I welcome any creative work that gives parents a tool to talk to their children about something difficult to articulate, and Kirsten L Henry has done this with her new book Quieting Hazel’s Heart. I can’t remember with great accuracy the first time I felt...

“Dolphins are some of the most delightful animals in the world!” Watching them in movies or nature certainly reveals some of their playfulness and their ability to interact with humans with ease and compassion. In Bob Michaelson’s The Great Competitors, a story unfolds involving dolphins...

Jodie Sealy is on a quest for self-discovery. But according to her Grandmomma Helen, Jodie is full of “sass and vinegar.” In Saint Agnes’ Garden, Diana Lynn Klueh tells the story of a young girl's struggle to become a rose instead of a dandelion. Grandmomma...

Have You Ever Thanked Your Nose? Growing Gratitude for Children by Jacqui Letran is a delightful and charming tale centered around a young girl's conversation with her nose. Throughout the story, the girl explores all the wonderful things she can experience through her nose, from...

Buck, Colt, Cash, Annie, Cora, Addie, Brit, and Cooper are well-known in the neighborhood. Together, they play and lend a hand whenever they can. They are so popular that everyone calls them the Oak Street friends. This time, they want to plan a celebration to...

A Story About a Father & Son: Two Points of View, One Story by Sachiko Otohata and Brendyn Zachary is a powerful coming-of-age story, a grown-up story, and yes, partly a children’s tale as well. This unique book weaves together the perspectives of a father...

Do you know what an affirmation is? Jaimie does – it’s her positive way of starting each day. In Amarie Jelly’s Jaimie’s Magical Words, young Jaimie starts her day with these affirmations: “I am smart, I am kind, and I am ready for a great...

Nathan Ñeque: The Hunger Contest by Jane E. Ruth, with Spanish translations by Jackie Lescure, is a captivating children's folklore tale that imparts essential life lessons through an engaging story. The narrative begins with an overconfident rodent named Nathan who, having always won first place...

Alexander Finds A Home by Vicky Ann Meier is an adorable children’s book about Alexander, a sweet kitten with unique qualities who finds himself in a shelter after changes disrupt his farm home. The story follows Alexander's journey as he waits anxiously for someone to...

Playtime Clothes is written by Kim MacLean and illustrated by Tia Bates. A young boy’s room is as messy as can be. His clothes are all over the floor, some of his socks are behind the drapes, and his toys are watching from all over...