A ROUNDUP OF OUR FIVE FAVE  VALENTINE'S DAY BOOKS FOR KIDS Another year, another wonderful bunch of new Valentine's Day Books for kids. There's something here for every little reader in your family so share a book and spread the love!   LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S VALENTINE Written by Alice Schertle Illustrated in the style of Jill McElmurry (HMH; $13.99, Ages 4 and up) Little Blue Truck’s Valentine, the latest installment in this popular series, finds Blue delivering cards to all of his friends on the farm. But after delivering all the cards, Blue is sad as he thinks he is…

A ROUNDUP OF THREE KIDS' PICTURE BOOKS ABOUT HOPE   Here's a fantastic selection of picture books about hope providing a great way to lift spirits at home while spending meaningful time with your children.   IF YOU COME TO EARTH Written and illustrated by Sophie Blackall  (Chronicle Books; $18.99, Ages 5-8) ★Starred Reviews - Booklist, Horn Book, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal As a big Ivy and Bean fan, I’ve enjoyed two-time Caldecott winner Sophie Blackall’s art for years. Her author-illustrator 2018 picture book, Hello, Lighthouse, was a top book. Now, If You Come to Earth, follows with its…

THE BIG SIBLING GETAWAY Written and illustrated by Korrie Leer (Albert Whitman & Company; $16.99; Ages 4-8)       In The Big Sibling Getaway, author-illustrator Korrie Leer introduces us to Cassie, a new big sister who just needs quiet, a feeling every older sibling experiences at some point. With a WAH! WAH! WAH!, these onomatopoeia words perfectly describe the frustration of having to accept change in our lives that we don’t necessarily ask for—like welcoming a new sibling when all you've known is having parental attention exclusively. Well, that’s what happens to Cassie who needs a break from the…

A ROUNDUP OF FAMILY-FRIENDLY COOKBOOKS FOR NATIONAL BAKING MONTH     Forget the sourdough bread for now. This scrumptious roundup of family-friendly cookbooks for National Baking Month is meant to tempt you and your children to get cooking together! Start with recipes from Chef Junior, move onto Clean Treats for Everyone and then delight in the deliciousness of Now for Something Sweet.   CHEF JUNIOR: 100 Super Delicious Recipes by Kids for Kids! *Anthony Spears, Abigail Langford, Paul Kimball, Katie Dessinger, Will Bartlet (Sterling Epicure; $19.95, Ages 9-12)    Five young authors prove that kid’s food doesn’t have to be…

A ROUNDUP OF SIX DIVERSE BOOKS FROM PEACHTREE PUBLISHING FOR MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN'S BOOK DAY 2021   e Reviews: GOING DOWN HOME WITH DADDY Written by Kelly Starling Lyons Illustrated by Daniel Minter (Peachtree Publishing; $16.95, Ages 4-8) A 2020 CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK My childhood friend’s mother was from the south and used to attend family reunions when we were kids. Going Down Home With Daddy is exactly how I imagined them to be. Lyons’s story, “inspired by her husband’s heritage and her own” beautifully captures the annual family gathering incorporating every sense in the reading experience. I could see, touch,…

ONE COVER REVEAL, TWO INTERVIEWS + TWO GIVEAWAYS FOR 30,000 STITCHES   30,000 STITCHES: THE INSPIRING STORY OF THE NATIONAL 9/11 FLAG Written by Amanda Davis   Illustrated by Sally Wern Comport Associate Publisher-WorthyKids/Hachette Book Group: Peggy Schaefer     What I Love About the Cover: My husband, children and I were living overseas on 9/11 and remained there for a handful of years afterward so I've primarily gleaned info about the tragic events of that day through children's books, friends' accounts and documentaries. I continue to learn more new things about 9/11 which is why the cover (by Sally Wern…

A ROUNDUP OF FIVE DIVERSE CHILDREN'S BOOKS FOR MULTICULTURAL CHILDREN'S BOOK DAY 2021     IT'S NOT LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD: It’s Not Fairy Tales Written by Josh Funk Illustrated by Edwardian Taylor (Two Lions; $17.99, Ages 4-8) Funnyman Josh Funk’s picture books are huge hits and the third book in his fractured fairy tale series, It’s Not Little Red Riding Hood, is sure to connect with audiences everywhere. Little Red’s a smart girl who questions the narrator of the story. If Grandma’s sick, why isn’t Red taking her some medicine? And why send a kid into the woods alone…