Picture Books to Celebrate National Park Week

I've been deep in quarantine mode for a while now, trying to entertain our little guy while my husband works from home, but I'm finally starting to find some time in the day to do a little reading. And when I saw that this week was National Park Week, I knew this was the perfect time to jump back into blogging! I love being outdoors, especially when I get the chance to visit National Parks, and I've got a long list of children's books about National Parks that are on my TBR. So I wanted to start celebrating National Park Week by sharing some of these with you!

NPS has a checklist of 20 ways to celebrate National Park Week virtually, including:

• games and challenges
• a "Find Your Park" quiz
• virtual tours with virtual passport stamps
• park webcams
• Junior Ranger Online programs
• a calendar of virtual events

They also have a theme for each day of National Park Week:

• Saturday, April 18: National Junior Ranger Day
• Sunday, April 19: VIP (Volunteers In Parks) Day
• Monday, April 20: Military Monday
• Tuesday, April 21: Transportation Tuesday
• Wednesday, April 22: Earth Day
• Thursday, April 23: Throwback Thursday
• Friday, April 24: Friendship Friday
• Saturday, April 25: Park Rx Day
• Sunday, April 26: BARK Ranger Day

I'm so excited to celebrate National Park Week! I'll be checking out all their virtual offerings, and I'm planning to read whatever National Park ebooks I can get my hands on through my library. I'll be sharing some books on my own TBR each day. To start with, here are some of the picture books on my list I'm most excited to read. Let me know what you'll be reading to celebrate!

Review: The Bat Book by Charlotte Milner

The Bat Book
by Charlotte Milner; illustrated by Charlotte Milner

Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 48
Publisher: DK Children
Publication date: February 4, 2020
Suggested tags: picture book, nonfiction, animals, conservation

From the publisher:

"Take an amazing journey through the upside-down world of bats.

Bright, bold, and beautiful illustrations accompany fascinating facts about these furry flying mammals and their importance to the world we live in.

From the way they fly, to how they communicate with one another, how they hunt, and why they sleep upside-down, each of the world's 1,300 types of bat is unique and utterly fascinating. Bats are also incredibly important to the environment. As well as gobbling up pests, and spreading seeds through the forests, they also pollinate more than 500 different species of plants throughout the world, including some of our favorite fruits such as mangoes and bananas.

Following on from The Bee Book and The Sea Book, Charlotte Milner continues to highlight important ecological issues faced by our planet to children, this time focusing on the world's only flying mammals. The Bat Book is perfect to teach little animal-lovers all about these clever creatures who do so much for our planet. Discover how much they matter, why they are declining, and what we can do to help. This charming celebration of bats shows children just how extraordinary these animals are, and is a reminder that it is up to us to care for our planet and its creatures."

I've been meaning to read The Bee Book and The Sea Book by this same author, but I never got around to it... Now I can't wait to get my hands on them!! I loved this colorful, wonderful introduction to bats and the ways we can help protect them. There is plenty of information provided, but it's spread out nicely across each spread of pages so it never feels overwhelming. The illustrations are detailed, but they are soft and pleasant. I think bats are pretty cute IRL, but these bats are adorable!

The first part of the book gives information about bats - how they look, how they fly, where they live, what they do, etc. It gives a lot of great info about how bats help the world, including us humans - by pollinating, spreading seeds, and helping with reforestation.

The last part of the book explains some of the challenges bats are facing and how we can help protect them, such as by making seed balls (instructions included!), planting bat-friendly gardens, or hanging bat houses.

This was a really well-illustrated and nicely balanced informational book about bats. I think older picture book readers would really love all the neat facts and the detailed pictures. As a librarian, I always think about how I could use a book at library programs - there is perhaps a bit too much info to read word-for-word at a storytime, but I would not hesitate to use portions of this book to read aloud during a conservation-themed program. I think an age range of somewhere around 5-10 years old would love being shown some of the pages about how bats spread seeds and help conserve ecosystems, followed by a snack of some fruits that bats help to grow, and wrap it up by following the directions in the book to make their own seed balls to take home. I could see this working for younger kids at home with a parent/caregiver also, or a homeschool or scout group looking into some environmental conservation topics. Overall, I think it's a great book and I'll definitely be keeping my eyes out for more titles in this line!


Final verdict: I loved it! I thought this book was great! I might buy it for myself and I would definitely recommend it to others.

{ Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy.
My reviews are honest and my opinions are my own; 

your reading experience may vary, so give it a read and see what you think. :) }

This review is for the 

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge 2020, 

hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy!

You can find more info about the challenge in my post here, 

or on the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge 2020 page!

{ 52WRR }: Review of What Is Given from the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack

Welcome to Week 2 of { 52 Weeks of Recommended Reading }!

I'm reading one book every week that is an award winner (or honor book) or has been included on a list of great books. You can find my reviews from previous weeks here.

(Just as an FYI... the start of this year was unexpectedly busy so I'm a little behind - I'll be posting a few of these in a row to get caught up on my weeks. :/ But then the plan is that it will be a once-a-week feature, posting on Tuesdays.)


What Is Given from the Heart
by Patricia C. McKissack
illustrated by April Harrison


Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 40
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books
Publication date: January 8, 2019
Suggested tags: picture book, generosity


From the publisher:

"This final, magnificent picture book from three-time Coretta Scott King Award winner and Newbery Honor author Patricia McKissack is a poignant and uplifting celebration of the joy of giving.

“Misery loves company,” Mama says to James Otis. It’s been a rough couple of months for them, but Mama says as long as they have their health and strength, they’re blessed. One Sunday before Valentine’s Day, Reverend Dennis makes an announcement during the service– the Temples have lost everything in a fire, and the church is collecting anything that might be useful to them. James thinks hard about what he can add to the Temple’s “love box,” but what does he have worth giving? With her extraordinary gift for storytelling, McKissack–with stunning illustrations by Harrison–delivers a touching, powerful tale of compassion and reminds us all that what is given from the heart, reaches the heart."

Awards/Booklists (as of the time of my review - if you know of more please let me know!):

• Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books of 2019
• Chicago Public Library Best Picture Books of 2019

I had tears in my eyes by the time I was done with this one. Such a sweet, touching story about helping others with a spirit of kindness and generosity, even when you have little to give. James Otis and his Mama are going through some very hard times, and you can feel Mama's despair and James Otis's uncertainty at the beginning of the book through both the words and the artwork (which is a really gorgeous type of mixed media work that fit the story perfectly). James Otis puts a lot of thought and effort into his gift for another family, once he sees that Mama is happily working hard at turning one of her most prized possessions into a gift, and he comes up with something that is equally hand-crafted and heartfelt. By the end of the story, James Otis and Mama both seem a little happier and settled, and they find that their kindness and generosity has come around and been returned to them. It's a wonderful story, beautifully told and illustrated, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for an uplifting story about helping those who are less fortunate and finding value in what you have to offer, even when you are facing difficulties yourself.

Also, I love the idea of "love boxes" - this book inspired me to start a Valentine's Day tradition in our house where we make a love box to donate to an organization, like supplies for an animal shelter or notes and necessities for soldiers overseas. I could see this book being the center of a library program too, where kids can donate or create items for a love box to be distributed where it's needed within their community. 


Final verdict: I loved it! I thought this book was great! I might buy it for myself and I would definitely recommend it to others.

{ My reviews are honest and my opinions are my own; 

your reading experience may vary, so give it a read and see what you think. :) }

{ 52WRR }: Review of Ojiichan's Gift by Chieri Uegaki

Welcome to my new weekly feature, { 52 Weeks of Recommended Reading }!

One of my goals for 2020 was to do better about reading books that have won awards or been included on "best of" booklists. I feel like my tastes tend to run a little more off-beat and don't naturally take me to the books that everyone is buzzing about, so by not actively keeping up with these awards and lists, I'm missing out on a lot of great books. So for this year, I decided to read one book every week that has won an award (or is an honor book) or has been included on a list of great books.

(Just as an FYI... the start of this year was unexpectedly busy so I'm a little behind - I'll be posting a few of these in a row to get back on track for week 3. :/ But then the plan is that it will be a once-a-week feature, posting on Tuesdays.)

So here's my first review for my { 52 Weeks of Recommended Reading }!


Ojiichan's Gift
by Chieri Uegaki
illustrated by Genevieve Simms


Available as: hardcover, ebook
Pages: 32
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Publication date: April 2, 2019
Suggested tags: picture book, gardens, nature, Japan


From the publisher:

"When Mayumi was born, her grandfather created a garden for her. It was unlike any other garden she knew. It had no flowers or vegetables. Instead, Ojiichan made it out of stones: “big ones, little ones and ones in-between.” Every summer, Mayumi visits her grandfather in Japan, and they tend the garden together. Raking the gravel is her favorite part. Afterward, the two of them sit on a bench and enjoy the results of their efforts in happy silence. But then one summer, everything changes. Ojiichan has grown too old to care for his home and the garden. He has to move. Will Mayumi find a way to keep the memory of the garden alive for both of them?

This gentle picture book story will warm children's hearts as it explores a deep intergenerational bond and the passing of knowledge from grandparent to grandchild over time. The lyrical text by Chieri Uegaki and luminous watercolor illustrations by Genevieve Simms beautifully capture the emotional arc of the story, from Mayumi's contentment through her anger and disappointment to, finally, her acceptance. The story focuses on an important connection to nature, particularly as a place for quiet reflection. It contains character education lessons on caring, responsibility, perseverance and initiative. It's also a wonderful way to introduce social studies conversations about family, aging and multiculturalism. Mayumi lives in North America with her Japanese mother and Dutch father, and visits her grandfather in Japan. Some Japanese words are included."

Awards/Booklists:

• Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books of 2019
• Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Books of 2019

A sweet story about a girl and her grandfather, and the rock garden that they care for together. Mayumi visits her grandfather in Japan every summer, and they spend time together taking care of a rock garden. As she grows older, she is able to do more and more to help tend the garden. But as her grandfather grows older, he is able to do less... And although Mayumi is angry and frustrated at first, she finds a way to keep the rock garden going for them both.

I've always found rock gardens to be very peaceful places that invite me to pause and reflect on nature for a while, and the book does an amazing job of conveying this tranquil feeling through its illustrations. The words provide wonderful details of the plants and structures around the garden, and the story itself reads very calm and peaceful. Mayumi's sense of despair when she sees their garden neglected is palpable, but the story ultimately moves back into a feeling of tranquility and ends on a happy note, even though things have changed.


Final verdict: I loved it! I thought this book was great! I might buy it for myself and I would definitely recommend it to others.

{ My reviews are honest and my opinions are my own; 

your reading experience may vary, so give it a read and see what you think. :) }

Review: Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together by Andrea Tsurumi

Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together
by Andrea Tsurumi

Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 48
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Publication date: February 5, 2019
Suggested tags: picture book, sea creatures, conservation, baking


From Goodreads:

"Under the sea, a crab follows its heart and its calling, bringing everyone together in the wake of a disaster. Feed your craving for a hilarious, heart-warming story with Crab Cake, perfect for budding environmentalists, kids learning to cope with mishaps, and every young reader in between.

Under the sea, fish do what fish do: Seahorse hides, Pufferfish puffs up, Parrotfish crunches coral, and Crab . . . bakes cakes?
Scallop swims, Dolphin blows bubbles, and . . . Crab bakes cakes.
And so life goes on, until one night when everything changes with a splash!
In the face of total disaster, can Crab's small, brave act help the community come together and carry on?"

Crab is adorable and just wants to bake. (I love him so!) The other animals don't really understand what he's up to, but when trouble arrives in the form of a huge load of garbage dumped onto their ocean home, no one knows what to do... Except Crab! This was a really entertaining story, mixed with facts about sea creatures, a message to be kind to the earth, amazing artwork with lots of personality and lots of details to find, some good silliness, AND some resources at the end for how kids can learn more and help protect the ocean! This was a total winner for me and I'll definitely be watching for more picture books from this author!


Final verdict: I'm obsessed with it! I thought this book was amazing! It's now officially one of my favorite books! I shall be shouting about it from the rooftops for days and I am currently recommending it to everyone I come in contact with!

{ My reviews are honest and my opinions are my own; 

your reading experience may vary, so give it a read and see what you think. :) }

Review: Tomorrow Is Waiting by Kiley Frank

Tomorrow Is Waiting
by Kiley Frank
illustrated by Aaron Meshon

Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 32
Publisher: Dial Books
Publication date: January 8, 2019
Suggested tags: picture book, nature, bedtime, love


From Goodreads:

"A touching, timeless book about a parent's everlasting love for their child--and all of the potential their child has within.

Tonight as you sleep
A new day stirs
Each kiss goodnight
Is a wish for tomorrow...

As a child dreams, their parent imagines everything they will someday be: independent and imaginative, kind and courageous, a listener and a leader. And each hopeful, heartfelt wish is paired with a a promise of love.

Tender and moving, Tomorrow Is Waiting is a modern celebration of the dreams we have for our children for finding their place in the world, and for how they will make it a better world. A perfect gift for baby showers, birthdays, and graduation, it's a book that will be treasured, passed down, read and loved--again, and again, and again."

I loved the colorful illustrations in this one. They depict children having outdoor adventures - hiking, playing, exploring - as well as lots of animals and environments such as forests, the arctic, under the sea, etc. The story itself includes empowering, encouraging words of overcoming obstacles. I personally like my bedtime stories a little fluffier, full of happy things, so this is a little heavy for my tastes for right before bed... But I do think it's a good read for a daytime snuggle or a storytime setting, since it encourages children and reminds them of their strength, even when faced with troubles that seem too big.


Final verdict: I liked it! I thought this book was good! I enjoyed reading it and I would probably recommend it to others.

{ My reviews are honest and my opinions are my own; 

your reading experience may vary, so give it a read and see what you think. :) }

Review: I'll Love You Till the Cows Come Home by Kathryn Cristaldi

I'll Love You Till the Cows Come Home
by Kathryn Cristaldi
illustrated by Kristyna Litten

Available as: hardcover
Pages: 32
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: December 18, 2018
Suggested tags: picture book, bedtime, love



From Goodreads:

"I will love you till the cows come home from a trip to Mars through skies unknown, in a rocket ship made of glass and stone… I will love you till the cows come home.

Love knows no bounds in this tender tribute to the depths of family love. For fans of Guess How Much I Love You—only funnier!

This book extends the saying, “I’ll love you till the cows come home” to the humorous extreme. Along the way there are yaks in cadillacs, sheep setting sail, frogs on big-wheeled bikes, and more, in this great read-aloud.

I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home is filled with warm, funny art and rhythmic, romping text, perfect for curling up with your little one at the end of the day...or anytime you want to express your love."

I don't think I can put this one into my own words any better than they did in the synopsis: it's Guess How Much I Love You but with funnies. There are lots of silly combinations of animals and activities, worded in lyrical rhymes and paired with beautiful soft illustrations. After their adventures, the animals settle down to the sleep at the end, making this not just a fun anytime read, but a good bedtime read as well. Amidst all the giggles, it will surely remind children of just how very much they are loved.


Final verdict: I liked it! I thought this book was good! I enjoyed reading it and I would probably recommend it to others.

{ My reviews are honest and my opinions are my own; 

your reading experience may vary, so give it a read and see what you think. :) }

Review: Frankie's Favorite Food by Kelsey Garrity-Riley

Frankie's Favorite Food
by Kelsey Garrity-Riley

Available as: hardcover, ebook
Pages: 36
Publisher: Tundra Books
Publication date: August 20, 2019
Suggested tags: picture book, food



From Goodreads:

"A scrumptiously adorable story about a boy, a school play and his love for food. Featuring foods from all over the world, this debut picture book will make you hungry for more!

Frankie has a problem: he has too many favorite foods. He can't bring himself to choose just one to be for the school play, so on the day of the performance, he's still without a costume. His teacher comes up with a delicious idea: what if Frankie becomes the Costume Manager? That way, he can parlay his love of all things culinary into the whole production. From adding some last-minute garnishes to helping the rice and beans into their costumes, Frankie shines backstage until he has a brilliant idea and decides to make his debut on the menu as something that combines his love for all his favorite foods . . .

In this funny and scrumptiously adorable story, readers will delight in the variety of foods represented and the clever performances full of silly word play and sweet camaraderie. In Kelsey Garrity-Riley's author-illustrator debut, she shows the joy of food and revels in celebrating the way food can bring people together and inspire creativity."

Oh my goodness. This is OFFICIALLY my favorite picture book of the year! I loved everything about this one!! The story, the illustrations, the food puns, FRANKIE. Frankie can’t decide what food he should dress up as for his school’s play, because he loves all the foods. (I feel ya, Frankie.)

Review: The Not-So Great Outdoors by Madeline Kloepper

The Not-So Great Outdoors
by Madeline Kloepper

Available as: hardcover
Pages: 40
Publisher: Tundra Books
Publication date: May 14, 2019
Suggested tags: picture book, nature



From Goodreads:

"A reluctant camper discovers that the (not-so) great outdoors can be just as exciting as screens and skyscrapers in this playful picture book celebration of the pleasures of unplugging and embracing nature.

What's so great about the "great outdoors"? A grumpy urban kid begrudgingly accompanies her family on a summer camping trip, missing all the sublime sights right under her nose as she longs for the lights and stimulation of the city. But as she explores forests, lakes and mountains, and encounters bears, beavers and caribou, she slowly comes to realize that the simpler things are just as sparkly, that the sky is its own majestic light show, and the symphony is all around. The Not-So Great Outdoors is a humorous and richly imagined reminder of the beauty and magic that can be found away from the city and our screens. "

This was a really cute picture book that offers a lot, if you take the time to take it in. A girl is not excited to be going into the not-so-great outdoors with her family. What’s wrong with staying in the city?? There’s nothing to do outdoors, nothing to see, not as much fun to be had… or is there?

I loved how the illustrations in this book contradicted the text, offering little secrets to readers who take the time to enjoy them. And I love the way we get to watch the girl slowly start enjoying her vacation with her family, joining in on the fun rather than sitting out. I can see this book being a hit with readers who love the outdoors and immediately pick up on all the things the girl is missing. I think it might help readers who prefer to stay indoors too, as it shows them that there are things to see and adventures to be had in the great outdoors if they are willing to open their eyes and minds.



Final verdict: I loved it! I thought this book was great! I might buy it for myself and I would definitely recommend it to others.

{ Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy.
My reviews are honest and my opinions are my own; 

your reading experience may vary, so give it a read and see what you think. :) }

{ Let's Read About ... } The First Day of School

Hello everyone, and welcome back to school! Today was the first day of school where I live, but I know some others have been back for a week, some probably started sooner than that, and some may be starting soon. It's an exciting time! Below are some new picture books published in 2019 about the first day of school. If you've got school-age little ones, you could celebrate their first days of the new school year by taking them to your favorite library or bookstore and see how many of these you can find!

{ Let's Read About ... } Food

Here's a reading list I put together that's all about one of my favorite things... FOOD! I tried to keep this one strictly about food itself: eating, types of food, where food comes from, etc. I'm planning other lists for cooking, baking, and other great food-related stuff! (And this was HARD, y'all. Evvvverything is about cooking or baking competitions! But we'll get there soon...) For now, hope you enjoy the list and bon appétit!

{ Board Books } 

{ Picture Books }

{ Beginning Readers }

{ Chapter Books }

{ Middle Grade }

{ Young Adult }

And be sure to check out these booklists for more great books about food:

• This list from The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art of books about food and farms for ages 0-8.
• This list from Kitchen Concoctions of children's books about food, broken down into sections like "books made into movies" and "books about picky eaters".
• This list from Publishers Weekly of books "food-infused fiction for kids".
• Also this hilarious article from Paper Fury entitled "10 Reasons YA Books Should Mention Food".