Two New Rosh Hashanah Picture Books for 2026
TWO NEW PICTURE BOOKS FOR ROSH HASHANAH
THE SWEETEST ROSH HASHANAH
Written by Mara Bergman
Illustrated by Aura Lewis
(Candlewick Press; $18.99, Ages 4-7)
This feel-good picture book contains all the right elements (or should I say ingredients?) for the Rosh Hashanah holiday and an enjoyable read-aloud. Part of “The Festivals of the World” series, The Sweetest Rosh Hashanah focuses on the Jewish New Year and a little girl named Ellie. She loves helping her parents prepare for the New Year meal, especially the challah, the honey cake, and the apples and honey. But when she’s reminded that her grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins will be joining them, she remembers how bossy her cousin Lara had been on her previous visit.
Ellie decides that, rather than having Lara take something of hers and leave with it like she did last time—Ellie’s special paint set, to be precise—she’d hide her special toys from Lara. What a surprise, then, when Lara shows up with a handmade card apologizing for taking the paint set and for her bossy behavior. Ellie takes her cue from the meaning of Rosh Hashanah and forgives her cousin. In the spirit of Rosh Hashanah and turning over a new leaf, the cousins move forward with love and open minds, “… the perfect start to a sweet new year.” Lewis’s warm palette captures the festive moments in a flat, folk art style that I love, as a diverse family gathers to celebrate the holiday. Bergman captures a common childhood emotion and creates a joyful picture book in which forgiveness offers a chance for new beginnings.
With four pages of backmatter in this 32-page picture book, the story unfolds quickly, with every spread moving it toward a heartwarming conclusion. Kids will find a step-by-step recipe for making challah as well as a New Year’s card craft activity.
STELLA’S SPECIAL RECIPE: A Rosh Hashanah Story
Written by Melissa Stoller
Illustrated by Valerya Milovanova
(Kar-Ben Publishing; $19.99. Ages 2-8)
Meet Stella, the narrator of Stella’s Special Recipe. Now that she’s old enough to help her mom make the stuffed cabbage rolls, a family recipe passed down for generations, Stella can’t wait to get started. She doesn’t have to go far to gather the ingredients, since she lives on a farm where they’re easy to pick. Stoller skillfully uses catchy language tools such as onomatopoeia, alliteration, consonance, assonance, and a repeatable refrain that grows longer as mouthwatering ingredients are added.
“We chop-drop tomatoes into a pot for sauce.
Sizzle, sizzle. Steam swirls.”
Pure yum! One tradition that’s also been passed down in different colored ink from Stella’s bubbe, nana, and mom is adding their own personal touch. “‘Could I add my own dash or dollop?'” I wonder.” This got me curious to see what new recipe variation would get selected. When Stella added honey, I knew she’d found the perfect addition that simply shouted her name to keep the sweet family tradition going.
I’d be lying if I didn’t mention that my nana’s stuffed cabbage ranked up there with the best I’ve ever eaten, but I unfortunately don’t have the recipe. I’m thankful this picture book includes a recipe for me to test out. Milovanova’s illustrations, full of Stella’s energy and enthusiasm, pair beautifully with Stoller’s inviting prose.
A Guest Review and Interview with Ona Gritz, The Shape of Wings Author
THE SHAPE OF WINGS
Written by Ona Gritz
(West 44 Books; Available in Hardcover, Paperback, and eBook,
Ages 14-18/Grades 9-12)
GUEST REVIEW BY KAROL SILVERSTEIN:
Newly connected with her biological sisters (having hunted down her sperm donor-dad on Ancestry), C.C. is loving getting to know them. But when talk turns to sports and other physical activities they all enjoy, C.C. chooses not to share that she has cerebral palsy, enjoying the anonymity of the Zoom room. C.C.’s friend group—which includes bestie volleyball star Paige—is all non-disabled. In fact, the only other disabled person C.C. knows is a local woman who’s a wheelchair user. That changes when Jasmine comes to the library where C.C. works. C.C. instantly recognizes Jasmine’s altered gait and assumes, correctly, that Jasmine has CP too. Jasmine’s astonished that C.C. has no disabled friends and is unaware of the nearby Judy Heumann Center, a gathering place for disabled kids and teens that offers adaptive sports and other activities.
Jasmine takes C.C. under her wing, taking her to the Heumann Center and introducing her around. The experience proves to be a revelation for C.C., who begins spending most of her time with Jasmine and the other disabled teens she meets. She even begins a sweet romance with Lucas, who’s blind, and starts learning adaptive volleyball. Meanwhile, C.C.’s been blowing off her other friends, and Paige is hurt and confused by how unavailable C.C.’s been all summer. Like keeping her CP a secret from her sisters, C.C. hasn’t shared her new friends or her budding romance with Paige.
When C.C. does finally hang out with Paige and her old friend group, she meets Paige’s cute cousin Jack, who takes an interest in C.C. Longing to “test the waters” of attracting a non-disabled guy, C.C. allows herself to be swept up in his attention and they kiss a little on her front porch at the end of the night. She instantly regrets her betrayal of Lucas and intends to tell him what she’s done. But Jasmine saw her kissing Jack, and is furious. C.C. knows she needs to come clean with all the secrets she’s been keeping—from Paige, from her sisters and from Lucas. Somehow she needs to reconcile the fences she’s put up and then broken and to bring the separate parts of her world together.
Like author Ona Gritz’s previous book that introduced C.C., The Space You Left Behind, this new novel is a hard-to-put-down page turner. It explores the benefit of leaning into one’s disabled identity and the power of having a community that understands you in a way those who don’t share your experience might not. C.C. swings from a disabled teen with no disabled friends to one who shuts out and nearly loses her long-time, non-disabled friends. Obviously, finding a balance and communicating more openly with her old friend group is essential for C.C. Seeing C.C.’s eyes open to all the disabled community has to offer was a thrill. The Judy Heumann Center was practically in her backyard, yet she didn’t know about—or about the disability activism of the center’s namesake.
Able-bodied parents of disabled kids often think treating their child “just like any other kid,” deemphasizing their disabled identity, is doing them a service. But it can deprive these kids of the opportunity to appreciate a significant part of themselves and to connect with other kids like them—in addition to their non-disabled friends. The Shape Of Wings is a loving, honest look at one teen’s journey of discovery and revelation around a part of herself she had yet to embrace as unique and powerful.
A Q&A With Ona Gritz by Karol Silverstein:
Karol Silverstein: Books are like our children’s. What excites you most about your latest?
Ona Gritz: The Shape of Wings is, in many ways, a love letter to disability friendships and community. I’m excited to share the depth of those connections, the fun to be found there, and how affirming and essential it is for disabled kids to have that particular part of themselves valued and understood from the inside out.
KS: Did you always envision (or hope for) a sequel to The Space You Left Behind?
OG: Not long after I began writing The Space You Left Behind, I realized I wanted more time with these characters. When we meet CC, she’s at the absolute beginning of her journey toward self-acceptance as a young woman with cerebral palsy and, by the end, disability pride and community are possibilities she’s just beginning to envision for herself. She was definitely ahead of me at 16 in that respect, but I hoped for an opportunity to fully immerse her in that world.
KS: Jasmine’s family leaned into her disability early on, connecting with the disability community and making sure she knew other disabled kids. CC’s parents did not. Which side of that coin landed face up for you growing up?
OG: Unfortunately, my family fell on CC’s side of that coin. I was the only disabled kid in my friend group growing up. As a result, I had no sense of disabled identity and tended to see myself as clumsy and lesser than because of the way my body moved and the physical things I couldn’t do. When I finally met my first disabled friend at 25, we had an immediate and breathless finish-each-other’s-sentences kind of connection. Soon after, I asked my mom why she didn’t seek out other families with disabled kids when I was small. She said it had never occurred to her.
KS: What’s your message to misguided disability allies—the “I don’t think of you as disabled” folks?
OG: That it’s not the compliment they think it is. Words like that not only discount our experiences and identity, but communicate a belief that disability is necessarily and solely a negative.
KS: Scoops seems like a fun place. What’s your go-to ice cream parlor order?
OG: Assuming they carry gelato, vanilla stracciatella.
KS: What books, shows, movies or music have you encountered recently that blew you away? Why?
OG: For books, Roxie in Color by Stacy Cervenka and Diane Debrovner is a unique and compelling story of a sighted 7 th grader with blind parents. My husband is blind, and the book felt authentic and true to our experience. It also happens to be a real page-turner. Another MG novel I loved was The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller. There’s something so fresh and surprising about Miller’s voice. She, and therefore her characters, have such a poetic and empathetic way of viewing the world. This is a book about books, friendship, and peer pressure that’s both heartbreaking and hopeful. I also can’t say enough good things about Against Breaking: On the Power of Poetry by Ada Limón. It’s a lyrical and inspiring treatise on the importance of poetry. As a poet and verse novelist, I return to it often for inspiration. A movie I was especially charmed by this year was Eternity. It offers a wonderfully quirky and imaginative version of the afterlife, plus it has a lot of heart. And since we’re KidLit people, I’ll add that I absolutely love the film adaptation of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. It was my first-ever favorite book, and I thought it was beautifully translated to film. Shows I’ve loved recently are Hacks, Shrinking, and All Creatures Great and Small. What all three share in common are dimensional and irresistible characters.
AUTHOR BIO:
Ona Gritz holds a master of arts in poetry from the creative writing program at New York University. She is the author of the hi/lo young adult verse novels Take a Sad Song, a Kirkus Reviews’ best YA title; The Space You Left Behind, a Children’s Book Council Disability Pride Month Recommended Read; and its brand-new sequel, The Shape of Wings, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. Her books for middle grade readers include If You Find This Letter, recently featured in People Magazine for Disability Pride Month, and August Or Forever, a Reader’s Choice and Wishing Shelf finalist in middle grade fiction. She also writes poetry and nonfiction for adults.
Find out more at her website: www.onagritz.com.
Author socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onagritz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557125428404
Buy the book: Children’s Book World, Haverford, PA for signed copies, or Bookshop.org.
REVIEWER BIO:
Karol Ruth Silverstein (she/her/disabled) is an award-winning children’s book author. She’s
represented by Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary and lives in West Hollywood, California, with
two unmanageably fluffy cats. Check out www.karolruthsilverstein.com for more info.
A Guest Post by Rebecca Gardyn Levington about her new picture book, I Wish That You Knew
I WISH THAT YOU KNEW
Written by Rebecca Gardyn Levington
Illustrated by Alyssa Russell
(Little Bee Books; $19.99, Ages 4-8)
I’m thrilled to share this moving and meaningful guest post
by author Rebecca Gardyn Levington.
DESCRIPTION:
A child reflects on all the fun things she used to do with her grandmother, like baking challah, growing tulips, walking on the beach, and sharing jokes. Told against the backdrop of a Jewish unveiling ceremony, which takes place around the first anniversary of a loved one’s passing, this is a story about the imprints that the people we love leave upon our hearts long after they are gone.
This heartfelt picture book is about honoring those we have lost by remembering the happiness, comfort, and wisdom they brought into our lives.
INTRO:
Thank you, Ronna, for allowing me to guest post today!
I’m very excited to share my latest picture book, which is easily the one that is closest to my heart. It is called I WISH THAT YOU KNEW, illustrated by the incredible Alyssa Russell, and will be published on Aug. 25th by Little Bee Books.
POST:
Here’s a little about the book:
I WISH THAT YOU KNEW is a picture book about a child reflecting upon a special relationship she cherished with her supportive and fun-loving grandmother, who recently passed away. The story takes place during the grandmother’s unveiling ceremony, on the first yahrzeit, or
anniversary, of her death, offering readers a glimpse into this Jewish tradition. It is here, after a year of mourning, that the child is finally able to let go of some of her sadness and celebrate the many moments of joy that they shared.
As I said, this book is pretty personal. My inspiration was Grandma Charlotte, my Gram, who had truly been my best friend. So much of what I love and who I am is a result of my relationship with her. Her unconditional support, positive energy, and wise tough-love advice over the years have, without question, shaped how I view the world and myself in it. Gram passed away in 2013, and around the 10-year anniversary of her death, I was missing her terribly and was thinking about how much had happened since she died. She never got to see my two sons grow up or see me reinvent myself as a children’s book author and poet. She never got to read any of my books. And so, I did what I do. I wrote a poem. For her. And for me. I never initially intended this poem to become anything other than a way for me to process my grief, but as I continued to write and revise, I felt like there was a more universal story coming through me that might help others cope with their own losses.
When my editor, Jaime Gelman at Little Bee Books, initially reached out with interest, she said she thought it was beautifully written and she’d “always wanted an unveiling story” (who knew?!), but she said that, as written, it was a bit too sentimental. She thought that perhaps I was too close to the story (which I was, of course) and asked if I would be willing to revise in such a way as to create some distance between myself and the characters. Jaime also asked me this vital question: “How does participating in the unveiling ceremony specifically help this child process her grief?” Initially, I had used the unveiling purely as a backdrop, but pondering Jaime’s question led me down a rabbit hole of research and understanding about why the unveiling ritual exists in the Jewish tradition.
For those who are not familiar, the unveiling ceremony is when, a year after one’s death, a permanent grave marker is placed at the gravesite. It is called an “unveiling” because as part of the ceremony, the grave marker is initially covered with a veil or cloth, and the person leading the ceremony (often a rabbi) “unveils” it to the loved one’s family and friends for the first time. In my research, I learned that one of the reasons we wait an entire year before erecting the grave marker is to give us time to get used to our grief, to “practice” living without our loved one, before we make it feel permanent with a marker. So, in the story, I revised it so that not only is the child reminiscing about all the things she loved doing with her grandmother and all the ways she now misses her, but she is also realizing that the passage of time has been a gift because it has given her time and distance from the shock of the loss and only now, a year later, is finally ready to start moving forward. She says: “It’s time to let go of some of the sad/and celebrate moments of joy that we had.” Notice that I used the word “some” because she likely will never, of course, lose the sadness of her loss, but the gift of time offers her the ability to let go of “some” of it, while still holding on to all of the joy.
Leaning more into the reasons for the unveiling also helped me create some distance from the characters because my own family, for various reasons, never actually held an unveiling ceremony for my Gram. By thinking about how my character’s participation in the ceremony helped her process her loss, I was able to more easily separate myself from the child’s emotions and could tell her story, rather than my own. Of course, there are still many moments in the book that still very much mirror my relationship with my Gram. And these lines, from the original poem I wrote her, never changed:
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I want you to know
I keep you with me.
Your love has helped shape
who I am and will be.
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I’m enormously grateful to my editor for pushing me and asking all the right questions so that this book could become exactly what it needed to be.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post, and thank you, Ronna, for having me on the blog.
Wishing you all a joyful summer.
CLICK HERE TO PREORDER A COPY TODAY
BIO:
Bilingual Picture Book Review – Tío Ricky Doesn’t Speak English / Tío Ricky no habla inglés
TIo Ricky Doesn’t Speak English
• Tío Ricky no habla
inglés
Written by Maritere R. Bellas
Illustrated by Jayri Gómez
(Lil’ Libros; $19.99, Ages 4-8)
Publisher Description:
“… This heartwarming English-Spanish story shows that speaking two languages is powerful and you don’t need a cape to be a hero.”
Review:
This is a WAY overdue post of Tío Ricky Doesn’t Speak English/Tío Ricky no habla inglés, written by Maritere R. Bellas and illustrated by Jayri Gómez, a picture book so well crafted that I wish I’d been able to review last year. The good news is that I’ve reread it, and once again, Bellas’s characters still jumped off the pages into my heart. Not only do I enjoy bilingual books, but I also love learning something new. In this case, the not-uncommon need for bilingual English-Spanish speakers to help their Spanish-only-speaking relatives, and how it can sometimes feel like a “have to” rather than a “want to” for young children. This must be so relatable for many readers.
This opening spread, full of excitement, sets up the story with both the prose and the emotive art:
The main character’s delight at his uncle’s visit is palpable, but pretty soon, readers see there are strings attached. Wherever the main character and his uncle go, the child is called on to translate, be that at the bank, at the market, with neighbors, or with the mail carrier. While Papi explains that helping each other is what families do, it doesn’t seem to ease the young boy’s burden.
A trip to the pharmacy to get medicine for Tío Ricky builds tension and reveals the extent of the narrator’s frustration. What the boy doesn’t realize is that his uncle feels the same way about being unable to communicate clearly with the staff. His facial expression speaks volumes.
When the boy overhears his uncle practicing his English at home, the boy’s empathy shows. I love that playing dominoes is a way for these two to connect and a great opportunity to teach some English words. In the art, readers can see on the characters’ faces how much they’re enjoying each other’s company. It’s nice that some of that annoyance has passed simply by sharing a good time together.
But when Tío Ricky complains that his head hurts and he feels dizzy, his nephew steps up and calls 911, something he learned from his parents. Just like he learned the value of family members supporting each other. I liked watching the main character grow over the course of the book. It felt natural and satisfying to see him finally embrace his skill—one I sure wish I had—when faced with an emergency.
“The paramedic tells me Tío is lucky to have me
there to help. I smile.
“Your tío is going to be fine. He just needs to take
his medicine and rest.”
Bilingualism is a gift. It’s why we sent our daughter to a bilingual school when we lived in Germany. But the truth is, many children do not appreciate this gift until they are older. Tío Ricky Doesn’t Speak English/Tío Ricky no habla inglés is an important story to share so children in similar bilingual situations will see that they are not the only kids who have to translate. It’s also a reminder that, while there may initially have been reluctance on the part of the young translator to be on call for their non-English-speaking relative, the benefits far outweighed the drawbacks. In fact, it ends up being a win-win for everyone!
I hope that by sharing this book, parents can help children embrace and celebrate the “superpower” of bilingualism.
Order your copy here.
L is for Librarian Celebrates Los Angeles Central Library’s 100th Anniversary
L IS FOR LIBRARIAN:
The ABCs of Los Angeles Central Library
Written by Susan Lendroth
Illustrated by Alexander Vidal
(Angel City Press at LAPL; $18.99, Ages 4+)
Publisher Description:
L is for Librarian: The ABCs of Los Angeles Central Library is an Amazing, Beautiful, Captivating, delightful, and Energizing tour of the Los Angeles Central Library. From Awesome Adventures to Zombies in the makerspace, readers of all ages will enjoy this alphabetical exploration of Los Angeles’s beloved icon.
Author Interview:
Welcome to the blog, Susan. It’s an exciting time at L.A.’s Central Library, so it’s wonderful you could join us!
Susan Lendroth: For the simple reason that library staff asked me to write it! I have been writing picture books for more than 20 years–this is my 10th book–so the organizers of Central Library’s 100th birthday celebration invited me to create an alphabet book for the centennial year. I wrote it as part of my job since I work for Los Angeles Public Library’s public relations department.
SL: About 80% of my original letter subject choices made it to the finish line, with the other 20% being alternate suggestions from the team. I rewrote text for those letters. The “liveliest” discussion centered on the letter “O.” I discovered an octopus carved into a door lintel and fell in love. Others wanted O for Owls, which decorate the building in stone and metal. I won Octopus a place in the book, but the illustrator, Alexander Vidal, added multiple owls anyway, an “I Spy” game where the same stone owl is depicted as an earring or a book cover or one of the spots on a giraffe. The funny thing is, no one told him about the Owl versus Octopus debate!
SL: The owls, definitely the owls. If you read a copy of the book and search carefully, you will find owls depicted in 18 different places, including a couple of duplicate illustrations on the endpapers. However, there are more actual owls than that because sometimes they repeat in a design!
SL: A few years back, the couple who created and operated Angel City Press wanted to retire. They had worked for decades building a publishing house that celebrated stories connected to the Los Angeles area and wanted to keep that purpose, as well as the publishing house’s backlist, intact. So they donated Angel City Press to Los Angeles Public Library rather than trying to find a buyer.
GRWR: This is the first children’s book published by ACP. Did they take any special steps to add a children’s book to their list?
SL: As ever, I’m juggling multiple projects. I have a long list of ideas and a finite number of hours to write, so I’ll see where the road takes me. Though I have to say, writing an alphabet book was fun, and I’d definitely enjoy writing another.
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Angel City Press: https://acp.lapl.org/
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Book release date: July 7, 2026
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Buy the book: L is for Librarian is available from Angel City Press at the Library Store at Central Library, other booksellers, online at Bookshop.org, and elsewhere.
Bio:
Libraries have been Susan Lendroth’s second home for as long as she can remember, so joining the staff of Los Angeles Public Library a decade ago felt like docking with the mother ship. L Is for Librarian is her tenth picture book, following such titles as Here We Go Digging for Dinosaur Bones, Hey Ho, to Mars We’ll Go! and Maneki Neko: The Tale of the Beckoning Cat. Find Susan on social media here: https://www.instagram.com/susanlendroth/
Website for illustrator Alexander Vidal: Alexander Vidal Illustration
Graphic Novel Chapter Book Review – Trial and Error
TRIAL AND ERROR
Written by Robin Newman
Illustrated by Deborah Zemke
(Creston Books; $18.99, Ages 7-11)
HONORS:
A 2026 Bank Street College of Education Best Book
Northern Lights Book Award
IPPY Bronze Medal
REVIEW:
In her much-lauded new series, Robin Newman has made law and order accessible and enjoyable for second- to fifth-graders. Trial and Error, a punny 64-page graphic novel chapter book, features four animal-populated cases, each a new chapter. The whimsical black-and-white illustrations by Deborah Zemke, who has teamed up with Newman on four previous books, are winners as well. Just check out the book’s cover if you want to get a sense of the humor that’s infused on every page.
Readers are introduced to Sawyer, an ant known as the “Critter Lawyer,” who, from an early age, had a penchant for following rules. Inspired by a bookworm’s advice, Sawyer became a lawyer. Think Lincoln Lawyer as an insect. But in order for this attorney’s career to take off, Sawyer needed clients.
As someone who cares about fairness, I found that Trial and Error resonated with me. Newman does a wonderful job of showing that “rules exist for a reason” through cleverly conceived cases that illustrate what a lawyer does, and the types of cases they handle. That includes taking a case to trial before a judge and working with clients to mediate and negotiate a settlement. Case #1 involves an alleged speeding snail, and readers’ first introduction to Officer Opossum and Judge Wise Owl; Case #2 involves two squabbling squirrels (with a surprise twist); Case #3 involves a hogging hog unhappy about his neatness-obsessed sty-mate who happens to be his twin brother; and Case #4, The Jaywalking Chicken, brings back Officer Opossum. Adding to the pleasure of reading Trial and Error is witnessing the triumphs of savvy Sawyer, whose services are sure to be in demand down the road.
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It’s great how varied each case is and how each one touches on different aspects of the law. Newman uses legal terminology sparingly throughout the book, and when she does, it is easy to understand from context (e.g., docket, ordinance, testimony). She then breaks it down in a glossary called Legal Notes. The backmatter also contains an In Brief section explaining the role of a lawyer and how laws and rules have been created “to help people live safely together in communities.” She even applies this to home life and school.
I’m happy that Trial and Error is the first in a new graphic chapter book series, and I look forward to seeing Sawyer return with more critter cases to resolve.
Click here for a helpful curriculum guide.
Click here for a word search.
Watch a video here.
A Board Book for Jewish American Heritage Month – Mazel Toes!
MAZEL TOES!
Written by Audrey Barbakoff
Illustrated by Annita Soble
(The Collective Book Studio; $12.95, Ages 0-3)
This recommended board book, Mazel Toes! written by Audrey Barbakoff and illustrated by Annita Soble, hooked me from the title, and the rest of the rhyming story kept me turning the pages. What a treat to read all the Yiddish I heard growing up. Better yet, how wonderful to share it with future generations. I like how references to the various babies’ mazel toes appear in every other stanza, all the while introducing Yiddish words to kvell over.
My love, it lasts forever.
My love, it grows and grows,
From your shayna punim
Down to your mazel toes.
My favorite stanza is above, and I can almost hear my grandfather saying it. It was years before I understood that when he said “pupik” he was referring to my belly button! Barbakoff makes every perfectly chosen Yiddish word work wonderfully to convey the pride everyone feels as they marvel at the bundle of joy.
Readers unfamiliar with Yiddish will appreicate the glossary at the end. I appreciated the diverse representation of characters in the illustrations, including multiracial, multigenerational, queer, and disabled characters. Additionally, the journey from the “old country” to the present, as they dote on the newborn, was a thoughtful approach. I’m a big fan of the flattened-style perspective Sobel used, a rich, naïve art that hints at a bygone era and flows easily from spread to spread.
If you know new parents, grandparents, in fact, the whole mishpocha, I cannot think of a gift that will warm hearts more than Mazel Toes!
Recommended Picture Book for Mother’s Day – If Animals Said I Love You, Mama
IF ANIMALS SAID I LOVE YOU, MAMA
Written by Ann Whitford Paul
Illustrated by David Walker
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); $18.99, Ages 2-6)
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From the Publisher:
A must-have for any nursery! This bestselling series adds another charming picture book that imagines creatures all across the animal kingdom as kiddos showing affection to their mamas – making it the perfect purchase for Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day or any time of year.
Review:
What fun young animals have getting ready to share their love on Mother’s Day! This latest picture book in the popular If Animals Kissed Goodnight series by Ann Whitford Paul and David Walker inspires all the oohs! and ahhs! just like all the previous books have done with a gentle pastel palette, adorable animals, and a lilting rhyme.
Little ones will meet Wombat, Cat, Koala, Quokka, Kookaburra, Magpie, Wallaby, and myriad other animals found in Australia, some better known than others. But Wombat mama and Wombat baby make the most appearances, all delightful, I might add. Whether creating a Mother’s Day card, digging deep into a burrow, or a cute baby thoughtfully waiting for its mama “who moved at a much slower gait,” and finally picking flowers for a colorful bouquet, Wombat Mama and Wombat Baby are an endearing pair.
What works especially well is how Whitford Paul has subtly included *factual information that complements her rhyme, such as what the kookaburra likes to eat above. I’d never heard of a quokka (a small wallaby), but now I know that the native Banksia tree provides these marsupials with shelter and sustenance in the south-west region of Western Australia. Are you familiar with the reptile known as a skink? They can be found throughout Australia. The swooping hawk in Walker’s art is only one of the many predators this lizard must watch out for.
Treat children to a copy of If Animals Said I Love You, Mama, a sweet read that highlights the special mother-baby bond this holiday joyfully celebrates.
*NOTE: My curiosity prompted me to research the flora and fauna info for further details when I described the Banksia tree and quokka.
Follow Ann at annwhitfordpaul.com, and David on Instagram @davidwalkerstudios
Celebrate Earth Day with Wildspeak
WILDSPEAK
Written by Sangma Francis
Illustrated by Lexi Vangsnes
(Sourcebooks Jabberwocky; $18.99, Ages 4-9)
★Starred Reviews – Indie NEXT Pick, Kirkus, School Library Journal
PUBLISHER SUMMARY:
Where the stream twists and sparkles? That’s SUNGLITTER. Where the sunset touches the sky? That’s CLOUDBLOOM. Come take a walk full of the delight of real nature words—mayflies, sea snails, blackbirds, brambles—and full of the joy of new words just waiting to be discovered. Perfect as an inspiration before, during, or after a walk, WILDSPEAK invites readers into the wide possibilities of the natural world, and the wild landscapes of their own imaginations!
REVIEW:
This book made me want to go outside and head to the nearest beach, stream, or woods. Wildspeak: is just the joyful book I needed as Earth Day 2026 approaches. I felt a cool breeze as I read it. I heard the splash of water and the excited voices of children playing and discovering our wonderful “wildspeak” inviting world. Whether scenes are by the water, in a meadow, or in a forest, this picture book showcases the best nature has to offer and celebrates it in every gorgeous spread.
This colorful and creative approach to nature will inspire even the most reluctant of readers to embrace the curiosity shared by two adventurous sisters. Cora and Ada take pleasure not only in discovering nature’s gifts but also in inventing new words to describe them (see illustrations). Look at all the fabulous ways there are to name “seeds caught up in a breeze.” What is your favorite? Mine is airdancers, but a giant’s sneeze is a close second. Not only are these words fun to say, but they’re also invitations for young readers to come up with their own. Their very own wildspeak!
Take readers outside to play in a field, a meadow, or at the beach, and ask them what words come to mind. It’s not just about what they see, but also what they feel and hear, because when nature embraces children, it speaks its own unique language, and no two people experience it quite the same way.
The scene above by the shoreline is one that resonated for me as a lover of lighthouses and tidepools. I imagined the creatures lurking beneath the water, the smell of saltwater, the roughness of the rocks, and the splashes as waves rolled in. My wildspeak words were jagged jumping, and ripply dipping. Why not join the Wildspeak excitement by celebrating “mayflies skimming the air, blackbirds calling from hedgerows, brambles tangling at the edges of hidden paths,” and then make time to take a walk today or any day. Every read offers a new perspective on the surroundings and immerses you in the wonder of our beautiful world no matter what words you choose to use.
Other Recommended Earth Day Reads:
IF THIS WERE THE WORLD
Written by Stephen Barr
Illustrated by AG Ford
(Neal Porter Books)
YOU ARE THE LAND
by Steph Littlebird
(Nancy Paulsen Books)
OUR HOME, OUR ONLY HOME
Written by Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrated by Sophie Diao
(Candlewick Press)
WE CAN HEAR WITHOUT EARS:
And Other Things You Didn’t Know We Plants Could Do
Written by Lisa Westberg Peters
Illustrated by Danielle Ridolfi
(Astra Young Readers)
Happy Birthday, America! An Interview with Roxanne Troup and Jennifer Doehring
AN INTERVIEW WITH ROXANNE TROUP
AND JENNIFER DOEHRING
ABOUT THEIR NEW PICTURE BOOK,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!
(Albert Whitman & Co.; $9.99, Ages 4-8)
PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION:
Happy Birthday, America! | Albert Whitman & Company
On a hot summer day, a family heads to the local park, where everyone in town has gathered for a party unlike any other. There are games, music, food, and—best of all—a huge fireworks display! There’s a reason behind all of the fun and festivities, though: the freedom of the celebration reminds everyone why the United States was founded two hundred and fifty years ago.
INTRO:
Welcome to the blog today, Roxanne and Jennifer Doehring, and CONGRATULATIONS on Happy Birthday, America! I’m thrilled you could be here to give readers a preview and the opportunity to preorder the picture book before its release this May. Scroll down for details.
INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR ROXANNE TROUP:
GoodReadsWithRonna: Can you share what inspired you to write Happy Birthday, America! for our country’s semiquincentennial? And yes, readers, that’s a long one, and it means the 250th anniversary of our nation.
Roxanne Troup: I was actually working on an educational piece about the history of fireworks when the idea for this story came to me. I’d been contracted to write a middle-grade testing passage and needed a first-person narrative opener. I remembered my first fireworks display—the sharp scent, the noise (and then silence) of the crowd, the deep-in-your-chest report as the first firework explodes, the magic of moments-there colored lights—and drafted that experience. It was spare and emotive, and I couldn’t bring myself to give it up. So I set it aside and wrote something different for my contracted piece. Eventually, I came back to that drafted experience and built a picture book around it.
GRWR: It would be so helpful for teachers reading this to know how the book can be used outside of the holiday, extended to the classroom, etc. (especially this year). Is there an educator’s guide to accompany the picture book?
RT: There will be! I’m actually in the process of creating the educators’ guide right now (as well as fun craft activities).
GRWR: What was your reaction when you saw the art for the book, and do you have a particular favorite spread?
RT: Seeing the art is always my favorite part of the book-making process! But I was charmed by Jen’s art the moment my AW editor told me her name. Her kid-centric vignettes are so relatable; I love the way she incorporates light into every scene.
I think my favorite spread is the firework finale. You have to turn the book to see it, and it takes me back to that moment of “inspiration” when I wrote about my childhood experience with fireworks.
GRWR: What are some of your upcoming promotional plans for Happy Birthday, America!? Will that include a blog tour or a local book launch?
RT: We just learned that Albert Whitman is partnering with America250 to promote HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!. I’m not yet sure what all that will mean, but we are looking forward to it!
I do have a blog tour scheduled and am currently reaching out to local venues about summer programming. It’s going to be fun!
GRWR: What do you and your family love to do when celebrating the holiday?
RT: In the semi-arid mountains where I live, personal firework use is often restricted, but our municipality always has a lovely show with live music. So we usually spend the evening with friends, then sit on the front lawn and watch the show.
INTERVIEW WITH ILLUSTRATOR JENNIFER DOEHRING:
GoodReadsWithRonna: Jen, can you please tell us about how you created the artwork? Do you work digitally, or do you have a unique approach to illustration?
Jen Doehring: With every project I take on, the first step in the process is research. Hours of research! I compile a file of images that relate to the subject of the book. In the case of Happy Birthday, America! I looked at a ton of summer scenes, park scenes, picnics, fireworks, crowds, families, flags, etc. Then I gather inspiration for colors and camera angles. Because I need to not only understand the subject, but design the art around the text. How to accurately portray the text on each spread is important.
Will this scene be a full spread or a spot? Will the camera angle be low or high? Will the main character be small or up close? All of these things are carefully thought out and applied in the thumbnails. I illustrate digitally in Procreate and work in layers starting with a pencil sketch as a first layer and then adding background and color on separate layers.
GRWR: Did you encounter any hiccups along the way? Was there an illustration that you found most challenging to complete?
JD: I think the biggest challenge on this project was the limited time frame. I have another picture book coming out this year and that time frame was much longer. There I had six months to complete sketches and another six months for final art. With Happy Birthday, America! I only had three for everything—from character sketches to final art! Luckily, the process of creating thumbnails flowed easily, and I very much enjoyed the sketching process. The real challenge so far has been adding color. Because of the full spreads and crowds of people, a ton of detail had to be added at this stage. The illustration that took the longest was the second spread when everyone is at the park—so many details!
GRWR: You definitely have a flair for creating scenes with light. How did you balance the light/dark of the fireworks scenes?
JD: Thank you! Roxanne’s simple and beautiful language, along with the firework scenes, immediately hooked me. I was thrilled to be able to play with light/dark and could envision just how the firework pages would look. My favorite thing to illustrate is the unique use of light, and I found this story really let me show off in that area which was super exciting! Imagining how firework light plays off of the skin and clothing was a fun challenge, and if you look closely you can see oranges, pinks, reds, and even purples on the characters and backgrounds during these scenes.
GRWR: Please tell us how you chose to focus on the elements you convey in the picture book’s memory scene at the end that highlights some of America’s symbols … where did the idea come from, as it isn’t depicted in the main text.
JD: Before starting to work on the thumbnails, Rick [the art director] and I talked about a few possibilities for this spread. We brainstormed and decided it might be nice to have a memory scene depicting some elements that show what it means to celebrate America’s freedom. Once we settled on that idea, I ran with it, and the layout for this scene made sense considering the main character is already in bed and getting sleepy. I thought it would be nice to have it all swirl together in a dream-like state to give the spread a magical, whimsical feeling.
GRWR: What is your favorite way to celebrate Independence Day?
JD: I love going out on a boat with family and friends to enjoy this hot day on the water. It’s just the best!
THANK YOU!
My huge thanks go out to Roxanne and Jen for sharing their insights about the creation of Happy Birthday, America! I hope you’ll preorder a copy today to share with kids this May to get in the holiday mood as July 4th approaches.
PURCHASE OPTIONS:
(local) The Bookies – Denver https://thebookies.com/item/kMbJHuHIpylkyECUZgW_Qg
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/happy-birthday-america/d25854462c833c5d?ean=9780807531778&next=t&
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Birthday-America-Roxanne-Troup/dp/0807531774
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/happy-birthday-america-roxanne-troup/1149434594
Books-a-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Happy-Birthday-America/Roxanne-Troup/9780807531778
Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Happy-Birthday-America-Paperback-9780807531778/19596670059
In bulk: Bulk Bookstore https://bulkbookstore.com/happy-birthday-america-9780807531778
ROXANNE’S BIO:
Award-winning children’s author Roxanne Troup writes kids’ books that celebrate wonder and can be used in the classroom. Roxanne lives in the mountains of Colorado and enjoys hiking with her family and exploring our amazing world through stories. Her favorite way to celebrate special occasions is with fireworks and a new picture book.
X: @RoxanneTroup
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/roxannetroup.bsky.social
Facebook: @RoxanneTroup
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxanne-troup/
JENNIFER’S BIO:
Jennifer Doehring is the author and illustrator of The Wanderer’s Journal series, a group of illustrated guided hiking journals, and an illustrator of children’s picture books. She received a fine art degree from the University of California, Irvine, and owns an art studio called Palette Passions, where she teaches painting and drawing. In her spare time, Jennifer loves to backcountry camp and gathers most of her creative inspiration from nature. She lives in Southern California with her husband and their English bulldog, Snickers.
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- Insta: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferdoehringbooks *main
X: @JenDoehring // Jennifer Doehring Books
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jenniferdoehring.bsky.social