“The Most Beautiful Thing” written by Kao Kalia Yang and illustrated by Khoa Le is an incredibly generous, meaningful story about a Hmong refugee family. Our narrator, Kalia, and her grandmother are the two protagonists. We hear so much through Kalia, as she listens to her grandmother with so many stories and only one tooth.Continue reading “The Most Beautiful Thing: A Most Beautiful Book”
Category Archives: Picture Books
Sonya’s Chickens: Loss, Family and Chickens
“Sonya’s Chickens” by Phoebe Wahl is a book that manages to cover loss and grief in a beautiful and short story. The book begins with Sonya receiving three chickens from her parents. Sonya and her family live on a small farm, and Sonya has just begun to take care of three small chicks. The storyContinue reading “Sonya’s Chickens: Loss, Family and Chickens”
Pick A Pine Tree: Yes, It’s a Christmas Book.
The internet is a long lasting project, so it’s hard to say when you’re reading this. Still, I admit that I’m publishing this review in September, ages and ages before the holiday season. If you’re on book twitter, you already know about the expected book shortage coming this holiday season. And if not, I’ll tellContinue reading “Pick A Pine Tree: Yes, It’s a Christmas Book.”
We Are In A Book! (It’s Elephant and Piggie time?)
It would be irresponsible to talk about children’s books without covering Mo Willems. Willems is such a known entity for young readers that in this book, his own last name is behind one of his beloved characters. “We Are in a Book” is from the Elephant and Piggie series, but for the youngest readers, eachContinue reading “We Are In A Book! (It’s Elephant and Piggie time?)”
tiny, perfect things: a tiny perfect book
Okay, the book itself isn’t unusually tiny. But it’s undeniably perfect by it’s own definition. “tiny, perfect things” is written by M. H. Clark and illustrated by Madeline Kloepper. The book follows a child and grandparent as they go for a walk and look for the small, beautiful things that can be especially thrilling forContinue reading “tiny, perfect things: a tiny perfect book”
Just Ask: Just… Look at the Pictures
“Just Ask: Be Brave, Be Different, Be You” is a picture book written by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and illustrated by Rafael Lopez. The book is as wordy as its title. The text is a lot. I think the book has a lot to offer. There’s a ton of disability representation and if yourContinue reading “Just Ask: Just… Look at the Pictures”
Sharing A Smile: Masks on Pages
Masks are a part of our world now. They’re a part of our children’s world too. With “Sharing A Smile” by Nicki Kramar and illustrations by Ashley Evans, masks can enter your library shelves, too. “Sharing A Smile” follows Sophie and her Grandpa, presumably at the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic. Grandpa helps Sophie comeContinue reading “Sharing A Smile: Masks on Pages”
Mother Bruce: A Grumpy Delight
Ryan T. Higgins delivers an odd and adorable classic. You just have to read “Mother Bruce.” Mother Bruce is an incredibly accessible picture book featuring Bruce, a grumpy bear who loves to cook. In this universe, Bruce is an incredible chef, but in his culinary pursuits, Bruce stumbles into the job of mothering newly hatchedContinue reading “Mother Bruce: A Grumpy Delight”
You Are New: Short & Sweet
Lucy Knisley almost always delivers. And I only say almost because I haven’t read all of her books. You Are New is a sweet picture book explaining babyhood and newness to any babies willing to listen. The book expands newness, offering assurance to babies and grown ups alike that change can always be found. TheContinue reading “You Are New: Short & Sweet”