Picture Books

Maximillian Villainous

I am so excited to tell you about this wonderful book by debut author Margaret Greanias. This is extra special since Margaret has been my critique partner and friend since 2011! I saw this book in its nascent forms and to see it today with sparkling text and colorful pictures– I’m in awe. <3 Come… Read more »

Keep Reading ...

South Asian Kidlit – Part 3

Dear Faithful readers, thanks so much for stopping by for another South Asian Kidlit round-up! Last one for 2018. You can use the rest of this year to catch up on your reading since there are a whole bunch of new books coming out in 2019! If you would like to check-out past round-ups click… Read more »

Keep Reading ...

How to Code a Sandcastle

Title: How to Code a Sandcastle Author: Josh Funk Illustrator: Sara Palacios Publisher: Viking Books, 2018 Editor: Kendra Levin and Leila Sales Book Type: Fiction Ages: 4-8 Theme: Coding, Persistence Excerpt: There must be a coding trick I can use. Aha! a LOOP! When you need to repeat something in code, you can use a LOOP!… Read more »

Keep Reading ...

Room In Your Heart

Title: Room In Your Heart Author: Kunzang Choden Illustrator: Pema Tshering Publisher:  Kitaabworld, March 27, 2018 Book Type: Fiction Ages: 4-7 Theme: Kindness, Generosity Opening Lines: To the east of Thimphu and west of Trongsa, somewhere among the mountains high, lived an old woman in a little house. A gray cat, a yellow dog and a brown speckled… Read more »

Keep Reading ...

Festival of Colors

The Indian holiday of Holi is coming up next week, March 1 & 2, 2018 so it seemed appropriate to review this wonderful new picture book which introduces the holiday that will appeal to both newcomers to the holiday and those already familiar. Title: Festival of Colors Author: Kabir Sehgal & Surishtha Sehgal (check out the interview… Read more »

Keep Reading ...

Be Kind

I’m so excited to share this lovely book. It seemed like the perfect choice since Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) week is coming up February 11-17, 2018.    Title: Be Kind Author: Pat Zietlow Miller Illustrator: Jenn Hill Publisher:  Roaring Brook Press, 2018 Editor: Connie Hsu Book Type: Fiction Ages: 4-8 Theme: Kindness Excerpt: What does it mean to… Read more »

Keep Reading ...

South Asian Kidlit 2018 – Part 1

I am so excited to bring you this year’s crop of South Asian Kidlit books. There are so many books coming out this year that I will be breaking it down into three posts over the course of this year. And for the first time ever we have over 10+ picture books coming out in… Read more »

Keep Reading ...

Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years

Title: Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years Author: Stacy McAnulty Illustrator: David Litchfield Publisher: Henry Holt, 2018 Editor: Sally Doherty Book Type: Fiction Ages: 4-8 Theme: Earth, Space Opening Lines: Hi! My name is Earth. Some people call me Gaia, the World, the blue marble, or the third planet from the sun. You can call me Planet Awesome. Synopsis (from Amazon website):… Read more »

Keep Reading ...

Far Apart, Close in Heart

Book Review: Far Apart, Close in Heart

Title: Far Apart, Close in Heart Author: Becky Birtha Illustrator: Maja Kastelic Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company, 2017 Book Type: Fiction Ages: 4-8 Theme: Coping, Prisoner Families’ Synopsis (from Amazon website): Children can experience many emotions when a parent is in jail or prison. They may be angry, sad, lonely, or scared. Sometimes friends act… Read more »

Keep Reading ...