TWIG

Aura Parker's Twig is just about the sweetest story you'll find about fitting in and finding your groove at a new school. Heidi is starting her first day at a busy bug school, and she's nervous about finding new friends. Sadly, her instincts turn out to be right, especially because it's so hard for everyone to find her! I had to order Twig from Australia so forgive my less-than perfect photos of the spreads -- they're just too sweet not to show!

BIG CAT, LITTLE CAT

When my friend Sally recommended Elisha Cooper's Big Cat, Little Cat, I knew it had to be an extra special book. Sally and I are both -- let's just say -- cat enthusiasts, and it takes an exceptionally beautiful cat book to impress us. So when she described the book as quiet, gentle, and (most importantly) beautifully illustrated, I immediately purchased it. And, of course, Sally was right, which is hardly a surprise!

Let's Talk Illustrators #22: Suzanne Del Rizzo

My Beautiful Birds, written and illustrated by Suzanne Del Rizzo, stands apart from other books in about a thousand ways. For one thing, it's a children's picture book about the Syrian refugee crisis. But more so, it's relatable, impeccably illustrated, and refuses to shy away from depicting the realistic tragedies of displacement. Suzanne stays true to the experiences children are having across the world and puts forth a story about a boy who tries to find the beauty in the ugly around him. But let's let Suzanne do the talking.

OVER THE OCEAN

This month's #kidlitpicks theme celebrates mighty girls in children's literature, and I'm excited to showcase Taro Gomi's protagonist from Over the Ocean. Originally published in Japan in 1979, this timeless picture book quietly asks readers to reflect on their lives and use their imaginations to think about the world around them.

YAK & DOVE

Hold onto your hats, friends. Kyo Maclear and Esmé Shapiro are collaborating on a picture book and it. Is. Fantastic. If you're a fan of Frog and Toad, then this is definitely the book for you!

Let's Talk Illustrators #21: Joseph Kuefler

If there's one thing we all know, it's that politics are everywhere, and playgrounds are no exception. Joseph Kuefler's new picture book Rulers of the Playground allows children to see the complexities of their playground experiences reflected in beautiful illustration and sharp wit. Rulers of the Playground proves to be a keen introduction into the world of political thinking and questioning authority, and it teaches readers about compromising for the greater good. Joseph proves that he has no shortage of playful, intelligent stories to tell after his 2015 debut Beyond the Pond, and it was an absolute pleasure to talk to him about his process for creating relatable -- yet deeply mature -- picture books for children.

EVERYWHERE, WONDER

Sometimes it frustrates me to receive a book and then have ZERO time to write about it until weeks later. Everywhere, Wonder by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr is one of those books. It feels like it's taken me forever to get the chance to talk about it!