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Showing posts with the label picture books

PICTURE BOOK REVIEWS : Serafina Makes Waves & A Fish Like Me

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SERAFINA MAKES WAVES words by Matthew Burgess, pictures by Robin Rosenthal Dial Books for Young Readers, 2026 ISBN: 978-0-593-69963-8 Source : purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK This purr-fectly adorable picture book introduces an irresistibly over-the-top new kitty character who’s ready to make a big splash! Meet Serafina! If there’s one thing you should know about Serafina, it’s that she absolutely, positively HATES water. Running faucets, rain, or the sea? No thank you. So even though she looks fantastic in goggles, Serafina is NOT happy to be forced into a swim class by the powers that be. NOTHING can convince her to get into that disgusting pit of seething water. Nothing, that is, except maybe a very beloved old friend who needs a hand. From acclaimed creators Matthew Burgess and Robin Rosenthal comes an unforgettable picture book that shows how trying new things can ...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW w/ Author & Illustrator INTERVIEWS : Unicorns in Uniforms by Beth Ferry & A.N. Kang

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UNICORNS IN UNIFORMS written by Beth Ferry, illustrated A.N. Kang Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-7542-1 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover, summary, and interviews provided by the publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK No job is too big or too small for magical uniformed unicorns in this adorable and empowering picture book from New York Times bestselling author Beth Ferry! We’re Unicorns in Uniforms! We know just what to do. We’re hoofed and horned and well-informed And ready to help you! Come join these caring unicorns as they work, play, and save the day—because when you’re a unicorn, U can do anything if you work together! ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR Beth Ferry is the author of numerous picture books for children including Roar for Reading, Prunella, and the New York Times bestseller Stick and Stone. She is an avid reader who believes that any day spent with a book is a perfect day. Be...

PICTURE BOOK NONFICTION : A Doctor at Heart by Joan Schoettler & Steffi Walthall

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  A DOCTOR AT HEART The Story of Groundbreaking Scientist and Teacher Vivien Thomas written by Joan Schoettler, illustrated by Steffi Walthall Beach Lane Books, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-4814-7666-9 Source: Blue Slip Media & publisher Ages 6-9 All opinions expressed are solely my own Book cover & summary & other information provided by Blue Slip Media & publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK A fascinating and inspiring picture book biography about Vivien Thomas, a pioneer of children’s heart surgery and trailblazer for Black people in STEM. Vivien Thomas always loved solving problems and figuring out how things worked. In high school, inspired by his family physician, he decided he would become a doctor. Despite losing his college savings during the 1930 bank panic, Vivien stayed dedicated to making his dream a reality, a trait that would serve him all his life. Vivien secured a lab assistant position at Vanderbilt University and later moved to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he and his me...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : The Underwearwolf by Gideon Sterer & Charles Santoso

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THE UNDERWEARWOLF written by Gideon Sterer, illustrated by Charles Santoso Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-5558-4 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Perfect for fans of Creepy Pair of Underwear, this wolfish picture book romp follows a kid who finds himself in a hairy situation when he dons a pair of not-so-normal undies under the light of the full moon. Do not, under any circumstances, Or for any reason, Wear this underwear under the full moon. Do you understand? Get ready to howl with laughter as one rule-breaking, underwear-loving kid transforms into a—gasp!—UNDERWEARWOLF! Now he’s on an unforgettable nighttime adventure that may or may not include furry paws, sharp claws, uncomfortable wedgies, and an honest-to-goodness wild wolfpack! No butts about it—this is one read-aloud that’ll blow your undies off! REVIEW A y...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : The Dino Door by Josh Funk & Renee Kurilla

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  THE DINO DOOR written by Josh Funk, illustrated by Renee Kurilla Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-5783-0 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Where the Wild Things Are gets a charming dinosaur twist in this whimsical rhyming picture book with adorable and vibrant art about a boy who discovers a magical door to the land of dinosaurs! Do you dare to see what’s behind the Dino Door? Dinosaur. Dino…door? Dino more! When a secret door appears in a small child’s messy, toy-strewn room just when they need it most, they discover a world full of real-life dinosaur friends! But what happens when it’s time to go back home? With clever wordplay and engaging, child-friendly art, beloved author Josh Funk and New York Times bestselling artist Renee Kurilla invite readers to a world full of wonder, humor, friendship, and,...

WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY : Just One Oak by Maria Gianferrari & Diana Sudyka

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JUST ONE OAK What a Single Tree Can Be written by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Diana Sudyka Beach Lane Books, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-6104-2 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Nonfiction Ages 4-8  All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Explore an oak tree, from its leafy crown to its roots underground, and learn all the amazing ways it supports the animals, plants, and habitat where it lives in this surprising and enlightening nonfiction picture book companion to the award-winning Fungi Grow. An oak tree is so much more than meets the eye. From tiny fungi to mighty mammals, this amazing tree contains a whole world. For insects and birds, the oak’s leaves, branches, and bark are a home. For bears and squirrels, the thousands of acorns the oak produces are a nutritious superfood. Owls, deer, foxes, and many more creatures are drawn to the rich and healthy environment an oak creates. Bec...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW & AUTHOR INTERVIEW : Little Ghost's Summerween by Maggie Edkins Willis

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  LITTLE GHOST'S SUMMERWEEN written & illustrated by Maggie Edkins Willis Beach Lane Books, 2026 ISBN;978-1-6659-8514-7 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK Little Ghost tries to pick the perfect party theme for his summer birthday in this charming picture book companion to Little Ghost Makes a Friend by bestselling author-illustrator Maggie Edkins Willis. Little Ghost loves parties, but he’s only ever had the Halloween kind! After attending his first ever birthday party, Little Ghost decides to throw one of his own. His good friend Anya says his party should celebrate Little Ghost and what he likes most. That’s easy—Little Ghost loves Halloween with all its bats, black cats, candy corn, and pumpkins. There’s just one it’s summertime. And Halloween and summer just don’t mix…or do they? REVIEW Little Ghost wants to have a birthday party, but his favorite things...

PICTURE BOOK NONFICTION : The True Ugly Duckling by Sandra Nickel & Calvin Nicholls

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  THE TRUE UGLY DUCKLING: How Hans Christian Andersen Became a Swan written by Sandra Nickel, illustrated by Calvin Nicholls Levine Querido, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-64614-576-8 Source: Blue Slip Media & publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 6-10 Biography All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher for review. ABOUT THE BOOK Picture book biography of one of the most iconic storytellers of all time, Hans Christian Andersen, illustrated by papercut artist Calvin Nicholls He brought to life stories and characters that millions have A one-legged tin soldier who yearned for love. A poor little match girl. A mermaid who gave up her voice for a prince. But who was Hans Christian Andersen? He was a “strange child.” An ugly duckling. Even his mother said so. He didn’t seem to think like, or look like, anyone around him. But while his tender heart was bruised by ridicule, it responded by driving an unstoppable urge to create, to entertain. If he co...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : The Octopus by Guojing

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  THE OCTOPUS written & illustrated by Guojing two lions, 2026 ISBN: 978-1662521508 Source: publicist for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Join a little girl as she discovers the hidden world of her new octopus friend in this stunning wordless picture book by critically acclaimed author-illustrator Guojing. A little girl goes to the beach with her mother, never expecting the day full of magic and wonder that is ahead of her. When she scoops up a tiny octopus in her small, clear container, and they see each other eye to eye, there’s a spark between them! But a little octopus cannot be happy for long in a container. So the girl sets out to discover what the octopus needs. And that’s when something truly magical happens! Soon, the little girl is on an underwater adventure with her new octopus friend, where she discovers the joy and beauty of the octopus’s wor...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen & Violeta Engarnacion

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  BARBED WIRE BETWEEN US written by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnacion Red Comet Press, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-63655-192-0 Source: author for review (Thanks!) Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A powerful reverso poem about two girls separated by barbed wire and 80 years of history Barbed Wire Between Us is a powerful reverso poem that tells two deeply resonant stories across time. It begins with a Japanese American girl sent to an internment camp in Oklahoma during World War II. Read in reverse, it reveals the journey of a Latina girl detained in the very same camp decades later, during the U.S. policy of migrant family separation. Harrowing and emotionally charged, this poetic narrative compels us to confront a haunting question: What have we truly learned in the past 80 years about how we treat the most vulnerable among us? With haunting symmetry and striking parallels, Ba...

WILD & WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY : Who Hid the Stars? by Valentina Gottardi, Maciej Michno, and Danio Miserocchi

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  WHO HID THE STARS? How Light Pollution Changes Our World written by Valentina Gottardi, Maciej Michno, and Danio Miserocchi illustrated by Valentina Gottardi translated by Sylvia Notini Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2026 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5651-7 Source: publisher for review Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A richly illustrated picture book exploring light pollution and its surprising impact on nature and wildlife. When streetlights outshine the stars, what does that mean for plants, animals, and us? This absorbing nonfiction picture book investigates artificial light and its unexpected impact on our planet. Who Hid the Stars? explores fascinating topics including: How artificial light developed throughout history—from fire to LEDs How city lights interrupt bird migration patterns How streetlights gather insects—and their predators How turtles struggle to hatch without da...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : Loops by Jashar Awan

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  LOOPS written & illustrated by Jashar Awan Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-7494-3 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 3-7 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor–winning author-illustrator Jashar Awan comes a hilarious and all-too-relatable picture book about the perseverance and positive self-talk needed to learn to tie your shoelaces! This big kid is wearing his first pair of big-kid shoes, the kind with laces! Even though they’re a little on the roomy side—shoes to grow into, of course—he knows he can take care of them. Except they keep falling off! Not to worry, he’ll just tie them up again, because he knows how to tie those loops! But wait a second, where did that darn shoe go? Nothing is ever truly easy when you’re just starting something new; but, just like with any stage in childhood, whether it’s making...

PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : Bookie & Cookie & Bookie & Cookie turn the page by Blanca Gomez

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BOOKIE & COOKIE written & illustrated by Blanca Gomez Rocky Pond Books, 2024 ISBN: 978-0-593-69680-4 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Even the best friendships have rough moments, but a true friend will always find a way to compromise (especially when cookies are involved!) – a scrumptious and clever read-aloud by the illustrator of Very Good Hats and Besos for Baby.Bookie and Cookie are best friends. They love to spend time together, reading books and snacking on treats. But whenever this happens, it’s always at Cookie’s home . . . until the day when Bookie insists on getting together at his home instead. Cookie He doesn’t want to try something new. And now Bookie and Cookie are both alone, and the activities they used to enjoy together aren’t nearly as much fun. Can the two buddies each try something new for the sake of their friendship? REVIEW Bookie a...