In honor of International Nature Journaling Week, Gia and I are all a-flutter to share our review of MONARCH AND MOURNING CLOAK: A BUTTERFLY JOURNAL. Thanks to Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sharing a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Everyone is familiar with butterflies yet how much do we really know about them? Here are some key facts gleaned from Stewart’s and Brannen’s letter to readers which precedes this captivating butterfly journal filled with exuberant poems and enticing artwork.
More than 18,000 species of butterflies live on Earth today.
All species have the same basic body features and lifestyle.
Each species have its own special way of surviving.
With tens of thousands of species to choose from, Stewart and Brannen compare and contrast a monarch and a mourning cloak. I like the juxtaposition, for while both species are common through North America, a monarch is more well known with its vibrant color than the muted mourning cloak.
The journal format allows readers to access knowledge on both species through a variety of entry points. Stewart’s concise poems are carefully composed with sensory words and alliteration to teach content. Brannen’s delicate and detailed artwork include either labels or captions explaining facts about each butterfly. All living things are identified with their common name and scientific name. Illustrations of physical techniques like tape, pins, and writing tools authenticate the journal making it jump off the page.
Returning to their letter to readers, I love how Stewart and Brannen share how revision, a step not frequently shown in a published book is revealed. As seen in the page spread below, Stewart’s final poems rests on layers of paper and Brennan consciously draws and erases sketches of some of her illustrations.
The front and back endpapers are cleverly utilized to share facts about the monarch and mourning cloak through a diagram with labels, a map, and the life cycle. Back matter is abundant with guidance on journaling, creating a sketchbook, butterfly notes as well as additional multimedia sources.
Check out these two gorgeous videos created by Sarah S. Brannen!
A downloadable nature journal can be found at this link.
This is the first of three reviews of book sets published by Little Lions Literacy. Thank you to Karina Richland for sharing a sample in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
As an elementary reading specialist, I am always searching for new instructional materials to support children in learning and applying their reading skills. Little Lions Literacy Alphabet Books is a set of 26 alliterative stories featuring each letter of the alphabet. Preceding each story is a note to families and teachers explaining that each book introduces children to a letter and sound; however, the stories can also be used to review and practice letters and sounds once taught.
This school year, I worked with kindergarten students in small groups to reinforce letter recognition and sounds. The Alphabet Books are a great addition to my teaching toolbox. Since the texts are not decodable, the stories must be read aloud to children. Children though will not be passive participants because opportunities to be engaged in learning abound. As I was reading a story to kindergarten students, I actively involved the children by asking them to repeat the words with the target sound. Because most of the words begin with the target sound, it is natural to stretch out the sound for emphasis.
On every page spread, lively kid appealing illustrations match the text. Each book highlights animals that begin with the targeted letter. While familiar animals such as a cat, dog, and bunny are characters in stories, students are building content knowledge of less common animals like an impala, a lynx, a numbat, an umbrellabird, and a vole. After reading, I shared real photos of the animals and briefly discussed their habitat including country of origin. Students in my intervention groups were excited to teach both their teachers and peers about these animals which made my heart happy.
Another incredible feature is how the stories also support vocabulary building including juicy words to increase children’s oral language. For example, in the Letter Aa book, words such as adventure, admires, chants, and active provide a teaching opportunity to discuss the meanings with basic synonyms. With my kindergarten students, I shared that admire is another word for like and active means busy. I appreciate that children can be easily exposed to more precise words during the read aloud.
At the end of the story, children are invited to make the sound to support retrieval. Practice in letter formation follows with simple directions for tracing the uppercase and lowercase letter. Story activities include a couple of questions focused on the target sound and suggestions for extending learning with both the letter and sound. Free printables providing more practice opportunities are also available on the website.
Little Lions Literacy Alphabet Books deliver more than letter and sound recognition. The stories support knowledge building and vocabulary development which are key to reading comprehension.
Gia and I are tree-mendously excited to be part of the blog tour for Just One Oak written by Maria Gianferrari and illustrated by Diana Sudyka. This picture book celebrating the majestic oak tree celebrated its book birthday on April 7, 2026. Thanks to author Maria Gianferrari for sharing a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
On the very first page spread, Gianferrari’s words and Sudyka’s art show readers that how an oak tree is an anchor to our environment from the teeny-tiny field mouse to the big and mighty black bear.
While Gianferrari’s melodic, concise text lauds the oak tree’s immense impact, her informational paragraphs located in the right corner of most page spreads provide greater detail to build content knowledge. Readers learn why an oak keeps its leaves in winter, serves as a home and a meal to many species of butterflies and moths, stores winter food for acorn woodpeckers, and how its fallen leaves or duff support small animals such as katydids, toads, and the blue-spotted salamander.
Like in Gianferrari’s other picture books, her love and respect for nature is unmistakable, for she gorgeously describes the importance of the oak in our ecosystem, Suduyka’s delicate and detailed artwork makes use of the entire page spread depicting the tree’s grandeur and utility.
Backmatter follows the story to provide additional information on the oak specifically its leaves and acorns as well as advice on supporting oak tree regeneration. A diagram of the oak tree life cycle along with books and websites for further research is also included. Descriptive and delightful, Just One Oak will give readers a new appreciation for the mighty oak.
About the Author:
Maria Gianferrariis a picture book reader/writer, animal-lover, and bird nerd. She writes books that honor our bonds with creatures both domestic and wild, and that celebrate urban ecosystems and the natural world around us. Maria’s newest releases are Just One Oak and Puffins!, both published in April 2026. Other recent titles include Rain and the Reading Horse, To Dogs, with Love, Fungi Grow (a Boston Globe Horn Book Honoree), Thank a Farmer, You and the Bowerbird as well as the companion books, Being a Cat & Being a Dog. Her book, Be A Tree! won a Massachusetts Book Award Honor and has been translated into 16 languages.She grew up in Keene, NH, and lives with her family in Worcester, MA, where coyotes, bobcats and bears traverse her backyard.
About the Illustrator:
Diana Sudyka is a Chicago based illustrator. Early in her career she created screen-printed posters for musicians including Andrew Bird, St. Vincent, and The Black Keys. She moved into the publishing world by illustrating several volumes of the best-selling series The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. Working mainly in gouache, watercolor, and ink, subject matter and aesthetic choices for her paintings are inspired by a passion for nature and science, as well as various folk-art traditions. Diana’s author-illustrator debut, Little Land, published in 2023. Her children’s illustration book work includes Dear Treefrog by Joyce Sidman, Angela’s Glacier by Jordan Scott, How to Find a Bird by Jennifer Ward, as well as Fungi Grow and Just One Oak by Maria Gianferrari, among many others. Diana’s Instagram feed features her most current work, but a disproportionate number of pictures of lichens and moss as well. When not working in her studio, she gets outdoors as much as possible with her family. You can learn more at dianasudyka.com
Enter Beagles & Books Giveaway!
Thanks to the generosity of Beach Lane Books, we have one copy of Just One Oak for a lucky Beagles & Books reader. All you need to enter is a US mailing address. Leave a comment to enter.
Gia and I are “beaking'” with excitement to be part of the blog tour and giveaway for Puffins! written by Maria Gianferrari and illustrated by Maris Wicks. This engaging and informative picture book celebrated its book birthday on April 14, 2026. Thanks to author Maria Gianferrari for sharing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Beginning on the front end papers, readers are transported to Maine’s Eastern Egg Rock Island to experience the life of a puffin with one lone bird flapping its wings across the water and landing on the rocky terrain with a wump. The title page spread shows the commotion of nesting season with puffins in the sky, land, and water and a human observation area can be seen in the far background. I love the creative decision to begin the narrative on the title page spread with the Gianferrari’s first sentence ending with the title, Puffins. Through Wicks’ bustling artwork with onomatopoeia, I could hear the puffins as I began reading.
Gianferrari has a gift for writing informational text for kids. She consciously weaves in precise vocabulary such as soldiers, stomps, and gapes into her concise text which supports children’s oral and written vocabulary. Content words like brood, patches and incubating are also thoughtfully embedded to build knowledge on the topic. Wicks’ graphic novel format will have immense kid appeal hooking them immediately and supports their knowledge building of puffins.
While I was reading, I learned that mother and father puffins share lots of responsibilities such as taking turns incubating the egg and searching for food. What I love about Puffins! is readers will have an emotional response to the puffling chick’s need for food and its parents fervent quest for nourishment knowing gulls are lurking around to steal their catch or worse snatch a young puffin.
To all readers’ happiness, the chick grows up to be Little Puffin. Having spent her life on land, she is excited to venture until the dark sea to take care of herself finding food, a raft of puffins to call her own, and finally a mate to start the life cycle once again.
I love how the backmatter continues Wicks’ graphic novel format with Gianferrari’s text explaining more facts about puffins. Educational and entertaining, Puffns is a must for all libraries-public, school. classroom or home.
Maria Gianferrari is a picture book reader/writer, animal-lover, and bird nerd. She writes books that honor our bonds with creatures both domestic and wild, and that celebrate urban ecosystems and the natural world around us. Maria’s newest releases are Just One Oak and Puffins!, both published in April 2026. Other recent titles include Rain and the Reading Horse, To Dogs, with Love, Fungi Grow (a Boston Globe Horn Book Honoree), Thank a Farmer, You and the Bowerbird as well as the companion books, Being a Cat & Being a Dog. Her book, Be A Tree!, won a Massachusetts Book Award Honor and has been translated into 16 languages. She grew up in Keene, NH, and lives with her family in Worcester, MA, where coyotes, bobcats and bears traverse her backyard.
Maris Wicks is a writer and illustrator whose work has taken her all over the world, from the warm waters of the Caribbean to the frozen ice of Antarctica. Most recently, she got to hang out with all the incredible seabirds on Eastern Egg Rock, and she is not exaggerating about the amount of poop. Find out more at mariswicks.com
Enter Beagles & Books Giveaway!
Thanks to the generosity of Roaring Brook Press, we have one copy of Puffins! for a lucky Beagles and Books reader. All you need to enter is a US mailing address. Leave a comment to enter.
Gia and I are giddy with excitement to be part of the blog tour for Rain and the Reading Horse written by Maria Gianferrari and illustrated by Hannah Sayler which celebrated its book birthday on October 7, 2025. Thanks to the author for sharing a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
As nervous as Rain is to read to a horse named Snow, she knows it will be less stressful than reading in front of her classmates. Gianferrari’s poetic text and Sayler’s emotional artwork share Rain’s sentiment.
His ears twitching and tail swishing, Snow quietly listens to Rain with no judgment. When the words do not flow easily, mucking Snow’s stall calms her. On her second visit, just being in Snow’s presence settles Rain’s heart and breath allowing her to read a little more.
Growth is not always linear so when Rain stumbles, she finds solace in feeding and grooming Snow. These simple tasks give her the strength to return to reading aloud to Snow. Her visits include riding Snow and just like her reading, Rain starts slow and gains her stride. Her assurance is captured not only in the melodic text but also in the uplifting artwork. Soon Rain’s reading and riding have the same rhythm giving her unbridled confidence.
As a reading specialist, my heart initially hurt for Rain. For the students I work with, reading is challenging and repeated practice in a safe environment is a game changer. I love that Gianferrari chose to highlight a Giddy-Up and Read program which strengthen Rain’s skills. The collaboration between Gianferrari’s lyrical text and Sayler’s stirring illustrations is pure magic. As a reader, I could hear, see, and feel Rain’s demeanor gradually change from discouraged to delighted.
Reminiscent of Gianferrari’s Hello Goodbye Dog, Rain and the Reading Horse is a heartfelt story capturing the profound impact an animal can have on a child. Back matter includes notes from the author and illustrator as well as reading horse therapy program websites.
About the Author:
As a shy, animal-loving kid, Maria Gianferrari wishes she could have read to a horse like Snow. As a shy animal-loving adult, she now gets to write about all kinds of creatures and the bonds they share with humans in books like Be a Tree! You and the Bowerbird, and To Dogs, With Love. Maria lives in Massachusetts with her family and dreams of reading Rain and the Reading Horse to a horse!
About the Illustrator:
Hannah Salyer has always been a friend to horses. After years spent riding, caring for, admiring, and drawing them as a kid, she was ecstatic to illustrate this book. In starred reviews of her other books, Packs and Ancestory, her work has been called “capitivating,” “breathtaking.” and “visually stunning.” Hannah is also the recipient of the Maurice Sendak Fellowship. She currently lives in Brooklyn but makes it a point to get out and volunteer at the closest therapeutic riding stable between working on projects in her studio.
🥚Gia is “egg-cited” to wish a Happy Book Birthday to Evelyn Witch Gets a Pet by Beth Ferry & Charles Santoso! Thanks to Macmillan for sharing a copy.
🥚After checking her pumpkins, potions, and hair, Evelyn Witch realizes something is missing in her life. On her way to the Blustery Broom, she sees the pet shop and it all makes sense. Sniveling snails! Evelyn’s ten coins can only buy her the mystery pet. Once opened, Evelyn discovers a plain white egg. And when that egg doesn’t hatch, Evelyn heads to the library for help. But spells on a snow mountain, in the ocean, and in a cave are not successful in hatching a unicorn, narwhal or porcupine of which Evelyn learns none come from an egg.
🥚Sniveling snails! Then Evelyn had an epiphany. Good things do take time like her pumpkins to ripen, her potions to brew, and her beautiful messy hair to grow reminding her to have patience and let the egg hatch when it is ready. And when it did finally crack open, Evelyn knew her pet was the worth the wait.
🥚I just love Evelyn. Ferry has created a character to whom kids will immediately be drawn. Her awareness that something is lacking and her initiative to solve her problem is laudable. But like all humans, waiting is truly the hardest part. Patience is a bitter pill which Evelyn only learns after reflection on other aspects of her life. Santoso’s expressive and playful illustrations makes the story fun and relatable. His use of vignettes, panels, half page, and full page spreads moves the plot along as well as shows how Evelyn has changed from the beginning to end of the story. I adore that Evelyn finds a companion to not only love but also eat all those sniveling snails!
There is a new reviewer on staff. Meet Gia, a seven month old rescue pup originally from North Carolina. While she may or may not have any beagle in her, Gia has the energy to keep up with all the latest reads. Getting photos isn’t as easy so grateful for this moment of rest.
The Great Puppy Invasion by Alastair Heim Illustrated by Kim Smith
Available in hardcover, paperback, and board book.
In Strictville, fun is forbidden, play is prohibited, and cuteness is downright criminal. So when hundreds of puppies show up, the town is in turmoil. How can they get rid of all these adorable animals? When their solutions fail, all the townspeople run and lock themselves safely in the houses except for little Teddy. Teddy wonders “How could these cute puppies be scary?” With one simple gesture, Teddy teaches the townspeople that fun, play, and cuteness make Strictville a happier place to live.
Being a proud dog mom, I loved turning each page to see piles and piles of puppies. I am amazed that each puppy is unique in its own way! Kim Smith has included so many details in every illustration; therefore, rereading is required! No doubt children will fall in love with this picture book and want it to be read aloud over and over. Adults need not worry for Alastair Heim has included plenty of humor to keep all ages entertained!
Side note: The Great Puppy Invasion is one of the texts included in our first module in Grade 2.
#IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading. Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.
When sixth grader Ben Bellini places twelfth in the Southern California Regional Spelling Bee, he shouldn’t be upset. He won his class and school competition easily without studying so why would he have done anything differently? Ben was convinced his competitive spelling days were behind him until his.grandmother Nan offered him a unique opportunity-spend the summer in San Francisco with her and be coached by a former Scripps National Spelling Bee winner.
Convincing his parents took time; however, with the surprisingly help of his sister, Ben got his wish with conditions like don’t go anywhere without Nan, listen to her, and do what she asks. So when Nan sends Ben to the local deli, he goes alone keeping 2/3 of his promise. After waiting for Nan, Ben has to ride the bus alone to the bookshop where the owner Roger Nott will train him. His tardiness did not make a good first impression. Seeking hydration, Ben visits the public library where he meets Asha Krishnakumar who has not spelled competitively yet has already proclaimed herself as the next Scripps winner.
I love the way Finnegan chose to have Ben navigate both relationships-one with a peer and one with an adult. He learns to persist from Asha and to walk away from Roger. While the signs were there from the beginning, Ben finally realizes that Nan is suffering from dementia and bravely reaches out to his mom for help.
Set in 1985 and written as a memoir from Ben’s perspective as an adult, Spelling It Out is a story that will resonate with readers as they witness Ben personally grow over that summer in San Francisco. At first, perfecting his spelling was his main goal. Once Ben understood that Nan was in trouble, he took charge of the situation getting her the support she needed. Ben learned that while persistence is important, believing in yourself, and having others believe in you is crucial. Take special note of the chapter titles and the afterword. And grateful to Finnegan for adding new words to my repertoire like clodpoll, perambulate, and cacodemonomania.
Thanks to Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sharing an early copy. Spelling It Out celebrates its book birthday tomorrow on May 13, 2025.
Kitty Camp by Drew Brockington
An ecstatic young girl wearing a cat t-shirt boards the bus to summer camp and quickly realizes she is headed to the wrong camp. Instead of being upset, the heart eyed girl is elated to be going to Kitty Camp. While there was a lot of yarn at Arts and Crafts, it was used for play not projects. The feline campers would rather nap than hike, have no guilt stealing a tuna sandwich during lunch, and express no interest in the pool.
Kitty Camp is not as fun as one would think until the girl spies cats popping off their own little boxes prompting her to build a superfort of many boxes which the cats quickly gravitate towards. As a result, the cats trust the girl hanging out to read, fish or sing by the campfire. On the bus ride home, five cats are sleeping and purring near or on the girl. On the next day, the girl gets on the bus with a new camper (from Puppy Bus) thinking she is going back to Kitty Camp; however, they did not pay attention to the name-Sloth Bus! A new adventure awaits!
Brockington’s follow up to Puppy Bus is paw-somely perfect. I love how the main character experiences some struggles and then realizes she has to appeal to the cats’ comforts. While her t-shirt and backpack show her love of cats, Brockington’s illustration of the girl’s bedroom solidifies her admiration. Given the ending, I am hopeful that another bus adventure is in the future.
Thanks to Abrams for sharing a copy. Kitty Bus recently published on April 29, 2025.
Odder: An Otter’s Story by Katherine Applegate Illustrated by Charles Santoso.
Adapted from her acclaimed middle grade novel, Applegate collaborates with illustrator Santoso in a picture book format to tell the story of Odder named for her energy and curiosity.. After waves unravel the kelp wrapper that her mother lovingly looped around her, Odder lands on the beach where she is rescued by humans. At the aquarium, they feed and teach her and when Odder is ready, she is released back to the ocean.
Odder joins a romp of otters who school her in finding mussels and floating together as well as dub her the Queen of Play. Her new family also warns her to stay safe but Odder dismisses them. As a result of her carefree nature, she suffers a wound courtesy of a shark. Luckily, Odder is rescued again and survives; however, the aquarium is now her permanent home. Once healed, Odder learns she has a new purpose-teaching other rescued otter pups all she knows especially the power of play.
Applegate’s melodic text and Santoso’s gorgeous artwork will warm both your heart and soul. The beautiful imagery in Applegate’s words are perfectly complemented by Santoso’s illustrations full of emotion and energy. I love how Odder teaches us we all have talents to share. In the book blurb, readers learn Applegate drew inspiration from two otters cared for by Monterey Bay Aquarium. Included in my review copy was their website where readers can view otters on their live cam.
Thanks to Macmillan for sharing a copy. Odder recently released on April 29, 2025.
People love dogs. You can never go wrong adding a dog to the story.” -Jim Butcher Beagles & Books is dedicated to Etta & Bella, my original book beagles. Blessed they are part of my story.
Every dog needs a forever friend and for Chip, his ride or die is Mr. Cuddles, a purple bunny stuffed toy. So what if he loses a ball, a bone, his dog tag or another stuffie? Chip always keeps extra balls, bone fairies bring more, and no dog tag means a new name like Fernando.
But when Mr. Cuddles is not on top of his dog bed, Chip goes into panic mode. Sure, Mr. Cuddles has been gone before for mending and washing, but Chip knew of his best friend’s whereabouts. This time though he feels responsible and for a moment, Chip doubts his intelligence. Luckily, his investigative skills are strong finding cat treat crumbs, cat hair, and toilet paper. All these clues point to one culprit-Mittens. When Chip sees Mittens snuggling with Mr. Cuddles, his anger quickly fades and decides to join the snooze fest, much to Mittens’ dismay,
A round of a-paws for author Petty and illustrator Boldt for their canine-tastic collaboration on the third book in the Chip the Dog series. Petty knows how a dog’s mind works calling a washing machine “the orb of suffering” and human stuff like homework, dentures, and keys serving no purpose unlike Mr. Cuddles. Boldt’s artwork humorously shows Chip’s range of emotions from when he first laid eyes on Mr. Cuddles, their travels together, his disappearance, the clues leading to his recovery, and of course, nuzzling his best mate as well as his nemesis Mittens. While Chip and Mittens have never been chummy, perhaps Mr. Cuddles can bring them closer.
Thanks to the author and Penguin Random House for sharing a digital copy..
“People love dogs. You can never go wrong adding a dog to the story.”-Jim Butcher Beagles & Books is dedicated to Etta & Bella, my original book beagles. Blessed they are part of my story.
Following their 2024 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, Ame Dyckman and Mark Teague take three friends on another adventure.
How do Bat, Cat, and Rat cool off? In the first chapter, after Bat and Rat use all the ice, the trio pack, walk, and board a bus to get to the beach. In the second chapter, Bat shares his snacks with seagulls much to his dismay. Thank goodness for Cat’s intervention. In the second and a half chapter (4 pages long) Rat is distraught because he can’t find his kite. In the third chapter, Bat comforts Rat by offering himself as a flying machine.
The Bat, Cat & Rat series warms my reading specialist heart. With concise text, high frequency words, and repetition, Dyckman makes the story accessible for young kids to read independently without sacrificing character development or plot. I love the subtle humor which is a great discussion starter and how Bat, Cat, and Rat support each other as friends. Dyckman’s short text allows Teague’s energetic and expressive artwork to fill up the page supporting readers in their understanding.
“People love dogs. You can never go wrong adding a dog to the story.”-Jim Butcher Beagles & Books is dedicated to Etta & Bella, my original book beagles. Blessed they are part of my story.
Beagles & Books 