Tag: teachers

Voting Picture Books

Voting Picture Books

The Retired School LibrarianLeave a comment

Voting 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. The Retired School Librarian is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. These titles can be found on my Amazon Storefront under Voting Picture Books– https://www.amazon.com/shop/mrs.ferraris/list/1JR3EVXSC9O1V?ref_=aipsflist)

❗This cumulative list grows over time, with the newest books always appearing at the top.❗

Picture Books

Leo has a piece of paper in one hand and a voting box in the other. Book cover for Leo's First Vote

Leo’s First Vote! 

by Christina Soontornvat (Author), Isabel Roxas (Illustrator)

Brief summary: Leo’s father became a United States citizen and now is able to vote for the president of the United States. Leo learns about voting at school like how the candidates are chosen, debating, registering, and where the polling place is located.

Comments: The illustrations were created using oil pastels, acrylic, cut paper, and digital rendering.

The back sections include more information about voting.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.

A mother and her daughter are walking past a large sign painted on the wall that says vote in various capital letters and colors on their way to a voting center. Book cover for Show up and Vote

Show Up and Vote 

by Ani DiFranco (Author), Rachelle Baker (Illustrator)

Brief summary: A mother takes her daughter with her to vote. As they walk down the city’s sidewalks in the rain, the girl realizes how important it is to cast a ballot. She sees familiar faces and feels connected to the community.

Comments: The illustrations were created with Procreate and iPad.

It should be noted that this book has no capital letters or punctuation. I believe it would make it easier for young readers if it was read aloud.

Rating: 3.5 /5 📗📗📗1/2

Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.

Nonfiction

Book cover for How Voting and Elections Work with a string of voting stickers in the background

How Voting and Elections Work

by Zelda Wagner (Author)

Brief summary: This intermediate nonfiction children’s book discusses topics such as election day, why we vote, the election, and how to get involved.

Comments: This book is illustrated with photos. There is a glossary, index, and a “Learn More” section in the back of the book.

Rating: 3.5 /5 📗📗📗1/2

Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.

A man in a suit is voting. American flag in the background. Book cover of Voting Day

Voting Day

by Samantha Bell (Author)

Brief summary: This intermediate nonfiction children’s books focuses on the day of voting. Readers will learn about polling places, volunteers, voting day, early voting, counting the votes, and declaring the winner.

Comments: The book is illustrated with photos.

The back sections included Fun Fact, Activity, Glossary, To Learn More, Index, and About the Author.

Rating: 3.5 /5 📗📗📗1/2

Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.

The selected children’s books are chosen by a highly qualified retired elementary school librarian who passionately reads and recommends picture books to teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book enthusiasts.

Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris recommends are checked out from the public library. The only exception is the complimentary copies she receives for an honest review, which are duly noted.

Juneteenth Picture Books

Juneteenth Picture Books

The Retired School LibrarianLeave a comment

Juneteenth picture book recommendation is 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. These titles may be found on my Amazon Storefront under Juneteenth Picture Books– https://amzn.to/4dirYTK.)

❗This cumulative list grows over time, with the newest books always appearing at the top.❗

Children playing in Emancipation Park with grass, trees, and adults in the background. The blue sky has busts of people.

They Built Me for Freedom: The Story of Juneteenth and Houston’s Emancipation Park 

by Tonya Duncan Ellis (Author), Jenin Mohammed (Illustrator)

Brief summary: Emancipation Park is dedicated to celebrating the freedom of enslaved people in Texas. The park was built in 1872 and features picnics, a pool, and baseball games.

Although the park was in disarray for several years, it rejoiced when it was repaired and is used today.

Comments: This story is told through the perspective of the park.

There is a brief history of Emancipation Park and related history.

The artwork is colorful and joyous. However, I could not find any information in the book about how it was created.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

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

An extended family is on the porch talking and eating, celebrating Juneteenth

Juneteenth Is

by Natasha Tripplett (Author), Daniel J. O’Brien (Illustrator)

Brief summary: A large extended family celebrates Juneteenth by displaying black, red, and green flags, enjoying music and food, and Granddaddy teaching and remembering with the grandchildren.

Comments: The illustrations were created using digital tools. I appreciated the emotions and expressions on the family’s faces as they celebrated throughout the day.

There is a section in the back that explains the significance of the color red for the holiday.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

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

There is a family of a mother, father, and little girl at a table full of Juneteenth celebratory food such as mac and cheese, salad, buns, red velvet cakes.

The Juneteenth Cookbook: Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families to Celebrate 

by Alliah L. Agostini (Author),  Chef Taffy Elrod, and Sawyer Cloud (Illustrator)

Brief summary: This nonfiction children’s book includes 18 recipes for a Juneteenth celebration. There is a little blurb with each recipe telling the significance of the food.

The book has a brief history of Juneteenth and is divided into Drinks, Appetizers, Mains, Sides, and Desserts. Each section includes an activity idea.

Comments: This book contains the history of the holiday, along with recipes, explanations, illustrations, and fun activities for this special day.

Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2

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

The selected children’s books are chosen by a highly qualified retired elementary school librarian, who passionately reads and recommends picture books to teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book enthusiasts.

Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris recommends are checked out from the public library. The only exception is for the complimentary copies that she receives for an honest review, which are duly noted.

A young women reciting from a book Poetry Picture Books

Poetry Picture Books

The Retired School LibrarianLeave a comment

Poetry 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. The Retired School Librarian is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. (These title can be found on my Amazon Storefront under Poetry Picture Books– https://www.amazon.com/shop/mrs.ferraris/list/23O9S8DDXLNC2?ref_=aipsflist .)

❗This cumulative list grows over time, with the newest books always appearing at the top.❗

Squirrels eating acorns in a tree

Poems for Every Season: A Year of Haiku, Sonnets, and More 

by Bette Westera (Author), Henriette Boerendans (Illustrator), David Colmer (Translator)

Brief summary: This collection organizes the calendar year journey beginning in spring and concludes in winter, with each season introduced by a haiku. Every month within that season is then paired with a unique poetic form for a total of 16 distinct styles.

Comments: The woodcut illustrations are stunning; two-page spreads are used to capture the essence of each month.

The back section is About the Verse Forms where each poem is listed along with a full explanation of the poetic form.

The forms discussed are:

  • Haiku 
  • Rondel
  • Acrostic
  • Double dactyl
  • Pantoum
  • Elevenie
  • Tanka
  • Quatrain
  • Diamante
  • Rondelet
  • Limerick
  • Stacking Poem
  • Sonnet

This collection is a superb resource for teaching poetry units. I highly recommend adding this to any school or classroom library.

Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗

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

*I received a free copy of this book.

Book Cover of A Universe of Rainbows showing all type of things in nature that have rainbow colors such as a bird, flowers, crystals, a rainbow, and mountains.

A Universe of Rainbows: Multicolored Poems for a Multicolored World

by Matt Forrest Esenwine (Author), Jamey Christoph (Illustrator)

Brief summary: This poetry collection features twenty-two authors/poets and a mix of poetry forms that explore the various colors found in nature.

Comments: Each poem is presented on a two-page spread, accompanied by a side column of nonfiction text that briefly explains the topic.

The illustrations were created digitally.

This book could be shared in April as an Earth Day and a Poetry book.

(April is Poetry Month, and April 22nd is Earth Day.)

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

*I received a free copy of this book.

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

A black bird is looking out of its next made of grass and other natural materials. Cover of Home

Home

by Isabelle Simler (Author), Vineet Lal (Translator)

Brief summary: This poetry collection features 27 animals from around the world, showcasing the unique and amazing homes they create. Each animal is beautifully illustrated with great detail, and young readers will learn about camouflage, habitat, life cycles, and interesting animal facts.

Comments:  The back sections include More About These Amazing Animals, Glossary, and Recommended Resources(Books, Websites, and Videos).

This lyrical text appears to be flawlessly translated from French(2022) to English(2024).

Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗

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

*Home was sent to me as a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

A young boy is hiking with backpacks on in South Sister where there are pine trees, mountains, and a lake.

Climbing the Volcano: A Journey in Haiku 

by Curtis Manley (Author), Jennifer K. Mann (Illustrator)

Brief summary: A family hikes up South Sister, an Oregon volcano, and the young boy shares his observations in haiku, including the terrain, animals, and insects encountered.

Comments: The back sections of the book include “More About Climbing a Mountain,” which provides information on the volcano, necessary equipment, poetry, and living organisms, and “Further Information,” which lists books and websites.

The illustrations are created with a mix of collograph and monotype printmaking, pencil drawing, digital collage, and paint.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

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

A yellow dog is sitting with a puppy, turtle, cat, and rabbit in front of it with a parrot sitting on a perch behind. Cover of Bless Our Pets: Poems of Gratitude for Our Animal Friends

Bless Our Pets: Poems of Gratitude for Our Animal Friends 

by Lee Bennett Hopkins (Editor), Lita Judge (Illustrator)

Brief summary: Bless Our Pets is an anthology of poetry featuring fourteen different animal companion owners expressing gratitude towards their beloved pets. Written by:
• Ann Whitford Paul
• Rebecca Kai Dotlich 
• Linda Trott Dickman
• Eric Ode
• Ralph Fletcher
• Sarah Grace Tuttle
• Kristine O’Connell George
• Darren Sardelli
• B.J. Lee
• Charles Ghigna
• Lois Lowry
• Prince Redcloud
• Joan Bransfield Graham
• Lee Bennett Hopkins

Comments:  The book features a variety of poetry forms. The illustrations are created with watercolors and colored pencils that beautifully capture facial expressions.

Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗

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

*Bless Our Pets was sent to me as a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cover for poetry book This is a Tiny Fragile Snae with a small black snake with a yellow line down its back slithering on the ground with a pair of blue and a pair of red tennis shoes in the frame to mean there are people stopping and watching it go past.

This Is a Tiny Fragile Snake 

by Nicholas Ruddock (Author), Ashley Barron (Illustrator)

Brief summary: This poetry collection features informative poems about various animals and insects, highlighting their unique characteristics.

Comments: The illustrations are created using cut-paper collages, acrylics, and pencil crayons with some digital finishing.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

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

The cover of You Stole My Name Too with a tiger and tiger lily face one another.

You Stole My Name Too: A Curious Case of Animals and Plants with Shared Names

by Dennis McGregor (Author), Blue Star Press (Producer)

Brief summary: This is a collection of humorous poems featuring animals and plants with the same names. Sometimes the reasons for the naming are evident, and sometimes not.

Comments: This is the second collection of poetry in the  “You Stole My Name Series.”

The four-line poem is on the left side of the two-page spread, with the animal and plant illustration on the right.

This is an oversized book that really shows the details in his Gouache paintings. Prints of the illustrations are sold on his website.

Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2

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

A young Virginia Hamilton lying in the grass with books around her and lilacs. Books's cover

Extraordinary Magic: The Storytelling Life of Virginia Hamilton 

by Nina Crews (Author)

Brief summary: This collection of lyrical poetry shares Virginia Hamilton’s childhood, family, and writing inspirations.

Comments: The back sections include the Author’s Note, Timeline, Book List, Bibliography, and a few photos.

The illustrations were created digitally using Adobe Photoshop.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

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

A young girl with an umbrella is walking against the wind with a tree in the background.

Great Gusts: Winds of the World and the Science Behind Them 

by Melanie Crowder (Author), MEGAN BENEDICT (Author), Khoa Le (Illustrator)

Brief summary: Learn about fourteen winds of the world through a lyrical poem and then in nonfiction text.

Comments: This nonfiction poetry and weather book briefly explains specific winds worldwide. I had no idea that some of these existed until now.

The back sections further explain the science of these winds with What Makes the Wind?, How Are Winds Named? Local Poetic Traditions, a global map, Glossary, and For Further Reading.

The illustrations were created digitally.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

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

Fast Cheetah, Slow Tortoise: Poems of Animal Opposites 

by Bette Westera (Author), Mies van Hout (Illustrator), David Colmer (Translator)

Brief summary: This poetry book cleverly presents animal opposites in each animal’s voice. Every two-page spread features two animals opposite from one another in descriptive and humorous free verse.

Comments: The illustrations were created using acrylic ink, oil pastels, and collage. There are a total of thirty-two animals featured in the book.

This poetry book would complement poetry or opposite units of study. It can also just be used for a funny read-aloud to make everyone giggle.

Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2

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

Cover of a poetry picture book titled How to Write a Poem done with a girl riding a unicycle over a bunch of wheels

How to Write a Poem

by Kwame Alexander (Author), Deanna Nikaido (Author), Melissa Sweet (Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Quill Tree Books. 2023. Grades 3-5. Hardcover Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0063060906.

Brief summary: Young readers (and future poetry writers) are encouraged to feel and use their imagination as they observe the world around them. They are inspired to write it down as poetry.

For more details or to buy, click on this book’s Amazon page.

Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗

Cover of a poetry picture book titled Push-Pull Morning with a child hugging a dog

Push-Pull Morning: Dog-Powered Poems About Matter and Energy 

by Lisa Westberg Peters (Author), Serge Bloch (Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wordsong. 2023. Grades 2-4. Hardcover Nonfiction Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1635925272.

Brief summary: A fun introduction to physics in free verse poetry about a child and dog experiencing everyday life.


Comments: Each poem’s physics correlation is explained at the back of the book. This book could be shared in science units when each physics aspect is introduced to give students an idea of seeing it in the world around them.

For more details or to buy, click on this book’s Amazon page.

Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗

Poetry picture book cover of Where I Live with a child playing in a park in a city with stores and apartment buildings in the background.

Where I Live: Poems About My Home, My Street, and My Town 

by Paul B. Janeczko (Author), Hyewon Yum (Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick. 2023. 1-3. Hardcover Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1536200942.

Brief summary: This is a collection of twenty-four poems divided into three sections: home, street, and town. The variety of poets and authors is diverse, with examples of several different types of poems—an excellent poetry addition to any library.

Comments: The illustrator captures the mood and characteristics of each poem.

For more details or to buy, please go to this book’s Amazon page.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Poetry picture book cover of The Dream Train with a girl holding a megaphone riding on a train with the background of bright colors all swirled together

The Dream Train: Poems for Bedtime 

by Sean Taylor (Author), Anuska Allepuz (Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick. 2023. PreK-2. Hardcover Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1536228342.

Brief summary: Thirty poems are divided into three sections: Night Arrives, Shut-Your-Eyes Time, and Dream Wheels Turning. The poems are a variety of different forms and with a variety of settings and characters. 

The illustrations are colorful and completely fill all of the pages. Very well done.

For more details or to buy, click on the book’s Amazon page.

Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2

Poetry picture book cover of Trees with a child sitting on a branch of a tree looking into a lake

Trees: Haiku from Roots to Leaves 

by Sally M. Walker (Author), Angela Mckay (Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick. 2023. Grades 2-5. Hardcover Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1536215502.

Brief summary: This is a collection of haikus about a tree’s life cycle and the changes of every season. There are many two-paged illustrations.

The back pages have information about a tree’s life, including wild and urban forests. There is also an author’s note and a glossary.

For more details, click on this book’s Amazon page.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2

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.