WILD ANIMALS OF THE SOUTH

Lions and tigers and cheetahs, oh my! In this companion book to Wild Animals of the North, Dieter Braun's Wild Animals of the South offers a brief encyclopedia of animals from the southern hemisphere.

Let's Talk Illustrators #50: Joshua David Stein and Julia Rothman

Last year I missed the chance to interview food critic Joshua David Stein and illustrator Julia Rothman about their book Can I Eat That?. So when I heard about their newest book What's Cooking?, I was determined not to let the chance pass me by again! Stein and Rothman's books are humorous, thoughtful, colorful, and –– most importantly –– make food fun. Bon appétit! 

FRIDA KAHLO AND HER ANIMALITOS

Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos by Monica Brown and John Parr is like a breath of fresh air. In a sea of books on Frida, it was so nice to see a divergence in focus in this story. And, of course, it's about her animals! Can't go wrong with that.

SOMETHING'S FISHY

Rarely have I laughed so hard as I did when I read Jean Gourounas' Something's Fishy. The essential premise is that a penguin is found fishing in the ice, but as more and more animals gather around the stoic penguin, confusion grows over why they're all there in the first place.

I AM LIFE

Once again Elisabeth Helland Larsen and Marine Schneider strike gold with their newest book I Am Life.

Let's Talk Illustrators #49: Kathryn Otoshi

For as long as I can remember, I've been infatuated with Kathryn Otoshi's books. Her book One was probably one of the first books I ever studied for its illustrative merit, and all of Kathryn's books have a gentle simplicity about them that makes them relatable, timeless, and, of course, absolutely beautiful. I was so excited to chat with her about her new book Draw the Line for so many reasons (It's wordless! Look at those complementary colors! The underlying message!), and I'm thrilled to share our conversation with you today!  

MY FIRST BOOK OF PATTERNS

I'm so excited to talk about My First Book of Patterns by Bobby George,‎ June George,‎ and Boyoun Kim. I genuinely cannot believe I haven't seen a book like this before. It's colorful, easy to understand, and SO much fun to take with you on the go.

WINDOWS

Windows by Julia Denos and EB Goodale is such a beautiful book from end to end — the case cover, the dust jacket, the endpapers all come together perfectly to create a  window into the lives of the people in this neighborhood, and that's 100% due to the perfect balance between text and illustration.

Let's Talk Illustrators # 48: Natalia O'Hara and Lauren O'Hara

About a year ago, my friend Heather asked me if I's heard of Natalia and Lauren O'Hara, two British sisters who were creating a book called Hortense and the Shadow. I was so excited to follow along on Instagram and see sneak peaks of their book, and I fell in love when I finally received my copy. This interview was both a pleasure to put together and a long time coming, so I hope you enjoy!

HOW TO BE AN ELEPHANT

If you haven't already seen How to Be an Elephant: Growing Up in the African Wild by Katherine Roy, then prepare to be filled with awe.

First Friday 5: Brave Girls

This month's theme came together so perfectly that it'd be easy to pretend I was planning it all along. The books I've read over the past few weeks were filled with leading ladies who are strong, brave, and unabashedly persistent when it comes to solving their own problems. In addition to the physical challenges they encounter, it's how they work to overcome their inner challenges that makes each of their stories shine. Observing the journeys in these books is an absolute honor, and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did.

NIGHT AND DAY

Hooray for over-sized opposites books where you can lift flaps, peek through giant holes, and play with pop-ups! I'm talking, of course, about Julie Safirstein's Night and Day, which is one of the most fun and interactive opposites books I've seen yet!