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.
🐊↔️ Horizontal Crocodile’s BFF is coming to visit.
He rushes around getting ready, going to long lengths to make sure his friend is comfortable.
Sure to have readers laughing from beginning to end, I love that this one shows there are just some things we can`t plan for but a good friend is always worth pivoting with! 💚
HORIZONTAL CROCODILE
@scottrothmanwriter
@bwon1
@simonkids
#HorizontalCrocodile #NewPictureBooks #PictureBooks #KidsBooks #ChildrensBooks #KidLit #BookRecommendations #FunnyBooks #ReadAloud #PictureBookRecommendations
🩰🎀 A beautiful story of courage and kindness.
In this almost wordless book a young dancer is nervous to take the stage. An older dancer gifts her a red ribbon as a gesture of kindness and the younger dancer takes strength from it. Years later she passes the ribbon on. ❤️
I love how this sweet book shows how the smallest gestures can mean the most and encourages paying kindness forward.
THE RIBBON
@tessablackham
@simonkids
#TheRibbon #NewPictureBooks #PictureBooks #KidsBooks #ChildrensBooks #KidLit #BookRecommendations #BalletBooks #BooksAboutKindness #BooksAboutCourage #PictureBookRecommendations
🥁🎺 Music, movement, energy and fun!
This fun filled book shows the magic of a marching band playing at haldtime during a football game. 🎶✨
A joyful tribute to band traditions, community, and perfect for littles dreaming of being out on the field with the band one day too.
HERE COMES THE BAND
Shadra Strickland
John Holyfield
@simonkids
#HereComesTheBand #HBCU #HBCUBands #NewPictureBooks #PictureBooks #KidsBooks #ChildrensBooks #KidLit #BookRecommendations #MusicBooks #PictureBookRecommendations
📅💛 Do you have a favorite day of the week?
I love that this sweet book shows a diverse group of children and shows why a particular day of the week is their favorite. This book is sure to have kids questioning on another on what they look forward to each week and what traditions are unique to their homes. From Shabbat dinners to dates with Grandma, this shows the little things that matter most to different individuals and embraces them all.
A sweet celebration of friendship, traditions, and finding joy in the everyday. ✨
OUR FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK
@ashleyfranklinwrites
Rahele Jomepour Bell
@simonkids
#OurFavoriteDayOfTheWeek #NewPictureBooks #PictureBooks #KidsBooks #ChildrensBooks #KidLit #BookRecommendations #FriendshipBooks #BooksAboutCommunity #PictureBookRecommendations
🎃👻 Six more spooky-silly stories for Halloween! Witches, missing pumpkins, mysterious neighbors, brave little characters, and plenty of laughs.
🕷️ MEET OCTOBER
@thecalendarkids
October struggles to be brave but when his pet Spider, Boo goes missing, he decides to face his fears. A sweet story of courage and finding the fun behind the spooky.
🧹 THE WITCH’S CAT AND THE BROOMSTICK BLUNDER
@kirstie_watson_author
@magdalena_sawko
Cat wants to ride on a broomstick just like Witch, if only he could remember the steps. Oh well, what is the worst that could happen?! Hilarious, relatable, and purrrfectly adorable.
🧚 AN UNTOLD STORY OF THE HALLOWEEN FAIRY
@imnotjustascribble
The Halloween Fairy is struggling to compete with Halloween Candy until she discovers there can be too much of a good thing and perhaps she can trade children`s candy for sweetening their dreams instead.
🎃 THE PUMPKIN THIEF
@alicehemmingauthor
@nicolaslater
Squirrel and bird are growing pumpkins! But someone keeps taking them, can Squirrel uncover the mystery and recover his bff? The sweetest story of patience, friendship and sharing with lots of good humor sprinkled in!
✉️ WHEN THE WITCH WROTE BACK!
@Ablospino
@hellonathanc
Jake turns to his neighbor who he just knows is a witch to make his Halloween party a sucess. Their hilarious letters back and forth leads to lots of unexpected mahem and the ultimate Halloween celebration! I love that this one focus on effort and shows hard work pays off!
😱 THE SCARIEST BOOK IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD
@ackersbooks
Rock is stuck in the book and is here to tell you everything he is afraid of. With lots of laugh-out-loud humor, this playful book has Rock facing his fears.
Which one are you adding to your Halloween stack? 🎃📚👻
@sourcebookkids #SBKInfluencer #HalloweenBooks #HalloweenReads #HalloweenPictureBooks #SpookyReads #KidsBooks #PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #KidLit #HalloweenForKids
👻🎃 Six more spook-tacular reads for your Halloween shelves! These are packed with ghosts, monsters, laughs, and just the right amount of spooky.
👻 PLEASE DON’T SCARE THE GHOST
@cwilliford2
@Allysaadamsillustration
@penguinkids
This one is an adorable guide to showing your slightly skittish ghost friend a good time on Halloween! Perfect for nervous littles to open up about their feelings and get a little guidance on what to expect.
🎃 HALLOWEEN TRAMPOLINE
@scottrothmanwriter
@robjustus
@penguinkids
A playful bouncing read-aloud featuring fun-loving monsters joining together to jump on the trampoline!
🐱 FRANKENKITTY
@Maudiepowelltuck
@mini3grey
@littletigerbooks
Everyone is scared of Frankenkitty and plots to rid the castle of the terrible monster. Everyone that is, except Olive, who simply sees a sweet kitty beneath the stitches. A playful, fun-filled read-aloud sure to have everyone laughing and saying it`s just a kitten!
🏚️ GHOST TOWN IN THE MOUNTAINS
@lynnbecker196
@rolandgarrigue
@Sleepingbearpress
A spooky twist on the classic “She’ll Be Comin’ ’Round the Mountain.” A fun read aloud following two kiddos exploring an abandoned ghost town.
🌽 HERE A CREAK, THERE A SHRIEK!
@kellyconroybooks
@nikolas.ilic
@littletigerbooks
A fabulous spooky twist on “Old MacDonald” that is filled with witches, beasts, ghosts, and plenty of creepy noises. Eeek-I! Eeek-I! Oh!
🐭 A NOT-SO-SCARY STORY
@Barneysaltzberg
@Hippoparkbooks
@Astrakidsbooks
Little Mouse isn’t so sure about Big Mouse’s scary bedtime story, so he starts changing the frightening parts himself! A clever, laugh-out-loud story-within-a-story for kids who like their Halloween reads decidedly not too scary.
Which one would you pick for Halloween storytime? 👻📚🎃
#HalloweenBooks #HalloweenReads #SpookySeason #PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #KidsBooks #KidLit #HalloweenForKids #FallBooks #ReadAloud
🎃👻 Five more Halloween reads to add to your stack! This group has everything from unusual pumpkins and brownie-loving monsters to grumpy cats and very determined candicorns.
🎃 THE VERY UNUSUAL PUMPKIN
@Marilynsingerbooks
@maya_shleifer
@Hippoparkbooks
@Astrakidsbooks
Lulu thinks her grandmother`s bedtime stories could use a little help so one night she decides to ask questions in order to make the story more interesting. Together, Lulu and her grandma think up an imaginative tale filled with fun and love, showing the power of curiosity and creativity.
🍫 MONSTERS LOVE BROWNIES
#BenOkon
#KomalSharma
@penguinkids
Did you know that monsters love brownies? This silly, rhyming, fun-filled read-aloud is filled with gooey deliciousness, hide-and-seek, and humor!
🐭 HOW TO SCARE A MOUSE AND BEAR
@rosscollins01
Littlenosycrow
Bear wants his costume to frighten Mouse on Halloween, but nothing can scare Mouse... or can it?
🍬🦄 CANDI THE CANDICORN
@Robynjwall
@pannacotta_cupcake
@scholastic
Candi arrives ready to spread sweetness and cheer on Halloween, but her monster neighbors see no need for anything other than a scare. Can Candi show them there is room for a little sweetness this holiday season?
🐱 CAT’S HALLOWEEN
@alisonmurray360
@bloomsburychildrens
Cat is not a fan of anything Halloween but there might just be one part of the holiday that will warm his grumpy heart! A sweet story of fears and connection.
Which one would you add to your Halloween shelf first? 🎃📚👻
#HalloweenBooks #HalloweenReads #PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #KidsBooks #KidLit #SpookySeason #FallBooks #HalloweenForKids #ReadAloud
👻🎃 Four more spooky-season reads for your Halloween book stack! From very well-mannered monsters to a sweet little ghost looking for a friend, there’s something here for lots of different readers.
👹 MONSTER MANNERS A TO Z
@heidikyates
@yana_kozak_illustrator
@beamingbooksmn
An A-to-Z guide to attending a Monster Bash with good manners demonstrated by every kind of monster from aliens, to ogres, to vampires, and more! A humerous spooky themed guide to how to behave.
🔎 WHERE’S WALDO? SPOOKY SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
#MartinHandford
@candlewickpress
I love Where`s Waldo and was delighted to see that theres is now a Halloween-themed version of the beloved search and find! It is packed with pumpkins, ghosts, zombies, vampires, and hundreds of spooky differences.
🎃 MILLIE FLEUR’S PUMPKIN PROBLEM
@Christymandin
@scholastic
Millie Fleur accidently plants her unusual pumpkins all over dreary Garden Glen. They take over until she finds a way to bring everyone together and transform the town along the way. A fantastical, fun pumpkin-themed story.
👻🌹 LEROY HAS SOMETHING TO SAY
@ekrosenthal
@thai.phuong.artwork
@bloomsburychildrens
Leroy the ghost loves to garden, but residents never stay long enough to listen to his offer of friendship. But when Tara moves in Leory finally finds someone willing to really hear his unspoken words. A sweet story of friendship and the many different ways we communicate. Highly recommend.
Which one are you adding to your Halloween stack? 🎃👻📚
#HalloweenBooks #SpookyReads #PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #KidsBooks #KidLit #HalloweenForKids #FallBooks #BookRecommendations
👻🎃 Happy October! I am kicking off one of my favorite months with seven Halloween reads to enjoy with your littles!
🍬 I LOVE YOU, BOO!
@Janefosterdesigns
@charlottelovely
@penguinworkshop
A delicious candy-filled read packed with playful puns, rhymes, and affirmations.
🏚️ HALLOWEEN STREET
@jonathanemmett
@ingelaparrhenius
@nosycrow
A Fold-Out, Lift-the-Flap ABC Book that takes readers down a delightfully spooky street!
👻 FIVE LITTLE GHOSTS
@Alexmaglalangbarrow
@nosycrow
A Halloween twist on the nursery rhyme, Five Little Ducks. It features five ghosts, interactive sliders, and a fun read-aloud perfect for the youngest trick-or-treaters!
🎃 BOO TIMES TWO
@Ericaperl
katti_krickelkrakel
@penguinworkshop
A sweet Halloween-themed early reader about two friends picking the just-right costumes for them and speaking up about their feelings along the way.
👶 BOO BOO BABIES
@Louiseanglicas
@sourcebookkids
An adorable sensory book with sound buttons and bright illustrations, perfect for tiny hands this Halloween.
👻 BOOOO FANTASMA
@riggyartwork
@sourcebookkids
An English-Spanish board book featuring a Halloween-themed celebration.
🔎 A TRICK OR TREAT SURPRISE
#LaylaSutton
@nwelli
@sourcebookkids
An adorable lift-the-flap book that provides clues for littles to guess which spooky friend they will find next and which holiday is around the corner!
Which one would your little reader pick first? 👻📚🎃
#SBKInfluencer #HalloweenBooks #HalloweenReads #HalloweenForKids #KidsBooks #BoardBooks #EarlyReaders #ChildrensBooks #KidLit #SpookySeason #PictureBooks
👻🎃 My favorite month is almost here! Kicking things off with five spooky reads!
👻 HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A GHOST?
Ghost appears and needs the reader to help them work through their nerves before attending a party hosted by someone special. A sweet, interactive read that explores anxiety and courage.
@dunkwun
@juliapott
@seanislewis
@simonkids
🕷️ MIDNIGHT CREEP
When the humans are asleep the spiders are coming out to party! A brilliant, creepy-crawly read-aloud with fun spider facts in the back!
jemima.write_make_play
@honokataki_art
@mrkarimnagi
@aisforartist1
@barefootbooks
🎃 5 MORE SLEEPS ’TIL HALLOWEEN
Count down to Halloween with this brilliant read-aloud that will ramp up the excitement during the final five sleeps!
@jimmyfallon
@richdeas
@mackidsbooks
🧟 OOPS! I JUST ATE YOU
A zombie is searching for friends but accidently keeps eating them along the way. A silly story sure to have the reader laughing until they themselves get eaten!
@aevarvis
@camp.joaquin
@barefootbooks
🐈⬛🧙♀️ THE WITCH’S CAT AND THE COOKING CATASTROPHE
Cat decides to make his witch lunch but when he accidently follows a magical recipe instead, his witch turns into a frog! A hilarious and adorable story of magical mayhem.
@kirstie_watson_author
@magdalena_sawko
@sourcebookskids
#HalloweenBooks #HalloweenReads #HalloweenPictureBooks #SpookyReads #SpookySeason #KidsBooks #PictureBooks #ChildrensBooks #KidLit #HalloweenForKids #PictureBookRecommendations
🇺🇸✨ A brilliant introduction to the First Amendment freedoms.
I love that this book helps readers understand their rights to speak, practice a religion (or not), gather together, petition the government, and share ideas through a free press.
A fabulous conversation starter!
WE ARE FREE: OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS
Allison Matulli
@edelrodriguez
@penguinkids
@penguinworkshop
#WeAreFree #FirstAmendment #FirstAmendmentRights #NewPictureBooks #PictureBooks #KidsBooks #ChildrensBooks #KidLit #BookRecommendations #CivicsForKids #PictureBookRecommendations
🧠✨ Different doesn`t mean wrong. Every child deserves to know that there isn’t just one “right” way to think, learn, create, or shine.
THAT BEAUTIFUL MIND revolves around a young boy whose mind is always going, overflowing with ideas and creativity. Sometimes this presents obstacles for him, but as this empowering book reminds him (and us), this is also what makes him special.
A joyful celebration of all the different ways our minds can work and a beautiful reminder that different doesn`t mean wrong. ❤️
📚 THAT BEAUTIFUL MIND
✍️ @tamiwrites + Christopher Charles
🎨 @nikkolas_smith
@scholastic
#ThatBeautifulMind #TamiCharles #ChristopherCharles #NikkolasSmith #PictureBookRecommendations #PictureBooks #KidsBooks #ChildrensBooks #KidLit #Bookstagram #ReadAloud #Neurodiversity #NeurodivergentKids #ADHDBooks #DifferentWaysOfLearning #BooksAboutConfidence #PictureBookLove
