Tag: picture book

Cartoon style art, shows a running boy carrying a cornucopia of fruit and veggies spilling out. There's a lamb ducking raining food on one side and a shocked turkey on the other.
Posted in PB, So Many Good Books

It’s Almost Time for… Thanksgiving

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

It’s Friday, so time for another picture book!

It’s Almost Time for… Thanksgiving (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2026) by Maisha Oso and illustrated by Tom Knight is a fun holiday book.

Written in verse it shares how to get ready–“put away decor from Halloween”–plan the meal, pick your turkey, and what to do on the day, from watching the parade, playing football, sharing gratitude, and of course the food.

The story has an unexpected twist. And is part of the “It’s Almost Time for…” series.

Read about the author here and see Maisha’s other books here.

See a bunch of Tom’s illustrations and book covers here and read about the author/illustrator here.

Cover shows a mole in a scarf hugging a tiny thing, a dandelion seed
Posted in PB, Read-aloud, So Many Good Books

The Tiny Thing

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Perfect Picture Book Friday

The first time I read The Tiny Thing* (Beach Lane Books, 2026) by Ellen Tarlow and Lauren Stringer, I wasn’t sure I liked it. But then I reread it. And paid more attention to the illustrations. Now I love it!

It’s fall and Mole befriends a tiny thing (images show it is a dandelion seed) and brings it home. The tiny thing gives Mole someone to talk to, someone to confess fears to, and best of all someone to tell stories to. His storytelling skills grow over the winter, and in spring he and the tiny thing go outside where Mole puts pieces of plants, sticks, rocks, feathers together to make new things. This causes change for both of them.

See all of the author’s books here and read about Ellen here.

Read about the illustrator/author here. See Lauren’s books here and some of her illustration process here.

*I received a copy of the book from the publisher for review. Opinions my own.

cover of Milton Makes a Move shows a happy pug in a small suitcase with toys and blanket spilling out against a soft green background
Posted in PB, Read-aloud, So Many Good Books

Milton Makes a Move

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

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.

cover of Heronry - beautiful illustration of a great blue heron wading in water
Posted in PB, Read-aloud, So Many Good Books

Heronry

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Perfect Picture Book Friday

Herony (Tilbury House Publishers, 2026) by Barbara Herkert and illustrated by Gordy Wright is such a delight! Isn’t that cover lovely?

Lyrical language and beautiful illustrations pair up to tell about the great blue herons at their breeding grounds. From arrival through choosing just the right nest, finding a mate, eggs laid, chicks hatched, fledglings learning to hunt and fly, then the departure, we follow these birds at the heronry. All is quiet until they return the next year.

I love how you can read the poetic lines once all the way through, and then go back and start over to reread the facts on the opposite pages. Either way the story flows well. It’s a book to treasure.

See all of the author’s books here and read about Barb here.

Check out the illustrator’s other books here and see some sample illustrations here. Read about Gordy here.

(I received an advanced copy from the author–it comes out June 16th.)

Cover of Courage Hats - Two characters looking out a train window, a child in a paperbag bear hat, and a bear in a paperbag human hat.
Posted in PB, So Many Good Books

Courage Hats

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Perfect Picture Book Friday

Courage Hats (Chronicle Books, 2022) by Kate Hoefler and illustrated by Jessixa Bagley is a fun read about courage and making friends.

Some don’t like train travel…
Mae is afraid because “the train went deep into bear places.”
Bear is afraid because “the train went deep into people places.”
They both create courage hats to wear. Guess where they each end up sitting?

I love the innocence of each character. And especially the phrase “…when you take your hat off, someone else will, too.”

Read about the author here and check out her books here. Kate’s newest book is The Couch in the Yard.

Jessixa is an author and an illustrator. Read about her here, see her books here, and illustration samples here.