Articles

Butterflies Need Safety, Too
This is one in our Double Scoop Sundae series featuring a pair of thematically-related books and ideas for teachers and library program developers seeking ways to extend reading from them. Butterflies inspire people all over the globe with their silent, beautiful, often iridescent wings. They also serve as reminders of our own and nature’s fragility: they appear,… Read more: Butterflies Need Safety, Too
Spotlight on Blue Dot Kids Press
Stories and nature are two universal connections that bond us all together. From exploring the world around us to defining the thoughts within us, we are constantly surrounded by creativity, beauty, and magic. Blue Dot Kids Press is a publisher devoted to exploring these themes of curiosity and exploration by creating gorgeously unique picture books… Read more: Spotlight on Blue Dot Kids Press
Reviewer Spotlight: Mary R. Lanni
One in an occasional set of interviews with the reviewers who provide critical insights about new books from our client publishers. Hello! I am a librarian, book reviewer, and author with a focus on books written for kids, tweens, and teens. I have been a nontraditional educator for most of my life, but I began… Read more: Reviewer Spotlight: Mary R. Lanni
Spotlight on Medicine Wheel Publishing
Since the publication of its first book in 2016, Canada-based Medicine Wheel Publishing has been dedicated to creating culturally authentic Indigenous books and resource materials that invite readers of all ages to engage respectfully and meaningfully with Indigenous culture. This commitment began with Raven’s Feast and has continued to shape the company’s mission, but it… Read more: Spotlight on Medicine Wheel Publishing
Carrying Home in Our Hearts: Picture Books That Illuminate Refugee Experiences
This is one in our Double Scoop Sundae series featuring a pair of thematically-related books and ideas for teachers and library program developers seeking ways to extend reading from them. Picture books pack the power to introduce, share, and discuss a wide range of topics, including current events that can often be difficult for young minds to… Read more: Carrying Home in Our Hearts: Picture Books That Illuminate Refugee Experiences
Branching Out: Family Units in Children’s Books
This article was authored by Publisher Spotlight intern Sophie Morris. Family is one of the most important structures in a young child’s life, but family often looks different for every child. One way to teach kids about the beauty of families is through the beauty of picture books. With the reassurance and humor they provide,… Read more: Branching Out: Family Units in Children’s Books
Hands-On Books: Sign Language and Early Literacy
This article was authored by Publisher Spotlight intern Sophie Morris Looking for some hands-on books for babies and toddlers? Make storytime more engaging with these titles that combine classic children’s rhymes and sign language! Did you know that babies can learn hand gestures before being able to communicate in full words? Teaching babies sign language… Read more: Hands-On Books: Sign Language and Early Literacy
Munching on Math
This is one in our Double Scoop Sundae series featuring a pair of thematically-related books and ideas for teachers and library program developers seeking ways to extend reading from them. Mathematics in its many forms—arithmetic, geometry, algebra, calculus, and more—comes with rules that can seem daunting. In fact, those rules can be both imagination-provoking and fun! In… Read more: Munching on Math
While the World Sleeps: Picture Books About Rest and Night
World Sleep Day, celebrated on March 13, is a perfect invitation to slow down, snuggle up, and talk with children about one of the most important (and often most elusive) parts of their day: sleep. Picture books are uniquely suited to this conversation, offering gentle reassurance, playful humor, and big ideas wrapped in cozy illustrations.… Read more: While the World Sleeps: Picture Books About Rest and Night
Spotlight on Beaming Books
Beaming Books, an imprint of Augsburg Fortress Publishers, launched in 2018, and publishes high-quality children’s books that help kids thrive in every part of who they are–emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Their beautifully illustrated children’s books center on self-esteem, mental health, spirituality, progressive Christianity, and diverse childhood experiences. Beaming Books’ titles take children seriously—while still embracing… Read more: Spotlight on Beaming Books
New Snowball Stories
Cumulative tales build the way a snowball does: they get bigger as each new point in the tale passes to add another layer to the whole. Items (and sometimes people) are collected as the story moves along. “Stone Soup” is such a tale and has various versions in many cultures. Cumulative stories are sometimes rhythmic,… Read more: New Snowball Stories
Reviewer Spotlight: Melissa Taylor
One in an occasional set of interviews with the reviewers who provide critical insights about new books from our client publishers. Melissa Taylor, M.Ed., is a former teacher and literacy trainer as well as a mother of two, blogger, children’s book expert, freelance writer, and author consultant. She created and writes the popular blog Imagination Soup and recently… Read more: Reviewer Spotlight: Melissa Taylor