*Picture book, contemporary, for preschoolers through second graders *Young girl as main character *Rating: I loved this book, Someday by Eileen Spinelli. It’s clever and cute and full of imagination. Illustrations by Rosie Winstead are also super cute, as you can tell by the cover! Short, short summary: The pages in this picture book alternate [...]

*Concept book on counting and the beach/ocean life *Little boy as the main character *Rating: 1, 2, 3, By the Sea (Kane Miller books) is a cute picture book with a lot going on–there’s counting, there’s the ocean/beach habitat, and there’s a rhyme/text pattern too. This will be a favorite with children AND parents/teachers. Cute [...]

*Picture book, funny, contemporary for preschoolers through second graders *Two dogs as main characters *Rating: I liked this book, but I thought the author/illustrator could have done even more with the ending or the costume. I hear it’s a sequel, and that the first one is actually better and the reason why this one is [...]

*Picture book, preschoolers through first graders *Young girls as main characters *Rating: Here’s what I said on Goodreads: “I like this book. I think the message is important. I picked it up because my two-year-old is in love with the Disney princesses, and her favorite color she informed me is pink. So, the only complaint [...]

Before I get to today’s clever book, I want to announce the winner of my book, Finding My Place: One Girl’s Strength at Vicksburg from Juanita Noble’s blog. Drumroll. . . and the winner is Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan of Pittsburgh, PA! Thanks for entering, Elizabeth. I hope you enjoy the book! If you haven’t checked out [...]

**Humorous picture book about homophones for preschoolers through third graders (although adults will learn something here!) **Dear deer and Aunt Ant as main characters **Rating: I think a book like this is the type of material we should use to teach children, teenagers, and adults the English conventions. Gene Barretta’s book is funny and meaningful [...]

*Picture book, fantasy for preschoolers through second graders *Young fairy girl as the main character *Rating: Camilla, the Cupcake Fairy is a cute book with REALLY cute illustrations. I think I might like the illustrations better than the story, but my daughter (2) loves both. It does have a good message about working together for [...]

I am taking a slight break from talking about FINDING MY PLACE, my middle-grade historical fiction novel, to share a bit about my picture books that will be coming out in the future. The first one is Lucy and the Red Ribbon Week Adventure, publisher–High Hill Press, and here is an illustration from that book! [...]

*Humorous picture book for preschool to 2nd grade *Little boy as the main character *Rating: Sophie’s Fish is everything a picture book should be. It’s kid-centered and focuses on their imagination and comprehension of problems. It also has a great twist at the end! I love this book and would recommend it to anyone. Short, [...]

*Picture book for preschoolers through 2nd graders *Two dogs as the main characters *Rating: I have been a fan of Marla Frazee since I discovered Clementine by Sara Pennypacker (with illustrations by Marla). I was excited to read a book she wrote and illustrated and about animals–which my daughter loves. Super cute book! Short, short [...]