​Your Place in the Universe                                       
Written & Illustrated by Jason Chin
Ages:  8 - 12
Grade level:  3 – 7

​This is a wonderful book to help littles get a perspective on size. It starts with a pair of kids. Then the words and illustrations put them together. Two kids, they’re as tall as an ostrich. Each page moves onto larger and larger things, until children meet unimaginable ones like the earth, the moon, and eventually, the universe. Somehow the author/illustrator helps us imagine them all. Incredible!
 
The back matter is just as incredible too! It starts with the size of us humans and moves skyward. Up to the atmosphere, to the solar system, and beyond. It even peeks into light years, using stars to peer into the past and to guess the age of the universe itself. It’s a one-of-a-kind book for kids, their parents, and teachers!

​Penguin and Pinecone: A Friendship Story
Written & Illustrated by Salina Yoon
Illustrated by Rachel Clowes
Age Level: 1 – 4
Grade Level: PS – Up

Who knew a Penguin and a Pinecone could be friends? Not me, but this is a great friendship story, especially if you or your best friend move away! It’s  also part of a series of 9 books.
 
Penguin must not live in Antarctica – there are no pine trees, but wherever he lives, he meets a pinecone and they become best friends. They do all kinds of best friend things together, but their problem – Penguin discovers Pinecone belongs in a forest far away. Penguin is the best kind of friend – he takes Pinecone home. And at the end when Penguin comes back for a visit, Pinecone realizes he can’t stay forever. This is ONE lovely friendship story, especially the last line. (You’ll have to read it for yourself😊) 

​Little Bat in Night School
Written & Illustrated by Brian Lies
Age Level: 4 - 7
Grade Level: PS – 3 

Young readers and their parents will LOVE this book. Little Bat can’t wait for the first day of school, but new places can be scary. How does he find the courage to fly? Read and find out – Little Bat’s story is as cute as the cover promises!

​Be Strong:   The Rise of Beloved Public Art Sculptor
                            Nancy Schön
Written by Darcy Pattison
Illustrated by Rich Davis
Age Level/Grade Level: Not Available

Have you read, ‘Make Way for Ducklings?’ It won the Caldecott Medal for the best picture book in 1941. It was also the beginning of another story – the one in this book.
 
Follow Nancy Schön’s story from 1979 when she discovered public art to 1987, when her sculpture made its way into the Boston Public Garden. It took Nancy eight years to turn her idea into a sculpture, and it wasn’t easy. On her worst day, when she wanted to quit, a friend gave her two words on a slip of paper: Be Strong. If you want to find out how Nancy overcame her struggles, check out this book for yourself.
 
Then check out the back matter with photos of Nancy’s real life, her bio, Robert McCloskey’s involvement, and a list of Nancy’s sculptures over time. Best of all there’s a note from the author. Would you believe she made Nancy’s REAL words purple? It made rereading sweet – because I got to meet the REAL Nancy.  

​Friends Are Friends Forever
Written by Dane Liu
Illustrated by Lynn Scurfield
Age Level: 4 – 8
Grade Level: 1 – 2

​This book is lovely, from the illustrations to its theme.  DanDan lives in Northeastern China, and tomorrow her family is moving to America. Imagine the thoughts flying through her head! Moving is scary. Imagine having to go to a brand-new country!
 
Her best friend Yueyue says goodbye with a hug and three words . . . friends are forever. Then the two girls make snowflakes one last time. Yueyue sends DanDan off to America with stacks of red paper and a spool of string. Why? To make snowflakes with a new friend. It won’t be easy – DanDan doesn’t speak English. Read and find out if she finds that new American friend. Back matter includes information about the Lunar New Year and directions for those special red snowflakes.

​Ninita’s Big World: The True Story of a Deaf Pygmy
                 Marmoset
Written by Sarah Glenn Marsh
Illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman
Age Level: 4 – 7
Grade Level: PS – 3

Do you like to read nonfiction that’s about real animals? If you answered yes, then check out this story of how Ninita survived. She was abandoned by her parents when she was three weeks old, all because she was deaf.       A foundation for pygmy marmosets raised her, because they’re endanger.
 
The book also includes some neat facts about pygmy marmosets. Their size – take a look at your thumb. Then look at your palm. An adult pygmy could cuddle up in your hand. The most interesting fact – when they’re taken in as pets, they can’t survive because they need to live on their own, and that’s also part of Ninita’s story – how she learns to live alone, in spite of her hearing difficulties.

​You May Just Be a Dinosaur
Written by Heather Macht
Illustrated by Jason Gillard
Age Level: 4 – 7
Grade Level: K – 3

If you love dinosaurs, you’ll love this book! It’s a formula story that asks questions about you. For instance – do you chew leaves for breakfast, or do you have trouble finding the right size toothbrush? If that’s you, you just might be a dinosaur.
 
The author also researched and wrote about six different dinosaurs. She found a few facts for each one. For example, Brontosaurus is now called Apatosaurus. You can check out how long he was, and find a fun fact or two about the length of his toothbrush. Think giant body, giant toothbrush.
 
PS – if you have trouble pronouncing a few of those dino-mite names, there’s even a pronunciation guide for you. 

​A Home Again
Written by Colleen Rowan Kosinski
Illustrated by Valeria Docampo
Age Level: 3 – 7
Grade Level: PS – 2

This book is SO unusual! The main character – a house. A family moved in when it was brand-new, and the house was so happy it became something even better – a home. But when the family moved out, and they never returned, what happened to that home?  If you want to find out, read this book. It’s SO well done!

​Stick and Stone
Written by Beth Ferry
Illustrated by Tom Lichtenfeld
Age Level: 2 – 6
Grade Level: PS – 3

I loved this story! It’s a simple but deep tale about friendship. Stick is #1 . . .  just look at him! He’s as straight as the number. And Stone, he’s a plain 0. A big fat round zero. Poor Stick and Stone, they’re all alone until a pinecone decides to bully both of them. It’s the beginning of a beautiful friendship!​

​I Heard a Sound
Written by David J. Ward
Illustrated by Eric Comstock
Age Level: 6 – 9
Grade Level: 1 – 4

I loved this book! It’s all about the science of sound, and it includes experiments perfect for kids, their parents, and teachers. Best of all, it uses stuff you can find around the house or the grocery store, like straws and balloons, rulers and wax paper. Then it applies what you just learned by connecting it to pitch, even your vocal cords. It almost makes me wish I was still teaching, even though retirement suits me perfectly😊