Has Spring arrived at your home yet? It’s a notoriously teasing, fickle season here in Minnesota with warm weather and snow flurries dancing in and out of weeks until the full force of Springtime finally arrives. Regardless of what weather you have at the moment, these fresh-as-spring reads are sure to lift your spirits. Spring Parade written by Camelia Kay, illustrated by Allyn Howard published in 2022 by Cameron + Company Such a sweet, lush, joyous observance of the incoming of new life in springtime! Howards painterly illustrations grow in vibrancy of color and sheer volume of charming p ..read more

To close out my week celebrating women’s history, I’m veering off into the fictional world of girl detectives. The introduction of fictional female detectives came about, apparently, in the early 1860s with one Mrs. Gladden investigating crimes as a professional detective in the novels of Andrew Forrester. 60 years later Dorothy Sayers was critical of the genre, arguing that women detectives as written were not given to logical reasoning but “irritatingly intuitive” luck in solving crimes. And then she gave us Harriet Vane. By the time Nancy Drew came on the scene in the 1930s, there had alre ..read more

It’s Day Two of my week of women’s history posts. Five more interesting women following their divergent interests and gifts, coming right up! Before I launch into these titles, I want to reaffirm my value and utmost respect for those of us women who are living our lives in obscurity – that’s the vast, vast majority of us. Offering kind words, soothing a sick child, growing flowers, marching for peace, bringing a meal to one overwhelmed with life or death… this is the stuff that creates community, heals sore hearts, provides the warmth and light humanity needs to carry on. painting by Tiffany ..read more

March is Women’s History Month and I always thoroughly enjoy discovering the array of women — many I’ve never met before – who have made vital, intriguing, beautiful, courageous contributions to our world. This week I’m happy to be sharing 10 picture book biographies of women I’d sure love to have over for a cup of coffee to hear more about their interesting lives. Five are in the post today, and five more will be in a post later this week. I’ve got a batch of Girl Detectives coming your way later this week as well, so please stay tuned! Granny Smith Was Not an Apple: The Story of Orchardist ..read more

The month of March this year marks a holy time for both Muslims and Christians around the world, and Jewish Passover follows at the end of April. Billions of people worldwide will commemorate these important celebrations of their faith. Today I have picture books centering each of them. Understanding our neighbors’ faith and honoring their holy days is one way to promote peace. Ramadan, the holy Islamic month of fasting, prayer, charity, and devotion, commemorates the receiving of the Qur’an and began this year on the 11th of March. At the end of Ramadan, Eid is celebrated, a joyful festival t ..read more

As parents of babies and small children are well aware, nighttime doesn’t always bring sleep. Today’s stories heartily, happily, cheekily give the nod to folks not nodding off. Night time isn’t just for sleeping, after all! Night Lunch written by Eric Fan, illustrated by Dena Seiferling published in 2022 by Tundra Books When the softness of nightfall creeps over the city and the harsh light of day quiets to a mellow sheen of moonlight; when all the bustling people leave the city streets for home and bed, then “the night lunch cart rolls in.” All-a-twinkle, this welcoming café-on-wheels is ru ..read more

Black History is a story of rising up. Yes, it’s a history full of pain, and yet courage, resilience, creativity, strength, generational love are woven in mightily making it a tremendous source of insight and inspiration. I have learned so much from the fine picture books being created illuminating bits and pieces of this history. Even if you’re an adult, do consider checking out some of these fabulous collaborations of word and art. All Rise: The Story of Ketanji Brown Jackson written by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Ashley Evans published in 2023 by Crown Books for Young Readers ..read more

Two big holidays arrive within the next week, and today I’ve got a few books to help celebrate them. Lunar New Year comes first, on February 10 when we begin the Year of the Wooden Dragon. About 1.5 billion people worldwide will celebrate this holiday. Here are just a few stories to help you join the festivities: Lunar New Year written by Natasha Yum, illustrated by Jingting Wang published in 2023 by words & pictures This bright little book is plum full of information about the Lunar New Year celebration from a Chinese perspective. Of all the books I’ve seen, this one offers the best expl ..read more

Today’s trio of books all swept me into new worlds courtesy of the brilliance of their creators. There’s something for everyone here, ages 4-100, plus suggestions for read-alikes if these titles pique your interest. Bunny & Tree by Balint Zsako published in 2023 by Enchanted Lion Books 184 pages This gorgeous, wordless story won many starred reviews and best-of’s last year for good reason. It’s a colorful, enchanted fantasy.  And what an epic genre-breaker: a lengthy, wordless, picture book for anyone from preschoolers on up. I wouldn’t want to decide where to shelve this in a bookst ..read more

Orange Marmalade long-time readers know I’m a strong advocate for picture books as a genre for everyone from age 0 to 100. In fact, many picture books lend themselves especially well to older readers. Today’s list, though, features titles that are the cat’s meow for very young children, books full of joy, books that understand the curiosity of small persons who have so very much to figure out about their world. Each of them is a triumph and a delight! One Shoe Two Shoes written by Caryl Hart, illustrated by Edward Underwood first published in the UK; US edition 2019 by Bloomsbury Children’s B ..read more