Have You Met Millie Fleur? Or her POISON GARDEN?

 If you don't yet know the picture book character Mille Fleur, you should! Her illustrated persona is reminiscent of Wednesday Addams of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, with a much higher frequency of appealing smiles. Millie, we quickly see, enjoys gardening. 

 

Where do we see this, you ask?

ORCHARD BOOKS, 2024

A good place to start is in Millie Fleur's POISON GARDEN, written and illustrated by Christy Mandin. Let's begin with the creator's dedication, since it expresses the overall tone of the series:

"For anyone who's ever felt a little bit weird.

The world is more interesting with you in it."

Millie's family moves into a neighborhood best described in  "Little Boxes," written by Malvina Reynolds in 1962, (little boxes full of ticky-tacky, little boxes in a row). All alike, including their landscaping. Everything spotless, pruned, trim and true. 

Everything except the new Fleur home. Millie and her thoroughly modern mom are happy there, except it doesn't feel like home until Mom hands Millie some packets of seeds. Images on the seed packs confirm our suspicions from the title...  these are no ordinary plants. 

Millie's well-tended garden thrives, complete with expressive faces, tentacles, snapping petals, and sprawling vines. What follows is also predictable, but in an entirely fun and metaphorical way. Something different is not only rejected by the majority but banned, condemned, utterly rejected. Even Millie's frog knows they  could just leave it alone and BYOB, so to speak.

Millie wonders about conforming. Affirmed by her mom that she should do what makes her happy, Millie finds a way to win over the curious kids, to broaden their awareness and understanding of differences, their respect for allowing space for new and exciting visitors to the neighborhood.

Throughout the garden scenes, Millie's plants sport seemingly frightening names that reflect both exotic and recognizable plants, along with characterized expressions that elevate the humor over the potential for fear. The resolution is a delight and allows for every level of acceptance, even if only a tolerance for change among the most conservative.

Mille Fleur also has a PUMPKIN picture book and a PROBLEM picture book, both of which can join the POISON GARDEN to launch falls season of spookiness and spicy lattes. Even this synopsis reveals that the stories have their own tone of oddity to them, while presenting Mille and her mom as appealing and empathetic. Discussions are guaranteed, and back matter connects readers even more closely to their own interests and concerns.

Do yourselves a favor and make it point to meet Millie Fleur. Just avoid her salads!

RIDE ALONG: Incredibly Fast and Not At All Fun!

 As summer winds down, those who adore roller coasters and theme parks should be getting their roll on while they can. To share that experience (and examine it more closely) a new picture book has released. INCREDIBLY FAST AND NOT AT ALL FUN is the imaginative and marvelous new title from author/illustrator Tadgh Bentley. 

ATHENEUM
BOOKS FOR YOUN G READERS, 2026

The premise of this story is a surprisingly imaginative origin story for the first roller coaster ever. Bear (a big-muzzled beekeeper bear with some serious STEM skills) sets out to solve a problem. The wooded valley between his hilltop home and his hive (located on the other side of the valley) is (over) populated with critters! Bear needs  a quick, undistracted transport system to get from here to there, so to speak. 

Opening AND closing end papers nearly waylaid my efforts to read Bear's determined account while I scrutinized the graphic-design/blueprint style details revealing Bear's intended solution. The design drawings incorporate local terrain, creating a need for rising/falling, twisting, twirling layouts, with practical (and laughable) units of measure in length, labeled "bears". Why not? We measure length in "feet". 

Bear called his device the "Honey Runner". Although steep, and perhaps intimidating, the potential for efficiency outweighed his concerns. And, it worked! But Bear's debut ride was observed by countless woodland eyes, and those critters were curious! They begged to ride along. 

The story unfolds with those eager thrill-seekers clamoring for more exciting rides.  Complicating issues arise. Bear's attempt to simplify his life with an efficient transport system becomes anything but efficient. As you probably imagine by now, more engineering is involved, but that only makes the "Honey Runner" that much more exciting. 

No worries.Clever Bear finds a way to satisfy his thrill-seeking forest neighbors while still pursuing his quiet life. But that last page turn will have readers howling and ready to right a next chapter in Bear's story. 

First, all praise for the main text, which crackles with crisp and comical situations and language. Bear's emotional journey, including frustration and exasperation, will take readers on a ride in itself. And the small details (and I do mean small, including in earliest spreads shown with miniature scene set-ups and signage) will have kids poring over each spread, each little critter's expression, and each transition's potential through repeated readings. 

Bentley is as talented at visuals as he is at storytelling. This oversized book allows for expansive and colorful spreads suggesting nature's sprawling invitation to Bear to make a way through. The forest colors glow with fall foliage, offering a vibrant background for small brown silhouettes, each with bright white eyes. Figures are expressive and soft-edged in contrast to construction elements and detailed plans. 

Those eyes, by the way, deserve their own commentary.

First, I'll admit that manga-like, big-eyed characters in picture books are not my first choice in conveying character or personality. This forest population, though, sports white-eyed, wide-eyed expressions in a variety of angles and attitudes that actually reveal their otherwise limited expressiveness rather than looking endlessly repetitive. The eyes make it clear within dense backgrounds that there are SO MANY of them, as bear seems to be thinking. Yet his heart is tugged to give ride after ride and eventually solve the situation he confronts in those  pleading, begging, eager eyes, always aimed exactly where they must be in order to achieve their intent and to direct readers' attention. 

The overall story is a delight. Creators are often told to find something original, that there are plenty of dog stories, cat stories, bear stories, etc. ... UNLESS you can find something truly original to do with those familiar stars of the show. And this book does exactly that!  It dares to pair a nature/woodland scene with a lovable bear and a lively community of neighbors with a ROLLERCOASTER! A ride with swooshing, gasping speed, with curves and turns and twists that lift off the page could cause shrieks from audiences. It invites reading aloud to giggling groups as well as close scrutiny by chuckling children. 

For sheer fun and entertainment, this can't be beat. If you add to that its potential connections to planning and revision, problem solving, community needs, transportation, SEL, predictions, and more, it earns its place in families, classrooms, libraries, and the hands of anyone, any age, who loves rollercoasters!

Bentley is also the creator of popular early chapter books and easy readers featuring DINO DETECTIVE, LITTLE PENGUIN, and more. Click on the website to take you to an opening page that reveals sketches and image drafts unfolding bit by bit, not unlike Bear's planning sketches on end papers. 

The COW SAID BOO! Laughs Guaranteed!

PAJAMA PRESS, 2021

My sincere wish for us all is that none shall suffer a summer cold. But in case you do, here's a picture book with a fun spin on sneezing. THE COW SAID BOO!  is written by Lara Button and illustrated by Alice Carter. 

There are plenty of visual cues to make this a great title to add to your fall/Halloween collection, and it's a terrific variant on the typical ghost story. Even so, I love it as a summer read. Farm trips, day camps, pick-your-own berry outings, and even car trips with counting cows (people still do that, right?) invite books about cows. 

In this case, when COW has a cold and tires to say MOO!  it comes out BOO!  As someone who is overcome by sneezes (even when not caused by a cold) I loved that COW's sneezing sends her stumbling and bumbling into a sheet on a clothesline, and ... you can guess from there, can't you?

In this case the brightly colorful and cartoonish characters and settings invite little ones to cock-a-doodle along, and recognize that something unknown can be scary. Sometimes even friends  we know can seem not quite themselves. The humor in images invites repeated readings and reading-along, eventually showing  a highly satisfying benefit to this poor cow's condition. This is a picture book without guise or glamour, without intentional or implied messages, but one whose fun and frolic involve lively language, loyalty, and laughter.

For a paired reading, be sure to read  BOB, NOT BOB! by Liz Garton Scanlon.

LITTLE, BROWN BYR, 2017

 A boy with a cold is mispronouncing loads of words, starting with MOM! The fun and clever writing is no surprise (it's by Liz Scanlon!) so it's a highly recommended choice for word play and evoking some serious laughter (is that an oxymoron?). If you or kiddos you know are dealing with stuffed noses, both books are MUST HAVES. 

Or even if you're not! 

Both are read-aloud delights, especially for those who like to ham it up!

DON'T TRUST FISH: Unreliable Narrators

    

I appreciate hearing from readers here, directly or in comments, but I am so enthralled with picture books that I'd post even if no one was reading. It genuinely matters to me when someone lets me know that the book(s) I feature here strike a chord with them. I take those regular readers as a sign of trust. Even though not every title might resonate with you, my remarks are seen as reliable and my honest opinion. That's the highest honor I could hope for. 

But not every narrator is reliable, and that can be by intention. 

In this case, I wrote about DON'T TRUST FISH when it first released, but am casting a wider spotlight on it now because... it deserves it! 

Dial Books For Young Readers, 2025

DON'T TRUST FISH is written by Neil Sharpson and illustrated by Caldecott medalist  Dan Santat. Sharpson is an award-winning novelist, but his debut dabble in the world of picture books ensures that this will not be his last. Santat's illustrations (and writing) in picture books have garnered fans and awards across many years. His recent middle grade, semi-autobiographic graphic novel won the National book Award for Youth in 2023. The cross-seasoning of backgrounds in works for mature and younger minds and hearts in this first time pairing produced an alchemy you should not miss.

Despite the undeniably powerful track records of its creators, this is proved to be a surprisingly entertaining picture book, one that states its intent on the cover and title. The crisp, retro-style art and sleepy-eyed cover fish contradicts that ominous statement in a way that invites some questions and confusions. Despite the imperative statement in the title, the opening spreads resemble a mid-century text book with simple images in muted and realistic colors facing a white-space text page with a few repetitive sentences that young readers can quickly echo. It appears that this is an instructive (even dull) science-y picture book about the classes and traits of vertebrate animals.

After spreads about mammals, birds, and others, the DON'T TRUST FISH line occurs, and is repeated. in ALL CAPS!

Ensuing spreads adopt a more high-stakes voice to indicate WHY fish are so untrustworthy, what they are "doing" that hints at sidestepping the nonfiction format. This suggests the narrator, though committed to the thesis, might be a tad suspect. Giggles will abound in the youngest. including the FINAL page turn, which really knocks your socks off.

Older readers will enjoy the humor, but can also use this remarkable book as mentor text for reading (and writing) text with unreliable narrators. This particular narrator requires readers to sort, analyze, and "consider the source", even before full evidence is revealed. There's quite a bit to be said for exploring unreliable narrators in text of all kinds, particularly as relates to ubiquitous digital technology.

The list of awards and honors for this book is already too long to list, but the best of all is that readers will love it, again and again. 

On a side note, I'll be presenting a short webinar hosted by WI SCBWI on the topic of UNRELIABLE NARRATORS on February 17, 2026, and it is open to all. Those who attend live will be invited to participate in some brief activities and shared ideas, and a book giveaway will take place at the conclusion. A recording of the session will be available to those who register for  a month. Readers here are invited and welcome to join! Click here the link:

Plenty to Laugh About in CRANKY, CRABBY CROW!

 Birds again? Seriously? No, humorously! 

GREENWILLOW BOOKS, 2025

CRANKY, CRABBY CROW (Saves the World) is a bird book of sorts, but not of the sort I've reviewed recently. This crow is a curmudgeon, living up to that title description in full force. The joy and suspense of this story treat CROW as a character, one who just happens to be a bird. Award-winning AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR Corey R. Tabor is in brilliant form in  this lively and surprising account of a crow on a mission.

The title (and subtitle) do a great job of setting up the levels and tension of this story. Actual crows often sound grumpy, loudly cawing their complaints as other critters appear in "their space". The cleverly cartoonish side-eye of this cover crow, with an effectively added arched eyebrow and skittering sidestep suggest something more than grumpiness is as work.

And it is.

ENDPAPERS, CRANKY CRABBY CROW
Corey R. Tabor, 2025

Endpapers with sequences of six different "icon"ish images stalled my opening of the pages of the book. A "wallpaper" approach of this type is often used in picture books, and I wanted to see if there were any discernible patterns as clues to the story ahead. Then, when I did turn the page, the dedication was actually to one of these little icons. What? A mystery was at the heart of this story and I couldn't wait to figure it out. 

As crow sits on a wire above fuzzily familiar rooftops and treetops, other critters approach and invite Crow to seemingly irresistible events- garbage scrounging, racing, tricks, etc. One by one, potential friends are sent away with a noisy "KAW!" until Cat warns of looming loneliness. That felt to me like a charming story arc, delightfully illustrated, and leading to a happy "lesson-learned" resolve. 

Until... that parenthetical title comes into play. Secrets are revealed, actions are taken, Crow dons his secret-life uniform and SAVES THE WORLD!  (Check out the button options on his control board!). I truly want to reveal what all that is about, and also the ensuing pages of community that left me grinning. I won't spoil the experience for you. You're welcome. Many picture books have a satisfying conclusion and then, ta-da, one final page adds a surprise, a sort of WINK as a bonus to the reader. Wait until you see this one!

Once I reached that delightful spread I noticed a tiny added treat for attentive readers on the bottom right of an otherwise empty white page. Those little endpaper icons were a CODE, a SECRET CODE! That meant spending immeasurable time decoding the closing endpages and grinning through every minute.

I realize that not everyone enjoys birds as much as I do, and even those who do may not appreciate the intelligence and appeal of actual crows. Let me assure you, though, that this CROW is irresistible! Absolutely CHARMING! A CROW you will want to know! 

Do a favor to yourself and read it, then share it, laughing out loud together. And the next time you encounter someone cranky or crabby, keep in mind that perhaps it's only an act. Maybe, just maybe, they have a bigger mission in mind, one that could SAVE THE WORLD! 

BIRDS Are Back: Two Great Titles

ROARING BROOK PRESS, 2020

Can there ever be TWO MANY BIRDS? Of course not! Written and illustrated by Cindy Derby, this seemingly simple picture book presents fun for the littlest audiences and insights for teen social dynamics studies. 

A bossy and controlling VIB  (Very Important Bird) restricts access to the ONLY available tree, topping that with arbitrary and rather obnoxious rules. It's entirely (and playfully) predictable that VIB would loudly object to two eggs that hatch, putting the residency count over the arbitrary 100 mark. Despite VIB  grumbles, mother bird and 99 other birds who had made it into the stark branches of that singular tree are celebratory.

What happens next is far less predictable, but packed with visual fun and developments that draw on real world nature as well as "human" nature.

There's much here to enjoy, first, and then to spark conversations. For starters, to provide for everyone it doesn't mean making smaller slices of the pie, but making the pie bigger! (or growing more trees!)

Plenty, too, to spark comparisons of these comical little feathered ones to real birds and their features, reduced habitats, the power of collective responses, and dealing with demanding personalities with arbitrary rules.

These funny "birdbrains" can teach us all a thing or two.

EERDMANS Books for Young Readers
2025

FLY LIKE A BIRD is written and illustrated by OLGA PTASHNIK. This new release takes a direct approach to blending fiction with facts. Although a young chickadee voices parts of the narrative, and is attributed with very human concerns involving growth, change, and readiness to launch, the clarity of which is effectively conveyed.

Nonfiction content about actual bird specifies, flight, and other patterns is printed in blue, while a presumed fledgling is going through a coming-of-flight story with concerns about flying, a transition on which its life depends. This gorgeously illustrated picture book is both impressionistic and realistic in aspects of various birds and their relationships to flight. The narrative for the cautious character will resonate with young readers facing any and all bridges to new frontiers and expectations. |

Double-spread back pages showcase spot images of the eleven birds from the main text with short passages that add interesting  information.

I'm featuring this pair together because they offer a rich opportunity to share and compare picture books in ways that might surprise and delight both the young reader and the adults in their lives. I hope you'll give these a try and then launch them into the lives of kids.

WE ARE DEFINITELY HUMAN Swells with Heart and Humor

 

TUNDRA BOOKS, 2024

Be prepared to suspend your inner cynic to embrace a naive and welcoming attitude in WE ARE DEFINITELY HUMAN by X. Fang. That's what the humans (the ones we recognize as human) do in their chance encounter with three folks whose "car" lands in the middle of the night. These beings find themselves in need of serious help. That serious dilemma doesn't diminish the over-the-top humor or the genuine heart of the story itself.

This quirky and clever story features "strangers" who instantly declare, when asked, that they are human, definitely, though clearly they are not. Definitely human. Yep. Despite their obvious differences, the kind family who locate their crashed transport vehicle open their hearts and doors to the outsiders. They are willing to take their declaration of being humans at face value and overlook unfamiliar appearances, odd behavior choices, and stilted language patterns.

The humor and vivid differences throughout allow readers to laugh at such silliness while digesting the choices being made with kindness and a gentle underlying message. This is a perfect example of my assertion that picture books are meant to be consumed as a whole, beginning to end, as an art form and story in their own right. This book, read aloud to a group or on a lap, will have everyone of many ages chuckling and likely laughing aloud. But the best books, as this one is, invite readers to go right back to page one and begin again, discovering what is lurking in the nuances and corners of the pages. 

The thoroughly simple premise opens plenty of opportunities for potential skepticism, or even a condescending assessment of the locals folks who seem clueless about being obviously misled. Instead, the readings of the story,  from first through multiples, leads to a sense of what it means to be human, definitely. Even the youngest will identify and appreciate the warmth and rightness of kindness, finding balance and truth in the impact such kindness can have on others, directly and as a ripple effect into the future. Definitely.

To Be or Not to Be- a Picture Book?

UNION SQUARE KIDS, 2025

THE SHINDIG IS COMING, written and illustrated by Charise Mericle Harper presents a bit of a dilemma. I enjoyed it so much and was sure to share that delight in some way. But did it fit here, as a post on a blog about picture books? Although not numbered, I'd estimate the page count at about 64, double the typical picture book. The word count also far exceeds the  typical recommendation for picture books of about 500 words. Some pages are only, or nearly only, text. There's no reason I would "object" to it being an early reader or easy chapter book. Early chapter books are delightful and essential in young reading lives. Still...

The humor and storytelling in this new book is unsurprisingly superb, well-paced, and rich with nuance and humor. Despite its physical appearance of an early chapter book, I'm convinced that this certainly qualifies as a picture book. That's based on the essential role of the mostly-silhouette illustrations to achieve full meaning and much the humor. The images and text invite rereading as picture books do, and more so than an early reader or chapter book does. The ample white space on each page, the text size and line spacing, too, make this easy on the eyes and satisfying to the heart. Mostly, though, as a text-only book I would not be singing its praises in this way nor have fully grasped the tension, humor, or the depth of the characters.

This clever little tale is a sort of Chicken Little account. But in this case the coming disaster is a SHINDIG! The various animals each provide  character insights, making the story into an ensemble cast rather than focusing on a single protagonist. I strongly recommend this for use with young audiences to explore ways in which book formats should be chosen to best suit their purpose.

I doubt that using a basic/traditional picture book format, even in the hands of a skilled writer like Harper, could do justice to the complexity and pacing of this evening woodland gathering. I particularly appreciated the many subtleties of nature that are blended into an otherwise  anthropomorphized situation. Animals that naturally prey upon and avoid each other are shown to come together for their common good. Their animal natures are respected (as in a grumbly, hungry bear, or that lovable opossum whose instinctive survival mechanism of fainting/playing dead makes him the most vulnerable of all). The charm of their shared concerns, competitive natures, individual differences, and that ominous SHINGDIG  (fear of the unknown) make for a modern day classic with strong potential for frequent re-readings and discussions. 

And I intend to recommend it often. When I do, I have no qualms about calling it a picture book. It is both whimsical and profound, a good reason for celebrating with a shindig!

THE WRONG BOOK: Why Recommend That?

PHILOMEL, 2024

When looking for THE WRONG BOOK, written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Alex Willmore, be sure to check carefully. Including contrarian words in a picture book title is not unusual, and there are plenty that merit a good look. In this case, though, THE WRONG BOOK is the right one to read!

 If there's one sure way to hook young readers it is to combine humor with visual puzzles and a frustrated narrative. Throw in having an inanimate-personified narrator (an indignant bookmark? ) who breaks the fourth wall and expects readers to step up and speak up (a la PIGEON books my Mo Willems). Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

This book has all that, plus opportunities beyond entertainment, of which there are plenty. Many reading strategies can be practiced, and expanded discussions can emerge. The end papers show "bookmark" with a wide variety of simple facial expressions, inviting lots of empathy/emotional "reading" and naming of emotions with young audiences. Once the actual spreads are viewed, predictions can involve realistic expectations and then wildly funny potential options of alternate sound-making from the anticipated page turns. The ending is somewhat surprising in that the confused/silly mix-ups are not only allowed but mimicked by that irritated bookmark. It literally says, "If you can't beat them, join them". The various sounds used are onomatopoetic, offering fun examples of this figurative form of writing and also inviting some motivating decoding practice. 

I included a larger view of the cover to allow you to explore the tone and fun of the interior art and story.The title is correct (THE WRONG BOOK) and bookmark's mission to get things right is revealed, with expected  sounds and even creators' names in need of correcting. Illustrator Willmore is known for the comic visual and humorous interpretation of text, as well as the purposefully scrawled, oversized lettering that invites reading aloud with powerful expression. The personification of bookmark echoes author Daywalt's approach in THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT and other titles in that series.

Another fun use of this book would be to share/compare with INTERRUPTING CHICKEN, (reviewed HERE) those PIGEON titles from Mo Willems, and a delightful classic, BABY SAYS MOO! by JoAnn Early Macken. With so much shenanigans in the spotlight here, I can't blame someone for doubting my word, but kids will not go wrong with THE WRONG BOOK. 

Back to School? Time for RECESS! By Lane Smith

 Some names in the world of picture books  elicit trust. Trust that the work will be masterful, entertaining.Worth the time, money, and attention to give it a close look. With the likely result that it will merit praise and recommendations. 

Books (creators) like that are not always my first-choice to share here, since there are countless major reviewers (KIRKUS REVIEWS, SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, HORN BOOK, etc.) who will undoubtedly read and support such works. Even though I read and adore such work myself, I tend to lend my limited influence to other creators or titles that might be overlooked despite displaying noteworthy qualities.

Despite that policy, there are plenty of highly-touted new books that I can't resist chiming in on. One of these creators and new titles is RECESS by LANE SMITH. Some of the wackiness, color, energy, and irreverence of Smith's earlier works may come to mind when looking at the cover of this latest release. A thorough look at his work reveals wide variety in techniques, media, style, design, and tone. If past titles don't spring to mind, I'll just mention the outrageousness and lively humor of THE STINKY CHEESE MAN or THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS By A. WOLF (both partnered with Jon Scieszka) to the very different images and tone of A HOUSE THAT ONCE WAS written by Julie Fogliano. For a peek at that variety of talent, take a quick look at a collage of his covers:

You can see what I mean. This is one versatile creator who does NOT need my praise to succeed! 

And yet... I can't resist celebrating his latest picture book, released just in time for BACK TO SCHOOL!  You heard me right. BACK TO SCHOOL! I lived or decades in a state in which public schools could not resume, by law, until after Memorial Day (even though that meant attending through the middle of June). I now live in a state without such restrictions. I see school buses and kids in uniforms, toting backpacks, from early AUGUST onward.

My hope for them, first and foremost, is that the schools they attend have air conditioning. 

My next hope is that every classroom will purchase and share Lane Smith's new picture book, RECESS.

The tongue-in-cheek text pairs with fantastic page design and kid-centric art to capture and exploit the feeling of those kids in those desks. Especially during AUGUST! 

ABRAMS, RECESS, 2025 (Interior art)

It's never easy to shift gears from summer schedules to back-to-school demands, as this early spread suggests so effectively:

That first reveal of text design is a pattern used throughout and is worth noting. The first lines of text addresses kids who are less than energized as they sit in class, then a lively string of  anticipatory words, followed by tiny text refuting the hopes indicated.

Each page turn/enticement leads to a double page spread of recess releasing.

ABRAMS, RECESS, 2025 (Interior art)

That text design on the RECESS pages also utilizes that varied text layout to exaggerate the silliness of the described activity, the insistence to STOP!, then an added tiny-print last line with a notably different voice and perspective. 

What I appreciated about this, especially was my memory of those covid-school days/months in which kids were NOT allowed to have contact with each other, even wear masks. They had to learn to cope with the isolation a community that was restrictive by definition. RECESS included. 

In this new work, it's joyful to share the goofiness of moving our bodies to provide escape from the drudgery of necessary tasks. Following each RECESS command/spread, a page turn takes readers back to a nearly black-and-white, scowl-inducing  situation that is all too familiar to school kids. Most make easy metaphors for adults at work, too. Smith's exaggeration of both sides of life, from unfulfilling routines to unimaginable raucousness, will not only trigger giggles but will invite repeated readings (and enactments!). 

This is a perfect case of picture books NOT just being for little kids. From preschool through college kids (who ALSO end up back in class in August!), to employment settings, I recommend sharing this book once and then keeping it on hand for future, unexpected spread-breaks. A sudden shout out and movement jolt is a powerful tool for energizing creativity and problem solving. If a kiddo has the bedtime wiggles, try enacting a full read-through to exhaust some of that energy. If a  lengthy car ride is in the works, many of these recess experiences can be executed while seat belted and soaring down the road. By simply admitting that endless stationary sitting is not human nature, a hilarious fresh start can reset the tone for everyone involved. 

RECESS by Lane Smith certainly shook me up, bumping a planned post to get this note out to all of  you! 

CATS! Two Terrific Titles

 I grew up with cats as pets, until ... 

Yep, like so many others, I am now highly allergic to cats. But that doesn't mean that I love them any less. In fact, as dear as dogs are to my heart, cats are remarkably capable of telling their own tails  tales, and they do so with nuance or boldness or any other attitude between those.

Two recent releases reveal that irrepressible personality of cats in entirely different ways, but are equally inviting. 

ABRAMS BOOKS FOR KIDS, 2025

The first is I AM A CAT, written and illustrated by Galia Bernstein. This is one of several picture books with the same titles so make note of that  side-eye cat on the cover and the creator's name. I ahve not read the others, but if younger only reading one I AM A CAT picture book, I can assure you that this one will come across as a winner/.

Before I describe the premise, I'll also indicate that I am not alone in this appraisal. This seemingly simple tale received multiple starred reviews, and is available in picture book hard cover or paperback, as well as board book formats. In a tight publishing world, that is a strong indicator of its appeal. 

That apparently annoyed cover star is SIMON, who we meet on the opening spread. The minimal text suggest SIMON is talking to the reader, and is perhaps confused: 

"HELLO, my name is Simon. I am a cat, just like you."

The page turn reveals that readers are observing a conversation of sorts, not part of one. The author/illustrator has mastered a blend of fact and fiction in this  straightforward conversation between SIMON and a range of other "cats", from lions to jaguars and more. The huffiness and self-awareness flows in both directions throughout, revealing in each case a short debate about why SIMON cannot be a cat, due to NOT being something the wild variety happens to be. 

THat's where the factual content shines, clarifying in comparisons and in an eventual and satisfying conclusion just exactly what makes a cat a cat! The illustrations carry the conversation forward, species after species, portraying on stark white backgrounds the sense of differences, but also of personalities. Small but intentionally effect details add information about the cats and the habitats, qualities, or behaviors that distinguish them, while conveying grin-worthy situations. This is a strong recommendation for kids of any age who take an interest in CATS, of course, but also science and wildlife and humor, and debate, and Terrific entertainment!

KIDS CAN PRESS,  2025

WHAT IF I'M NOT A CAT? is written by Kari-Lynn Winters and illustrated by Kelly Collier.  The cover should introduce you to the absurdity of this question, since a naive donkey is the one asking it! 

I paired these two because  each of the titles has to do with establishing a sense of identity as well as belonging. The above cat, Simon, is confident and able to assert his place in the family of cats without qualms. In Donkey's case, that identity comes from the voice of authority, Farmer, who greets and bids goodnight to a barn-full of cats, which seemingly includes Donkey. 

The central clue about how Donkey could have been so apparently confused comes on the first page turn. There, readers find the statement that Donkey used to be a straggly stray. 

The spot illustrations on that page reinforce Donkey's life story- having no one to love in his life to becoming part of a loving community- of cats! Using the examples from those cats to become the very best cat he can: playing, licking his fur, and strutting around the barnyard. The following pages reveal all the ways Donkey imitates cats .(Feel free to laugh at that even without illustratrations!) Succeses and failures do not introduce doubts, but a simple remark from Farmer  raises the question- What if I am not a cat? The delightful cats and kittens who have been his loyal (if sometimes skeptical) companions try to help, soldiering various attributes that might explain Donkey's identity. 

The text and illustrations prevent a very poignant story from losing its humor. Even when things feel dire, Donkey rises to the occasion, blending his cat-skills with his own nature to provide a thoroughly satisfying resolution, with raucous laughs at the final wordless spread. Don't imagine that I've spoiled a good read with the details above. This is one that merits repeated read-agains, combined with close inspection of elements of illustration. Include in that the tiniest of details, despite these images being cartoonish in nature. In  fact, the success of conveying emotion and expression with the slightest variation in eyes, head tilt, and other elements can serve as mentor images for those attempting to work in this style. 

Afterthought: Take a look at one more cat book: I AM CAT, by Peter Bentley, illustrated by Chris Chatterton. A lively, funny, rhyming cat who knows what a cat really is and does!

Betsy Byrd''s Latest Book: POP! GOES THE NURSERY RHYME

 If the name of librarian Betsy Byrd doesn't ring a bell, I urge you to check out the link. I first encountered her informative and prolific reflections on books for children in her FUSE #8 Production  posts for School Library Journal.. That has been many years in the past. During that time Betsy served as librarian in New York City but is now residing in the midwest, along with her family. Beyond professional training in children's literature and a long career in the field, it was when she had young children of her own that her love of nursery rhymes was renewed. 

And nearly ruined!

Her author note is a reminder that little audiences LOVE nursery rhymes, for many reasons.  They are rhymes, predictable, bouncy, and short. They are also key cultural touchstones. Repetition is part of their appeal, but, as a parent, that can grow old sooner rather than later. 

For the sake of her own mental well-being, Byrd spontaneously began adding "POP! Goes the Weasel" into other nursery rhymes, to the delight of her littles. A brilliant idea was born! 

UNION SQUARE KIDS, 2025

POP! Goes the Nursery Rhyme, written by Betsy Byrd, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi, is now available. Take a look at that weasel on the cover, along with the undefined bird (any relation to BYRD?) who is continually appalled that tine-honored nursery rhymes are being ruined by the goofy weasel! 

This bird is a reader, and continually redirects ram rambunctious weasel, insisting that these familiar, iconic rhymes DO NOT iINCLUDE a weasel! The gleeful joy Weasel expresses is countered by distraught and disrupted lambs and other animal characters who portray familiar nursery rhymes. Meanwhile, bird resembles Mo Willems PIGEON on several pages, and takes it personally to NOT be caught off guard.  (Be sure to enjoy the opening and final end papers, too!)

Successful? Can't you guess? 

This artful and ingenious blend of familiar rhymes with wacky and wild humor has created what will likely become a modern day classic. The personalities of the central characters are unforgettable, inviting dramatic interpretive readings (my favorite kind!). I'll also predict that this will encourage seeking out more nursery rhyme modifications.

I couldn't be happier about that, since nursery rhymes (and fairy tales and folk tales) have lost their place of honor within far too many classrooms. The demands of strict curricula and test practices have nudged out time for what used to be universal cultural touchstones, as Betsy mentioned in her author note. A book like this just might undo a bit of that pattern. I can only hope. 

DON'T TRUST FISH: A Seriously Silly Warning

DIAL BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
2025

 My previous post took a funny turn. At least I featured two truly funny picture books, HERE. Both were timelessly entertaining and laughable, but were each a few years old. If messages on the "socials" of publishing can be trusted, there is an ongoing call for genuinely funny picture book submissions. This title is a terrific example of what editors will love.  

DON'T TRUST FISH is written by Neil Sharpson and illustrated by Dan Santat. Sharpson's prior success has been in the realms of screenplays and animation. But the urgency of sharing the message of this book compelled  him to write this debut picture book. In back jacket copy Sharpson insists, more than once, that HE IS NOT A CRAB!  

Santat also has an animation background, but has long illustrated picture books and graphic novels, writing several of those as well. Don't look for a place to rest your elbow in his home since I imagine that every flat surface is occupied by the countless awards his work has garnered, including the most prestigious among them. Together, this creative pair has produced an essential handbook, a sort of field guide, for human navigation of the animal world.

The stark cover carries a cautionary statement. The pictured fish, half-lidded side-eye visible to those who have been warned, might seem tongue in cheek. But opening spreads make it clear that this has "serious" intent. Each double spread reveals a class of animals with its salient features listed in no-nonsense, straightforward text, faced by a traditionally illustrated example (Mammal- cow). All text and images are on white background, presented in standard font and classic art style. Snake, check, Bird, check. Page turn...

DON't TRUST FISH!

Each turn from there on demonstrates that fish defy easy description, with devious differences. They populate the waters of the world and no one can escape! The humor is wry and so are the illustrations, especially JEFF the Fish, the most sinister of all. Until the illustrations occasionally go totally berserk. From a simple, apparently scientific opening, this veers quickly to making waves with word play, situational absurdities, and a surprising concern for the well-being of crabs. The "threats" rapidly accelerate and still, crab remains in jeopardy. Concluding surprises are not the last word, with a final twist that deserves attention but will not be revealed here.

This is an example of an apparently simple picture book aimed at young audiences. They will, in fact, adore it and appreciate the unreliable narrator aspects as well as the specific examples of visual and word humor. This picture book will also be welcomed by older readers, particularly if presented to a group. The glances to peers and spontaneous laughs that can’t be suppressed will trigger others, including through several unpredictable page turns. 

For independent writers of ANY age, this is pure mentor text for examining structures of storytelling with an unreliable narrator, including establishing early trust, generating lies-among-truths, raising the stakes if readers dare to doubt, and when/how to finally reveal the full truth. That final spread (that I will still not ruin with a spoiler description) merits full study of its meta-text and illustration details as markers of the true nature of the narrator.

I urge you to give this a look, and share it with others of any age. The laughs are entertaining and valuable, but as a model for creating humor in stories, this book is priceless.

(While you are requesting library books or shopping, give a look at DON’T TRUST CATS by the creative duo, Dev Petty and Mike Boldt. What a fun activity it would be to identify and gather several such cautionary titles to share and compare in small groups. Perhaps even use that exercise to launch a writing project with cautionary text. For integrated learning, explore this title and others  in science and social studies classes to identify blends of fact and fabrication, to consider the source of rules and laws and what their underlying biases might be.)

Laughter- the Hook for Young Readers

 Two utterly appealing humorous picture books take the spotlight in this post. 

Why? Because Laughter is the best balm for anyone, any age.

I encountered both in other (separate) reviews over time, requested them from my library, and then read each, over and over. My feeling is that young audiences will do the same. In fact, little ones request repeated readings with many of their favorite books. It can even strain the patience of the adult reader/lap provider. 

Side note: I know of at least one mom who learned that she was pregnant "again" and insisted to her husband that he promise to be the reader-on-demand for BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR (Erik  Carle) with their new addition because she couldn't face it one more time! That is not a reflection on the book. Requests for repetition are the highest praise, yet do not always sustain the interest of the adult, especially after several children work their way through toddler years. In the case of these two titles, there is much to offer to those adult readers, even after dozens of repeats. 

Gecko Press, 2024

 
The first is a board book, but it's far from being a simple naming or concept book. CAN I SIT IN THE MIDDLE? is written and illustrated by Susanne Strasser. Many books for these audiences repeat basic words in various lines to allow for the little ones to read along, develop early sight word recognition, a sense of letter sounds, and actually be able to self-tell the story using picture prompts, on their own.

That's actually a valued practice, a mark of potential success. Even so, such utterly predictable patterning can engage young audiences while leading to adult bargains such as the one noted above. 

In this case, the layers of legitimate plot and the potential for predictability without guarantee lead to laughter and loads of lively conversation. The struggle to "get on with it" as interruption after interruption in an attempt to share a story on the couch will resonate with the littles and the adult readers. The quirky incongruity of these particular animals being at the home and expecting a story, let alone speaking and acting like humans, is a winner from cover to closing page. The use of "child" and animal words includes upper case letters in sentences in which the character is speaking or rearranging things, but resumes lower case as the sequencing/listing sentences occur. In fact, that kind of detail is only one of many ways in which those repeated readings can each lead a step closer to literacy acquisition. Due to the countless adjustments needed, the sequence of seating, on and around the couch, the child, and the book, is continually changing, and the animal words follow the visuals. 

In addition, those sequences are consistently left-to-right, with encouragement to name the animals in sequence AND READ their words using initial sounds. The premise itself is both highly familiar and absurdly comical, including the evident but subtle attitudes of each animal, as revealed in eyes, body positions, and relationship to each other. These provide a wealth of laughable and lovable conversation opportunities, page after page. Just as there have been enough page turns to invite potentially correct guesses about the "next" visitor, those under-the-couch-slippers (that have been eyeing the antics) instigate the least expected of events. 

I won't say more, but this really is a book with depth and delight, one that invites not only re-readings but one that might serve for launching a parallel pattern of storytelling nonsense based on routines. Don't miss it!

HARPER, 2015

Next up is a comical, oversized picture book created by the team of Jory John and Benji Davies, GOODNIGHT, ALREADY!  Note that medallion seal on the cover which designates it as an E. B. White Read Aloud honor title. 

In this case, two unlikely animals engage with each other: The entire text is in quoted dialogue without attributions, but placement of text on the page makes it clear which is talking, and they address each other as Bear and Duck. The oversized physicality of the book emphasizes Bear's massive presence in comparison to neighbor Duck. Bear is clearly ready to snooze, or more than ready. But Duck has never been more wide awake!

Thus, the conflict begins. Not because a duck is such an unlikely friend/neighbor of bear, but because they are revealed as good neighbors and friends with conflicting needs. As in the book above, the interaction feels warmly similar to circumstances in our human lives, despite the incongruous characters who are portraying their struggles. Again, the visual details and emotions are elaborated through illustration, including those eyes, body posture and positions, and orientations to each other. That read-aloud honor comes through clearly from the very first read. It would approach criminality if the adult reader failed to adopt distinctive voices for each. Give it a try that way and then eavesdrop on little ones as they do their own spontaneous "reading"  of the book on their own. Their voices will be as funny as the original work is. 

A future post, coming soon, is another that celebrates humor and delights with surprises. Stay tuned, and recommend other laughable titles in comments if you care to! If you are looking for even more, I've reviewed many humorous picture books in prior posts. Some have humor arises in fully realistic situations, but others rely on an aspect of absurdity, HERE, HERE, and HERE. Or simply type HUMOR in the search window one in the side bar.>>>> Enjoy!

CRICK, CRACK, CROW! Meet a Brilliant Bird!

 So, enough with the bird books already.... Like THIS and THIS and THIS.

PEACHTREE BOOKS, 2024

Is that what you're thinking? Please stay with me while i celebrate one fabulous picture book featuring the antics (and brilliance) of a crow. CRICK, CRACK, CROW! is written by Janet Lord and illustrated by Julie Paschkis. 

From the endpapers to the cover art throughout each interior spread, crows reach readers as both familiar and extraordinary. In addition to the silhouettes of crows posing mid-act in one of their countless antics, this bright-eyed  young crow explores anything and everything it encounters. The humor is portrayed through delightful images and lively, patterned, rhyming leadlines for each episode and incident. 

Crows can be annoying to many folks, including other birds and even squirrels and pets (and you'll see why), but this fella is undoubtedly as appealing as he is entertaining. Amid the multiple scenes in which crow's clever pursuits reveal the talents and intentions of birds that have been scientifically proven to be among the most intelligent of creatures other than humans and other primates. Even that exclusion might be challenged in certain circumstances. That challenge can be addressed in any of the back-matter references provided, all of which are kid-friendly and authenticated for accuracy. 

Do yourself a favor and check out this homage to the wit and willful wiliness of this particular crow, crows as a species, and some truly impressive writing and illustrations. Enjoy!