Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! If you live in a hot area, I hope you are surviving. We spent the weekend at the pool wading in the shallow end because neither my daughter nor I can swim, and now she has a nice tan, and I am some shade of beet. This entire week is in the 100s (Fahrenheit), and I am not looking forward to it. I anticipate much need for ice cream, to help cool down, of course. 🙂
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Crochet by WildPoppyDesignsShop
Saturday would have been Eric Carle’s 93rd birthday, so I thought I’d share this adorable crochet of his most famous character, the very hungry caterpillar. It looks perfectly sized for a little one’s hands. $18
New Releases
Ice Cream Face by Heidi Woodward Sheffield
I read this new picture book to my daughter just this morning, and it is so delightful. A little boy is so excited to go to the ice cream store, but there’s a long line when he arrives. When he finally does get his delicious ice cream, his scoop falls to the ground, and the store is now closed so he can’t get another! Thankfully, others are willing to share their own ice cream treats so that everyone can have a delicious treat. This is the perfect read for the summer.
KINDergarten by Vera Ahiyya, illustrated by Joey Chou
This is an adorable and super sweet back-to-school read from kindergarten teacher Vera Ahiyya (@thetututeacher on Instagram). Leo is super shy and is feeling really nervous about starting kindergarten. When Ms. Perry asks the class to give ideas about how they can be kind during the school year, he’s too nervous to make any suggestions. But in this kindergarten class, actions matter. Many incoming kindergartners have had less socializing than they might have due to Covid-19. This is a great picture book to help them envision what kindergarten might look like and validate their feelings if they’re feeling nervous or shy.
For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
While this newsletter will publish after Father’s Day, these dad and daughter picture book suggestions can be read all year round. My husband is the primary caregiver to our daughter during the day while I work, so I especially appreciate books like these that show Dads actively parenting.
Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by David Roberts
This picture book is hilarious. Two dads desperately try to organize their children for a cleaning session before grandma comes by listing everything that needs to be done on the refrigerator using magnetic letters. Upon hearing that a bath is in order, the cat not so helpfully rearranges all the letters leading to hilarious consequences. My daughter requests this picture book so much, and I love that it has two gay dads without it being “about” having two dads.
Somewhere by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Armando Mariño
Every morning, my daughter and husband go to a nearby park and find lots of fun things to explore in nature, which is one reason why I love this picture book. I also love how the dad lets his daughter explore some by herself, though, as the vibrant illustrations show, he’s keeping a close eye on her even if she doesn’t realize it! This book is really lovely, from the lyrical prose to the gorgeous illustrations.
Together We Ride by Valerie Bolling, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita
If you have a kid that will be learning how to ride a bike soon, this is a must! In rhythmic prose, a dad teaches his daughter how to ride a bike. There are falls, but the girl gets back up and keeps trying. One of our local librarians recently gave us a bike her stepdaughter had outgrown, so we’re definitely going to be reading this a lot in the future!
My City Speaks by Darren Lebeuf, illustrated by Ashley Barron
This beautiful picture book is a lyrical ode to cities and all their hidden beauty. A visually impaired girl and her father spend a day exploring their city. They go to a playground, a community garden, and an outdoor concert where the little girl plays the violin. It’s clear these are places the two go to often. I love the incidental disability representation in this one.
Here I am with my dad reading what I believe is The Hobbit. I’m around 5 in this picture. It’s never too early to read The Hobbit, right? My sisters and I frequently made hobbit holes out of chairs and blankets. Both of my parents are huge readers, but Dad’s the one that hooked me on fantasy at a young age.
If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, and blog irregularly at Baby Librarians. You can also read my Book Riot posts. If you’d like to drop me a line, my email is kingsbury.margaret@gmail.com
Until next Tuesday!
Margaret Kingsbury