# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Flavia Z. Drago, Gustavo, the Shy Ghost. 2020. Candlewick Press.

# data[].attributes.body
Gustavo captivated me immediately. The colors and art were the first, but the book's shape was another factor. The Barnes and Noble must be having a special edition sale, as this was another special Halloween re-release. The cover was textured, and the pages were not too slick. It even came with stickers! The title, I also was drawn to. As a shy human, I feel it is best to empathize with other shy beings. I thought of Casper the Friendly Ghost afterwards and realized Gustavo was just a more culturally elevated version, as it discusses Day of the Dead. I have always been a fan of ghosts, especially cartoon ghosts, the more awkwardly drawn the better. Gustavo does a good job of catching the eyes and hearts. Another book for a holiday read-aloud in a classroom, but I would also be fine with kids passing it around to look at the pretty art.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Nancy Tillman, Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You. 2012. Feiwel & Friends.

# data[].attributes.body
At first glance, I thought the title was very corny. I have heard someone say this exact thing somewhere and thought it was sweet but unbelievable. The art style was also off-putting at first glance; it reminded me of the kind of stuff a grandma holds on to. However, reading through it the first time, I was moved beyond words. I thought this was the sweetest story in the entire world. The cover reminds me of I Love You to the Moon and Back, which also had me in tears the first time I opened it up. In an extreme case, I can see this being used during a lesson on grief. It would be really nice to know my loved one is always there, and I feel it would bring some comfort to children.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Neil Sharpson, Don't Trust Fish. 2025. Dial Books.

# data[].attributes.body
Again, with a very sarcastic tone. This book reminds me of I Want My Hat Back and gives the same aura of mocking, but educational. The title made me laugh in the store, as someone who doesn’t trust easily and hates seafood, I was immediately pulled in. I just know there are some children out there hating fish and thinking their feelings aren’t justified because all people do these days is talk about seafood boils. This is the book you pull out when the kids are fighting after the trip to Sea World, instill a sense of foreboding in them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Kevin Henkes, Waiting. 2015, Greenwillow. 

# data[].attributes.body
Waiting piqued my attention because the title was one word. I feel that many picture books either have some over-the-top book titles or exaggerated art styles, and this book had neither. The art reminded me of Cloudy Chance of Meatballs, also. Honestly, it was not my favorite of the group; it seemed very monotonous. I truly picked it up because I am also waiting. In a classroom setting, I imagine pulling this out to teach kids about patience and how far it can get you.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Julien Chung, Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat, 2025. Beach Lane Books

# data[].attributes.body
I will admit I was on the lookout for something festive. I do not remember reading the original Chick Chicka book as a child, so I was drawn towards the book. I love Halloween and always appreciate it when an author is up to re-releasing something. I appreciate the rhythm of this, and I will recommend it. During the holiday, kids would enjoy hearing this during story time.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Sophy Henn, I Hate Everything. 2025. Beach Lane Books.

# data[].attributes.body
I love it when children’s material pulls a sardonic tone. I understand that we must stay as positive as possible in the classroom, but I enjoy it when a book can be more realistic. As I walked past this, I did a double-take. The title seemed so clearly negative to me, but I immediately empathized. I have caught myself saying I hate everything, but I don’t have anyone standing there correcting me like our ghost friend. The use of color throughout the entire thing helps bring home emotion. I feel like this would do numbers in a classroom management type deal, or just help a lil kiddo manage some misplaced negativity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Charles Schulz, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: Deluxe Edition 2018. Simon Spotlight. 

# data[].attributes.body
I have never actually watched anything of Charlie Brown, just spoofs and skits on SNL or Family Guy. The specific book I picked up was the Barnes and Noble Special Edition, so the cover was this soft velvet, and the pages were crisp. I thought no better time to dive into Charlie Brown than with a special edition. I do not understand the hype. The story was not grabbing me, but  I have always enjoyed a hefty hardcover, so while I was bored reading, I felt grounded. This does not seem like the best story time gimmick; it was far too long, and like I said, I was dead bored, so personally, I couldn’t get through this even for the kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Rio Cortez, The ABCs of Black History. 2020. Workman Kids

# data[].attributes.body
Black History is so important to me, and sometimes I forget it is not always so readily accessible. The ABCs of anything, truly, will always get my attention because I know it's about to be something so complex whittled down to just a few capital letters. The artwork in this was also nice; the pages were easy to flip through. Sometimes I feel like I must fight to turn a page, especially straight off the shelf. As an educator, I would have this book front and center during Black History Month (or any month).

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Amanda Gorman, Change Sings: A Children's Anthem, 2021. Penguin Young Readers Group.

# data[].attributes.body
Change Sings did not grab my attention in the most positive light. The cover reminds me of Martin's Big Words, and I dreaded seeing that book in my classroom growing up. It was so boring. I picked this book up not knowing that the author, Amanda Gorman, is an incredibly famous poet. I read through the first time and thought to myself, ‘boy, those were some rhymes.’ A second read, I can understand Gorman used poetry in the appropriate manner, but I was in the wrong headspace to appreciate it. I figure the title says it all: a children’s anthem. It reads very much like song lyrics. I can see a music teacher using this in a lesson.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
The Fan Brothers, Barnaby Unboxed! 2024. Tundra Books.

# data[].attributes.body
What kind of name is Barnaby anyway? I glanced at the title and turned back around because I was thinking there were too many syllables in the title for it to be appropriate as a children’s book. The cover reminded me of the poster for a scary movie released last year called Imaginary. Same dark background, big title font, and stuffed animal placed dead center. This book is also very thick, so I was interested but quickly grew bored. The story was not interesting. I wonder if the concept of a classroom pet is too niche. This book would be clever to read the day a pet is presented for the class and draws on how easy it could be to forget about an ‘old’ pet versus a shiny new one. Much like how Toy Story goes, I believe, a caregiver could also bring it out when a child grows bored with a new toy despite having begged for it for ages.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
 Devin Elle Kurtz, The Bakery Dragon. 2024. Random House Children's Books

# data[].attributes.body
Dungeons and Dragons has rekindled a love for tabletop gaming and folklore in me that I have not felt since I was a very small child. In D&D, I regularly bring up fictional creatures like dragons or mermaids. So, the cover for this book drew my eyes like no other. My ex-boyfriend’s name is also Devin, so I felt a shiver down my spine. Obviously, when reading this book to children, I would do my best not to let those adult feelings shine through in the reading. I will be thankful that his name brought me to this great book. Much like Gustavo and our ghost friend in I Hate Everything, the baby dragon in this story was also seen as an odd one out for behaving in a non-conformist manner. I believe that everyone is beautiful and unique in their own way. I would read this book to anyone who believes they aren’t.