Take Me Out To The Ball Game, words by Jack Norworth and pictures by Gary Clement. Greystone Books, 2026. $23.95 ages 6 and up

 

"LET ME ROOT, 
ROOT, ROOT, 
FOR THE 
HOME TEAM,

IF THEY DON'T
      WIN IT'S
      A SHAME."

Written in 1908 and not heard at a ball game until the 1934 World Series in St. Louis, this song has become an iconic anthem for many baseball games, including ones played in packed MLB stadiums. It's a fun song to teach in early years classrooms, and is one of those books that young readers will soon be reading for themselves. 

What Gary Clement has done is create an illustrated story for the familiar words. An eager young fan does his best to have his father leave the endless pile of work on his desk so that the two can head out to enjoy a ball game together. The father is not sure he has the time, what with all the work facing him. The child is not willing to give up on his dream. 

By singing the song, he entices his father to consider all they will see while there: the crowd, the food vendors, the perpetual action as the game begins, and the joy that comes from rooting for a favorite team. Soon Dad is joining in the song, and the two are in the car and on their way to a packed stadium full of ardent fans. A home run makes their day. 

Watercolor, gouache and ink artwork shows the child in different roles within the ball game experience. The bond between parent and child at a venue they love will certainly help it find fans who will want to sing it again and again. It is a beloved tradition of summer baseball.                                                                                           

When You Dream Big! Written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. Orchard Books, Scholastic. 2026. $27.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Charley sat on her hands, 
thankful her teacher pointed to Hazel. 

"I want to be an astronaut!" Hazel shouted
confidently. "I'm going to MARS! Anyone 
want to come with me?" 

Laughter and cheers rang throughout 
the room."

As a teacher I never celebrated DREAM BIG Week with my students; I certainly like the idea that Peter H. Reynolds presents in this book about Charley and her classmates. For Charley, it is a problem right from the get-go. She has no idea about big dreams. As the others begin writing their ideas on the wings provided, Charley sits and broods. The only dreams Charley had were the ones she had at night, and she rarely remember them in the morning. 

Once it was time to share, many of her classmates were wild to share their ideas. Charley hoped against hope that she wouldn't be asked. Hazel shared her dream of being an astronaut; Charley was afraid of heights. Martin chose acting, which made Charley terribly uneasy. As they continued to share ideas, Charley's nervousness became critical. Her teacher's assurance that there was no need for an immediate answer made Charley even more anxious as she walked home. 

The worry finally made her stop in her tracks to stare at her toes. Only then was she able to think clearly about moving forward, determined to worry less. Imagine her surprise when she awoke the following morning with a remembered dream and a willingness to admit she was not sure about her future. She did, however, know that she wanted to be braver, and a good person. Her thoughts led her classmates to consider what was important to them in the days to come.  

After sharing this book in a classroom, I would be keen to make a list with students of their further ideas about what it takes to keep moving forward from where they are. I think it could be a telling conversation for everyone involved. 

https://youtu.be/tCR1AfoKAFQ?si=nxSM1qTBBUcc4Vq1

Brown Girl in the Snow, written by Yolanda T. Marshall and illustrated by Marianne Ferrer. Greystone Kids, 2025. $24.95 ages 4 and up

"As the weeks went by, Amina daydreamed
of the greenhouse trip. She couldn't stop 
talking about it at school with Yavan and 
Priya. Her family listened to her ideas and 
songs of growing the sweetest potatoes."

Moving to a new country can be a very difficult transition for most people. Moving from sun-filled days and time spent climbing coconut and mango trees to come to Canada in the throes of winter makes that challenge even more daunting. Winter is not an easy climate for anyone. Watching the kids outside her window happily playing in the snow and cold air has Amina longing for home and a place to plant her garden. Her older brother lets her know that she will have to wait for spring and warmer weather. In the meantime, she can water the plants that are inside the house. As she does, Amina sings a sad song. 

"There's a brown girl
in the snow, 
Tra la la la la, 
where none of her 
plants will grow,"

Amina sang."

As she does her best to avoid being outside, her father takes her to the library where she can learn about gardens and gardening. At school, her teacher is helpful when she understands how much Amina is missing home and the plants she grew there. It sparks an idea. The plan is for a trip to the greenhouse which is something new to Amina. Her classmates are excited, sharing memories of their family farms in the Republic of the Congo and in India. Yavan and Priya convince their new friend to join them outside to play where they can share thoughts and fun. 

The days pass and soon it is time to embark on the field trip. What excitement and warmth swirls about her as Amina makes her way inside. The joy dims when told there are no sweet potato plants. It returns once more when she learns there are slips that need to planted right away. Mr. Lokon, the greenhouse keeper, suggests Amina help with the planting, and then come back to help with watering and caring for the growing plants. In four months the children will be welcome to help with the harvest. It's a task that gives Amina much happiness. As she patiently watches the plants grow on her visits to the greenhouse, she also practices patience in adjusting to her new home.  

An author's note talks about Ms. Marshall's childhood move from Guyana to Toronto. Ms. Ferrer uses a rich watercolor palette to provide a warm setting for the learning and the transition being made. The song refrain based on a traditional Afro-Caribbean ring game repeats throughout, always offering a new ending to rhyme with 'snow'. 

Seven Skies All at Once, written by Ted Kooser and illustrated by Matt Myers. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"And then a fifth sky went past, 
wearing an apron piled high with 
cumulus, which it probably had 
taken down from some other
contrail hidden behind one of the 
towers, perhaps strung between 
two of them."

Light clouds fill the skies above as a young child watches. She and her mother are busy hanging clothes to dry. Across the way, a young boy waves a greeting as he and his father do the same thing. Those cirrus clouds she is watching are soon on the move as the wind picks up and sends them higher. Over a period of time, the clouds continue to change from one type to the next in metaphors that describe them as pieces of laundry; from freshly washed clouds to dry to a moth-eaten, dirty gray woolen blanket of stratus. 

Matt Myers matches the strong imagery of Ted Kooser's words with artwork that fills each spread with splendid observances of a sky in constant motion. His clouds are easy to identify in the skies above: cirrus, cirrocumulus, altocumulus, cumulus, stratocumulus and more. The two young children are unable to have a conversation because of the distance between their buildings, and the noise of the approaching storm. 

As the wind blows and the storm rattles everything it touches, the girl sends a note across by clothesline to the boy on the other side. The rainstorm increases in intensity as the boy writes back. A final spread shows readers their messages. A perfect ending!

"And after it stopped, the skies left behind
a green laundry basket with a handle that 
looked like a rainbow."

Remove the dust cover to see the space that separates one family from the other, as they do their laundry on a cloudy, windy day.                                                                               

The Couch in the Yard, words by Kate Hoefler and illustrations by Dena Seiferling. Neal Porter Books, Holiday House. Penguin Random House, 2025. $25.99 ages ages 4 and up

 

"This is the car that sputters and runs
as they load up the couch, still warm from the sun ... 
... to go on a trip that they take every night
with their dog in the back and their couch tied tight."

Oh, I love this book! Always a city kid, I rarely had the chance to immerse myself in the wonders of the outdoors where nighttime brought deep darkness. Reading it evokes memories of family visits with relatives who lived in rural Saskatchewan, and the many treasures that found space in yards and fields nearby. A dentist's chair, an old tractor, abandoned cars and other implements provided endless games during our visits. 

In this house in the hills, the family's yard sports a rusted old car up a rutted road and beneath the trees. Near the house is a couch, just sitting in that yard. Put the two together and you have an adventure waiting to happen. There are people there who know just what to do to get that car started, to get the sofa loaded on the car's roof, and to set off on a nightly trip along gravelly roads up the mountains and down, where abandoned cars litter a field. Once there, imagination has free rein to fly them over and above the field of cars into the beauty of a moonlit night where stars shine and the warm glow offers peaceful wonder. 

Their adventure ends and they return home - 

"where a car and a couch aren't thrown away -
where they fly in the night and sleep in the day."

A walk back to the house under the moonlit sky is filled with family love, and a readiness to head out again tomorrow. The cumulative rhyming text and atmospheric digital illustrations put readers in a place of beauty and serenity, where the family finds joy in being together in the wonders of the world that is theirs. 

Brave, written and illustrated by Weshoyut Alvitre. Kokila, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 6 and up

 

"My dad is so proud to teach us our 
traditional ways: to let our hair grow 
long, to stand up for what we believe 
in, and to be brave. 

But when I get teased at school, my 
mom is the one who has to speak with
the teachers about our traditions. 
My dad becomes so angry about it, 
he loses his words."

A braid is at the heart of this story. A young Indigenous boy starts out unhappy about the daily horror of having his hair braided by his mother. The tugging and the knots hurt. He endures the hurt because the braid holds such importance for him; it gives him strength. He badly wants hair like his father who explains the cultural traditions of his people. 

The boy finds himself admiring the dancers at powwows, and longs for the day when he can be like them. Starting school with his braid is not easy; he is taunted and teased by others. His determination helps him stay strong and brave in the face of their mistreatment. Sometimes, it makes him hurt and angry. That behavior leads to his father sharing stories from his younger days, and the fact that he was forced to have his hair cut. It wasn't until he was older that he wore a braid again; he had to teach himself to be brave always. 

"Be the bravest person 
you can be. Your ancestors'
strength is inside you."

His father's stories also include remembrances of his ancestors, and the rules they were forced to follow. Their stories are sad, full of fear and acceptance for things they could not change. The boy's father honors a promise he made when his son was born: to never cut his hair unless it was the boy's decision. 

""You are the newest brave one in the generations 
of brave men and women who have tried their best 
to stand up for the things they believe in," he tells me."

The author's memorable images are created using gouache, watercolor, and ink. The rich colors and careful depictions of traditional life, both past and present, connect the boy to his history and encourage readers to think deeply. 

In The Desert, written by David Elliott and illustrated by Gordy Wright. Candllewick Books, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 6 and up

"THE SAND CAT 

She looks as if
she might just be 
the family pet, 

that is to say, 

mild, domestic. 

Yet like her 
roaring cousins

to the south, 

she is - 

in her small way - 

majestic."

I have long been a fan of David Elliott's work. His eight other books about animals and where they live were always a part of the poetry workshops I did in schools, in an effort to have children give poetry a try. Those books were mentor texts to help them see how focusing on one habitat and doing research to investigate its inhabitants gave them a starting point for thinking about their writing.

His new book honors the Sahara Desert and its native dwellers. The first of fifteen poems is about the desert itself. Fourteen different creatures follow on double-page spreads that offer a clear look at each, and the environment that is their home. The language is, as always, expressive and often ingenious. At times, the author speaks directly to the featured creature. At other times, he offers an apt description. 

Gordy Wright's digitally finished gouache and acrylic images bring the Saharan landscape to full life as background to his realistic, often aggressive, desert denizens. There are times when they appear to be looking directly at the reader, offering both intimidation and charm. That depends on the creature depicted. The Painted Dog's steely stare sparks alarm, while the gentle gaze of the Sand Cat oozes grace.

Back matter offers very useful further information in Notes About the Sahara Desert and the Animals. The Sahara Desert is not nearly as desolate and forbidding as one might have come to believe. 

"The Dung Beetle: Dung beetles make their living by forming balls of the waste of other animals and rolling them back to their nest. Maybe that seems kind of gross. But think aobut this before you dis these tiny workers: they navigate the desert by the Milky Way, enabling them to find a straight line back home. Like GPS, but way cooler."

If this post has whet your appetite for more by this outstanding poet, you can check out In the Woods, At the Pond, On the Farm, In the Wild, In the Sea, At the Poles, On the Wing, and In the Past.                                                                                      

 

Nevin Knows, written by Mireille Messier and illustrated by Eelena Comte. Orca, 2025. $21.95 ages 2 and up

"Nevin knows how to get to the park. 

This way? 
     NO!

This way?  
     NO! 

This way? 
      NO!

This way? 
YES! YES! YES!"

What a fun book for a grandparent and toddler to share! Nevin and Grandpa Frank are getting ready for a play in the park when they begin their decision making. Nevin knows what he wants to wear on his feet. Grandpa is keen to let him choose, while offering a number of choices: winter boots (NO!), sandals (NO!), slippers (NO!) and finally, sneakers (YES! YES! YES!).

The pattern for the telling is now set, and it won't be long until little ones are reading aloud. Still not out the door, it's time for a decision to be made about the type of outerwear needed. A cool hat is chosen, and now they are ready to go. Does Nevin know the way to the park? After a few questions, he proves that he does. Their arrival leads to finding a perfect play place. 

Nevin loves to swing, higher and then higher; so high he can see everything around him as he goes back and forth. There is one final thing Nevin wants to do before they make their way home. HE needs to pick some flowers for Nana. It takes some patience and looking to find just the right ones. One more thing that Nevin knows is how to make Nana smile. Well done, young man! 

Elena Comte's digital illustrations complement the repetitive tone of the story, always keeping Nevin front and center with his grandfather as they thoroughly enjoy an outing together. The book provides an invitation to those sharing it to think back on some of their other experiences with grandparents. Take it with you the next time you walk to the park with someone you love! 

Wind Watchers, written and illustrated by Micha Archer. Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 3 and up

 

"And when we hear 
wind chimes playing
at night, that's Wind 
singing us to sleep."

The Canadian prairies have had their share of wind and cold weather over the first few weeks of February. We are happy to know that the next few days will bring a reprieve. In Micha Archer's new book, readers follow a trio of children with a specific question for Wind.

"How will you blow today?" 

As the seasons pass them by, Wind always has an answer. In spring, Wind puffs at petals, nudges clouds and plays with wind chimes. It's not always easy to know which way the wind will blow. In summer, it helps fly kites, and brings breezes to cool hot bodies that refuse to move. It also surprises with summer storms and chases children inside to watch from a safe space. 

Through the seasons, Wind continues to be a part of the children's activities and musings. Lovely language and gorgeous acrylic ink and collage artwork offer a clear and telling look at wind and its wonders. Readers are sure to be dazzled by the changing perspectives, the varied experiences, and the full-of-joy ending. 
                                                                               

Toto, written and illustrated by Hyewon Yum. Neal Porter Book,s Holiday House. Penguin Random House, 2025. $25.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Then I realize my bangs
are upside down, too,
and she must have seen Toto. 

I wonder how Toto looks to Niko. 

Does Toto look strange? 
Does Toto look ugly?"

The sweet girl who narrates this story is very conscious of the birthmark on her forehead. She wonders what she might look like without it. Her family is supportive and offers ideas to help her worry less. She has given her birthmark a name - Toto. When strangers notice Toto before really seeing her, she is embarrassed by their attention. 

With attendance at school on the horizon, Mom cuts her hair in a way that makes Toto less noticeable to others. The child continues to have some reservations. Meeting a girl with best-friend potential opens her heart to new shared experiences. The two spend all their time together. 

"Her name is Niko. 
She thinks I'm hilarious! 
I think she is too. 
We love the same books! 
We both love seaweed!" 

It isn't until they are hanging upside-down together on the playground that Niko even notices Toto. Niko's reaction is PERFECT! 

Filled with expressive faces that show real emotion, this heartwarming story encourages discussion focused on friendship, empathy, insecurity and acceptance, and identity. Art using pencils, colored pencils, and watercolor is filled with warmth, while also making Toto prominent in full pink color at many points in the story. Toto is part of who the child is, but does not define her in any way. Unless - it is to make her 'extraordinary'!                                                                               

 

How Elegant the Elephant: Poems About Animals and Insects, written by Mary Ann Hoberman and illustrated by Marla Frazee. Little, Brown and Company, Hachette, 2025. $27.99 ages 4 and up

 

"Zebra Stripes

Zebra stripes
In black and white 
From right to left 
and left to right. 

Zebra stripes
In white and black 
From back to front 
and front to back."        

Mary Ann Hoberman is a poet whose work I greatly admire. Her death in 2023, at 92, was a sad loss to the world of children's literature. Ms. Hoberman had an infectious spirit that inspired many young children to find joy in words. This posthumous collection of 60 poems gathered from her extensive body of work is completely focused on animals and insects. She chose her favorites and then added 8 new poems for this partnership with Marla Frazee, a former collaborator. 

As I read the book from start to finish, I found myself remembering a few old favorites and wanting to share more and more of them here. They are full of her spirit, offering riddles and quick-witted looks at some of her favorite animals. Ms. Frazee opts to place each poem in a hotel settling. It makes the reader think that these poems were written to be presented in just such a place. They are listed alphabetically by title and shown on spreads that allow readers to see how happy the animals and insects Ms. Hoberman so loved are while being with friends. They present a cohesive whole for the lively assortment of creatures. 

"Dragonfly

You get what you eat with your feet when you hunt
While you fly which is why your six feet are up front
Like a net. You like meat like mosquitos to eat 
Which you see with your eyes and you seize with your feet. 
Dragonfly."

A lot of research was done in order to write this poetry. There are many scientific facts assimilated for young readers. Then, there is the fun Ms. Hoberman infused into the writing she did for her audience. Kids who are lucky enough to share this book will surely find their very own favorites. The art pays homage to a friend and collaborator. Ms. Frazee fills spreads with details that will have readers hooting with laughter and smiling with pleasure for the scenes created. Done using black Verithin pencil and watercolor, the artwork encourages careful observation and conversation. Be sure to take a close look at So Many Kinds of Animals if you want to see a yoga class in action, then turn the page and check out the donkey's follow-up assignment. 

"Ants

I like to watch the ants at work
When I am out at play. 
I like to see them run about 
And carry crumbs away. 

And when I plug an anthill door
To keep them in their den, 
I like to see them find a way 
To get outside again."

Ten-Word Tiny Tales of Love, by Joseph Coehlo and 21 Artist Friends. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2024. $24.99 ages 7 and up

"She painted every stroke
with the colors of her heart."

This companion book to Ten-Word Tiny Tales to Inspire and Unsettle (Candlewick, 2023) is just as intriguing, following the same format as the first. It is another exceptional collection of ten-word stories that are accompanied by stunning artwork by a different artist for each one. 

Can you really tell a love story in only ten words? It turns out that, from the pen of this acclaimed British writer, you can indeed. In fact, you can tell 21 stories, ask 21 artists to accompany each with their personal interpretation, and design another wonder of imagination and creativity sure to please readers. They are also certain to activate thoughts and interpretations of their own, and perhaps encourage keen readers to try more of the same. Just imagine! 

There are stories here about family, nature, pets, broken hearts, ghosts, color, and so much more. You will have your favorites, as I do. Kids will go back to read them again, and then again. Each time they are sure to discover something they have not considered in earlier readings and viewings. 

It begins with a note that explains how Joseph Coehlo found power in words of 'love and kindness'. He describes them as 'stories of love of all kinds', and explains how the words found him. Once written, they provided the encouragement he needed to ask these fabulous artists to contribute their personal interpretations. Final pages offer inspiration for budding writers to think about the five parts of a story: a normal day, something unusual happens, what do they want, there's a problem, and they solve the problem and get what they want. Or do they? 

He ends with terrific advice for all would-be writers. 

"Remember, the important thing is to have fun with your story. Enjoy the adventure of making your story reach its full potential."                                                                             

The Sun Never Hurries, written by Roxane Turcotte and illustrated by Lucie Crovatto. Pajama Press, 2024. $22.95 ages 3 and up

"Charlie is amazed by all of the 
wildflowers along the way. 

When Charlie was in the car, 
she never noticed the flowers. '

It's the first Sunday after Labor Day today; that means it's Grandparents Day! I hope it's been a celebratory one for all grandparents whose love and support for their grandchildren is endless. 

On a visit with Papa, Charlie asks her grandfather about the hourglass on his library shelf and what it does. Papa Jo is happy to let her know that it reminds him of how important it is for him to take time to get things done because every minute of the day is very special. 

Lunchtime isn't for going to a restaurant; it's a chance to work together in the kitchen to create vegetable soup. Both are very pleased with the results. Next, Papa offers a surprise. Charlie expects them to take the car. Papa has a better idea. They will have a walking adventure: wildflowers for a bouquet, a visit to an ice cream store, a rowboat ride to a nearby island and a chance there to watch dragonflies and frogs, and a search for small stones to treasure. There is even a swing that Papa made from fallen branches where they can watch the leaves float past them.  

On the way home, they chance to see a mama duck and her babies. When they arrive back at Papa's house, Charlie turns the hourglass upside down. Then, it's time to sit together and watch the sunset. What a day it has been! 

And what a calm and lovely bedtime story this would make at the end of that long and leisurely day! 
                                                                                  

Bunny Loves Beans, by Jane Whittingham. Pajama Press, 2024. $21.95 ages 2 and up

 

"Soft black, shiny black, 
Popped off the bush black - 
Black for a fox, 
And black for me!"

She's done it again! Jane Whittingham has added book #7 to the Big, Little Concepts series, and it is another delight for little ones.

Its pages explore foods and their colors, and makes the reading easier for those wanting to be independent. From the gorgeous front and back endpapers through the entire length of the book itself, there is much to for young readers to see and enjoy. A groundhog munching a bright orange carrot encourages the child on the facing page to try one himself. 

As they move from spread to spread, readers will learn about variety in color and the animals who enjoy the bounty, and the children willing to try what is described for themselves. It is a tasty and vibrant display. The text invites vocabulary growth, while the consistent pattern creates confidence with what is to come next. 

"Healthy colors,
vibrant colors, 
Yummy in my 
tummy colors -
Colors for the animals, 
and colors for me!"

The final page encourages parents and caregivers to up nutrition for their children by letting them help choose the foods, by talking about what they are seeing while shopping, and by working together to create food for the dinner table. 

Any (or all) of the books in this series would make a welcome and appreciated gift for any young child, and those who love them. 

Ready to Soar, written and illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld. Dial, Penguin Random House. 2024. $24.99 ages 4 and up

 

"The eagle spread its wings wide. 
"I rule the sky because I'm large and in charge. 
Trust me, it needs to be bigger!" 

Riley got more paper out. 
"I can fix that.""

Riley, dressed in goggles, a leather flying cap, and a blue onesie is a reader. Having just finished reading Flying 101, inspiration hits and plans are made to fashion a paper airplane for its first flight. Takeoff  is imminent when a large eagle swoops in to have a say about the size; it must be bigger! Riley is receptive to the advice and creates a bigger one. 

Before sending it skyward, a parrot puts a stop to the launch by suggesting it must be fancier. Always open to support and suggestions, Riley uses markers in hopes that will make the difference needed. There is no end to relentless advice from a falcon (faster), a goose (longer), a flamingo (taller), a pelican (stronger), a crane (slimmer), and an owl (smarter). Each agrees it must be BETTER!

When a CRASH occurs, Riley is finally ready to return to the original plan just one more time. Then, a penguin wants to have a say. 

"WOO! You got this!"  The penguin clapped its flippers. 
"I  just didn't want to miss it!"

Just ahead of takeoff, Riley makes one small change ... it is all that is needed for a perfect flight!   

As fans will know, Cori Doerrfeld creates charming digital characters and scenes, filled with wonder and warmth. Listeners will be totally engaged by this gentle story about believing in oneself and having a friend to share your success. 
                                                                             

Something on the Hill, written by Jane Kohuth and illustrated by Sonia Sanchez. Anne Schwartz Books, Penguin Random House. 2024. $24.99 ages 3 and up

 

"Mother Bear opened one eye, and the 
two Bear Cubs yawned. The Bears stared at 
Field Mouse. She thought they looked hungry." 

It's early in the morning when Field Mouse awakens to change. "Something on the hill' is calling to her. She rushes off and soon meets Gray Squirrel who is eating his last acorns. Squirrel agrees he can smell something. Off they go together. It isn't long until they meet Doe who wonders why they are in such a hurry. They explain, and she joins them. The ice in the stream has melted and Turtle is there watching. Turtle has long experience with the goings-on at the Hill. Realizing that Field Mouse is having trouble fording the stream, Turtle offers help. 

On they go! Their journey slows to ensure that Turtle can keep up. As they reach the pond, they see that there is still some ice there. The Mallard family are sitting on it. They decide to follow along. Not wanting to leave the Bears behind, Field Mouse marches bravely into their cave to tell them about the Something. Their parade is complete. 

Full sunlight graces the hill as the animals climb up and up. At the very top, they see it! 

" ... a leafy shoot, tiny and green." 

Finally, spring has arrived in all its glowing glory! 

What a great book for reading out loud to little ones! The mystery and drama of discovery, the friendship and willingness to follow, and the quiet humor displayed throughout makes for a lovely read as spring is celebrated. 

Digital art provides the anmals with expression and personality, and the setting in morning light is lovely. Turning the book to vertical adds interest as they make the final ascent, adding interest and delight.                                                                                   

All That Grows, words and pictures by Jack Wong. Groundwood. 2024. $21.99 ages 4 and up

 

"When daffodils start 
popping up everywhere, 
even in muddy ditches, 
my sister tells me they're
the flower of Mother's 
Day. We pick a bouquet
to give to Mom - after
rinsing off the dirt, of 
course."

I read this from Jamie Oliver today: Tonight, the sun will set around 6pm and won't set before 6pm again until 29th Oct. I love just thinking he is absolutely right. It gives hope for the arrival of spring as days get longer, and sunnier! 

This wonderful new book by Jack Wong is testament to that as well. The young child who narrates this homage to growing is on a neighborhood walk with his sister. As they go, smelling the flowers and checking out all they see around them, she teaches him about plants. They return home with some of the first daffodils of the season for their mother. 

The world turns green. Now is the time for his sister to teach him about gardening, too. The weeds in her garden appear out of nowhere, covering her many vegetable seedlings. It is a lot of work for both to keep those weeds at bay. Together they work. As they do, she shares what she knows. Some of what he is learning has him wondering: 

"I wonder why some plants are called 
flowers, and others are called weeds. 

And how some can be both, like goutweed, 
which people used to call ground elder and 
planted in flower beds on purpose."

How does his sister know so much about plants and gardening? How on earth will he ever know what she knows? When tiny white flowers emerge from the ground, he is surprised to learn she doesn't know what they are. She will have to do some research. The boy observes that they are both learning, and he gains confidence in trying some of his own gardening. It's reassuring to learn that everyone has something to learn. 

As in previous books, Jack Wong's artwork impresses. His pastel images command attention for his use of light and shadow, perspective and its effects on the reader. It has a warmth that is both reassuring and impressive. 
                                                                              

Enough Is ... Written by Jessica Whipple and illustrated by Nicole Wong. Tilbury House, Firefly. 2023. $25.99 ages 6 and up

 

"Enough breakfast might be a waffle 
without strawberries because someone
else needs the berries more than you do."

In this world we live in, where too many people are barely able to provide food for their families and meet their other needs while others spend untold amounts of their money on frivolous, expensive items that have no lasting impact for themselves or their families, we need to stop and ask ourselves: when is enough ENOUGH? 

Our kids need to learn to answer that question for their own lives, as they deal with so much social media and peer pressure to fit in with others and have what others have. It is vitally important to be able to take the time to really consider how much any of us need. Can you have too many clothes? Too many toys? Too many books before bed? Too much food?  I could go and on ... and I am sure you would have much to add to the conversation. 

"Somewhere between a little and a lot, there is Enough. 
It might be hard to spot, but it's always there."

It is a tough concept for adults, as it is for the little girl whose mother is helping her understand the difference between what she wants and what she needs. It is hard to understand when you see so many others with what you think you need. If time is taken and thought is given, it eventually becomes clearer. Enough isn't a number. As the words explain what enough really is, the girl's awareness and her happiness grow as she learns the value of sharing what she has, when she has enough. 

What a concept! The warmth displayed in the illustrations perfectly match the tone of Ms. Whipple's gentle text. Young children will be very interested in taking close looks at the various scenes. The older the reader gets, the more thought-provoking it becomes. Imagine the discussion! 

When will you reach your limit? 

https://youtu.be/Xewi2TV-MRg?si=Jrka8cRKf4bvYem-