Tag: Perfect Picture Book Friday

cover of Hawk Mother Returns
Posted in Nonfiction, PB, So Many Good Books

Hawk Mother Returns: A Story of Interspecies Adoption

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Perfect Picture Book Friday

Hawk Mother Returns: A Story of Interspecies Adoption (Web of Life Children’s Books, 2024) by Kara Hagedorn and Marlo Garnsworthy is an incredible true story of a hawk raising babies that aren’t her own.

Kara, the wildlife rehabilitator who takes care of the red-tailed hawk Sunshine, was asked if the hawk might raise two hawk eggs from a nest rescued from a cut down tree. She says yes. But unexpectedly, one of the chicks has already hatched. Will Sunshine accept the chick and the other egg?

The text is accompanied by photographs of Kara, Sunshine, and the eggs and chicks. Contributing Photographers are Glenn Forbes, Kara Hagedorn, Eva Vigil.

This book is a sequel to Hawk Mother: The Story of a Red-tailed Hawk Who Hatched Chickens. Kara says, “When I adopted Sunshine, I made a serious commitment to care for her knowing that hawks can live for over 30 years in captivity. I’m guessing she was around three years old when I adopted her because she had the red tail of an adult but the pale-yellow eyes of a juvenile.” They have lived together for twenty years.

Learn about Marlo here. (Kara’s website does not exist anymore.)

cover of Hot Dog
Posted in Award Winners, PB, Read-aloud, So Many Good Books

Hot Dog

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Perfect Picture Book Friday

Hot Dog (Alfred A. Knopf, 2022) by Doug Salati is such a delight. Simple words evoke the feeling of summer in a city, which are emphasized by the hectic illustrations.

A small dachshund is dragging behind his owner in the hot city. It’s so hot, he “can’t sit or sniff or wait.” In the middle of a crosswalk, he finally rebels against his owner pulling on his leash. What will happen next? Will they escape the heat?

This day in the life of a little dog is so fun and relatable. We’ve all had too much and needed to escape.

This adorable book received a Caldecott medal and an Ezra Jack Keats award.

Read about the author/illustrator here and check out some of his illustrations here. See Doug’s books here.

cover of Love in the Library
Posted in PB, So Many Good Books

Love in the Library

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Perfect Picture Book Friday

Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and illustrate by Yas Imamura is based on a true story about love in a Japanese internment camp. I love it so much I wish every kid and adult would read this.

Tama should be going to college, but she’s incarcerated because she Is Japanese-American. She works in the Idaho camp library where she meets George. The library gives her hope as she can escape in books. And then…

These lines: “To fall in love is already a gift. But to fall in love in a place like Minidaka, a place bulit to make people feel like they weren’t human–that was miraculous.”

Inspired by her maternal grandparents’ experience, Maggie has written a heart-wrenching story. Currently, there are terrible stories about immigrant detention. See this report on migrant children.

See Maggie’s other books here and read about her here.

See Yas’ art here and read about her here where you can also click on the awards tab.

cover of When God Makes Scribbles Beautiful
Posted in PB, Read-aloud, So Many Good Books

When God Makes Scribbles Beautiful

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Perfect Picture Book Friday

When God Makes Scribbles Beautiful (B&H Kids, 2024) by Kate Rietema and illustrated by Jennie Poh is a sweet picture book inspired by the author’s experience with foster parenting.

“Sometimes, hard things happen. It might feel like a dark scribble.” You can’t ignore it. And it won’t go away. But you can ask God for help. “And little bit by little bit, He will.” You may have to wait a while, but He’ll be with you while you wait. And someday you’ll be able to help someone else with a scribble.

This books explains many concepts about God in easy understandable language. Bible verses that reinforce the text are on the bottom of many of the spreads. The illustrations grow in beauty to match the text throughout the story.

The author has a second book coming out in October. Read about both books here. There are also free printables on the website to help kids talk about loss and hardship. Read about Kate here.

Check out a number of Jennie’s illustrations here where you can also see her awards. Read about her here.

cover of When a Dragon Moves In
Posted in PB, Read-aloud, So Many Good Books

When a Dragon Moves In

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Perfect Picture Book Friday

When a Dragon Moves In (Flashlight Press, 2011) by Jodi Moore and illustrated by Howard McWilliam is fun book about imagination.

“If you build a perfect sandcastle, a dragon will move in.” And it will be great–a built in marshmallow toaster, a raft, and a an assist with kite flying. But there are rules on the beach, so you have to hide his smoke and erase his footprints from the sand. Then he eats all of the peanut butter sandwiches, blows bubbles in your drink, and nibbles all the brownies. Which you are blamed for. Plus he kicks sand on your sister. So, you have to tell him to leave. Until…

Read about the author here and see her books here where you’ll see there’s a sequel called When a Dragon Moves In Again.

Check out the illustrator’s many children’s picture books, children’s novels, and magazine illustrations here. You can read his bio here. He also wrote and illustrated Just SNOW Already! (Flashlight Press, 2023).