Eli’s Story: What Makes Me, ME! by Tracey Lear is based on a poem written by the author for her son. The story takes shape as a boy, Eli, decides to present his feelings about his autism to his classmates. At the beginning of the...

Otis the Trash Talking Octopus by Gina Giordano reminds us that there is a lot of trash dumped in the ocean and humans put it there. It’s killing the sea life and destroying what once was so beautiful. Out for a boat ride one sunny...

Have you ever had trouble making friends? Did one of your friends move homes, and for some reason, you lost touch with each other? Construction Connections is a heartfelt story about two such friends by Marissa Santos. Once, there was an excavator named Tracks on...

In the whimsical picture book Trolly the Troll: The Magic of Kindness by Charly Froh and Zuzana Svobodová, a troll learns that happiness comes from kindness and serving others, not through material things. Wondrous creatures roam the beautiful, magical land of the Emerald Kingdom. All...

In Freddie The Fly: Seeing Through Another Lens by Kim Delude, Freddie becomes upset because his best friend decides to work on a project with someone else. One of his classmates smacks him, and another gets angry. Freddie thinks their behavior is not his fault....

Keith Stoeckeler’s picture book, The Sparkly Bun, is a clever way to teach young readers not only about being creative and using their imagination but also about building their self-esteem and being comfortable with who they are. The story is told in simple language so...

In The School of Failure: A Story About Success by Rosie J. Pova, some of the fairy-tale characters in this account fail to measure up to expectations during auditions. Those that were not successful are taken to the School of Failure. While trying to...

Mr. Owl’s Classroom Presents: Bobby the Bobcat by Will Kelly introduces Mr. Owl, who loves teaching his third-grade students, including Bobby. The class is a mixture of twenty-six animals that range from large cats, birds, and alligators to elephants, rhinos, and hyenas. The animals each...

If Dad Can Do It, So Can I by Jonathan Marshall is a lovely book for children that the author dedicates to his family. Beautifully illustrated pages are enriched with short chapters in verse written from the perspective of a small boy as he shadows...

Brody the Lion Needs a Hair Cut by Dr. Kristin Wegner starts with Brody, a little lion cub that hates getting haircuts. The sensation of getting his hair wet and the buzzing noise of the clippers makes Brody want to run away, but with his...