In addition to being an author, I am a book reviewer and share my favorite titles for children 0-12 on my Instagram page @picturebookrecommendations. Please feel free to reach out if you are looking for a book on a specific topic for a kiddo in your life!
Please see my current review policy here.
How cute is the “mystery pet” my daughter created to go along with this fantastic new read?!
Evelyn is a young witch who wants a pet, but all she can afford is the mystery pet in the white egg. She does everything she can to make it hatch faster but eventually she finds that patience and compassion are all she needs.
An enchanting story of patience that will have you laughing out loud!
Evelyn Witch Gets a Pet
@bethferry1
@Charlessantoso
@mackidsbooks
#pet #witch #kidlit
Two opposite approaches to encouraging moving forward even when faced with challenges.
Willow and the Wildflowers
Willow prefers the comfort of staying home in her routine. She is timid to step into the world outside her front door but she adores flowers and wants to head out to see a superbloom. On the way she faces fears but each time there is a new friend there to comfort and assist. Slowly she learns that while she is afraid she is also brave and her experiences outweigh her fears. This is an endearing story of friendship and stepping outside your comfort zone to experience the world and live.
@Matthewschufman
@randomhousestudio @randomhousekids
Tenacious Won’t Give Up
A young girl meets every challenge that comes her way with determination but when she just can’t figure out her bike she is stumped. Or at least she is until a friend shows her that it isn’t always about trying harder, sometimes it is about trying ‘smarter.’ Soon she sees that knowledge, support and determination are a winning combination to get her on her way.
@Pamvau
@leannehatch_illustration
@knopfyoungreaders
@randomhousekids
#brave #determined #kidlit
Are you headed anywhere fun on vacation this summer? Our big family vacation this year was to Italy, which was magical! Check out these interactive reads perfect for keeping the littlest travelers entertained!
Let’s Drive! A Book of Numbers (Pop-Up Vehicles)
Let’s Sail! A Book of Opposites
Let’s Dig! A Book of First Words
Let’s Fly! A book of Colors
Vehicles take you on the road, through the sea, across work sites and into the sky all while exploring numbers, opposites, first words and colors in these playful, vibrant and engaging pop-up board books.
@Mathunt
Frog Goes on Vacation
Frog is heading off on vacation. Travel with him as he goes this way and that, up high and down low in this colorful playful peep through adventure book.
@carly_gledhill
Big Stickers Things That Go
Big Stickers Vacations
Big Stickers Wild Animals
Big Stickers Space
These sticker books are perfect for interactive exploration through the pages of bright cheerful books. They each have a large fold out scene and encourage participation from young readers.
@marillustrator
@patacakebooks
@laurenchildrensbooks
@kanemillerbooks
#travel #activitybooks #lovetolearn #explore #vacation #vacationreads
Are you friendly with the people in your neighborhood? Before getting our pup almost a year ago (?!) I didn’t talk to many people in our area. Living in LA, it is a busy place and it wasn’t until I started walking Yankee twice a day that I slowed down and said hello.
Similarly, the young girl in this book ventures out into her own neighborhood to walk her pup. While doing so she begins nodding hello to a writer working in an open window. While the writer eventually moves away, their interactions encourage the young girl to open her own windows and explore her creativity.
I love the gentle encouragement of this book to get outdoors, say hello and connect with your community.
At the Window
@hopelim_sf
@qinillustrations
@candlewickpress
#community #connection #kidlit
Where are my fellow word lovers?
I adore words and as a picture book author, I can spend an absurd amount of time selecting the right ones for my books. I also encourage my own children to expand their own vocabularies and appreicate books for helping do just that. Needless to say I am a big fan of this brand new picture book that celebrates finding the just right words!
This ADORABLE book features three word loving wombats and a curious duckling who soaks up all the wombats have to offer as they travel through the forest sharing and encouraging dazzling words. A perfect book to illustrate the power and importance of vocabularly!
The Wombats Go Wild for Words
@bethferry1
@lorinicholsbook
@randomhousestudio @randomhousekids
#engligh #englighteacher #vocabulary #lovetolearn
The pressure to overachieve feels a lot more intense for children today than it did to me when I was growing up. There seems to be a lot more stress and anxiety and I love that this book shows that there is a just right place for everyone to shine.
In this sweet story we see star who is struggling to be the best and brightest. When they fall we seem them worry and stress until they find the just right place for them to shine their brightest.
A sweet story with an important message. I particularly love the dedication “Dedicated to quitters, dropouts, failures and anyone who’s crashed and burned - you will rekindle your spark in another time and space.”
Falling Star
@lindersliu
@mackidsbooks
#failure #pressure #anxiety #kidlit
I was born in England and moved to the States as a kid, so while I have cousins, I haven’t gotten to spend as much time with them as I would’ve liked. That said, it is always fun to get together and pick up where we left off when I do get back to the U.K. Do you have lots of cousins?
This fantastic book shows the ups and downs of cousins and celebrates the special bond they share. It is bright and joyful and beautifully illustrates embracing differences.
Cousins!: A Big Family Story
@llavoieauthor
@luisamleal
@mackidsbooks
#cousins #family
“Blah. Nothing good ever happens to me.”
Some days just start out upside down and everything seems to be glass half empty. This is exactly the case for one young child who wakes up with a chicken on her head and worms in her cereal. Filled with wonderfully childlike exageration (that I think any age can relate to) this humerous book shows us that the gift that will turn it all around can be waiting for us just around the corner.
In this case, the gift is literal - a box that the girl trips over. Inside there is a pair of magical socks and the day transforms as she shares it with her friend “something good is so much better when you share it.”
I love that this sweet story playfully shows that perspective, imagination and friendship are the medicine we all need and that every terrible day has an end. I also enjoy the ending that gently encourages looking for others who may need a “gift” to trip over as well.
Something Good
@kennethkraegel
@candlewickpress
#badday #perspective #kidsbook
This fantastical book features Moon, who decides to abandon their responsibilities and move into an empty house.
Moon and the young girl next door become friends. Eventually the girl gently encourages Moon to go back, after all the turtles, the surfers, and the world itself are all in a wooble without the moon to guide them.
This sweet book subtly teaches the reader about the moon while showing that sometimes friends need a reminder that they are appreciated and purposeful.
The Moon Moved In
Sonia Sánchez
@Soniasillustration
@chroniclekidsbooks
#moon #friendship #belong
Do you read to your kiddos before bed?
Sleep Tight, Disgusting Blob
“All creatures grim and evil,
under the tired sun,
are settling down—and so must you,
my horrible little one...”
I just love this silly, hilarious disgusting book so much. It tells the story of no matter what type of creature you are, werewolf, vampire, dark lord, or yeti, you must still prepare for bed and shows that everyone enjoys a good book. I can’t wait for the giggles sure to accompany this terrifically dreadful read aloud.
@huwaaron
@penguinkids
How to Catch Some Zzzs
This is the perfect book for the little that just can’t sleep. It is guide of what to do when your zzzs go missing. In an engaging, playful way the book instructs children to go through the motions, shut out distractions, rely on bedtime stories and use tricks when all else fails.
@meganwagnerlloyd
@Jadefrolics
@chroniclekidsbooks
#bedtime #goodnight #bedtimebook
Engaging and playful non fiction perfect for curious littles!
Talking Rocks and Minerals: Fact-Packed Guide to Geology
“Do you know what makes rocks rock?”
Ace reporter Pebble is here with the inside scoop in this playful yet informative new picture book. Learn what minerals are, the three major types of rocks, and more, all from the “rock”-stars themselves!
#PaigeTowler
#MatthewCarlson
@penguinkids
Ray: How Light Works
“Light has been here since the beginning of time.”
Ray is light. He has been around for a very long time and is here to tell readers all about what he has been doing, from zipping through space to lighting up Earth and helping everything there thrive. This is a playful, informative voice-y new picture book perfect for curious minds.
@emilykatemoon.books
@penguinkids
#nf #steam #nonfiction
How many states have you visited? Celebrate America with these two new releases!
50 States of Love: A Celebration of America
“Our love is like Arizona,
grand as the majestic canyon and vivid like desert blooms.”
A lyrical ode to all 50 states and the love that connects us all to them.
@annaaronsondraws
@quartokids
Only in the Pacific Northwest: Weird and Wonderful Facts About The Pacific Northwest
Explore all the Pacific Northwest has to offer, from rainforests to the Space Needle to food, sports, its history, and more! Packed with information,n this book is perfect for curious littles looking to travel right from the comfort of their own home.
#NancyDickmann
@j.moffatpena.art
@quartokids
#unitedstates #travel #july4th #independenceday
