Seasons Greetings! Christmas is almost here, and I have the perfect picture book to celebrate the joyous season. The Birds of Christmas, written by Olivia Armstrong, with charming graphite pencil and digital illustrations by Mira Miroslavova, is a beautiful Nativity story based on a European folktale that tells how the robin came to have a red breast.
As Raven flies home late one night, a bright star suddenly appears in the sky above Bethlehem. A heavenly voice urges Raven to go and tell the other birds that a special child has been born, the Prince of Peace. He darts away to proclaim the good news to Wren, Nightingale, and Rooster. Then Rooster crows with all his might, calling all the other birds, who come swooping from all directions towards the brilliant star, which rests above a modest stable. Every bird brings a gift for the newborn, such as the pillow Stork made from her own feathers. But one little bird, Robin, has nothing to offer, until a gust of wind, a dwindling fire, and a shivering baby provide her with the perfect opportunity to give (and receive) the gift of compassion.
The Birds of Christmas is both energetic and delightful. The action-filled text moves the story along at an enjoyable pace, while the detailed illustrations invite young readers to pause for just a moment before turning the page. Overall, it’s a sweet book, sure to be a holiday favorite.
Merry Christmas, everyone! And may 2026 bring peace and prosperity to you and your families.
Ornithologists estimate there are between 10,000 to 20,000 different species of birds in the world with new species being discovered almost every year.
December is National Cat Lovers Month. One way to mark the occasion is by reading picture books about cats! The Whisker City Air Race is the fourth book in the exciting aerial adventure series Miso and Kili’s Flying Adventures. Miso and Kili are adorable little cats who love to fly their shiny Red Rider plane all over the world.
In The Whisker City Air Race, they’re taking part, along with their feline friends, in a high-flying annual race from Whisker City over the Catfish Ocean to the Golden Paw Desert and, continuing from there, past the Panther’s Tail Jungle through the Yarn Ball Rolling Hills and back to Whisker City.Along the way, they’ll contend with some Alley Cat antics, a dangerous thunderstorm, and a detour to the finish line.
Author J.M. Chrismer has created an action-packed story that kids will surely enjoy. Though the book is a tad text heavy, there’re plenty of thrills to keep the story moving and the young reader turning the pages. Kids will especially love artist Ilya Fortuna’s bright, engaging illustrations featuring six different delightful airplanes, lots of cute and cuddly cats, and more. This is a fun read that will leave you wondering where Miso and Kili will fly off to next!
The United States has more domestic cats than any other country, over 70 million. The top three countries with the most pet cats, in descending order, are the United States, China, and Russia.
Please welcome children’s book author and land conservation attorney Debra Kim Wolf to Frog on a Blog. Debra’s nonfiction picture book A Family for Zoya: The True Story of an Endangered Cub published this past summer by Platypus Media and features lovely realistic and detailed illustrations by twin sister nature and science artists Annalisa and Marina Durante.
I love that Debra chose to write about an endangered Amur tiger cub at the Philadelphia Zoo. My local zoo has Amur tigers (a favorite of my twin sister!) as well, and a male and a female cub were born there just last year. Let’s hear more from Debra about her special book and her passion for conservation and nature!
(All text and art from the book are the property of the author and illustrators.)
Congratulations on the publication of your beautiful debut nonfiction picture book A Family for Zoya: The True Story of an Endangered Cub! What inspired you to write this heartwarming story?
DW: I appreciate the chance to share my story with your readers, Lauri.
I was at the Philadelphia Zoo several years ago when I first learned about little Zoya, the only survivor from a litter of five critically endangered Amur tiger cubs. Zoya was rejected by her mother, which is apparently not uncommon for first-time tiger mothers. The zookeepers knew it would be much better for Zoya to be raised by a tiger rather than by humans. So they transported her to the Oklahoma City Zoo, hoping that a Sumatran tiger who recently had her own litter there would foster her. And, in fact, Zoya became the first cub ever to be “adopted” by another tiger subspecies! That heartwarming true story—and the cute photos of Zoya and her new tiger family—made me think it would be an inspiring book for children.
Why do you feel it’s important for children to learn about animals, nature, and conservation?
DW: Even as a little kid growing up near the Appalachian Trail, I knew I wanted to be involved in protecting nature. I went on to become a land conservation lawyer, working to protect farms and creating trails and parks. But kids today are exposed to too much information about how we humans have messed up the environment. At a certain point, they may start feeling that nothing they can do will help or make a difference—which is absolutely untrue! I want to write stories that are entertaining but also show children how caring people can make a real difference for our planet. Zoya’s story highlights the incredible dedication of scientists and animal care specialists in three different zoos across the country. By saving this genetically rare tiger cub—who went on to have two healthy litters of her own—these caring folks kept alive fresh genes that one day could help make wild tigers healthier.
The ingenious way the publisher structured the book makes the story multi-layered: the main text focuses on Zoya’s fight for acceptance and love; the sidebars and back matter explain more about Amur tigers, genetic diversity, and efforts to protect wild tigers via the Tiger Conservation Campaign. So the book can appeal to a wide age range. I’ve even had adults tell me they learned a lot about tiger conservation by reading the story.
You’re also a songwriter! Do you write songs for children or for adults? And what inspires your lyrics?
DW: For a long time, my creativity expressed itself via songwriting. I’d be driving or walking and a song hook or partial song lyrics would pop into my head. Sometimes I had to pull my car over to jot ideas down before they floated away! I was thrilled to win quite a few national honors and awards for songwriting. Unfortunately, my singing and guitar playing is mediocre at best, so I’m not a performing artist.
A few years ago, for some reason, ideas for children’s books started “coming through,” too. I’ve amassed dozens of decent ideas I keep in a file folder, but there’s simply not enough time to write or polish even a fraction of them!
Please tell us about One Little Earth, the nonprofit you founded.
DW: I started and ran a successful environmental film festival in Philadelphia for a number of years until Covid shut us down. We pivoted and turned into a nonprofit that supports nature access and nature literacy for underserved kids. We’ve sent underprivileged kids to nature summer camp, donated hundreds of environmentally-themed books to Title 1 schools and after-school programs, subsidized outdoor field trips and camps, and brought in authors and illustrators to talk to kids about the creative process. You can learn more at www.OneLittleEarth.org.
Can you share a bit about your next book?
DW: My next book—a humorous story about the food chain—will be published by Science Naturally in late 2026.
Debra Wolf is a land conservation attorney (under her married name, Debra Wolf Goldstein), author, an award-winning songwriter, and a tree hugger. She served as vice president of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park Commission for a dozen years, and co-founded the Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival. She directs One Little Earth, a nonprofit supporting outdoor programs, films, and books to inspire young nature lovers. Debra is the proud recipient of PennFuture’s “Woman of Lifetime Achievement in Conservation” award. The mother of two grown children, Debra lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband and spunky cockapoo.
Publisher/Year: Eerdmans BYR/2025 (originally published in Columbia in 2020)
Format: Hardcover, eBook
Journey of the Humpbacks is a nonfiction picture book overflowing with fascinating facts about the amazing humpback whale. Intriguing infographics and colorful mixed media illustrations, combined with blocks of accessibly written text, dance across the pages like whales bobbing, leaping, and twirling through the ocean.This inviting book earned a Star from Kirkus Reviews.
Younger children will likely delight in the pictures of whales, penguins, people, boats, and forests, while older kids and adults will appreciate learning all about humpbacks. Readers will discover when and where they migrate, what they look like compared to other whales, what they eat, how they communicate, how much a newborn calf weighs, and so much more.
One of my favorite facts is that humpbacks have the longest pectoral fins (the fins located on each side) of any type of whale. These fins can measure up to almost 20 feet long and are often compared to wings.
Part of Eerdmans Books for Young Readers’ Spectacular STEAM for Curious Readers series, Journey of the Humpbacks is a great choice for anyone who loves whales!
Humpback whales are known for their unique vocalizations, but it’s only the adult males who “sing” to communicate, and they do this by causing air to vibrate inside their bodies. In contrast, females and their calves communicate using low frequency “whispers”.
October 16th is Global Cat Day, a day that acknowledges that all cats, including stray and feral cats, deserve to be treated humanely. To celebrate the occasion, I’m reviewing a picture book about a little stray kitten.
With starred reviews from both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, Late Today by Jungyoon Huh is already drawing attention. It was originally published in South Korea but has been republished this year here in the US by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
In Late Today, a terrified and confused kitten dashes between honking cars and trucks and buses, determined to make it to safety. Though lots of people see the kitten, everyone’s in a rush, and no one stops to help, until…a boy and his mother, fearful for the little cat’s safety, finally does.
Deceptively simple text is accompanied by dynamic art by Myungae Lee, whose colored pencil and oil pastel illustrations depict people of all ages, bumper-to-bumper traffic across a multi-laned bridge, a cityscape background, and a tiny lost kitten on a gray, rainy morning. Shocks of vivid color are scattered between dark skies, black tires, and lines of blue-hued pouring rain.
A heartbreaking story, filled with danger, becomes a heartwarming story by the end, much to the relief, no doubt, of any reader, young or old. It’s a not-so-subtle reminder to slow down, to consider what’s truly important, and to find compassion in our hearts for others, including animals.
Depending on which cat association you check with, there are between 40 and 75 domesticated cat breeds in the world. The Cat Fanciers Association recognizes just over 40 breeds, while the International Cat Association recognizes over 70 breeds.
Title: Free Bird: Flaco the Owl’s Dreams Take Flight
Author: Christine Mott
Illustrator: Ofra Layla Isler
Publisher/Year: Lantern Publishing & Media/2025
Format: Hardcover, eBook
Happy HELP ANIMALS DAY! I have a great book to share for the occasion.
Free Bird: Flaco the Owl’s Dreams Take Flight,written by Christine Mott and illustrated by Ofra Layla Isler, will officially be available May 6th from Lantern Publishing & Media, an American non-profit book publisher with a mission I can really get behind. It’s “to inform and inspire new generations of global citizens to create a healthy, compassionate, and resilient world for animals and humans alike.”
Free Bird is a fictional children’s picture book based on the true story of an owl named Flaco, a Eurasian Eagle Owl, which is one of the largest species of owl in the world, who escaped from his enclosure at the Central Park Zoo in New York City. Fifty percent of the author’s royalties will be donated to the Wild Bird Fund.
Flaco the owl dreams of flying free. So when an opening appears in the metal wire surrounding his zoo habitat, he carefully climbs out, opens his enormous wings, and jumps into the night sky. His flying skills are a little rusty, but with a bit of practice, he’s soon soaring over the zoo and into the bustling city where the lights and noise and cars and people are overwhelming. So he settles in the park where there are plenty of trees and food to eat. Before long, he’s exploring the whole city and making new animal friends. And, best of all, he’s enjoying his life of freedom.
Through lovely poetic text and Flaco’s own words, Free Bird offers an optimistic message to young readers about being brave, believing in yourself, and following your dreams. My favorite lines are the last two: Any dream needs a plan; there’s the “how” and the “when.” But the most important part of it is the “WHOOO”–and that “who” is you.
The illustrations are realistic and sweet, depicting many New York City sites as well as some of the animals who call the city home. Flaco is, of course, prominently featured soaring across the pages. A bonus “Fun Facts About Owls!” section can be found at the end of the book.Did you know there are over 200 owl species in the world?! And Flaco belonged to one of the biggest, the Eurasian Eagle Owl, with a 6-foot+ wingspan!
Free Bird: Flaco the Owl’s Dreams Take Flight is perfect for owl, animal, or NYC fans of all agesor simply for people you know who may need a bit of encouragement to follow their dreams.
The Central Park Zoo in Manhattan, NY, is home to hundreds of animals, including several bird species, like four distinct species of penguins: chinstrap, gentoo, macaroni, and king penguins.
“The Central Park Zoo is part of an effort to save wildlife that began 120 years ago with the creation of the New York Zoological Society, an organization founded on science and hope which has since grown to become the Wildlife Conservation Society.”
Publisher/Year: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers/2024
Format: Hardcover
Counting Winter, written by Nancy White Carlstrom and illustrated by Claudia McGehee, was published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers in 2024. In this fun seasonal tale, readers count woodland animals (and some exuberant children) from 1 to 12, beginning with 1 red fox silently walking through the forest.
I don’t usually review concept books, but I love, love, love picture books set in winter! Just the dreamy way the snow is often illustrated with whites and blues and other hues warms my heart. And this book is no exception. The illustrator used scratchboard and watercolor to create the dynamic art featuring all of the creatures that the author introduces and the reader follows deeper and deeper into the snow-covered, tree-dotted woods. Along with the stealthy fox, we meet talkative ravens, silent snowshoe hares, soaring golden eagles, strong musk oxen, bright-eyed owls, and more.
I like the simplicity of the text, conveying what each type of animal might do in nature, and the author includes a bit of internal rhyme (tracking, cracking) with each page turn and ends each line with winter.
“One red fox walks across the white snow quietly stalking winter.”
“Two ravens croak and gurgle cutting the sounds out of forty below raucously talking winter.”
Perfect for this time of year, Counting Winter is a lovely picture book showcasing a winter wonderland, dozens of busy animals, and lots of swirling, twirling snowflakes. Back matter features an author’s and an illustrator’s note imparting their inspiration and creative process, respectively, as well as more information about each species of animal.
Common Ravens are considered highly intelligent birds and have been known to mimic the calls of other birds and even human words. They’re also skilled flyers and can also, surprisingly, fly upside down!
Publisher/Year: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers/2024
Format: Hardcover
Kingdoms of Life, by British children’s book author and illustrator Carly Allen-Fletcher, was published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers in 2024.This lushly illustrated nonfiction picture book with a gorgeous, eye-catching cover is overflowing with images and information about the six kingdoms of life-form classification: animals, plants, fungi, protists, bacteria, and archaea.
There are millions of species of life on Earth, each sorted into one of the six kingdoms.I love that the author made sure to include some really fascinating and unusual creatures in her book for each kingdom. For example, there’s a species of wasp called a fairy wasp that’s smaller than a grain or rice. Baobab trees store thousands of gallons of water in their trunks to cope with their dry environment in Africa. Oyster mushrooms are a fungi that feed on plastic. Although seaweed looks like a plant, it’s actually algae, which is classified as a protist. There’s a type of bacteria that makes a tiny squid species glow, helping it to blend into the light shining down on the ocean, hiding it from predators. Archaea can live in conditions too extreme for most life, like the salty waters of the Dead Sea or far under the ice of the South Pole. Kids will read about these amazing creatures and so much more.
The digital illustrations are bold, bright, and brimming with dozens of examples of life in each of the six kingdoms. Each creature is numbered so that curious readers can turn to the back of the book to learn what they are. A common name and the scientific name are both given. Also near the end of the book is a simple explanation of how life forms for each kingdom are further sorted into smaller and smaller groups, such as cats into “big cats (lions, tigers, etc.)” and “small cats (house cats, Pallas’s cats, etc.)” and so on.
Lots of details are presented, but it’s not overwhelming. Facts are nicely spaced and each kingdom has its own color code. The jacket flap lists the age range as 6-10, but younger kids will enjoy viewing the animals and plants as well as all the shapes and colors spread throughout the book.
Kingdoms of Life would make a lovely gift for budding young biologists, zoologists, or taxonomists(scientists who study organisms and classify them into groups) or anyone who loves learning about animals, plants, and other forms of life. The art alone will have kids (and adults) turning the pages to see what they will discover next.It’s like a whole zoo in a book! And, although this is not a Halloween book, animal costumes are some of my favorites. Maybe a few of the creatures found in this book will inspire your kids’ Halloween costumes. Happy Halloween, everyone!
Of the eight species of bears in the world, only Sloth Bears carry their cubs on their backs. They often have two cubs at a time and will carry them both until they are about nine months old. They are even known to fight off tigers while their cubs cling to their fur!
You Stole My NameToo, written and illustrated by Dennis McGregor, was published by Blue Star Press in 2024. This beautiful over-sized picture book, called a “children’s coffee-table-art book”, follows You Stole My Name, which was chosen as a Kirkus Best Indie Picture Books in 2023. The “You Stole My Name” series continues with a third book titled You Stole My Name Tools, which is due out in 2025.
Whereas the first book compares shared animal-to-animal names (e.g. bull and bullfrog) and the third book compares animal-to-tool names (e.g. monkey and monkey wrench), You Stole My Name Too introduces shared animal-to-plant names, such as the tiger and tiger lily depicted in the striking cover image above.
This book is overflowing with gorgeous hand-painted artwork, done in gouache, by Dennis McGregor, who is also a talented designer, songwriter, and musician. Children will delight in the colorful, realistic plants and animals depicted on each two-page spread. They’ll meet a friendly ostrich with an ostrich fern, an aromatic skunk with skunk cabbage, a bright-eyed wolf with wolf lichen, and several more charming animal/plant pairs.
Along with each animal/plant pair, young readers will find Dennis McGregor’s four-line, rhyming poems entertaining and fun, and the text may even induce a bit of laughter from kids and adults alikeas each animal questions why their corresponding plant was named after them.Additionally, many of the poems include a touch of educational detail, and, of course, those unfamiliar with some of the plants, especially what they look like, will learn something new too.
Here’s my favorite verse, titled “KiwiFruit” (I’m sure you can guess the animal/plant pair):
I guess you think you look like me?
Sorry, but I disagree.
Yes we’re brown, round, and cute,
but I’m a bird and you’re a fruit!
(The covers of the first and third books in the “You Stole My Name” series)
Just like a picture book about plants and animals is perfect to feature here on Frog on a Blog, all three of these lovely books would make perfect gifts for animal, plant, and art lovers (and tool lovers? 🙂 ) of all ages!
Native to Asia, the Tiger Lily flower gets its name from its bright orange coloring and dark spots that some say resemble a tiger. In Chinese culture, the Tiger Lily is a symbol of good fortune.
It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a board book here on Frog on a Blog. But board books are essentially picture books, just in a different format. They’re for the littlest book aficionados, infants to about three years old. Thanks to their extra-sturdy covers, board books hold up well in the hands and mouths of these future readers.
Today, I’m pleased to share, on a rainy Wednesday here at home, Hello, Rain! by Katherine Pryor, with illustrations by Rose Soini. Hello, Rain! was published by Schiffer Kids in 2024. It’s the second in the “Hello,” series, following Hello, Garden!, by the same author and illustrator, which received the IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association) Benjamin Franklin Gold Awardin 2022 for its age category.
Both books feature the same diverse family. And, as you can see from the covers, the kids are the stars. In Hello, Rain!, readers follow the family as they set off to play in the rain. The children enjoy splashing in puddles and drawing in mud until a thunderstorm drives them all back to the safety and comfort of homewhere a family story time, followed by a bubble-filled bath, proves to be the perfect way to end the day.
The rhyming, rhythmic text adeptly uses short sentences and simple noun/verb pairs to create mood and movement throughout the story. The colorful illustrations, which I believe are watercolor, depict sweet kids and lots of outdoor scenes, including birds, squirrels, trees, and plants. Parents will have fun pointing out a sleeping mouse, baby robins, and curious worms. What I like most about this book is just the pure joy the kids express while playing outside in nature.
Hello, Rain! is a great choice for the little book and nature lovers in your life!
On average, American Robins lay 3-4 eggs in a clutch but only 1 egg per day. They also typically lay more than 1 clutch of eggs throughout the nesting season.
Topic/Theme: Easter, the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christian holiday
Of Note: Meaningful, rhyming text and vivid illustrations
Favorite Line(s):And soon the ground began to shake. The skies grew dark, a huge earthquake! The guardians were terrified! “This was the son of God!” they cried.
Title: Bear Finds Eggs
Author: Karma Wilson
Illustrator: Jane Chapman
Publisher/Year: Margaret K. McElderry Books/2024
Topic/Theme: Friendship, eggs, helping others
Of Note: Sweet, rhyming text, vivid illustrations, and cute animals
Favorite Line(s):Bear leaves a present in the straw and the sticks. “Some sweet, dried berries for the soon-to-be chicks.”
It may be St. Patrick’s Day today, but did you know that Easter is just two weeks away? Easter is the most important holiday in the Christian faith because it celebrates the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from the dead. Interestingly, the date of Easter changes each year because it’s based on the lunar calendar. It generally falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox (first day of spring). That’s why Easter can occur anywhere between March 22 and April 25.
Many people, including non-Christians, celebrate Easter around the world. I grew up Catholic, and I have fond memories of attending a special Easter mass at church(usually sporting a new outfit), having a delicious dinner at home, and dying eggs in lots of fun, bright colors. We also enjoyed Easter baskets filled with chocolate bunnies and eggs, jelly beans, and various other candies. Mom hid our baskets somewhere in the house, and we had a lot of fun finding them.
Some people include other things besides candy in their kids’ Easter baskets, such as toys and books. Including books about Easter is a no-brainer, and I’ve got two lovely–and very different–Easter-themed children’s picture books to share with you today.
Journey with Jesus: an Easter Storyis a good first introduction to the origins of the Christian celebration ofEaster. Detailed illustrations and rhyming text will capture a young reader’s attention as they follow the path of Jesus from the day He enters the city of Jerusalem upon a humble donkey to the night He was betrayed to His heartbreaking crucifixion to His joyous Resurrection from the dead. This Bible-based story is moving and, at times, sad and, perhaps, a little heavy, as it depicts scenes of betrayal and injustice, as well as Jesus’s death upon the cross, but the ending brings joy and hope. When sharing Journey with Jesus: an Easter Story with children, be prepared to reassure them and possibly answer questions. Pairing this book with others about Jesus is recommended so that kids can learn more about His life and who He is.
Summary from the back cover: Walk with Jesus through the special days of Holy Week. From the joy of Palm Sunday to the love and mystery of the Last Supper, from the sorrow of the Garden of Gethsemane to the triumph of the empty Garden Tomb, young readers are invited to journey with Jesus all the way to Easter and experience His great love for each one of us.
Bear Finds Eggsis the latest book in Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman’s popular The Bear Books series. This super sweet, brightly illustrated (in acrylic paint) story follows all of the familiar and adorable animal friends on a mission to find Mama Meadowlark’s four lost eggs. As they discover each one, they decide to paint them so that they’ll be easier to spot if they ever go missing again. Told in fun-to-read rhyme, Bear Finds Eggs isn’t overtly Easter-themed, but, instead, the holiday is alluded to via the painted eggs, the egg hunt, the way the word Eggs is colorfully depicted on the cover, and the fact that it’s Hare who brings a basket to put the eggs into. This simple friendship story is actually perfect for spring because it’s brimming with cute, baby birds–robins, ducklings, and, of course, meadowlarks–who all hatch from pretty eggs discovered by Bear and his pals.
Summary from the jacket flap: In the forest, near the glen, on a wild, wooded trail, Bear and his friends spot eggs! Bear is leaving little presents for the soon-to-hatch chicks when he hears the call. Mama Meadowlark has lost her eggs! How will she find them all?
A hinny is the result of a cross between a female donkey and a male horse, while a mule is the result of a cross between a male donkey and a female horse.
Favorite Line from the Book:There was a huge forest of grasses and trees that blew in the cool of a blustery breeze.
If you’re searching for an action-packed picture book that features animals, nature, educational back matter, and rollicking rhyming text, you’ve found it! Author Jody Jensen Shaffer’s book Creep, Leap, Crunch: A Food Chain Story, has all of that and more. The story, told in a cumulative fashion akin to There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, introduces and “connects” a food chain in a deciduous forest in a satisfying way. Not only that, but the lyrical text is so much fun to read aloud.
I must admit, being an animal lover, I was a tad concerned about how the story was going to turn out. After all, it follows six hungry animals from sunrise to sunset as they swoop in on their prey. But I’m ecstatic to report that, after several daring escapes, the ending is delightful and happy.
Illustrator Christopher Silas Neal’s depictions of landscapes, vegetation, and animals, including various insects, such as a cricket, as well as a deer mouse, a red milk snake, a red-tailed hawk, a red fox, and a black bear, are charming and detailed, and were rendered in slightly muted tones, using mixed media. Be sure to look under the book jacket for a surprise case cover (also known as an undie!).
Back matter features a short glossary and interesting information about each specific animal in the book. For example, black bears can be black, gray, cinnamon, or white. And red milk snakes can grow up to two feet long.
Overall, Creep, Leap, Crunch: A Food Chain Story is a great first introduction to food chains for kids. The very youngest readers may find some of the images a smidge scary, though not enough to deter a parent and child from enjoying the book together.
A female red fox, known as a vixen, can have between 2 and 12 pups per litter.
Title: The Little Tiger(My Little Animal Friend series)
Author: Nicola Killen
Illustrator: Nicola Killen
Publisher/Year: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books/2023
Favorite Line from the Book: But then she remembered…she was a tiger!
Special Features: Die cuts and foil stamping
The ever-clever and always-curious Ollie is back in The Little Tiger. And this time, it’s her birthday! The Little Tiger is a super-sweet addition to Nicola Killen’s My Little Animal Friend series, which includes The Little Kitten, The Little Bear, and The Little Rabbit, as well as The Little Reindeer which earned a starred review from Kirkus Reviews.I’m smitten with these books as it’s clear that the author and little Ollie are animal lovers just like me!
With boundless energy and limitless imagination, Ollie, dressed in her brand-new tiger suit and grasping a big bunch of balloons, takes readers on a high-flying adventure over houses, trees, and fields to a forest. In a clearing, she meets seven animals–Elephant, Monkey, Sloth, Rhinoceros, Zebra, Bear, and Lion–and discovers a surprise party waiting just for her. Everyone plays games, blows bubbles, and enjoys a delicious birthday lunch. Then Ollie blows out the candles on her cake while her new friends sing Happy Birthday, before she floats back home on the breeze.
Gently told with humor and heart, The Little Tiger is a perfect bedtime tale. The endearing illustrations, done in a muted color palette, satisfyingly match the story’s tone. Die cuts and foil stamping on some of the pages adds a playful element and is a nice touch.This book would make a great birthday present or Christmas gift or even both if you’re celebrating Jesus’s birthday on December 25th! I will be!
I hope you’ve enjoyed my Picture Book Month book reviews. I plan to feature a couple more reviews next month. Keep an eye out! And thanks so much for following Frog on a Blog!Happy Holidays, everyone! ❤️
Publisher/Year: Viking Books for Young Readers/2023
Favorite Line from the Book: And sometimes just appreciating how different something is can make you love it!
Can germs be cute? They can if they was drawn by Bethany Barton, the author and illustrator of I’m Trying to Love Germs, an informational fiction picture book that earned a starred review from School Library Journal! This fun book is the latest in Bethany’s popular I’m Trying to Love series, which includes I’m Trying to Love Spiders, I’m Trying to Love Garbage, I’m Trying to Love Rocks, and more.
Before I sat down to read this book, I was a tiny bit skeptical that I would like it. After all, it’s about germs. But the cover is so engaging–as are the covers of all of Bethany Barton’s books–so I kept an open mind. With easy-to-understand language and lots of humor in both text and art, I learned a ton about germs (a.k.a. in the scientific community as microbes or pathogens) and kids will, too, because books like this make learning fun!
In the story, a talking germ helps an unseen narrator (and readers) understand more about microbes and pathogens and develop an appreciation for these microscopic organisms. I’m Trying to Love Germs is chock-full of interesting scientific facts, such as humans have billions of helpful microbes in their bodies, and the four most common types of pathogens are bacterium, virus, fungus, and protozoan. You’ll discover doctors and scientists who work with germs, which germs make you sick, and how to avoid getting sick or how to get better if you do. More complicated scientific terms and concepts are simplified on each page, with pronunciation assistance included. Bonus back matter speaks to the importance of washing your hands so that you don’t spread germs to others.
As a good first introduction, teachers and parents may find this book useful in explaining illness or even the pandemic to children. With loads of delightful illustrations (done in ink, watercolor, and Photoshop) and even a few interactive elements, I’m Trying to Love Germs brings a potentially heavy STEM concept to life in a simple and humorous way, so much so that kids may just find germs fascinating!
Christmas is a mere 40 days away. How many of you have started your Christmas shopping? Or put up your holiday decorations? Maybe you prefer to wait until after Thanksgiving, at least? Or maybe you need a little help getting into the Christmas spirit this year? I get it. It’s been a rough year, and thinking about everything that’s going on in the world is overwhelming. But that’s exactly why we need books like Red & Green, a simple novelty picture book brimming with holiday cheer. This new classic is sure to put a smile on your face.
Excerpt from Lois Ehlert’s Red & Green:
It was a cold, wintry night, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring…except a small mouse!
Written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert and published posthumously, Red & Green features an adorable take on the traditional holiday poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (or A Visit from St. Nicholas) attributed to American writer Clement Clarke Moore. Red & Green is filled with Lois Ehlert’s signature style–bold, graphic, colorful, collaged images–and die-cuts or flaps appear on almost every page. Kids will love the fun and festive pictures of trees, wreaths, snowmen, snowflakes, mittens, and, of course, the little mouse. The story follows the mouse as he wanders the house on Christmas Eve, delighting in the sparkling tree and the moon glowing on a jolly snowman outside the window. He soon finds a plate of cookies and helps himself to a snack. Just as he’s about to settle down for the night (inside a mitten hung by the fireplace), a mysterious figure dressed in red appears and wonders who could have eaten his sweet treat.
Image from Red & Green by Lois Ehlert
A great gift for little readers and sure to be a new Christmas favorite,Lois Ehlert’s Red & Green will help put the Ho Ho Ho back in Happy Ho-lidays and, hopefully, a little Merry back into your life. Cheers!
Favorite Line from the Book: Our class is a country with no room for hate.
I believe wholeheartedly that the following expression, which I’m sure many of you have heard before, is true: The opposite of love isn’t hate. It’s fear. People are afraid of many things, including, but not limited to, things that are different or things we don’t understand. Sadly, fear is expressed in hateful ways.
I’m truly baffled that, in 2023, people still treat others with contempt, cruelty, and hostility instead of trying to learn more about each other or understand one another. My hope is that the majority of people in this country and around the world know that we don’t always have to agree with or be like others in order to treat them with kindness, respect, and love. Young children know this instinctively. They’re curious about other kids and interested in making friends. They don’t care about differences.
Today’s review features a lovely, rhyming picture book by Andria W. Rosenbaum that epitomizes the idea of treating others with love and kindness. Often, school-themed picture books are about a new student or the child’s first day of school, but I like that Our Class Is A Country turns that idea around. It’s the teacher who’s new, and the diverse group of enthusiastic classmates bands together to welcome her by sharing various activities and taking her through their day. They sing, eat, play, garden, work, and create happily together.
Andria’s text flows so effortlessly and is a pleasure to read. Illustrator Dream Chen’s art is colorful and fun and features a charming cast of diverse children, as you can see by the cover above. The pictures are a nice accompaniment to the words, and kids will be delighted by both. Here’s an excerpt from Our Class Is A Country:
We’re spices! We’re colors! We’re soup in a bowl.
Our class is a country with flavor and soul.
This book is a great choice for storytimes or read-alouds in schools, libraries, or at home. As a bonus, back matter offers different ways to say hello in languages other than English, reflecting eight of the kids depicted in the story. Just like the kids within welcome their new teacher with thoughtfulness and love, Our Class Is A Country encourages every reader to do the same for all those with whom we cross paths. And if everyone treated everyone else with kindness, love, and respect, instead of fear and hate, how amazing would that be?!
Publisher/Year: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers/2023
Favorite Line from the Book: There on their doorstep was a very soft, very waggy, very lick-your-face-play-fetch-roll-over-rub-its-belly-and-chase-its-tail sort of a thing.
This silly and heartwarming book, written and illustrated by Amy June Bates, is for animal lovers (like me) and anyone who wishes they could fill their home with lots of pets, big ones, small ones, ordinary ones, and rather unusual ones. Aardvark anyone? How about a buffalo? Or maybe a whale?
The Welcome Home is about a couple, Mr. and Ms. Gargleson-Bittle, who live together in a big house and feel that something is missing. So they get a pet and then another and then another and begin to fill the empty space in their home. They love all of their animals, from the snail to the panda to the orangutan to the octopus (and many more), but something is still missing, something very soft, very waggy, and very lick-your-face-play-fetch-roll-over-rub-its-belly-and-chase-its-tail-y. It’s a good thing they have room in their hearts for just one more to make their family complete.
The text of The Welcome Homeis simple, but children will get a kick out of meeting each new animal as it’s introduced, names and all. The cover is colorful and eye catching, but I’m not as enthusiastic about the interior art. Some of the pages are a bit dark and cluttered, making the illustrations, which are done in colored pencil, hard to “read.” That said, I think kids will still find the pictures of happy, playful animals appealingand laugh-out-loud funnyin this book that Kirkus Reviews called, in a starred review, an instant classic.After all, who wouldn’t like a donkey howling at the moonor a flock of ducklings nesting in their hair?
Yep, I’m an animal lover to the core. I adore spending time with my dog. I enjoy watching nature programs on TV. Visiting the zoo is one of my favorite pastimes, and I want to bring all of the animals home with me. I’d love to put an elephant in my backyard. But, alas, I’m pretty sure my town has restrictions against it. I wonder how they’d feel about a giraffe? Hmm…🤔
I guess most of us will have to settle for reading picture books about animals. And that’s great news because those are some of my favorite books! And kids love them too!
Publisher/Year: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers/2023
Favorite Line from the Book: She’s not here yet, but she’s already my little sunshine.
With so much heartbreaking news in the world right now, I was hesitant about posting this review because this book’s topic is, to put it simply, sad. But October is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and, if just one person who has experienced the grief of pregnancy loss finds comfort and healing in the message shared by author Saira Mir and illustrator Shahrzad Maydani in the pages of Always Sisters: A Story of Loss and Love, then it’s worth spreading the word here on Frog on a Blog about such a powerful picture book.
Always Sisters: A Story of Loss and Love, published August 22, 2023, by Simon & Schuster, is about a little girl named Raya who can barely contain her excitement that she will soon have a baby sister. She knows that they will be best friends and have so much fun together running, playing, laughing, eating chocolate ice cream, and watching their favorite cartoons. Raya tells all her schoolmates about her baby sister, though she’s not yet born. She even says she doesn’t need a birthday gift this year because her little sister, whom she calls Nura, will be her gift. But happiness and anticipation soon turn to sadness and confusion when she’s told Nura won’t be coming after all. Raya learns to handle her grief through expressions of love for Nura, like drawing pictures, talking with her family and kids at school, and helping her parents plant a magnolia tree on the day that would have been Nura’s birthday, a tree that will help them all remember how Nura would have grown.
Shahrzad Maydani’s soft colored illustrations, rendered in chalk pastels and watercolors, have a hazy, dream-like, quality about them, almost as if the whole story is made of memories, which I think is a good choice for such a heavy topic.
Grief is universal, felt by everyone who loses a loved one, but young children often have a difficult time processing it. Always Sisters: A Story of Loss and Love can help kids manage such a weighty emotion in a sensitive way, especially if shared in a safe environment with family or counselors. In an author’s note at the end of the book, Saira Mir speaks about her and her family’s own experience with the loss of a baby. She says, “Talking about sad feelings isn’t easy, but sharing what’s in your heart can help you feel better.”
Favorite Line from the Book: Fortunately, stomachs growl in the same language, and Abuela knew just what to do.
Happy National Grandparents Day to all the grandmothers and grandfathers out there who share their hearts, stories, wisdom, and homes with their families! Did you know, according to AARP in 2017, the United States is in the midst of a “grandparent boom” with more grandparents than ever before, over 70 million, as the baby boomers, followed closely by Gen X, become grandmas and grandpas. That’s a lot of grandparents! And, according to Census.gov in 2021, over 6 million grandparents lived with grandchildren under the age of 18, and over 2 million of them were responsible for the basic care of their grandchildren.With numbers like those, it’s no wonder that grandparents play such an important role in our lives.
I was fortunate to have both of my grandmothers living with us when I was growing up. I’ll always remember the two of them sitting side by side in the living room, one in a rocking chair and the other with a cat in her lap, watching soap operas. My dad’s mom was a whiz at crocheting. I’ll never forget the countless pairs of colorful mittens we wore each winter. And I still have two of her afghans. My mom’s mom was a writer and self-taught poet who was published numerous times in various magazines and newspapers. I dedicated my first picture book to her.
A bond between a child and a grandparent is like nothing else, and that’s why I’ve chosen to highlight a picture book on Frog on a Blog today that features that very special grandchild/grandparent connection. I Love You Mucho Mucho, written and illustrated by Rachel Más Davidson and just published by Beaming Books, is a super sweet story about a little girl named Rosie who visits her grandmother, but her grandmother doesn’t speak English, and Rosie doesn’t speak Spanish. Rosie and Abuela spend time together, eating, drawing, playing dress up, gardening, and exploring nature, and, through the universal language of love, they find a way to communicate with very few words.
Just like Rosie and Abuela, spending time together is an important way to strengthen family bonds, create fond memories, and establish a foundation of love, something that every child benefits from and deserves (grandparents too). One activity that grandparents and grandchildren can do together is read picture books, and I Love You Mucho Mucho is a great choice!
Delightfully detailed illustrations (check out Abuela’s high top sneakers) with subtle but interesting background images and an adorable little black cat adorn this deceptively simple tale inspired by the author’s own experience in a family with language barriers. A glossary of Spanish words is included at the end.
There’s a lot going on right now. A lot. And your head is probably swirling. And maybe you haven’t been thinking about Christmas just yet.
But I think we could all use a little cheer, don’t you? With that in mind, I’m happy to share a new Christmas picture bookthat recently received the Mom’s Choice Award.
Combine one arrogant reindeer in training, one friendly Krampus, and one skeptical elf. Add a broken camera and a disappointed boy. Mix in a terrible blizzard on Christmas Eve and a sleighful of determination. And what do you get? A recipe for merriment, Randolph the Reindeer, a Christmas tale like no other.
Randolph dreams of pulling Santa’s sleigh. But when he fails miserably and is humiliated during tryouts, despite bragging that he’s the fastest reindeer and is sure to be chosen to pull Santa’s sleigh that very night, Christmas Eve, he decides to leave town.
In North Pole, Alaska, Randolph makes a new friend, a boy named Jamie. Jamie says Randolph can pull his sleigh. Randolph wants to show Jamie just how fast he can go, but Jamie just wants to take pictures. Randolph doesn’t listen, however, and crashes the sleigh, breaking Jamie’s special camera.
Jamie is heartbroken and Randolph feels terrible. He sets off through a blizzard to make things right. And with a little help from Nikita Von Krampus, Mrs. Clause, and Jeremy the elf, Randolph saves Christmas for Jamie just in the (Saint) nick of time. 😉
With a fun, engaging story by Arcana Studio founder Sean Patrick O’Reilly, and bright, cheerful illustrations by Warner Brothers, Walt Disney, and Nickelodeon artist David Alvarez, you and your children will delight in reading Randolph the Reindeer together this holiday season.And it may just take your mind off of other things for a bit.Happy Holidays!
I haven’t done a book review in a while, but with the sun shining, birds singing, kids playing outside, and the scent of spring in the air, I feel like celebrating. What better way to celebrate than to share a picture book that’s all about parades!Parades really are the epitome of celebrations, after all.
Author Andrea Denish’s brand new picture book EVERYONE LOVES A PARADE!*, officially due out on April 28, features nine of America’s most popular parades, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Tournament of Roses Parade.
Andrea’s fun rhyming text, combined with illustrator Guilherme Franco’s expressive and colorful art, makes this book a joy to read and share with the little parade enthusiasts in your household. Back matter offers more information about each parade featured, such as the fact that St. Patrick’s Day Parades in Boston and New York are the oldest parades in America, dating back to the 1700s, and that Chicago held the first official Pride Parade in 1970.
Reading about parades takes me back to my childhood home in Canastota, NY. Every year, my little hometown holds a Memorial Day Parade. My house happened to be on the parade route, which was the main street through town. We used to sit on our front porch, ready to watch the parade go by. But, the parade was so small that if you happened to run inside for a minute, you were likely to miss it.
There’s another parade that takes place in Canastota every summer, and that’s the Boxing Hall of Fame Parade or Parade of Champions, which is part of a days-long celebration of boxing (Canastota was the home of professional boxer Carmen Basilio), and ends with an induction ceremony on the last day. The festivities usually attract several boxing celebrities.
No conversation about books and parades would be complete without mentioning the Oz-Stravaganza! Parade, held in another little town (just 6 miles west of Canastota), Chittenango, NY. This town holds a weekend-long celebration every year, including the parade, to celebrate Oz creator L. Frank Baum, who was born there.
If you like parades and picture books, then I highly recommend you pick up a copy of EVERYONE LOVES A PARADE!* It is, in itself, a celebration of one of the most perfect examples of celebrations, the parade! 🙂
P.S. Did you notice the little asterisk at the end of the title? What could it mean? Read the book to find out. 😉
On the cover: A STEAM book for aspiring scientists!
On today’s date in 1969, the Apollo 11 astronauts returned to Earth after their historic trip to the moon. What better way to commemorate than to share a picture book that uses the light of the moon to celebrate a birthday!
Today’s featured book was written by kidlit friend Laura Roettiger, a regular reviewer here on Frog on a Blog. I’m excited to share her debut picture book with all of you!
In Aliana Reaches for the Moon, a clever young girl, who loves to explore, read, and create, has a special birthday surprise planned for her little brother Gus. Aliana and Gus live with their parents in the Rocky Mountains, and Aliana likes to look up at the moon and stars in the wide-open sky at night.
It’s the moon that inspires Aliana’s super secret birthday surprise. In the two weeks leading up to the big day, Aliana spends a lot of time researching, experimenting, and gathering the perfect materials. The night before Gus’s birthday, the surprise is almost ready. All that remains is the “icing on the cake”, the ultimate ingredient, the moon.
Colorful, full-page, cartoon-style illustrations fill up this cheerful book that salutes science, the moon, and family relationships. I like the inclusion of a diverse family, and the sweet relationship between older sister and younger brother. Aliana’s a wonderful role model for Gus. And Aliana Reaches for the Moon is a superb choice for fans of the moon, those who like to make and create, and for budding young scientists everywhere.
I spent most of my teaching career at a school with a population of over 90% Latinx. When I heard about Alma and How She Got Her Name, by Juana Martinez-Neal, it was especially interesting to me because I miss my Chicago students and imagined them hearing the book. Lucky for me, I have a wonderful group of students here in Colorado to read to, coming from a variety of ethnicities.
The basic premise of Alma, is she thinks her name is too long, until her father explains to her how she got the name Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela. It’s a lovely story celebrating family, tradition, and being proud of who you are.
I can turn any book into a lesson and an activity after years of teaching. With Alma, the teaching extension wrote itself. When I first told them there would be homework, they protested, but when I explained what it would be, the energy in the room shifted to enthusiasm. The children were given a graphic organizer and sent home with the task of asking their parents about the origin story of their names.
As the children returned with their homework, I learned one of them is named after a WWE wrestler that his father likes and another is named for an NFL player. One is named for a Disney character, and another is named for a character in a movie her mom liked. The stories of aunts, uncles, grandparents were also shared on the page and in class. Many of them didn’t know these stories before the assignment and that is a tribute to Juana Martinez-Neal and her inspiring story.
As a picture book writer, I’ve been studying different aspects of craft and I believe this book is a perfect example of heart. Julie Hedlund, founder of the picture book challenge 12×12, talks about how heart is so important in picture books. I find it hard to define heart, but easy to find examples. The illustrations, also the work of Juana Martinez-Neal, are unique and match the story perfectly, complete with sepia toned drawings that look like old photographs.
This book earns 5 stars from me because its simple message is full of heart and it created a wonderful family project for my students. I’m sure many families would find this to be inspirational.
Laura Roettiger is the author of the picture book Aliana Reaches for the Moon (Eifrig Publishing, 2019) She has enjoyed working with children ever since she was no longer considered a child herself. She was a reading specialist and elementary teacher in Chicago, IL before moving to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado where she worked in Environmental Education and is now a mentor for reading and writing at a STEM school. Her superpower is encouraging curiosity in children and letting them know she believes in them. Laura has three children of her own, all of whom were led by curiosity and creativity into STEM-related professions. Laura is also a part of #PictureBookBuzz, a group of authors with books being released in 2019.
Please welcome author and teacher (and Frog on a Blog follower) Laura Roettiger! Laura is the author of the forthcoming picture book Aliana Reaches for the Moon. She’s also a mentor for reading and writing at a STEM school in Colorado. She likes to use books in pairs or threes to encourage her students to make connections by comparing and contrasting them.
Today, Laura shares two books that celebrate kindness in very different ways.
I love the idea of reviewing two or more books on the same theme together. And books on kindness are some of my favorites. But what makes Laura’s reviews really special is that she’s shared the books with her students and has based her reviews, partially, on their responses to the books. As she says, “It’s an authentic way to talk about the books.” I’m thrilled to have Laura as a reviewer on Frog on a Blog!
As a teacher and curriculum developer, I don’t think of books in isolation. We always ask our students to “make connections.” In the younger grades, we ask students to make text to text, text to self, and text to world connections.
As a picture book writer, I’ve been studying picture books this year. Many, I’ve discovered on this blog (Frog on a Blog)! I like to think of how books relate to each other or something happening in the classroom or larger world.
Two books I really enjoyed this year are Catalina and the King’s Wall (Eifrig Publishing, 2018) by Patty Costello (ill. by Diane Cojocaru), and Mela and the Elephant (Sleeping Bear Press, 2018) by Dow Phumiruk Ng (ill. by Ziyue Chen). On the surface, they are very different books; one is like a many layered cake, while the other is beautifully simple. I like sharing two seemingly different books and asking my students to find similarities.
Catalina, a baker, needs to outsmart the king who wants to build a wall to keep out foreigners. (Yes, there is a political undertone, and according to the author, this was the inspiration for her book.) Lucky for Catalina, the King has a sweet tooth and she is able to use this weakness to her advantage. The illustrations are vibrant and children will be charmed by the abundance of colors, baked goods, and a tiny mouse who can be found on each page. The lessons of inclusion and acceptance are woven throughout, but the overarching theme of kindness is what my second and third graders took note of.
Mela is a little girl who wants to go on an adventure down the river without her little brother. A simple, negative exchange between them at the beginning allows the reader to anticipate what will happen when Mela gets lost and needs help. This Thai folktale is a more obvious story of kindness, but is in no way preachy, and the students were easily able to relate to Mela. The illustrations are also charming, but simpler, to match the story.
Personally, I give each of these books 5 stars because they both work as a good combination of text and illustration, telling compelling stories that work for a variety of ages.
Laura Roettiger is the author of the picture book Aliana Reaches for the Moon (Eifrig Publishing, 2019) She has enjoyed working with children ever since she was no longer considered a child herself. She was a reading specialist and elementary teacher in Chicago, IL before moving to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado where she worked in Environmental Education and is now a mentor for reading and writing at a STEM school. Her superpower is encouraging curiosity in children and letting them know she believes in them. Laura has three children of her own, all of whom were led by curiosity and creativity into STEM-related professions.Laura is also a part of #PictureBookBuzz, a group of authors with books being released in 2019.
Back Cover Blurb: It’s Hedgehog’s hedge and he isn’t sharing.
*Review copy provided by Penguin Random House Canada
All of the animals in the garden are preparing for winter. Finding a cozy place to call home for the season, like a burrow, hive, or nest, is at the top of everyone’s list. The animals need shelter in order to survive the coming cold.
The bees, foxes, birds, and groundhogs happily share their homes with the other animals. Grasshopper, who dwells under the hedge, does too, especially after Hedgehog–who lives in the hedge, all by himself, and likes it that way–turns the other animals away.
As more and more animals show up on his doorstep looking for a place to stay, Hedgehog becomes increasingly agitated and he puts up signs and builds a fence to keep them out. But when Grasshopper accuses him of being a hedge hog, he goes inside and slams the door, with disastrous results. How will the others react now that Hedgehog is the one in need?
Though overflowing with cute, expressive characters, and featuring an unusual setting and fun text, the book offers readers something more–a message about helping others, sharing what we have, and being gracious.
Taken literally, opening our doors and allowing strangers to move into our homes is unrealistic and potentially dangerous. But opening our hearts to help those in need is something each one of us can do in our own way. Whether you donate to a worthy cause, volunteer your time, assist a neighbor, or simply show thoughtfulness by holding a door for someone, you can make the world a better place. We all can. Let’s start today. 🙂
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