(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.
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 Snyderand illustrated by Leanne Hatch, is a welcoming and lyrical look at the festival of lights.
I enjoyed spending time with the family of five featured in this picture book, the youngest of whom is affectionately called Sugarpop by his mom. The poems are titled for each night of Hanukkah, spanning from the first night to the eighth, the last night.
In a dark, dark room,
one thin candle
wakes, bursts to life
So begins the joyful celebration. It’s also a great idea that, in addition to every poem, a helpful info box with thoughts on that particular night in each poem is included.
And even though I have observed this holiday for decades, I still learned something new. For example, Snyder explains the approach to lighting the candles on a Friday night, which is also Shabbat (the Sabbath).
A Thought for the Fourth Night: On Friday night, we light the Hanukkah candles at least eighteen minutes before sunset because, for observant Jews, it’s against the rules to strike a match after Shabbat has started.
Some poems are playful while others are more solemn, but all are engaging. Together, they make this book about a moving and meaningful celebration come to life. I especially found the scenes with Sugarpop and the cat to be sweet and relatable since our family cats have always been present for Hanukkah, whether beside the menorah, mesmerized by the flickering candles, or seeking a taste of latkes with sour cream. Many readers will be delighted by the poem describing the family visiting the grandparents, when the youngest was finally allowed to light the candles. And who won’t be impressed when, in another scene, a flat tire means the family will have to improvise, using the banana Hanukkiah hack. That, along with convenience-store birthday candles standing in for Hanukkah candles, makes for a most memorable holiday!
There are myriad reasons to find The Book of Candles a fresh new take on Hanukkah, Hatch’s art being one. She captures the warmth of the holiday, particularly in her depiction of the candles burning. She also conveys the family’s closeness in a laid-back way while maintaining the holiday’s importance. I can definitely picture children wanting to have this read to them each night of Hanukkah along with many of the other wonderful Hanukkah books out this year.
Maria Wen Adcock is the author of IT’S CHINESE NEW YEAR, CURIOUS GEORGE[Clarion Books], which is a perfect book to introduce Chinese New Year traditions to little ones. In this interview conducted by Charlotte Cheng, author of NIGHT MARKET RESCUE [Rocky Pond Books], Maria discusses her process for writing the book, her experience seeing the book published, and much much more.
Thanks for taking the time to share your author journey with us today!
Charlotte Cheng: Curious George is such a household name. What was it like infusing this classic with your Chinese heritage?
Maria Wen Adcock:I grew up reading Curious George, so it was an incredible honor to work onIT’S CHINESE NEW YEAR, CURIOUS GEORGE. Children around the world are familiar with Curious George, so it makes learning about Chinese culture more accessible when children see him celebrating this holiday. I’m so proud to share my Chinese heritage with young readers through an iconic character like Curious George!
CC: For those who are curious, what’s the difference between the terms Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year?
MWA:Lunar New Year is an overarching term for many Asian countries, beyond China, that celebrates the new year based on the moon cycle. Under the term Lunar New Year are subsets: Chinese New Year, Vietnamese New Year called Tet, Korean New Year called Seollal, Indonesian New Year called Imlek, and more. Each country has its own unique New Year traditions. For example, in China, when it is the Year of the Rabbit, in Vietnam it’s the Year of the Cat. Chinese New Year is celebrated with red envelopes, but Korean New Year does not.
Chinese New Year refers to the holiday that Chinese people celebrate using customs specific to their culture. Though some countries may celebrate their new year in similar ways, such as getting together with families and eating certain foods, not all the traditions are the same. For example, one Chinese New Year tradition involves hanging a sign upside down on the front door. The word on the sign is Fú(福), a Chinese character meaning good luck and fortune. In Chinese, the word for “upside-down” is Dào (倒). This sounds similar to another word, also called Dào (到), which means “to arrive.” So hanging the Fu sign upside-down means good luck and fortune will arrive. This custom is very specific to Chinese New Year.
CC: Why did you choose to focus on Chinese New Year for the book?
MWA:The publisher wanted the book to delve deeper into the traditions and symbolism of Chinese New Year. They chose me to author the book so I could tap into my lived experience as a Chinese American to authentically speak to how the holiday was celebrated. Given the book only has seven tabbed pages to work with, space was a premium. I did the best I could to provide readers with as much information as possible about the Chinese New Year.
If this book had focused on the Lunar New Year, to be inclusive and accurate, we would have needed to mention all the different countries under that umbrella term and highlight their unique traditions. But given the limitations of space, we wouldn’t have been able to provide more depth – likely just a mention – and we thought this wouldn’t do it justice.
CC: Chinese New Year is celebrated in so many different ways since China is so diverse. How did you select which traditions to highlight in the story?
MWA: I was able to pull from my childhood growing up in a Chinese American household when deciding which traditions to include in the book. There were so many traditions to choose from. I narrowed them down to highlight the most commonly celebrated ones.
CC: What was it like working on the book with the publishing team and what was your favorite part of the process?
MWA: My editor, Bethany Vinhateiro, led the process and provided guidelines on format requirements for the Curious George series of tabbed board books. All of the books in this series featured 7 tabs with themes, and each tab included 4 stanzas in rhyme with 4 lines in each stanza. She encouraged me to ensure that Curious George’s personality came out in my story, which I was familiar with given that I had grown up with his stories.
Bethany worked with the illustrator, Rea Zhai, to bring my story to life. I did not directly communicate with the illustrator, which is typical in traditional publishing. Instead, Bethany sent me drafts of the illustrations so that I could ensure they accurately reflected the customs of Chinese New Year. I really enjoyed the process of seeing the illustrations, providing feedback, and then viewing the revisions.
CC: When you finally got to see the illustrations for the book, did you see any fun surprises in the images?
MWA:The cover took my breath away as it captured the heart and spirit of Chinese New Year. I was pleasantly surprised to see the title of the book printed in gold foil, which is one of the traditional colors of Chinese New Year in addition to red, which represents good luck. I loved how the Man in the Yellow Hat changed his usual yellow tie to a red one to celebrate Chinese New Year. The illustrations did an amazing job of bringing the holiday to life.
CC: What was it like launching your book during Chinese New Year? Any favorite memories from your launch party or school visits?
MWA: Launching my book during Chinese New Year was the perfect timing given its storyline. The weeks leading up to Chinese New Year traditionally include a lot of preparation and teaching the children about the holiday taught them how they could celebrate Chinese New Year with their own families at home.
I was so thrilled with my launch party at Huntington Public Library where I work in the Youth and Parent Department for my day job. They provided incredible support, and there were over 150 people in attendance – the maximum the auditorium could hold. My sister flew in from Michigan to help me which I appreciated so much.
The school visits were so fun. The kids were incredibly curious and engaged with my presentation which not only included a book reading but also provided interesting details behind the reasons for each of the traditions mentioned in the book. I really enjoyed interacting with the students!
CC: For those who are interested in writing children’s books, what advice would you like to give them? Where should they start?
MWA:I would recommend joining your local chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI.org). They offer workshops to hone your craft and access to many agents and editors. The organization can also help you find a critique group which is an invaluable tool for elevating the quality of your manuscripts.
CC: It’s been a pleasure learning about your experience Maria. Happy writing and congratulations on your book!
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Author Maria Wen Adcock Photo Credit: Maria Wen Adcock
AUTHOR BIO:
Maria Wen Adcock is the author of It’s Chinese New Year, Curious George [2023] published by Clarion Books/Harper Collins. Maria is a first-generation Chinese-American writer and founder of the award-winning multicultural parenting blog www.BiculturalMama.com. She has appeared on The Dr. Oz Show, Bloomberg News, Newsday, and Huffington Post. Maria is a board member of Multicultural Kid Blogs, an organization supporting diverse parenting bloggers, and co-host of the annual event Multicultural Children’s Book Day. Follow: Facebook |Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
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INTERVIEWER BIO:
Charlotte has written and illustrated a variety of books including Night Market Rescue and BoBo Loves Dumplings. With over 20 years of EdTech experience, Charlotte has also written and published K-12 curriculum for a variety of companies including CodeCombat, Disney, and Wonder Workshop. You can learn more about Charlotte’s work at: www.charlotte.art. You can also find her on Instagram @charlottemakesbooks or Twitter @charlottedraws
Visit an enchanting snow-covered country town in Snow Horses: A First Night Storywritten by late Newberry Medal-winning author, Patricia MacLachlan and illustrated by Caldecott Honor-winning artist, Micha Archerbut be sure to have a hot drink at hand while cozy under a blanket.
As you turn the pages you’ll be treated to MacLachlan’s lyrical prose that set an anticipatory tone for the once-a-year celebration of First Night on December 31st. This lovely non-religious but spirited holiday is an inclusive one where communities come together outdoors to joyfully ring in the new year. In this gently flowing 40-paged picture book, a young girl, Jenny, hitches her two midnight black Percheron horses, Tim and Tom, to the lighted sleigh then heads off to pick up young friends and neighbors.
The mood is a happy one as evidenced in the cheerful artwork “rendered in collage with homemade papers and inks.” Archer’s doily-covered trees and mesh drapes are fantastic as are the lamplights glowing!
Early on a “little golden dog” starts to run alongside the happy horses—”They love the snow. They love their work” —and it continues to stick close by the entire journey.
Each new scene brings the sleigh to new people and places like a thread weaving all the characters of the story together, creating a community quilt. Tom and Tim gather up grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles at the seniors’ home for a ride full of heart that takes them back in time to their youth. And when the night’s festivities end, everyone heads home to sleep, filled with the joy of the evening’s celebration and the promise of a bright new year upon waking. Remember to remove the dust cover to reveal the beautiful second design below.
A fun spin on the classic Father’s Day gift of a dress shirt and/or tie, this unique rhyming board book invites little ones to lift the tie (flap) and reveal which trophy goes to dad for the things he’s so good at. Whether a father excels at making repairs, cooking, styling hair, or reading bedtime stories, #1 Dad probably covers something a father can claim is his specialty. Paper-cut artwork adds to the enjoyment of this entertaining celebration of dads.
The beautiful pastel colors of oranges and reds carry the heroic red-headed father and his red-headed kids through a magical story of what makes up a true hero in the newly released Dad: The Man, The Myth, The Legend. Mifflin Lowe and Dani Torrent’s picture book begins with portraits on the walls in the family home depicting a superhero father like no other. He lifts cars above his head; travels to the moon; and is stronger than Sasquatch and Thor. Mom says he is a legend in his own mind, Lowe writes which is a pretty great description of many dads.
One great example of this larger-than-life father is when he gets tangled in a hose and his son sees him as Tarzan. This sweet story for young readers makes a big statement that no matter what Dad does, and however mad he may make Mom (speeding in a minivan is not the same as driving a race car), Dad will always be amazing. One of Torrent’s most heart-warming illustrations is of the boy and his sister on Dad’s lap reading with his eyes closed. Dad can do no wrong even when sleeping! And no matter how much Dad drives Mom crazy, she says it just makes her crazy about him. And, if you purchase this book Bushel & Peck will donate another to a child in need!
‘My daddies are amazing—the world’s best king and king,” says the brown-haired child with big brown eyes in Adventures With My Daddies written by debut author Gareth Peter and illustrated by Garry Parsons, illustrator of the best-selling series The Dinosaur That Pooped. The Daddies in this blended family are not the best at everything, but our young narrator really doesn’t care. The Daddies tell adventurous stories But my daddies’ favorite story is … the one that brought them me. Peter’s rhyming text takes the reader on exciting adventures, with colorful illustrations of roaming hills of green grass and deep blue oceans. This LGBTQ+ and adoptive family story shows the power of familial love whether a child has two moms, two dads, or one mom and one dad. What a lovely, upbeat story about diversity and inclusiveness. Click here for an activity sheet.
My Dad is another newly released lyrical rhyming text taking the reader through the one-of-a-kind relationship between a boy and his dad (and the orange cat who is often close by). The sweetness of everyday activities is simply conveyed, like Dad making mornings special because he loves to bake, while the young boy leans his head on the counter with a smile on his face watching Dad pull the cookies from the oven.
Ruiz’s warm color palette brings added charm to this touching story. Delightful detail is shown in the artwork, as the boy sits with one cat slipper on while the other has fallen to the floor (and, of course, the cat stares at the mysterious cat slipper in awe). Dad has the magical ability to make everyday tasks such as shopping, which he says is boring, into an adventure where they pretend they are in the jungle looking for tasty food to eat. The imaginative take on people in line at a store surrounded by monkeys and tigers will make every child eager to go shopping with Dad. This comforting bedtime story for any dad to read to his child reinforces how special the father-son bond can be.
This picture book was written as a love letter to daughter Rumi, and soon to follow son Xander (that is with an X, not a Z as our main character teaches the reader) because authors Ryan Brockington and Issac Webster were unable to find a story about families similar to their own. Illustrator Lauren May depicts framed photos on a wall of all kinds of families because every family is unique in its own way. The take-away from this story is that the most important thing is being raised with lots of love, no matter who you call your parents.
Rumi’s daddies play different roles in her life. Daddy sings her songs, while Dada reads her stories but They both love me THIS much as May illustrates Rumi’s arms opened wide. The family of five—we can’t forget adorable black and white dog Betty—goes for hikes together, while other families eat ice cream or play basketball. May’s illustrations, created with Photoshop Elements, show all sizes and colors of families. The story ends with Rumi sitting on the floor with her green cape and the words Tell me about your family. This conversation starter is a fabulous way for parents to discuss their own family dynamics, or maybe a relative or friend’s family. It is also a perfect school art assignment for young kids.
Reviewed by Ronda Einbinder
Other Recommeded Reads for Father’s Day or any day to celebrate dads:
Tad and Dad
Written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein
(Nancy Paulsen Books, $8.99, Ages 1-3)
Hair Twins Written by Raakhee Mirchandani
Illustrated by Holly Hatam
(Little, Brown BYR; $17.99, Ages 4-8)
