Snow – love it or dread it, I think most adults would agree at least that for children there’s something very special about it. And there are also some very special picture books around too. Here, in no particular order, is a small selection of snowy stories set around the … Continue reading ... →
Tiger of the Snows / Tenzing Norgay: The Boy whose Dream was Everest
written by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Ed Young
(Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2006; paperback, 2010)
‘On May 29, 1953, Tenzing Norgay … Continue reading ... →
Our selection of hot new releases and popular kids' books has a lot to offer!
After taking a look at our selection of hot new releases and popular kids' books ... it's more than likely we're suckers for picture books about love, kindness, and compassion.
A few weeks ago, amidst the deepening refugee crisis from the war in Syria, many people and organisations around the world came together for the Continue reading ... →
It's true TCBR readers are fans of Star Wars! That's why, this month, Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary - The Ultimate Guide to Characters and Creatures from the Entire Star Wars Saga is The Children's Book Review's best selling middle grade book.
This month, our best selling picture book from our affiliate store is the gorgeously illustrated Gaston, written by Kelly DiPucchio and pictures by Christian Robinson.
And we thought May was a tough month to select the best new kids books! June has so many awesome books to dive into this summer.
Well, dearies, here we are again, about to wade into summer!
And you know what that means.
It means Perfect Picture Books will go on hiatus until September.
I know. It's sad. But luckily we have a big list of books to tide us over (if I ever finish updating it, it will be REALLY big!) And a little break is good for us. It means we'll come back refreshed and filled with renewed enthusiasm :)
For the last PPBF before summer hiatus, I have a fantastically fun book to share! You will probably all want to rush out and read it immediately :)
Title: What About Moose?
Written By: Corey Rosen Schwartz and Rebecca J. Gomez
Illustrated By: Keika Yamaguchi
Atheneum Books For Young Readers, June 2015, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: teamwork, behavior (bossiness), language fun (rhyme), forgiveness
Opening: "
Fox met her friends with her toolbox in hand.'Time to start building! Now here's what I've planned.'She divvied up jobs and then Moose trotted in.'I'm HERE!' he announced. 'Let construction begin!'"
Brief Synopsis: The forest animals are working together to build a tree house... all except Moose who is so busy being in charge that he fails to perceive exactly what's happening. When he finds himself in a tight situation, his kind-hearted friends help him out in spite of his previous bossiness.
Links To Resources:
Team Building Games; design your own treehouse - draw the kind of treehouse you'd love to have, including amenities :);
moose coloring pages;
recipes for lemonade (to drink while you're building or playing in your treehouse :))
Why I Like This Book: As you've probably all gathered by now (due to the fact that I'm always adding her books to Perfect Picture Books list :)) I am a die-hard Corey Rosen Schwartz fan. Her books are always clever and fun with fabulous rhyme that is a pleasure to read aloud. This new addition is no exception. Moose is delightful in his bossiness, hollering commands through a megaphone, oblivious to the predicament he's getting himself into. His friends are forgiving, willing to help him out even though he's been a pain in the backside. The illustrations are appealing and engaging. The story is light-hearted and fun while still getting the message across that it's best to work together - one all ages will enjoy!
Here's the trailer:
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit
Perfect Picture Books.
I know we will all be reading picture books throughout the summer, but with so many wonderful outdoor things to do (and the kids all home from school :)), our time for writing posts, reading reviews, and visiting one another's blogs will be limited. And summer is all about spending time with our families. So go forth and enjoy - we'll be here when you get back to start up PPBF again on Friday September 11!
PPBF bloggers please be sure to leave your post-specific link in the list below so we can all come visit you!
Have a wonderful summer, everyone, and those of you who only visit for PPBF, we'll see you in September! Everyone else, we'll still be here with Would You Read It Wednesdays, the pitch picks, and Straight From The Editor, the upcoming Children's Illustration Contest to be followed by some other high jinx for writers, and maybe a few surprises... depending on whether I manage to get things done :) I've got at least three new things I'm hoping to share soon :)
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! And I hope to see some of you in New Jersey! :)
It's true TCBR readers are fans of Greek myths! That's why, this month, the National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology is The Children's Book Review's best selling middle grade book.
This month, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Book 1, by Jeff Kinney, is The Children's Book Review's best selling middle grade book.
The best non-fiction picture books of 2014, as picked by the editors and contributors of The Children’s Book Review.
February is African American History Month. Sharing these books with young readers comes with the responsibility to discuss ... progress towards equality.
In this conversation, we talked to Draper about the inspiration behind Stella by Starlight and the basic goodness in humanity.
Stella by Starlight, by esteemed storyteller Sharon M. Draper, is a poignant novel that beautifully captures the depth and complexities within individuals, a community, and society in 1932, an era when segregation and poverty is at the forefront.
Patricia Dunn, author of Rebels by Accident, selected her family’s five favorite books with the help of her husband Allan Tepper. They are a beautiful collection of diverse characters and plots.
Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!
I'm excited that it's December and we finally get to share holiday books :) I have such a sweet book for today! In past years, I have stuck to books like Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree which, though about Christmas, are not at all religious. The book I've chosen today veers a little closer to the traditional story of Christmas but it's so beautifully done that I think it's appropriate for everyone, regardless of religion or belief. I hope you get a chance to read it!
Title: Star Bright: A Christmas Story
Written By: Alison McGhee
Illustrated By: Peter H. Reynolds
Atheneum Books For Young Readers, September 2014, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: Christmas, the nativity, giving/generosity
Opening: "
It was the end of December, and a baby was soon to be born. A baby! In the heavens, angels turned light with joy."
Brief Synopsis: An extra special baby is coming and the newest angel wants to give a present. But what can she give? Wind is the sky's gift. Rain is the clouds' gift. Music is the gift of the songbirds. But when the little angel sees three lost travelers, she knows exactly what to give - the best gift of all!
Links To Resources: share the story of the nativity no matter your personal religion or beliefs - it's good for kids to know about things that are deeply important to others as well as to themselves and you can share the story of Hanukah etc. too; talk about gifts - what makes a good gift? does it have to be big, extravagant, expensive? what makes a gift really matter to someone? what kinds of gifts do you like to give and receive? Make these sugar cookies
RECIPE HERE in the shapes of Christmas trees, stars, or whatever else you like :) Make paper stars
INSTRUCTIONS HERE; make paper snowflakes
INSTRUCTIONS HEREWhy I Like This Book: You know me - I love sweet stories :) And this is one of those stories that tugs at your heartstrings just enough to make it memorable without being overdone. But what I really love about this book is the creative way it spins the story of the nativity, so that you get the basic idea without anything overtly religious - and that's quite a feat to have pulled off! On one level, this is simply a story about a child who wants to give a wonderful gift but doesn't know what she can offer, and how many children have felt like that? Her creative solution will inspire young readers to think up their own creative solutions - when it comes to gifts, what can they give that only they can give? And the art is by Peter H. Reynolds. Enough said :)
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit
Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF bloggers please be sure to leave your post-specific link in the list below so we can all come visit you!
Have a great weekend, everybody! See you Monday for the
Holiday Contest!!! (For which I have still not written my sample... or even really started thinking about it... details, details :))
Here is a list of 11 books that address a wide range and variety of emotions that young readers may experience when faced with serious illness, loss, grief or trauma.
This month we've seen some changes on the best selling middle grade books list due to the well timed releases of Jason Segel's Nightmares!—a great choice for the upcoming spooky season—and Mike Lupica's Fantasy League (Did somebody say football?).
Seriously, there are some VERY good books on this list of best selling middle grade books; including Kevin Henkes' The Year of Billy Miller and Sharon M. Draper's Out of My Mind.
Three of the books in The Children's Book Review's best selling picture books list for July fall under the category of American history. Each of the books are deliciously rich in visual cues.
Star Wars books were a hot commodity this month on The Children’s Book Review—even more than usual. LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary was our best selling middle grade book this month. Returning to our hand selected titles from the nationwide best selling middle grade books, as listed by The New York Times, is Sharon M. Draper's Out of My Mind.
The Children's Book Review's best selling picture book for this month is the gorgeously illustrated picture book from Jon J. Muth, The Three Questions. As per usual, we've also shared our hand selected list of the most popular picture books from the nationwide best selling picture books, as listed by The New York Times.
Anna Banks’s first two novels in the Syrena Legacy trilogy, Of Poseidon and Of Triton (a New York Times Bestseller), have won her many fans. Her latest work is Of Neptune, the stunning conclusion to her bestselling Syrena Legacy. She lives in Crestview, Florida, with her husband and their daughter.
Here are her picks for 5 YA must-haves ...
Read the rest of this post
The sisters Stephenson live in their humble vicarage with their father, brother and Stepmama. Eldest Elissa is soon to be foisted off to old Sir Neville in the name of bringing some much needed money to the family. Elissa is long suffering and realizes that this is to be her duty and her fate.
Middle sister Angeline and youngest Kat don't understand why Elissa has to be so good about everything...always doing her duty, never getting into trouble. Kat constantly finds herself in trouble, as manners and ladylike things are not her forte. Angeline herself has gotten into a bit of trouble as she has been using her Mama's magic book (strictly forbidden) and has managed to cast a love spell on the unsuspecting Frederick Carlyle.
Mama had been a witch, and it was clearly her downfall. One of the first things that their stepmama did when she joined the family was to lock away all of the girls' mother's things in a cabinet. Kat, being the youngest, is insatiably curious about her Mama as she was so young when she passed. One evening Kat dares to steal the key to unlock the cabinet so that she can know something of her Mama as her sisters do. If she ever had any questions about her mother's magical abilities they are answered in the darkness.
Before Kat can fully address her realizations and questions about her own magical abilities, she is rounded up with her sisters by her Stepmama to attend a week long house party at Grantham Abbey where Elissa is to meet Sir Neville. Upon meeting the older gentleman, Kat is overcome with a feeling of darkness. There is simply no way she can allow her sister to marry this man. Especially when it is so clear to anyone around her that she actually has feelings for Sir Neville's brother, Mr. Collingwood.
What follows is a wonderful adventure filled with magical orders, intrigue, murder, highwaymen and family loyalty and betrayal. Kat herself is a fierce and feminist character who relies on herself and takes all kinds of risks rather than succumbing to helplessness. The pacing is perfect and the cast of characters compliment each other completely. There is non-stop action and just the right amount of romance. Kat is someone readers will want to get to know further as they cheer her on. Readers of
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, and
The Mysterious Benedict Society will likely adore this one as well.
