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2 weeks ago | 
commonsensemedia.org | Neil Sharpson |Susan Faust
age 4+ Surprise narrator dishes on fish in funny, absurd tell-all. Parents need to know that facts, fiction, and fun blend together in Don't Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson and illustrated by Dan Santat. Information about different animals may be review rather than new for many kid readers. After all, preschoolers know snakes have scales, and birds have feathers.
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2 weeks ago | 
commonsensemedia.org | Kyle Lukoff |Susan Faust
age 6+ An affecting slice of LGBTQ+ history about a secret code. Parents need to know that a slice of LGBTQ hisstory is explored in Are You a Friend of Dorothy? The True Story of an Imaginary Woman and the Real People She Helped by Kyle Lukoff and illustrated by Levi Hastings.
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1 month ago | 
commonsensemedia.org | Susan Faust
age 4+ A caterpillar's sweet tale of change and self-discovery Parents need to know that life science and social-emotional learning (SEL) blend in Papilio, written and illustrated by Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, and Andy Chou Musser. This picture book stars Papilio, at first a caterpillar and eventually a black swallowtail butterfly.
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2 months ago | 
commonsensemedia.org | Susan Faust
age 3+ A fun dive into how to make bright powders to toss for Holi. Parents need to know that the spring Hindu holiday of Holi is introduced in Festival of Colors written by Kabir and Surishtha Sehgal and illustrated by Vashti Harrison. The Sehgals are a son-and-mother team.
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2 months ago | 
commonsensemedia.org | Susan Faust
age 4+ A joyous tale about a colorful spring Hindu festival. Parents need to know that kids will get an introduction to a spring Hindu holiday in Happy Holi! Celebrating the Festival of Colors written by Chitra Soundar and illustrated by Amberin Huq. Soundaris also author of Holi Hai!Kids who celebrate Holi will enjoy seeing themselves represented in a picture book.
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2 months ago | 
commonsensemedia.org | Susan Faust
age 5+ A heartfelt tale of loss and love around a Muslim holiday. Parents need to know that The Gift of Eid by National Book Award winner Shifa Saltagi Safadi and illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel is inspired by The Gift of the Magi. The famed O. Henry short story, as explained in the Author's Note, is about a couple trying to find the perfect gift for one another with each sacrificing something dear to do so.
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2 months ago | 
commonsensemedia.org | Susan Faust
age 8+ A lyrical Harlem boy's journey to literary greatness. Parents need to know that the early life of a great American author is covered in Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer by poet Quartez Harris and illustrated by award-winning illustrator Gordon C. James. This picture biography describes how poverty and racism in Harlem both impeded and inspired James Baldwin, born in 1924, as a child.
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2 months ago | 
commonsensemedia.org | Susan Faust
age 4+ Informative, exciting intro to tusked whales of the Arctic. Parents need to know that in Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic by Candace Fleming and Deena So'Oteh, the narrative invites young readers into the life of a rare sea creature in their extreme ocean home. Discussed right off are the tusks and jousting behavior among males that results in scars, though there are no fights-to-the-death.
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2 months ago | 
commonsensemedia.org | Susan Faust
age 6+ A stunning homage to the history of Black music in America. Parents need to know that the history of Black music in America is presented in How Sweet the Sound: A Soundtrack for America by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Charly Palmer.
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Jan 15, 2025 | 
commonsensemedia.org | Susan Faust
age 5+ Lively, informative story about one family's Lunar New Year. Parents need to know that the traditions of the "biggest Chinese festival of the year" are covered in Lunar New Year by Natasha Yim and illustrated by Jingting Wang. In this nonfiction picture book, Ling explains what those traditions mean for her and her family. For example, the house is cleaned from top to bottom to sweep away bad luck and evil spirits.
