resource to come back to over and over and would make a wonderful addition to any home or school library or even an especially fantastic gift for any young writer.

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Norman Didn't Do It! (Yes, he did.) by Ryan T. Higgins (Children's Picture Book Review)

Norman Didn't Do It!
(Yes, he did.)
by Ryan T. Higgins
Published by Disney-Hyperion
on September 7, 2021
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Humor
Length: 48 pages
Ages: 3 - 5 years

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Synopsis:
Norman is a porcupine. Mildred is a tree.
Norman and Mildred are best friends. Just the two of them. And only the two of them. But when a surprise pops up, life will never be the same again. 


Our Thoughts:

What's a porcupine to do when his best friend makes a new friend?

Norman's best friend is a tree. They do everything together.
But when a new friend pops up, Norman just can't handle it! He worries so much that he does something drastic; something so terrible, he eventually has to make it right.

Ryan T. Higgins never disappoints! We have loved everything we've read by him so far. His picture books are all so funny and this one was no exception. From his characters' expressions to their words and actions, his books always keep my Little Reader giggling.  

If you've enjoyed any of the hilarious Mother Bruce books, you'll recognize Higgins' illustration style and humor and enjoy this just as much! I'd also recommend this to fan of the Elephant & Piggie series by Mo Willems! 

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If The World Were 100 People by Jackie McCann (Children's Nonfiction Picture Book Review)

 

If the World Were 100 People:
A Visual Guide to Our Global Village
Written by Jackie McMann
Illustrations by Aaron Cushley
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
on July 20, 2021
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

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Synopsis:
Help your child become a global citizen with this accessible introduction to the people who live on our planet, with big ideas broken into bite-size chunks through clever graphic design. Perfect for home and classroom settings! 

With almost 7.8 billion people sharing the earth, it can be a little hard to picture what the human race looks like all together. But if we could shrink the world down to just 100 people, what could we learn about the human race? What would we look like? Where and how would we all be living? This book answers all these questions and more!

Reliably sourced and deftly illustrated, If the World Were 100 People is the perfect starting point to understanding our world and becoming a global citizen. If we focus on just 100 people, it's easier to see what we have in common and what makes us unique. Then we can begin to appreciate each other and also ask what things we want to change in our world. 


My Thoughts:

Want an easier way to show the differences and similarities of ALL the billions of people on Earth to young learners? What better way for Littles to understand our global village than to break those similarities and differences down into an easy-to-see one hundred people? Each of those 100 people would represent around 80 million people in the world today! 

So, how many of those '100 people' are male or female? How different is our DNA? How many people have enough to eat each day? How many have a safe place to live and how many don't? How about access to electricity or the internet or education?

If the World Were 100 People helps share the 'bigger' picture of our world and the people in it by breaking down these and many other facts into groups that younger children can more readily see and imagine than millions and billions. 

I especially loved the discussions this book brought forth as well as how the answers to these questions may change over time as the population grows and better access to food and medicine allows people to live longer.

This children's nonfiction is perfect for both a home or classroom setting!

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The Little Owl and the Big Tree: A Christmas Story by Jeanette & Jonah Winter (Children's Picture Book Review)

The Little Owl and the Big Tree
by Jonah Winter
Published by Beach Lane Books
on October 9, 2021
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Holiday
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 3 months to 8 years

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Synopsis:
One Christmas, a tiny owl stuck in the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree stole the hearts of the nation. Discover the true story in this heartwarming picture book from celebrated mother-son team Jonah and Jeannette Winter.

There once was an owl who lived in a tree. Until one day her home was uprooted and she was taken far away from what she knew. Follow Rockefeller ("Rocky") the owl as she journeys to the bustling center of New York City and she's discovered among the branches of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. With human kindness and a dash of holiday spirit, can this brave little owl find a new home?


My Thoughts:

 This is the true story of an adorable little Northern Saw-whet Owl that found it's home uprooted and shipped off to New York City where it would become the famous annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree! Dubbed Rockefeller, or "Rocky", the cute little adult owl was luckily discovered and removed to a wildlife center where she was nursed back to health and released back into the wild.  And now we have a wonderful Christmas story all about it! 

With bold and colorful illustrations, this picture book makes a great addition to any book advent or holiday story time. 
The simple text makes this a perfect 'easy read' for little readers or just a quick story to listen to during the most festive time of the year! 

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The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper & Carson Ellis (Children's Picture Book Review)

The Shortest Day
Written by Susan Cooper
 Illustrations by Carson Ellis
Published by Candlewick Press
on October 22, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Seasons
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

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Synopsis:
In this seasonal treasure, Newbery Medalist Susan Cooper's beloved poem heralds the winter solstice, illuminated by Caldecott Honoree Carson Ellis's strikingly resonant illustrations. 

So the shortest day came, 
and the year died...

As the sun sets on the shortest day of the year, early people would gather to prepare for the long night ahead. They built fires and lit candles. They played music, bringing their own light to the darkness while wondering if the sun would ever rise again. 
Written for a theatrical production that has become a ritual in itself, Susan Cooper's poem "The Shortest Day" captures the magic behind the returning of the light, the yearning for traditions that connect us with generations that have gone before -- and the hope for peace that we carry into the future. 


Our Thoughts:

Welcome, Yule! 

  Celebrate the winter solstice and the Yuletide season with this fantastic picture book version of Susan Cooper's poem, "The Shortest Day." 

Paying homage to our ancestors and other people of the past, The Shortest Day shares the traditions of celebrating the sun that have endured through the ages, such as lighting candles in the trees and decorating with evergreens or keeping a roaring fire throughout the night and greeting the rising sun.

What better way to celebrate the first day of winter and the rebirth of life than to welcome the sun?! I love the simplicity of celebrating and welcoming the seasons with traditions of old and also love that so many of them overlap other religions/spiritualities so that no matter what you celebrate, there's something festive to look forward to for us all. 

I'll admit that I've yet to see a theatrical production of "The Shortest Day" but it sounds absolutely delightful! 


Do you celebrate the first day of winter?

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Dasher by Matt Tavares (Children's Holiday Picture Book Review)

 

Dasher
by Matt Tavares
Published by Candlewick Press
on September 10, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Holidays
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

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Synopsis:
From the celebrated creator of Red and Lulu comes the story of a brave little doe who meets Santa and changes Christmas forever. 

Dasher is an adventurous young reindeer with a wish in her heart. She spends her days with her family under the hot sun in a traveling circus, but she longs for a different life--one where there is snow beneath her hooves and the North Star above her head. One day, when the opportunity arises, Dasher seizes her destiny and takes off in pursuit of the life she wants to live. It's not long before she meets a nice man in a red suit with a horse-drawn sleigh--a man named Santa. And soon, with the help of a powerful Christmas wish, nothing will be the same. 


Our Thoughts:

Dasher is a beautifully illustrated tale of one of Santa's reindeer and how she went from pulling wagons in a traveling circus to pulling Santa's sleigh!

Dasher was born into a traveling circus and menagerie with her reindeer family and was told stories of the North Star and the cool, snowy winter as she grew so when faced with a chance to escape, Dasher seizes it and heads north where she meets a man in a red suit and an old horse named Silverbell that is trying to deliver toys to children but is stuck in the snow. Can Dasher help the joyful man? And will her Christmas wish come true?

This potential classic is perfect for the Christmas holiday season and shows us a new side to one of our most beloved but often overlooked characters. 

The illustrations and framed text have a very classic style that reminds me of greats like The Night Before Christmas and The Polar Express and will make this a family favorite for years to come! 

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A Christmas Too Big by Colleen Madden (Children's Picture Book Review)

A Christmas Too Big
by Colleen Madden
Published by Two Lions
on November 2, 2021
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Holidays
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

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Synopsis:
A little too much Christmas cheer...

Kerry's family goes completely beserk with Christmas every year. Starting the day after Thanksgiving, her home becomes a whirlwind of lights, music, and elves, elves, elves!

Sometimes it gets a little overwhelming.

But will anyone in her crazy Christmas house understand? Join Kerry as she finds her voice in this delightful holiday tale. 


My Thoughts:

Kerry's family goes all out for Christmas every single year, starting the day after Thanksgiving. Her dad becomes a lights master, her mom becomes an all-time Christmas caroler, and her siblings join in as well, but Kerry thinks it's just too much so she heads outside for a walk where she runs into the only neighbor that doesn't seem to be having a Christmas too big.
Her neighbor, Mrs. Flores, is missing her family but shares her own traditions with Kerry and receives a truly special surprise in return. 

This holiday tale will absolutely warm your heart!

This beautifully illustrated picture book is packed full of Kerry's family's Christmas traditions, beginning with plenty of festive activities and excessive decorating that will keep you busy looking at ALL THE THINGS. There's even a page where you can find all Kerry's brother's elves!
 But as Kerry decides to step away from all the bustle, she learns how to have a different kind of Christmas with different traditions and share that joy with her own family. 

I was pleasantly surprised to find that this is a BILINGUAL book! Mrs. Flores speaks Spanish but Kerry translates for us throughout the second half of the book. There's a page near the end that includes lots of Spanish word labels and the end pages share tons more Christmas items in English at the front and then again in Spanish at the back!  

This was such a sweet read with lots of fun and festive art to look at, a heartwarming story that is perfect for any time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and plenty of Christmas-themed Spanish words to learn!

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Beneath the Trees: Winter Chills by DAV (Children's Picture Book Review)

We received a  digital copy of this picture book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Beneath the Trees: Winter Chills
by DAV
Published by Magnetic Press
on December 14, 2021
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

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Synopsis:
Winter is here, and snow covers the woods like a cold blanket. Mr. Fox has his enormous scarf to keep him warm, but it is almost TOO big--he can't help but trip over it and get caught on tree branches all the time. But as embarrassing as that is, it is even more humiliating when trying to catch the eye of a beautiful lady!


Our Thoughts:

Mr. Fox is out on a cold, winter's day but his oversized scarf makes it difficult to avoid branches and slippery slopes. It really doesn't help that a pretty fox is out and about as well and sees him falling on his face. Utterly embarrassed, Mr. Fox trudges off on his way home alone but quickly finds himself in trouble. Will he find the help he needs? 

This is such a cute story about a shy and unfortunate fox that finds a friend after all.

The Disney-inspired illustration style is lovely, with super cute animal characters, and is presented as wordless sequential art. Mr. Fox's misfortune is quite comical and had my six-year-old in hysterics.
There's also a cute little 'romance' added to the thick of the story that balances the comedy quite well. 

I loved that Mister Grumpf, whom we were introduced to in the first book in this seasonal series, The Autumn of Mister Grumpf, had a small cameo in this sequel. I was expecting the story to be about him again and was surprised by the new characters but loved that there is a sense of community within this series so far! 
We are looking forward to seeing what comes in Spring! 

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The Toys' Christmas by Claire Clement (Children's Picture Book Review)

 We received a digital copy of this picture book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

The Toys' Christmas
Words by Claire Clement
Illustrated by Genevieve Godbout
Published by Frances Lincoln Children's Books
on November 9, 2021
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 32 pages 
Ages: 3 - 7 years

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Synopsis:
This cozy, cuddly Christmas story tells how Santa makes sure he leaves the perfect gift for each child--with a little help from their favorite toys! 


My Thoughts:

It's Christmas Eve and Little Noah can't find his favorite toy, an elephant named Fanfan. Why? Because Fanfan is off on a very important errand to deliver Noah's Christmas wish! 

Every year, beloved stuffed animals and other toys take a long journey to the North Pole to deliver their owner's Christmas wishes to Santa Claus. Who else would know a child's most secret wishes? 

This is a magical and heartwarming holiday story that little ones will absolutely adore! With soft, calming illustrations and colors, this picture book is a perfect bedtime story for the holiday season.

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Christmas, Here I Come by DJ Steinberg & Laurie Stansfield (Children's Picture Book Review)

 We received a copy of this picture book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Christmas, Here I Come!
by D.J. Steinberg
Illustrated by Laurie Stansfield
Published by Grosset & Dunlap
on October 12, 2021
Genre: Children's, Picture Book, Holidays
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 4 - 6 years

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Synopsis:
Celebrate Christmas with a collection of funny and festive poems from the author of the hugely popular Kindergarten, Here I Come!

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and everyone is getting into the Christmas spirit! From writing letters to Santa to picking the perfect tree, these heartwarming poems--plus a page of stickers!--from author D.J. Steinberg are sure to delight even the most sullen Scrooge.


Our Thoughts:

Christmas, Here I Come is the perfect book to fill your Little One's days leading up to the most wonderful time of the year!

This festive little book is full of fun poems about Christmas traditions such as choosing the perfect tree, decorating gingerbread houses, writing letters to Santa, and more! There are fun lists with great ideas of things to make or do this time of year and there's even a wonderful poem about what children around the world call Santa Clause!

The illustrations are wonderfully festive but also have a very cozy feel that makes this Winter-based book perfect for cold days stuck inside. 
To top it all off, there's a sheet of cute stickers in the same illustration style at the end of the book that makes this poetic picture book a great gift!



Many, many thanks to Grosset & Dunlap for the review copy of this book! My 6yo loved it and the stickers! 

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