

January: Featured Pictures Books
The Book of Rules: A Picture Book by Brian Gehrlein Children must follow the rules because Dennis the monster will eat them if they don’t. Follow the rules, and you are safe! Author: Brian GehrleinWriting Style: hilarious, encouraging, joyful, fun, interactiveIllustrator: Tom KnightIllustrations: funny, engaging, diverse, lively, colorfulThemes: getting the sillies out, mindfulness, following rulesPublishing Year: 2021Publisher: Farrar Strays GirouxAges: 4 – 8Lexile: Not Yet … Continue reading January: Featured Pictures Books

Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2022 Book Review: Finish the Story! Harriet Tubman’s Secret Raid
Valerie Budayr of Jump Into a Book/Audrey Press and Mia Wenjen of Pragmatic Mom founded Multicultural Children’s Book Day to celebrate multicultural and diverse children’s literature. Every year this wonderful event takes place online and offline on the last Friday of January. This year it falls on January 28th. For this occasion, Storyopolis Press sent me Finish the Story! Harriet Tubman’s Secret Raid by Jeffrey Bensam. Friends Danny and … Continue reading Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2022 Book Review: Finish the Story! Harriet Tubman’s Secret Raid

Picture Books About Dreams
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “I Have a Dream” speech, 1963. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., here is a list of picture books about dreams. Dream Street … Continue reading Picture Books About Dreams

Book Review of Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Daunis Fontaine is a mixed eighteen-year-old who has trouble fitting in Sault Ste. Marie, her hometown, and Sugar Island, where her paternal Firekeeper family members live. Daunis is dealing with the tragic loss of her maternal uncle and taking care of her maternal grandmother when she starts a friendship with Jamie, the new hot member of her brother Levy’s hockey team. She begins to develop … Continue reading Book Review of Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

STORYSTORM 2022 Participant
What better way than start the year with a writing challenge! I’m talking about Tara Lazar’s STORYSTORM 2022. It’s an annual writing challenge in which writers develop story ideas for 30 days. The main point is to create an idea per day, but you can do more than that. To register and follow all the rules of STORYSTORM 2022, go to Tara Lazar’s blog and … Continue reading STORYSTORM 2022 Participant

Christmas Picture Books
Santa in the City by Tiffany D. Jackson Deja asks many questions about Santa’s delivery methods to her city after some classmates cast doubts on her about his existence. Her mother and family and community members respond to her questions, restoring Deja’s belief in Santa’s magic. Author: Tiffany D. JacksonWriting Style: sweet, creative, funIllustrator: Reggie BrownIllustrations: digital art, diverse, colorful, livelyThemes: Santa Claus’ existence and … Continue reading Christmas Picture Books

Author Spotlight: Frances Díaz Evans
Written by Frances Díaz Evans and illustrated by Alejandra López, Coco la cotorra puertorriqueña (Spanish Edition) is the story of Coco, a bilingual Puerto Rican parrot freed in El Yunque after growing up in captivity. Coco is excited about living in the rainforest and finding a family, but his squawking differs from the parrots born in nature. Will Coco make it in the rainforest? Today … Continue reading Author Spotlight: Frances Díaz Evans

Winter Picture Books
A Sled for Gabo by Emma Otheguy It is a snowy day, and Gabo wants to play outside and make new friends, but he does not have appropriate winter clothes. His inventive Mami comes up with a wardrobe solution. Once out, Gabo thinks he cannot play because he does not have a sled. Plus, he is shy. But Gabo learns fun is always possible outside … Continue reading Winter Picture Books

Book Review of Lotería by Karla Arenas Valenti
In Oaxaca City, best friends, Life and Death, play their annual game of Lotería. Without knowing it, Clara has been chosen by Life and Death as the pawn of their game. If Life wins, Clara will have a long life. If Death wins, Clara dies. After tragedy strikes, Esteban, Clara’s cousin, goes missing. Clara will do everything in her power to find and save her … Continue reading Book Review of Lotería by Karla Arenas Valenti

Native American Picture Books for All Year Long
November is National American Indian Heritage Month, which celebrates the culture, history, heritage, and contributions of Native peoples to the formation and growth of the United States. To celebrate, I gathered five facts about this celebration and made a list of picture books to read this month and all year long. Five Facts about Native American History Month A Senecan Indian, Dr. Arthur C. Parker, … Continue reading Native American Picture Books for All Year Long