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.
Some picture books don’t just tell a story — they leave you in complete awe of the natural world 🌲🔥✨
A Forest Begins Anew is a breathtakingly beautiful look at how forests regenerate and heal after wildfire. Told in lyrical rhyme and paired with Elly MacKay’s stunning layered cut-paper illustrations, this story transforms destruction into a moving portrait of resilience, renewal, and hope.
The visuals in this one are absolutely mesmerizing.
Highlights:
✔️ nature’s resilience & rebirth
✔️ understanding wildfire ecosystems
✔️ lyrical rhyming text
✔️ breathtaking 3D cut-paper illustrations
✔️ science woven into storytelling
✔️ environmental awareness for kids
✔️ themes of hope & renewal
✔️ fascinating nonfiction back matter
This is the kind of book that invites readers to slow down, wonder, and look more closely at the world around them 💛
A Forest Begins Anew
#LouiseMAamodt
ellymackay
@astrabooks4kids
#picturebooks #kidlit #childrensbooks #naturebooks #environmentaleducation #forestbooks #readaloud #kidsbooks #bookstagram #raisingreaders #scienceforkids #wildfireawareness #kidlitlove #picturebookrecommendations
If you’re looking for a book that grows with your child… this is a great pick. 🔷
With bright, playful visuals and rhythmic text, this one instantly draws in younger readers—while the deeper questions about shapes, patterns, and how things are the same and different keep older kids thinking.
I love how it works on multiple levels: introducing early math concepts like sorting, fractions, and parts of a whole, while also encouraging observation, problem-solving, and curiosity.
It’s the kind of book you can revisit again and again—and notice something new each time.
Such a fun, engaging, and thought-provoking read.
✨ Highlights:
✔️ Shapes, sorting & patterns
✔️ Early math & visual literacy
✔️ Colors, fractions & parts of a whole
✔️ Playful, rhythmic read-aloud
✔️ Clever classification & problem-solving
✔️ Bold, imaginative design
Would your kids spot all the patterns? 👀
One Whole Hippopotamus: A Book About Parts and Patterns
@carterhiggins
@chroniclekidsbooks
#earlymath #toddlerlearning #kidslit #raisingreaders #learningthroughplay
Two fascinating new nonfiction reads for curious kids who love asking BIG questions! 🧠🌍🦋 These books make complex scientific ideas approachable, engaging, and full of wonder.
📘 Animal Intelligence Unleashed: What Animals Reveal About Our Changing World
This fascinating read explores how animals communicate, adapt, and interact with the world around them — and what humans can learn from them too! Filled with eye-catching illustrations and amazing scientific discoveries, it’s a perfect pick for animal-loving readers.
Highlights:
✔️ animal communication & body language
✔️ fascinating animal behaviors
✔️ science & technology discoveries
✔️ biomimicry and innovation
✔️ engaging STEM nonfiction
✔️ curiosity about the natural world
📗 Can a Butterfly Cause a Hurricane?: Discover the Science Behind Chaos Theory
This mind-bending introduction to chaos theory helps readers understand how tiny actions can lead to enormous changes. From weather systems to outer space, this book makes a complicated scientific concept exciting and kid-friendly.
Highlights:
✔️ chaos theory for kids
✔️ weather & science connections
✔️ cause and effect thinking
✔️ big scientific questions
✔️ math & science exploration
✔️ understanding unpredictability
Perfect for curious readers who are always asking “why?” and “how?” 🔍✨
Animal Intelligence Unleashed: What Animals Reveal About Our Changing World Jan 6, 2026
#JillRusso
#EszterSzepvogy
@pubspotlight
Can a Butterfly Cause a Hurricane?: Discover the Science Behind Chaos Theory (The Big Questions Answered)
#OliviaWatson
#DanielLimon
@pubspotlight
#kidlit #kidsbooks #stemforkids #nonfictionforkids #scienceforkids #stembooks #childrensbooks #bookstagram #raisingreaders #kidswhoread #animalbooks #sciencebooks #curiouskids #classroombooks #homeschoolbooks
Looking for the sweetest interactive books for little hands? Save this one 🐰🦊
These classic lift-the-flap stories are full of gentle humor, repetition, and just the right amount of surprise—perfect for keeping toddlers engaged (and asking for “again!”).
✨ Highlights:
✔️ lift-the-flap fun for curious little readers
✔️ playful rhymes + repetition
✔️ cozy woodland characters
✔️ perfect for ages 1–3
🦊 Fox’s Socks
Help Fox find his missing socks by lifting the flaps—such a fun, giggle-filled search-and-find that little ones love to revisit.
@juliadonaldsonauthor @axelschefflerofficial @mackidsbooks
🐰 Rabbit’s Nap
Rabbit is trying to nap… but the woodland friends keep stopping by! A sweet, rhythmic story that builds anticipation with every flap.
@juliadonaldsonauthor @axelschefflerofficial @mackidsbooks
These are toddler favorites for a reason—interactive, cozy, and just right for snuggly read-aloud moments. 💛
Which one would your little reader reach for first? 🐾
#picturebookrecommendations #boardbooks #toddlerreads #raisingreaders #kidslit
If your kid loves animals… but forgets about “gentle hands,” this book is a must-read. 🐱💛
A young boy wants nothing more than to squeeze his cat tight—but that’s not what the cat wants.
What follows is a funny, relatable story of mistakes, learning, and figuring out how to show love in a way that works for everyone.
I love how this book gently teaches kids about personal space and boundaries—without feeling heavy—while also opening the door to conversations about empathy, respect, and caring for both our furry friends and each other.
Such a playful and meaningful read.
✨ Themes:
✔️ Personal space
✔️ Respecting boundaries
✔️ Empathy & understanding
✔️ Friendship & care
✔️ Growing through mistakes
Do your kids know how to show love in a way pets enjoy? 😄
Arthur’s Cat
@johanleynaud
@eerdmansyoungreaders
#socialemotionallearning #petbooks #kidslit #raisingreaders #gentlehands
✨Latest family read!✨ If your kids love action, animals, mysteries, and edge-of-your-seat adventure books… this one is a WILD ride. 🦍🌍
We just finished reading Ape Escape (FunJungle) by Stuart Gibbs and could not put it down. From Rwanda to the Serengeti to the bustling streets of Zanzibar, this latest FunJungle adventure had our whole family hooked from start to finish.
Highlights:
✔️ Fast-paced mystery
✔️ Animal rescue storyline
✔️ Incredible African settings
✔️ Funny + clever dialogue
✔️ High-stakes adventure
✔️ Great for family read-alouds
✔️ Teddy Fitzroy at his best
✔️ Perfect for animal-loving readers
The story follows Teddy as he races to rescue a kidnapped baby gorilla while navigating dangerous terrain, poachers, and clues hidden across Africa. It felt especially fun to read because we’re heading to Africa this summer, so the settings made the adventure feel even more immersive for our family. 🦁✨
If you have a reader who loves mysteries, wildlife, or adventure series, definitely add this one to your list.
📚 Ape Escape (FunJungle)
@stuartgibbs1
@simonkids
#FunJungle #StuartGibbs #MiddleGradeBooks #KidsBooks #FamilyReading #ReadAloud #BookstagramKids #AnimalBooks #AdventureBooks #ChildrensBooks #MiddleGradeReads
✈️ T R A V E L 🧳 E S S E N T I A L S
🧳 Luggage set
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Ever feel like your kid is saying “LOOK AT ME!” all day long? 😅 Save this one.
These two playful reads tap into big kid feelings—wanting attention, wanting to be seen, and even wishing you could be someone else for a little while.
✨ Highlights:
✔️ big feelings + identity
✔️ humor that kids get
✔️ perfect for read-aloud laughs with meaning
🎭 Pay Attention to Me!
A funny, relatable look at what it feels like when you just want to be noticed. Full of humor and heart, this one really captures that “please see me!” energy kids know so well.
@kate_mckean @robjustus @sourcebookskids
🐱 I Really Want to Be a Cat
What if being you just doesn’t feel like enough? This charming, imaginative story explores identity, curiosity, and the playful desire to try on a whole new life (preferably one with naps and snacks 😄).
@helenhancocks @sourcebookskids
Which one would your kid relate to more—wanting attention or wanting to be something else? 👀
#picturebookrecommendations #kidslit #socialemotionallearning #raisingreaders #readalouds
Are stories something we find… or something we choose to tell?
In this beautifully quiet, reflective book, a young girl is given a journal and begins searching for stories worth writing down. She looks everywhere—the natural world, an old house, treasured family photos—wondering where stories truly begin.
What unfolds is a gentle, lyrical reminder that stories aren’t just “out there”… they’re shaped by what we notice, what we feel, and what we choose to hold onto.
✨ Highlights:
✔️ celebrating creativity + storytelling
✔️ encouraging kids to observe the world
✔️ a thoughtful, inspiring read-aloud
Where Do Stories Live? ✨
@meenalpatelstudio @penguinkids
What kind of stories would your child choose to tell? 💫
Sunshine, imagination, outdoor adventures, cozy moments, creativity, and BIG summer feelings ☀️🍉🚲🌊 These upcoming picture books capture so many of the magical moments that make summer unforgettable.
📚 Christian’s Soccer Superpowers
"As Christian looked around, he noticed all the kids seemed bigger and stronger than him. He stood frozen on the sidelines, afraid to join in."
✔️ confidence & perseverance
✔️ mental superpowers
✔️ going after your dreams
✔️ overcoming self-doubt
✔️ growth mindset
📚 Becca & Bubbe’s Bucket List
"I`m going to make a bucket list just for this summer," she announced.
✔️ summer bucket list fun
✔️ intergenerational love
✔️ family traditions
✔️ joyful Jewish representation
✔️ making meaningful memories
📚 On Our Bikes
"We`ve got our bikes. We`ve got our friends. We`re gonna ride `til daytime ends."
✔️ bike rides & outdoor play
✔️ family & community connection
✔️ confidence-building milestones
✔️ celebrating movement & freedom
✔️ caring for the Earth
📚 The Quiet Ocean
"A playful puffer in a quiet, nothing-much-happening ocean. Until..."
✔️ ocean-themed fun
✔️ laugh-out-loud chain reactions
✔️ calming & emotional regulation undercurrent
✔️ playful underwater adventure
✔️ restoring peace & quiet
📚 Claude: A Wordless Picture Book About Art
"As an artist, I struggle with perfectionism, but when I just let go and play, my art is always better." - author/illustrator note.
✔️ creativity over perfection
✔️ Monet-inspired artwork
✔️ visual storytelling
✔️ embracing happy accidents
✔️ art & self-expression
📚 A Cozy Summer Day
"Bring your swimsuits, floaties, and floppy hats for a cool summer swim."
✔️ cozy summer vibes
✔️ picnics, campfires & swimming
✔️ friendship & community
✔️ warm seasonal illustrations
📚 Watermelon Pool
"Everyone stomps together and the clear, crimson watermelon juice starts to pool."
✔️ imagination-filled summer fun
✔️ whimsical storytelling
✔️ playful community celebration
✔️ hot summer day read
✔️ gorgeous illustrations
#picturebooks #kidlit #summerbooks #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #summerreading #raisingreaders #readaloud #oceanbooks #bikebooks #soccerbooks
This one stays with you.
Set during the Montgomery Bus Boycott, this powerful story follows a young boy who is tired of walking everywhere—until his father helps him understand why they walk.
Because sometimes doing what’s right means making hard choices.
Because actions matter just as much as words.
As they walk to piano lessons, they face hurtful words and long roads—but they keep going. Together. Standing firm in what they know is right, refusing to ride the bus until everyone is treated equally.
It’s a moving, accessible way to show kids how peaceful, unified action can create real change—and how courage often looks like putting one foot in front of the other.
✨ Highlights:
✔️ civil rights history through a child’s lens
✔️ standing up for justice + equality
✔️ meaningful conversations starter
Walk the Walk ❤️
#RJOwens @reggiebrownart @bloomsburykids
Would you read this with your kids to start a conversation? 💬
What if the most important place in a home… is the table?
This beautiful story captures how life unfolds in the everyday moments we share—morning breakfasts, homework spread across the table, comforting a scraped knee. And it holds space for the big moments too: celebrations, milestones, and even goodbyes.
Through it all, the table becomes something more than just a place to sit—it’s where connection grows, memories are made, and love shows up again and again.
✨ Highlights:
✔️ celebrating family + togetherness
✔️ honoring everyday & milestone moments
✔️ a meaningful, reflective read-aloud
The Heart of Our Home 💛
@janellewashingtonart @roaringbrookpress
Would you add this to your family’s bookshelf? 💫
