The Book of Candles by Laurel Snyder

Today's read is one which I meant to hit last year, but it slipped into the cracks of my pile and just recently hit daylight again. So, I'm going to take a look at it, anyway, and see is as inspiration since Hanukkah is sure to come again this year...probably faster than I notice.

THE BOOK OF CANDLES

Eight Poems for Hanukkah

by Laurel Snyder

Illustrated by Leanne Hatch

Clarion Books

Picture Book   /   Religious

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

From Sydney Taylor Award winner and National Jewish Book Award honoree Laurel Snyder comes a warm, reverential, surprising, and fresh story of one very special Hanukkah.

In a dark, dark room,

one thin candle

wakes, bursts to life

Thus begins the first night of Hanukkah in one child’s home. But what does the light from the candle mean? What are the words everyone is singing? What will each of these eight nights hold? Family and friends, takeout dinners and flat tires, traditions new and old—it’s all part of this year’s timeless, timely holiday celebration.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With a hint of calmness and an atmosphere of reflection, these pages take readers through each day of Hanukkah. 

This is a gentle but informative book, which guides young readers through each day of Hanukkah. Every night, a candle is lit, there's a small poem, and the atmosphere between family members comes to life. It's a warming way to bring young readers through the season and encourages the togetherness the holiday holds. Each night is a little different, and one night, the candle is even lit a bit late due to a busy day. So, there's a sense of reality to the entire thing as well.

The illustrations hold the violet/blue tones, which give the entire thing a nice, end-of-the-day touch. The scenes come across with familiarity, while letting readers connect with the family. The short poem on each day flows nicely. There's also a box of extra information surrounding each day for adult readers to incorporate, if they desire, or for slightly older readers to explore or their own. 

It's a nice book to greet the Hanukkah season and can accompany young readers through each day.

And here they are...

Laurel Snyder is the author of many picture books and novels for children, including National Book Award nominee Orphan Island, the Geisel Award winner Charlie & Mouse, the Sydney Taylor Award winner The Longest Night, and the National Jewish Book Award honoree The Witch of Woodland. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, she lives in Atlanta with her family. She can be found online at laurelsnyder.com.

Leanne Hatch is the author and illustrator of The Brand-new, Never-used, Perfect Crayons; Rosie and the Pre-loved Dress; and Unraveled. She’s also the artist of My Thoughts Have Wings by Maggie Smith. With a background in both fine arts and fashion design, she divides her time between writing and illustrating for children, creating patterns for textiles, and designing accessories. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. You can visit her online at leannehatch.com.

 

America Celebrates by Aubre Andrus

Today's read hits the shelves in about a week or so and celebrates the 250 year anniversary of the United States. This one claims to hold some of the most incredible and influential things of the last two and a half centuries, and I'm curious which ones will be mentioned.

So, let's open it up and see what goodness these pages hold.

AMERICA CELEBRATES

The Most Incredible and Influential People,

Places, and Events of the Last 250 Years

by Aubre Andrus

becker&mayer! kids

Middle Grade Nonfiction

178 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING MARCH 31st!!!

Celebrate 250 years of important people, places, and events in American history.

In honor of America’s 250th birthday, America Celebrates takes young readers on an exciting journey through a timeline of influential figures, notable landmarks, and special events dating back to 1776. Packed with colorful visuals and facts, this engaging and informative book covers one person, place, or event per year, introducing young readers to both famous and lesser-known, though still equally impactful, historical moments. America Celebrates offers children a fun and accessible way to learn about a diverse range of significant moments, locations, and individuals in American history, including:

• Teenage Sybil Ludington warns her community that the British are coming in 1777
• The Supreme Court rules the tomato a vegetable in 1893
• Eleanor Roosevelt hosts an all-female press conference in 1933
• Simone Biles makes history in the 2024 Olympics

With hundreds, even thousands, of possibilities, America Celebrates also discusses the challenge of only choosing one person, place, or event to represent per year. The book provides a list of questions discussed when selecting choices, encouraging young readers to reflect on the important contributions of each option. Further, the text encourages its young audience to engage with American history, inviting them to add their own people, places, and events to the list.

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, young readers can take a deep dive into the fascinating facts of American history in America Celebrates.

GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

250 years of United States' history rolls through these pages, carrying a broad range of directions with all sorts of information surprises.

After a short introduction, a map of the United States, and a quick list of a few interesting people and facts to get the history curiosity going, this book dives into a chronological line-up of people, events, and unexpected facts to give a glimpse at the huge variety U.S. history has to offer. The chapters are divided by years and take a look at all sorts of facts from the time frame. The range of items hit upon is vast, including everything from the Boston Tea Party to Taylor Swift's Era's Tour. The moments are briefly introduced and explained, sticking to a light atmosphere which highlights important aspects while keeping things interesting. Many of the historical aspects are familiar, but more than a few are also lesser-known and sure to surprise. Each of these is explained in a short paragraph or two and the themes head in all sorts of directions, including music, politics, inventions, foods, and so much more. To add a little more fun, quick tidbits are scattered in little, yellow rectangles throughout the pages, and these give a strange fact in just a sentence. At the end of the book, there's a glossary to help define more difficult terms and an index for locating names, places, and events quickly.

Reading this book feels like visiting a huge, varied buffet of United State's historical facts. There's something for everyone and it's hard to guess what might be next. Especially in the first section, many events and people hit upon well-known things, but as the book continues, more lesser-known facts come into play. This keeps things interesting and broadens the horizons in so many ways. As the last, most modern years hit, the variety is very spread-out and includes things, which will especially interest the age group. The information is presented in a relaxed, enjoyable manner, making it an easy read. Of course, this isn't a book to be read in one sitting, but rather, works well to be visited again and again. There are colorful photos and illustrations packed in as well. 

Fans of facts and interesting tidbits as well as young history enjoyers are sure to enjoy this one.  

Who's Hiding? Under the Sea by Janet Lawler

Today's read is for the youngest readers out there and includes flaps to lift up and see what's inside. I adore flap books, so that already sparks my curiosity. I'm also curious to see what this book holds, since it heads into the nonfiction direction. Readers will take a peek at various sea creatures...and maybe, more? I'm ready to find out!

WHO'S HIDING? UNDER THE SEA

Lift-And-See

by Janet Lawler

Illustrated by James Weston Lewis

Phaidon

Board Book

12 pages

ages 2 and up

COMING APRIL 1st!!!

Guess who’s hiding under the sea in this lushly illustrated, rhyming read-aloud guessing game, then lift the sturdy cardboard flaps to meet the ocean ’s most amazing creatures - both familiar and wonderfully weird!

There are six sea creatures hiding in the book: can you guess who’s hiding under the surface?

This playful lift-the-flap book takes toddlers on an underwater adventure, introducing them to the wonderfully weird creatures of the ocean – and shows how their unique features are what make them amazing. On each spread, a hidden sea creature is described with a lively read-aloud rhyme, while peek-through details give extra clues to the animal’s identity. Little hands can lift a satisfying, sturdy flap to reveal who’s hiding under the sea.

For example:
Who carries mama’s eggs in his belly? (Lift the flap - it’s the seahorse!)
Who’s covered in slime so they don’t feel stings? (Peek under - it’s the clownfish!)

The answer is revealed under the flap through a stunning, vibrant illustration of the creature, snug in its environment. Each reveal is paired with a fun fact, encouraging toddlers to learn more about these fascinating animals.

The exciting guessing-game format, gorgeous illustrations inspired by lino-printing, and bouncy rhyming text that’s perfect for reading aloud, makes learning about marine animals innovative and memorable. Featuring an array of ocean creatures, from familiar favourite the blue whale to the wonderfully wacky pufferfish, this book is perfect for mini oceanographers and those who are just dipping their toe in the topic.

Whether you’re heading to the beach, visiting the aquarium, or diving into ocean themes at school, this is a joyful celebration of sea life - and of all the unusual features that make each creature unique.

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

This is a fun dive into the ocean to discover a few interesting creatures, which live there.

Sturdy and ready for little hands to explore, this board book takes readers into the ocean and introduces them to six different inhabitants. Each one possess an amazing attribute, allowing these pages to introduce young readers to the interesting life found under the water's surface. The left side of each page spread holds a few lines of a little rhyming quiz, in which the 'fish' introduce themselves in a cute guessing-game using their special talent as a clue. Then on the other side of the page, there's a big flap in the form of seaweed and such, which opens up to reveal the creature as well as another short line of information about them. 

This is a colorful book which lets each scene come across with vibrant life. The flaps are sturdy, ensuring more than a few read-throughs of fun. The creatures and the sea world invite with enough details to offer readers time to gaze at each one. The text flows very well and fits the age group nicely. While the youngest listeners won't always grasp everything, various facts will catch their attention and stick...and the older end of the intended age group won't feel 'babied' since the information still slides enough into their direction as well. 

It's a cute and fun way to introduce the youngest readers to a few fun facts about sea life.

Pack of Hearts by Danette Vigilante

PACK OF HEARTS

by Danette Vigilante

Illustrated by Stefan Henson

Chichi Books

Children's Fiction

124 pages

ages 7 to 10

COMING MARCH 20th!!!

Pack of Hearts is an illustrated early chapter book for readers ages 7–9, inspired by a true story.

Slick is a thoughtful junkyard dog who believes that looking out for others matters, even when life is hard. When Luna, a gentle poodle from the neighborhood, is suddenly separated from her mom, Slick refuses to stand back and hope for the best. He pulls together a small, unlikely pack, each with their own strengths and fears, and sets out to help her find her way home.

As the pack follows clues through the neighborhood, their journey leads them somewhere unexpected, where kindness, responsibility, and courage begin to shape the outcome in ways they did not anticipate.

Warm, emotionally grounded, and gently humorous, Pack of Hearts explores empathy, community, and what it means to take responsibility for one another. With illustrations throughout and a story that invites both independent reading and shared discussion, this book is well suited for young readers who enjoy animal-centered stories with heart.

GOODREADS    /    AUTHOR WEBSITE

MY TIDBITS

Friendship, helping others, and never giving up combine with a pack of dogs (and a cat) to adore.

Slick...or at least, that's what the junkyard owner has named him...has been bought and forced to guard the owner's business. Stuck on a chain and mistreated, Slick is more than depressed and sees no way out of his situation, but he's not as alone as he first thought. Slowly, other pets from around the neighborhood meet him, and while he gains a few new friends, his situation remains dark. Then, one of the dogs goes missing, and Slick knows he has to do anything he can to find her and help out. So, he accomplishes the impossible and breaks free. Joined by his new friends, the group hunts downs clues and learns so much about themselves in the process.

This is a wholesome read with emotional goodness. It's impossible not to feel for Slick as he finds himself in a horrible predicament. More sensitive readers should be aware that there are nods toward animal abuse, but these are kept completely in range of the 7 to 10 age group. It's easy to cheer for Slick when he, finally, breaks free, and the entire group is fun to root for as they work together and face challenges they didn't expect. There's a wonderful sense of friendship, working together, persistence, and stepping beyond ones own comfort zone to make this an inspiring read.

The text fits nicely to the age group with large font and ample spacing. There are well-done illustrations sprinkled in, which add a nice touch. The chapters are nicely sized for readers, who are sure of their words but might still feel overwhelmed by full-fledged middle grade novels. 

It's an adorable adventure and not just for animal fans.

Seven Ways Through The Woods by Jenn Reese

Today's read seems to invite to an adventure, and I'm always ready for an adventure. Add the woods, and these pages hold tons of promises. We live in an area where plenty of woods surround us. While it is fun to walk through them, ticks, honestly, keep our adventures a little more subdued. However, my children have spent plenty of time building lean-tos, mushroom hunting (yes, we have edible ones), looking for things to craft with, looking for treasures, hunting turtles, and so much more. 

Let's see if this book opens up to the amazing wonders the imagination can offer when in the woods.

SEVEN WAYS THROUGH THE WOODS

by Jenn Reese

Illustrated by Devin Elle Kurtz

Greenwillow Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

Are you brave? Are you curious? Are you ready for an adventure? Then you are invited on the most magical of journeys—through the woods.

There are many ways through the woods. Some are long and winding. Some are as quick as a blink. You might encounter griffins, giants, serpents, sprites, and more along the way. Which path will you choose? What will you discover?

Acclaimed author Jenn Reese and rising star artist Devin Elle Kurtz celebrate curiosity, imagination, and wonder in this sumptuous and timeless picture book for fans of Knight Owl, The Bakery Dragon, Endlessly Ever After, and Journey. A fantastical and awe-inspiring adventure for listeners of all ages.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Seven possible paths through a forest offer a magical adventure.

These pages speak to the reader/listener directly and present the situation of standing on a path, which leads into a forest. There are seven possibilities, which the reader/listener can choose, and these pages offer a look at each one. From sprites who enjoy celebrations to flying griffins, the pages open up to a rich, fantasy world. As the reader dreams of each possibility and contemplates which one they might choose, a seventh choice, at the end, offers an inviting surprise.

This is a book which invites to the realm of imagination and dreams. The first image of a girl, who is standing at the edge of a forest, reminds a little of the Red Riding Hood tale. While these pages don't have anything to do with fairy tales, they definitely embrace fantasy creatures and magical possibilities. Each turn of the page holds a new wonder and will have readers/listeners wishing they could step into this forest themselves.

The illustrations are beautiful and let the fantasy and magic flow. Readers/listeners can view these on their own and let their fantasies weave as they take in each scene. The text is kept short enough to hold the interest of even more reluctant listeners and introduces each moment just enough to allow the illustrations to shine. 

Of course, there's a message hidden behind the tale, which encourages young readers/listeners to seek their own path through life and not follow the same steps of others. It makes a lovely read for group settings, individual moments, or even as a bedtime read.

And here they are...

Jenn Reese (they/she) is the award-winning author of the middle grade novels Puzzleheart, Every Bird a Prince, A Game of Fox & Squirrels, and the Above World trilogy. They also write short stories and essays. Seven Ways Through the Woods is their first picture book. Jenn Reese lives in Portland, Oregon.

 

Devin Elle Kurtz is the author-illustrator of The Bakery Dragon and the illustrator of Mother of Sharks, by Melissa Cristina Márquez. She has worked in the animation industry as a background painter/designer and visual development artist and has also illustrated many book covers.