SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED Written by Rebecca Kraft Rector Illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte (Nancy Paulsen Books; $17.99, Ages 3-7)       “Move over!” And get ready for a “jiggety jog” into Squish Squash Squished, the debut picture book by Rebecca Kraft Rector! Anyone who grew up with squabbling siblings is going to love this book! Max and Molly take a ride into town with Mom. Regardless of how “spacious gracious” their automobile is, they’re squished and squashed. They jiggle, wiggle, push, and shove until Mom devises the perfect plan to change their perspective. Here’s a hint, quack-quack, oink-oink. Before long,…

OONA Written by Kelly DiPucchio Illustrated by Raissa Figueroa (Katherine Tegen Books; $17.99; Ages 4-8)     e ★Starred review - School Library Journal   Written by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by Raissa Figueroa, Oona introduces us to an adorable mermaid whose adventurous spirit is  “sweet … and a little bit salty, like the ocean where she live[s].”  In fact, Oona was born to be a treasure hunter when she was “no bigger than a scallop.” Her curiosity for finding bigger and better valuables puts her in some precarious situations but with trusted pet Otto by her side, she safely…

JACOB’S FANTASTIC FLIGHT Written and illustrated by Philip Waechter Translated by Elisabeth Lauffer (Blue Dot Kids Press; $17.95; Ages 3-8)       ★Starred Reviews - Booklist, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly   What better way to travel to the sea than to fly, and I don’t mean by airplane! Jacob’s Fantastic Flight, by German author illustrator Philip Waechter, and translated by Elisabeth Lauffer, takes the reader on Jacob’s family vacation where he foregoes flying by plane with mom and dad, and instead sets off with courage to fly solo. Waechter begins his whimsical tale by introducing readers to baby Jacob,…

ALEX'S GOOD FORTUNE WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY BENSON SHUM (PENGUIN WORKSHOP; $9.99, Ages 4-8)       Alex's Good Fortune, a 32-page early reader, takes us through Alex’s day on Chinese New Year. She invites her best friend, Ethan, over and, together, they prepare for the holiday. Exciting moments (joining the parade and decorating) and mundane ones (sweeping away the bad luck) are illustrated expressively in vibrant colors that accentuate the kids’ emotions. I longed for dumplings as Nai Nai showed the kids how to fold and pinch, fold and pinch.   e Back matter includes the pronunciation and meaning…

WELCOME TO DAY 4 OF THE STBA BLOG TOUR   FEATURING INTERVIEWS WITH AUTHOR RABBI MYCHAL COPELAND & ILLUSTRATOR ANDRE CEOLIN DISCUSSING THEIR HONOR-WINNING PICTURE BOOK I AM THE TREE OF LIFE: My Jewish Yoga Book e BOOK SUMMARY: The Torah is called the Tree of Life. Just as a tree is always growing and changing, the Torah's ideas can help us grow and change, too. Yoga can do the same. Both can help us strengthen ourselves, calm our minds, and learn to appreciate the world around us. Written by rabbi and certified yoga instructor Mychal Copeland, I Am the Tree…

OUR COUNTRY'S PRESIDENTS (2020 Edition): A Complete Encyclopedia of the U.S. Presidency Written by Ann Bausum (NatGeoKids; $24.99, Ages 8-12)   PRESIDENTS' DAY 2021   This excellent sixth edition of Ann Bausum's comprehensive coverage of our nation's presidents aptly titled Our Country's Presidents makes this the go-to book for at home or in school. It also includes the 2020 election so readers will be up-to-date if using the book as reference material. While Joseph R. Biden was recently elected 46th President of the United States, this book spans all the way back to the nascent days of the U.S. presidency…