This is a cozy book. It has cozy illustrations with warm colors but at the same time are cool to the eye. It has cozy words that tell a memory and cozy words that tell about the here and now as well. The best part is the family is a biracial family. However, it is not “in your face” as it is “just there” as “normal.” Yet the traditional nuclear family is there. Natalie Reif Ziarnik has created a lovely, cozy book that is perfect […]
Jarrett’s Family
Hey Kiddo, I have a graphic novel for you. It is a powerful memoir by author and illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka. While the action is not in a traditional story format, you are given the right amounts of information, action, illustration and imagination to help you see how one person became the world-known creator of the Lunch Lady series (among many other fun titles). The format of the graphic novel is a unique (but perfect) way of showing how Krosoczka grew up with a heroin addicted […]
Do you Kitchen Dance?
Our narrator wakes up to odd noises one night. Getting up and waking her brother, they go to investigate. They go downstairs, following the sounds to the kitchen where they find their mother and father dancing, singing and having a good old time as they clean up for the night. But when our siblings are found out, will they be in trouble or will there be a big surprise for them? Kitchen Dance by Maurie J. Manning mixes in some Spanish (what the parents sing […]
WWCTCD: When We Come Together to Celebrate Diversity
All Are Welcome in Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman’s picture book creation. Inspired by Kaufman’s daughter’s actual classroom, the diverseness of the school is presented in bold colors and variety of tools and techniques. The images show children wearing a variety of clothing that many children (and a few adults) are not familiar with: patkas, hijabs and yarmulkes. Of course, there are baseball caps, too. There are different types of families (two parents, one parent, grandparents, same sex and biracial families). And there are all […]