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.
🌊 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
🙃🔄 What if the world wasn`t upside down... but YOU were?
I Think We`re Upside Down! is a laugh-out-loud adventure that will have readers asking to read it again and again. Filled with playful humor, imaginative twists, and plenty of opportunities to turn the book (and your perspective!) around, this interactive read is sure to delight curious kids and grown-ups alike.
📚 I Think We`re Upside Down!
✍️🎨 @marcuscutlerillo
🏠 Published by @putnambooks @pegnuinkids
Get ready for giggles, surprises, and a whole new way of looking at the world! 🙃✨
#IThinkWereUpsideDown #MarcusCutler #PutnamBooks #PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #BookstagramKids #PictureBookRecommendations #ReadAloud #KidsBooks #InteractiveBooks #FunnyPictureBooks #StorytimeBooks #BooksForKids #ReadingFun
🐰💨 Big feelings can feel overwhelming—but with a little practice, we can learn how to handle them.
Meet Bunny. Like many kids, he sometimes gets frustrated, disappointed, angry, or overwhelmed when things don`t go as planned.
The pool closes early. His carrot cake doesn`t taste like carrots. He forgets his steps during an important recital.
Cue the BIG feelings. 😤
Thankfully, Bunny`s mama has taught him some simple strategies to help him pause, breathe, and work through those emotions when they start to feel too big.
Breathe, Bunny, Breathe is a sweet, relatable, and often funny picture book that helps young readers recognize their emotions and learn practical ways to calm their bodies and minds. Filled with humor, heart, and reassurance, it`s a wonderful tool for starting conversations about emotional regulation and coping skills.
A perfect read-aloud for little ones navigating big feelings—and for the grown-ups helping them along the way. 💛
📚 Breathe, Bunny, Breathe: A Book About Big Feelings
✍️ @lauralavoieauthor
🎨 @mikeboldt
📖 @familiusbooks
What helps your little one calm down when they`re having a tough day? 💭🐰
#BreatheBunnyBreathe #LauraLavoie #MikeBoldt #PictureBooks #KidsLit #BigFeelings #SocialEmotionalLearning #SELBooks #EmotionalRegulation #FeelingsBooks #ChildrensBooks #Bookstagram #PictureBookRecommendations #ReadAloud #ParentingBooks #MindfulnessForKids #RaisingReaders #BooksForKids #FamiliusBooks #NewPictureBooks
Elba worries. A lot. And sometimes things go wrong.
Norris helps Elba see that even when they go wrong, together they can write their own endings.
Filled with warmth, wisdom, and gentle humor, this beautiful picture book explores anxiety, friendship, and the power of reframing our thoughts in a way that young readers can understand.
📚 Just for Today (A Maybe Tomorrow Book)
✍️ @charlotteagell
🎨 @anaramirezgonzalezillustration
📖 @schwartzandwade
#JustForToday #MaybeTomorrow #CharlotteAgell #AnaRamirezGonzalez #PictureBooks #KidsLit #SocialEmotionalLearning #SELBooks #AnxietyBooksForKids #TheRabbitListened #RubyFindsAWorry #ChildrensBooks #Bookstagram #PictureBookRecommendations #ReadAloud #BigFeelingsBooks #MentalHealthForKids #RaisingReaders #NewPictureBooks #SchwartzAndWade
Get ready to dive into an ocean adventure where kids can see how they measure up against some of the sea’s most fascinating creatures! From giant megalodon teeth to a fold-out spider crab and deep-sea anglerfish, this oversized interactive nonfiction book makes learning feel playful, immersive, and unforgettable.
Highlights:
✔️ lifesize animal comparisons
✔️ interactive fold-out pages
✔️ fascinating ocean facts
✔️ STEM & nonfiction fun
✔️ encourages curiosity about marine life
✔️ playful read-aloud moments
✔️ perfect for animal-loving kids
✔️ visually stunning oversized format
This one feels like stepping right into an underwater expedition! 🌊
Lifesize Ocean Animals
@sophyhenn
@kanemillerbooks
#LifesizeOceanAnimals #SophyHenn #ChildrensBooks #PictureBooks #NonfictionKidsBooks
🎃🍂 Sometimes the most wonderful surprises start with a tiny seed.
In Lilly`s Surprise Pumpkins, young readers will delight in following Lilly`s journey as patience, hard work, and a little bit of hope grow into something bigger than she ever imagined. This charming story celebrates the magic of nature, the joy of unexpected discoveries, and the rewards of perseverance.
Perfect for garden lovers, classroom read-alouds, and anyone who knows that good things take time.
📚 Lilly`s Surprise Pumpkins
✍️ @bethcharlesbooks
🎨 @annaaronsondraws
@sleepingbearpress
A heartwarming reminder that sometimes the best surprises are the ones we grow ourselves. 🎃✨
What’s something you`ve planted—literally or figuratively—that surprised you when it blossomed? Share below! 👇
#LillysSurprisePumpkins #PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #BookstagramKids #PictureBookRecommendations #ReadAloud #GardenBooks #BooksAboutNature #KidsBooks #GrowingThings #FallBooks #PumpkinBooks #BooksForKids #ChildrensLiterature
🐶 What if the secret to living a happier life has been wagging its tail right in front of us all along?
Everything You Need to Know About Life You Can Learn from a Dog is a joyful reminder that our four-legged friends may be wiser than we think.
Dogs know how to greet each day with enthusiasm, forgive quickly, find joy in the little things, enjoy a good walk, take a nap when they need one, and love unconditionally. Honestly... we could all take a few notes. 🐾
Filled with humor, heart, and charming illustrations, this delightful picture book shares life lessons inspired by our canine companions and encourages readers of all ages to slow down, stay present, and appreciate the people (and pets!) they love.
Whether you`re a lifelong dog lover or simply looking for a smile, this book is sure to leave you feeling a little happier—and maybe ready for an extra walk around the block. 💛
📚 Everything You Need to Know About Life You Can Learn from a Dog
✍️ @brucelittlefield
🎨 @maribellechugaillustration
📖 @chroniclekidsbooks
What`s the best life lesson you`ve learned from a dog? 🐶👇
#EverythingYouNeedToKnowAboutLifeYouCanLearnFromADog #BruceLittlefield #MaribelLechuga #DogBooks #PictureBooks #KidsLit #ChildrensBooks #Bookstagram #PictureBookRecommendations #DogLovers #ReadAloud #PetBooks #FamilyReading #RaisingReaders #BooksForKids #DogLife #LifeLessons #NewPictureBooks #ChronicleKids #DogMom
💛 There is no one right way to learn. When we embrace different learning styles, everyone benefits.
Some kids learn while sitting quietly with a book. Others learn by moving, building, doodling, questioning, creating, exploring, or making a joyful mess along the way.
All the Ways We Learn is a beautiful and affirming celebration of the many different ways children experience the world and take in new information. It reminds readers that learning doesn`t have to look the same for everyone—and that`s something worth celebrating.
A wonderful addition to classrooms, libraries, and home bookshelves, this is the kind of book that helps children recognize their strengths and understand that their way of learning is worthy, valid, and enough. 💛
📚 All the Ways We Learn
✍️ @chloeitoward
🎨 @yaroslava.apollonova
📖 @beamingbooks
What is something you learn best by doing rather than reading about? 💭
#AllTheWaysWeLearn #ChloeItoWard #YaroslavaApollonova #Neurodiversity #NeurodivergentKids #PictureBooks #KidsLit #ChildrensBooks #Bookstagram #PictureBookRecommendations #SELBooks #InclusiveBooks #DiverseBooks #ClassroomBooks #TeacherBooks #RaisingReaders #LearningDifferences #EducationMatters #BeamingBooks #NewPictureBooks
🐵🐷 What if you`ve always felt a little different... only to have someone call you out?
Meet Molly. She swings through the trees, lives in the jungle, and spends her days alongside the other monkeys.
There`s just one tiny problem...
She`s a pig. 😆
Monkeypig by @huwaaron is a laugh-out-loud picture book packed with silly antics, jungle adventures, and a wonderfully heartfelt message about identity, belonging, and being accepted for who you are.
Filled with humor, expressive illustrations, and a delightful twist, this is a perfect read-aloud for fans of quirky characters and stories that spark conversations about acceptance and inclusion. 💚
📚 Monkeypig
✍️🎨 @huwaaron
📖 @randomhousekids
#Monkeypig #HuwAaron #PictureBooks #KidsLit #ChildrensBooks #Bookstagram #PictureBookRecommendations #ReadAloud #FunnyBooksForKids #HumorousPictureBooks #IdentityAndBelonging #InclusionMatters #RaisingReaders #BooksForKids #FamilyReading #ClassroomBooks #NewPictureBooks #RandomHouseKids
If your child is navigating change or friendship… save this list. 💛
These stories gently explore big feelings—moving on, finding your place, and the friendships that help us through it all.
🚪 Leaving 4B
A heartfelt story about leaving a place that feels like home—and carrying those memories with you as you move forward.
Highlights:
✔️ saying goodbye
✔️ navigating change
✔️ holding onto memories
✔️ new beginnings
@chambraegriffith @amelievidelo @beamingbooksmn
🐸 Landing in a New Pond
A tender look at what it feels like to be new—finding your footing, your voice, and your place in an unfamiliar world.
Highlights:
✔️ finding belonging
✔️ courage through change
✔️ quiet resilience
@marisaramel @jenniferdoehring @charlesbridge
⭐ Friends Are Like Stars
A warm and reassuring story about friendship—how even when we can’t always see our friends, their love is still there.
Highlights:
✔️ enduring friendship
✔️ connection across distance
✔️ comfort & reassurance
✔️ love that stays
@kellyswemba @adamwalkerparker @beamingbooksmn
Which one would your child need most right now? 💭
#socialemotionallearning #friendshipbooks #kidslit #raisingreaders #newbeginnings
✨💛 Kindness has a way of shining when we need it most.
Kindness Glows in the Dark is a heartfelt reminder that not everyone has the things we take for granted and that even the smallest acts of compassion can light up someone`s world. With lyrical text and luminous illustrations, this beautiful picture book brings awareness to food insecurity and the power we have to spread light.
📚 Kindness Glows in the Dark
✍️ @gamavalle
🎨 @mrinalipr
Published by @barefootbooks @pubspotlight
How have you seen kindness glow lately? Share a story below. ✨👇
#KindnessGlowsInTheDark #PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #BookstagramKids #PictureBookRecommendations #ReadAloud #KindnessMatters #SocialEmotionalLearning #KidsBooks #BooksAboutKindness #Empathy #BarefootBooks #RaisingKindKids
