Review: Little Ghost's Summerween - Maggie Edkins Willis - April 2026  Little Ghost has attended his very first birthday party and decides he wants one of his own. His friend Anya gives him the most beautifully simple advice: the party should celebrate what Little Ghost loves most. And of course, what Little Ghost loves most is Halloween - bats, black cats, candy corn, pumpkins, the whole gloriously spooky lot. The small snag? It's the middle of summer. What unfolds is a genuinely delightful little story about identity, creativity, and the joy of refusing to be boxed in by expectations. Maggie Edkins Willis has a wonderful instinct for the interior logic of childhood like of course you can have Halloween in summer. Why wouldn't you? The solution Little Ghost lands on (a "Summerween" party) is exactly the kind of lateral thinking that picture books do best: it validates kids who feel like they don't quite fit the calendar of normal celebrations. The illustr...

Review: The Monster and Puppet Show - Kate Micucci - February 2026 When I worked in the library as a Children's and Teens Librarian, I was always on the lookout for funny interactive books that I could share with my class visits. There's nothing quite like watching kids light up when they get to participate in the story, and those are the books that stick with them long after storytime ends. If I was still in the library, The Monster and Puppet Show would absolutely be one of the books on my School Visits list. Kate Micucci – yes, Lucy from The Big Bang Theory! – has created something really special here. This book immediately reminded me of the classic The Monster at the End of the Book, which featured Grover from Sesame Street. When my brother was little, that was one of his favourite books that I would read to him, and he'd giggle every single time we turned a page despite Grover's protests. The Monster and Puppet Show captures that same magic of breaking the fourt...

Review: Together United - Written by Tami Charles and Illustrated by Bryan Collier - September 2025 There are some picture books that feel like they're giving you a warm hug while simultaneously lighting a fire in your soul, and Together United is absolutely one of them. This is the kind of book that makes you want to gather all the kids in your life, pull them close, and read it aloud with all the passion it deserves. The message is beautifully simple yet profound: by ourselves, it's hard to achieve amazing things or feel like we've made a real difference. But together, united? We can genuinely change the world. It's a lesson our tamariki need now more than ever, delivered with such warmth and conviction that it seeps right into your heart. What I love most about this book is how it balances celebrating individual strength with recognizing collective power. It doesn't diminish the importance of each child's unique voice; instead, it shows how those voices creat...

Review: Chicken Soup for the Soul KIDS - The Sunshine Squad - Jamie Michalak and Illustrated by Lorian Tu - October 2021 As a fan of *Chicken Soup for the Soul* books growing up, I was excited to dive into their latest offering for younger readers, *The Sunshine Squad: Discovering What Makes You Special* by Jamie Michalak. This delightful book brings together timeless values of friendship, self-discovery, and kindness, while wrapping them up in an engaging, fun-filled narrative. The story follows a group of five friends (and one little brother) known as the Sunshine Squad. Each member of the squad possesses a unique "superpower"—from Oliver’s comic book genius to Mia’s athletic prowess, Lilly’s invention skills, Lucas’s pranks, and Sophie’s connection with animals. But the real heart of the story lies in Tommy, who feels like he’s missing his own special gift. As the day unfolds, Tommy learns that sometimes, the most important superpower isn’t something flashy—it’s kindness, ...

Review: This Book Is Not For You - Howard Pearlstein and Illustrated by Susanna Covelli - August 2024 Howard Pearlstein’s *This Book is Not For You*, illustrated by Susanna Covelli, is a brilliant romp through the world of humor and irony, delightfully skewering the conventional wisdom of children's books. Received as an ARC from NetGalley, this picture book defies expectations with its dynamic blend of storytelling and illustration. From the first page, Pearlstein captures readers with an irreverent narrator who insists that this book is, indeed, "not for you." The narrator—a grumpy, mustachioed fellow with a Hercule Poirot-like flair—bemoans the book's content, claiming it is devoid of anything a child could possibly find appealing. No monsters, no ninjas, no aliens—just an endless litany of what makes a book decidedly uninteresting for young readers. Howard Pearlstein’s narrative voice is hilariously out of touch, adding a layer of comedic detachment as the narrato...

Review: Dead Squirrels Everywhere - Gabrielle Ferrara and Illustrated by Natalia Nova - June 2022 "Dead Squirrels Everywhere" by Gabrielle Ferrara, with illustrations by Natalia Nova, is an adult picture book that takes a morbidly humorous approach to counting. This book is a quirky and darkly entertaining read that is definitely not suitable for children, unless you want to traumatize them with images of squirrels meeting various untimely ends. The concept of this book revolves around teaching counting to ten, but with a macabre twist – each number is associated with a squirrel's death in increasingly bizarre and unfortunate accidents. From the first page, readers are greeted with an irreverent and darkly comedic tone. Ferrara’s text is straightforward and engaging, making it easy to follow along with the counting narrative. The repetition of the phrase "dead squirrels" alongside the counting creates a rhythmic and almost hypnotic reading experience. It's ...

Review: How to Catch A Fairy Godmother - Alice Walstead and Andy Elkerton - July 2024 From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling "How to Catch" series comes a new magical adventure by Alice Walstead and Andy Elkerton. This enchanting addition, "How to Catch a Fairy Godmother," introduces us to a young and shy fairy godmother on her very first assignment. Her primary goal is to assist the How to Catch kids in any way she can. What sets this book apart is its focus on a fairy godmother, a character that is surprisingly rare in picture books. The narrative is bursting with colorful art and hilarious rhymes that will keep young readers entertained and engaged. The story invites readers into an all-new fairy tale world, where they meet a resilient and endearing fairy godmother who captures hearts with her determination and kindness. As someone who has enjoyed the "How to Catch" series immensely, this book continues the tradition of fun and adventure that...

Review: Author Vs Illustrator - Donald Lemke and Illustrated by Bob Lentz - August 2024 "Author Vs Illustrator," written by Donald Lemke and illustrated by Bob Lentz, is an engaging and hilarious children's book that explores the dynamic and sometimes contentious relationship between an author and an illustrator. Aimed at readers aged 8-12, this book cleverly presents the creative process through a comic format, making it both accessible and entertaining. The story begins at the far reaches of Earth, atop a mountaintop, where a bustling city finds itself under attack by an unexpected menace—a cute little furball. This whimsical twist is far from the "ferocious beast" the author originally envisioned, leading to a comical clash between the author and illustrator. The narrative unfolds as a playful battle of wits and creativity, with each collaborator trying to impose their vision on the story. The author insists on a text-driven tale about a terrifying creature, ...