Andrea Wang’s 2021 picture book Watercress (illustrated by Jason Chin) is a book about family, tradition, and what it means to belong (and feel out […]
A Tree is Nice
I picked up A Tree is Nice as a follow-up to my recent discussion of The Happy Day. Both books are mid-20th century picture books, […]
The Happy Day
The Happy Day is a 1949 picture book written by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Marc Simont. Both of these creators had long lives–Krauss died […]
Towed by Toad
Because I enjoyed Every Monday Mabel (and, to a lesser extent, Loops), I picked up Jashar Awan’s 2024 picture book Towed by Toad, It is […]
Extra Yarn
Extra Yarn is a picture book written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen. It was published in 2012, and was a Caldecott Honor […]
Chooch Helped
The 2024 picture book Chooch Helped, written by Andrea L. Rogers and illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz is good…and confuses me a little. Several things […]
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 […]
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 […]
Stop That Mop!
Each year since 2004, the American Library Association gives the The Theodor Seuss Geisel Award to American books for beginning readers. ALA names both the […]