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The little boy who tells this first-person story reminds me of my nephew - a three year who loves to take walks and ride on shoulders. The story is about a father and son taking a weekly stroll to the park. Overwhelmed by city crowds, the boy asks to ride on dad’s shoulders. From there, his perspective shifts to what he can see when he is “up high” - the tops of crowds, birds, cloud. In the park, he notices all the details - high and low, big and small.

This would be a great story for a lesson on perspective. While the narration is from the boy’s point of view, the author creates lots of opportunities for young readers to infer other perspectives, like dad when his son hangs on by tugging his hair or window shopping in “boring” hardware store windows vs “delicious” baker windows, or even the ladybug’s perspective as the boy peers at it with big eyes. By the end the boy agrees to walk home on his own, perhaps appreciating his eye-level view from a new perspective.

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A walk down busy city streets can feel scary when you're small, but the world doesn't seem so frightening when you're perched up high on Dad's shoulders!

Going up high on Dad's shoulders is the best way to feel BIG in cities that make you feel small. This tender, funny celebration of the bond between father and child will resonate with children and adults alike.

Join one child and their father for a stroll through their neighborhood as they spot lots of wonderful things-big and small-along the way.
A May/June 2024 Kids' Indie Next selection! "A gentle telling that models how, whether a child is feeling big or small, a father can help center with his support." -Publishers Weekly

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A walk down busy city streets can feel scary when you're small, but the world doesn't seem so frightening when you're perched up high on Dad's shoulders!Going up high on Dad's shoulders is the best way to feel BIG in cities that make you feel small.

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Story by Rebecca Bach-Lauritsen; Illustrations by Anna Margrethe Kjaergaard; Traslation by Michael Goldman

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Grabbed this one because of the beautiful pencil-drawn illustrations. The story is unique and the writing is in verse and potentially lyrical (although some of that element may have been lost in translation from Danish). It starts and ends with the line "Suddenly there it was / Just like that / Out of the blue. / But at first it wasn't there. Kids would need patience with this mysterious start, but if they make it to the second half, there is a good lesson. (Hint the boy lives an orderly, predictable life until a bear moves in and turns everything upside down in the funnest way.)

This story has potential for social-emotional instruction and could help young folks navigate big changes in life that disrupt the normal routine - maybe a new sibling or housemate. In their perspective, life can change "out of the blue" but this book suggests that change - even when messy - can be for the better.

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Written by Rebecca Bach-Lauritsen Illustrated by Anna Margrethe Kjærgaard Translated from Danish by Michael Favala Goldman A boy’s usual routine is shaken up by the sudden appearance of a bear in this picture book about embracing surprise, adapting to change, and welcoming ne

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Story by Amanda Gorman; Illustrations by Christian Robinson

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What an empowering story from Amanda Gorman. It starts with beautiful, collage-style images of a little boy walking past an overflowing garbage can, an overgrown lot, a disheveled person without shoes and the words "You are told / That this is not a problem. / But you're sure / There's something wrong." That first page in itself is profound and addresses the reality that adults often become blind to the social ills we accept daily as "sad" - pollution, poverty, homelessness. It empowers children to trust their instinct that if they feel like something is wrong, there is, and they have the capacity to be a helper. And that even "tiny" help makes a difference.

This picture book would be a great addition to any unit or book display on service, volunteerism, or change-makers. It also emphasizes the power of community and tells young readers to "find a friend . . . who believes in your dream."

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Something, Someday by Amanda Gorman: 9780593203255 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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The stunning new picture book by presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman and Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Christian Robinson You’re told that This won’t work, But how will you know…

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Story and Illustrations by Benjamin Flouw

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A beautifully illustrated first book from this author. The storyline might be a little complex for some young readers, but the pictures have captivating detail. Fox is a botanist (good word study opportunity) and has set out on a camping trip to find the elusive "golden glow . . . a fabulously fascinating flower." The fox meets a lot of other animal friends on his trek, so there is a solid narrative, but the author also intersperses diagrams and facts about camping gear, maps, climate zones, and beautiful flora (it even diagrams flower parts and shows how to sketch like a botanist). Its a cross between a field guide and a kids' book with a beautiful visual surprise when he finds the golden glow.

This picture book could easily supplement a K-3 unit on earth science or the natural world. I could see using the book to prepare for their own trek outdoors where they keep a nature journal in which to describe or draw their findings. Kids who like camping, nature, or science will enjoy.

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Story and Illustrations by Natalie Daise

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Okra Stew: a Gullah Geeche Family Celebration

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Okra Stew: a Gullah Geeche Family Celebration

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This book is by the co-star of the Nickelodeon show Gullah Gullah Island. This show is over 30 years old! What?! So kids today won't likely be familiar but its clear that the author wants to continue the conversation about the Gullah culture. It's a story about being in the garden, the ocean, and the kitchen with your family. There is a visual recipe and a note from the author at the end that gives a basic history of the Gullah Geechee people and a glossary for Gullah language.

This picture book could connect to any lessons about the history or the cultures of the Carolinas. It would also be a nice additions to a collection or display that focuses on food traditions and pathways from various cultures. I feel like discussions about favorite foods is always a topic that can bring classes together.

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Story by Matt de la Peña and Illustrations by Corinna Luyken

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Matt de la Pena is a Newberry award winner for Last Stop on Market Street (also beautiful). But Patchwork is different in that there is no narrative arc. The illustrations and the concepts are more abstract, but prompt good conversation. The book shows vignettes of children and the qualities they exhibited when they are young and how they changed as they grew. The first vignette implies the story of a child who is "born blue" (a boy) but challenges gender and other social norms through beautiful work as an artist. Other kids go from being a basketball player to poets, a kid in time out to a teacher, a young dancer to a computer scientist. The moral is "you are more than a single note . . . you are a symphony . . . a patchwork."

Again, a great work for social-emotional lessons. This book could be incorporated into a lesson or display on biographies / autobiographies with discussion of how people change and fulfill their potential in a range of ways.

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Patchwork by Matt de la Peña: 9781984813961 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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From a Newbery Medal-winning author and a New York Times bestselling illustrator comes a deeply moving ode to the complexity and uniqueness of every child. In profound, uplifting verse and sumptuous artwork,…

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What a unique and gorgeous book! It is classified as a "graphic novel picture book." The author tells the story through panels with beautiful illustrations and dialogue in speech boxes. The story opens with Jin that her little brother Joon is missing. Her grandmother opens a portal through a kitchen cupboard. From there, the author combines elements of Korean folktales, as explained in the index at the end of the book, to create a manga (or manhwa) style adventure into magical worlds.

This book would be great for cross-cultural lessons or displays. Librarians and teachers could incorporate it into a unit on folktales from around the world. Maybe a unit on "reimagined" folktales and fairytales. I think it would also be a great starting point for creative writing activities that prompts students to create their own graphic novels or hero-s journey tales.

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"Kim's story is absolutely enchanting, but her stupendously vivacious illustrations prove even more memorable. Amplifying details immediately stand out from the first pages"-Terry Hong, Shelf Awareness
Where's Joon? is the highly anticipated sequel to Where's Halmoni?, the bestselling, award-winning debut by Julie Kim.

In this graphic novel picture book, Julie Kim beckons readers once again into a colorful, fantastical world filled with "jaw-dropping art" (School Library Journal), plenty of humor, and multilayered storytelling that illuminates the immigrant experience of traversing two worlds, both cultural and generational.

Jin is helping Halmoni in the garden for her birthday celebration, but where's Joon? Besides the big mess in the kitchen, Jin and Halmoni see no signs of Joon anywhere. Where could he have gone?

Luckily, Halmoni has a hunch. She sends Jin on an errand through her magical portal into the wondrous world of Korean folktales with its dazzling landscapes and curious characters. In this land of enchantment, Jin and Joon meet familiar friends and foe before reuniting to embark on a new mission to fix Halmoni's magic pot.

This beautifully illustrated graphic novel picture book is filled with delightful visual Easter eggs and includes Korean language as one of its story-telling tools that is reader friendly at all levels. In the back are illustrated translations of Korean text and further reading on the original Korean folktales that have inspired Julie Kim's books.

Another captivating and timeless book from Julie Kim, Where's Joon? is a beguiling tale about children's courage to face their fears and how love makes everything possible.

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"Kim's story is absolutely enchanting, but her stupendously vivacious illustrations prove even more memorable. Amplifying details immediately stand out from the first pages"-Terry Hong, Shelf Awareness Where's Joon? is the highly anticipated sequel to Where's Halmoni?, the bestselling, award-winning debut by Julie Kim. In this graphic novel picture book, Julie Kim beckons readers once again [...]

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Story by Julia Donaldson and Illustrations by Axel Scheffler

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I had to end with another book inspired by the nephew. He declared this his FAVORITE recently, so I had to check it out. He loves stories about adventure - traveling from home and returning home. So I see why he would like this story of a tiny snail making its way in a busy, big nautical world. Despite being tiny, he uses his slimy talents to get help for the giant beached whale. Written in verse with great rhythm and rhyme, I think my nephew must love the sound of this story.

This book would be fun to include in a lesson or display about friendship - specifically unlikely friendships (there are several of those books around with unlikely animal friends that kids enjoy). There would be good opportunities to discuss how to be friends with people from all walks of life.

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This is one of my favourites out of all the books I have written for Axel Scheffler to illustrate, perhaps because I feel I have captured something of the soulful whimsy of the Edward Lear poems I enjoyed as a child.

I decided to write a sea story because Axel had previously told me he was getting fed up drawing trees and stormy skies (although actually there is one stormy sky in the book).

Talking of Axel, here's a picture he drew on an envelope for me of a Snail-and-Whale hat

I'm delighted that The Snail and the Whale has been made into a play by Tall Stories and into an animation by Magic Light.

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The Snail and the Whale - Julia Donaldson

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This is one of my favourites out of all the books I have written for Axel Scheffler to illustrate, perhaps because I feel I have captured something of the soulful whimsy of the Edward Lear poems I enjoyed as a child.