Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Books to Gift, Reindeer Readers, And More!

Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! I still don’t have my Christmas tree up. We keep our Christmas tree and decorations in our attic, but our roof was replaced earlier in the year, and it left a lot of debris on everything in the attic. We haven’t had the time or energy to go up there and try to excavate the tree. I guess we should get to it soon! Or else it will be our winter solstice tree.

It’s happening, readers — we’re bringing paperbacks! Whether you (or a reader you know and love) hate carrying around bulky hardcovers, you’re on a budget, you want a wider range of recommendations or all of the above, you can now get a paperback subscription from TBR, curated just for you by one of our Bibliologists. The holidays are here, and we’ve got three different levels for gifting (to yourself or others) to suit every budget. Get all the details at mytbr.co.

This week, I give lots of ideas for books to gift on a theme, as well as reviewing two new releases.

Bookish Goods

Reindeer Reading Shirt by PoppyRosePrintCo

Reindeer Reading Shirt by PoppyRosePrintCo

This reindeer reading T-shirt has such an adorable design. $16+

New Releases

Cover of I'm Going to be a Princess by Taylor

I’m Going to be a Princess by Stephanie Taylor, illustrated by Jade Orlando

In this picture book, Maya tells her mom she wants to be a princess when she grows up. But her mom thinks she should aspire to be something else. She tells her daughter about many Black women and their accomplishments, like the rocket scientist Annie Easley, Olympic athlete Alice Coachman, and more, in the hope of convincing her to change her mind. She doesn’t convince Maya, though, who tells her mother about Princess Amina, who protected her West African people and helped them prosper. This is an affirming picture book celebrating Black women and their accomplishments.

Cover of I Will Find You by Benedis-Grab

I Will Find You by Daphne Benedis-Grab

In this middle grade thriller, a school camping trip goes horribly wrong when a student — the class bully — disappears. Gracie and her cabin mates were the last to see him. The three are determined to find Nicky for their own reasons, especially when it seems like the police are on the wrong track. This is an entertaining and compelling read.

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

Riot Recommendations

I wanted to do something a bit different this week and give short recommendations on a theme for various ages, in case anyone is doing some present shopping.

What to buy for the kid…

Cover of Copy That, Copy Cat by Tangen

…who loves animals.

For board book readers, check out Copy That, Copy Cat! by Katrina Tangen, an interactive board book with flaps and peek-throughs about inventions inspired by animals. For better or worse, picture book readers will love The Big Book of Butts by Eva Manzano, which uncovers fun facts about animal and human butts. For older elementary school kids, Superpowered Animals by Soledad Romero Mariño is fascinating. While not technically for kids, Allen Crawford’s nonfiction A Wild Promise celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act and would be a beautiful gift for middle graders.

Cover of The Boy Who Cried Poop by Requena

…who loves to laugh.

Kids love funny books. For picture book readers, check out The Boy Who Cried Poop! by Alessandra Requena, Cake vs. Pie by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, and I Want to Be Spaghetti! by Kiera Wright-Ruiz. Kids who want to write their own jokes will enjoy Lol 101: A Kid’s Guide to Writing Jokes by David Roth and Rinee Shah. For my daughter, I’m buying the early reader graphic novels Baloney and Friends by Greg Pizzoli. Middle graders will enjoy Link + Hud: Heroes by a Hair by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey and Ellie Engle Saves Herself by Leah Johnson.

Cover of Nell of Gumbling

…who is swept away by fantasy.

Picture book readers should check out the fantastical SEL Weather Together by Jessie Sima, the dark fairytale The Skull by Jon Klassen, and the magical River of Mariposas by Mirelle Ortega. The latest Princess in Black book is out —Prince in Pink — for chapter book readers, and I also love the new series Isla of Adventure by Dela Costa, the first book being Welcome to the Island. For middle grade readers, Nell of Gumbling by Emma Steinkellner is a delight, as is Lei and the Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea and Abeni’s Song by P. Djèlí Clark.

ColorPop Books Bundle

…is hard to buy for.

I love a good book box! Here are some of my favorites. The ColorPop Books bundles center diverse families. Their picture book bundles are $45 and come with three hardcover books, an activity, and a card. The Little Feminist book subscriptions have four options for ages 0-9. Each box comes with 1-2 books, an activity, and discussion cards. Prices are $23 a month. I have yet to try out a middle grade book subscription, but a friend gets Owl Crate, Jr. and loves all the extra stuff. It’s $33 a month.

Marian with lovey trolley, the kids are all right

No matter the weather, sometimes a parent has to bundle up and put together a trolley for stuffed animals using yarn and whatever wheeled toy is around the house. Admittedly, it was only in the 30s and 40s Fahrenheit. So Tennessee cold, not Northern cold. The stuffed animals traveled to get their hair cut at the salon, had a sleepover at Unicorni’s house, and then had a picnic. We spent a solid 4+ hours outside. I’m glad for our warm coats!

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.

All the best,

Margaret Kingsbury

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Christmas, Dinosaurs, And More!

Happy Sunday, kidlit friends! We went to our first Scholastic book fair last night. My daughter was so excited and looked forward to it all week, though she had a bit of a disappointment over the cash registers not working and being unable to bring the books home. I’m writing this on a Wednesday, and she will bring the books home from school today after I paid online. Attending the fair definitely made me think back to my childhood of going to the books fairs, and how excited I always was. I don’t always agree with the decisions Scholastic makes — like separating out diverse books for the fairs (which they have now discontinued) — but I am happy to support authors and schools by buying books, and I loved seeing the joy on all the children’s faces. The fair was packed with kids!

This week, I review children’s Christmas books and two new releases.

The holidays have arrived, and so has our new paperback level at TBR! If you (or a reader you know) are just over-carrying around bulky hardcovers or are looking for a more budget-friendly option, we’ve got you. Check out all the offerings at mybtro.com/gift, and give personalized reading recommendations customized for any and every reader.

Bookish Goods

Children's Christmas Ornament by Island Boho Designs

Children’s Christmas Ornament by IslandBohoDesigns

This is such an adorable woodland-themed Christmas ornament. $30

New Releases

Cover of The Bone Wars by Kurtz

The Bone Wars by Jane Kurtz, illustrated by Alexander Vidal

This picture book relates the dinosaur bone wars waged between two scientists in the 1800s: O.C. Marsh and Edward Cope. Initially, the two scientists were friends and went on fossil digs together, but when Marsh pointed out a mistake Cope had made in fitting dinosaur bones together, the two began competing against each other instead of working together. They would send spies to one another’s digs and even resorted to blowing up bones so the other couldn’t find them. This is an entertaining and fascinating glimpse into their rivalry.

Cover of Tagging Freedom by Roumani

Tagging Freedom by Rhonda Roumani

This middle grade novel is set in 2011. Kareem is a graffiti protest artist in Syria, but when the protests start getting dangerous, his parents send him to the U.S. to live with his cousin Sam in Massachusetts. Sam and Kareem were close when they were younger, but they have trouble connecting now, and when the popular girls at school dismiss Kareem, Sam distances herself from him even more. This is a fantastic middle grade novel about art, resistance, and friendship.

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

Riot Recommendations

It’s the Christmas season, so I wanted to share my favorite new Christmas children’s books.

Cover of Merry and Hark by Tucholke

Merry And Hark: A Christmas Story by April Genevieve Tucholke, illustrated by Rebecca Santo

In this beautifully illustrated picture book, a saw-whet owl named Merry makes her home in a Norway Spruce named Hark. She loves hearing stories of adventure and travel from the great gray owl Sebastian. Merry has a frightening adventure of her own when Hark is cut down while Merry is still in it and the two leave their forest home and go to the city, where Hark becomes the city’s Christmas tree. Merry is frightened and hungry in the city, but then a human finds and rescues her. This is a magical picture book.

Cover of Lullaby for the King by Grimes

Lullaby for the King by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Michelle Carlos

This is another gorgeously illustrated Christmas picture book, this one depicting the Christian Christmas story of Jesus’s birth. It depicts a caravan of creatures making their way to Bethlehem to honor the baby. The animals bring gifts with them, like a stork cradling wildflowers, an antelope with myrrh, a raven with a ruby ring, and more. When they arrive, the baby Jesus gurgles at them. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are all portrayed as brown-skinned.

Cover of The Christmas Songbook by Adele

The Christmas Songbook by Amy Adele

This is my daughter’s personal favorite new Christmas book. It’s an adorable soundbook featuring a mouse family. Each page spread depicts a Christmas scene and the sheet music to a Christmas song. It opens with the mouse family on a street decorated for Christmas listening to carolers. The accompanying song is “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Children can press the button and hear the song. Other songs include “Joy to the World,” “Deck the Halls,” and more. It’s a blast!

Cover of Merry Christmas, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke

Merry Christmas, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke, illustrated by Lauren Tobia

I adore the Anna Hibiscus chapter book series. In this one, Anna Hibiscus leaves her home in Nigeria to visit her grandmother in Canada. It’s a huge change for Anna. Of course the weather is very different, but she’s also nervous about Granny Canada’s dog because dogs are not pets in Nigeria. She loves playing in the snow and tries to make friends with the other nearby kids. At first, the kids shun her, but they eventually come around. This can be read as a stand alone, without having read the previous books in the series.

Letter to Grandma, The Kids Are All Right

My daughter made my mom cry by writing this Christmas letter to her at school. I especially like the smiley face with heart eyes that gets its own exclamation point (or an “excited i” as my daughter calls it) in the middle.

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.

All the best,

Margaret Kingsbury

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Hanukkah, Neurodivergence, And More!

Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! Have you been keeping track of all the “Best of 2023” children’s book lists? I would mostly choose different books than the ones I see on lists, but I do like this selection from the New York Public Library. For Book Riot’s Best of 2023, I chose Parachute Kids. For my last send of the year, I plan to review my favorite children’s books of the year, so stay tuned for more!

Indulge your inner book nerd and join a community of like-minded readers looking to expand their knowledge and their TBR. Subscribe to The Deep Dive, where Book Riot’s editorial staff draws from their collective expertise to bring you compelling stories, informed takes, tips, hacks, and more. Find out why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and explore the great wide world of books and publishing. Get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox, or upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features.

This week, I review two middle grade new releases with neurodivergence rep and four children’s books about Hanukkah.

Bookish Goods

Menorah/Star of David Bookmarks by LetsGetLiterary

Menorah/Star of David Double Hanukkah Bookmark by LetsGetLiterary

This double-sided Hanukkah bookmark is laminated and very pretty. $4

New Releases

Cover of Different Kinds of Minds by Grandin

Different Kinds of Minds by Temple Grandin, adapted by Ann D. Koffsky

This is a fascinating middle grade nonfiction that delves into how the brain works, visual thinking, and neurodivergence. It has lots of history, facts, and anecdotes and includes sections on animal brains, how genius is defined, a visual thinking test (I scored 6 out of 18, making me more of a verbal thinker, which I would’ve guessed), and more. Probably most adults know who Temple Grandin is — a professor of animal science and neurodivergent speaker — but this is a great introduction for middle schoolers to both her work and who she is.

Cover of Ink Girls by Nijkamp

Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp, illustrated by Sylvia Bi

Nijkamp is also autistic, and while one of the main characters isn’t explicitly labeled as neurodivergent in this middle grade graphic novel, she reads as such. Another character is a cane user. It’s a visually stunning graphic novel that takes place in an Italian Renaissance-inspired fictional world. It’s about censorship, freedom of the press, journalism, kids seeking justice, and friendship. It’s diverse in many ways (people of color, disability, LGBTQ+) and is such a fantastic read.

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

Riot Recommendations

Hanukkah begins in just over a week, so I wanted to share some Hanukkah children’s books. The first is a board book, and the last three are picture books. If anyone has read and enjoyed any middle grade or chapter books centering Hanukkah by Jewish authors, I would love to know! My email is at the bottom.

Cover of Latke's First Hanukkah by Silberberg

Latke’s First Hanukkah by Alan Silberberg

This hilarious counting board book follows a young Latke as they count down the eight nights of Hanukkah. On the first night, Latke lights the menorah. On the second, the latke toppings get into an argument. On the seventh, the presents wrestle. It’s a really funny read; the illustrations are colorful and expressive. Toddlers and preschoolers will love it.

Cover of Hanukkah Here I Come by Steinberg

Hanukkah, Here I Come! by D.J. Steinberg, illustrated by Sara Palacios

This simple, rhyming picture book depicts diverse children from several homes celebrating Hanukkah. It also includes a brief history of Hanukkah and how to play dreidel. Sara Palacious is one of my favorite children’s book illustrators, and I love how warm and joyful the illustrations are in this one.

Cover of Hanukkah Upside Down by Weissman

Hanukkah Upside Down by Elissa Brent Weissman, illustrated by Omer Hoffmann

This new picture book has become one of my all-time favorite Hanukkah reads. It’s about two cousins who live on opposite sides of the world. In Aotearoa, New Zealand, Nora celebrates Hanukkah in the summer. In New York City, Noah celebrates in the winter. Which season is the best time to celebrate Hanukkah? Parallel illustrations depict the similarities and differences between their celebrations. It’s such a charming picture book, and I love how it shows that Jewish people live everywhere, celebrating the same holidays.

A Wild, Wild Hanukkah by Gershman

A Wild, Wild Hanukkah by Jo Gershman and Bob Strauss

This gorgeously illustrated new picture book for animal lovers also feels like it could become a Hanukkah classic. Written in lyrical verse, a new animal invades an alarmed child’s home on each of the nights of Hanukkah. On the first night, it’s a polar bear; on the fourth, it’s four artsy armadillos; and on the eighth, it’s eight punk rock, dreidel-spinning penguins. It’s a funny and delightful Hanukkah read.

Marian reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the Kids Are All Right

My daughter has begun reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I’ll admit that I’m not a huge fan of this extremely popular series, and five seems too young to read them. However, she and another kid were reading sections of it at school (the poop jokes lol), and she wanted to finish it, so we checked it out from the library. We mostly read it together and are having conversations about how words have the power to hurt (stupid and moron are not words we use) and what it means to be a good friend. It’s working well, and she still gets to laugh at the poop jokes and share what she’s read with her friend at school. Seems like a pretty good solution.

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.

All the best,

Margaret Kingsbury

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Unhoused, Puzzles, And More!

Happy Sunday, kidlit friends! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving if you’re in the U.S. We are enjoying the unseasonably warm weather and spending days playing in leaf piles.

We’re here to enrich your reading life! Get to know the world of books and publishing better with a subscription to The Deep Dive, Book Riot’s staff-written publication delivered directly to your inbox. Find a guide to reading logs and trackers, hear about why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and more from our familiar in-house experts. Get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox, or upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features connecting you to like-minded readers.

Today, I review two great new releases and several children’s books about unhoused people.

Bookish Goods

So Many Books, So Little Time Mini Puzzle by PeanutButterAndTaco

So Many Books, So Little Time Mini Puzzle by PeanutButterTaco

This 150-piece bookish puzzle would make an excellent gift and looks like it might fit in a stocking! $9

New Releases

Cover of Sound Switch Wonder by Ko

Sound Switch Wonder by Christine J. Ko and Owen Whang, illustrated by Katie Crumpton

I haven’t had a chance to read this picture book yet, but I can’t wait! It’s inspired by the authors’ lives, about a young deaf boy with cochlear implants who decides to share how the sound of silence truly feels with his family. Owen Whang is an 8th-grader who uses cochlear implants, and he cowrites this with his mom, Dr. Christine J. Ko, a Professor of Dermatology and Pathology at Yale University.

Cover of This is My Bag by Chester

This is My Bag by Roxanne Chester, illustrated by Abraham Matias

In beautiful illustrations, this picture book depicts various unhoused persons as they find shelter and spend days with their single bag carrying all their possessions. One man rests on the couch at a friend’s house; a woman makes her way through busy streets and sideways glances. The story doesn’t try to fill in anyone’s backstory but humanizes each person as they find a place to rest. The puppet-like, warm art is lovely. Back matter includes discussion questions for kids, an author’s note about where she got the idea for this story and ideas for how to help the unhoused population. Part of the book’s proceeds will be donated to nonprofits like the National Coalition for the Homeless and Homeless Connect.

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

Riot Recommendations

Since I reviewed one new release about being unhoused, I thought I would review four more children’s books about the topic that I enjoyed. Also, be sure to check out A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser, which I didn’t include here because I’ve reviewed it in the newsletter before.

Cover of Hello, Mister Blue by Peoples

Hello, Mister Blue by Daria Peoples

This is another beautifully illustrated picture book about a little girl and her papa spending a day together. They take a walk, go to a coffee shop, and play their violins outside. That’s when the narrator meets Papa’s friend, Mister Blue, who is unhoused. He and Papa are military veterans and served together. Mister Blue plays the drums. The little girl has lots of questions about Mister Blue, and when it rains, they invite Mister Blue over and make music together inside. It’s a simple and stunning picture book.

Cover of Home for Grace by White

Home for Grace by Kathryn White, illustrated by Rachael Dean

One day, on the walk to school, Jess and her mom see a woman in a doorway sleeping with her cat. The next day, her mom stops and chats with the woman, whose name is Grace. After that, Mom and daughter put together boxes for Grace and her cat Luna and eventually hear about her story as a refugee. When Jess brings a Christmas card, they find Grace has disappeared.

Cover of Sanctuary by McDonnell

Sanctuary: Kip Tiernan and Rosie’s Place, the Nation’s First Shelter for Women by Christine McDonnell, illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov

This picture book biography is about Kip Tiernan, the woman who opened the first unhoused women’s shelter in Boston in 1974. It begins with her childhood during the Great Depression and how she helped her grandmother feed unhoused men who came to her door. But Kip noticed some women dressed as men to get food. She also noticed women sleeping outside on benches. She vows to help these women and devotes her life to doing so. The watercolor illustrations are lovely, and this is an important biography about a little-known but important figure in U.S. history.

Cover of No Place Like Home by Bird

No Place Like Home by James Bird

This powerful middle grade novel follows 12-year-old Ojibwe Opin, who lives in a car with his mother and older brother Emjay. They’re trying to make it across California to move in with Opin’s uncle, but Emjay, who is constantly angry, frequently disappears, slowing down their trip. Opin’s days aren’t filled with much happiness until he finds and adopts a puppy. The unhoused shelter his mom finds, however, won’t accept pets.

Marian with suitcases, the kids are all right

Marian got home from school the other day and decided to pack up her suitcases and abscond to the beach with a lovey. The beach turned out to be my bed. I do wish we truly were at the beach, 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.

All the best,

Margaret Kingsbury

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Family Reunions, Good Luck, & More!

Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! My daughter has three days off this week, plus the weekend, so I need to plan some fun activities. I hope the library is open at least one of those days! We live within walking distance of a library branch and tend to spend days off there when we can.

We’re here to enrich your reading life! Get to know the world of books and publishing better with a subscription to The Deep Dive, Book Riot’s staff-written publication delivered directly to your inbox. Find a guide to reading logs and trackers, hear about why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and more from our familiar in-house experts. Get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox, or upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features connecting you to like-minded readers.

This week, I review books about family reunions and two great new releases.

Bookish Goods

Snowy Bookshop Illustration Art Print by ArtOfStephanieMarie

Snowy Bookshop Illustration Art Print by ArtofStephanieMarie

It is a sunny 69 degrees Fahrenheit as I write this in Nashville, and snowy bookshop scenes like this seem straight out of a fantasy novel. Do cities not shut down when it snows? That’s what happens here. Anyway, I just loved this art print nonetheless! $20+

New Releases

Cover of The Good Luck Book by Alexander

The Good Luck Book by Heather Alexander

In the past, I’ve had a few people ask for book recommendations about superstitions for kids, and I’m glad to finally have a good book to recommend! This is a fascinating, brightly illustrated nonfiction for elementary-aged kids and up about international folklore and superstitions. Each page spread covers a new topic. Under “Cats,” readers can explore how the superstitions about unlucky black cats got started, as well as the Japanese Maneki Neko. Under “Trees,” learn about fairies, lucky acorns, and knocking on wood. There are all kinds of things to pour over in this. It would make a great gift.

Cover of Baby Go Bundle by Christensen

Baby Go! Bundle by Vanessa Lee Christensen, illustrated by Audrey Lee

This four-book board book series explores core concepts through international travel, with a birthday celebration as a framing story. Babies travel to South Korea, China, Thailand, and Japan. On their travels, they learn about shapes, foods, colors, and more. Each book also contains words in the language of each country. It’s a really fun board book series.

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

Riot Recommendations

Many of us are having family reunions this week, so I thought I would recommend these picture books about family reunions.

Cover of Dad and Daddy's Big Big Family by Kirst

Dad and Daddy’s Big Big Family by Seamus Kirst, illustrated by Karen Bunting

In this charming picture book, Harper attends a family reunion for the first time. Both her dad and daddy’s family come, and the park is packed with relatives. She befriends her cousin Noah, and the two wonder how the entire family could live together and what that would look like. They also notice the wide variety of families. This is a really sweet, fun read.

Cover of Going Down Home with Daddy by Lyons

Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Daniel Minter

Every year, Lil Alan and his daddy pack up the car and head down to Granny’s house for a family reunion. As a tradition, all the kids share something meaningful at the celebration, which makes Lil Alan nervous this year. He doesn’t know what to share. But as he spends time with his family, he comes up with the perfect way to contribute to the tradition. This is a lovely, beautifully illustrated picture book celebrating the traditions of a Black family.

Cover of Family Reunion by Richardson

Family Reunion by Chad and Dad Richardson, illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin

A Black boy isn’t looking forward to their annual family reunion. He’s dreading the long car ride and trying to make conversation with people he doesn’t know, but as the celebration continues, he finds himself having fun and enjoying time with his family. It’s a fun, rhythmic read a lot of kids will relate to.

Cover of Around the Table That Grandad Built by Hill

Around the Table That Grandad Built by Melanie Heuiser Hill, illustrated by Jaime Kim

This is also a rhythmic read and follows the pattern of “This Is the House That Jack Built.” It follows a young girl as her family prepares for a feast and gathers around the table that her grandfather built. It’s a joyous, inclusive read centering family traditions and meals. It’s perfect for holiday celebrations.

a photo of a child in a forest gathering osage orange pods

We try to take a family hike every Sunday. On last Sunday’s hike, we encountered hundreds of Osage orange seeds. My daughter had a fun time playing with them, and I did a lot of dodging.

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.

All the best,

Margaret

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Cookbooks, Frog & Toad, And More!

Happy Sunday, kidlit friends! As I read the Sunday newsletter about my daughter not being sick, I had to chuckle to myself. Wishful thinking! She came home sick just the day after I wrote the newsletter. These kindergarten germs are so much more vicious than the preschool ones. I was not prepared.

Indulge your inner book nerd and join a community of like-minded readers looking to expand their knowledge and their TBR. Subscribe to The Deep Dive, where Book Riot’s editorial staff draws from their collective expertise to bring you compelling stories, informed takes, tips, hacks, and more. Find out why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and explore the great wide world of books and publishing. Get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox, or upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features.

Today I review several children’s cookbooks as well as two great new releases.

Bookish Goods

Frog & Toad Sweatshirt by JustinsShirtStore

Frog & Toad Sweatshirt by JustinsShirtStore

My daughter and I went to a Frog & Toad children’s play this past weekend with friends (before she became ill), and it was so fun! I had to find a Frog & Toad item to celebrate, and this sweatshirt looks perfect for the winter. $33+

New Releases

Cover of Kitty and Cat Bent Out of Shape

Kitty and Cat Bent Out of Shape by Mirka Hokkanen

This clever shape book has an adult black cat hiding behind various household items as a white kitten searches for them. Cat contorts into a square behind a cereal box, a circle behind a dresser mirror, a diamond behind a kite, and more. It’s a funny and cute way for toddler and preschool readers to learn shapes.

Cover of What Do Brothas Do All Day? by Mance

What Do Brothas Do All Day? by Ajuan Mance

This homage to Richard Scarry’s What Do People Do All Day? is a joyous celebration of Black men going about their daily activities. Brothas read books on the subway, wait in line at the grocery store, jump double dutch with neighborhood kids, and so much more. The illustrations are bold and vibrant. An author’s note discusses Mance’s inspiration and how affirming it can be for Black kids to see themselves and their lives represented in picture books.

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

Riot Recommendations

I am a mediocre cook, but my daughter and I do enjoy cooking together. Here are some cookbooks to try out with the kids in your life!

Cover of Look and Cook Snacks by Fisher

Look and Cook Snacks by Valorie Fisher

This book is SO easy for kids to follow. Each step in the recipe is depicted with photographs. My five-year-old can almost completely finish a recipe on her own with this cookbook, with me doing all the oven preparations, of course. Her favorite recipes so far have been the nutter nuggets, which are like peanut butter and oat balls, and wrap & rolls, which are like pigs in a blanket.

Cover of Recipes for Change by Platt

Recipes for Change: 12 Dishes Inspired by a Year in Black History by Michael Platt, illustrated by Alleanna Harris

This picture book is a fascinating glimpse into Black history through the lens of cooking. Each page spread is divided by months exploring one historical moment with an accompanying recipe. January explores how the Black Panther Party implemented free school breakfast in 1966. The accompanying recipe is “The Black Panther Party’s creamy grits.” Back matter includes a closer look at some of the people mentioned in the book. This is such a neat book.

Cover of Kids Can Cook Vegetarian by Coombs

Kids Can Cook Vegetarian by Esther Coombs

This vegetarian cookbook is part of a series and includes both text for each step in a recipe as well as illustrations so kids can easily follow. We make the banana pancakes frequently! More than 30 recipes are included. Other books in the series include Kids Can Bake and Kids Can Cook.

Cover of Nadiya's Bake Me a Story

Nadiya’s Bake Me a Story by Nadiya Hussain, illustrated by Clair Rossiter

This is such a cool book. Each of the 15 recipes includes an illustrated fairytale that relates to the recipe. After making the pumpkin and spice flapjacks, for example, you can read a story about Cinderella and her pumpkins. After making a goat cheese and onion tart, read about some hungry billy goats and their cheese and onion tarts. The stories are silly, and the recipes are yummy. I admit my daughter won’t eat that cheese and onion tart, but maybe one day she will. 🙂

Marian cooking, The Kids Are All Right

Here’s my daughter making nutter nuggets from Look and Cook Snacks. They were good! She’s not quite ready for Top Chef Junior yet, though.

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.

All the best,

Margaret Kingsbury

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Thanksgiving, Food, And More!

Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! What’s everyone doing for Thanksgiving this year? We are going to my sister’s small farm, about 2-3 hours away. It’s a long drive, but my daughter enjoys seeing all the animals. Today, I review four children’s books about Thanksgiving as well as two new releases.

Indulge your inner book nerd and join a community of like-minded readers looking to expand their knowledge and their TBR. Subscribe to The Deep Dive, where Book Riot’s editorial staff draws from their collective expertise to bring you compelling stories, informed takes, tips, hacks, and more. Find out why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and explore the great wide world of books and publishing. Get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox, or upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features.

Bookish Goods

Thanks Books Button by CherylsDoodlesStudio

Thanks, Books Button by CherylsDoodlesStudio

What better way for readers to say thanks for what they love most while bragging about being smarter than everyone else than with this cute button? $4+

New Releases

Cover of The House with 100 Stories by Iwai

The House with 100 Stories by Toshio Iwai

This nonsensical picture book really captured my daughter’s imagination. To portray the height of the 100-story house, the book is designed to be read and turned vertically instead of horizontally. Tochi has been invited to play at the top of a 100-story house. As he makes his way up, he finds various animals occupying each floor and carrying out their daily tasks, like frogs getting rained on while drinking tea and munching on worms, skateboarding snails, a snake with a toothache, and so much more. It’s an imaginative read.

Cover of Boys Don't Fry by Lee

Boys Don’t Fry by Kimberly Lee, illustrated by Charlene Chua

This scrumptious picture book takes place during Lunar New Year celebrations and is an ode to the author’s Peranakan Chinese heritage. Jin wishes he could help prepare the Lunar New Year feast, but his aunties say the kitchen is no place for a boy. However, when Jin’s grandmother—Mamah—overhears his request, she insists he join her in the kitchen. The two prepare dish after dish, sharing laughter and stories and recipes as they do. A recipe for Peranakan Pongteh chicken is included in the back.

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

Riot Recommendations

Thanksgiving in the U.S. is coming up, so I thought I would put together a list of Thanksgiving-themed children’s books.

Cover of Colonization and the Wampanoag Story by Coombs

Colonization and the Wampanoag Story by Linda Coombs

This nonfiction middle grade tells the story of Thanksgiving from the Indigenous perspective. Each chapter alternates between two perspectives: a fictional narrative titled “When Life Was Our Own,” which follows Little Bird of the Wampanoag tribe and her family and their daily lives. The other section is nonfiction, which further explores topics shown in the fiction section. It’s an excellent nonfiction for kids.

Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story cover

Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving Story by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, and Alexis Bunten, illustrated by Garry Meeches Sr.

This picture book also explores Thanksgiving from the Indigenous Wampanoag perspective but for younger readers. It opens with N8hkumuhs planting weeâchumun (corn), beans, and squash, or the Three Sisters, in her garden with her grandchildren. They ask her about the true story of Thanksgiving, and she tells them of how they were warned of the Pilgrims’ arrival and how their ancestors taught the Pilgrims how to plant corn, beans, and squash to survive. This is the book elementary-aged readers need to be reading about the holiday.

Cover of Harvest Days by DePalma

Harvest Days: Giving Thanks Around the World by Kate DePalma, illustrated by Martina Peluso

This lyrical, rhyming picture book explores 12 harvest festivals and traditions from around the world. In Bolivia, people gather in the streets on the last day of the Carnival season to celebrate Martes de Challa. In Tamil Nadu, India, children and adults thank the cows on the third day of Pongal. Back matter includes a calendar of harvest festivals and more information about harvest season and the festivals presented.

Cover of Twelve Dinging Doorbells by Brown

Twelve Dinging Doorbells by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrated by Ebony Glenn

This delightful picture book is set to the tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and features a sweet potato pie-loving girl celebrating a food-filled holiday with her family. More and more family members and neighbors arrive laden with delicious food to share, but while the narrator helps with the food, what she’s really craving is her grandmother’s sweet potato pie. While this picture book doesn’t specify a holiday, it’s a great read for Thanksgiving.

Hiking at the Lake, The Kids Are All Right

I haven’t been able to hike as much this fall as I normally do, but we were all finally feeling well enough to take a family hike last Sunday. I’m thankful we have so many beautiful places to hike nearby.

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.

All the best,

Margaret Kingsbury

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Biology, Hedgehogs, And More!

Happy Sunday, kidlit friends! We have made it a week with no one catching a virus, so I’m calling it a win! I even got three vaccines (including the Covid-19 vaccine), and beyond a sore arm, I feel fine. Fingers crossed, we can have two healthy weeks in a row.

Today, I review biology children’s books for nonfiction November, as well as two new nonfiction releases. I also wanted to let you know about We Need Diverse Books’ new website—Indigenous Reads Rising. I’m so excited about this! The website is dedicated to celebrating Indigenous children’s literature of Native Nations and includes book lists, teaching resources, and more.

Power up your reading life with thoughtful writing on books and publishing, courtesy of The Deep Dive. Over at our Substack publication, you’ll find timely stories, informed takes, and useful advice from our in-house experts. We’re here to share our expertise and perspective, drawing from our backgrounds as booksellers, librarians, educators, authors, editors, and publishing professionals. Find out why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and then get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox. You can also upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features connecting you to like-minded readers.

Bookish Goods

Hedgehog Reading Art Print by Deborah Hocking

Hedgehog Reading Art Print by deborahhocking

This print is absolutely adorable! $22+

New Releases

Cover of Small Shoes, Great Strides by Nelson

Small Shoes, Great Strides by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by Alex Bostic

While Ruby Bridges is well known for integrating William Frantz Elementary School in 1960, just a few miles away in New Orleans, on the same day, three other girls were the first to integrate the all-white McDonogh No. 19 Public School. This beautifully illustrated picture book tells their story. The girls were escorted into their school where they would be attending first grade by U.S. Marshalls, with a crowd of protestors outside. Inside, the three were taught alone, with no other students in their classroom, and the windows were covered with brown paper so they couldn’t see the protestors outside. It’s a lovely picture book about an important historical moment.

Cover of I'm Going to Paint by Broyles

I’m Gonna Paint! by Anne Broyles, illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov

This picture book biography details the life of folk artist and labor organizer Ralph Fasanella. The son of Italian immigrants, Fasanella grew up hearing stories of his mother’s work in a dress factory and unions and strikes. When he grew up, he began work in a garment factory and also joined a union, but when his hands began hurting, he turned to art to help, and in drawing and art, he found his passion. This is a vibrantly illustrated picture book about immigration, worker’s rights, and the power of art as a tool for activism.

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

Riot Recommendations

It’s nonfiction November, so I decided to highlight some of the amazing new biology-themed children’s books that have released this year. These would all make great gifts as well!

Cover of Surprising Mammals of the Ancient Arctic by Hopkins

Surprising Mammals of the Ancient Arctic by Dana Hopkins, illustrated by Aaron Edzerza

This picture book tells the story of Arctic animal life from millions of years ago. Many of these animals are ancestors of current animals, like the megalonyx and the sloth. It’s a really cool read and illustrated by an Indigenous artist. It’s part of a Nunavut-developed leveled book series.

Cover of A Home for Every Plant by Biggs

A Home for Every Plant by Matthew Biggs, illustrated by Lucila Perini

This immersive, 124-page nonfiction book looks at the botanical life in different regions. Sections are divided by habitat: tropical, Mediterranean, temperate, arid, cold, and water. Each page spread explores different topics and places within that habitat, such as the Sonoran Desert, Mount Everest, the Congo rainforest, and so much more. It’s heavily illustrated in vibrant, bold colors. Plant lovers of all ages will enjoy it.

Cover of Paper World: Human Body by Armstrong

Paper World: Human Body by Gail Armstrong

This paper-cut nonfiction is so cool! Each page has flaps to lift to uncover more about the human body. On one page, paper cuts of a running man’s muscles can be lifted to reveal the skeleton and more information about the skeletal and muscular systems. On the next page, ribs can be lifted to reveal the lungs and heart, which can be lifted to reveal a dissection of the heart. Every page is super neat and full of facts. It is for older readers; it says ages 8-12, but my 5-year-old loves it. I just wouldn’t give it to a toddler unless you want all those neat flaps to be torn out.

Cover of The River That Flows Beside Me by Guillain

The River That Flows Beside Me by Charlotte Guillain, illustrated by Jo Empson

This beautifully illustrated accordion-style picture book folds out to 8 feet tall! Both front and back contain lots of fascinating ecological information as it follows a river to the sea. It can be read unfolded or like a normal book. It’s part of a series that includes several other foldout books. I’ve only read one other — The Sea Below My Toes — and loved it as well.

JiJi in a nest, The Kids Are All Right

Speaking of nature, we went on a walk Saturday and found a low-hanging abandoned bird’s nest. We discussed how bird’s nests are made, and then my daughter plopped JiJi into the nest for a cozy rest. Later, JiJi plummeted from the tree and needed a little surgery. Thankfully, a vet was on hand (my daughter), and he has made a full recovery. It was not his first injury on our journey, as you can see by the cast on his back leg.

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.

All the best,

Margaret Kingsbury

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Native American Heritage Month, Dumplings, And More!

Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! If you read Sunday’s newsletter, you know that Karina is stepping away from the newsletter and I will now be writing both the Tuesday and Sunday sends. I have loved working with her on the newsletter. While sad, I know I’m not the only one who can’t wait to read her future books. And I have plenty of book recommendations up my sleeve. In fact, I have an eight-page Google Doc with future list ideas, but if you are in need of a recommendation around a specific theme, feel free to email me. My email is at the end of the newsletter.

Power up your reading life with thoughtful writing on books and publishing, courtesy of The Deep Dive. Over at our Substack publication, you’ll find timely stories, informed takes, and useful advice from our in-house experts. We’re here to share our expertise and perspective, drawing from our backgrounds as booksellers, librarians, educators, authors, editors, and publishing professionals. Find out why the bestseller list is broken, analyze some anticipated books, and then get a free subscription for weekly content delivered to your inbox. You can also upgrade to paid-for bonus content and community features connecting you to like-minded readers.

Bookish Goods

Reading T-Shirt by Ogoki Wild

Reading T-Shirt by OgokiWild

I love this retro-style T-shirt, and if you want to support Indigenous creators for Native American Heritage Month, you should check out this account!

New Releases

Cover of What's in a Dumpling, Grandma? by Meeker

What’s in a Dumpling, Grandma? by Linda Meeker, illustrated by Sandra Eide

I love how many great dumpling picture books there are. This one is a sweet intergenerational story about Grey and his cousin Mila learning to cook bánh loc, Vietnamese dumplings, from their Ngoại. While the three cook together, Ngoại tells them of her childhood in Vietnam and how she learned to cook the dumplings from her Ngoại and brought the recipe with her when she immigrated to America. Recipes are included!

Cover of Drag and Rex: Forever Friends by Lubner

Drag and Rex 1: Forever Friends by Susan Lubner, illustrated by Blythe Russo

This first book in a new chapter book series has very short chapters, so it’s great for kids transitioning into chapter books. Drag and Rex are opposites but still best friends. In a series of stories, they bake a cake, make a snowbear, and read stories together. Sometimes, things don’t go as planned, but they always have each other to rely on. The book takes place during winter, so it’s also a great one to pull out during snowy weather.

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

Riot Recommendations

November is Native American Heritage Month. A lot of excellent Indigenous and Native American children’s books have been published this year. Here are a few I love.

Cover of Heart Berry Bling by DuPuis

Heart Berry Bling by Jenny Kay Dupuis, illustrated by Eva Campbell

Maggie is visiting Granny in the city, and for the first time, Granny agrees to teach her how to bead. As Granny teaches her, she talks about her history, how she lost her First Nations status as an Anishinaabe woman when she married a man who wasn’t First Nations, how her Auntie Jeannie taught her how to bead, and the meaning behind heart berries. It’s a lovely, warm picture book. The author includes a note about what inspired the story and more details about some of the history the grandmother mentions.

Cover of Grand Chief Salamoo Cook Is Coming to Town by Highway

Grand Chief Salamoo Cook Is Coming to Town! by Tomson Highway, illustrated by Delphine Renon, narrated by Jimmy Blais

This is a super cool musical book that relates a Cree folktale and includes eight Cree songs. It includes a Cree glossary in the back. The story is about a young rabbit who runs to tell his village that Grand Chief Salamoo Cook is heading their way and will host a contest to win the waaskee-choos juice. The publisher, The Secret Mountain, specializes in children’s books that share music from all over the world. Tomson Highway is a Cree author and playwright.

Cover of It's Her Story: Sacajawea by Teton

It’s Her Story: Sacajawea by Randy’l He-Dow Teton, illustrated by Aly McKnight

This is a short, nonfiction graphic novel for elementary school readers about Sacajawea. I was a little nervous about reading this because so many portrayals of Sacajawea are problematic, but I find this one to be both nuanced and accessible. It opens with Sacajawea thanking the water, then being taken from her Shoshone tribe by raiding members of a different tribe. She spoke multiple languages, which is why Lewis and Clark wanted to take her on their expedition, even though she was pregnant. The author, who is a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Fort Hall, Idaho, was the model for the U.S. coin Sacajawea appears on. The illustrator is also Shoshone. There’s lots of room to continue the conversation surrounding Indigenous genocide and colonization while reading this, depending on the age of the child.

Cover of Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior by Lindstrom

Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Bridget George

This picture book is lyrically narrated by water, nibi. Nibi remembers how the Anishinaabe honored and cherished it, but as time passed, fewer and fewer people respected it. Then Grandma Josephine came along and advocated for water. She taught the younger generation, including her great-niece Autumn Peltier, about the importance of water and how to honor it. Autumn became an activist at the age of 12, confronting the Canadian government about poor water conditions. Back matter includes more information about Autumn Peltier and Josephine Henrietta Mandamin. This is an excellent book to accompany We Are Water Protectors.

Target book selection, the kids are all right

I don’t go to Target often, but we needed to pick up some Halloween supplies and made a quick stop last week. Of course I took a peek at the books, and I was impressed by how diverse their picture book section was, especially considering how small it was.

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.

All the best,

Margaret Kingsbury

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

Cats, Art, And More!

Happy Tuesday and happy Halloween, kidlit friends! What’s everyone dressing up as for Halloween? My daughter decided to go as Hello Kitty dressed as a witch, and to go with her costume, I’ve decided to be Chococat. I chose Chococat primarily because he’s the easiest Hello Kitty character to dress as.

Autumn is here, which means it’s time to curl up with a great read and get cozy — whatever your version of cozy looks like. Whether it’s romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes.

Bookish Goods

Holographic Reading Cat Stickers by RobotDanceBattle

Holographic Reading Cat Sticker by RobotDanceBattle

These holographic cat stickers are mew-tastic! $3

New Releases

Cover of On the Tip of a Wave by Ho

On the Tip of a Wave by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Cátia Chien

This stunning picture book biography tells the story of activist and artist Ai Weiwei in Ho’s trademark lyrical free verse. Ai Weiwei was born in China in 1957 and spent much of his youth living in a Chinese labor camp. This picture book particularly focuses on his “Safe Passage” art installation in Berlin, which is comprised of discarded lifejackets from refugees. Refugee stories inspire many of Weiwei’s pieces. Chien’s gorgeous illustrations nod to his “Safe Passage” piece with pops of orange in every page spread. I would read this to accompany discussions on art, activism, and refugees.

Cover of Winter's Gifts by Curtice

Winter’s Gifts by Kaitlin B. Curtice, illustrated by Gloria Félix

There aren’t many picture books about Winter Solstice traditions, and this one written from an Indigenous Potawatomi perspective is lovely. Dani’s family teaches her about the many gifts winter brings, like resting and the time to tell stories. She’s excited to study the moon’s phases at school and celebrate Grandmother Moon and the sun’s birthday with her family. But when she tells her friends at school about her family’s celebrations, they laugh at her. At first, this makes her sad, but her supportive family helps her to move past her classmates’ mockery and enjoy winter’s gifts. Her friends are more open-minded in the end.

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

Riot Recommendations

Since both my daughter and I are dressing up as some variation of a cat for Halloween (my daughter has dressed as a cat almost every year), I thought I would recommend some new cat children’s books!

Cover of Purring Rolling Stretching by Ishizu

Purring, Rolling, Stretching by Chihiro Ishizu, illustrated by Nanako Matsuda

This adorable board book follows a day in the life of a white cat. Each page has one action sentence—”The cat slurps a drink of water”—followed by the action repeated three times—”slurp, slurp, slurp.” Pages are mostly black and white with pops of vibrant color. My daughter particularly likes the page where the cat poops.

Cover of The Kitten Story by Jenkins

The Kitten Story by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by Brittany Cicchese

This adorable picture book based on a true story would also make a great winter read. A family has decided to adopt their first kitten, and everyone has different ideas about what to name the kitten. Surprisingly, they agree on Nigel, but when the youngest member of the family and the mom arrive at the shelter, they find it’s shut down. The next day, the mom goes to another shelter alone, but instead of bringing home a kitten, she brings home a cat, and she’s named him something completely different. This is such a sweet story.

Cover of Ethan and the Strays by Sullivan

Ethan and the Strays by John Sullivan, illustrated by Hatem Aly

Ethan walks to school with his older brother, and one day, he sees stray kittens and ends up naming them. He worries about them when the weather turns cold. He and his brother take the kittens to a local vet clinic where they’re spayed and neutered. Ethan and his brother are also given boxes with straw to help the kittens stay warm. Ethan ends up bringing one of the kittens home. There are a lot of stray cats where my mom lives, and she converted a shed into a heated barn for them during the winter (and she also captures them to be spayed and neutered). It’s great to see practical stories about how to help the feral cat population like this.

Cover of My Cat Does Ballet by Heidbreader

My Cat Does Ballet by Robert Heidbreder, illustrated by Matt Schu

Now for a completely different kind of picture book. A boy chronicles all the amazing ballet moves his cat performs—glissades on slippery floors, pas de deux with the new puppy, en pointe while staring out the window. His friends also have cats capable of amazing feats, like stealing stuffed animals, riding vacuum cleaners, and sliding down banisters. Worried that his friends don’t believe that his cat does ballet, the boy invites his friends and their cats to a party at his house. What follows is a most improbable ballet performance.

JiJi and Doc McStuffins, The Kids Are All Right

I am sadly very allergic to cats and don’t have any. They’re my daughter’s favorite animal, however, so we have at least a dozen cat stuffed animals. My daughter missed school this week due to strep, and we ended up pretend-playing vet clinic for much of the week. I’m sad to say Jiji fell and broke a leg, but thankfully, Doc McStuffins was able to help.

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.

All the best,

Margaret Kingsbury