What makes a good pet? Is it a cat or a dog? Or perhaps something else? Does it need to have special talents? As the owner of four pets, I have to say I don't think there is one thing that makes a good pet. For me it is that they have to show love and feel loved. Today we are sharing a book all about pets and what makes them good. The book is Better Pets by Leigh Bardugo and illustrated by Liz Climo. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6.
As autumn is hitting New England one often thinks about the trees. Well, I guess the leaves. When Hazel was young, we would take nature walks around the neighborhood and collect leaves. We would do crafts with them, and I would try to teach her about the kinds of trees in the neighborhood. It is important for the next generation to understand the importance of nature and taking care of it. Today we are sharing a middle grade book about a girl and some large trees. It has some STEM in it as well as the normal life things--friends, family, etc. The book is Nora T and the Champion Tree by Mona Martin Batchelor and illustrations by Maggie Latimer. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
What does community mean to you? Many early childhood/elementary classes talk about community helpers in class, but how do kids really understand community? Today we are sharing three new picture books that have different themes on community. We will start with Luisa, at Your Service! by Sara Amini and illustrated by Juana Medina. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
When Hazel was young, she loved fairies!! We made fairy gardens, had fairy parties and play dates, and did so many different fairy crafts!! We also used fairies to teach different things and like many families had visits from the tooth fairy. We have shared various books and stories about the tooth fairy and what she does with all the teeth. We have also shared about the Pumpkin Fairy which we learned about when she attended a Waldorf school. We have shared quite a few posts about Halloween themed fairies as well. Needless to say, we have quite a bit of experience with fairies in this household. Today we are sharing three new picture books all written and illustrated by Diane Alber. Each shares an untold story of a different fairy who helps kids grow healthy and all three of today's books help kids' teeth at different stages of life. Each book also has a craft for the kids to make to ease the fairy's visit to your home. The first book is An Untold Story of the Binky Fairy. It is recommended for ages 4 to 7, but I would say read it to even younger kids when you are trying to rid them of the pacifier.
What are your thoughts on graphic novels? I know many kids who love them. Many of them are quite good. I think they help kids who don't love reading get into books. My personal thoughts are that anything that gets kids reading and enjoying it is a good thing. Today we are sharing one for young readers--age recommendation is 6 to 9. The book is the first book in a new series. It is Pip & Pals #1: Otter Space by Jen de Oliveira.
Are you a fan of Halloween? Do you like the spookiness or just the fun? This year consider celebrating Summerween! Today we are going to share three books recently released (or re-released) that have a Halloween theme. One however introduces Summerween. Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing more Halloween themed books so get ready for Summerween or in our case Halloween in July! The first book is actually a Summerween story. It is But I'm a Pumpkin!: A Summerween Story by Kat Choppy and illustrated by Heidi Moreno. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.
At bedtime, I always loved reading a book about going to bed or with characters going to sleep at the end of it when Hazel was little. I always felt like it was the perfect way to lead to turning off the lights. Today we get to share three very different books of this type. One is about noise. One is a Korean folktale, and the final one is about a sleepover! We will start with The Very Noisy House by Sally Nicholls and illustrated by Gosia Herba. It is recommended for ages 2 to 5.
As spring goes on and the school year gets closer to its end, there are some fun new books that are great for teacher gifts, story time at home and so much more! Today we are sharing three books -- a board book and two picture books -- that share kindness, culture, family, friends and school. We will start with the board book. It is ABCs of Kindness at School by Patricia Hegarty and illustrated by Summer Macon. It is recommended for ages 0 to 3 and is part of the Books of Kindness Collection.
Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Have you ever noticed an animal that doesn't seem to realize what animal it actually is? Or perhaps you have noticed an animal that seems the wrong size for the type it is. Animals just like people have personalities. They show up in so many different ways. I know I see it in my pets. Today we are sharing two newly released picture books about animals who are uniquely themselves. The first book is Gigantic by Rob Biddulph. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.
What can you create from a cardboard box or two? This is what we asked our students for the last two weeks in February. Our school stops academics for two weeks and offers mini courses. One mini course is always for the theater department to prepare for the METG drama festival. For the non-theater kids, we change the course offerings each year, and they pick two classes--one for each week. This year I was offering Cardboard Creations with the physics/chemistry/math teacher. The first week is four days because of Presidents' Day and the second week was supposed to be five days, but we had a blizzard so it turned out to be only three days.
Friendship can be hard when growing up. People mature at different times and can grow apart, but each friend is not always aware. It is even worse when there is an age difference between the friends. Today we are sharing a book with the narrator being the younger friend when the friendship breaks. It is a middle grade graphic novel called Wrong Friend by Charise Mericle Harper and illustrated by Rory Lucey. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
Board books are great for different ages. Babies can't harm them too much and as kids get older, they can handle the flaps and such. Today we are sharing a roundup of board books. They range in recommended ages from 0 to 7. A couple are being rereleased and the others are new this month. The first book is 123s of Kindness at Bedtime by Patricia Hegarty and illustrated by Summer Macon. It is part of the Books of Kindness Collection and is recommended for ages 0 to 3.
Name a magician. Most people tend to name Harry Houdini, even today. He is that well known. Over the years Hazel and I have explored Harry Houdini, but I don't know that much about his life. Today we are sharing a wonderful new picture book biography on him and his love of books. The book is Houdini's Library by Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Mar Delmar. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8, but I would say it is on the older side of that maybe 6 to 10.
Can you believe Valentine's Day is only a month away? It seems time to start spreading some love and I think our society needs it. Today we are sharing three new picture books that share about family love. One was even released this week! We will start with that one which is Apapacho Love by Cynthia Harmony and illustrated by Erika Meza. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
New Year's Eve is almost here. To celebrate New Year's Eve one things about a countdown, fireworks and noisemakers, as well as a toast and special food and activities to keep everyone awake and entertained until the ball drops. New Year's Day is full of rest, brunch, resolutions and visiting. How do you celebrate with your kids? Over the years we have found some fun age-appropriate ways to celebrate with Hazel. New Year's is a special holiday for us because of her birthday. But even without her birthday around New Year's, I feel the start of a new year as a special restart for everyone. There are so many different ways it is celebrated around the world and even some different times of the year. Between the many countries that celebrate the lunar new year (this year it begins February 17, 2026) and the Jewish culture that celebrates Rosh Hashanah and of course the teachers who "celebrate" with a new school year. For this New Year's Eve I pulled together old posts, features from Sharing Saturday and asked fellow bloggers for ideas for you!
It is hard to believe it is holiday season. Christmas is right around the corner so that means that it is time to share some of the new holiday books!! Today's grouping are books for younger kids. The first is a board book. It is Crocodile Christmas by J.D. Forester and illustrated by Reshu Lakra. It is recommended for ages 0 to 3.
My pile of picture books is growing fast (almost like my chapter books). Today I am sharing a roundup of books that have come out recently (including this week). Some teach lessons and some are just fun and there is definitely something for everyone here! We will start with Gray Squirrel Loses It! by Cassandra Federman. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
On Sunday I shared a post about Banned Books Week and reviewed a couple of banned books. I was a couple of weeks late for Banned Books Week. Did you know that graphic novels are often banned books? Many schools don't want their kids reading them as they don't think of them as real books. Can you imagine? For some readers, the illustrations of graphic novels are what help them get into the book. Personally, I feel that if a child enjoys reading a book, it is a good thing. The more we force kids to read certain books or types of books, the less the child wants to read. I know this was definitely true for Hazel. She dreaded summer reading assignments. She hated being forced to read certain books. Even books she may have chosen on her own, when forced to read them she did not enjoy them. So I say let the kids read graphic novels and banned books. Let them read books about the topics that interest them as well as ones that relate to their lives like the book I am sharing today. It is a middle grade graphic novel all about turning twelve and the changes that come with this new age. The book is Turning Twelve by Kathryn Ormsbee and illustrated by Molly Brooks. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
I read banned books. In fact, I even review banned books (often before they are banned). Banning books seems to be an epidemic lately. Books are banned or challenged (before banning) by people who are trying to protect children. They feel these books are inappropriate for children. Perhaps for their own children, but they don't want their own children's friends reading them either because kids talk. In early October every year there is a Banned Books Week. This year it was October 5-11. (Next year it is October 4-10, 2026.) It is a week to make aware some of the books that are being challenged and possibly banned around the world. You may be surprised by some of the books on the list. There are many I read in school when I was young, or my friends did in other classes I didn't take. There are books like Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and George Orwell's 1984. There are other classics like Animal House, Fahrenheit 451, To Kill a Mockingbird, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Number the Stars, Of Mice and Men, The Great Gatsby, ... the list goes on and on and includes The Holy Bible. Books tend to get challenged if they share cultural identity like A Place Inside of Me or Fry Bread or sexual or gender identity like Spin with Me or It's Okay to be a Unicorn or sexual encounters like Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Speak is our first book for review today. It is recommended for ages 12 to 18 or young adult. The other book we will be reviewing is a picture book!
Where do your kids go when they are dealing with a BIG emotion? Where did you go when you were young? What did you do? I remember going to my room crying and wanting to be alone but not wanting to be alone. Today we are sharing a book about a young girl dealing with a big emotion and using creativity to overcome it. The book is Nunu and the Sea by Isabella Kung. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8 and is being released tomorrow!
