Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Community Gardens, Creepy Crayons, and More!

It’s the first day of preschool for my 4-year-old! This is the first time since becoming a parent I’ve had six consecutive, uninterrupted hours to work. It is glorious, but I also miss my daughter! We got off to a bit of a bumpy start this week when we had to miss the technical first day of school due to the both of us contracting a cold. Thankfully, it was just a cold and the preschool she’s attending is very flexible, so they let her go on a different day than she’s signed up for (she’s only going two days a week). I can’t wait for her to tell me how her day went!

Bookish Goods

Book Ban Print by Shelley Couvillion

Banish Book Ban Modern Print by ShelleyCouvillion

Children’s book illustrator Shelley Couvillion recently added this fantastic anti-book banning print to her Etsy store. $23+

New Releases

Cover of Sam's Super Seats by Brown

Sam’s Super Seats by Keah Brown, illustrated by Sharee Miller

I’ve already reviewed this picture book in my newsletter about disabled joy, but I really can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s also an excellent back-to-school read. Sam, who has cerebral palsy, is super excited about going back to school. She and her friends are going back-to-school shopping at the mall. Sam understands the importance of rest and listening to her body, so wherever she goes — whether it’s home, the car, or the mall — she finds a super seat to rest in.

Cover of Creepy Crayon by Reynolds

Creepy Crayon by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown

The third installment of Reynold’s and Brown’s Creepy picture book series features a creepy purple crayon. Jasper Rabbit isn’t doing so well at school, but when he finds a smiling purple crayon on the side of the road, his luck changes. When he uses the purple crayon, all his schoolwork turns out perfect! While this at first seems like a good thing, the story takes a sinister turn when the purple crayon starts wanting to control everything Jasper does. In my previous newsletter, I discussed my daughter’s keen interest in how crayons are made. Needless to say, this is her favorite in the series!

For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Our community garden has lots of produce lately, and we’ve been walking there every weekend to purchase some. So today I thought I would share some of my favorite recent picture books celebrating community gardens!

Cover of Uncle John's City Garden

Uncle John’s City Garden by Bernette G. Ford, illustrated by Frank Morrison

In this beautifully illustrated picture book, L’il Sissy and her siblings visit her Uncle John in the city, where they help him transform an empty lot into a vibrant community garden. The story is based on author Bernette Ford’s childhood experiences, and award-winning illustrator Frank Morrison’s rich illustrations are stunning. I would not be surprised if this one wins some awards next year.

Cover of Miguel's Community Garden by Brown-Wood

Miguel’s Community Garden by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Samara Hardy

Just like my daughter and I, Miguel and his dads can walk to their local community garden. Today, the garden is having a garden party, and Miguel needs to find sunflowers for the party. By comparing and contrasting different produce in the garden, readers can help Miguel find the sunflowers. This is a standalone follow-up to Amara’s Farm, another delightful compare/contrast book about sustainable food. Amara makes an appearance at the end!

Cover of Rooftop Garden by Smith

Rooftop Garden by Danna Smith, illustrated by Pati Aguilera

In this rhyming picture book, a community joins together to create a rooftop garden. With hard work, they’re able to gather together and find fresh food for a feast. The warm illustrations depict families of all types, and the back matter includes gardening steps and the stages of plant growth. There’s also a QR code for an accompanying song.

Cover of Behold Our Magical Garden by Wolf

Behold Our Magical Garden by Allan Wolf, illustrated by Daniel Duncan

This poetry collection centers an elementary school’s community garden. The poems are playful and cleverly written, and I love the interactive elements. On every page, readers are invited to interact with the poems and illustrations, from searching and finding items from the poems to solving mysteries. It’s a fantastic, garden-themed poetry collection.

Marian plays in a community garden, the kids are all right

Here’s my daughter enjoying our local community garden, which is only about a 15-minute walk from our house. Last week we bought fresh tomatoes and yellow squash. They’re so much more delicious fresh!

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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Women in Translation Month and Toilet Paper Bookmarks

Happy Tuesday, kid lit friends! This week I’m desperately trying to catch up on all the picture books publishers have sent me and also pack away books for donations. I am once again a judge for the Bookstagang Awards and, based on my experience from last year as a judge, I need to clear a lot of space for all the picture books publishers will send for award consideration. I’m about to make some teachers and schools very happy with book donations.

Speaking of children’s book awards, a board member of the Cybils Award asked me to share that they are broadening their pool of judges and are currently accepting applications from anyone who talks about children’s books and is interested in being a judge. They’re particularly interested in having a diverse group of judges.

Bookish Goods

Once Upon a Time Wall Art by Bleubri

Once Upon A Time Wall Art by bleubri

This woodland-themed bookish wall art is perfect for a child’s reading nook. $24+

New Releases

Cover of My Town / Mi Pueblo by Solis

My Town / Mi Pueblo by Nicholas Solis, illustrated by Luisa Uribe

This bilingual picture book is written from the perspective of two cousins who live on either side of the U.S.-Mexico border. They love visiting each other in one another’s towns. The illustrations and text are divided on each full page spread by one child’s visit to the Mexican border town and the other child’s visit to the U.S. border town. The bilingual text is the same as each child visits the towns. It’s a sweet multicultural book that celebrates the joy of experiencing new cultures and living close to the border.

Cover of Ride On by Faith Hicks

Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks

This is a must-read for all the horse kids out there. Tired of the competitiveness and eliteness in her stables, Victoria switches to what she hopes will be a more laid-back (and less expensive) stable to ride her horse at. After a falling out with a rich friend at the previous stable, Victoria has written off friendship altogether. However, a shared love of a sci-fi franchise shows Victoria that maybe everything doesn’t need to be about horses, and maybe she can have friends, too. While I am not nor ever was a horse girl, my sister sure was, and we collected Breyer horses together and I tagged along to many horseback riding days and even a few Breyerfests (let’s not talk about how many times I’ve watched The Black Stallion and its sequel). As a result, I love horse books like this one, despite being quite happy to never ride a horse again.

For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

August is Women in Translation Month, so I thought I’d share some excellent translated picture books by women!

Playing with Lanterns by Wang Yage, illustrated by Zhu Chengliang, translated by Helen Wang

This Chinese picture book follows Zhao Di as she celebrates all 15 nights of the Lunar New Year. She loves celebrating Lunar New Year with her friends and especially loves playing with the lanterns. But she’s sad when the 15 days are over and it’s time to smash the lanterns. She’s not ready for the fun to end!

Cover of Leilong the Library Bus by Liu

Leilong the Library Bus by Julia Liu, illustrated by Bei Lynn, translated by Helen Wang

Also translated by Helen Wang, this sweet and funny picture book was originally published in Taiwan. Leilong the dinosaur loves books and especially loves the library and going to story time with his friends. But there’s a big problem: Leilong is far too big for the library. He keeps accidentally smashing books, and he just can’t fit! Is there any solution?

Cover of I Am the Subway by Hyoeun

I Am the Subway by Kim Hyo-Eun, translated by Deborah Smith

This gorgeously illustrated picture book was originally published in Korea and takes place along a Seoul subway. It’s an imaginative and contemplative read that relates the lives and thoughts of subway goers. It’s the kind of picture book adults will enjoy just as much as children.

Cover of This is How I Know by Luby

MII Maanda Ezhi-Gkendmaanh / This Is How I Know by Brittany Luby, illustrated by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, translated by Alvin Ted Corbiere & Alan Corbiere

This beautiful celebration of the seasons is written in both English and Anishinaabemowin, an Indigenous North American language of the Anishinaabe. It follows a grandmother and grandchild as they explore all four seasons, from summer sunsets listening to the bugs to watching blue jays on a snowy winter day. It’s an excellent book to add to intergenerational, seasonal, and Indigenous American collections.

The book Peanut, Butter, and Crackers: Puppy Problems with a toilet paper book mark

My daughter has reached an important reading milestone. The other day she grabbed Peanut, Butter, and Crackers: Puppy Problems to read in the bathroom, and when she was finished doing her business, she used toilet paper as a bookmark to remember her spot. This is especially fitting considering the cover.

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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Beaches, Vacations, Grandmothers, and More

Happy Tuesday, kid lit friends! This week I’ve been buying school supplies and getting school forms turned in. My daughter’s back-to-school supply list includes two bags of buttons and lots and lots of art supplies, so I’m very intrigued by what she’ll be creating in preschool this year! I hope everyone’s kids have wonderful first days.

Bookish Goods

Montessori Bookshelf by Child Universe

Montessori Bookshelf by Child Universe

This front-facing bookshelf is on sale right now by quite a bit. $89+

New Releases

Cover of Nana, Nenek, and Nina by Ferneyhough

Nana, Nenek & Nina by Liza Ferneyhough

Nina’s two grandmothers live very far apart: Nenek in Malaysia and Nana in England. She loves visiting both, and as the side-by-side format shows, Nina does many of the same things in both locations, like gardening, grocery shopping, and playing at the beach, but these activities are still quite different between locations! But no matter where she is, Nina knows her grandmothers love her. This is a delightful, intergenerational picture book and a great conversation starter about cultures.

Cover of Fighting for Yes! by Cocca-Leffler

Fighting for Yes!: The Story of Disability Rights Activist Judith Heumann by Maryann Cocca-Leffler, illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger

I recently reviewed this picture book biography on my Instagram and included a poll to see how many of my followers knew who Judith Heumann was. Only 24% of my followers had heard of her. Judith Heumann is a major figure in the history of disability rights activism. She led the historic 504 sit-in in 1977, which paved the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act, and she sued New York City in 1970 for refusing to grant her a teaching license on the grounds of her disability. This picture book biography tells her story from childhood through the 504 sit-in, describing society’s repeated efforts to refuse her entry and how she kept pushing back against all the “nos” until she finally heard “yes.” It’s vital more children’s disability histories and biographies like this one are published.

For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Maybe it’s a bit weird to be thinking about beach trips right when school is starting, but we’re currently planning a beach trip for late summer or early fall, and I thought I’d share some of my favorite new children’s books about beaches.

Cover of What a Shell Can Tell by Scales

What a Shell Can Tell by Helen Scales, illustrated by Sonia Pulido

This fascinating and beautifully illustrated nonfiction identifies types of seashells as well as giving lots of neat facts about them. Written by a marine biologist, it’s super informative. This is a perfect companion for seashell collectors.

Cover of A Day for Sandcastles by Lawson

A Day for Sandcastles by JonArno Lawson, illustrated by Qin Leng

I am picky about the wordless picture books I enjoy, but this one is delightful and so evocative of the beach. Three siblings ride a bus to the beach with their parents, ready to make a sandcastle. But the sandcastle keeps getting toppled, either by a rampaging toddler or by the sea itself. But these siblings don’t give up, and keep on building despite interruptions.

Cover of Vampire Vacation by Lavoie

Vampire Vacation by Laura Lavoie, illustrated by Micah Player

Every year Fang’s family goes to Transylvania for vacation, but Fang is tired of the same trip, and thinks Transylvania is boring. He has a mission to convince his family to go to the beach instead. But vampires don’t go to the beach! This is a super funny picture book.

cover of Mermaid Kenzie by Charlotte Watson Sherman

Mermaid Kenzie: Protector of the Deeps by Charlotte Watson Sherman, illustrated by Geneva Bowers

Written in African American Vernacular English (AAVE), this lyrical picture book encourages kids to clean up litter at the beach. While Kenzie and her mom are snorkeling, Kenzie spots all kinds of litter. Wanting to help the marine life, like her seal friend, she slips on her mermaid tail, grabs a net, and starts scooping litter. However, she knows one person isn’t enough to clean up everything. She enlists the help of other children, and together, they clear the beach of litter.

A children's owl suitcase, the kids are all right

Marian recently watched a video of the Crayola Experience in Orlando, and now she’s obsessed with how crayons are made and has decided we’re leaving immediately for Orlando…which is an 11 hour drive. She packed her suitcase a week ago and won’t let us unpack it. So we know her vacation vote!

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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Back-To-School Reads, Vaccines, And More!

Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! My 4-year-old starts preschool for the first time in just two weeks, and she could not be more excited. She’s asked me every day for at least a month if it’s time to go to school. The pandemic started when she was two, and because I’m immunocompromised, we’ve done very little socializing between now and then. Unlike her parents, my daughter is very extroverted, and she is more than ready to make some friends. It’s only going to be two days a week, but I’m more than ready for some child-less days! My county schools start next week so, while I know many school systems begin in September, I thought I would go ahead and share some back-to-school reads.

But before that: Book Riot is hiring an Editorial Operations Associate, perfect for people who love getting into the nitty gritty of behind-the-scenes work. You’ll work with the Ed Ops team to support Editorial and the Book Riot writers! We are committed to building an inclusive workforce and strongly encourage applications from women, individuals with disabilities, and people of color. Apply by August 8.

Bookish Goods

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Backpack by ForLittleMonkeysShop

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Backpack by ForLittleMonkeysShop

My daughter has requested a Very Hungry Caterpillar backpack to go with her VHC lunchbox. We have a perfectly serviceable Sesame Street backpack, so I haven’t decided yet whether she’s getting another, but this one is cute! $56

New Releases

Cover of The More You Give by Campbell

The More You Give by Marcy Campbell, illustrated by Francesca Sanna

Oh, this picture book made me cry. It’s so tender and heartwarming. It begins with a grandmother and grandson planting a tree together and waiting for it to grow. And as they wait, they relish in their love for one another and for the earth. When the grandmother dies, it’s the grandson’s turn to pass on her legacy of loving the earth and caring for the land. As each generation grows older, has children, and passes on the grandmother’s wisdom, the land fills and fills with trees.

Cover of Invisible by Gonzalez

Invisible: A Graphic Novel by Christina Diaz Gonzalez, illustrated by Gabriela Epstein

This bilingual (English/Spanish) middle grade graphic novel is a great back-to-school read for middle schoolers. Five Latine middle schoolers at the same school are called into the principal’s office and told they need to complete mandatory community service. He’s placed them in a group, falsely assuming they all must be friends, to volunteer in the cafeteria every morning with the racist cafeteria manager. No one is excited about this assignment, but they do get a chance to make meaningful change in someone’s life when they discover an unhoused mother and daughter.

For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Here are four of my favorite back-to-school picture books!

Cover of Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome by Zhang

Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome by Kat Zhang, illustrated by Charlene Chua

I adore all of the Amy Wu picture books by Zhang and Chua, and both this most recent book in the series and Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon have school-related themes. In Warm Welcome, a new student at school has Amy confused. No matter how much she talks to him, he doesn’t respond. When she hears him greet his little sister in Chinese, she realizes he wasn’t rejecting her, he just didn’t understand her! Amy decides to throw a community dumpling party and welcome him properly this time — by making a welcome sign using Chinese characters. But now it’s her turn to feel a little shy about an unfamiliar language.

cover of Luli and the Language of Tea

Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Hyewon Yum

This picture book has a similar theme to Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome but a different approach, and it takes place in a preschool instead. All of the students in Luli’s preschool speak different languages. On the first day of school, they play separately instead of together, the lack of a common language creating a barrier between students. But Luli has an idea to bring everyone together — tea! The next day Luli brings tea and cookies to the classroom, and they all have a tea party. The tea party helps break the ice, and, afterward, everyone plays together in groups. I am writing this as I drink green tea, so I am fully behind the idea of tea parties = friendship.

Becoming Vanessa by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

This autobiographical picture book tells the story of Vanessa’s first day of school. Vanessa wants to show how special she is by dressing uniquely for school. Unfortunately, her unique outfit is not a hit with the other kids at school, and they won’t play with her. She begins copying them, hoping that doing so will help them like her, but that doesn’t work either. After some parental love and insight into her name, she realizes she can still be Vanessa. When she returns to school this time with confidence in herself, she feels more comfortable and is able to make friends.

cover of the queen of kindergarten by derrick barnes and vanessa newton brantley

The Queen of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton

This follow-up to The King of Kindergarten follows a young Black girl on her first day of school. She could not be more excited, and when she decides to wear a tiara on the first day, her mother reminds her of what queens of kindergarten do: they brighten up the room, they’re kind and caring, and they’re helpful. By practicing these skills on her first day of kindergarten, the little girl helps make her classroom community better for everyone.

hello kitty pillow on a wooden chair
Hello Kitty had no side effects from the Covid-19 vaccine.

I’m happy to report that my 4-year-old is now fully vaccinated against Covid-19! She has received two shots of the Moderna vaccine, as did her Hello Kitty mermaid lovey, which we bought from Walgreens after her first vaccination. I will say that while she had no side effects with the first shot, she did run a fever for 24 hours after the second shot. The fever passed quickly, and she soon returned to her normal self. I’m absolutely thrilled she’s vaccinated before school starts.

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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Reading Hedgehogs, Mental Health, Paintbrush Ladders, And More!

Hi there kidlit friends! I just had a cavity filled, so I am living the numb face, can’t eat life. Sigh. Still, glad to have it filled. This is my last post for Disability Pride Month, and I wanted to share this piece on disability in picture books that I wrote for School Library Journal. I got to speak with some amazing disabled creators about their picture books, and I had a lovely experience writing the piece.

Do you love getting into the nitty gritty of behind-the-scenes work? Book Riot is hiring an Editorial Operations Associate. We are committed to building an inclusive workforce and strongly encourage applications from women, individuals with disabilities, and people of color. Apply by August 8.

Bookish Goods

Book Shop Pin by thecleverclove

Book Shop Pin by thecleverclove

I am obssessed by how adorable this pin is. A reading hedgehog! A bird! Sunflowers! A tree! I’m pretty easy. $15

New Releases

Cover of Good Morning, Good Night / Buenos Días, Buenos Noches

Good Morning, Good Night / Buenos Días, Buenos Noches by Mikala Carpenter, illustrated by Gemma Román

This super cute board book is written in both English and Spanish. It’s part of a new bilingual board book series called Little Languages. It follows different, diverse children throughout the day, from waking up in the morning to playing outside to going to bed. Toddlers will love the vibrant, happy illustrations.

Cover of Old Friends by Aitken

Old Friends by Margaret Aitken, illustrated by Lenny Wen

After her granny dies, Marjorie decides to infiltrate a senior citizen’s group to be around others who like the same things she and Granny enjoyed doing together, like knitting, gardening, and cooking scones. So she grays her hair with some flour, dons a cardigan, and sets off to join the club. Her disguise unravels during the samba, but maybe they’ll still let her be in the club? This is a supersweet picture book.

For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

For my last newsletter during Disability Pride Month, I thought I’d share a few children’s books about mental health. Mental health can often be overlooked when it comes to disability, though that is beginning to change. When my dad was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder, for instance, he wasn’t allowed to apply for disability with the military, but that did eventually change. The Guardian recently published an article about the plethora of children’s books tackling mental health. I have anxiety, something that developed after having a child, and I’ve come to really appreciate children’s books that address mental health. These are a few of my recent favorites.

Cover of A Blue Kind of Day by Tomlinson

A Blue Kind of Day by Rachel Tomlinson, illustrated by Tori-Jay Mordey

This picture book addresses childhood depression. Coen is depressed, and doesn’t feel like leaving his bed. One by one, his father, mother, and little sister try to coax him from the bed, but none of their approaches works. All Coen wants to do is huddle under the covers and feel his emotions. When his family gives him the space, quiet, and support to do just that, his blue feelings slowly dissapate, and he’s able to climb out of bed and start his day.

Cover of The Big Worry Day by Reynolds

The Big Worry Day by K.A. Reynolds, illustrated by Chloe Dominique (August 23)

Based on the author’s experiences with anxiety, this picture book chronicles how a girl and her dog deal with day-to-day anxieties. Even though it’s the weekend, the child narrator and her dog have a lot of worries. But with some deep breaths and imagination, plus the bravery and kindness found in one another’s company, the two are able to go outside and play, despite their initial fears.

Cover of In the Blue by Hourigan

In the Blue by Erin Hourigan

Sometimes the dad in this picture book is happy and full of energy, like the sun. But sometimes he’s deeply sad, lost in the blue, or even an angry red. This makes the child narrator feel sad and angry too. Both father and daughter go to therapy, and the dad is able to find his sunshine again, though the blue does still come back sometimes. This is a picture book I needed as a child. It’s a lovely color-based metaphor, and a must for children having a similar experience with a loved one. The author bases it on her own experiences.

Living with Viola cover

Living with Viola by Rosena Fung

I adore this middle grade graphic novel about Chinese-American middle-schooler Livy. Livy’s anxiety is so pervasive it forms into an alter-ego—Viola. Viola follows Livy to a new school, and makes it difficult for her to make new friends and participate in school. In the end, she does tell her parents and she begins to go to therapy, which helps her manage Viola and her anxiety. I love the growing trend of showing kids in therapy.

a ladder made out of paintbrushes and a blanket

My daughter loves building things and making indoor playgrounds. Several of the playgrounds we go to regularly have ladders leading up to slides, so she decided to make her own ladder . . . out of paintbrushes. And tape, of course. (We go through many things of tape a month.) This was completely her idea, and I was able to cook dinner while she implemented it. 🙂 I do not recommend using it as an actual ladder, however.

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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Beginner Disability Books, Berry Picking, And More!

Hey there kidlit friends! I hope you’re managing to keep cool in this brutal heat; well, brutal here in Tennessee. I look like I’ve gone swimming every time I leave the house. This week has seen two new developments on the parenting front: my daughter has started reading books, and she’s also amped up her practical jokes. I blame my partner’s genes for the latter and take credit for the former.

Do you love getting into the nitty gritty of behind-the-scenes work? Work with the Ed Ops team to support Editorial and the Book Riot writers! Book Riot is hiring an Editorial Operations Associate. We are committed to building an inclusive workforce and strongly encourage applications from women, individuals with disabilities, and people of color. Apply by August 8.

Bookish Goods

Raised by Reading Shirt by BeautyBalanceApparel

These cute shirts come in a variety of children’s and adult sizes and styles. $8.50+

New Releases

Cover of Berry Song by Goede

Berry Song by Michaela Goade

I jumped for joy when this gorgeous picture book by the illustrator of We Are Water Protectors came in the mail. Goede is a member of the Raven moiety and Kiks.ádi clan, and in this picture book, an indigenous girl and her grandmother gather food in every season. After reading this, I took my daughter to a blueberry farm to go berry picking. It’s a lyrical and lovely celebration of nature and the bond between grandmothers and grandchildren.

Cover of Everything in Its Place by David-Sax

Everything in Its Place by Pauline David-Sax, illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

I requested this picture book based on the intriguing collage cover art, and it exceeded my expectations. Nicky is shy and would rather spend her time in the library helping the librarian reshelve books than at recess with her peers. However, the library will be closed for a week for renovations, and Nicky will be forced to go outside for recess instead of hiding in the library. She finds courage from an unusual source: from a group of lady bikers at her mother’s diner. One biker, a regular, reads poetry and lends Nicky her wisdom and a Mary Oliver book. The next day at recess, Nicky brings the Mary Oliver book, and it’s through poetry that she makes her first friend. This is a lovely and surprisingly sophisticated picture book that will speak just as much to adult readers as it will to children (but it’s still very child-friendly).

For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Last week I recommended four children’s books centering disabled joy for Disability Pride Month, and this week I wanted to recommend four more disability-themed children’s books. This time I wanted to highlight books that make excellent introductions to the disabled experience. I’ve noticed that many people like to read Just Ask! by Sonia Sotomayor as an introductory disability text for kids and, while I have complete respect for both the author and illustrator, and I know the book is well-intentioned, it is problematic in many ways, and criticized by many in the disabled community, including myself. It actually isn’t a good idea to teach children to “just ask” someone about their personal medical histories, which can sometimes be traumatic, embarrassing, or just frankly no one’s business. Disabled people are constantly asked to explain and justify their lived experiences. So I wanted to give some other options to start conversations about disability and what it means to be disabled.

Cover of What Happened to You? by Catchpole

What Happened to You? by James Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George

This playful picture book is in direct contrast to Just Ask!. Joe wants to play pirates at the playground, but instead of playing with him, kids keep asking him what happened to his leg, and they won’t stop asking. When they finally do decide to play with him, they all have fun. It turns out it doesn’t really matter why Joe has one leg. What really matters is how much fun it is to be friends. Author James Catchpole, who is also a leg amputee, provides a helpful guide to caregivers in the back about how to respond when their curious children do ask disabled folk, “What happened?”

Cover of A Kids Book about Disabilities

A Kids Book about Disabilities by Kristine Napper

Disabled author and educator Kristine Napper provides an excellent conversation starter in this intriguingly formatted children’s book. Instead of traditional illustrations, the book uses neat typography and graphic design. The text is an extremely informative and straightforward guide to disability, from basic facts like how many people are disabled, to how to talk to disabled people, to ableism and discrimination disabled folk experience. Napper writes very personally and it feels like a conversation.

Cover of We Want to Go to School by Cocca Leffler

We Want to Go to School!: The Fight for Disability Rights by Maryann Cocca-Leffler & Janine Leffler

This nonfiction picture book chronicles the Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia 1971 case, where the court ruled that schools had to allow and provide accommodations for disabled students. It’s a landmark case in disability history, and the child-friendly illustrations and accessible text make it a great introduction to some of the discrimination disabled people have experienced. It shows how disabled kids can make things change.

Cover of I am Not a Label by Baldo

I Am Not a Label by Cerrie Burnell, illustrated by Lauren Mark Baldo

This illustrated anthology of biographies about 34 major disabled historical figures is a must for upper elementary and middle school students. The mini bios examine an array of people and their disabilities, from Frida Kahlo to Peter Dinklage to Arunima Sinha. The contemporary illustrations are lovely.

We picked possibly the most humid day of the year to go blueberry picking at a nearby farm, and despite the beautiful blue sky in this picture, it stormed terribly all the way home. However, it was worth it. This was my first time blueberry picking, and I have to say, the blueberries were so much more delicious than the ones at the store, and they last a lot longer!

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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Disability Pride Month, Witches, And More!

Hi there my kid-lit friends! July is Disability Pride Month, and I’ve already seen three disability roundups with problematic, cringey books on them. Sigh. If you’re looking to read more books with disability representation, I highly recommend reading books by disabled authors and seeking out lists and reviews by disabled reviewers, like me! With that in mind, I recommend four books below, and here’s a list of 20 picture books with disabled characters I made for the nonprofit Madison Reading Project. I’ll share some more of my disability posts throughout this month! I’ve also written lots for Book Riot if you want to dig through my previous posts.

On another note, Book Riot is hiring an Editorial Operations Associate! In this position, you’ll work with the Ed Ops team to support Editorial and the Book Riot writers. Book Riot is committed to building an inclusive workforce and strongly encourages applications from women, individuals with disabilities, and people of color. Applications are due by August 8th. Apply here.

Bookish Goods

Disability Inclusion Poster by PollyjollyCreations

Add this disability-themed print to your child’s reading nook. $3

New Releases

Sometimes Love by Katrina Moore, illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz

I am an army brat, and while I have a lot of mixed feelings about how the military is used now, I still have a soft spot for books with military parents. In this super sweet picture book, a military family has a big move ahead and, unfortunately, cannot bring their new puppy with them. The little girl loves her pup, but they manage to find the dog a good home before leaving. Don’t worry, this picture book has a happy ending!

Cover of Leila the Perfect Witch by Drago

Leila, the Perfect Witch by Flavia Z. Drago

While witchy reads tend to be relegated to Halloween, I’m the kind of reader that reads witch all year long, and I adore Leila and her family. Leila has always excelled at all things witch until it comes to winning the Magnificent Witchy Cake-off. No matter how hard she tries, she just can’t bewitch an enchanting dessert into creation! However, with the help of her three sisters, she makes something she can be proud of, and realizes that winning isn’t everything.

For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

For my first Disability Pride Month roundup, I thought I’d recommend 4 books that center disabled joy! There’s not enough disabled joy in children’s books, so it’s always an absolute delight when I find it. All of these are written by disabled authors.

Cover of We Move Together by Fritsch

We Move Together by Kelly Fritsch and Anne McGuire, illustrated by Eduardo Trejos

This joyful picture book celebrates disabled bodies as they move through a variety of spaces. The vibrant illustrations are accompanied by lyrical, simple prose that shows all types of disabled bodies moving fast, slow, waiting in line, playing, and marching for disability justice. It’s a powerful, lovely read and a call to action for more accessible spaces.

Cover of Sam's Super Seats by Brown

Sam’s Super Seats by Keah Brown, illustrated by Sharee Miller (August 23)

This picture book doesn’t release until August 23rd, but it’s definitely worth pre-ordering! Written by #DisabledAndCute founder Keah Brown, it tells the story of a little girl with cerebral palsy finding the perfect back-to-school outfit, and finding the perfect place to rest. When I interviewed Keah Brown for a piece I’m writing for School Library Journal, she told me how her impetus for writing this was the lack of disabled Black joy in her childhood reading (and not much has changed since).

Cover of Can I Play Too? by Cotterill

Can I Play Too? by Samantha Cotterill

All four books in Samantha Cotterill’s Little Senses series center a joyful experience for a child on the autism spectrum. In this one, two children play trains together, but when one child has trouble relegating and reading emotions, it could ruin playtime. With a bit of coaching from his mom, what could’ve been a disaster turns into lots of fun.

Cover of The Chance to Fly by Stroker

The Chance to Fly by Ali Stroker and Stacy Davidowitz

I’m a musical fiend and I cannot say enough good things about this delightful middle grade by disabled Broadway star Ali Stroker! 14-year-old Nat Beacon has moved, and while her dad wants her to join the wheelchair racing team, Nat wants to do something of her own, like theater. When she tries out for Wicked, she lands a part, but a fire might shut down the play. Stroker also has a new picture book that recently released, Ali and the Sea of Stars, which also centers disabled joy.

A scooter using a toddler’s potty.

A friend of mine recently gave us a scooter her child had outgrown, and instead of riding it like a normal child, my daughter named it Zoomo and pretends it’s a kid like her. Here Zoomo is going potty before a trip to the park. Zoomo also likes eating leaves and going shopping at toy stores.

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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Consent, Cool Bodies, Portal Fantasies, and More!

Happy Tuesday, kid lit friends! I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a lot of big feelings since the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade. A lot of angry feelings, scared feelings, helpless feelings. To help assuage all these feelings, I’ve contacted my representatives and donated to an abortion travel fund (The Brigid Alliance). But it doesn’t feel like enough. I’m trying to think long-term and how daily choices can contribute to a better future for my daughter (and me!), but it’s going to be an uphill battle for sure, especially since I live in a Southern state. Much love to everyone whose bodily autonomy and choice has been ripped out from under them. Also, you are important, so I hope you’re finding time to rest and take care of yourself and find joy.

Bookish Goods

Roe Tote Bag by InStitchesApparel

1973 Protect Roe Tote Bag by InSitchesApparel

Take this Pro Roe tote to carry all the children’s library books you check out on your next library trip. $15

New Releases

Cover of A Grand Day by Reidy

A Grand Day by Jean Reidy, illustrated by Samantha Cotterill

I adore this new picture book celebrating grandparents. Samantha Cotterill’s colorful diorama illustrations, the same style she used in Thankful, are unique and vivid, while Jean Reidy’s prose is rhythmic and so sweet. It’s a joy to read and feels like a modern classic.

Cover of Nura and the Immortal Palace by Khan

Nura and the Immortal Palace by M. T. Khan

In the past week, I’ve read a few articles and tweets about how portal fantasies are getting a bit tired, but I could not disagree more, and this new middle grade portal fantasy shows how much possibility there is still remaining in the genre. Nura lives in a small Pakistani village and works in a mine. After a mining accident supposedly kills several of her friends, she investigates and finds a portal to a world full of jinn, and her friends. But while at first this new world seems much better than her old one, soon she realizes that she and her friends are in a lot of danger.

For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

One of the ways we can think about slowly changing perceptions around the necessity of bodily autonomy is to teach kids about consent from an early age. Consent was never discussed when I was a kid, but in the last few years, several excellent children’s books have been published about the topic. Here are some of my favorites.

Don’t Hug Doug: (He Doesn’t Like It) by Carrie Finison, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman

This interactive picture book is a lot of fun to read to kids. Doug is a happy kid who doesn’t like hugs. And that’s fine! Some people do, and some people don’t. How do you know the difference? You ask. I love this book’s emphasis on asking and how it demonstrates how to ask and various ways to respond.

Rissy No Kissies by Katey Howes, illustrated by Jess Engle

Rissy the lovebird does not like kisses, but all lovebirds like kisses, right? Rissy worries there might be something wrong with her, but with her mother’s support, she realizes she is perfectly valid not to enjoy kisses and can show her love in other ways. This rhyming picture book flows really well and gets requested quite a bit at my house!

Cover of Yes! No! by Madison

Yes! No!: A First Conversation About Consent by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, illustrated by Isabel Roxas AOC

This board book is an excellent one to have on hand in preschool and daycare settings, and also for starting conversations with caregivers and young children. In clear language and dialogue, this book shows what consent means, how to ask for consent, and how to respond when asked for consent. It has advice for caregivers in the back.

Bodies are Cool by Tyler Feder

While this picture book doesn’t discuss consent, it’s my favorite body-positive children’s book. Children need to love and embrace their bodies to be able to have the confidence to stand up for their bodies, and this rhythmic picture book will have kids singing about how their bodies are cool. I love the diversity of bodies represented. It’s a joyful, beautiful book.

Speaking of how cool bodies are, my daughter (4) officially has her first Covid-19 vaccine! She loves learning about how the human body works, so before going, we talked about how vaccines work, and she was super excited to get the shot. She had no side effects. Several of you emailed me about getting your under 5s vaccinated, and I’m so happy! That’s been a major bright spot in my week.

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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Queer Joy and Hooray for Vaccines

Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! LGBTQ+ Pride Month ends this week but it’s important to read queer books all year long. With that in mind, I have reviews of 4 picture books celebrating queer joy as well as a queer bookmark. For new releases, I recommend two gorgeously illustrated picture books.

In other news, Covid-19 vaccines have finally been approved for our under 5s in the U.S. (fingers crossed that approval happens soon for all the non-U.S. subscribers). I snagged an appointment at Walgreens for my little to get the Moderna vaccine, but they’re only taking kids 3 and up. If you’re having trouble making an appointment, it looks like vaccine.gov has finally updated its list to include under 5s.

LGBTQ+ book stack book marks by ShopGigiAndBo

LGBTQIA+ Pride Stack Bookmark by ShopGigiAndBo

You can customize these LGBTQ+ bookmarks with your child’s (or your own) favorite queer children’s book titles. I love that the shop donates $1 from every purchase to The Trevor Project.

New Releases

Cover of One Boy Watching by Snider

One Boy Watching by Grant Snider

Riding the long bus ride home from school was not one of my favorite things to do as a kid, but I do remember well watching the rural landscapes slide past and thinking about everything I saw. Author and illustrator Grant Snider’s newest picture book portrays just this in beautiful illustrations and meditative prose. It’s a lovely picture book.

Cover of Black Girl Rising by Barnes

Black Girl Rising by Brynne Barnes, illustrated by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh

This empowering ode to Black girls is gorgeously illustrated. In poetic verse, Barnes describes the ways Black girls have been oppressed, then shows how Black girls can rise up, sometimes referencing famous Black women like Maya Angelou and Gwendolyn Brooks. Fazlalizadeh’s illustrations are works of art.

For a more comprehensive list, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Here are some of my favorite picture books depicting queer joy!

Cover of If You're a Drag Queen and You Know It by Lil Miss Hot Mess

If You’re a Drag Queen and You Know It by Lil Miss Hot Mess, illustrated by Olga de Dios Ruiz

This picture book is an absolute blast to read with kids. Like The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish (which is also an absolute delight), children can sing along to the popular song with drag queen variations on the actions. So instead of clapping hands, kids can blow kisses, and instead of stomping feet, kids can shake their bums, my 4-year-old’s favorite.

cover image of Mr. Watson's Chickens by Jarrett Dapier, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi showing a drawing of people playing band instruments being followed by a lot of chickens

Mr. Watson’s Chickens by Jarrett Dapier, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi

This picture book is hilarious, about a gay couple with 456 chickens. That’s right, 456. Mr. Watson loves the chickens, but Mr. Nelson has had enough with the feathered chaos. They decide to take the chickens to the market to sell, where one chicken in particular uses her powerful voice to find a unique new home for all the chickens. However, the couple soon misses their chickens, but thankfully a surprise awaits them at home. This book gets big belly laughs from my daughter!

Cover of The Best Bed for Me by Cornwall

The Best Bed for Me by Gaia Cornwall

This super sweet bedtime book features two moms trying to gently get their imaginative child back in bed. But this child is a master of stalling. On each page spread, the child compares their bed to the bed of an animal. It’s a playful, sweet book that I’m sure many parents and children will relate to.

My Rainbow by DeShanna Neal and Trinity Neal, illustrated by Art Twink

Trinity, who is Black, transgender, and autistic, longs for hair that better represents her identity. With the help of her mother and brother, Trinity’s rainbow hair dreams come true. I love how supportive the family in this is.

Please ignore the mess on my desk.

The other day Marian wanted to “write articles like Mama,” so I pulled up a Word doc to type up her dictation while she sat on my lap. You know what she thinks Mama writes about all day? “Health issues.” She proceeded to list all the health issues Mama has and wanted me to type them up for her article. Ah, the life of a disabled Mom. Thankfully, she quickly moved on from descriptions of headaches and breathing problems to describing a day on a duck boat. I have no idea how the two relate.

Happy Pride! 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

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Ice Cream, Hungry Caterpillars, Dad Love, and More!

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

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

Cover of Ice Cream Face by Sheffield

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.

Cover of KINDergarten by Ahiyya

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.

Cover of Bathe the Cat by McGinty

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.

Cover of Somewhere by Harris

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.

Cover of Together We Ride by Bolling

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!

Cover of My City Speaks by Lebeuf

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