Author Sophie Dahl teams up with illustrator Lauren O’Hara (The Bandit Queen, with sister Natalia O’Hara) for the entrancing and supremely one-of-a-kind story Madame Badobedah. A picture book, illustrated chapter book, mystery and fable all rolled into one, the marvelous Madame Badobedah is a wonderfully vivid story. Our narrator, young Mabel, is an only child who is a resident (her choice of words) at her parents’ bed and breakfast, The Mermaid Hotel. Mabel proceeds to tell readers about the “most interesting guest” the hotel ever had: Madame Badobedah -“rhymes with ooooh la la”- “old, old, old…with red lips…two dogs, two cats, a tortoise, and twenty-three bags”. Mabel does not approve or like the red-haired Madame Badobedah upon first encounter and takes it upon herself to spy on the new guest. Convinced of bad secrets, possible criminal activity involving jewelry theft and villainy, Mabel goes beyond spying at a distance and starts to investigate directly into the secretive life of Madame Badobedah by… spending time with her. As Mabel gets to know the supposed supervillain, a life story unveils itself, one as audacious and riveting as it is bittersweet. Dahl captures Mabel’s voice in a narrative that is bright, perfectly, slightly impudent, and captivating start to end, with the world of Mabel, the Mermaid Hotel, and the grand Madame Badobedah incredibly brought to life by Lauren O’Hara’s glorious watercolour illustrations. A slightly magical and profound read that may surprise your heart, Madame Badodebah is a jewel of a story.

Bestselling author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds, the creator behind much-loved picture books Ish, The Dot, and Sky Color brings kids a fabulous opportunity for creativity and fun with the coloring book Make Your Mark Gallery: A Coloring Book-ish. An introduction from the author-illustrator states: “This book is your gallery. Fill the empty frames with your art …Let your creativity flow…Be sure to sign the back of each page, then tear it out and share…with the world!”. This is a neatly organized and compact softcover book: each colouring page is perforated- making for clean and easy page removal- with space for writing down Artist, Date, and Title of Work on the back. Some of the pages contain suggestions or “ishful ideas” for kids to start their ideas and art, such as ‘Cloud-ish’, or ‘Tiger-ish’; some pages have squiggles or semi-started images for kids to continue as they wish; while other pages have totally blank frames to go wherever your imagination and creativity and instrument of choice take you! Sure to appeal to readers and young artists already familiar with Peter H. Reynolds’ lovely work, this is also an accessible and encouraging colouring book for any interested kids (or younger teens) to try.

Terrifically fun and interesting, illustrator and animator Natalie Labarre‘s Incredible Jobs You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of makes for solidly entertaining (and, dare I say, inspiring!) non-fiction reading. In the opening spread featuring “The Great Hall of Jobs”, readers see “the classics” like teacher, chef, doctor, lawyer, farmer, etc. But did you know that there is a whole world of jobs outside the expected or usual? Did you know that you can become a dinosaur duster when you grow up? Or become something as cool-sounding as a cryptozoologist? What about becoming a water slide tester, or a chief sniffer at NASA?! The oversize format of the book lends itself to easy browsing, and the jobs are casually organized in categories. Each job highlighted is concisely described and attached to an illustrated vignette; along with the descriptions, there are also a few on-topic side games like seek and find and matching. For readers who enjoy poring over series such as National Geographic Kids Weird But True series, are interested in reading non-fiction beyond traditional ‘community helper’ books, or for those readers who generally enjoy reading “browseable non-fiction“, Incredible Jobs You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of makes for very cool informative reading.

I received copies of these titles courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada and imprints Candlewick Press and Nosy Crow in exchange for honest reviews. All opinions and comments are my own. Make Your Mark Gallery: A Coloring Book-ish is set for publication September 1, 2020 from Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House Canada. Other titles have been published and are currently available.

The Girl Who Rode a Shark: And Other Stories of Daring Women by author Ailsa Ross and illustrations by artist Amy Blackwell, is collection of short biographies about fifty-two trailblazing women from different time periods from around the world. It has been encouraging and truly satisfying to see what I would argue is a recent boom in children’s non-fiction about groundbreaking women– think of all of the fabulous titles about scientists, inventors, physicists, artists, writers, and ecologists published in the last half decade or so! The Girl Who Rode a Shark: And Other Stories of Daring Women is a strong entry and addition to the mix, featuring an impressively lengthy list of incredible women in history- and representing various fields of specialization or focus. Sleekly organized by categories: ‘The Artists’, ‘The Pioneers’, ‘The Scientists’, ‘The Activists’, ‘The Athletes’, and ‘The Seekers’, each of the brackets begins with an overview of the women within, as well as a map of the world showing where each woman practiced/practices. For almost all of the trailblazers within, they are given a one-page, concise biography of their life and legacy, suggestions of more women to study, as well as an accompanying illustration (Note: some of the icons are illustrated in a pairing). Of particular standout is the fact that A Girl Who Rode a Shark gives more space to feature arguably less-publicly known (and more present-day) individuals than it does to well-known icons. Readers get to learn about famous figures such as Joan of Arc, Sacagewea, Amelia Earhart, Zora Neale Hurston, and Sylvia Earle alongside individuals such as photographer Miheala Noroc, astronaut Roberta Bondar, and eagle hunter Aisholpan Nurgaiv. The array of fifty-two women is awe-inspiring and staggering! Have you read about the work of activists Shannen Koostachin or Naomi Wadler? What about endurance runner Mira Rai from Nepal? Or Nobel Prize winning journalist and writer Svetlana Alexievich? A starred review from Kirkus, as well as recommendations from School Library Journal, CM Magazine, and Booklist (among others), all highlight just how rousing, wonderfully grand in scope and well put-together Ross and Blackwell’s collaboration is. The Girl Who Rode a Shark: And Other Stories of Daring Women would be an invaluable resource (and jumping off point for further investigation!) in school libraries, public library children’s non-fiction collections, as well as an uplifting book for kids (and teens and adults!) to read at their own leisure. Back matter includes: Glossary, notes about Indigenous people and their respective groups referred to in the book, as well as notes about changing geography.

Rob Laidlaw is the award-winning children’s non-fiction author, activist and biologist, behind Bat Citizens: Defending the Ninjas of the Night, and 5 Elephants. This latest non-fiction title for kids, The Dog Patrol: Our Canine Companions and the Kids Who Protect Them, is perfect-for-dog-lovers and canine advocates. In this book, Laidlaw covers everything from the history of dogs and their domestication, their general anatomy and super senses, the processes of becoming a dog owner, and how to properly take care of and advocate for the well-being of canines. Throughout each section of The Dog Patrol, Laidlaw also features inspirational and hopeful stories of canine advocates (from young children to teens!) from all over North America. For children who perhaps are more interested in learning basics about dogs, or getting a dog, or being the best canine caregiver, there is much to pore over and learn. For kids or young teens wondering if they can or how they might be able to get involved in canine welfare causes, The Dog Patrol is a great starting point to motivate and encourage further research. The book is comprehensive without being overwhelming: Laidlaw has smartly mixed true-life stories and photographs with informational highlights, quick facts, ‘Pawsitively Pawsome’ doggy news, along with more serious subject matter (e.g. dog cosmetic surgeries, how to protect oneself from dog bites, ‘crating abuse’, and dog chains). Just from reading Laidlaw’s Preface and Introduction, readers get a sense of how deeply important canine (and general animal) advocacy is to the author’s heart: this hopeful and easy-to-digest informative tone carries through the course of the book, making The Dog Patrol: Our Canine Companions and the Kids Who Protect Them a fantastic and vital up-to-date resource for children’s non-fiction collections and dog enthusiasts alike. Back matter includes: a twelve-point ‘Dog Lover’s Pledge’ for being a champion of dogs and the best dog owner one can be; Further Resources list; Glossary; and Index. There is also a special fold-out page in the middle of the book featuring a large spread of a Jack Russell Terrier mid-leap, their physical features, and relevant breed information. If you have access to a hardcover of the book, the dust jacket removes to reveal the same informative and cool doggy spread!

I received copies of these titles courtesy of Pajama Press in exchange for honest reviews. All opinions and comments are my own. Titles have been published and are currently available.

Making the case for a book (or books) finding you when you need them the most, I had the pleasure of reading two humour books courtesy of the kind folks at Thomas Allen & Son in the last week. If you have ever read or perused Sad Animal Facts, then you might be familiar with the work of Brooke Barker. In Let’s Be Weird Together: A Book About Love, Brooke Barker and Boaz Frankel (who are also a real-life couple!), the creators share comics about: what pet a couple should get; couples in history (and their quirks!); the best parts of being in love through each of the four seasons; ‘lesser known love languages’ (like ‘quality silence’ and ‘spotting good dogs in the wild’!); all kinds of nicknames for significant other; real-life relationship records; and more comics about all the strange and cool things about love. There are also wonderful and giggle-inducing diversions such as short spread in the book called ‘Meet Jerry & Ruby’, featuring Brooke Barker’s grandparents who have been together for over sixty years. The couple are asked about the start of their relationship, and the secret to its longevity- Jerry and Ruby’s answers don’t always match up, and the interview is, as you might imagine, all kinds of funny and sweet. Fans of Barker’s work might especially enjoy and flock to this (there are even some animal-related snippets and facts in Let’s be Weird Together!). On the whole, this is a funny, charming and perfectly off-kilter illustrated gift book. From the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (a non-profit organization) comes Animals Reviewed: Starred Ratings of Our Feathered, Finned, and Furry Friends. A picture-laden (and compact sized) book, Animals Reviews features an animal per page with a photograph (courtesy of an affiliated zoo), a starred rating, and a snippet about the animal and reason for its respective rating. The starred rating was inspired by and comes from the hashtag #RateASpecies that began with the Oregon Zoo, who began ‘rating’ amazing animals as buyers might rate and review items from online sellers! This is definitely a fun book, obviously perfect for animal lovers of any and all ages (my five year old has taken a total shine to it and loves looking at it!). One might not always agree with which animals were given what starred rating- even though they are all lovingly doled and tongue-in-cheek takes on buyer reviews- there is much entertainment (and insight) to be had while reading and sharing this book! (…though, I still say the mountain lion is five stars, for sure! And the bearded dragon!).

While talking about the work of Brooke Barker, I would remiss if I didn’t mention again the collections Sad Animal Facts and Sad Animal Babies! You can follow Barker’s Instagram to get a sense of the comics if it’s new to you! I actually happened upon Sad Animal Facts at a bookstore last year while browsing and brought it home just after reading a few pages. The art is lovely, unfussy and cozy, and the writing is funny and simultaneously bittersweet and educational. Another animal-centered humour book that I read and relished last year: Animal Anatomy: Sniff Tips, Running Sticks, and Other Accurately Named Animal Parts by Sophie Corrigan. Author and illustrator Corrigan takes readers through the anatomy of creatures great and small- everything from duck to dinosaur- and gives readers the true, correct, of course!, makes-much-more-sense!, anatomical names. The illustrations are fantastic and the creativity and presentation of the book are top-notch. Rub-a-dub dubbers, anyone?

A new favourite of mine might just be False Knees: An Illustrated Guide to Animal Behavior by Joshua Barkman. False Knees began as a webcomic and somehow I think I only became truly aware of it just before publication of the debut print collection. Thank goodness for this happy and timely discovery! Did I purchase it? You bet! Did I laugh and am I in awe of how fantastically hysterical and wise it is? Yes and yes. Do I highly recommend it? YES. (I’ve now got my eye on these other two books, which have been recommended as humorous reads in a similar vein: Effin’ Birds: A Field Guide to Identification by Aaron Reynolds, as well as The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America by Matt Kracht…).

An evergreen favourite is the work of Liz Climo, and I’ve been delighting in revisiting comics from The Little World Liz Climo, Best Bear Ever!: A Little Year of Liz Climo, and Lobster is the Best Medicine: A Collection of Comics About Friendship. For those with very wee ones at home, Climo also has a number of picture books out, and has collaborated with children’s author Ame Dyckman for the awesome You Don’t Want a Unicorn!, and the set-for-summer release You Don’t Want a Dragon!.

How many of you readers follow and read Matthew Inman‘s hugely popular The Oatmeal? I cannot get enough of Inman’s comics, and I have a number of his books on standby when I need emergency laughs. A few weeks before our library shut down, I checked out My Dog: The Paradox for the second time because I just needed to reread the sweet, gut-busting, strange and lovely book. In the midst of reading The Oatmeal‘s online comics and print collections, I also started delving into Brian Gordon’s spot-on and truly funny Fowl Language comics, Sarah Anderson’s wonderfully funny Sarah’s Scribbles collections, Philippa Rice’s dreamy and engaging Soppy: A Love Story, and Catana Chetwynd’s lovely Little Moments of Love. Rice’s latest is Baby: A Soppy Story, and Chetwynd’s latest release is Snug: A Collection of Comics About Dating Your Best Friend!

Regarding comic strip favourites, I return again and again to the late Richard Thompson’s brilliant Cul de Sac; Jim Toomey’s Sherman’s Lagoon; and/or Bill Amend’s FoxTrot, when I need to lose myself in comic strips and the reassurance of their format, language and narrative, and humour.

And last, but definitely not least: the work of Tom Gauld. I have mentioned Gauld’s work here more than a few times, and have shared his comics (a lot of literary-based comics!). Three works of Gauld’s I have recently read and thoroughly enjoyed: Goliath, The Snooty Bookshop: Fifty Literary Postcards, and Mooncop. Always superb. (And okay, Mooncop and Goliath are graphic novels, not technically cartoons or in the humour section, but, well, they’re making it to this post!). Anyhow…Gauld has a new book set for publication in April, Department of Mind-Blowing Theories– so look forward to that!

Wishing you some happy and fun- and maybe unexpected- reading!

I received copies of Let’s Be Weird Together and Animals Reviewed courtesy of Thomas Allen & Son in exchange for honest reviews. All opinions and comments are my own. The titles have been published and are currently available.

In no particular order here are the standouts: let’s start with Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom by Teresa Robeson and illustrated by Rebecca Huang, a superbly presented biography of Wu Chien Shiung, a deeply respected and celebrated physicist who made incredible advancements, ground-breaking discoveries, and contributions in nuclear physics (among other areas of physics!; a must-read and addition to STEM children’s lit). Up next we have It Began With a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way by acclaimed Bloom duo Kyo Maclear and artist Julie Morstad, a gorgeously rendered study of the life of prolific artist, author, and activist Gyo Fujikawa, the Japanese-American creator behind esteemed classics such as Babies and Let’s Play, who fought for the right for inclusive representation within the pages of her books. Be sure not to miss the detailed note’s at the book’s end, which touch further upon the Fujikawa family’s internment during World World II. What Miss Mitchell Saw by Babymoon author Hayley Barrett and illustrated by Diana Sudyka (When Sue Found Sue, written by Toni Buzzeo) is not only a compelling and educative biography of Maria Mitchell- a pioneering 19th century woman in American astronomy- but also a beautifully illustrated one to boot (this is another must-read to add to STEM lit!); Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor by Laurie Wallmark and illustrated by Katy Wu (the team behind Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code!) is a fascinating study of iconic actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr, that enlightens the reader with a look at Lamarr’s study of frequency-hopping and contributions to military technology (among other inventions); Borrowing Bunnies: A Surprising True Tale of Fostering Rabbits by A Handful of Stars author Cynthia Lord, photographs by John Bald, and illustrations by Hazel Mitchell, is a tender and lovingly put-together account of the author’s touching- and sometimes heartbreaking- experiences in fostering bunnies; and last but not least, Skulls! by Blair Thornburgh and illustrated by Scott Campbell, is a wonderfully accessible, read-aloud-ready and deftly presented non-fiction story all about, yes, skulls; this a winning book with a positive outlook that is sure to engage and hopefully ease readers who might be hesitant to look at ‘skeleton’ books. Enjoy!

The Great Picture Books! series features a round up of recently read and recommended picture books (in order from the most recent):

Great Picture Books! (27)
Great Picture Books! (26)
Great Picture Books! (25)
Great Picture Books! (24)
Great Picture Books! (23)
Great Picture Books! (22)
Great Picture Books! (21)
Great Picture Books! (20)
Great Picture Books! (19)
Great Picture Books! (18)
Great Picture Books! (17)
Great Picture Books! (16)
Great Picture Books! (15)
Great Picture Books! (14)
Great Picture Books! (13)
Great Picture Books! (12)
Great Picture Books! (11, Part 2)
Great Picture Books (and more!) (11)
Great Picture Books! (10, Part 2)
Great Picture Books! (10)
Great Picture Books! (9, Part 2)
Great Picture Books! (9)
Great Picture Books! (8)
Great Picture Books! (7)
Great Picture Books! (6)
Great Picture Books! (5)
Great Picture Books! (4, Part 2)
Great Picture Books! (4)
Great Picture Books! (3)
Great Picture Books! (2, Part 2)
Great Picture Books! (2)
Great Picture Books! (1)

The Great Children’s Non-Fiction! series features a round up of recently read and recommended children’s non-fiction titles (in order from the most recent):

Great Children’s Non-Fiction! (6)
Great Children’s Non-Fiction! (5)
Great Children’s Non-Fiction! (4)
Great Children’s Non-Fiction! (3)
Great Children’s Non-Fiction! (2)
Great Children’s Non-Fiction! (1)

1. The Line Tender by Kate Allen
2. Douglas by Randy Cecil
3. Cub by Cynthia L. Copeland
4. Where the World Ends by Geraldine McCaughrean
5. Our Favorite Day Joowon Oh
6. Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang, illus. Charlene Chua
7. The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s Garden by Heather Smith, art by Rachel Wada
8. Chirri & Chirra: The Snowy Day by Kaya Doi
9. Good Night, Little Blue Truck by Alice Shertle, illus. John Joseph in the style of Jill McElmurry
10. Saturday by Oge Mora
11. The End of Something Wonderful: A Practical Guide to a Backyard Funeral by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic, illus. George Ermos
12. Slothilda: Living the Sloth Life by Dante Fabiero
13. Karen’s Witch (Baby-Sitters Little Sister Graphic Novels #1) by Katy Farina, based on the books by Ann M. Martin
14. Gross as a Snot Otter (The World of Weird Animals) by Jess Keating, illus. David DeGrand
15. Breaking Cat News (Breaking Cat News) by Georgia Dunn
16. Lupin Leaps In (Breaking Cat News) by Georgia Dunn
17. Go with the Flow by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann
18. Chirp by Kate Messner
19. Inside the Villains by Clotilde Perrin
20. Lucky Little Things by Janice Erlbaum
21. The Best of Iggy (Iggy Frangi #1) by Annie Barrows, illus. Sam Ricks
22. Mabel: A Mermaid Fable by Rowboat Watkins
23. My Dog: The Paradox by Matthew Inman
24. Big Nate: Blows the Roof Off by Lincoln Peirce
25. Captain Rosalie by Timothée de Fombelle, illus. Isabelle Arsenault, translator Sam Gordon 
26. The Wolf in Underpants (Le Loup en slip #1) by Wilfrid Lupano, illus. Mayana Itoiz and Paul Cauuet
27. Bear is Awake! by Hannah E. Harrison
28. Moth: An Evolution Story by Isabel Thomas, illus. Daniel Egneus
29. The Witch Boy (The Witch Boy #1) by Molly Ostertag
30. The One and Only Ivan (The One and Only Ivan #1) by Katherine Applegate
31. Bernice Buttman, Model Citizen by Niki Lenz
32. Some Places More Than Others by Renée Watson
33. Hazel’s Theory of Evolution by Lisa Jenn Bigelow
34. The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith
35. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
36. The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert
37. If I Go Missing by Brianna Jonnie, with Nahanni Shingoose, illus. Neal Shannacappo
38. How Mirka Got Her Sword (Hereville #1) by Barry Deutsch, colorist Jake Richmond
39. Stepping Stones (Peapod Farm #1) by Lucy Knisley
40. What Momma Left Me by Renée Watson
41. Those That Cause Fear by Neil Christopher, illus. Germaine Arnaktauyok
42. Unexpected Art: Serendipitous Installations, Site-Specific Works, and Surprising Interventions by Jenny Moussa Spring
43. The One and Only Bob (The One and Only Ivan #2) by Katherine Applegate
44. What Lane by Torrey Moldonado
45. Ways to Make Sunshine (Ryan Hart #1) by Renée Watson
46. One Year at Ellesmere by Faith Erin Hicks
47. Dragons in a Bag (Dragons in a Bag #1) by Zetta Elliot
48. American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar
49. The Stepmom Shake-Up by Niki Lenz

“…the truth is never made of straight lines. Lives are strange. And there are people who do not like strange stories, especially in books for children.”- from The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown by Mac Barnett and Sarah Jacoby

Let’s start with The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown, written by  Mac Barnett with illustrations by Sarah Jacoby, this is an incredibly thoughtful, whirling, gorgeous, and yes, very important story about Wise Brown and how she (and those around her) saw books for children. The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown, as with previously featured title Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters, is another superb, not-to-be-missed children’s biographical title. Up next we have: Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins by Michelle Meadows and illustrated by Ebony Glenn, a concise and beautifully rendered poetic study of Metropolitan Opera House’s first African American prima ballerina (and dance pioneer) Janet Collins; Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando, written by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Kana Urbanowicz, tells the fascinating and reflective story behind Momofuku Ando‘s inspiration for and the creation of instant noodles; Out of This World: The Surreal Art of Leonora Carrington, written by Michelle Markel and illustrated by Amanda Hall is an eye-catchingly illustrated and deeply compelling biography of artist, painter and novelist Leonora Carrington– one that may inspire art lovers to delve even further into the lives of surreal artists; and last but not least, we have Apex Predators: The World’s Deadliest Hunters, Past and Present by award-winning illustrator and author Steve Jenkins, a truly amazing and captivating pictorial look at top-of-the-chain predators, from modern-day hunters to those from 500 million years ago. Happy reading!

Let’s begin with Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters by Michael James Mahin, illustrated Evan Turk, a remarkable, deeply affecting and memorable biography of legendary musician Muddy Waters; equally outstanding for its content, prose, structure, and artwork, this biography should not be missed. Canadian author/illustrator/book designer Sara Gillingham’s Seeing Stars: A Complete Guide to the 88 Constellations, a marvelous and incredibly easy-to-follow layout of constellations (everything from myths, animals, the Zodiac, etc.), with ‘Location’, ‘How to Find It‘, ‘Stories and Myths’ and pictorial representation given to every constellation as well as a wealth of resources included (i.e. sky maps, tools for stargazing, notes about magnitude of stars, etc.). Up next we have: Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge by Rachel Dougherty, a fascinating study and spotlight on the (often historically ignored) instrumental contributions made by Emily Roebling to the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge after her husband, a civil engineer leading the project, fell ill with caisson disease; Jane Goodall by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara, with illustrations by Beatrice Cerocchi, another strong entry in the popular Little People, Big Dreams series that serves as a good starting off point for readers just getting introduced to the incredible life and work of Goodall; The Origin of Day and Night by Paula Ikuutaq Rumbolt, with illustrations by Lenny Lishchenko (published by independent, Inuit-owned Inhabit Media), a beautifully told and illustrated Inuit tale about the words spoken by a fox and a hare that determine the creation of day and night; and last but not least, the poignant and rousing A Poem for Peter by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, a lyrical telling of how Ezra Jack Keats came to write and illustrate his groundbreaking picture book The Snowy Day, and its significance in/to children’s literature and to generations of readers. Happy reading!

Let’s begin with the fantastically beautiful and mesmerizing The Bluest of Blues: Anna Atkins and the First Book of Photographs by Fiona Robinson– I was  captivated by this not-to-be-missed biography about the life and work of botanist and photographer Anna Atkins; Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise, gorgeously illustrated by Paola Escobar, is an essential introduction into the life and work of the pioneering librarian, puppeteer, and storyteller who the Pura Belpré Award in named in honour of; Jenni Desmond’s marvelous non-fiction work has featured here before, and the author-illustraor’s name makes a return with The Elephant, the excellent third entry in the well-received series featuring endangered animals; Lights! Camera! Alice!: The Thrilling True Adventures of the First Woman Filmmaker by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Simona Ciraolo, turns the spotlight on the life and incredibly lengthy and ingenious contributions of filmmaker and storyteller Alice Guy-Blaché (unfortunately mostly unrecognized until recent history and documentary efforts); and, last but not least is the riveting and lyrical Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World by Susan Hood, highlighting the lives of fourteen “revolutionary” women (e.g. Mary Anning, Ruby Bridges, Nellie Bly, Mae Jemison, and more!), pairing a poem about each icon with an original illustration by acclaimed illustrators such as Oge Mora, Julie Morstad, Emily Winfield Martin, and LeUyen Pham. Happy reading!

To start 2019 off, I am presenting a post featuring recently read and recommended children’s non-fiction titles. Now, just a note that your library may catalogue some of these titles in non-fiction or in picture books- it really depends on how your library has decided to categorize them! The majority of the titles featured here are in my library’s non-fiction section, save for a few.

Author and illustrator Jenni Desmond has two titles on this post, The Blue Whale and The Polar Bear , two absolutely glorious, educational, enlightening and awe-inspiring titles that my four year old kept saying, OOOH and REALLY? throughout our reading. Next we have Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark, illustrated by Katy Wu, a detailed (but perfect for slightly older readers) study on the life, incredible work, and legacy of American computer programmer Grace Hopper; Spring After Spring: How Rachel Carson Inspired the Environmental Movement by Stephanie Roth Sisson is a lovely starting point for readers who are either interested in ecology and conservation or just beginning to look into the amazing life and work of pioneering conservationist Rachel Carson; The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid by Jeanette Winter is a fascinating study on groundbreaking architect Zaha Hadid, that also highlights some of her most well-known works; Maya Angelou by Lisbeth Kaiser, with art by Leire Salaberria, is another beautiful and inspiring read in the Little People, Big Dreams series that introduces young readers to the remarkable activist, actress and writer; Pocket Full of Colors: The Magical World of Mary Blair, Disney Artist Extraordinaire by Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville, with art by Brigette Barrager, is a rich and intriguing look at the life of vibrant artist Mary Blair (this book inspired me to go search for more books about and by Mary Blair!); Keith Haring: The Boy Who Just Kept Drawing by Kay Haring, illustrated by Robert Neubecker, provides readers a starting off point to learn about pop artist Keith Haring’s views on the accessibility of art, and study some of his key art works and style. Returning to a look at more books about animals: Cute as an Axolotl: Discovering the World’s Most Adorable Animals by Jess Keating with illustrations by David DeGrand is the latest entry in The World of Weird Animals, and continues the tradition of being super informative, genuinely wondrous and filled with strange and cool facts; and last but not least is Mama Dug a Little Den by Jennifer Ward, illustrated by Steve Jenkins, a wonderfully presented, instructive and wholly readable companion to the duo’s popular Mama Built a Little Nest.