I Love You This Much by Yuli Yav

I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH 

by Yuli Yav

Illustrated by Sydney Hanson

Little Simon

Board Book

24 pages

ages 2 to 5

COMING DECEMBER 1st!!!

Animal parents express how much they love their little ones in this rhyming story with art by the New York Times bestselling illustrator of I Love You Like No Otter.

I love you the distance
from high above
to down below.

Sweet safari animals try to put into words the boundless love they have for their adorable babies in this tender and sweet read-aloud tale.

GOODREADS     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

It's snuggle time as these pages highlight various creatures found in the savannah.

This is a sturdy board book and just right for smaller hands. Each page showcases a different type of animal that can be found on the savannah. From elephants to aye-ayes, animal fans are sure to enjoy seeing some familiar creatures as well as discover a few new ones. Each two page spread presents an adult animal and its child (sometimes two) as they snuggle together. The gentle rhyme supports the caring moments, while also perfectly fitting the scene. For example, a vulture spreads its wings with a message about loving the smaller ones 'this' much. So, there are tons of good, secure feelings in these pages.

This book flows very smoothly and creates a lovely read-aloud for calmer moments. The animals are illustrated in a way which makes them easy to identify and brings across a very positive atmosphere. The colors are also kept a little more gentle, which enhances quieter moments. And the ending seen with a night sky makes this a read for bedtime as well.

There are quite a few fuzzy feelings in these pages, letting love and care radiate from every page.

And here they are...

Yuli Yav is a writer and editor living in Brooklyn, New York. She shares her apartment with a massive plant collection and a darling black cat. 

Sydney Hanson is the illustrator of Construction Cat by Barbara Odanaka and I Am Not Happy! and I Am Not Grumpy! by Caroline L. Perry. She was raised in Minnesota alongside numerous pets and brothers. When she wasn’t tunneling through snowdrifts or rescuing frogs from rain gutters, she was drawing. Her illustrations and paintings still reflect these early adventures and are marked by a love for animals and the natural world. She lives in Los Angeles where she’s worked for several animation shops. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and spending time outside with her adopted brother, a Labrador retriever named Cash. 

Bawk to the Future by Kaz Windness

BAWK TO THE FUTURE

Time-Traveling Chickens

by Kaz Windness

Simon Spotlight

Children's Science Fiction   /   

Graphic Novel

112 pages

ages 5 to 9

Star Chapter Books are the perfect bridge for kids moving beyond beginning readers but not yet ready for longer chapter books. With short chapters, bold two-color illustrations, and fast-paced, funny stories, these confidence-building books make reading fun and rewarding.

Two chicken friends accidentally time travel back to the age of the dinosaurs in this first tale in the rollicking Time-Traveling Chickens series from Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor–winning author-illustrator Kaz Windness!

Nugget and Tenders are super-big, super-smart, talking chickens. When evil scientists trap them in a time machine, they land in the age of the dinosaurs. Not ones to be easily discouraged, these adventurous avians see their chance to change the course of chicken-kind. Can they change the past and get back to their future—or is the duo doomed to be a dinosaur’s dinner?

Each Star Chapter Book is 112 pages long, divided into six to eight short chapters with illustrated panels on every page to keep kids engaged from start to finish. This highly visual early chapter book format supports the transition from leveled readers to chapter books, making Star Chapter Books a perfect fit for independent reading, classroom libraries, or shared story time.

Look for more Star Chapter Books adventures to help kids grow confident and develop a love of reading, including the chickens’ next adventure, Nugget and Tenders’s Eggcellent Adventure!

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Time travel adventure takes an entirely new direction as two chickens try to save the entire chicken species from becoming human food.

Two chickens have had enough of being used for studies in a lab. Plus, they are determined to save the lives of the chicks there as well.When they escape from their cage and try to find an exist to lead them out of the building, they happen across a surprising experiment—a time machine in the form of a chicken bucket. By traveling back in time to the prehistoric period, they might be able to stop humans from ever wanting to eat chickens.

There are two books in this graphic novel series, and I started with the next before returning to discover this one. Now, I can recommended starting with book one, since book two makes quite a bit more sense if these are read one after the other.

This is a zany, fast-paced read, which is sure to make readers smile the entire way through. The entire situation is ridiculous and keeps all seriousness away. Not only is the idea of chickens saving chickendom an unique direction, but their interactions with the dinosaurs are more than entertaining. But this isn't only about humor. Rather, these chickens are up against a real villain, face danger, and need to even be clever at times. Readers will wonder how they're going to pull everything off...or if even they can. And this keeps those pages turning.

The graphics are bright and bold, and let each chicken shine. The text flows right along to create a smooth read. It's fitting for the age group and great for those readers, who are very sure of their words but aren't quite ready for larger middle grade reads yet.

 

A Great Gorilla by Vera Gereke

Today's read is a nod from Germany. After doing well in the German-speaking market, it's being translated to hit the English one in March 2027. I really should read these in German first, but I never seem to get around to it. Maybe that's a good thing to try to attack in the next year? 

Anyway, I've taken a peek at the reviews on this one and see mixed feelings as some readers say it's bittersweet. Or sad. So, I'm curious to find out what this gorilla is up to. 

Let's open it up and find out!

A GREAT GORILLA

by Vera Gereke

NorthSouth Books

Picture Book

48 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING MARCH 23rd, 2027!!!

Good Night, Gorilla meets The Dot in this humorous and philosophical tale of how art can make anything possible.

There is a big cage in the city park. Inside there is a great gorilla. Soon, people discover the gorilla's talent for painting. But no one expects just how that talent will set the gorilla free.

This is both the simple story of a clever escape artist and a fascinating romp through important ideas about art, freedom, and animals in captivity. With a bold color palette and cool retro-yet-modern style, Vera Gereke’s impressive picture book debut will delight every picture book reader with one of its many layers.

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Thoughts of art and freedom take a slightly different twist as they follow the experience of one very, great gorilla.

The gorilla lived in the jungle and was very happy to be there until, one day, humans came and captured him. They hauled him off to a zoo and placed him in a very small cage, where visitors could watch him. When a child asks what he can do, someone claims that he might be able to paint. So he's given a small easel, paint, brush, and canvas. At first, no one is sure what to think of his artwork, but it's about to take him on the first of several huge twists.

The artwork...that's where I'm going to start...carries its own, creative hint of style, sticking to darker tones of orange, yellow, pink, purple, blue, and green...which probably sounds colorful, but these remain in very dark, earthier directions to keep vibrance at bay. This sets the serious undertone for the read as the gorilla's fate of landing in the zoo will have readers wondering about the ethics behind animals in captivity. His very small cage, obviously, enhances this. The images, however, also draw in and create a rich world for readers to sink into and flip through on their own.

While there are 'ernsthaft' thoughts in this tale, it's also not too heavy, either. The gorilla finds a way out of his cage thanks to his artwork and ends up being more clever than anyone expected. There's a bit of magical fantasy built in...just a teeny-tiny bit to let dreams fly and possibilities remain endless. It adds a playful touch and also keeps the book from growing too weighty. Instead, it's a nice, flowing read-aloud, which will keep even more reluctant readers wondering what's going to happen to the gorilla. And they will hope everything turns out all right.

And here she is...

Vera Gereke grew up in Berlin, Germany. She completed her bachelor’s degree in communication design at the Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design in Kiel. She then moved to her current home, Hamburg, where she completed her master’s degree in illustration at HAW, the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences. In 2026, she won the Serafina Newcomer Prize for Illustration for her debut book A Great Gorilla. Her work is characterized by wit, charm, and meticulous technique. Vera is inspired by comics, city life, and roller derby.

The Wandering Wildflower by Brooke Fruge

Today's read struck me with the idea that a wildflower would wander...and the sweet looking flower in the middle. I'm hoping it isn't too message driven and weaves that nicely into an enjoyable tale with a character to enjoy. Maybe, we'll learn a little about flowers along the way?

Let's open it up and find out!

THE WANDERING WILDFLOWER

by Brooke Fruge

Illustrated by Eduarda Bittencourt

Sutra House

Picture Book

38 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING NOVEMBER 17th!!!

She thought she was searching for her place. Her roots already knew.

Somewhere in a sunlit field, a small wildflower wonders if she belongs.

She's not as tall as Sunflower. Not as bright as Marigold. Not as far-reaching as Ivy. So she wanders — asking questions, watching closely, quietly wondering what her own purpose could possibly be.

But beneath the meadow, something extraordinary is happening. Roots are reaching. Roots are connecting. And while Wildflower wanders above, she is being held below — by the very community she's searching for.

The Wandering Wildflower is a luminous debut from The Wonder House — a picture book about belonging, purpose, and the quiet courage it takes to ask who am I? Written for the child who feels a little different, a little uncertain, a little small against a very big world. And for every parent who has sat beside that child and wished them the words.

She was never lost. She was just learning to see.

GOODREADS     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Thoughtful curiosity blossoms and blooms in these pages while bringing readers a little closer to the world of flowers.

A little wildflower has her roots in the ground and constantly wonders about all sorts of things. Why is the flower next to her so tall? Or why do some flowers around seem to need more water? Finally, she grabs her courage and simply asks. Soon, she finds herself wandering here and there, learning about various flowers. Still, she feels a little lonely...until she realizes something and her roots run deep with those of so many around her.

While there is an obvious message in these pages surrounding differences, individual purposes, and a hing at how communities bring everything together, it whirls smoothly into the story about this little flower. She's extremely innocent and her thoughts aren't wrong. It's enjoyable to see her meeting various flowers with her questions and learning a little more as well as gaining friends. The questions are simple and come across very naturally as do the answers. This isn't about technical facts or sheer biology, but rather gives readers a light dive into flowers...like hummingbirds needing pollen from certain flowers. And there is little to no terminology because that isn't the purpose. Still, it teaches the first steps into the jobs and difference of flowers.

The story is light and cheerful...and curious. It asks questions readers are familiar with and ask themselves when they want to know things. I did have to smile that the wildflower's roots were always pictured in the ground as she wandered...just not very deep. That allows for a very meaningful visual change at the end. Also, there's a clever, subtle word play with wander and wonder going on. Oh, and the illustrations—can't forget those. They are simple, letting the flowers stay front and center in a sunny atmosphere. These are nicely done and bring across the personalities of the flowers softly, drawing readers in.

It's an enjoyable read either as a read-aloud in a group or one for more personal settings. It also works nicely for introductions to themes surrounding flowers in classrooms and for homeschoolers.  

And here she is...

Brooke Frugé has always known that the best stories begin at bedtime.

A South Carolina native, Brooke shares her home with her husband, her son, and two very loyal dogs. The nightly ritual of read-alouds — voices slowing, pages turning, a small head on her shoulder — first moved her to pick up a pen. Her independently published Marlon the Monster Truck series, which follows a lovable, big-hearted truck through the joys and frustrations of growing up, found a devoted readership and established her as a natural storyteller for the picture-book age.

With The Wandering Wildflower, published by The Wonder House, Brooke opens a new chapter in her work. Quieter, deeper, and rooted in belonging, it is the book she wrote for every child who has ever felt a little small against a very big world. And for the grown-ups lucky enough to read it beside them.

Brooke believes children deserve stories that take them seriously. Her books are love letters — to her son first, and then to every brave, bright kid who discovers themselves in the pages.