Category: Picture Book

Once Upon a Sari by Zenia Wadhwani, illus. Avani Dwivedi

April 30, 2024

It’s no surprise my own mother has three saris identical to the ones described, revealing that Wadhwani and Dwivedi are truly authentic and sincere in writing this story. However, not only do they capture the status of a sari in Indian culture, but they also dwell on universal themes of finding connections with our ancestors, the power of intergenerational bonds, and how resilience, knowledge, and traditions are passed down through families. Alluding to India’s traumatic history of the 1947 Partition, the story takes on a deeper meaning, portraying the struggles, survival, and ultimately the strength of refugees. … More Once Upon a Sari by Zenia Wadhwani, illus. Avani Dwivedi

Ploof by Ben Clanton and Andy Chou Musser

April 4, 2024

The illustrations in ‘Ploof’ uncover new mediums of storytelling flair. The familiar imperfect textures of crayons, oil pastels, bath bubbles, and bright blue skies painted with cotton further complement the intimate one-to-one dialogue for new readers. Alongside the use of soft colours and simple textual presentation, the illustrations communicate a multitude of expressions. … More Ploof by Ben Clanton and Andy Chou Musser

Roy is Not a Dog by Esmé Shapiro and Daniel Kaufman

March 7, 2024

Shapiro and Kaufman’s love of language shines through in the prose, with lots of alliteration and assonance on each page that rolls off the tongue as you read aloud. The main characters are delightfully verbose – precocious Pam Pam insists that Weasel’s “evidence is faulty”, while Weasel is convinced that “a dog living on its own must be quite a dog.” And, I stand by the fact that not enough picture books feature words such as “indubitably” and “sophisticated”! … More Roy is Not a Dog by Esmé Shapiro and Daniel Kaufman

How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? by Mac Barnett, illus. Jon Klassen

February 6, 2024

Barnett’s narrative explores this simple premise with several such creative possibilities that are silly, clever, and brilliantly funny all at once. The story unfolds as the readers follow Santa down the chimney, and into the house as he leaves presents under the tree and gobbles up a plate of cookies, possibly with his special night vision abilities. … More How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? by Mac Barnett, illus. Jon Klassen

The Little Books of the Little Brontës by Sara O’Leary and Briony May Smith

February 1, 2024

As I opened the first page, the first thing to strike me was the illustrations. They are so beautiful and delightful to admire. It took me longer than I expected to finish reading the book because I was so transfixed by them. The illustrations provide a lovely aesthetic that enhances the story and setting of the book, breathing life and character into the Brontë children. … More The Little Books of the Little Brontës by Sara O’Leary and Briony May Smith

Hooray for DNA by Pauline Thompson, illus. Greg Pizzoli

December 7, 2023

Topics like science can be confusing for some young kids, and this lack of understanding might sometimes cause disinterest, so it is refreshing to see a book make STEM fun and accessible. Specifically, the topic of DNA is such an essential aspect of understanding our world, and communicating its importance in an exciting way is a fantastic method to get kids interested. … More Hooray for DNA by Pauline Thompson, illus. Greg Pizzoli

The Skull by Jon Klassen

November 23, 2023

These instances of horror showcase Klassen’s ability to push the boundaries of children’s literature, creating a tale that not only entertains but also challenges readers’ emotions and expectations. The evocative yet simplistic writing style further conveys sense of dread throughout the story and makes this book great for younger readers interested in exploring scarier genres. … More The Skull by Jon Klassen