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.
I had this whole grand plan to share my favorite five Hanukkah books… but… I love far more than that and couldn’t narrow it down that much, so here are my way more than five favorites 😜
Want this list in you inbox? Comment Hanukkah and I’ll send you a link to my collection!
This year Hanukkah begins on Sun, Dec 14, 2025 – Mon, Dec 22, 2025
#hanukkah #chanukah #hanukkahbooks #jewishbooks #jewish
Thanks @quartokids & happy holidays everyone!
Who Flew The Coop? An Egg-cellent Card Game
Sabrina Carpenter A Vibrant Journey through the career and influence of a pop princess
The Totally Awesome World of Caitlin Clark
A Christmas Treasury of Recipes Crafts, and Wisdom
50 States of Love A Celebration of America
The Hidden Wisdom of Animals Surprising things We Can Learn From Nature
My First Story Orchestra Four Seasons in One Day
Little People, Big Dreams A Go-Fish Game
Fox and the Mystery Letter
Bold Brilliant and Latine Trivia Game
#holidays #holidaygiftguide #holidaygifts #games #books
Can you tell it’s a 🦃?! 🤪Hopefully it tastes good!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Grateful for your books, support and friendship 💙
Are you hosting or visiting this year? I can’t wait to celebrate with family. This year we are going to attempt a babka turkey, wish us luck!
This warm new book celebrates all that Thanksgiving is, symbolizes, and passes on.
It opens with gratitude for a Thanksgiving sunrise, moves to appreciating the foods that the earth blesses us with, reminds us to treasure creating memories, cooking, eating, and laughing with loved ones, as well as passing on traditions.
Wishing you all a holiday filled with gratitude, delicious food, laughter and loved ones.
Thanksgiving Is a Blessing
@rachelkenyon1
@udayanalugo
@beamingbooksmn
#thanksgiving
Latest Family Read!
10, 11.5, and I just finished and adored this hilarious, action-packed mystery. If you have been following me for a while you will know that we are big Stuart Gibbs fans and this one is another winner. There is one point where a character falls in the mud and my son was laughing so hard he fell off the couch - I live for these moments of connection and this was one of the best. I love that we spoke about friendships and the right and wrong ways to treat animals. Read the publisher decription below if you want more info but serious the entire FunJungle series is a must read. We are moving onto another one in the series next!
Publisher description:
“Teddy was all set for a campout at his friend Sage’s family ranch—but then Sage gets terrible news: The skull of a rare dinosaur that was being excavated on his property has mysteriously vanished overnight in the middle of a rainstorm, even though it weighed 500 pounds. Not a single footprint has been left behind. Since the dinosaur was top secret, the police don’t believe anyone outside the dig could have stolen it.
A T-rex skull can sell for millions of dollars, and everyone is a suspect—including J.J. McCracken, the owner of FunJungle.
Meanwhile, Teddy’s old foes, the Barksdale twins, have gotten into trouble with an illegally purchased anaconda, and Teddy’s girlfriend Summer wants to find out who’s behind the local trade in black market reptiles. The two cases will drag Teddy into more danger and chaos than ever before, in this mystery that’s stranger than fiction.”
Tyrannosaurus Wrecks
@stuartgibbs1
@simonkids
#middlegrade #novel #familyread
Shabbat shalom! Wishing everyone a restful weekend ahead.
Fairy GodBubbie’s Shabbat
This playful and humorous story shows a Godbubbie who shows up uninvited and with a little wave of her magic unplugs a family during Shabbat. Their devices no longer working, they spend time and connect with one another. This sweet story playfully reminds us of the importance of taking some time away from screens and enjoying one another and the world around us - everything else will be waiting for us when Shabbat ends.
@Annkoffsky
@intergalacticafikoman
Shabbat on Mars
This playful book takes a look at what Shabbat is like here on earth and how it might be on Mars. It talks about everything from how we would get there to what foods we would be able to take there and more! This is a fun blend of Shabbat and Science for curious littles!
@Jeffwward
@gila.be
@intergalacticafikoman
The Shabbat I Know
A sweet board book to introduce the littlest ones in our lives to Shabbat. The vibrant illustrations are sure to capture attention while walking them through the basics of the holiday.
#ChrisBarash
rinatgilboa
@green_bean_books
#jewish #jewishbooks
✨ GIVEAWAY CLOSED✨ Congrats @wanderingbookseller on winning this giveaway!
We have teamed up to give one of YOU an early Hanukkah present!
Enter to win:
💙 the softest @loveyandgrink kids Hanukkah PJs (winner to send over size request)
💙 A banana menorah from @moderntribe_jew
💙 A signed copy of @picturebookrecommendations book Eight Sweet Nights, a Festival of Lights, illustrated by @menahemhal published by @randomhousekids
💙 A Sugafina Hanukkah box
💙 A signed copy of @dara_henry_writes book Hanukkah Pajamakkahs, illustrated by olga_aleksey_ivanov and published by @Sourcebookskids
💙 The Dreidel Company plush dreidel
Hanukkah begins this year on 12/14
How to enter:
💗 Like this photo and leave a comment with your favorite Hanukkah tradition or ritual
🕎 Follow@loveyandgrink @moderntribe_jew item @picturebookrecommendations @dara_henry_writes on Instagram
🍩 Tag a friend in the comments! Get an extra entry for each friend you tag in a separate comment.
🚀 Share to your IG Stories and tag us for an extra entry!
Giveaway closes on Monday, November 30 at 9 PM PST. 18+ to enter. 🇺🇸 entries only. This giveaway is not associated with Instagram. Good luck!
What is your go to cure for the hiccups?
In this sweet and humorous story, Max has the hiccups and she tries every cure she can think of to get rid of them. Her grandmother tells her that with time and patience, they will sneak away when she isn’t looking but she doesn’t quite believe her until she accidentally takes grandma’s advice.
I love this laugh out loud story that gently shows that sometimes things just take time.
A Cure for the Hiccups
@jenniferesmith
@brandonjamesscott
@randomhousestudio
@randomhousekids
#hiccup #picturebook
HILARIOUS!
In this heartwarming and humorous new book we see a young boy continually see the world as glass half full. Everytime the big bad wolf comes to eat him, he only sees the best and accidentally thwarts the wolf’s plans.
I love that the boy only sees a lovable animal instead of a wolf and that when the wolf is hurt he takes care of him and turns him from the “big bad wolf” into a well loved pet “dog.”
What a world it would be if everyone responded with kindness, love and a half glass full attitude!
Little Red and Big, Bad Fred
@Ashleybeloteillustration
@randomhousekids
#kidlit #picturebook
Do you consider yourself an artist? What kind of art do you enjoy creating?
This stunning book celebrates the many different ways we create art, the different mediums we can use, the different feelings we can incorporate and the connection it sparks.
I love how this book leaves the reader itching to create and share something of their own!
Making Art
@Dianaejaita
@risebooks
@penguinworkshop
@penguinkids
#art #create #artteacher #creative #kidart
Have you ever traveled to the coldest place on earth?
Travel to Antarctica through the pages of this fascinating and fact filled book. It details the everything from how you get there, to the weather, who and what you will find there and more.
I particularly enjoyed reading about the marine life and the natural wonders and as someone who hates being cold, it was lovely to get to travel there through this book!
All About Antarctica: A Fact Book About the Southernmost Continent
@marcmartinillo
@chroniclekidsbooks
#travel #antarctica
Latest Family Read! (let me know if you want to see more of what my big kids and I read together in the evenings)
10, 11.5, and just finished and enjoyed this action-packed fantasy filled with dark magic, monsters, and more. I particularly loved the underlying message to question what you are told and follow your heart. It sparked some great conversations about finding the balance between meeting others’ expectations and staying true to yourself, and also what it must feel like to go against the only sort of life you have ever known.
Publisher description:
“Twelve-year-old Octavia grew up believing the town of Vittoria was the only one left in the world. The sole survivors of a deadly magical war and plague, the people of Vittoria know there’s no one alive outside the town walls—except the terrible monsters that prowl the forest.
But then the impossible happens: Octavia meets another girl beyond the walls, someone who isn’t Vittorian. Everything she’s ever believed is thrown into question, and there’s no going back.
In her quest for the truth, Octavia discovers a world full of lies, monsters, and magic. She’ll have to use every scrap of her skill, wits, and courage to uncover what’s real about Vittoria and the rest of the world.”
Hunters of the Lost City
@kaliphyte
@quirkbooks
#middlegrade #novel #familyread
