Think of your main characters as dinner guests. Would your friends want to spend ten hours with the characters you’ve created? Your characters can be lovable, or they can be evil, but they’d better be compelling.
Po Bronson
Author: Susan Uhlig
Charts for Babies
Perfect Picture Book Friday
Charts for Babies (Abrams Appleseed, 2026) Michelle Rial is so darn cute. And will especially appeal to any nerdy parent, grandparent, or aunt or uncle. As you can tell from the cover, the book includes humor.
But, make no mistake–this books IS for kids. It shares concepts such as big/small, flat/curvy, behind/ahead/between and much more, in rhyme. Not only is it a fun read-aloud, but the book will grow with the kids as they can return to it for more complex ideas such as types of charts.
This is Michelle’s debut picture book. Read about the author/illustrator here. She has also written a book for adults. If you like, read an interview with Michelle about Charts for Babies.
Imagine tension like holding a reader’s feet under water; you don’t want to pull them down until they drown. You have to let them come up for air.
Lauren Magaziner
Imagine tension like holding a
Mascot
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
Mascot (Charlesbridge, 2023) by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell is a fascinating multi-point of view novel in verse that should be in all school libraries.
Six kids, six opinions about the middle school mascot, a tomahawk-wielding brave, and the first pep rally of the year.
For Callie (Cherokee Nation), it’s hate, fear, and disgust. Franklin (Black) loves the team and the fight song, “We are the mighty, mighty Braves!” and gets his face painted in red and yellow stripes. Luis (El Salvador) thinks all this celebrating should be for futbol–the greatest sport in the world. Priya (grandparents from India) believes the rally is racist. Sean’s (white) too shy to get his face painted but thinks the Braves bring people together. Previously home-schooled vegan Tessa (white) is shocked and thinks it should be stopped. All are in the same eighth grade honors English class.
The assignment: “Persuasive Writing and Oration, “Subject: Pros and Cons of Indigenous Peoples as Mascots.” Each student is matched up with a partner and the pair are told whether to be pro or con on the topic, no matter what they personally believe. No two agree on the issue.
I love how the emotions come through as each express their differences of opinion. Can each student change their partner’s point of view?
The book has received an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor and a Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Honor.
Read about the co-authors here (Charles) and here (Traci). Traci’s books are here and Charles’ here. Previously, I recommended Powwow Day by Traci.
Milton Makes a Move
Perfect Picture Book Friday
Coming in August, Milton Makes a Move (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2026) by Jonathan Graziano and illustrated by Dan Tavis, is a delightful story of pet adoption.*
Milton, a pug, lives in a yard with lots of other dogs. One day he gets the news: he’s “moving into a new home with his very own family!” He knows he should be excited, but what if his new home doesn’t have his favorites? But Milton tries to be brave. He packs his suitcase and is on his way.
I love the tender heart of this story–how pug and man help each other. Plus, there’s humor in text such as “stinky stinks” and adorable illustrations. (I don’t want to reveal too much.) Dog lovers will definitely relate to this story.
The author wants to encourage others to adopt a senior pet next time they add to their family. Jonathan’s the creator of the viral “Bones or No Bones” TikTok videos and a bestselling author of Noodle and the No Bones Day. Here’s an article with videos on how it all got started in August of 2021.
I’m a bit jealous that I won’t be in New York on August 2nd, as Milton and Jonathan will be appearing at the Union Square Barnes and Noble that afternoon. A list of appearances is here.
Read about the bestselling illustrator here. Dan’s portfolio of wonderful illustrations is here and his books here.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher. Note, I only recommend books I like.