The Secret Garden Devotional: A Chapter-by-Chapter Companion to the Beloved Classic by Rachel Dodge

I am honored to be a part of the launch team for Rachel Dodge’s latest book, The Secret Garden Devotional: A Chapter-by-Chapter Companion to the Beloved Classic. 

I’ve only read two books by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden and A Little Princess. While I prefer A Little Princess, the insights Rachel brings out in her devotional make me fonder of the book and make me want to read the book alongside the devotional slowly. I’m a little over halfway through my first reading of The Secret Garden Devotional and it does not disappoint. 

Each chapter which corresponds to a chapter in the original book has a devotional, a personal application, and a prayer for today. The devotional grabs your attention, the personal application makes you think about your own walk with God, and then the prayer gives you words to let God know your heart and what he can do to help you. Rachel seamlessly blends quotes and phrases from The Secret Garden with scriptures and her own thoughts. The result is daily devotionals that the reader can’t help but want to put to use in their own lives. 

The illustrations are lovely and thoughtfully dispersed throughout the devotional. I love the ivy decorations that appear throughout as well. They are a gentle reminder of the garden. I like that Rachel uses different versions of the Bible for the scriptures she includes. 

The Secret Garden Devotional is perfect for fans of The Secret Garden specifically, children’s classics in general, or anyone looking for a thought provoking, insightful devotional. You can purchase The Secret Garden Devotional from Amazon, the publisher’s website, or Rachel’s website. 

Other Books by Rachel Dodge:

• Praying with Jane: 31 Days through the Prayers of Jane Austen
• The Anne of Green Gables Devotional: A Chapter-by-Chapter Companion for Kindred Spirits
• The Little Women Devotional: A Chapter-by-Chapter Companion to Louisa May Alcott’s Beloved Classic

(Review copy provided by author and publisher. Illustrated by Anastasia Nesterova. Barbour Publishing, 2022.)

Merry Christmas, Anne by Kallie George

It's Christmastime in Avonlea and Anne is feeling thankful for everything--her first Green Gables Christmas, a dress with puffed sleeves, and beaded slippers. She feels just like the fairy she's supposed to be at the school's Christmas concert. 

Thoughts: Kallie George and Geneviève Godbout are back with another delicious inspired by Anne of Green Gables picture book. This time it's Christmas and this book presents an Avonlea/Green Gables Christmas perfectly. I smiled all the way though the story. For those AOGG fans who have young daughters, these book are just right for introducing the youngest girls to Anne Shirley. The illustrations are soft colored and detailed. I love how Geneviève depicts my favorite characters. This book is not to missed! Find an activity sheet from the publisher here. (Search the page for Anne!) 

Themes: Christmas, Beloved Characters

Other Picture Books by Kallie George about Anne Shirley

• If I Couldn't Be Anne
• Goodnight, Anne

Early Chapter Books by Kallie George about Anne Shirley

• Anne Arrives 
• Anne's Kindred Spirits 
• Anne's School Days 
• Anne's Tragical Tea Party 

(Illustrated by Geneviève Godbout. Tundra, 2021.)

Cold Turkey by Corey Rosen Schwartz & Kirsti Call

Turkey wakes up freezing on a wintery morning. He's one cold turkey. He bundles up and heads outside. All his other farm friends are cold, too, so Turkey shares his clothing with them one by one. Soon Turkey doesn't have any clothes. He's freezing again, but this time he's a cold turkey with a warm heart. 

Thoughts: What a fun book to add to my winter storytime. The text is brief, but impactful. I like the implied shivering as the animals talk. Cold Turkey has inspired me to seek out other winter farm animals books. The illustrations are colorful and I love all the animals' expressions. 

Themes: Winter, Farm Animals, Friendship

(Illustrated by Chad Otis. Little, Brown and Company, 2021.)

Thanks for Nothing! by Ryan T. Higgins

Bruce is preparing a fall feast with his usual grumpy flair. The geese and mice are making messes. Add one moose and no food for a holiday no one will forget. 

Thoughts: Poor Bruce! I really do feel sorry for him. Those geese and mice are always into something. This will be a great book to add to a Thanksgiving storytime. 

Themes: Fall, Thanksgiving, Bruce

Find activity sheets from the publisher here! 

Don't miss the other Bruce Books! 

• Mother Bruce
• Hotel Bruce 
• Be Quiet! 
• Bruce's Big Move 
• Santa Bruce 
• 1 Grumpy Bruce 
• Bruce's Big Fun Day
• Bruce's Big Storm 
• Peek-a-Bruce
• Spring Stinks
• The Bruce Swap 

 (Disney Hyperion, 2021.)

Hey, Bruce! An Interactive Book by Ryan T. Higgins

Dear Reader, 

Do you remember when Rupert wanted to make a wordless book? You do? Well, if you recall, Bruce of Mother Bruce fame only made a brief cameo in Be Quiet! Rupert and his chatty pals Thistle and Nibbs are back and making another book. This one's going to be interactive and if the title is any indication, Bruce will be the star of the book. Get ready to laugh. 

Sincerely, 

Bridget (Librarian and Reviewer at What Is Bridget Reading?)

Thoughts: Hey, Bruce! is the epitome of an interactive book. The best part? You get to make grouchy, grumpy old Bruce do things he would never do. The mice are their usual outrageous selves. I can't wait to use this book in storytime. Interactive books are always fun, but an interactive book about Bruce will be an instant hit. The illustrations are colorful and detailed. I like the mixture of types of illustrations and the use of white space. The expressions on the characters' faces are especially well done. My favorite is Bruce in the pajamas the mice force on him. 

Find tons of Bruce activity sheets from the publisher here. 

Themes: Interactive Books, Bears, Forest, Grumpy Animals 

Checkout other books by Ryan T. Higgins: 

• Mother Bruce
• Hotel Bruce 
• Be Quiet! 
• Bruce's Big Move 
• Santa Bruce 
• 1 Grumpy Bruce 
• Bruce's Big Fun Day
• Bruce's Big Storm 
• Peek-a-Bruce
• The Bruce Swap
• Ballet Bruce
• Spring Stinks
• Thanks for Nothing
• We Don't Eat Our Classmates 
• We Will Rock Our Classmates 
• Norman Didn't Do It! 
• What About Worms!?

(Disney Hyperion, 2022.)

Ballet Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

World of Reading Level 1

Bruce will apparently do anything for his geese especially make multiple trips to town to get all the paraphernalia they need to do ballet. 

Thoughts: Too funny! I love the sad geese eyes and how much grumpy old Bruce loves his geese. The story reminded me of Let's Go for a Drive! by Mo Willems. I love forward to having another Bruce book to add to my repertoire. 

Find all sorts of Bruce activities and printables on the publisher's website here. 

Themes: Ballet, Dance, Bears, Grumpy Animals

Checkout other books by Ryan T. Higgins: 

• Mother Bruce
• Hotel Bruce 
• Be Quiet! 
• Bruce's Big Move 
• Santa Bruce 
• 1 Grumpy Bruce 
• Bruce's Big Fun Day
• Bruce's Big Storm 
• Peek-a-Bruce
• The Bruce Swap
• Spring Stinks
• Thanks for Nothing
• We Don't Eat Our Classmates 
• We Will Rock Our Classmates 
• Norman Didn't Do It! 
• What About Worms!?

(Disney Hyperion, 2022.)

Happy Blogiversary to Me!

What Is Bridget Reading? is 14 years old today! 

September 24, 2008 was a Wednesday. I was in my fourth semester of graduate school. This blog began with the booktalks I was writing during my Programming for Children and Young Adults course. 

Since then I've added reviews, reading projects (Harry Potter, Ramona, and Beatrix Potter), library program reflections, and Flannel Friday posts. I also became involved with the Cybils Awards for the first time in 2013. 2022 marks my fifth year serving as a category chair. 

I'm looking forward to blogging for many more years to come. And hoping as always that I can blog more regularly than sporadically in the future.

Older Blogiversary Posts for a Walk Down Memory Lane: 

2010

2013

2014

2020

Cybils 2022: Call for Judges

 

It's time for the 2022 Cybils!!! I am honored to be the Poetry Category Chair once again. 

The official Call for Judges has been announced and you have until Friday, September 9 at 11:59pm EDT to apply to be a panelist or judge. Read the Call for Judges here. Anyone who reads and reviews children's and young adult books via a social media platform (a blog, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, GoodReads, Twitter, TikTok, etc.) is eligible to apply. If you can't volunteer to be a judge, help spread the word about Cybils on social media and nominate your favorite books. Nominations open to the public on October 1.

I've served as a panelist 6 times...4 times in Poetry and 2 times in Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction. It's a fun process. You get to read lots of great books and discuss them with like minded people. I'm not going to lie: It's also a lot of work, but so rewarding. The beauty of Cybils is that nominations come from the public and the judges are a mix of teachers, librarians, parents, and book bloggers. I like the emphasis that is placed on kid appeal. Often I read major award winning books and I wonder about the amount of kid appeal (or lack thereof) that they have.

I'm going to list all the categories below, but forgive me for recommending my own category. Poetry is fun to read and discuss. It also usually has fewer nominations than the other categories. In 2021 Poetry had 40 nominations. 

I've been rounding up titles eligible in the Poetry category for 2022 (October 16, 2021-October 15, 2022). So far there are about 60 if they all get nominated. 

Cybils Awards Categories

• Fiction Picture Books & Board Books 
• Easy Reader & Early Chapter Books
• Elementary/Middle Nonfiction 
• Middle Grade Fiction 
• Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction 
• Graphic Novels 
• High School Nonfiction 
• Poetry 
• Young Adult Speculative Fiction 
• Young Adult Fiction 

Find Cybils on Social Media

• Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook
• GoodReads
• YouTube
• TikTok

Julia's House Goes Home by Ben Hatke

Julia's house is still looking for the perfect place. Julia thinks she's finally found it when a treacherous path separates Julia from her house and drops pieces of the house and creatures as it careens away. Will Julia, her house, and the creatures ever be reunited? 

Thoughts: So happy that there's another Julia book, but also a little sad as I think it might be the last. Definitely getting Howl's Moving Castle the movie vibes from this book. The illustrations are colorful and detailed. I love that Julia's so welcoming even in dire situations. I also love how the creatures rally around her when she's despondent. Now that there are three books, I'd love to do a library program with the Julia books. I think they would pair well with Journey, Quest, and Return all by Aaron Becker. I did stumble upon a "Julia's House Series Activity Kit" from the publisher through a Google search, but couldn't find the page with the link on their website. 

Other Books about Julia and Her House 

1. Julia's House for Lost Creatures
2. Julia's House Moves On

 (First Second, 2021.) 

The Tide Pool Waits by Candace Fleming

A day in the life of a tide pool. Waiting is the name of the game. 

Thoughts: A fun, informative book with colorful, detailed illustrations suitable for the youngest children. Librarians will find this book especially timely as the Collaborative Summer Library Program's theme this year is oceanography. I'll be using this book for my beach themed event for kids ages 7-12. I learned about  many ocean animals that I'd never heard of before reading this book. The acrylic paint and pencil illustrations are perfection. The lack of outlines makes them have almost a dream like quality. The sections at the end of book (An Illustrated Guide to This Tide Pool, Let's Explore, and Where Do They Live?) offer more information for interested readers. Find a lesson plan with fun writing activities on the publisher's website here. 

Themes: Ocean, Beach, Ocean Animals 

(Illustrated by Amy Hevron. Neal Porter Books, 2022.)

Knight Owl by Christopher Denise

Owl wants to be a knight. Though owls aren't normally knights, the disappearance of many of the knights from the castle leads to Owl's career as knight. Not only does he excel as a knight, he solves the mystery of the disappearances and makes many friends. 

Thoughts: What a fun book! Owls are one of my favorite animals and I love the character Christopher Denise created in Owl. The illustrations are detailed and the color palette perfectly suits the story. I love all the yellow tones through the book's illustrations. The pizza was a great surprise. 

For an owls, dragons, and food themed storytime, pair Knight Owl with Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, Secret Pizza Party by Adam Rubin, and Hoot Owl: Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor. 

Themes: Owls, Knights, Dragons, Pizza

(Christy Ottaviano Books, 2022.)

This Is (Not) Enough by Anna Kang

Giving gifts to friends isn't easy. You want them to know how much you value you them. When is a gift enough? 

Thoughts: I get it, I do, Anyone who's ever tried to find the perfect gift for a friend can relate to This Is (Not) Enough. The lengths the characters go to in their searches for the prefect gifts are hilarious. I especially like the knitting (although as a crocheter I must again state the need for more crocheting in children's books). The illustrations are bright and colorful with good use of white space. All the characters are endearing. Now that there's six books in this series, I'd love to plan a book party or special storytime. I only wish more activity kits or pages were available. 

As a librarian, this is my PSA to authors, illustrators, and publishers: We want activities to go along eith your books. Thank you! 

Themes: Gifts, Friends 

Other Books by Anna Kang and Christopher Weyant

• You Are (Not) Small
• That's (Not) Mine
• I Am (Not Scared
• We Are (Not) Friends 
• It Is (Not) Perfect

(Illustrated by Christopher Weyant. Two Lions, 2022.)

No Nibbling! by Beth Ferry

Derwood is planting a garden. He's vigilant about protecting it. When a young bunny starts visiting him and his garden, Derwood often has to remind Tabitha "No nibbling." Can a goat who wants to protect his garden ever be friends with a bunny who just wants a little nibble? 

Thoughts: Too funny! I love the wordplay and the misunderstanding that ensues. This will be a great book to share in storytime as well as with slightly older kids. Would pair well with Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming. The illustrations are soft colored yet detailed. I like the mixture of illustration styles as well as the speech bubbles. 

Themes: Goats, Rabbits, Gardens, Vegetables 

(Illustrated by A. N. Kang. Roaring Brook Press, 2022.)

Beyond the Burrow by Jessica Meserve

Rabbits like to be warm, safe, and cozy in their burrows. They like other rabbits, hopping, and carrots. One day, an unexpected incident with a carrot results in Rabbit going beyond her burrow. Cold there be more to life than other rabbits, hopping, and carrots? Maybe...if Rabbit is willing to be brave. 

Thoughts: Such a simple story but with such depth even adults can learn something from Beyond the Burrow. The illustrations are soft colored and detailed. I especially like all the signs in and around the burrow. Rabbit's character is so well developed with a myriad of expressions. Pair with A Little Bit Brave by Nicole Kinnear. 

Themes: Rabbits, Bravery

(US Version: Peachtree Publishing Company, 2022.)

Ocean Poetry for Summer Events

If your library uses the Collaborative Summer Library Program's theme and slogan, no doubt you're embroiled in all things oceanic at the moment. Poetry for children is one of my favorite genres to read and I love incorporating poetry into my storytimes and other events. Without further ado, here's a list of poetry books you might find useful for your summer events. Links are to my reviews. 

A First Book of the Sea by Nicola Davies

Sea Star Wishes by Eric Ode

A Spectacular Selection of Sea Critters by Betsy Franco

In the Sea by David Elliott

Slickety Quick: Poems about Sharks by Skila Brown

Water Sings Blue by Kate Coombs 

In the Swim by Douglas Florian 

You will also likely find ocean poems in the following collections although they aren't specifically about the ocean. 

The Beauty of the Beast selected by Jack Prelutsky 

If Not for the Cat by Jack Prelutsky (jellyfish, otter)

National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry edited by J. Patrick Lewis 

National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry edited by J. Patrick Lewis

Hello! Have You Missed Me?

Hi! Sorry for the radio silence for the past few weeks. Work has been busy and so when my scheduled posts ran out, I couldn't seem to find the time to get anymore scheduled. 

In person indoor storytime started back at all my libraries in April. I ran a seven week session from the first week of April until the week before Memorial Day. This was the first time I'd done that long a stretch of storytime since last summer. It was the first time storytime had been indoor since March 2020. If you're interested, my spring themes were frogs, eggs, things that go, poetry (spring), ice cream, gardens, and ninjas. 

I've been hard at work planning my summer events. My state is a member of the Collaborative Summer Library Program and 2022's theme is oceanography and the slogan is "Oceans of Possibilities." Reminds me a little of the 2010 theme ("Make a Splash; Read!" and "Make Waves at Your Library") which was coincidentally my first summer reading program. 

I'll be running a six week session (3 weeks in June and 3 weeks in July) of storytime for ages 0-6 followed by events for ages 7-12. There will be monthly contests and scavenger hunts in June, July, and August as well as bimonthly teen events during those months. I'll also be running mini weekly scavenger hunts during my six week session. 

My themes for storytime and the older events are beach, mermaids, fish (with an emphasis on sharks), boats, pirates, and ocean animals. I'm working on narrowing down my books as you can see from the above photo, creating take home activity packets for each group and selecting a game of craft for the older events. My monthly scavenger hunt themes are mermaids and friends, sharks, and narwhals. The monthly contests are an ocean Lego contest, an ocean animal photo contest (á la a stuffed animal sleepover photo), and an ocean themed coloring contest. The contests are for all ages including adults. The teen events are animated ocean movie night, Japanese culture night (a reboot of an event I hosted in 2011 for the "One World, Many Stories" and "You Are Here" slogans), shark week party, ocean paint and craft night, ocean team trivia night, and live action ocean movie night.

Look for posts next week about ocean poetry to use for summer events and flannel board activities for various ocean themes. 

Let's Tell a Story! Fairy Tale Adventure by Lily Murray

Are you ready to go on an adventure? This book helps you create your own fairy tale story. You choose all the elements. The options are almost unlimited. (I'm including the back cover so you can see a little more information about the book and the creation process.)

Thoughts: This book is great! I can't wait for kids and parents to read this book and start creating their own stories. I'm also looking forward to using this book with kids when I focus on fairy tales. I'm going to take you through the process (simply) of creating a story. I'm just making the choices, not answering all the supplemental questions and describing everything. 

• Which one of these heroes do you want to be? A bear 
• What do you want to get dressed up in? (Choose as many as you like.) A satchel, a stripy scarf, a cloak, and a pair of glasses
• Where do you want to go? To a magic waterfall
• What do you need to take with you? (Choose three.) A map, a picnic basket, an umbrella 
• Who will come with you? (Choose as many as you like.) An invisible friend, Little Red Riding Hood, a wise owl, Thumbelina 
• How do you want to travel? On foot
• Which route do you want to take? Down the otter river 
• Who's there to greet you? (Choose as many as you like.) 12 dancing princesses, a lion, and a golden fish
• What will you eat at the fairy tale feast? (Choose as many as you like.) Pancakes, porridge, hot cocoa 
• Where's your hero hangout? A teapot
• An enemy has appeared! Which one is it? A big bad bunny
• There's a way out of danger! Which one will you choose? You put on a crafty disguise and clip away. 
• Which one of these things will you choose as your reward? The power to become a mermaid
• What happens next? Choose an ending for your tale. You decide to become a detective. 

I like to write stories and poems so I'm looking forward to fleshing out my story at some point. I can't wait to play with the other books in this series. 

Other books in the Let's Tell a Story! Series

• Space Adventure (out now)
• Pirate Adventure (April 12, 2022)
• Jungle Adventure (April 12, 2022)

Themes: Elementary, Writing, Fairy Tales 

(Illustrated by Wesley Robins. Wide Eyed Editions, 2021.)

Hornswoggled: A Wacky Words Whodunit by Josh Crute

Deer wakes up one morning to find that someone has stolen his antler! He's been hornswoggled. As he goes to see his friends, each one of them is missing something. Who is the thief? 

Thoughts: Too funny! I love how the story builds around each animal, what was stolen, and how they feel about it. I think slightly older children (say first and second grade) will love learning these new words. I love the mixture of fonts used and that all the wacky words are defined as you read. The illustrations are bright, colorful, full of expression and motion. The animals' facial expressions are top notch. Pair with 13 Words by Lemony Snicket, Hat Tricks by Satoshi Kitamura, Warning! Do Not Touch! by Tim Warnes, and The Donkey Egg by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel. 

Download an activity guide from the author's website here. 

Themes: Animals, Wordplay, Elementary

(Illustrated by Jenn Harney. Page Street Kids, 2021.)

Redlocks and the Three Bears by Claudia Rueda

Wait a minute! I thought this was supposed to be a story about Goldilocks. Who is Redlocks? 

Thoughts: What a fabulous book! I love the mixture of three different fairy tales (Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, and The Three Little Pigs). I wonder if Claudia selected these specific fairy tales because she thought children would be most familiar with them. The text is simple and easy to follow. The illustrations are soft colored and engaging. I like the mixture of illustration styles, the use of white space, and the pages where you feel like you're inside the book with the characters. Fairy tales are one of my favorite types of books and I can't wait to add this one to my next fairy tale themed storytime. 

Pair Redlocks and the Three Bears with any of the following for a great storytime! 

Red Riding Hood Books 

• Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T. Smith 
• Little Red Hot by Eric A. Kimmel 
• Federico and the Wolf by Rebecca J. Gomez

Three Little Pigs Books

• The Great Gran Plan by Elli Woollard 
• The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz

Goldilocks Books

• Goldilocks and Just One Bear by Leigh Hodgkinson
• Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems 
• Goldilocks and the Wee Bear by Troy Wilson

Fractured Fairy Tales 

• Fairly Fairy Tales by Esme Raji Codell
• Once Upon a Slime by Andy Maxwell

Download an activity kit from the publisher's website here. 

Themes: Fairy Tales

(Chronicle Books, 2021.)

Bear Is a Bear by Jonathan Stutzman

A bear can be all kinds of things to a child. A snack, a tissue, a bookworm, or a pillow just to name a few. 

Thoughts: Such a sweet book. I love how it goes through two generations. Bear Is a Bear would make a great baby shower gift or a gift for anyone who has ever loved a stuffed animal. I love that Bear is a child's toy, but he's shown as so much more through the illustrations. The illustrations are colorful and detailed. I like the mixture of styles (one page with text facing and two page spreads). The bear is especially well illustrated. I just want to cuddle him. My favorite illustrations are the cover (love that Bear is reading Little Women!) and the girl reading Little Women. Pair with Found by Salina Yoon, Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator by Mo Willems, Louis by Tom Lichtenheld, and Tea Party Rules by Ame Dyckman. 

Download a teacher's guide from the publisher's website here. The teacher's guide has discussion questions and extension activities. 

Themes: Stuffed Animals, Bears, Imagination 

(Illustrated by Dan Santat. Balzer + Bray, 2021.)

Away with Words! Wise and Witty Poems for Language Lovers by Mary Ann Hoberman

This collection of clever poems that play with words covers everything from A to Z.

Thoughts: What a fun poetry collection! I can't wait to share some of these poems with elementary school students. I think Away with Words! will really make them think about how and why we use words the way we do. Some of the poems were tongue twisters so I'll need to practice or read them slowly when I share them with children. My favorite poems are Introduction, ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ, Com-Pear-ing, Dear Deers, Etymology, Horse, Just Think, Me, Note, and Parting. The illustrations are colorful and engaging. I especially like the faces Perry gives to letters and punctuation. My favorite illustrations are Contents,  ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ, Etymology, Me, Note, Punctuation, and the copyright page. 

You could use the poem ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ for a writing and art project. Name all the letters in the alphabet and then make them in the same style as the illustration for that poem. Them write a poem for each letter/person in your alphabet. 

Other Poetry Collections about wordplay, grammar, books, reading, and writing: 

• Write! Write! Write! by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
• Read! Read! Read! by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
• Lemonade & Other Poems Squeezed from One Word by Bob Raczka
• Bookspeak!: Poems about Books by Laura Purdie Salas
• A Bunch of Punctuation selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins

Themes: Elementary, Word Play

(Illustrated by Perry Hoberman. Little, Brown and Company, 2022.)

If This Bird Had Pockets: A Poem in Your Pocket Day Celebration by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Poem in Your Pocket Day is a distinctly human celebration. What if animals had pockets? What kind of poems would you find in their pockets? 

Featured Animals: Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Eastern Newt, Goliath Birdeater, Leafcutter Ant, Bottlenose Dolphin, Short-Tailed Chinchilla, Northern Giraffe, Spotted Turtle, Red Fox, Barren-Ground Caribou, Bluegill, American Alligator, Gray Wolf, Royal Starfish, Atlantic Horseshoe Crab, Monarch Butterfly, Star-Nosed Mole, Sea Otter, Chicks

Thoughts: Such an interesting premise! I love that all the poems are written from the animals' points-of-view and that the reader learns so much about each animal in the poems. (I could have used "It's Not Difficult" years ago.) I have a feeling kids will want to know even more about the animals in this poetry collection. My favorite poems are "Sipping Song," "Metaphor in a Meadow," and "Wilderness and Safety." The digitally painted illustrations are colorful and detailed.  My favorite illustrations are the chinchillas, the giraffes, the sea otter, and the last illustration where the girl is thinking about all the different animals. I can't wait to incorporate the ocean animal poems into my storytimes and events this summer. (The Collaborative Summer Library Program theme this year is oceanography.) 

This collection can spark creativity. Children could use the illustrations to inspire their own poems. Have children write a poem from the point-of-view of their favorite animals. Chances are most are not featured in If This Bird Had Pockets. Create your own animal pocket poem collection. The educator guide linked below has poetry prompts to get you started. 

Find bonus activities and an educator guide on the publisher's website here. 

Themes: Animals 

(Illustrated by Emma J. Virján. Wordsong, 2022.)

Zoobilations! Animal Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian

A celebration of animals, Zoobilations! features 20 poems about 21 different animals 

Featured animals: weasel, mandrill, centipede/millipede, seagull, rabbit, naked mole rat, dove, hammerhead shark, parrot, llama, horse, bullfrog, crow, giraffe, flying fox, antelope, African elephant, orangutan, midwife toad, starling

Thoughts: Douglas Florian has done it again! Zoobilations! is a collection of poems that feature wordplay and tongue-in-cheek humor and they are paired with colorful illustrations that have tons of kid appeal. I have to wonder if he had a hard time finding animals he hadn't already written poems about given the number of animal themed poetry collections he's published. Some of the poems are suitable for younger kids while others need slightly older readers to get all the humor. I could see myself sharing this whole collection in first and second grade classrooms or just adding a poem to a storytime. For example, "The Bullfrog" would be a great addition to a frog themed storytime while "Mandrill," "Giraffe," and "The African Elephant" could be added to an Africa themed storytime. The possibilities are endless. My favorite poems are "Seagull," "The Parrot," "Horses," "Giraffe," "The Antelope," and "Starling." I've said this before, but I think the main appeal in Douglas Florian's illustrations are that they look like something a child would or could create. I know his preferred medium is gouache watercolor paint, but his illustrations remind me so much of crayon drawings. It's hard to pick a favorite illustration, but I think the seagull and the antelope are my favorites. (Note to self: pair "The Antelope" with "Menu for a Gray Day" from The Popcorn Astronauts and Other Biteable Rhymes by Deborah Ruddell.)

Other Collections by Douglas Florian

• Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric Poems and Paintings
• Ice: Poems about Polar Life
• Mammalabila
• Poetrees   
• UnBEElievables: Honeybee Poems & Paintings
• Friends and Foes: Poems About Us All

Themes: Animals 

(Beach Lane Books, 2022.)

Delicious! Poems Celebrating Street Food Around the World by Julie Larios

Travel around the world and learn about different types of street food with the fourteen poems in Delicious!. 

Thoughts: This collection will leave you hungry! Delicious! is a great way to explore other cultures. My favortite poems are "Carts in the Park," "By the Sea," and "Train Station." The illustrations are bright, colorful, and diverse.  Poetry about food would be a fascinating way to study geography. Pair with What's Your Favorite Food? by Eric Carle and Friends and other food themed picture books and poetry collections for a fun food themed storytime. You could also use individual poems to highlight a certain location. For example, pair the poem "Train Station" with The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk by by Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal. 

Locations Mentioned in Delicious! 

• New York, New York, USA
• Oaxaca, Mexico
• Jaffa, Israel
• Marrakech, Morocco
• Launceston, Tasmania, Australia 
• Saint Petersburg, Russia 
• Lima, Peru 
• Mumbai, India 
• Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia 
• Seoul, South Korea
• Athens, Greece 
• Dakar, Senegal
• Beijing, China 
• Boston, Massachusetts, USA 

Other Food Themed Poetry Collections

• Fresh-Picked Poetry by Michelle Schaub
• Fresh Delicious by Irene Latham 
• Follow the Recipe by Marilyn Singer
• The Popcorn Astronauts and Other Biteable Rhymes by Deborah Ruddell

Themes: Food, Different Cultures

(Illustrated by Julie Paschkis. Beach Lane Books, 2021.)

A Spectacular Selection of Sea Critters by Betsy Franco

A colorful collection of concrete poems explores ocean creatures. 

Thoughts: A colorful interesting collection! I think A Spectacular Selection of Sea Critters has broad appeal. Kids who like colorful books, kids who like graphic novels, kids who like the ocean. This collection will come in handy for my summer programs as the CSLP theme is oceanography. My favorite poems are "Box Jellies," "Seahorse," "Limerick: Trumpet Fish," "Fishy Names," "Parrot Fish," and "Boxfish/Cowfish." I love Wertz' limited palette of blues, oranges, reds, and yellows. My favorite illustration is "Fishy Names." 

Other Poetry Collections by Betsy Franco 

• Bees, Snails, and Peacock Tails: Patterns and Shapes...Naturally
• A Curious Collection of Cats
• A Dazzling Display of  Dogs

Other Concrete Poetry Books

• A Poke in the I collected by Paul B. Janeczko
• Ode to a Commode by Brian P. Cleary
• Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems by Bob Raczka 

Themes: Ocean, Fish

(Illustrated by Michael Wertz. Millbrook Press, 2015.)

Hi, Koo! A Year of Seasons by Jon J. Muth

26 short poems take you through the seasons--fall, winter, spring, and summer. 

Thoughts: A lovely collection of haiku suitable for the youngest children. I love the images the poems put in my mind even before I note the pages' illustrations. The watercolor and ink illustrations are charming. I want to have my very own panda bear like Koo! I have a poetry storytime scheduled for later this month and I've settled on spring as my theme. I'm going to share the spring sections of various seasonal poetry collections along with a few spring themed picture books. I would like to do the same with all the other seasons as they happen this year. My favorite poems are dance, king, crocuses, and tic-tac-toe. 

The author's note explains what haiku is and makes readers aware of an alphabet scavenger hunt throughout the book. Can you find all 26 words A to Z? I've had an idea for a writing exercise for older kids to go along with the book. Read Hi, Koo! and then use the alphabet words to create your own haiku. The alphabet words: autumn, broom, coat, dance, eating, friend, gathers, heart, icicles, just, king, long, morning, new, out, puddles, quiet, reading, sad, tiny, up, violet, water, Xs, your, and zero.

Other Seasonal Poetry Collections for Children: 

• Beautiful Day! Petite Poems for All Seasons by Rodoula Pappa 
• Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka
• Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko
• When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons by Julie Fogliano
• Lion of the Sky: Haiku for All Seasons by Laura Purdie Salas
• Red Sings from the Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman
• Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies

Themes: Seasons, Poetry, Elementary

(Scholastic, 2014.)

Beautiful Day! Petite Poems for All Seasons by Rodoula Pappa

Twenty haiku-inspired poems that take you through the seasons. 

Thoughts: Lovely little poems (five for each season) paired with gorgeous illustrations makes this poetry collection for the youngest readers a gem. I love that the poems are haiku-inspired and don't adhere rigidly to the rules. The information on the front flap of the book cover provides a succinct introduction to haiku and even gives a writing tip. Seng Soun's illustrations are a visual feast. The bright colors paired with Japanese patterns (I'm assuming from fabric and paper) are so lovely to look at. I found myself going back to look at them repeatedly and I saw new details every time. I love all the illustrations, but I especially like the kites, birds, origami, and kokeshi dolls. I think this book would make a fabulous addition to my storytimes and home libraries. 

Fun fact about me: I crocheted a kokeshi doll for a good friend who lived in Japan briefly as a child when her dad was in the military.  

Other Seasonal Poetry Collections for Children: 

• Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons by Jon J. Muth
• Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka
• Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko
• When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons by Julie Fogliano
• Lion of the Sky: Haiku for All Seasons by Laura Purdie Salas
• Red Sings from the Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman
• Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies

Themes: Seasons, Play, Nature 

(Illustrated by Seng Soun Ratanavanh. Cameron Kids, 2021.)

The Dirt Book: Poems about Animals that Live Beneath Our Feet by David L. Harrison

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the dirt beneath your feet? The Dirt Book offers poems about fifteen animals that live down in the ground. 

Thoughts: I really enjoyed this poetry collection. I love the rhythm of the poems and the language Harrison uses. One phrase that caught my fancy was "mole troll soul" from the poem "Mole: Worm Search." My favorite poems in addition to mole are "Earthworm: Dirty Work," "Mouse: Nightfall Calls," and "Gopher Tortoise: The Inn Keeper." I can definitely see myself incorporating these poems into storytime. If I use the collection as a whole it would be great for an underground animals storytime. I could also use the poems individually to add a bit of STEM poetry to a storytime theme. For reference, the animals in the collection are doodlebug, trapdoor spider, earthworm, ant, grub, mouse, bumblebee, yellow jacket wasp, mole, toad, chipmunk, and gopher tortoise. 

The illustrations are fabulous! They are both colorful and detailed. I love the soft colors of the colored pencils. Cosgrove's illustrations are quite reminiscent of watercolor. I like the lack of outlines. The vertical panorama style suits the subject perfectly. My favorite illustrations are earthworm (love the purple turnips), mouse (love the lavish use of lavender), bumblebee (again with the purples), and toad.

The Author Notes provide more information about all the animals mentioned in the poems as well as the dirt in which they live. The bibliography as well as the knowledge that the information in the collection was reviewed by an expert, reassures readers, parents, teachers, and librarians that this book is well-researched in addition to being engaging.  

An NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students
An NCTE Notable Poetry Book
A 2021 Cybils Poetry Nomination

Download activity sheets from the publisher's website here. 

Themes: Underground Animals, Insects 

(Illustrated by Kate Cosgrove. Holiday House, 2021.)

There's a Ghost in This House by Oliver Jeffers

A little girl lives all alone in a big, old house. She's sure there's a ghost in the house. Can you help her find the ghost? 

Thoughts: Part ghost story, part seek-and-find activity--this book is brilliant! I love the storyline, but it's the illustrations that steal the show. The use of old photographs, new illustrations (the girl and various house details on paper pages), and the ghosts (on tracing paper pages) make this story great. Make sure you look at the end pages to see the rather subtle surprise ending. I can't wait to use this book in storytime in October. I know kids will love this book. The fact that the girl never sees a ghost and they are everywhere will have the kids shouting out, "Turn around!" or "Look over there!" There's a Ghost in This House will be storytime gold. Pair with The Dark by Lemony Snicket, Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, and What Was I Scared Of? by Dr. Seuss. 

Read about Jeffers's creative process here. 

Download an activity pack from Oliver Jeffers's website here. 

Themes: Ghosts, Spooky Stories 

 (Philomel Books, 2021.)

Jungle Night by Sandra Boynton

It's nighttime in the jungle and all the animals are sleeping. Can you hear them? 

Thoughts: I love books that feature animals sounds. I think these animal sleeping sounds are unique. I know kids will love hearing the sounds and trying to imitate them. Pair with Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss and I'm a Frog! by Mo Willems. 

Download narration by Keith Boynton and a soundtrack featuring Yo-Yo Ma here. 

Themes: Night, Jungle, Animal Sounds 

(Workman Publishing, 2020.)

I Do Not Like Yolanda by Zoey Abbott

Bianca likes writing letters and sending them through the mail. She also likes postage stamps. There's one thing Bianca doesn't like: Yolanda at the post office. Bianca is scared of Yolanda. Will she ever overcome her fear? 

Thoughts: I also love a good story about mail and/or letters. I Do Not Like Yolanda is that and so much more. It's great to see Bianca conquer her fear and realize that Yolanda can be a friend. The illustrations are colorful, detailed, and make good use of white space. I love that all the details of Bianca's letters and envelopes are included. The letters that decorate the end pages are fun to read. For a mail themed storytime pair with The Thank You Letter by Jane Cabrera, Snail Mail by Samantha Berger, Meerkat Mail by Emily Gravett, A Letter for Leo by Sergio Ruzzier, The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt, and Love, Mouserella by David Ezra Stein. 

Download activity sheets from the publisher here. (Look for I Do Not Like Yolanda in the list of titles.) 

Themes: Mail, Letters

(Tundra, 2021.)

Chez Bob by Bob Shea

Bob is one lazy alligator. Being so lazy makes him hungry. He tries using his manners to entice birds into his mouth, but alas it doesn't work. Bob decides to open a restaurant for birds on his nose. Chez Bob is guaranteed to get him more birds than he can eat. Or is it? 

Thoughts: Too funny! I love books where villainous characters turn out to be not so bad. Bob's voice is greeat and I love seeing the change in him as the book progresses. The illustrations are bright and colorful. My favorite illustrations are the town and Bob's nest. Pair with Misunderstood Shark by Ame Dyckman, Misunderstood Shark: Friends Don't Eat Friends by Ame Dyckman, Chicken Little and the Big Bad Wolf by Sam Wedelich, Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins, The Great Gran Plan by Elli Woollard, Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman, Max and Bird by Ed Vere, and A Hungry Lion, Or a Dwindling Assortment of Animals by Lucy Ruth Cummins. 

Themes: Alligators, Birds, Restaurants 

(Little, Brown and Company, 2021.)