Ruby's Reunion Day Dinner has been in our library's new book section for the past few months, but I only recently got around to reviewing it. While it's definitely a summertime story, the theme of family reuniting over a large meal also fits with American Thanksgiving right around the corner. Ruby is excited to celebrate … Continue reading Review: Ruby’s Reunion Day Dinner
This list is a companion piece to 27 Trans and Gender Nonconforming Picture Books. Growing up is tough. It can be even tougher for kids who are 'gender creative' - a term that describes kids who enjoy taking on roles, clothes, names, or other expressions of gender besides the one they were assigned at birth. … Continue reading Books for Raising and Loving Gender Creative Kids
This post is a companion piece to Books for Raising and Loving Gender Creative Kids. I love LGBTQ+ picture books. I love reading them; I love researching their history; I love promoting them in my library; and I love crafting recommended reading lists. Just over the last five and a half years, the number and … Continue reading 27 Trans and Gender Nonconforming Picture Books
It's not June by any stretch of the imagination, but I just couldn't help myself when I read Pride Puppy by Robin Stevenson and Julie McLaughlin. I just knew I had to review it immediately and give it two paws way up. It's got diverse art! A queer family! A runaway and found puppy! Perfect … Continue reading Review: Pride Puppy
I was deeply saddened to read about Jerry Pinkney's recent passing. To call Pinkney foundational and essential to any children's collection would be an understatement. Pinkney had a career spanning decades, exploring the world of fables, fairy tales, and biblical stories alongside realistic and historical books focusing on the Black experience. In 2010, his book … Continue reading Illustrator Spotlight: Jerry Pinkney
One of the most satisfying parts of my job is making sure every kid who comes into my library finds themselves reflected on my shelves and in my displays. In the Before Times, I worked hard to provide in-person, inclusive programming at my branch. My favorite memories come from partnering with The Culture Tree to … Continue reading 17 Titles for Celebrating Diwali
Diary of a Wimpy Kid is, hands down, the most requested series at my library. There are several hundred copies of each title in our system and they still never manage to sit on our shelves for long. This week, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot marks the sixteenth book in a series still … Continue reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid Readalikes
I'm a sucker for alphabet books, especially ones that explore different words than your standard apple/banana/cow. Concept books - books that teach about things like letters, numbers, and colors - are one of my favorite type of picture book when done correctly. There's always more room for alphabet books in my review pile. Cover of … Continue reading Book Review: I is for Immigrants
The first thing that came to mind when I'd heard that Gary Paulsen passed away was sitting in my fourth grade classroom listening to Mr. Taibbi introduce us to the unit on Hatchet. Right away I was hooked on the adventure and survival genre. I blew through the Hatchet books and a few other Paulsen … Continue reading Adventure and Survival Stories in Memory of Gary Paulsen
Readers, I'm going to jump straight to the point: this book gets 6/5 stars from me. It's the very first review for Kidlit & Caboodle and we've already broken the rating system! I'm not alone in loving this title, either. Betty Carter writing for Horn Book gave Dear Treefrog a starred review, calling it "altogether … Continue reading Review: Dear Treefrog
Kidlit & Caboodle 