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 »
This article was written by Jen Breach, author of Solstice: Around the World on the Longest, Shortest Day published by What On Earth Books, 2024 We know that books are mirrors, windows, and sliding doors for young readers. But they are mirrors, windows, and sliding doors for writers as well. We grown-up writers for young
Author’s Note – Writing SOLSTICE: Around the World on the Longest, Shortest Day Read More »
International Yoga Day, celebrated annually on June 21st, is a global event dedicated to promoting the practice and benefits of yoga. As more people embrace this ancient discipline for its physical, mental, and emotional health benefits, the interest in introducing yoga to children has grown. Children’s books on yoga provide wonderful gateways for young minds
Yoga for the Littlest Bookworms 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 »
If you’ve never met a rescue animal—and a rescue dog in particular—then you might not know that they are the four-legged definitions of gratitude and resilience. Some rescue dogs may come from previous loving homes where life circumstances forced their humans to re-home them. But just as many—and, sadly, probably many, many more—come from pasts
Canine Companions: Rescue Dogs and Beyond 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 »
As we get ready to celebrate Earth Day, I think about how I can instill in my child a deep appreciation for the planet and its delicate ecosystems. As a children’s librarian I know one of the most effective ways to cultivate this awareness is through the power of children’s literature. Children’s books have the
Fifty Plus Years of Celebrating Earth Day 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 »
This has shaped up to be a good year for new kids’ books that focus attention on—shapes! Some shapes—and books—are simple, some simply fun (as well as informative), and some sophisticated—just the way geometric forms run the gamut from easy to grasp to complex. Learning to recognize and name shapes helps build the toddler, preschooler,
Get into Shape(s)! Read More »