On a warm summer day, a lonely boy finds himself in the presence of a very large, very fluffy owl. They spend the entire summer together and grow incredibly close, but once fall arrives, the owl says goodbye. Fischer has created a simple yet poignant story about the passage of time, which seems to urge readers to savor every summer moment. His gorgeous illustrations only enhance that sentiment.
Anna
Travel around the world in A Day in the Sun as kids from Brazil to Italy to Thailand greet the sun. From acknowledging the sun’s role in having fun to growing food, these children engage with the magic and power of sunlight. Ejaita’s vivid art style, bold colors, and use of textures meld brilliantly to evoke the heat of a hot sun and create a joyously bright book.
Jenna
Joy has somehow reached back in time and written a book about me as a child. Using clever and bright illustrations, she describes children who want to feel seen and heard without actually being in the spotlight. Her message to everyone is that YOU are the best person in the world at being you, which is something all us wallflowers need to hear from time to time.
Anna
Nora is finally old enough to work at her Lola’s sari-sari store in the Philippines and she couldn’t be more excited! But what happens when a heat wave and the store is empty? That’s when Nora makes a brilliant plan to sell mango ice candy to draw people in! Don’t worry, Bontiago includes a recipe to make your own Ice Candy so you don’t have to miss out on any fun during the hot summer days!
Jess
The old saying “things happen for a reason” 100% applies to this charming picture book! Spend a day with Pip and Parker, the two best friends there ever were. When Pip’s crayon breaks Parker is there to see the silver lining and turn an unfortunate mishap into something great. This book is sure to teach young ones to look on the bright side of things and know that some things are just meant to be.
Jess
This picture book is definitely a gem. It follows a child that is feeling particularly sad and it seems that nobody else is feeling the same. Until one day, this changes. This book shows that everyone is connected and can feel similar things, such as sadness. But this feeling doesn’t last forever; more so, you can heal from being surrounded by those you love.
Mayah
This beautifully illustrated picture book with black and white images covered by transparent overlay pages conveys the many possibilities within dreams. Follow the adventures and whimsical experiences that usually only happen at night when you’re fast asleep, like flying or sailing on the ocean with giant whales. It also shows us the unique wonder of being ourselves and that may be the best feeling of all: waking up and being you.
Mayah
Sometimes you hold a picture book for the first time and it immediately takes your breath away. This one did the trick. A girl and her grandfather play music together in the park, when she meets his friend who lives outside. With simple acts of kindness, she reminds us that every person deserves empathy and community. Already predicting this as the Caldecott winner!
Beth
Wild Blue is a creative and imaginative story about learning to tame a new horse - I mean, bicycle. This story follows a young child who lets her old bicycle run free while she ropes a new, bigger one. She has many doubts about this new stead but eventually gains her confidence and shows wild blue who’s in charge. A wonderful story!
Mayah
This is the third Little Pea book Milky Way Books has published, but it is, in fact, Little Pea’s origin story. From his beginnings sleeping in a matchbox and learning to swim in a bathroom sink, to his career as… well, I won’t spoil it! Check out all three of Little Pea’s adventures to find out! Mourrain’s classic, colorful illustrations bring to life Cali’s miniscule yet strong-willed character.
Timothy
A tale of friendship and bravery indeed! Andrea Zuill touches my heartstrings once again with this sweet, adorably illustrated picture book about a super cute mushroom and his best friend: Gustav the slug. When Gustav gets out of their safe, cozy home, our heroic mushroom main character puts himself out of his comfort zone to find his beloved invertebrate and finds the beauty of adventure along the way.
Tori
This poem-turned-picture book by poet laureate Joy Harjo is so beautiful: both the words and illustrations that live inside. A gentle and precious reminder about how we are all interconnected to the Earth, the water, and the universe as a whole. This book shows readers of all ages that we can find ourselves in just about everything. “Remember you are all people and all people are you.”
Tori