Author Clare Helen Welsh and illustrator Ashling Lindsay deliver on a beautiful story that conveys, with sensitivity, a child’s perspective on the memory loss of her beloved grandfather. Recommended: Ages 4 – 7 In a poignant story of acceptance and understanding, The Tide explores the relationship between a little girl (the narrator) and her grandfather,… Read More
British author/illustrator, Emily Gravett, adds a measure of intrigue, and a dash of humor to her deliciously simple, perfectly fun picture book, Orange Pear Apple Bear. With just the four words in the title (plus one), and expressive, yet uncluttered illustrations, this read-aloud is sure to take a prominent spot in any toddler book basket.… Read More
Most of us will never see firsthand the precious Arctic habitat of polar bears, or the ocean depths that are home to the blue whale. Our adult connection to the wildness of these extreme environments may be described as tenuous. But for children, wildness is the stuff of favorite story books and imaginative play. The… Read More
We’ve all seen a cat . . . right? But author/illustrator, Brendan Wenzel, cleverly reminds us in his latest picture book that “seeing” is personal. They All Saw a Cat follows the same cat making its way through its neighborhood. “The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws …” The cat… Read More
Maybe Something Beautiful How Art Transformed a Neighborhood By F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell Illustrated by Rafael López This truly beautiful picture book is a triumphant celebration of collaboration and the transformative power of art. It is based on the true story of Rafael and Candice López and the birth of San Diego’s Urban… Read More
Water is Water – A Book About the Water Cycle By Miranda Paul; Illustrations by Jason Chin A biracial brother and sister and a diverse group of friends play and explore outdoors through the four seasons in this poetic look at the many forms water takes on its trip through its cycle. From rain to… Read More
I’ve always found a certain therapy in reading to children – just break open a good book, read aloud and watch the world’s ugliness melt away – at least for a few minutes. So I thought I might begin the new year with a book recommendation to counter the ugly intolerance that is so much… Read More
As a picture book lover of the genus hoarder, I advocate for classroom read alouds by finding curricular tie-ins to make reading authentic children’s literature an everyday part of the Montessori experience; but, honestly, some picture books are so fantastic (or in this case, magnificent), they secure their place in the classroom, no strings attached.… Read More
Do Unto Animals: A Friendly Guide to How Animals Live, and How We Can Make Their Lives Better by Tracey Stewart (Author), Lisel Ashlock (Illustrator) Publisher: Artisan (October 20, 2015) Short Description: The more we know about the animals in our world and the better we care for them, the better our lives will be.… Read More
Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See by Megan Dowd Lambert (Author), Chris Raschka (Foreword), Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Contributor) Publisher: Charlesbridge (November 3, 2015) Short Description: The Whole Book Approach is an interactive approach to storytime that was developed in conjunction with the Eric… Read More