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Lucky Duck
by Greg Pizzoli (Author)
Brief summary: Susan the Duck starts her day receiving roller skates two sizes too big and continues with many other unlucky occurrences throughout the day.
Susan answers the door to a wolf, who claims she has won a big pot. She began to feel lucky to win all of the vegetables the wolf kept bringing throughout the day.
Susan soon realizes her bad luck was lucky and her good luck was unlucky.
Comments: This is a humorous story that young readers will enjoy as it unravels and would make for a fun read-aloud.
The illustrations are drawn with pencil, brush, and Photoshop.
Rating: 4/5 –📗📗📗📗
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Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)
India on a Plate!: Indian Food from A to Z
by Archana Sreenivasan (Author)
Brief summary: Young readers will enjoy seeing and learning foods of India in this brightly illustrated ABC board book.
Comments: Each letter has a fun rhyming three-lined verse describing the food.
There is a pronunciation guide after each food.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
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Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)
Time to Make Art
by Jeff Mack (author and illustrator)
Brief summary: A girl wants to know how to make art and asks artists from different decades about their mediums while becoming more inspired to create her own.
Comments: There is a back section with brief biographical sketches of the artists featured in the story.
What a great book for art teachers to share with students!
Rating:3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)
Love, Lah Lah
by Nailah Blackman (Author), Jade Orlando (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Lah Lah wakes on the day of the Carnival and spends it with her grandpa, enjoying the festivities on the streets of Trinidad and Tobago(a two-island nation in the Caribbean). They enjoy dancing to the soca( SOH-kah ) beat with steelpans, watching the parade full of brightly colored costumes, and eating mango chow under a poui(POO-ee) tree. The day ends with Lah Lah singing on stage with her grandfather.
Comments: This book is a tribute to the author’s grandpa, Ras Shorty I, who created soca music, a mix of African and East Indian rhythms.
Carnival is celebrated on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.
The brightly colored illustrations were created with watercolors and digital tools capturing the movement and excitement of the Carnival.
The back sections include a glossary, a biographical sketch, and a letter.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
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Nailah Blackman and her aunt, Marge Blackman performing Endless Vibration by Ras Shorty I
Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)
When You Have to Wait
by Melanie Conklin (Author), Leah Hong (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A little girl learns that sometimes we must wait even when we want the time to be now. We sometimes have to wait in line, wait for a loved one to return home, and wait to grow enough to ride a bicycle.
Comments: This gentle book explains that we sometimes have no control over making something happen faster. I’d share this at the beginning of the school year and when the class needed a little reminder about patience.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)
Holi (Happy Holidays!)
by Betsy Rathburn (Author)
Brief summary: Young readers will learn about colorful Holi, a Hindu spring holiday that is celebrated on the full moon.
Comments: This nonfiction picture book has large fonts for primary readers to easily read. Bolded words are found in the glossary. Other back sections are Holi Facts, To Learn More, and an Index.
I would pair this nonfiction book with a fictional picture book about Holi for a spring holiday unit.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗
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Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)
My Block Looks Like
by Janelle Harper (Author), Frank Morrison (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A young girl shares how she enjoys the music, spray paint art, and other things of her home block in the Bronx.
Comments: The rhythmic words and action-filled illustrations follow the girl in the yellow hoodie, as she walks through her neighborhood, proudly sharing everything.
You may need to practice this reading aloud before sharing it with a class to get the rhythm of the words.
I think it would be an interesting series to see other communities done in this style.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)
Garmann’s Summer
by Stian Hole (Author), Don Bartlett (Translator)
Brief summary: Garmann’s three elderly aunts come to visit just as the summer is about to end and school begins. The boy talks to his aunts and parents about what scares them. What scares Garmann?
Comments: This book is a translation from Norway, initially published in 2006.
I like this book’s candid humor about what scares us, death, and new beginnings.
The illustrations are collages of mixed media.
My students enjoyed these Garmann books and would read them together.
*I was sent a complimentary copy to give an honest review.
Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗
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Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)
Don’t Trust Cats: Life Lessons from Chip the Dog
by Dev Petty (Author), Mike Boldt (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Chip, the dog, warns young readers not to trust cats and advises us who and what can be trusted.
Comments: The humorous illustrations go well with the freehand lettering to make the dog’s narrative authentic.
We do not find out why Chip the Dog has a cone around his neck, but the cat is probably involved. That would be a good question to discuss with students.
This is a nice persuasive writing example and will be enjoyed as a funny read-aloud.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)
Animal Snuggles: Affection in the Animal Kingdom
by Aimee Reid (Author), Sebastien Braun (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Young readers are shown how various animals display affection towards their babies.
Comments: There are large double-paged illustrations with the parent and baby.
There’s a back section of the animals and more specific details of how they snuggle with their young, the name of a baby, and their home.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
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Fungi Grow
by Maria Gianferrari (Author), Diana Sudyka (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Young readers will learn how fungi grow above, on, and under the ground. Mushrooms can be edible, poisonous, or medicinal. There are mushroom details of how they multiply and what animals eat them. The underground fungi network helps the forest.
Comments: The gouache watercolors are detailed with two-paged spreads or small vignettes that move the nonfiction story along as we read the large print prose and the smaller informative text for more details.
This would be an excellent addition to the mushroom section in any children’s library collection.
Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗
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My Bollywood Dream
by Avani Dwivedi (Author, Illustrator)
Brief summary: A young girl goes to the theater in Mumbai with her parents and brother. As they go through the city traffic, the girl imagines several of the nearby people as characters in a Bollywood movie.
Her family and other people in the theater enjoy the happy ending and music of the movie before heading home.
Comments: I love watching Bollywood movies because of the bright and beautiful colors and happy dancing style. This book captured all of that with vivid illustrations.
There is an author’s note in the back where Avani Dwivedi shares her childhood in Mumbai, listening to old Bollywood films and music.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
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Ordinary Days: The Seeds, Sound, and City That Grew Prince Rogers Nelson
by Angela Joy (Author), Jacqueline Alcántara (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Prince Rogers Nelson was named after his father’s jazz band, The Prince Rogers Trio. He had parents who constantly argued resulting in his father leaving when Prince was age 7.
Prince lived in poverty, sleeping on couches in various homes, not having his own place. He excelled at playing basketball as well as playing the piano, guitar, and other instruments.
While still in high school, he created a cover band named Grand Central that played at parties, nightclubs, and the Battle of the Bands. Prince got his first recording contract at the age of 18.
This rhyming and rhythmic picture book did not give details of Prince’s life as an adult, the success of his music, or how he died.
Comments: The author’s note details Prince’s life, including a family playlist. The illustrations really capture Prince’s personality with a hue of purple throughout.
I recall being in the Music Conservatory when Prince came out in the 1980s. His music played in the dorms and in the stores. People went to his movies to see him perform. I recall watching Purple Rain and Under the Cherry Moon. That was when we had Walkmans, and I remember having the soundtrack to Purple Rain and listening to it all the time. People liked his Minneapolis sound a lot.
Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗
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Pass the Baby
by Susanna Reich (Author), Raúl Colón (Illustrator)
Brief summary: The baby is passed around a large family gathering at the dining room table, where Grandpa, Grandma, and other family members visit with the baby.
The meal has ended, and it’s time for the baby to go to bed. Will she go to sleep or stay awake?
Comments: This rhyming picture book captures the excitement and love of a newborn baby in a family.
The humorous illustrations display the facial emotions and chaotic mess of a large gathering.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
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Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
The Taekwonderoos: Rescue at Rattling Ridge Picture Book Recommendation is by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)
The Taekwonderoos: Rescue at Rattling Ridge
by Michael Panzner (Author), Lora Look (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Three gray Australian kangaroos were practicing taekwondo kicks in the desert when they heard a joey trapped on a cliff in the distance. They come together and cross the dangerous terrain to rescue the baby kangaroo.
Once they got to the top of the cliff, they had to figure out how to get back down using their skills and teamwork.
Comments: This picture book is illustrated with bright and bold colors of the desert.
The kangaroos did have on taekwondo uniforms–white shirts with black sashes.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗
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Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
Christmas and Other Winter Holiday Children’s Book Recommendations–2023 are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)
Our Italian Christmas Eve
by Danielle Sedita (Author), Francesco Sedita (Author), Luciano Lozano (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Danielle and Francesco tell how their family celebrates the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve at their Aunt Babe’s, where there is a house full of relatives and food. The two realize they must make cheesecake to have enough desserts for the feast.
Comments: What an incredible celebratory story with detailed and humorous illustrations
I was getting hungry reading this book, wanting to taste all these yummy Italian foods.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
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Otto The Ornament
by Troy Cummings (Author)
Brief summary: Christmas ornament, Otto believes he is too shiny and unique to be in the middle of the tree and looks for one where he can be on the top. Will he realize where he perfectly fits in?
Comments: I knew I would like this book when I saw that the C.I.P. is shaped like a Christmas tree.
Troy Cummings visited our school district and did a superb job! His patience with our students and presentations were top-notch.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2
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Hanukkah Upside Down
by Elissa Brent Weissman (Author), Omer Hoffmann (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Noah lives in New York, where it is winter, while his cousin Nora lives in New Zealand, where it is summer. They challenge one another to see who can have the best eight days of Hanukkah.
Comments: Young readers will have Hanukkah vocabulary and learn how people far away from one another can celebrate the same holiday in their own unique traditions.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
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Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh!
by Mo Willems (Author)
Brief summary: As soon as Santa leaves, Pigeon wants to drive the sleigh, trying to persuade us how it would be a great idea.
Comments: This is done in the humorous pigeon series style of trying to get the reader to agree with the pigeon’s idea.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗
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Snowmen’s Twelve Nights of Christmas
by Caralyn Buehner (Author), Mark Buehner (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A dog chases different creatures up a pine tree for twelve nights before Christmas in this Twelve Days Of Christmas Carol parody.
Comments: This cumulative story has bright and happy illustrations that any little one would love to have read to them several times.
This husband and wife duo has other Snowmen-themed books such as Snowmen at Night, Snowmen at Play, and Snowmen at Christmas.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗
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The Twelve Hours of Christmas
by Jenn Bailey (Author), Bea Jackson (Illustrator)
Brief summary: This Twelve Days of Christmas Carol parody is about a large family gathering twelve hours before Christmas.
Comments: This is a lovely picture book of a family with a nana and grandpa, cousins, aunties, and uncles visiting to celebrate the holiday together.
I was looking forward to each hour to see what would happen next.
The illustrations convey the happiness and love of the family. Be sure to spot the hidden kitten throughout the picture book.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
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La Noche Before Three Kings Day
by Sheila Colón-Bagley (Author), Alejandro Mesa (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A family celebrates Three Kings Day by decorating shoeboxes, having a large family meal, and dancing to music. The extended family goes home, and the children go to bed. The little girl peeks out of her window at midnight and sees the three kings with camels fill their boxes left by the door with gifts, candy, and coins.
Comments: This book is sprinkled with Spanish words, so I was thankful for the pronunciation box and glossary. The illustrations are festive and bright. The author does explain in the back of the book how she celebrates Three Kings Day on January 6th.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
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A Creature Was Stirring
by Heather S. Pierczynski (Author), Skylar Hogan (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A mouse debunks the T’was the Night Before Christmas poem’s line of “not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse” by being too excited to sleep on Christmas Eve and full of endless energy.
Comments: This book contains onomatopoeias throughout the mouse’s wide-awake activities. The illustrations are warm and inviting.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
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How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?
by Mac Barnett (Author), Jon Klassen (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Hilariously inventive ideas of how Santa Claus goes down the chimney are explored in this picture book.
Comments: Hilariously inventive ideas of how Santa Claus goes down the chimney are explored in this picture book.
Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen have come up with another creative book together that children will love reading. They are in sync with how children think.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
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The Christmassy Cactus
by Beth Ferry (Author), A. N. Kang (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Tiny Cactus was loved by a little girl every day. The child shared all the beautiful Christmas decorations but soon forgot about Tiny Cactus. The plant truly wanted to belong and celebrate with the family but couldn’t figure out how until something magical happened Christmas morning.
Comments: Such a darling and precious story. I’ll never look at a Christmas Cactus the same way again.
This book is illustrated with Christmas colors and a pink hue throughout.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
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10 Things I Love About Christmas
by Danielle McLean (Author), Mark Chambers (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A young boy shares everything he loves about Christmas, from opening his advent calendar each day, decorating the Christmas Tree, to many events and traditions he shares with his family.
Comments: This would be a good read-aloud and discussion afterward about what they like about Christmas.
The illustrations are detailed. I found myself stopping and looking at them before continuing with the countdown.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
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Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)
Out Cold-A Little Bruce Book (Mother Bruce Series)
by Ryan T. Higgins (Author)
Brief summary: Winter has come to Soggy Hollow. Poor Bruce has a cold and is stuck inside with his mice friends, Nibbs, Thistle, and Rupert. After playing outside, the mice thought it would be nice to bring the snow activities inside for Bruce to enjoy. I wonder if Bruce will enjoy them…
Comments: What can I say? I love the humor of grumpy Bruce. He reminds me so much of myself.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗 1/2
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I’m Going to Build a Snowman
by Jashar Awan (Author, Illustrator)
Brief summary: A little boy wakes to see that it has snowed. After eating his breakfast and putting on all of his snow gear, he is determined to build the BEST SNOWMAN EVER.
Comments: The story explores how one’s expectations may not be realistic but still can be enjoyable in a positive mindset.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
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The Snow Man: A True Story
by Jonah Winter (Author), Jeanette Winter (Illustrator)
Brief summary: billy barr (he prefers all small letters) lives ALONE in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, eight miles from the nearest town. He first moved there as a college student in 1972 for the summer. He lived in an abandoned shack with dirt floors and no electricity or running water. He began to take meticulous notes of all of the wildlife and weather of the mountains.
He stayed for fifty-one years and is still there.
The scientists at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory used his notes and observations, all written in notebooks, to chart how the mountains’ climate was changing. He still takes notes but enters them into a computer.
Comments: There is an Author’s Note in the back explaining billy barr in more detail.
I had so many questions while reading this biography. Why is he a hermit? What made him go there? Why did he stay so long? Would I want to live like that? What would that be like? Can I get my library up there? And could I bring all of my cats?
This biography picture book could spark some interesting classroom discussions.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
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Below is a short film made about Billy Barr in 2016 called The Snow Guardian by Day’s Edge Productions.
by Kelsey E. Gross (Author), Renata Liwska (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Owl calls down from the top of a pine tree to the creatures of the forest asking who can help brighten the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. Each forest animal contributes something to the pine tree as it shines with the full moon upon it.
Comments: This is a gentle and quiet book that could be read as a bedtime story.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗
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Just SNOW Already!
by Howard McWilliam (Author, Illustrator)
Brief summary: A boy excitedly waits for the snow expected that evening in his neighborhood. He dreams of all the wonderful things he will do in the snow. He keeps checking out the window, not noticing all of the stupendous things taking place on his street, believing that nothing is happening because there is no snow yet.
He begins to wonder what it would mean if it never snowed again.
Comments: The details in these illustrations are action-packed and hilarious. I love the boy’s giant head and all of his facial expressions. This would be a fantastic read-aloud for kids, especially the day before the first snowfall of the year.
Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗 1/2
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On a Flake-Flying Day: Watching Winter’s Wonders
by Buffy Silverman (Author)
Brief summary: When winter arrives, nature changes in many ways to prepare for snow.
Comments: There are large and brilliant Nature photos in this narrative nonfiction picture book.
The back section includes the question: What can you see on a white winter’s day? and then in-depth answers correlating to the pages before, Further Reading, and Glossary.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
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Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)
Picture Books
Halloween in the Orchard (Countryside Holidays, 3)
by Phyllis Alsdurf (Author), Lisa Hunt (Illustrator)
Brief summary: A young boy and his parents dress up in costumes to visit an orchard on Halloween, where there are many fun activities, including trick-or-treating with scarecrows, a corn maze, and a hayride.
Comments: What child(or adult) wouldn’t like to go to an apple orchard like this on Halloween night!?!
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
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Bruce and the Legend of Soggy Hollow (Mother Bruce Series)
by Ryan T. Higgins (Author, Illustrator)
Brief summary: Although grumpy Bruce does not like holidays, especially Halloween, with all of those visitors appearing at his door, Bruce gets talked into and agrees to role-playing a scary story called “The Legend of Soggy Hollow” with his forest friends…but were they indeed all of his friends?
Comments: A cute and hilarious parody of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, one of my favorite spooky stories.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
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The Goblin Twins
by Frances Cha (Author), Jaime Kim (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Doki and Kebi are dokkaebi, a cross between a spirit and a goblin, who will need to move, as their home was being torn down to build a new one. Although Doki likes to give gifts of gold and silver to people with his magic club while his twin, Kebi, wants to scare people with his, they decide to live together in a haunted house in a strange land called America just in time for Halloween.
Comments: This is based on Korean lore. A more detailed explanation can be found in the back of the book in the Author’s Note.
I love to read monster/mythical creature lore from other countries. This would make an excellent addition to the Halloween or folklore section of a library.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
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Nonfiction
Halloween (Traditions & Celebrations)
by Charles C Hofer (Author)
Brief summary: Young readers will learn how Halloween began, how we celebrate it today, and how other countries(Mexico, Germany, France, and Japan) celebrate holidays like it.
Comments: Words in bold are in the glossary. The back sections are Glossary, Read More, Internet Sites, Index, and About the Author.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗
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Halloween (Holiday History)
by Spanier Kristine Mlis (Author)
Brief summary: Young readers will learn about the origins of Halloween, the traditions, and how South Korea and Ireland celebrate.
Comments: Several “Did You Know?” squares give more information about the page’s topic. The back sections are Quick Facts & Tools: Halloween Place of Origin, Glossary, Index, and To Learn More.
Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗
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Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
Fall Children’s Books: Picture Books and Nonfiction book recommendations–2023 are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.
(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)
It’s Fall! (Celebrate the Seasons, 1)
by Renée Kurilla (Author, Illustrator)
Brief summary: A young girl shares what the fall season brings with back-to-school, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.
Comments: Illustrations are in yellows, reds, and oranges. The story is in rhyme.
What a fun book to share with young readers that introduces fall vocabulary.
Large single-page, double-page spreads, and vignette illustrations make this a read-aloud recommendation.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
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When Fall Comes: Connecting with Nature as the Days Grow Shorter (When Seasons Come)
by Aimée M. Bissonette (Author), Erin Hourigan (Illustrator)
Brief summary: Young readers will read how humans, wildlife, and nature prepare in the fall for the winter months ahead. Some will harvest and stock up on food, others will build places to sleep, while others will migrate to warmer weather.
Comments: This season series would be an excellent choice to have in any library. I’m looking forward to seeing When Spring Comes.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
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Nonfiction
On a Gold-Blooming Day: Finding Fall Treasures
by Buffy Silverman (Author)
Brief summary: When fall arrives, nature changes in many ways to prepare for winter.
Comments: Large and brilliant illustrations with fun adjectives, adverbs, and verbs to read aloud.
More in-depth explanations of fall changes are at the end of the book.
The back section includes What Treasures Will You Find in Fall?, Further Reading, and Glossary.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
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Mid-Autumn Festival (Traditions & Celebrations)
by Ailynn Collins (Author)
Brief summary: Mid-Autumn Festival, also called the Moon or Mooncake Festival, is globally celebrated by Asian people. Young readers will learn the origins of the holiday, the lunar calendar, and what traditions and foods people have to observe this holiday.
Comments: The back sections are Glossary, Read More, Internet Sites, Index, and About the Author. Bolded words are found in the glossary.
I wish we had these Traditions and Celebrations books when I was a child. I’m learning so much from reading them as an adult, which has broadened my understanding of other cultures.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
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Orchards (Trip to the Farm)
by Ursula Pang (Author)
Brief summary: There are many orchards (farms where trees grow)producing fruit, nuts, seeds, syrup, and Christmas trees. Young readers will learn about each type of orchard.
Comments: I placed this book in the fall section as when I think of orchards, I think of apple or fruit orchards because those are the ones in my area that are harvested in the fall. I also had those teachers book requests for fall units before they went and visited a nearby apple orchard.
I enjoyed reading and learning about the different types of orchards and when they were harvested.
Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2
Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.
Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.
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