THE CHRISTMAS SWEATER Written and illustrated by Jan Brett (G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR; $19.99, Ages 4-8)         DESCRIPTION: "THE CHRISTMAS SWEATER, partly inspired by the Ancient Greek myth of Ariadne, weaves a heartwarming tale of an adventurous boy and an adorable pug in a Christmas sweater who saves the day."   REVIEW: One of the many reasons my family has loved Jan Brett's books, in addition to their stunning artwork, is their re-readability. Even for this review, I found myself eager to return right back to the beginning after my initial read to make sure I…

  THE BOOK OF CANDLES: Eight Poems for Hanukkah Written by Laurel Snyder Illustrated by Leanne Hatch   (Clarion Books; $19.99, Ages 4-8)       ★Starred Review - Publishers Weekly  Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah. HAPPY HANUKKAH! For those of you who read this blog regularly, you'll know how much I love poetry, so when I saw that there was a new Hanukkah book of poems, I jumped at the chance to review it. The Book of Candles, written by Laurel Snyder and illustrated by Leanne Hatch, is a welcoming and lyrical look at the festival of…

  AN INTERVIEW WITH  MARCIE COLLEEN, AUTHOR OF THE NEW PICTURE BOOK, HAPPY FRIENDSGIVING Illustrated by Laura Sandoval Herrera (Doubleday BYR; $18.99, Ages 3-7)             FROM THE PUBLISHER: Thanksgiving gets a fresh and friendly new look in this heartwarming picture book that celebrates the joy of friendship and community—at a table where all are welcome. Capture the true essence of Thanksgiving through the lens of friendship and togetherness in this joyful and inclusive celebration of the holiday. With its rhythmic text and vibrant illustrations, this book shows readers how family takes on many forms, as…

  AN INTERVIEW WITH TAMI LEHMAN-WILZIG A Guest Post by Michelle Orrelle         INTERVIEW: Michelle Orrelle: Tami, it’s such a pleasure to chat with you today! You and I live in Israel and share a passion for bringing authentic stories about Israel and Jewish life to young readers. Before we dive into your new books, I just want to say how much I admire your commitment to connecting children everywhere with our shared heritage. Tami Lehman-Wilzig: Thanks so much, Michelle. Jewish content, which includes stories set in Israel, is definitely my niche. I cannot emphasize enough how…

  BRUME, VOL 1 - THE DRAGON AWAKENS STORY AND COLOR BY JÉRÔME PÉLISSIER ILLUSTRATED BY CARINE HINDER (HIPPO PARK; $12.99, AGES 7-11)         I'm so happy I only have to wait until May for Vol 2 in this original comic fantasy adventure graphic novel series. First published in France and modeled after the author and illustrator's ancient village in Brittany, Brume introduces middle-grade readers to a sassy, can-do character and wannabe witch whose magical heritage is hinted at early on in the book. And the word, brume, by the way, means fog in French. Backmatter with…

BODY BEAUTIFUL Written by Susan Verde Illustrated by Steph Littlebird (Abrams BYR; $19.99, Ages 4-8)         Did you know your body is beautiful? #1 New York Times bestselling author, Susan Verde, poses this thoughtful question to young readers in her new picture book, Body Beautiful. The book takes children on a journey that celebrates the magnificent wonders of our bodies. The story starts with a lovely illustration (below) of a fetus sleeping soundly inside its mother’s womb. "You were born from a beautiful body who was born from another beautiful body and so on going way way…

  AN INTERVIEW WITH PICTURE BOOK AUTHOR REBECCA GARDYN LEVINGTON BY JAN EPSTEIN SCHWAID     Written by Rebecca Gardyn Levington Illustrated by Diana Mayo (Farrar, Straus & Giroux; $18.99, Ages 4-8)     FROM THE PUBLISHER: A loving, heartwarming picture book about empathy, sisterhood, and finding the courage to ask for forgiveness—and having the grace to give it—to others and to ourselves. INTERVIEW: Jan Epstein Schwaid: Hi, Rebecca! Longtime fan, first-time interviewer. I loved this book and its sweet, relatable message. What was your inspiration? Rebecca Gardyn Levington: Thank you so much for your kind words, Jan. Very excited…

  SOME READING ABOUT SUMMER READING By Cathy Ballou Mealey, Author of Sloth and Squirrel on Vacation         GUEST POST:   I’m celebrating summer, my favorite time to read, read, read. The sun lingers high in the sky, my deck chair is comfy, and the next thing I know my family is asking if or when we are having dinner. Just let me reach the end of this chapter…   But I don’t become that engrossed in every book. This summer, I’ve put down three promising novels that simply did not engage me. Which makes me worry…