​Amara and the Bat
Written & illustrated by Emma Reynolds
Age Level: 4 – 8
Grade Level: PS – 3

Amara loves everything about bats. She even collects facts about them, but when she moves to a new house . . . no bats. She’s afraid to talk about it at school, and even if she does, would it do any good? Read and find out what happens to Amara and those bats.
 
Don’t forget the back matter! It includes Amera’s bat facts, how echolocation works, a guide to bat houses, and ideas to begin your own bat adventures.

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​Cow Says Meow
Written by Kirsti Call
Illustrated by Brandon James Scott
Age Level: 2 – 5
Grade Level: PS – 3

​A cow says meow? They really do, at least in this picture book! And young children, what do they say? Tee hee hee! Then they giggle from cover to cover as they watch the words and animals play.

​How to Hug a Pufferfish
Written & Illustrated by Ellie Peterson
Age Level: 3 - 6                                                                                                    
Grade Level: PS – 1

If you’ve ever wanted to hug a pufferfish, this is the book for you. I love the way it’s structured. First find out why they’re so huggable, but don’t forget . . . they have spikes. YIKES! If you still want that hug, listen to good advice, from the pufferfish himself. He knows exactly how he wants to be treated, and his tale is as much fun as the cover promises. 

​ Zahra’s Blessing: A Ramadan Story
Written by Shirin Shamsi
Illustrated by Manal Mirza
Level: 4 - 9    
Grade Level: PS – 3

This story is a blessing . . . for anyone who wants to learn more about Ramadan. Take a peek inside and watch how a Muslim family celebrates the holiday. Zahra has always wished for a sister, but she feels absolutely lost when her best buddy, her teddy bear is missing. Is there a way to find both? Only with a Ramadan blessing, of course!

​Ten Magic Butterflies
Written by Danica McKeller
Illustrated by Jen Bricking
Age Level: 2 - 5
Grade Level: PS – 1

​Do you know Danica McKeller from the Hallmark channel? I know her from The Wonder Years too. She’s a real mathematician, and now she’s a writer. She’s written seven books, all math related! Her mission – “to make math fun for even the youngest of kids.”
 
I loved this book so much I took it with me when I subbed in Kindergarten. The kids, they loved it too – the magic of Danica’s words and the way they sound together. It’s beautifully written, in rhyme.
 
Any young child will love watching ten flowers who only want to fly, turn into butterflies. Teachers will love it too  . . . it uses math with 10 frames. Those frames help littles understand math in a visual way. Ten frames also help kids count, add, and use fact families. They’re a great thing, and so is this book!

​Loon Summer
Written by Yvona Fast
Photographs by Nina Schoch
                                      
From the photos, to the poems, to the fun science facts – this book is beautifully put together. Did you know loons aren’t ducks? I didn’t.  They may look like ducks and walk like ducks, but they’re loons!
 
This book doesn’t have a guide for age levels, but it’s perfect for anyone who wants to learn about loons. Discover how they live, communicate, and care for their chicks. It’s a great resource for classrooms with lakes and loons living nearby. I wish I’d had it for second grade science, but I’m retired. The format also makes it a great read-aloud for littles, especially if you let them try out a few loon calls. They’d love them! I did 😊

​Only My Dog Knows I Pick My Nose
Written by Lauren Tarshis
Illustrated by Lisa Bronson Mezoff
Age Level: 3 – 5
Grade Level: PS – K

Ha ve you ever met a child who appears to be perfect? He does all the right things. He EVEN shares with his baby sister, but only the dog knows the truth. That the boy does things that are just plain wrong, like picking his nose.
 
I loved this story from the first line, to the last one. That’s when the author reveals the truth. That the dog knows everything and still loves the boy. That . . . IS the best kind of love 😊                                    

​The Next President
Written by Kate Messner
Illustrated by Adam Rex
Age Level: 8 – 12
Grade Level: 3 – 7

​This is the most unusual book about presidents I’ve ever read! It begins with a page of text, then one of pictures. It continues the pattern until you reach the back matter at the end of the book. That’s where you’ll find a map. It shows the state each president came from, the requirements to become president, and the resources where you can learn more.
 
The story starts at George Washington’s inauguration. Then it takes off in a new direction. Kate Messner and Adam Rex did the research. They discovered where the next ten presidents were in 1789 and what they were doing. A few – weren’t even born yet!
 
The story ends with Donald Trump. In March of 2020 when this book was published, we didn’t know who our next president would be, let alone the next ten. Now in 2023, we know Joe Biden was next, but we don’t know who will follow him – in 2024, 2028, and beyond. We’ll have to wait to meet them. Here’s to the future!   

​I Campaigned for Ice Cream: A Boy’s Quest for Ice Cream Trucks
Written by Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw
Illustrated by Wendy Leach
Age Level: 5 – 9
Grade Level: K – 3
 
What do you do when something’s not right? Don’t scream . . . Campaign! Ask Joshua Lipshaw who fought city hall for ice cream and won. This is his true story and a great way to learn about local government. The back matter includes a glossary of civic terms, but don’t get lost in vocabulary and forget the most important thing . . . Ice Cream!

​The Seekers
Written & Illustrated by Hari & Deepti
Age Level: 4 – 8
Grade Level: PS – 3

This book is as beautiful as the cover, and it tells the legend of the silver fox and the fire wolf. The illustrations might tell the story better than the words, but it’s definitely worth a look.
 
The story - in the valley of Krum, there’s a legend that the land is guarded by fire and ice. Everything changes when Nao, the wonderer, finds a shell where the river slows. Mio the storyteller senses something’s wrong, but he’s sure when the river dries up. Together Nan and Mio must figure out the problem, then fix it. You’ll have to read the story yourself to find out how it ends, but I can share the theme – how man fits in with nature.