Ann Grifalconi’s 2007 picture book Ain’t Nobody a Stranger to Me is a book of layered history. It is told as a family story, by […]
Giraffe Math
Stephen R. Swinburne’s 2023 picture book Giraffe Math includes good scientific facts for kids interested in giraffes (or nature/science more generally). Some of those facts […]
A Few Blocks
The first thing I noticed about Cybele Young’s 2011 picture book A Few Blocks is its design. It is laid out horizontally, like a landscape […]
Impossible
Isol’s picture book Impossible (2018, published 2021 in English) was a disappointment, because it was Isol. Perhaps I should explain. I recently learned of Isol, […]
The Great Dinosaur Sleepover
I’ve mentioned before that my public library puts stickers on some picture books to guide parents and readers. Some are standard, like labeling picture books […]
Fireworks
The 2025 picture book Fireworks is written by Matthew Burgess and illustrated by Catia Chien. Some picture books are primarily story, but this book draws […]
How Did That Get in my Lunchbox?
Chris Butterworth’s 2011 picture book How Did That Get in my Lunchbox? The Story of Food is a good and useful overview answer to that […]
The Couch in the Yard
2025 picture book The Couch in the Yard is rare in several ways. First, it focuses on a rural American setting. Not an idealized farm, […]
Our Lake
Angie Kang’s 2025 picture book Our Lake is rare, focused, and moving. The book’s action is simple: two brothers walk to a lake and jump […]
Loose Threads
I recently learned of Isol, and read Daytime Visions. I’m now working through all of her work I can find. If you don’t know Isol, […]