I WANT TO BE BIG
I WANT TO BE BIG by Tiffany Golden features a boy who just wants to be big.
He wants to do things by himself, such as jet skiing, skateboarding on rainbows, and driving cars. He grows so big that he towers over everything in the world, but how big is too big?
Soon after, he realizes that being big makes him miss out on the things he can do only when he’s small. Things like piggyback rides and going down the slide at the playground.
As he reverts to his normal size, he realizes that being big isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and if he wants to do big things, he must be patient until he grows up.
This is a beautiful story of self-discovery and self-acceptance. The vibrant illustrations by Sawyer Cloud are vivid and bold and celebrate acceptance and patience. Publisher: Page Street Kids(Age 4-8)
EVELYN'S WILD IMAGINATION
EVELYN’S WILD IMAGINATION by Elizabeth Gephardt encourages children to explore their curiosity and creativity.
It features a girl named Evelyn, whose imagination runs wild. From space hopscotch during recess to a Parisian artist during art time, this book celebrates the creative mind and allows parents and teachers to nurture and foster creativity when seen.
It motivates children to go beyond normal thinking and explore different avenues.
I love how it also encourages teachers to pay attention to children who think outside the box and recognize their gifts.
The bold illustrations by Beth Pierce are fun and imaginative and bring Evelyn’s story to life. Publisher: Mascot Kids(Age 4-8)
IF YOU WERE A CITY
IF YOU WERE A CITY by Kyo Maclear explores different cities around the world.
From busy bustling cities and water cities to quiet serene cities, this book is bursting with culture and diversity.
It allows children to explore and engage in different places around the world.
With magnificently vibrant illustrations by Francesca Sanna, it celebrates where we come from, and anyone can relate to the message in the book. Publisher: Chronicle Books(Age 4-8)
Mr. Bear's World of Food
Mr. Bear’s WORLD OF FOOD by Virginie Aracil allows children to explore their senses through food.
When Mr. Bear takes his first bite of bread from the bakery, his senses awake.
Each page features foods of different tastes. From sweet to bitter, smoky, and pungent, children can learn about the descriptions of some of our favorite foods.
With vivid illustrations that will tantalize your tastebuds, this delightfully mouthwatering book is a great treat for young readers. Publisher: Twirl Books(Age 4-8)
John's Turn
JOHN’S TURN by Mac Barnett is one of our favorite back-to-school books.
On Fridays, during assembly, one of them has to perform for the entire school.
From Tina playing the tuba to Carla telling jokes, each child shares their talent with the school. When it was John’s turn to share his gift, he was very nervous.
When he entered the stage, everyone stared, and some even laughed at his attire of white leotard, black pants, and slippers, but John danced and danced and danced and the entire school cheered.
We loved this book and the vivid illustrations by Kate Berube so much. It encourages bravery and allows children to excel and be themselves. Publisher: Candlewick Press(Age 4-8)
A PENNY'S WORTH
A PENNY’S WORTH by Kimberly Wilson is super fun and witty. What is a penny really worth? Especially with all the other money that seems so much more important.
It features a lonely penny that wants to prove her worth to the other money.
She explored slot machines and candy machines, but none of them make her feel needed.
Penny felt useless until she stumbled upon a fountain full of other pennies thrown in after a wish. She was elated because she knew how important wishes are and how valuable she is.
This beautiful book is full of funny puns, teaches children how to count, and also promotes self-worth and self-love.
Vividly illustrated by Mark Hoffmann, it’s hilarious and perfect for math lovers everywhere.
LIKE
LIKE by Annie Barrows + Leo Espinosa it’s one of the best basic concept books of the year.
It highlights the uniqueness of individuality with subtle, contrasting elements that children can understand.
For instance, we are nothing like a tin can because we can’t open up to find food, however, as humans, we are more alike.
Even though we don’t eat or wear the same things, we are more alike than we are different.
With vivid illustrations, this wonderful and unique book outlines our similarities and differences and is a celebration of self.LIKE by Annie Barrows + Leo Espinosa it’s one of the best basic concept books of the year.
It highlights the uniqueness of individuality with subtle, contrasting elements that children can understand.
For instance, we are nothing like a tin can because we can’t open up to find food, however, as humans, we are more alike.
Even though we don’t eat or wear the same things, we are more alike than we are different.
With vivid illustrations, this wonderful and unique book outlines our similarities and differences and is a celebration of self.
MY PARENTS WON'T STOP TALKING!
MY PARENTS WON’T STOP TALKING by Emma Hunsinger is funny and so much fun to read.
While on the way to the park, a girl beams with excitement because she can’t wait to make mud pies and climb trees.
However, her parents won’t stop talking to the neighbors.
As she grows impatient, she couldn’t understand why they talked so much about boring stuff.
Perhaps she can become her own park, so she won’t have to wait, but finally, the talking stops, and they head to the park.
With bold and vibrant illustrations by Tillie Walden, this book teaches patience and will have readers cracking up. It’s totally relatable because we’ve all had days like those.
BRAVE ENOUGH
BRAVE ENOUGH by Rob Justus is such a beautiful story of sibling support.
When a little boy is afraid of monsters, his big sister comes to the rescue to show him he has nothing to be afraid of.
Placing a yellow cape for bravery around him, they scour through the neighborhood to find some monsters, but it does not impress him.
Through swamps and tunnels, they stumble upon an actual monster who scares them. Turns out the monster is also afraid of them.
As his big sister hides, her little brother jumps out and saves them by being friendly to the monster, and they all dance and play together.
Together they showed each other that it’s ok to be scared, but being brave allows us to carry out new friends and experience new adventures.
THE POUT POUT FISH: WORRY WHALE
THE POUT-POUT FISH and the WORRY-WORRY WHALE by Deborah Diesen is the recent addition to the series.
While heading to a party, Mr. Fish meets his friends Willa the Whale, who looks worried.
Willa is anxious that she might not fit in at the party, but with deep breaths and reassurances from Mr. Fish, she gains the courage to go partying with her friends.
We all feel anxious, out of place, or just awkward sometimes, but having confidence in yourself along with supportive friends can make a huge difference.
With pictures by Isidore Monés, this book is perfect for first-day school jitters and great for dealing with social anxiety.
HANG IN THERE
HANG IN THERE by Sabrina and Eunice Moyle celebrate friendship and is full of hope.
We all have days that just don’t go as planned and for this cute kitty, everything seems to go wrong.
After encouragement from friends and witty humor, a terribly depressing day turned into one full of laughter and hope.
With colorful illustrations, this cheerful gem will motivate and uplift little readers. It’s also a perfect early morning read for both home and the classroom. Publisher: Abrams Books (Age 4-8)
FROM ARCHIE TO ZACK
FROM ARCHIE TO ZACK by Vincent X. Kirsch is an inclusive book that celebrates the love between two friends.
Archie and Zack are best friends who do everything together. From camping to musicals, they are simply inseparable. Archie loves Zack and Zack loves Archie, but expressing their love seems difficult even though everyone knew.
They each wrote letters, but neither felt courageous enough to give to each other, so they continued being the best of friends.
We’ve all had a crush growing up and expressing one’s love isn’t always easy, especially when it’s sometimes deemed unconventional, but books like this encourage and motivate boys and girls to be brave.
The bright, vibrant illustrations are absolutely captivating.
I'LL GO AND COME BACK
I’LL GO AND COME BACK by Rajani LaRocca celebrates family and love.
On a family visit to India, a cute girl named Jyoti soon feels lonely when her cousins head off to school.
Noticing the loneliness she feels in a different country, her grandmother quickly cheered her up by painting, dancing, and playing games.
Sadden by her departure back to America, her Sita Pati reassures her it’s never goodbye but, “go and come back”.
When it’s Sita Pati’s turn to visit America, Jyoti does the same to cheer her up because of the bond they created in India.
We love books that encourage intergenerational bonding, and this book encourages children to explore different cultures by learning Tamil words and making them more comfortable in different countries.
Illustrations by Sarah Palacios are extremely remarkable and vivid and warm the heart of all who read this book.
GLITTER
Get ready for a glitter bomb. GLITTER by Stella J. Jones is about a cute Rhinoceros named Gloria.
She loves glitter and leaves a trail all over town, making the people in town very annoyed. They just can’t take the glitter anymore so they protest but Gloria is completely unbothered. Soon enough they realize the glitter isn’t so bad and it makes them as happy as Gloria.
This book is perfect for that little artist who just loves glittering up every little project. The illustrations by Judi Abbot are super vibrant and colorful and children can learn the importance of happiness and the beauty in art.
COMPOST STEW
COMPOST STEW by Mary McKenna Siddals makes compost-making easy for children to learn.
Compost is any decaying organic material that can be used to fertilize plants. The book makes it a fun activity to do with your children by incorporating the alphabet into the list of items needed to make a compost stew.
It’s loaded with simple household items that can be use like apple cores and coffee filters and has cute little animals helping as well.
The best part of this book are the illustrations by Ashley Wolff. So bright and beautiful and full of life, even though compost mostly deals with decaying matter.
DEAR GIRL
DEAR GIRL was written by Amy Rosenthal and her daughter Paris Rosenthal. It’s a Letter to all Girls serving as a reminder of how special they are, no matter how different they may be.
It’s extremely empowering and inspirational and it encourages girls to be limitless, positive and strong. When you embrace and accept YOU as you are…the sky is the limit.
It’s definitely a book every parent should read to their children because it’s also interactive and promotes self-love.
It’s a celebration of uniqueness, beauty and femininity. The illustrations by Holly Hatam are creative, colorful and fun.
THE LONELY MAILMAN
THE LONELY MAILMAN by Susanna Istern and Daniel Montero Galán is one of our favorite books.
In reality, the mailman is probably the only person who knows more about what’s going on in your house than you🤣.
In this beautifully illustrated book the mailman is basically the secret mediator, peacemaker and problem-solver in the forest.
He’s sort of introvert so the other animals think he’s lonely. Little do they know, he observes everything around him and is secretly the one writing the letters and ultimately keeping the neighbors happy.
It’s a wonderful story of friendship, unity and love and is guaranteed to warm everyone’s heart.
PIRATES DON'T GO TO KINDERGARTEN
Ahoy Me Hearties, grownups aren’t the only ones who have a difficult time dealing with change.
In Lisa Robinson, PIRATES DON’T GO TO KINDERGARTEN, Emma is leaving Pre-K and entering kindergarten, which means she has to leave her teacher Cap’n Chu, whom she has grown quite attached to.
Emma is NOT happy at all so it’s an all-out mutiny full of tantrums, peg leg thumpings and sand throwing.
She also isn’t too keen on meeting her new teacher Ms. Hayes, but she sure is curious to enter the rocket ships at Planet Kindergarten after seeing all the fun things they do, including caring for a guinea pig she renames Beastly Betty.
After some coaxing and encouraging, a truce is made and Emma is finally ready to take the journey to her new class.
This book is great for helping children through those early educational transitions, especially first day jitters and dealing with the addition of someone new in their lives. They should know that it’s okay to be upset but it is also okay to meet new people and make new friends.
Change may not be easy, but embracing it and making it your own can be fun.
The captivating illustrations by Eda Kaban are witty and imaginative and are guaranteed to hold a child’s attention.
What I love most is how it’s metaphorically motivating and encouraging. Cap’n Chu, who might be her mom (since Emma has a picture of her in her room) and Ms. Hayes are an absolute delight.
Which one are you? MR. MEN and LITTLE MISS books by Roger Hargreaves are so hilarious. It’s pretty fun to read and children can also learn morals and other experiences from some of them. There are over 80 books and they’re perfect for children 5 and up.
TWIG
Aura Parker’s TWIG is such an adorable story with amazing illustrations.
It’s about a shy stick insect named Heidi who is looking forward to making new friends on her first day of Bug School. There was one problem though, no one noticed her because she looked like the twig of a tree. Her teacher even thought she was a hat stand.
While her teacher teaches the class to weave, Heidi was mistaken for a twig by Scarlett the ladybug and that’s when everyone noticed her. They all decided to weave Heidi a scarf to welcome her to their class and to be able to see her wherever she was.
I just love this cute book about standing out and being accepted and letting your voice be heard. It’s about friendship and acceptance and I love the message of using what’s within you to make your situation better. I also love that children can learn about the bugs.
Heidi was happy to make new friends and everyone could finally see how happy she was.
RULERS OF THE PLAYGROUND
RULERS OF THE PLAYGROUND by Joseph Kuefler is such an entertaining book to read.
When a boy named Jonah declares himself King of the playground, all the children follow him…all but Lennox.
She wants to rule the playground instead, so she claims one side of the playground while Jonah claims the other, separating each side with a line drawn by a crayon lol. The children love playing on the side of their choice, however things start getting crazy as both Jonah and Lennox try to conquer each other and become way too demanding.
In the end, they are left with no friends to play with and an empty playground.
Ruling soon becomes boring when there’s no one to rule so they both realized they needed to be nice to their friends and promise to never dictate again.
RULERS OF THE PLAYGROUND is about friendship and kindness and teaches children the importance of sharing. It also teaches that bullying is wrong and can ultimately lead to not having any friends.
The illustrations are absolutely amazing and I love how the colors transition to set the mood of the book.