Fall Children’s Books: Picture Books and Nonfiction–2023

October 4, 2023September 12, 2025 The Retired School Librarian5 Comments

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.)

The cover for It's Fall is a young girl has her hands above her head where there are leaves falling from a tree. She is smiling as well as her dog and a flying bird

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 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A multigenerational family and their dog are on a fall hike walking over rocks in a stream with trees of orange and yellow behind them

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 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Nonfiction

Blue tennis shoes are standing on fall colored fallen leaves

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 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Hanging lit lanterns are handing from the ceiling

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

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

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.

Children's Book Recommendations

Pumpkin Children’s Picture Books

October 1, 2023October 13, 2025 The Retired School Librarian3 Comments

Pumpkin Children’s Books 2023 recommendations 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.

See a Pumpkin Grow (See It Grow!)

by Kirsten Chang (Author)

Brief summary: Young readers will learn the pumpkin’s life cycle and what uses there are with this fruit.

Comments: Words and photos are large, with many nonfiction text features. The back sections are Glossary, To Learn More, and Index.

This book also comes in library binding.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

This is part of the See It Grow! series.

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Zoo animals sitting on a gigantic pumpkin

Pumpkin Day at the Zoo

by Susan Meissner (Author), Pablo Pino (Illustrator)

Brief summary: It’s Pumpkin Day at the zoo when the zoo animals receive yummy pumpkins to eat from families who donate their uncarved and unpainted pumpkins.

Comments: The illustrations are vivid and humorous. The text is a mix of fonts and sizes that are fun to say aloud with many descriptive adjectives, alliterations, and all in rhyming sentences.

The back page does have a word about pumpkin donations to zoos.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A little old lady is picking up a pumpkin with a black bird and black dog next to her.

There Was an Old Lady Who Picked a Pumpkin!

by Lucille Colandro (Author), Jared Lee (Illustrator)

Brief summary: There was an old lady who went on the school bus to a farm looking for a pumpkin patch. She and the students follow the sign and see many farm items before finding the patch. Each child picks out a pumpkin and hops back onto the bus.

Comments: This is a fun fall early reader in rhyme. The book is not the usual cumulative “There was an old lady” who eats something book.

Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Molly is looking through the leafy vines at a large pumpkin. Bee is flying around

The Pie That Molly Grew

by Sue Heavenrich (Author), Chamisa Kellogg (Illustrator)

Brief summary: Molly plants a pumpkin seed and transplants the sprout to watch it grow into a vine with yellow flowers. After all of the care she has given to produce the ripened pumpkin, Molly bakes a pie.

Comments: Cumulative story of the pumpkin’s life cycle.

The back pages have four additional informative sections: American Pie, How to Turn a Pumpkin Into Pie, When You’re Ready to Make the Pie…, and No Bees.No Pie.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A red headed girl in pigtails is standing outside a brick house that has a glowing jack o' lantern in the window with leaves and the wind blowing

Lila and the Jack-o’-Lantern: Halloween Comes to America

by Nancy Churnin (Author), Anneli Bray (Illustrator)

Brief summary: Lila, an Irish immigrant, is on the ship in 1850 with her mother and two siblings on the way to America, where their father waits for them to join him. They talk about a spirit named Jack that visits homes on Halloween night to play pranks. They would carve a turnip and place a glowing coal inside so Jack sees it and leaves them alone. They wear sheets and knock on doors for sweets. When Lila arrives and sees that there are no turnips, she improvises with the help of her new friend Julia, who learns about the foods and traditions of Halloween in Ireland.

Comments: This would be a great read- aloud for students to learn the origins of Halloween.

The back pages are Author’s Note and Colcannon and Barmbrack.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Children's Book Recommendations

September Children’s Book Recommendations–2023

September 23, 2023September 10, 2025 The Retired School Librarian1 Comment

September 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.)

A young girl waving as she looks out into the sea

On the Edge of the World (Stories from Latin America)

by Anna Desnitskaya (Author), Lena Traer (Translator)

Brief summary: Vera lives on the east coast of Russia. She longs to have a friend and often imagines one enjoying her interests and the places she goes. When it is dark, Vera goes to the beach with her mom and turns her flashlight off and on in Morse code for “hi.”

Lucas lives in Chile and longs to have a friend too. He imagines what it would be like to have someone to play soccer or read a book high up in a tree. In the evening, Lucas and his father go to the beach and turn his flashlight off and on, blinking four short flashes, pause, and two short flashes.

Will these two get a response?

Comments: Half of the book is Vera’s story, and then one flips the book over and reads about Luca’s story. I love upside-down books.

Teachers could share this in social studies. For example: “If we are standing on the eastern section of our school and shine a flashlight at night, what is the closest city, state, or country.

It could also supplement a science class on how far a flashlight’s beam can be seen or even have the students practice Morse Code.

Rating: 4/5📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

*I received a complimentary print copy of this children’s book from the publisher to give an honest review.

A large cat with a grin that is holding a red rose

Carina Felina

by Carmen Agra Deedy (Author), Henry Cole (Illustrator)

Brief summary: Pepe the parrot loves Carina Felina, the cat. He invites her to his house for dinner, where he has made 100 Cuban crackers. Carina Felina ate them all and Pepe! The greedy and narcissistic cat goes through the town, eating and eating everyone she comes across. Will they ever get out of the cat’s belly?

Comments: This is a Caribbean retelling of “The Cat and the Parrot”. There are some Spanish words in the story with a pronunciation key in the back and the recipe for Pepe’s Cuban Crackers.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

An old man with a cane following a boy running with his dog along a river with kingfisher sitting on a branch in the middle of cat tails

Grandpa and the Kingfisher

by Anna Wilson (Author), Sarah Massini (Illustrator)

Brief summary: A young boy and his grandpa visit the river in the spring and discover a kingfisher diving in the water to catch a fish. They come back in the summer to find two kingfishers building a nest.

The boy and his grandfather keep coming to the river over the seasons, watching the birds’ life cycle.

The boy asks questions about the birds while the man answers, paralleling his life.

Comments: This story does talk about death and how nature continues but gently and matter-of-factly so that children can understand.

Wonderful watercolor illustrations.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A red pickup truck full of books and storytelling props with children jumping with excitement

Colorful Mondays: A Bookmobile Spreads Hope in Honduras (Stories from Latin America)

by Nelson Rodríguez (Author), Leonardo Agustín Montes (Author), Rosana Faría (Illustrator), Carla Tabora (Illustrator), Lawrence Schimel (Translator)

Brief summary: Luis lives in Villa Nueva, Honduras, and prefers sharing happy stories with his friends and neighbors to take their minds off unhappiness. He is good at storytelling and likes to retell stories. Monday is when the bookmobile comes for the Hour of the Chochororochochochó, where the bookmobile comes to share stories and books. Luis repeats the stories he has heard with his family.

Comments: The back pages tell the factual story of JustWorld International. This would be a wonderful book for children to learn about how other cultures learn about storytelling and books.

Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

*I received a complimentary print copy of this children’s book from the publisher to give an honest review.

Baller Ina

by Liz Casal (Author, Illustrator)

Brief summary: Ina loves to practice her ballet steps. She changes into her high tops to play basketball, using the steps she has learned in ballet class.

Comments: This is an upbeat book on how athletes can use skills from one sport to another.

Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A girl with a blue polka dotted handkerchief hanging from a stick she has over her shoulder walking along a dirt path with a ghost, troll, witch and black cat watching her.

The Baddies

by Julia Donaldson (Author), Axel Scheffler (Illustrator)

Brief summary: A troll, ghost, and witch are baddies who enjoy being bad and bragging about it. A girl moves into a nearby cottage. The baddies devise different ways to scare her but are unsuccessful as she shows them kindness and understanding.

Comments: Young readers will enjoy the humorous story.

This is the author of the two books Room on the Broom and The Gruffalo.

This was originally printed in the UK in 2022.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗 1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A mother and her toddler son are in the pool. She is holding him as he tries to swim

Together We Swim

by Valerie Bolling (Author), Kaylani Juanita (Illustrator)

Brief summary: A toddler learns to swim in the pool with the reassurance of his mother and father when he fails and the praise when he accomplishes the steps to swimming without help.

Comments: I recommend this book for preschool and kindergarten teachers looking for fun rhythmic and rhyming text that young readers will enjoy saying aloud.

Perseverance and reassurance after failing a task can lead to success.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

MIa is wearing tute while doing a headstand

Wepa

by J de laVega (Author, Illustrator)

Brief summary: Besides being intelligent, Mia likes to be creative and fashionable but has some things she does not do well. Her Mami says she has too much wepa. Mia tries ballet, hoping to get some of the wepa out, but it does not work. She finally finds an avenue where she releases her wepa.

Comments: According to dictionary.com, wepa means “a Spanish slang used to convey excitement, congratulations, and joy, similar to the English Oh yeah!, Wow!, or That’s awesome!“

The author shares that everyone in her family has ADHD.

This is a bilingual English-Spanish picture book.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A young Judit is intentely looking across a chess board

The Queen of Chess: How Judit Polgár Changed the Game

by Laurie Wallmark (Author), Stevie Lewis (Illustrator)

Brief summary: Judit and her sisters were trained by their parents to play chess. They competed, with Judit being the youngest. She won junior tournaments against adults. Judit and her family went to the USA, where she competed in games against adults and won. Her goal was to become the youngest grandmaster. She returned to Budapest to study and became the national champion of Hungary. Will Judit’s chess journey lead her to her goal?

Comments: The back pages include Timeline and The Mathematics of Chess.

This is an inspirational story of encouragement, hard work, and perseverance.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A teacher is on the shore of the rainforest

The Young Teacher and the Great Serpent (Stories from Latin America)

by Irene Vasco (Author), Juan Palomino (Illustrator), Lawrence Schimel (Translator)

Brief summary: A young teacher is given her first teaching assignment in Las Delicias, in the middle of the jungle in the Amazon. She brings her many books on an eventful four-day journey to the new school, a straw roof with a blackboard against a tree trunk.

She begins teaching and sharing her books for the students to take home. One morning, the children ran by the school, urging her that a great serpent was coming. They must get to higher ground. The serpent does come, destroying everything, including her precious books.

A few days later, around a fire, the women began to share legends from the squares of white fabric they had been embroidering and making into cloth books. The students translated the words for the teacher. Over time, the teacher learned the language of Las Delicias and how to embroider. She decided to stay.

Comments: Young readers will stay interested in the curiosity of how this young teacher’s journey unfolds.

I kept wondering where I would have been sent to teach. I’m thankful I was able to choose myself.

Wouldn’t this be an excellent book to share on a teachers’ professional development day?

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

*I received a complimentary print copy of this children’s book from the publisher to give an honest review.

Children's Book Recommendations

Garden Picture Book Recommendations

July 5, 2023April 10, 2024 The Retired School LibrarianLeave a comment

Garden picture book recommendations are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.

(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, Mrs. Ferraris may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)

Garden Walk

by Virginia Brimhall Snow (Author)

Brief summary: Grammy and her four grandchildren walk through the forest and to the garden, learning about plants, animals, and insects. They place a blanket on the ground and picnic while Grammy reads to them. Narrated by one of the children.

Comments: Blue ink illustrations with the plants, animals, or insects highlighted with full-colored words that match the subject.

Picnic recipes are in the back.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

If you enjoy this book, you may be interested in Virginia Brimhall Snow’s Seasonal Walks series. For more details or to buy, continue reading o this book’s Amazon page.

A grandfather giving his granddaughter a pot of peonies

Love Makes a Garden Grow

by Taeeun Yoo (Author, Illustrator)

Brief summary: A young girl and her grandfather tend a garden together until he moves to an apartment where he brings some of his plants.

She grows up and lives far away, but her grandfather sends her a gift of peonies. When her daughter grows, the granddaughter visits the man showing her little one how to tend the house plants and flowers like he taught her.

Comments: An Author’s Note in the back explains how this story is based on her relationship with her grandfather.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗 1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A girl in a polka dot dress on the rooftop garden gathering fruit and fegetables for her basket while a cat is chasing butterflies

Linh’s Rooftop Garden (Where In the Garden?)

by JaNay Brown-Wood (Author), Samara Hardy (Illustrator)

Brief summary: Lihn needs to find blueberries for their brunch and walk around the rooftop looking at all the fruits and vegetables. The girl describes what a blueberry looks like and compares those characteristics to each plant methodically until she finds them.

Comments: There is a blueberry and banana pancake recipe in the back.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗 1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

If you enjoy this book, you may be interested in the other three books of the Where in the Garden? series:

A child with flowers all around them wearing a necklace of daisies.

Watch Me Bloom: A Bouquet of Haiku Poems for Budding Naturalists

by Krina Patel-Sage (Author, Illustrator)

Brief summary: A collection of twenty-four haikus about different flower species, all illustrated with lovely bright colors, including the paste-down end pages.

Comments: There are Floral Fun Facts in the back of the book.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗 1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A word on a rock with quilled plants growing beside it

Just a Worm

by Marie Boyd (Author, Illustrator)

Brief summary: Worm begins its day crawling through the garden when two humans cause it to have self-doubt. The worm crawls through a garden talking with each insect and creature it comes across, asking what it can do. Will the worm realize its importance to a garden and regain self-confidence?

Comments: The back pages include Make Your Own Quilled Butterfly, Earthworm Facts, and a Glossary. Illustrated using quilling techniques to make the plants.

I recommend that this picture book be read to supplement a quilling unit.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

George Washington Carver as a young man with a moustache holding a large pot of white flowers

George Washington Carver: More Than “The Peanut Man” (Bright Minds): More Than “The Peanut Man”

by Janel Rodriguez (Author), Subi Bosa (Illustrator)

I’ve only known George Washington Carver as the “peanut man” and updated my education when reading this narrative nonfiction about this knowledgeable and talented man nicknamed “Plant Doctor.”

Brief summary: This book begins with his life as a child who studied plants and painted them. It continues with his young adulthood of going to college, learning, and experimenting with plants. The book tells of his adulthood of going around in a Jesup wagon, educating farmers on improving their crops and livestock. Readers will learn about many of his inventions and personal life too. I enjoyed reading about this remarkable man.

Comments: This book is full of a variety of nonfiction text features. The back sections include Your Turn!, Glossary, Index, and Further Reading.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A child tending a garden with plants and animals. Geese are flying overhead.

Little Land

by Diana Sudyka (Author, Illustrator).

Brief summary: This is an ecological/environmental story from the beginning of the earth to its present of how the land and its inhabitant have changed and how to live in balance.

Comments: I included this book under gardening(although it could be under ecology or environmental) as it highlights how to tend a little bit of land.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A little girl in a red hoody looking at a flower with her black and white dog. She has a box of seeds.

Every Little Seed

by Cynthia Schumerth (Author), Elisa Paganelli (Illustrator)

Brief summary: A young girl with her mother and grandfather plant seeds in the spring garden and tend them to grow, observing how the seed changes to develop. Birds and bugs visit the garden. Soon fall comes when the plants begin to produce seeds they gather for the next planting.

Comments: A plant’s cycle.

A story in rhyme.

Facts about seeds are in the back of the book, including a seed diagram.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A Flower is a Friend

by Frieda Wishinsky (Author), Karen Patkau (Illustrator)

Brief summary: An animal/creature is paired with a flower in the garden, and readers are asked why they coexist so well. Answers are in the book of how they benefit each other.

Symbiosis.

Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

garden and flowers in a circle with a white picket fence with a city scape background

My First Garden: For Little Gardeners Who Want to Grow

by Livi Gosling (Author)

Brief summary: This nonfiction book is a beginning guide to gardening with step-by-step instructions. Everything one needs to know is covered with illustrations.

Comments: This is for the primary children to learn by looking at the lovely illustrations or for older elementary students who want to start a gardening club.

I usually stick to picture book reviews, but this nonfiction book’s illustrations make a difference with the covered topics by clarifying the lesson.

Ratings:4/5 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

A young girl and her mother with henna on their hands.

A Garden in My Hands

by Meera Sriram (Author), Sandhya Prabhat (Illustrator)

Brief summary: A little girl has her hands Painted by her mother for a wedding the next day. Her mother tells her memories as she paints a garden of flowers and decorations. She sleeps with gloves on over the henna to wake and brush the flakes off to reveal her red garden of stories and the fragrance of henna.

Comments: Facts about henna are in the back of the book.

Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

G is for Gardening (A Gardening ABC Primer)

by Ashley Marie Mireles (Author), Volha Kaliaha (Illustrator)

Brief summary: Readers will learn their ABCs of gardening, discovering tools, plants, and animals in a garden.

Comments: Large and colorful illustrations. A good builder of garden vocabulary.

Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Media Literacy Related

Social Media Acronyms and Abbreviations

July 3, 2023April 4, 2024 The Retired School Librarian2 Comments

Social media acronyms and abbreviations were researched and gathered into this “PG-13” list by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian. Learn some of the most common social media acronyms and abbreviations used in the computer culture.

Warning: There is some mild profanity, sexual content, and crudeness.

Symbols and Numbers

!–I have a question
(U)–Arms around you, hug for you
*$–Starbucks
,!!!–Talk to the hand
/R/–Requesting
02–My two cents or your two cents
10Q–Thank you
121–One to one
123–I agree
1337–Elite
142n8ly–Unfortunately
143–I love you
1432–I love you too
14AA41–One for all, all for one
182–I hate you
187–Murder/homicide
1daful–wonderful
2–to, too, two
20–location
24/7–Twenty-four seven/ all of the time
2b–To be
2B or not 2B–To be or not to be
2b2–To be at
2BZ4UQT–Too busy for you, Cutey
2d4–To die for
2day–Today
2GTB4G–Too good to be forgotten
2G2BT–Too good to be true
2more–Tomorrow
2QT–Too cute
2U2–To you too
303–Mom
4–For, four
403–Deny access to
404–I haven’t a clue
411–Information
420–Marijuana
459–I love you
4AO–For adults only
4COL–For crying out loud
4e–Forever
4EAE–Forever and ever
4eva–Forever
4ever–Forever
4FS–For F— sake
4NR–Foreigner
4Q–F— You
511–Too much information
5FS–Five Finger salute
747–Let’s fly
775–Kiss me
831–I love you
86–Get rid of
88–Hugs and kisses
8t–It
9–Parent is watching
99–Parent is no longer watching
996–Work 9 am-9pm, 6 days a week
::poof::–I’m gone
<3–heart
=–Reply
?–I have a question
@–At
@TEOTD–At the end of the day

A

A/N–Author’s note
A2D–Agree to disagree
A3–Anytime, anyplace, anywhere
AAAAA–American Association Against Acronym Abuse
AAF–As a friend or always and forever
AAK–Asleep at keyboard
AAMOF–As a matter of fact
AAMOI–As a matter of interest
AAP–Always a pleasure(as in you’re welcome)
AAR–At any rate
AAR8–At any rate
AAS–Alive and smiling
AATK–Always at the keyboard
AAYF–As always, your friend
AB–A** Backwards
ab/abt–About
ABH–Anywhere but here
ABITHAD–Another blithering idiot thinks he’s a doctor
ABT2–About to
ACC–Actually
ACD–Alt Control Delete
ACK–Acknowledgement
ACORN–A completely obsessive really nutty person
ADAD–Another day; another dollar
ADBB–All done bye bye
ADIH–Another day in h—
ADIP–Another day in paradise
AEAP–As early as possible
AF–As f*ck
AFAGAY–A friend as good as you
AFAIC–As far as I’m concerned
AFAICT–As far as I can tell
AFAIK – As far as I know
AFAIR–As far as I remember
AFC–Away from computer
AFK–Away from keyboard
AFPOE–A fresh pair of eyes
AIMB–As I mentioned before
AIMP–Always in my prayers
AISI–As I see it
AITR–Adult in the room
AKA–Also known as
ALAP–As late as possible
ALCON–all concerned
ALOL–Actually laughing out loud
ALOTBSOL–Always look on the bright side of life
ALW–Ain’t life wonderful
AMA – Ask me anything
AMAP–As many(or much) as possible
AMBW–All my best wishes
AML–All my love
API – Application programming interface.
ASAP–As soon as possible
AWC–After while, crocodile
AWHFY–Are we having fun yet?
AWOL–Absent without leave
ax–Across
AYMM–Are you my mother? (sarcastically)
AYOR–At your own risk
AYSOS–Are you stupid or something?
AYTMTB–And you’re telling me this because

B

b/c, bc–Because
B@U–Back at you
B2B–Business-to-business
B2C–Business-to-consumer
B4–Before
B4N–Bye for now
BAE–Before anyone else
BAK–Back at keyboard
BAU–Business as usual
BBBG–Bye bye be good
BBIAS–Be back in a sec
BFF–Best Friends Forever
BG–Be good
BGBC–Be glad be cheerful
BGF–Best girlfriend
BI5–Back in five
BIBI–Bye bye
BIO–Bring it on
BION–Believe it or not
BIZ–Business
BKA–Better known as
BL–Belly laughing
BON–Believe it or not
BR–Bathroom
BRB – Be right back
BRO–Be right over
BSOD–Blue screen of death
BTAIM— Be that as it may
BTD–Bored to death
BTDT–Been there done that
BTFLDY–Beautiful day
BTN–Better than nothing
BTS–Behind the scenes
BTTE–Brothers to the end
BTW— By the way
BUMP–Bring up my post
BW–Best wishes
BWL–Bursting with Laughter
BWTM–But wait, there’s more
BYAM–Between you and me
BYOB–Bring your own bottle(or beer)
BYOD–Bring your own device
BYTME–Better you than me
BZ–busy

C

CAAC–Cool as a cucumber
CAS–Crack a smile
CBB–Can’t be bothered
CBM–Covered by Medicare
CBT–Computer based training or cognitive behavioral therapy
CC–Carbon Copy
CD–Compact disc
CM–Call me
CMB–Call me back
CMIW–Correct me if I’m wrong
CS–Career suicide
CSL–Can’t Stop Laughing
CMGR–Community Manager
CMS–Content Management System
CMV–Change My View
CPC–Cost Per Click
CSL–Can’t stop laughing
CT–Can’t talk or text
CTA–Call-To-Action
CTO–Check this out
CU–See you
CUL–See you later
CUZ–Because
CWOT–Complete waste of time
CX – Customer experience
CY–Calm yourself
CYE–Check your email
CYT–See you tomorrow

D

D8–Date
DAE–Does anyone else…?
DBMIB–Don’t bother me; I’m busy
DDAS–Don’t do anything stupid
DDG–Drop dead gorgeous
def–Definitely
dem–Them
DFTBA–Don’t forget to be awesome
DHYB–Don’t hold your breath
DIET–Do I eat today
DIKU–Do I know you?
ditto–Same here
DIY–Do it yourself
DJM–Don’t judge me
DK–Don’t know
DKDC–Don’t know don’t care
DLTM–Don’t lie to me
DM–Direct message
DNBL8–Do not be late
DNF–Did not find
DOS–Dad over shoulder
DP–Domestic partner
DPUP–Don’t poop your pants
DQMOT–Don’t quote me on this
DTRT–Do the right thing
dunno–I don’t know
DUR–Do you remember
DWH–During work hours
DYHAB–Do you have a boyfriend?
DYHAG–Do you have a girlfriend?
DYK – Did you know…?

E

E123–Easy as one, two, three
EE–Employee
ELI5 – Explain like I’m five
EM–Excuse me
EMA–Email address
EMBM–Early morning business meeting
EMI–Excuse my ignorance
EML–Email me later
ESP-– Email service provider
EVRE1–Every one
EYD–Enjoy your day
EZ–Easy

F

F–Friend
F/U–Follow up
F2F–Face to Face
FAQ–Frequently asked questions
FAV–Favorite
FAWC–For anyone who cares
FB –- Facebook
FBF — Flashback Friday
FBO –Facebook official
FCOL–For crying out loud
FF –Follow Friday; also frequent flyer
FFA–Free for all
FIL–Father-in-law
FIMH–Forever in My Heart
Fit–outfit
FITYMI–Fake it til you make it
FLOTUS–First Lady of the United States
FMOT–Follow me on Twitter
FOMO –Fear of missing out
FR–For real
FS–For sale
FSBO–for sale by owner
FTBL–Football
FTBOMH–From the bottom of my heart
FTE–Full time employee
FTFY –-Fixed that for you
FTTB–For the time being
FUTAB–Feet up, take a break
FTL–for the loss
FTW –-For the win
FWD–Forward
FWIW–For what it’s worth
FYC–For your consideration
FYEO–For your eyes only
FYI –- For your information

G

G2G or GTG –-Got to go
G4I–Go for it
G8–Great
G9–Genius
GA –-Google Analytics
GAHOY–Get a hold of yourself
GF–Girlfriend
GFN–Gone for now
GG –-Good game
GJ–Good job
GL–Good luck
GMTA–Great minds think alike
GN–Good night
GOAT–Greatest of all time
GOI–Get over it
GRAS–Generally recognized as safe
GRATZ–Congratulations
GRWM–Get ready with me
GTG–Got to go
GTR –Got to run

H

H&K–Hugs and kisses
hahaha–Laughing
HAND–Have a nice day
HBD – Happy birthday
Hi 5–High five
HIFW – How I feel when…
HMB – Hit me back
HMU – Hit me up
Howru–How are you?
HR–Human resources
HT or H/T –-Hat tip. Used for acknowledging, appreciating or thanking other users.
HTH — Here to help or happy to help
HTML–Hyper text markup language

I

i h8 it-I hate it
IAM–In a meeting
IANAD–I am not a doctor
IANAL–I am not a lawyer
IBTD–I beg to differ
ICBW–I could be wrong
ICO-911–In case of emergency
ICW–I can’t wait
ICWUM–I see what you mean
ICYMI — In case you missed it
IDC — I don’t care
IDGI–I don’t get it
IDK– I don’t know
IDST–I didn’t say that
IDTS–I don’t think so
IFYP–I feel your pain
IG –Instagram
IFYP–I feel your pain
IHNC–I have no clue
IHU–I hear you
IIRC–If I remember correctly
IJ–Inside joke
IKR — I know, right?
ILU–I love you
ILY –- I love you
IM–Instant message
IMHO — In my humble opinion
IMI–I mean it
IMO — In my opinion
IMS–I am sorry
IMU–I miss you
IRL — In real life
ISO–In search of
ISP–Internet service provider
IT–Information technology
IYKWIM–If you know what I mean
IYKYK–If you know, you know

J

J4F–Just for fun
JIC–Just in case
JK — Just kidding
JOMO–Joy of missing out
JS–Just saying
JTM– Just the messenger
JSYK–Just so you know

K

KBD–Keyboard
KCCO–Keep calm & carry on
kewl–cool
KIA–Killed in action
KISS–Keep it simple, stupid
KIT–Keep in touch
KITY–Keep it to yourself
KK–Okay or kiss kiss
KPC–Keeping parents clueless

L

L8–Late
L@U–Laughing at you
LG–Life’s good
LGBTQ–Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+
LGGBDTTTIQQAAPP–Lesbian, gay, genderqueer, bisexual, demisexual, transgender, transsexual, twospirit, intersex, queer, questioning, asexual, allies, pansexual, polyamorous
LHK–Love hugs kisses
LHM–Lord have mercy
LI–LinkedIn
LIG–Life is good or let it go
LMAO — Laughing my a** off
LMK— Let me know
LMS— Like my status
LOK–Lots of kisses
LOL— Laughing out loud
LOLz–Laughing out loud sarcastically
LOML–Love of my life
LUMU–Love you miss you
LYLAB–Love you like a brother
LYLAS–Love you like a sister

M

M02–My two cents
meh–whatever, who cares
MEJR–My eyes just rolled
MFC–Meet for coffee
MFW– My face when…
MIA–Missing in action
MIL–Mother-in-law
MIRL–Meet in real life
MOV–My own views
MRW–My reaction when
MSG–Message
MT–Modified tweet
MU–Miss you
MTFBWY— May the Force be with you
MYOB–Mind your own business

N

NAGI–Not a good idea
NATO–No action, talk only
NAVY–Never gain volunteer yourself
NB–Not bad
NBD— No big deal
ne1–Anyone
Ne2H–Need to have
NIMBY–Not in my back yard
NIMJD–Not in my job description
NM— Not much
NME–Enemy
NMP–Not my problem
NMU–Not much, you?
NMY–Nice meeting you
NP–No problem
NSFL–Not safe for life
NSFW —Not safe for work
NTH–Nice to have
NVM— Never mind
NW–No way
NWR–Not work related
NWT–New with tags
NYT–Name your trade

O

OAN–On another note
OAO–Over and out
OBO–Or best offer
Obvs–Obviously
OC–Original content
OH– Overheard
OK–Okay
OMDB–Over my dead body
OMG–Oh, my God!
OMW— On my way
ONNA–Oh no, not again
ONUD–Oh no you didn’t
OOAK–One of a kind
OOO–Out of the office
OOS–Out of stock
OOTD— Outfit of the day
OP– Original post
OST–On second thought
OTC–Over the counter
OTL–Out to lunch
ORLY–Oh, really?!

P

P2P–Person to person, or peer to peer
P911–Parent alert
PA–Parent alert
PAH–Parent at home
PAW–parents are watching
PC–Personal computer or politically correct
PD–Public domain
PDQ–Pretty darn quick
PBB–Parent behind back
PIF–Paid in full
PIN–Pinterest
PITR–Parent in the room
Pls–Please
PM–Private message
POA–Plan of action
POMS–Parent over my shoulder
POTD–Photo of the day
POV–Point of view
POW–Prisoner of war
PPC–Pay per click
PPL – People
PR–Public relations or PageRank
PRT–Please retweet
PS–Post script
PSA–Public service announcement
PTB–Please text back
PU–That stinks
PV— Page views

Q

Q&A–Question and answer
Q4u–Question for you
QOTD–Quote of the day
QQ–Crying or quick question
QYB–Quit your bitching

R

R&R–Rest and relaxation
RBTL–Read between the lines
RC–Remote control
RDV–Reader’s Digest version
RIP–Rest in peace
RL–Real life
RLRT–Real life retweet
RN–Right now
RNN–Reply not necessary
ROFL— Rolling on the floor laughing
ROFLMAO— Rolling on the floor laughing my a** off
ROI–Return on investment
RSS–Really simple syndication or rich site summary
RSVP–Respondez S’il Vous Plait
RT–Retweet or real time
RTD–Real-time data
RUOK–Are you OK?
RUS–Are you serious?

S

S/N–Serial number
S2U–Same to you
SaaS–software as a service
SALT–Same as last time
SANM–Starting a new message
SB–Stand by
SC–Snapchat or stay cool
SCOTUS–Supreme court of the United States
sec–Wait a second
SEM–Search engine marketing
SEO–search engine optimization
SERP–search engine results page
SETE–Smiling ear to ear
SFW— Safe for work
SGTM–Sounds good to me
SH–Sh** happens
shhh-Quiet
SHID–Slap head in disgust
SIL–Sister-in-law
SIN–Stop it now
SIT–Stay in touch
SM–Social media
SMART–specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timely
SMB–Small and medium-sized business
SMH— Shaking my head
SMM–Social media marketing
SMO–Social media optimization
SMP–Social media platform
SO–Significant other
SOB–Son of a b*tch
SOH–Sense of humor
SOHO–Small office home office
SoLoMo–Social, Local, Mobile
SOML–Story of my life
SOV–Share of voice
Squad–group of friends
SRSLY–Seriously
SSDD–Same stuff, different day
SU–Shut up
sub–What’s up
Sus–Suspicious or sketchy
SWAK–Sealed with a kiss

T

T&C–Terms and conditions
t+–Think positive
t2go–Time to go
T2UL–Talk to you later
T4P–Thanks for posting
TA–Thanks again
TAM–Thanks a million
TBA–To be announced
TBC–To be continued
TBD–To be decided or determined
TBH– To be honest
TBBH— To be brutally honest
TBT— Throwback Thursday
TBYB–Try before you buy
TC–Take care
TCOB–Taking care of business
TCOY–Take care of yourself
TEAM–Together everyone achieves more
TFTF–Thanks for the follow
TFW– That feeling when…
TGIF— Thank God it’s Friday
Thx–Thanks
TIA–Thanks in advance
TIL— Today I learned…
TIME–Tears in my eyes
TL;DR– Too long; didn’t read
TMB–Tweet me back
TMI— Too much information
TNO–Tell no one
TOM–Tomorrow
TNTL–Trying not to laugh
TOON–Cartoon
TOY–Thinking of you
TOS–Terms of service
TT–TikTok
TTKU–Try to keep up
TTTT–To tell the truth
TTUL–Talk to you later
TTYL–Talk to you later
TTYN–Talk to you never
TTYS–Talk to you soon
TW–Twitter
Txt–Text
TY–Thank you
TYVM–Thank you very much

U

UFN–Until further notice
UGC–User generated content
UI–user interface
UR2K–You are too kind
URL–Uniform resource locator
UV–Unique visitor
UX–User experience

V

VBD–Very big deal
VFM–Value for money
VGN–Vegan or vegetarian
VIM–Very important member
VIP–Very important person
VM–Voice mail
VOD–Video on demand
VWD–Very well done

W

w/–With
WAD–Without a doubt
WADR–With all due respect
WAI–What an idiot
WAY–Where are you?
WAYD–What are you doing?
WBU– What about you?
WDYM–What do you mean?
WE–Whatever
WFH— Working from home
WIP–Work in progress
WKYP–Will keep you posted
WOM–Word of mouth
WOTD–Word of the day
WTF–What the f—?
WTH–What the hay?, What the heck?, or What the h*ll?
WTPA–Where’s the party at?
WUWH–Wish you were here
WUZUP–What’s up?
WYA–Where you at?
WYP–What’s your problem?
WYRN–What your real name?
WYWH–Wish you were here

X

X–Times
X-I-10–Exciting
XAXA–Ha Ha
XOXO–Hugs and kisses
XX–Kiss kiss

Y

Y–Why? or yes
YA–Yet another
Yas or Yaaas–yes; overly excited
YATI–You’re a total idiot
YB–You b*itch
YDKM–You don’t know me
YGBK–You gotta be kidding
YGM–You got ma
YGTBK–You’ve got to be kidding
YGTR–You got that right
YIU–Yes, I understand
YNK–You never know
YKWIM–You know what I mean
YOLO— You only live once
YOYO–You’re on your own
YSK–You should know
YT–YouTube
YW–You’re welcome

Z

Z–Said
zerg–To gang up on someone
ZZZ–sleeping, tired, bored

Children's Book Recommendations

How I Evaluate and Recommend Picture Books

June 14, 2023April 5, 2024 The Retired School LibrarianLeave a comment

How I Evaluate and Recommend Picture Books is written by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.

Picture book recommendations first photo of children reading while sitting on giant books

I have many questions as I evaluate children’s books to make the best picture book recommendations. I’ve read and shared thousands of books as an elementary school librarian. Contrarily though, I may only chose one from a stack of thirty books I can recommend.

Enjoy the Book

I taught my students to read the book, feel the emotion, and hear the words. Above all, get the aesthetic experience. (I still do that when I first pick up a book). Undoubtedly, I never asked questions while reading a picture book aloud for the first time during story time. It was afterward that I examined the book more closely…or not. Sometimes, it’s enough to enjoy a picture book. With this in mind, my main goal was to teach the joy of reading.

Having a mock Caldecott Read-In with my students was one of the best ways I taught how to evaluate books and give picture book recommendations to others. I borrowed about a hundred picture books that were stand-outs. However, I also threw in(without telling them) those that were…(well)…not ones I would recommend.

I allowed the students to grade with a 😁😐☹️ face. They then voted for the one they thought would win the Caldecott Medal Award (a medal given annually to an American illustrator). Next, we had thoughtful conversations about how they evaluated picture books. Lastly, they would use persuasive thinking to get others to vote for the same book they nominated.

An important issue I emphasized was that when the award was announced and their book was not chosen, it did not mean it was unworthy. Subsequently, we would talk about famous books from the past everyone loved that have not won any medals.

The Questions

I still use these questions when I recommend a book, but ONLY AFTER I first read the book on its own. Undoubtedly, I love the beauty of picture books and want to feel their “soul. ” Analyzing them is secondary.

The Words

Are these words appropriate for an elementary-aged child? Are they using these words in a child’s everyday life?
Do the words flow in a legato style when they should? Are they short and choppy when they are supposed to be?
How do they sound when read aloud? Does it sound like a tongue twister but not supposed to sound like one?
Are there patterns? Rhyming? Rhythms? How do the words sound to the ears? Do they sound awkward? Are they forced?
Do the words convey the correct emotions and mood of the book? Do the word choices match the emotion? Is it supposed to be funny? Sad? Silly?
Do the page turns of the book interrupt the idea?
Is the story unique, or has it been done several times already?
Is the font a good fit for the book? Is it large enough for a child to read?
Where do the words appear on the page? Are they all over and difficult to follow?
How is the story being told? Are there too many characters? Is it confusing to follow? Predictions? Surprises?
Is the topic of the story something children can relate to currently in their lives? Is it too complicated? Should it be a board book instead? Babyish?
Dialogic reading? Is this story something they talk about with others? Or is it more of a listening book that someone reads aloud? Or is this one better read alone?
What is the perspective of the story? Who’s telling the story?
Are the words talking down to a child? Are they morally heavy?

Illustrations

What is the medium(s)? Was it digitally rendered? Was it a hybrid?
What is the level of technique? Does it stand out? Is it unique? Is there a style?
What are the visual elements? Line, shape, color, value, form, texture, space. How is the white of the page being used?
What colors are being used? Are the colors symbolic? Is color therapy being used? Complimentary colors? Bright? Dark? Contrasting?
Do the text and illustrations go well with one another?
Are there details in the illustrations not told in the text?
Would I know the book’s story if I took the text away?

The Cover

Is the title prominent? Or is the author’s?
Are the colors matching with the tone/mood of the book?
Is the font style easy to read?
Is there a blurb on the back?
Do the front and back covers correlate?
Does the cover represent the story inside?
Does it grab your attention?

Flaps

Does the front flap give a summary of the book?
Does the back flap tell about the author/illustrator?

End Pages

Are the pasted-down end pages white? Are they illustrated? Does the story begin or end on them?

End of the Book

Is there an author’s note? An illustrator’s?
If a nonfiction–is there a timeline, biographical notes, bibliography, index, suggestion reading, or photos? More information?

Misc.

Who is the author? Is this their first book? If a nonfiction picture book, is this person an expert on the subject? Is this a celebrity? What country are they from? And does that matter?
Is this a well-known author? Is it just like the others they have already written? Is there a repeated formula?
Is this book being translated? Was something lost in the translation?
Who is the illustrator? Is this their first book? Are they an artist well-known in other mediums?
Is this book political? Have an agenda? Age appropriate for elementary students? Developmentally appropriate? Is this a topic a child would care about in elementary school?

Star Rating Explained

Another key point of my evaluations is that I do not share picture book recommendations that deserve a half to two and a half stars. I’m not going to be that person. As shown below, the lowest star I give is a three, while the highest is a five.

If I’m on a site that does not allow half stars, I round up.

Picture Book Recommendation star rating of three to five

In Conclusion

While I read these books, I always remember that the person or persons creating this book in my very hands is someone’s dream, someone’s “baby,” that they worked really hard on and are willing to share with the world. This is why I don’t share bad reviews. I simply put it back in my tote bag to return to the library. In addition, it may be a child’s favorite book, and I don’t want them to read online that I did not recommend that piece of literature and with the reasons why it was not up to par.

Even after retiring, I still read children’s books, especially picture ones. I was lucky to have found my passion and was paid for sharing it. I still enjoy my love and can now share it online with a broader audience of book lovers and book worms. The picture book recommendations are ninety-nine percent ones I check out of the public library. I appreciate the Central Library Consortium and am thankful for being in an area in the USA with such outstanding library systems.

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Book Lover Gifts–Jigsaw Puzzles

May 27, 2023June 17, 2025 The Retired School LibrarianLeave a comment

Book lover gifts–puzzles recommendations are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.

(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, Mrs. Ferraris may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. The Retired School Librarian is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.)