There is nothing better than reading a book while cuddled up with your pet, and this book confirms that our furry friends loves it just as much as we do! With her cute and simple style, author-illustrator María Coco shows all different types of dogs having fun reading with their humans, as well as just enjoying each others company. This story is a little bit silly, but it’s also incredibly sweet and might even make the grown-ups tear up a little.
As an Indian family sings their baby a lullaby, several Hindu gods guide her to sweet slumber.
This picture book takes some popular Hindu gods and briefly represents their defining characteristics. Blue baby Krishna playing his flute for her and Lord Ganesh, the elephant god, wiping her tears with his trunk were two of my favorite pages. The illustrations by Nabi Ali are vibrant and stunning, and this is also one of the first portrayals I’ve seen outside of Indian publications where the Hindu gods are not stereotyped to look ugly and creepy. A perfect example of diversity done right for kids today.
Overall, a sweet, simple story with colors galore for your little one.
Echo Echo: Reverso Poems about Greek Myths by Marilyn Singer
Recommended by Kelly, best for ages 5+
Every story has two sides, and this is plainly seen in Marilyn Singer’s third collection of reverso poems – poems that can be read forwards or backwards. Each poem retells a Greek myth from one perspective, but when you read it backwards you hear the story from a completely different perspective! Brief prose summaries of the stories are also included for those unfamiliar with them. This is a neat way to introduce young readers to the Greek myths, or just explore the stories in more depth. My two favorite poems were “King Midas and His Daughter” and “Demeter and Persephone”. The illustrations are also lovely, with an appealing color palette that brings a softer touch to the characters.
Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall by Lynn Brunelle
Recommended by Mrs. Murphy, best for ages 6+
One great thing about book awards is that they inspire me to read about topics I wouldn’t naturally choose. This Seibert Award winner is one of those books. Magnificent art and fascinating text drew me in as I learned about a whale fall, an ecosystem on the seafloor that develops around the death of a whale. Who would have guessed the process supports so many living creatures over the span of a century?
The age-old cat and mouse game is front and center here, but Tom and Jerry are undeniably friends. I'd even say they are best friends. This is a perfect and hilarious way to celebrate February's day of friendship.
Looking to capitalize on the excitement from the newest Sonic movie? Check out Sonic Superstars, where you can play as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy in this game that feels very reminiscent of the classic Sonic games with some newer graphics/effects! Some of the controls can be a bit tricky for younger players, but I appreciate that it is a multiplayer game that allows for some of the more experienced players (or grown-ups, in my case!) to take on some of the heavier lifting to move forward with the storyline. I liked that while the game has extra elements that older kids might enjoy trying to collect, progressing levels doesn't require finding all of the the extras.
This really is a fabulous resource for our community where so many languages are spoken. LOTE4Kids offers digital picture books in over 70 languages including Ukranian, Russian, Polish, and Spanish just to name a few. AND even sign language! This resource allows you and your kids to read and listen to books in your native language or a new language you'd like to learn. It also is helpful for struggling readers by showing the text and highlighting the words as they are read aloud.
