Summertime brings with it many wonderful things. In most places you get longer days, warmer weather, and no matter if you like them or not…more bugs! Outside our doors there is an entire society of fantastic critters going about their day in a miniature world that could easily go unnoticed to the untrained eye. This […]
Perfect Pair: Un-Bee-Lievable Bug Books Read More »
Sometimes it appears that attention from many quarters comes to rest on one theme or an object with unanticipated universal agreement that this is the IT topic for the moment. This year in kids’ books we’re seeing that happen with—eyeglasses! In books that come to us from Spain, the Netherlands via New Zealand, the United
Look Here! These Books Are Spectacular! Read More »
The newly released list from Bank Street College of Education reflects their Children’s Book Committee’s choices from 2023’s publications. Bank Street’s seal of “best” is recognized by librarians, teachers, teacher training programs, and parents as a gold standard guide to children’s books. The selection committee is composed of more than two dozen members who are
Bank Street Books Announces Newest Best Children’s Books of the Year Read More »
But wait, there’s a difference?! OF COURSE I would know they’re all different, right? I’m a whole adult human, a teacher, a mother, a writer. I’ve read thousands of fairy tales and folktales. Surely SURELY I know the difference! Well, when faced with trying to articulate which is which and what is why off the
Fairy Tales, Folktales, Oh, My! Read More »
Fusing the delights of music and story is a powerful way to teach basic concepts as well as explore deeper ideas and emotions. Over my nearly 30 years of teaching young children, I’ve set a LOT of knowledge to simple tunes: the names of continents, oceans, countries and states, math concepts, simplified steps of the
Tales in Tune: Music and Picture Books Read More »
Each January, the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) announces their Outstanding International Books list during a meeting at the American Library Association conference. The latest list, reflecting books published or released in 2023 and chosen by a committee of USBBY members, has just been released and we are delighted to find
Celebrating International Children’s Books Read More »
For most of humanity’s existence on Earth, people have migrated from one place to another as individuals, as family groups, and as entire cultures. Today’s humans can find themselves migrating out of need—escaping war, poverty, and danger to seek a place to call home–or moving in search of better jobs, or to help care for
Seeing Migration Experiences in Recent Picture Books Read More »
From late November onward toward the year’s end, everyone’s making and/or following lists: what to gift, what to put on your own wish list, or gift yourself right now and add to your growing to-be-read pile. Because we work with so many international kids’ book publishers, our interests in lists is definitely global. We’ve found
It’s the Most List-i-ful Time of the Year! Read More »
November 13th is World Kindness Day, a day to reflect on one of the most universal and unifying principles. Acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, start ripples of change that can transform the lives of children, families, and communities across the world. This selection of picture books and board books are the
Mastering the Art of Kindness Read More »