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.
🚛❤️ Make way for a very special delivery!
From acclaimed creator Stephen Savage comes Wide Load on the Road: A Big Red Truck`s Journey, a charming and visually striking story about a big red truck with an important job to do.
With sparse, engaging text and Stephen Savage`s signature bold illustrations, this picture book is perfect for vehicle-loving kids, aspiring engineers, and anyone who enjoys a story about perseverance, teamwork, and the journey itself.
📚 Wide Load on the Road: A Big Red Truck`s Journey
✍️🎨 @savageillustrator
🏠 Published by @mackidsbooks
A fun, satisfying read-aloud that proves even the biggest loads can be moved one mile at a time. 🚛✨
Do you have a little truck enthusiast at home? Let me know their favorite vehicle below! 👇
#WideLoadOnTheRoad #StephenSavage #MacKidsBooks #PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #BookstagramKids #PictureBookRecommendations #ReadAloud #TruckBooks #VehicleBooks #KidsBooks #Storytime #BooksForKids #TransportationBooks
Millions of things happen in a single day… but what does that day mean to you?
If you want a book that makes kids think big about their place in the world… this is a must-read. 🌍
I love this one so much.
Through playful, child-friendly language, it explores everything a single day can hold—and how that same day can be experienced in completely different ways across the world… and sometimes in surprisingly similar ones too.
What I love most is how it balances humor and wonder with deeper reflection. It invites kids to pause, think, and notice just how much is happening all at once—and how every day, no matter how small it feels, truly matters.
The artwork is stunning and full of details you’ll want to linger on, making it a book you can return to again and again.
Such a thoughtful, imaginative read that sparks both laughter and big conversations.
✨ Highlights:
✔️ The infinite possibilities of a single day
✔️ What happens around the world in 24 hours
✔️ When the Day wonders if it matters
✔️ Humor + poetry + bite-size science
✔️ Celebrating moments, big and small
✔️ A reminder that every day counts
Did this one make you stop and think too?
Today Is the Day
@Chelsealinwallace
@mr.adamrex
@chroniclekidsbooks
#picturebooks #kidslit #raisingreaders #mindfulkids #childrensbooks
⚔️😂 A knight in shining armor is missing one very important thing...
...his BOTTOM!
The Knight with No Bottom had me laughing out loud. It is packed with silly humor, outrageous mishaps, and plenty of giggles. When a knight discovers he`s lost his bottom, a wildly entertaining quest begins to find the perfect replacement. But will anything be quite right?
With its delightfully absurd premise and energetic illustrations, this is the kind of book children will beg to hear again and again—and adults will enjoy reading just as much.
📚 The Knight with No Bottom
✍️ @levinavanteunenbroek
🎨 @charlottebruijnillustrations
🏠 Published by @vikingbooks @penguinkids
Perfect for fans of goofy read-alouds, potty humor, and stories that leave everyone laughing. ⚔️🍑
Would your little reader find this hilarious? I have a feeling the answer is yes! 😂👇
#TheKnightWithNoBottom #LevinaVanTeunenbroek #CharlotteBruijn #VikingBooks #PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #BookstagramKids #PictureBookRecommendations #ReadAloud #FunnyPictureBooks #Storytime #KidsBooks #LaughOutLoudBooks #BooksForKids
🧭🌎 Change can be hard, but it is easier with a fellow adventurer by your side!
The Explorers features a young girl and her grandma who have a special bond and both love adventure. When grandma moves into a home and the child begins kindergarten, they both struggle with the separation and finding like-minded new friends. They soon come to see that there is room for the old and that the new can be pretty great too.
A heartwarming story of change, courage and staying true to yourself.
📚 The Explorers
✍️ @deehahn
🎨 @ashlynanstee
🏠 Published by @penguinkids
What is your child`s favorite thing to explore? Tell me below! 👇
#TheExplorers #DeeHahn #AshlynAnstee #PenguinKids #PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #BookstagramKids #PictureBookRecommendations #ReadAloud #AdventureBooks #BooksForKids #Curiosity #Exploration #KidsWhoRead #Storytime
📚✨ Do you have a little bookworm in your house? Have they ever wondered about dreaming up their own stories?
The Book Machine: A Story About the Magic of Books takes readers on a fascinating journey celebrating the wonder, creativity, and teamwork behind every book we hold in our hands. From an idea to a finished story, this charming picture book highlights the many people who help bring books to life and reminds us why stories matter.
Filled with warmth and imagination, this is a perfect read for aspiring writers, young book lovers, librarians, teachers, and anyone who has ever fallen under the spell of a great story.
📚 The Book Machine: A Story About the Magic of Books
✍️ @laurie.duersch.author
🎨 @susannacovelli_art
🏠 Published by @familiusbooks
#TheBookMachine #LaurieDuersch #SusannaCovelli #FamiliusBooks #PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #BookstagramKids #PictureBookRecommendations #ReadAloud #BookLovers #BooksAboutBooks #Storytelling #KidsBooks #ReadingMagic #FutureAuthors
✨ Latest Family Read Complete! ✨
We just finished Chronicles of Whetherwhy: The Age of Enchantment by Anna James, and loved every minute of it! 🍂❄️🌸☀️
With seasonal magic, secret societies, unforgettable monsters, and twins Juniper and Rafferty discovering who they`re meant to be, this story had our whole family hooked from beginning to end. The world-building is immersive, the adventure never lets up, and we loved following both siblings as their journeys slowly intertwined.
If your readers love magical schools, rich fantasy worlds, and stories that celebrate courage, family, and finding your place, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Now excuse us while we dive straight into Book 2—we can`t wait to see what happens next! 📚✨
Have you read the Chronicles of Whetherwhy series yet? No spoilers! 🤫
#FamilyReadAloud #MiddleGradeBooks #FantasyBooksForKids #Bookstagram #KidsWhoRead #ReadTogether #FantasyReaders #ChroniclesOfWhetherwhy #AnnaJames #BookRecommendation #FamilyReading #MiddleGradeFantasy
⚖️ What if one of the most important lessons we could teach children isn`t how to agree—but how to disagree with kindness?
A Supreme Friendship: The Unlikely Bond Between Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia by @debbie.rovin.murphy, illustrated by @kirstibeautyman
Published by @sleepingbearpress
This thoughtful picture book introduces young readers to the remarkable friendship between two Supreme Court justices whose opinions often differed—but whose mutual respect never wavered. Through engaging storytelling and warm illustrations, it demonstrates that meaningful conversations, curiosity, and genuine friendship can thrive even when people see the world differently.
Especially relevant in today`s world, this inspiring read encourages children to listen, think critically, and value the people behind differing perspectives. A wonderful conversation starter for families and classrooms alike.
💬 What`s one way you help children learn to disagree respectfully?
#ASupremeFriendship #PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #ReadAloud #BookRecommendations #RuthBaderGinsburg #AntoninScalia #Friendship #SELBooks #CivicsForKids #SourcebooksKids #KidsBooks
🚚🦆 Sometimes the best adventures begin when everything goes wrong!
Truck in the Muck by @sophiagholz, illustrated by @susanbatori
Published by @beamingbooks
When Duck`s truck gets hopelessly stuck in the mud on the way to a playdate, friends rush in to help—but the real solution comes from a simple shift in perspective. With lively rhyming text, laugh-out-loud moments, and an uplifting message about flexibility and resilience, this delightful story shows that unexpected detours can lead to the very best memories.
Perfect for beginning readers, Truck in the Muck also playfully reinforces phonics and decoding skills, making it as educational as it is entertaining. A joyful reminder that sometimes happiness comes from embracing the moment instead of trying to change it.
💚 Has an unexpected change of plans ever turned into your favorite memory?
#TruckInTheMuck #SophiaGholz #SusanBatori #PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #ReadAloud #Phonics #EarlyLiteracy #GrowthMindset #BookRecommendations #BeamingBooks #KidsBooks
✨ Children know so much more than we often give them credit for.
I Know Things by @karlaclark123 thais.mesquita.art
Published by @worthykidsbooks
With joyful affirmations and an uplifting message, I Know Things celebrates the wisdom, confidence, and resilience children already carry within them. From understanding that a hug can say more than words to recognizing that even grown-ups don`t have all the answers, this empowering picture book reminds readers that they are capable, curious, and ready for whatever comes next.
Perfect for back-to-school, graduation, or any new beginning, this is a wonderful read-aloud to help children step into life`s next chapter with confidence. It`s a heartfelt reminder that while there`s always more to learn, they already know enough to begin.
💛 What`s something your child surprised you by knowing?
#IKnowThings #KarlaClark #PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #ReadAloud #BookRecommendations #BackToSchoolBooks #GrowthMindset #SELBooks #KidsBooks #Storytime #HarperKids
✨ Sometimes the greatest treasures are the ones adults walk right past.
Searching for Wocks by @lucyknisley
Published by @rockypondbooks
On a simple walk to the playground and back, a young child fills their pockets with "wocks"— rocks and other tiny treasures like bottle caps, twigs, and smooth stones. Lucy Knisley`s bright, expressive illustrations perfectly capture the wonder of childhood and remind us that the ordinary can become extraordinary when seen through a child`s eyes.
This sweet, humorous picture book celebrates curiosity, collecting, and finding magic in everyday moments. It`s a delightful read-aloud for little explorers, nature lovers, and anyone who`s ever come home with pockets full of treasures.
🍃 What`s the most unusual "treasure" your child has ever insisted on bringing home?
#SearchingForWocks #LucyKnisley #PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #ReadAloud #BookRecommendations #NaturePlay #ChildhoodWonder #Storytime #KidsBooks #Bookstagram
🌊 STOP SCROLLING if you`re building the perfect summer reading stack! These four ocean-themed picture books are ones you`ll want to read, reread, and keep on your shelves long after beach season is over.
💙 Hello, Ocean! by @corinnaluyken
Published by @rockypondbooks
If you`ve ever wished you could bottle the feeling of a perfect beach day, this is the book. Corinna Luyken`s gorgeous illustrations and lyrical text immerse readers in the sights, sounds, textures, and wonder of the ocean, encouraging children to slow down, notice the world around them and even inspire them to leave it better than they found it.
🐠 Hide Fish Hide!: Sea Creature Camouflage by @derickwilder, illustrated by @monikafilipina
Published by @sleepingbearpress
Kids who love animals will be captivated by this fascinating look at how sea creatures hide in plain sight. Bursting with incredible facts, vibrant artwork, and brilliant to read aloud, it`s the kind of nonfiction that sparks curiosity and sends readers back through the pages again and again.
🏄 The Lost Board by @alicefeagan
Published by @vikingbooksyoungreaders
What begins as the story of a lost surfboard becomes an unforgettable reminder of how a single found object can not only shape us but also connect us across generations and oceans.
🌊 The Quiet Ocean by me (@picturebookrecommendations), illustrated by @abicushman
Published by @simonkids
Just like the waves, big feelings rise—and they also settle. Inspired by the calming rhythm of the sea, this reassuring story offers children a gentle reminder that difficult emotions won`t last forever, making it a wonderful read for home, classrooms, and libraries alike. I`m so honored that The Quiet Ocean received a ⭐️ starred review from School Library Journal, was named an Editors` Pick for Ages 3–5, and has found its way into so many readers` hearts.
🌊 Save this post for your next library visit or beach vacation!
#PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #BookRecommendations #SummerReading #OceanBooks #ReadAloud #STEMBooks #SELBooks #BeachReads #KidsBooks #Storytime #BooksToLove
🐼💌 Meet Panda: a loyal stuffed animal, expert letter writer, and self-appointed survivor of life with a baby. 😆
In Love, Panda, this delightfully snarky stuffy is convinced she`s been abandoned after her owner becomes a big brother. Stuck among drool, rattles, and endless baby chaos, Panda writes a series of hilarious letters pleading for rescue.
But as the days pass, Panda begins to notice something unexpected...
Maybe the baby isn`t quite as terrible as she first thought. 💛
Told through clever letters and brought to life with irresistibly adorable illustrations, this charming picture book captures the big emotions that can come with welcoming a new sibling while delivering plenty of laughs along the way.
📚 Love, Panda
✍️ @elainesubooks
🎨 @charlenechuaillustration
📖 @kidscanpress
#LovePanda #ElaineSu #CharleneChua #PictureBooks #KidsLit #ChildrensBooks #Bookstagram #PictureBookRecommendations #ReadAloud #SiblingBooks #NewBabyBooks #BigSiblingBooks #FunnyPictureBooks #JuniorLibraryGuild #StuffedAnimals #FamilyReading #RaisingReaders #BooksForKids #NewPictureBooks #KidsCanPress
