Picture Book Wednesday: Dawn

Spending the morning by the pond with its animal visitors and nature companions.

This is a beautiful book! The illustrations are soft and gorgeous. There aren't too many words, but the words perfectly match the pictures. There's a lot going on in this book - there's lots to talk about and lots to share.

A must have for your school and public library collections.

Picture Book Review: Let's Meet Taylor

Happy Taylor Swift Day to all who celebrate!

This picture book biography is the story of Taylor Swift.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this picture book biography. I learned something from this story. The illustrations are super cute. I love how friendship bracelets made it into the book. This book is super cute for any young fan. Although I confess, I enjoyed this one too. 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have picture book for your school or public library

* this book would make the perfect holiday gift

Picture Book Review: From My Head to My Toes

 

A picture book about listening to your body and being kind to your body. 

This book is beautifully illustrated with diverse characters. This book talks about consent because your body belongs to you. I love how it shares that idea that you are enough - just the way you are. There is also a note to adult readers and a page on talking to kids about their bodies and boundaries. 

Library Recommendation: A very important book - a must have book for your school and public libraries. 

* ARC sent for review

** This book is out on Tuesday.

BookTok: Nana in the Country

I adore Lauren Catillo - she's one of my favorite illustrators and authors.

I was so happy when this book was announced! I loved the first book.

And the illustrations are magical! 

 

@yabooknerdlibrarian I hope you enjoy this book as much as I do! I adore Lauren Castillo! Check this one out! #illustrations #booktok #picturebook #midlit #countylife #country #charming ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Picture Book Review: Do You Know Them

 

While this book shares an important piece of Black history, it's important to acknowledge these stories year round and not just in February. 

Lottie lost track of her family. They had been sold before the end of the war. Now she's desperate to find them. She works all the odd jobs she can to save money for an advertisement in the newspaper. She's hoping that someone will know where they are.

This is a heartbreaking story with lovely illustrations, but it's so powerful and important to read. Lottie is an inspiration in a dark time. She's determined and she gives others hope. There's nothing more powerful that hope. This is an important book to share with readers. 

* This book was sent for review

This is a must have picture book for your library's collection.

Picture Book Wednesday: How Dinosaurs Went Extinct

November is 

And we just started celebrating the month last year.

This picture book is a great book to share:

In a museum, a child asks how dinosaurs went extinct. The answers are hilarious. But not all the parents agree. The ending is priceless.

* a must have picture book for your library's collection 

Picture Book Review: Big

One little girl grew up happy- until something changed. She was shamed for her body. It finally became too much for her. She took back her confidence and found herself again outside of the opinions of others. 

WOW! This is an impressive and important book. I love the message of looking at yourself and finding self-worth through your own eyes. The illustrations are amazing (Vashti Harrison is one of my favorite illustrators. 

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your school or public library's collection. 

Picture Book Review: My Mommy Marches

A young girl questions why her mother marches in protests.

She learns that there are problems that need fixing, not everyone can speak up, and to show love. The little girl decides to follow in her mother's footsteps. This is a powerful heartwarming story that's meant to shared with everyone. 

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your school and public library collection

Picture Book Wednesday: Today is a Me Day

For one little girl, it's a day for doing whatever she feels like.

This is a great message for kids. Some days you just need to recharge and do things that make you happy. I loved how varied the activities are. I love the illustrations. 

Read this one with your loved ones!

* Must have book for your collections

** What would you do for a Me day? **

My day would look a little like this:

Sleep Late

Walk the Dogs

Make Pancakes

Bake

Read

Craft

BookTok: This is a Story

I read the most amazing picture book:

 

@yabooknerdlibrarian My new favorite picture book! So many sweet reading moments. So many Easter Eggs. Beautiful illustrations. Just perfection! #kidlit #picturebooks #amreading #bookishbooks #illustration #librariansoftiktok #favorite ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Picture Book Review: Hey Bruce!

 

Poor Bruce is napping but the mice want him to be in their book. What's a grumpy bear to do? Poor Bruce! 

This is a funny interactive story that will delight readers of all ages. 

Library Recommendation: This is a must have picture book for your collection!  Bruce is a favorite of mine. I can't wait to read this in storytime. 

Picture Book Wednesday: Namaste is a Greeting

 

Namaste means so many things.

This is a beautiful story with a great message and charming illustrations. Without many words, this book makes a great read-aloud. It's also perfect for the summer reading theme All Together Now.

A must have picture book for your library collection!

Picture Book Wednesday: Farmhouse

The story of a farmhouse that housed a family of twelve children and their adventures.

I loved this book - for the stories of the children. While the story is charming, this is a book you pour over, looking at all the details. And there are many details - from the charming wallpaper to the measuring marks to the attic bedrooms. I did enjoy the author's note at the back. 

Library Recommendation: A must have picture book for your library's collection. 

Cover Thoughts: I love the raised windows on the cover. 

Picture Book Wednesday: Hattie Harmony Worry Detective

Harmony's starting school with her friends and some of them are a little bit nervous. Luckily, she's there to help them. And they are there to help her.

This is a sweet story with a great message. There's a worry refrain for all the problems:

"Worry Worry go away! There's no time for your today!" 

I loved how Harmony both helped people and received help from her friends. Everyone needs help sometimes and everyone gets nervous or scared. I love how they solved the problems together. At the back of the book, there's an author's note that talks about tools used in this book.

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your school and public libraries. 

Picture Book Review: Creepy Crayons

* Book 3 in the Creepy series *

This purple crayon seems to have a mind of its own. At first Jasper is happy to have the crayon's help. He's getting better grades, but soon the crayon wants to take over everything. And it's a little bit creepy! 

My Thoughts: Another clever addition to this picture book series. I love the black and white illustrations mixed with the purple.  These books are super popular in my library, and I imagine this one will be too!

Source: Sent for review

Library Recommendation: This is a must have book for your picture book collection.

Picture Book Review: This is a School

It's almost back to school time in New England. I'm reading this in a Back to School storytime at the library next week and I'm really excited. 

First off, I was excited because it's a Mr. Schu book. If you don't know Mr. Schu, he's used to be a school librarian, then was Scholastic Ambassador for school librarians and book fairs. Now he writes books and travels to visit schools. One day I hope to meet him - he's wicked passionate about books. 

This is a School - is a celebration of everything that makes up a school from the teacher to the students to the library to the cafeteria and everyone who works at the school. I love the messages of community and togetherness. The illustrations are lovely and diverse. 

Library Recommendation: This is a must have book for your collection. 

Picture Book Wednesday: Hurry Up!

One boy is so busy that he forgets all the awesome things happening around him - until he takes a deep breath and slows down.

Great message about not hurrying through the day, to slow down, to notice the little things happening around us, and be mindful taking it all in. I loved the artwork in this book. 

Library Recommendation: Must have picture book for your library's collection!

Picture Book Review: Not So Small

When one voice CAN make a difference.

I loved this book for: 

the illustrations

the message of hope, kindness, and love.

Library Recommendation: A must have book for school and public libraries

Picture Book Wednesday: Yours in Books

 

This is my new favorite picture book and I chat about it on TikTok. Of course, there were things I forgot to mention...

This one is great for older readers - 1st and 2nd graders. They will appreciate the humor.  

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your school and public library collection!

@yabooknerdlibrarian New fun picture book with a grumpy hero who finds he has a soft heart! #picturebook #booktok #owl #librarian #newbook #grumpyhero ♬ original sound - Jennifer @YA Book Nerd 📚📚📚

Picture Book Wednesday: Eyes that Speak to the Stars

After seeing a drawing of himself by a friend, a young boy begins to question why his eyes are shaped differently. HIs father shares that their eyes are like that because of their family and their traditions. 

It's a beautiful heartwarming answer. The little boy talks to his grandfather and his little brother. He comes to be proud of his family and their heritage, their love, and their dreams. A beautiful story with gorgeous illustrations from the same team as Eyes that Kiss in the Corners

A must have book for public and school libraries