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This Is How We Play celebrates inclusion, adaptation

Jessica — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 11:27:51 +0000

THIS IS HOW WE PLAY: A CELEBRATION OF DISABILITY AND ADAPTATION, by Jessica Slice, Caroline Cupp, Kayla Harren, Dial Books, Sept. 24, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 3-7)

This Is How We Play: A Celebration of Disability and Adaptation, by Jessica Slice, Caroline Cupp, Kayla Harren, focuses on inclusion.

With love and adaptation, this is how we play! This read-aloud with an empowering refrain, from disability rights activists Jessica Slice and Caroline Cupp, demystifies and respects how disabled people and their families use adaptive, imaginative, and considerate play so everyone can join in the fun.

Back matter consists of a kid-friendly guide to thinking, learning, and talking about disability; a glossary of the different disabilities represented throughout the book; and a guide for grown-ups on ways to encourage discussions about disabilities with the children in their lives. Throughout, This Is How We Play centers, affirms, and encourages the disabled children and adults who are already doing the challenging work of advocating for themselves and finding strength in community. —Synopsis provided by Dial Books

This Is How We Play celebrates the fun and joy that can be had when adapting play to include everyone. The disabilities in this book range from ALS and Down syndrome to limb differences and Parkinson’s disease.

The text in the book has a rhythmic bounce to it that echoes the positive sentiment. And the bright illustrations are full of life and movement. Where This Is How We Play excels is showing disabilities across generations — kids, parents, grandparents, friends and beyond. We’ve had to make some of these adaptations in my own home, and it’s lovely to see them represented in a picture book. This is a must-have book for every library.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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Rashin Kheiriyeh’s The Seasons of Parastoo is beautiful story of hope

Jessica — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 11:24:13 +0000

THE SEASONS OF PARASTOO, by Rashin Kheiriyeh, Nancy Paulsen Books, Aug. 6, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 3-7)

When a girl’s mother leaves for the winter, the changing seasons bring hope that the things the girl loves most will return in the spring in The Seasons of Parastoo, by Rashin Kheiriyeh.

Parastoo loves the colors that make up her world, and especially loves the blue swallows in the tree outside her window. She’s sad when they fly south for the winter—and this year is hard because her mom has to go away for a while, too. Fortunately, her grandparents take great care of her, and she continues to find joy in the wonders of each season. But she longs for spring, when her mother will return just like the swallows.

Celebrating the cycles of nature, this warm family story offers a reassuring message about how seasons of nature—and life—come and go, each with their own special beauty. —Synopsis provided by Nancy Paulsen Books

The Seasons of Parastoo is a beautiful exploration of love and nature. Author/illustrator Rashin Kheiriyeh’s lyrical text is warm and inviting. And Kheiriyeh’s use of color helps define bright spots, even in the cold, long winter. Kheiriyeh’s watercolor, oil, acrylic and pencil illustrations are full of life and movement. Children will relate to the feelings of hope and anticipation as well as the frustration that comes with waiting. It’s a lovely read.

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Lizzy O’Donnell’s The Day Bell Found Her Sound is adorable

Jessica — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 11:51:28 +0000

THE DAY BELL FOUND HER SOUND, by Lizzy O’Donnell, Viking Books for Young Readers, July 2, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 3-5)

A young mouse tries to find her place in her community’s symphony of noises in The Day Bell Found Her Sound, by Lizzy O’Donnell.

In a town bursting with music, everyone marches to the beat of their own drum. Except for a quiet mouse named Bell, who doesn’t yet know what her sound is. She tries honking, tooting, strumming, even tapping, just like she hears her neighbors doing. But none of it feels quite right! None of it feels like Bell. Figuring out her place in the village, it turns out, might just mean finding her own voice first. —Synopsis provided by Viking Books for Young Readers

The Day Bell Found Her Sound is a celebration of discovering out truest selves. At the center of Lizzy O’Donnell’s story is Bell, and adorable young mouse who loves the melody of her town but doesn’t know how to be a part of it. The harder Bell tries to fit in, the more she stands out. And it isn’t until she takes a breath and gets lost in the melody that she truly becomes one with it.

O’Donnell’s story is thoughtful and charming. Their pastel-toned illustrations are full of energy and pair perfectly with their warm tone. It’s a lovely book that’s perfect for preschoolers.

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Mini Review: A Love Letter to My Library is joyous picture book

Jessica — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 11:02:55 +0000

A LOVE LETTER TO MY LIBRARY, by Lisa Katzenberger and Rob Sayegh Jr., Sourcebooks Explore, June 4, 2024, Hardcover, $14.99 (ages 4-8)

Celebrate all the things that make libraries great in A Love Letter to My Library, written by Lisa Katzenberger and illustrated by Rob Sayegh Jr.

Everyone loves visiting the library! Children―and adults alike―enjoy searching the shelves for new adventures, curling up in their favorite cozy chair during story time, and even laughing with their friends during arts and crafts. The library has something for everybody!

Thank you, library, for books in every nook and cranny.

Thank you, library, for taking me on adventures from the seas to the stars.

Thank you, library, for helpers who find the perfect book that I hug hard the whole way home. —Synopsis provided by Sourcebooks Explore

A Love Letter to My Library is a joyous picture book that celebrates all the facets that make libraries so wonderful. Warm and cheerful text is paired with bright and inclusive illustrations. This would be a serve as a great introduction to little readers as well as remind their parents of the happiness a world of books brings.

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Excellent picture books foster social and emotional learning

Jessica — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 11:00:03 +0000

Social and emotional skills are some of the most important things a young child can learn. The following books cover self-expression, self-belief, understanding your moods, making friends, and learning to be brave.

EARNEST SANDPIPER’S GREAT ASCENT, by Timothy Basil Ering, Candlewick, May 7, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 3-7)

The time has come for three young sandpipers to soar, but Earnest seems tied to the ground. He has wings and tail feathers just like his brother and sister; what makes him so afraid? Magic will happen, Mom promises, when he’s ready. But no matter how much she and Dad coach him or his siblings cheer him on, Earnest’s efforts only lead him into danger. Perhaps, with his family’s support and a little trust in himself, they’ll lead him out again. —Synopsis provided by Candlewick

Earnest Sandpiper’s Great Ascent is a charming tale of a bird that’s not quite as ready to take the next big leap as his siblings. His mother’s reassuring words, “We all find our strength at different times,” is something that all kids could benefit from hearing. Author/illustrator Timothy Basil Ering’s story is heartwarming, and his charcoal, ink and acrylic paint artwork is beautiful. Children will love Earnest’s journey.

TERRIBLE HORSES: A STORY OF SIBLING CONFLICT AND COMPANIONSHIP, by Raymond Antrobus and Ken Wilson-Max, Candlewick, May 7, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 3-7)

My sister is cooler than me.
I want her friends to be my friends.
I want her things to be my things.

For one little boy and his older sister, fights are always waiting to happen—when he takes something without asking, jumps on her bed without asking, even wanders off without asking. And when they fight, they don’t use words: it’s all push, pull, hurt, hide. To cool off after, the boy retreats to his room to write and draw stories—stories about terrible horses trampling and galloping, while he is a lone pony unable to compete or speak or sleep. One morning, the boy wakes up to find his sketchbook missing, taken by his sister. What now? Will this make things worse, or could it help them to finally understand each other? —Synopsis provided by Candlewick

Terrible Horses is a story anyone with a sibling can relate to. The boy learns to use art and creativity as an outlet for his anger, and by doing so, he helps his sister do the same. This is an excellent exploration of conflict and ways to overcome it.

GRAY, by Laura Dockrill and Lauren Child, Candlewick, May 7, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 3-7)

Today I feel gray.
But that’s OK.

Some days you may feel sunshine yellow or orange-balloon bright. Other days you’re gray, or even night-sky black—like a dark scribble on a page, a storm in the clouds, or a puddle in the road. Gray is when you don’t feel like yourself, or like you don’t belong. But however you feel, there are big hugs (red) and loving lullabies (blue) waiting, and even the grayest sidewalk is a canvas for you to fill with the colors you choose. —Synopsis provided by Candlewick

Gray is an exploration of feelings through color. Simple, accessible text is combined with bold art and thoughtful die-cuts, creating a clear understanding of basic feelings. Supportive language acknowledges sadness while assuring children that they are loved.

JUST LIKE MILLIE, by Lauren Castillo, Candlewick, March 27, 2024, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 3-7)

A young girl and her mother move to an apartment in a new city. Despite her mother’s efforts to take her out, the girl would rather play by herself in their cozy home—she feels just fine on her own. Introductions to children her age have her hiding behind her mother’s legs, and invitations to group activities have her in tears. That is, until she meets Millie, a rescue dog who is not too big, not too small, and kisses her arm when the girl nervously reaches out. With Millie, saying hello to new people isn’t so scary . . . and maybe making a friend isn’t either. —Synopsis provided by Candlewick

There are a lot of things to love about Just Like Mille. One of my favorite elements is the girl’s mom allowing her to take things at her own speed. Just Like Millie is like a warm hug. From Lauren Castillo’s gentle and honest prose to her soft and inviting illustrations, this book is one that children, especially shy ones, will immediately feel at home with.

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Summer Is Here is joyful celebration of season

Jessica — Wed, 29 May 2024 11:28:48 +0000

SUMMER IS HERE, by Renée Watson and Bea Jackson, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, May 7, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 3-6)

In Summer Is Here, author Renée Watson and illustrator Bea Jackson offer readers an ode to the perfect summer day.

“Summer is here!
No dark clouds in the sky,
it’s a perfect day for play.
What joy will summer bring me today?”

Summer is finally here, and she’s bringing the most perfect day! From sunup to sundown, there’s so much to do on this lovely summer day. With summer comes fresh fruit, sweet and tangy, jump ropes for leaping and dancing, and friends at the pool swimming and floating. Summer brings family cookouts under shady trees, gardens overflowing, and the familiar song of the ice-cream truck. This beautiful ode to all the season’s sensations follows one girl’s perfect day in an exploration of joy, family, friendship, sunshine, and wonder. —Synopsis provided by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

“Her stars shimmer like spilled glitter across the sky.
I whisper a wish and say goodbye to the day.
I wish summer would stay.”

Every kid who has just finished school will immediately relate to Summer Is Here. The season is ripe with possibilities, and author Renée Watson hits on so many of them. With each turn of the page Watson asks readers to savor the moment, savor the little things and the big. Illustrator Bea Jackson captures the joy and wonder with bright and expressive illustrations. Particularly strong are her illustrations of movement — jumping into the pool, jumping/twirling rope, throwing water balloons, etc. These moments capture action mid-step and feel almost like photographs.

Summer Is Here is a joyful picture book that makes you smile.

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Mini Review: Learn about food and culture with ABCs of Persian Food

Jessica — Sun, 26 May 2024 11:52:31 +0000

THE ABCS OF PERSIAN FOOD: A PICTURE BOOK, by Sunny Sanaz Shokrae and Ly Ngo Heisig, Harry N. Abrams; Bilingual edition, May 14, 2024, Hardcover, $14.99 (ages 3-5)

Learn about Persian food and culture in The ABCs of Persian Food, by Sunny Sanaz Shokrae and illustrator Ly Ngo Heisig.

From Anar to Zereshk, this picture book proves that the way to anyone’s heart—and appreciation of a new culture—is through their stomach! The ABCs of Persian Food introduces a Persian dish for each letter of the alphabet, with the aim of teaching phonetics and conversational Persian to pre-readers.

Examples of the dishes include: F is for Fesenjan, a slow-cooked chicken stew with toasted walnuts and pomegranate molasses; L is for Lavashak, a fruit leather snack Iranian kids love; and R is for Reshteh polo, a special rice and noodle dish served on the Spring Equinox.

Extended back matter includes a glossary for English-speaking readers, complete with phonetic pronunciation, Persian text, and a tantalizing description of each featured food. —Synopsis provided by Harry N. Abrams

Author Sunny Sanaz Shokrae wrote The ABCs of Persian Food in hopes of teaching her young son about favorite foods and how to pronounce their names. She wanted to bridge the gap between being a Californian and Persian. She hopes it will bring joy to all who love Persian food.

Each letter focuses on a food and is written in English and Persian text. The text is accompanied by eye-catching images that are bold and graphic.

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Wat Kept Playing tells story of first person of color in NBA

Jessica — Fri, 24 May 2024 11:01:22 +0000

WAT KEPT PLAYING: THE INSPIRING STORY OF WATARU MISAKA AND HIS RISE TO THE NBA, by Emily Inouye Huey and Kaye Kang, Shadow Mountain, March 5, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 3-8)

Learn about the first person of color to play in the NBA in Wat Kept Playing: The Inspiring Story of Wataru Misaka and His Rise to the NBA, by Emily Inouye Huey and Kaye Kang

As the child of Japanese immigrants, Wataru “Wat” Misaka often felt like he didn’t fully belong in either Japanese or American culture. He was sometimes excluded, treated differently, and bullied, even though he was born in the United States. As he grew up, however, Wat discovered he had a very special talent for playing basketball. Even at just five foot seven, he was unstoppable.

After leading his high school team to a state championship, Wat played for the Utah Utes and helped the team win the 1944 NCAA championship. Wat kept playing even as Japanese Americans from the West Coast were sent to incarceration camps for the duration of World War II. Then, after two years serving in the United States Army, Wat returned to basketball, leading the University of Utah to Madison Square Garden and winning another national championship. The cheering crowd recognized Wat the way he wanted to be seen — as a person who was both Japanese and American and an amazing basketball player. Talent scouts from the New York Knicks were so impressed, they drafted Wat to their team. Wat’s undeniable talent changed history as he became the first person of color to play in the NBA. —Synopsis provided by Shadow Mountain

Wat Kept Playing is an inspiring story of determination and grit in the face of racism. Author Emily Inouye Huey captures Wat’s drive with clear text that drives the story forward. And illustrator Kaye Kang’s use of space and silhouettes expertly conveys emotion. This is a book that will appeal to a large cross-section of readers — fans of history, basketball, WWII, etc. It’s a compelling picture book biography.

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Kids — and parents — will love Ed Vere’s Elephant and the Sea

Jessica — Fri, 10 May 2024 11:00:38 +0000

THE ELEPHANT AND THE SEA, by Ed Vere, Doubleday Books for Young Readers, May 7, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 3-7)

Follow the story of a brave elephant who reaches for his dreams in The Elephant and the Sea, by Ed Vere.

“There is only one thing I want to do . . . So I will do it!”

Gabriel the elephant dreams of being part of the lifeboat crew in his seaside town, but he is too young, and too little. But soon, Gabriel grows up and he is too . . . BIG! Disappointed but undaunted, Gabriel makes a plan. He hammers and chops, saws and sands, and builds his very own boat.

One night, a great storm hits, and it’s Gabriel’s time to shine, pulling his oars alone against the crashing waves to save a crew in peril. —Synopsis provided by Doubleday Books for Young Readers

Gabriel is a charming character — both when he’s young and old. Ed Vere’s gentle tale of an elephant who dreams big and makes it happen is brilliantly realized through words and illustrations. He perfectly captures the excitement and disappointment of trying to accomplish something. Parents will immediately see their own children in Gabriel, and kids will easily relate.

Vere’s text is full of energy, making the book a joy to read aloud. And Vere’s illustrations are so full of movement and energy, it’s hard not to get excited. of particular note is Vere’s use of color and blank space through which he adds emphasis and emotion. Kids and their parents will love The Elephant and the Sea.

About Ed Vere:

ED VERE is the author and illustrator of numerous picture books, including How to Be a Lion, The Artist, and the New York Times and USA Today bestseller Max the Brave. He lives in London. Learn more at ed-vere.format.com.

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Discover joy in the little things in Dianne White’s Finding Grateful

Jessica — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 11:35:03 +0000

FINDING GRATEFUL, by Dianne White and Faith Pray, Chronicle Books, April 16, 2024, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 5-8)

Finding Grateful, written by Dianne White and illustrated by Faith Pray, encourages young readers to find gratitude in the smallest of moments.

What does grateful look like? How does it feel? How do you find it? Even in the face of a challenge, you don’t need a map: You just need to pay attention to the little things—a smile, a hug, the smell of newly cut grass—that add up to a sense of presence and hope.

This book is a reminder to pause, reflect, and take in the glimmers of positivity and connection that can be found amid even the most difficult circumstances. —Synopsis provided by Chronicle Books

Gratitude is a way children — and adults — can center themselves. Two years ago, my daughter’s school theme was Beyond Grateful. Students were asked to think about the things they were grateful for and then take action. Finding Grateful does the same.

Author Dianne White’s prose is gentle and warm. Phrases like, “I wonder: can grateful be a smile?” help young readers understand how something simple can have a big impact.

Illustrator Faith Pray’s artwork — done in watercolor inks, crayon sticks, colored pencils and linoleum blocks — are full of movement and expression.

The publisher’s suggested age range for Finding Grateful is 5-8, but given the simplicity of the text and the age of the main character, it feels a bit younger, ages 3-7.

Finding Grateful helps kids recognize how to embrace joy.

Find recommended reading, activities, and links at findinggrateful.com.

About the author:

Dianne White is a writing teacher and the author of many award-winning picture books, including Blue on Blue, illustrated by Caldecott medalist Beth Krommes, and Dark on Light, illustrated by Felicita Sala. Dianne loves purple flowers, puppies, and “finding grateful” each and every day. For more, visit findinggrateful.com and diannewrites.com.

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