Picture book reviews

Picture books that have a major character with a disability are hard to find. So are picture books that include people celebrating Easter. These are the books I’m most likely to review (although I do branch out occasionally, and sometimes even review books for grownups). For a quick look at titles, topics, and lists, check the index.



“A Friend for Henry” is entirely wonderful

“A Friend for Henry” is entirely wonderful

I have fallen in love with A Friend for Henry, an entirely wonderful picture book by Jenn Bailey about Henry, a little boy with autism. The three most wonderful things about A Friend for Henry The first most wonderful thing about A Friend for Henry is that it is from...
Just Ask: A picture book by Sonia Sotomayor

Just Ask: A picture book by Sonia Sotomayor

You may have seen some of the buzz around Just Ask! And you might be wondering whether author and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor can write a picture book. The answer is, yes, she can. Just Ask! is not a perfect picture book. But it’s a good one. And it’s...
Sweety: A naked mole rat with orthodontic headgear

Sweety: A naked mole rat with orthodontic headgear

The moment I saw the weird little girl on the cover of Sweety, I knew I had to have it. I didn’t know what the story was about, and I didn’t know what kind of a creature Sweety was. It didn’t matter. I could see that she was wearing orthodontic headgear. And that was...
Arabella: A sailboat, a storm, and a grandfather’s love

Arabella: A sailboat, a storm, and a grandfather’s love

Arabella is a rare thing in picture books: it is a genuinely exciting story. The main character, a boy named Matthew, impulsively takes his grandfather’s sailboat out after a storm. But he doesn’t read the weather right. Away from the shore, the high winds and...
The Zero Dads Club: A Father’s Day story for kids without dads

The Zero Dads Club: A Father’s Day story for kids without dads

Father’s Day can be hard for children who don’t have a father. At school, there may be crafts and projects celebrating fathers. And those are wonderful! But not for the children who feel left out. If the teacher’s plan doesn’t include the kids who don’t have a dad,...
When Charley Met Emma: A social story about disability

When Charley Met Emma: A social story about disability

It took me a while to figure out why I like When Charley Met Emma so much. At first glance, it’s everything I don’t like in a picture book. But I love it! Seriously. It’s a delightful book. It took me a long while to figure out why it’s so delightful. Let’s start with...

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