Children

In a day and age when many people have lost their manners, I believe it is critical that we teach one another the power of kindness. This simple book is filled with all sorts of ideas on how to show gratitude. A good reminder for adults!

Four friends creep through the woods and spot an exquisite bird high in a tree. When they stealthily make their advance – nets in the air – hilarity ensues.

When a large family of ferrets and their precocious baby take a chaotic trip to the supermarket, mom can't keep track of the groceries, the shopping cart or even the kids! Baby Edwin tries to help, but everyone thinks he's just babbling. Little do they know that he really has all the answers. Engaging read-aloud with great illustrations by Sophie Blackall.

Amazing true story of a 1930s family that fielded an entire baseball team – of their own kids! Great read to excite kids about the new baseball season.

When a gust of wind swoops George and his nest out of the tree and onto the roof of a car, George is off whether he likes it or not! With his mom following along chirping encouragement, George must gain the confidence to fly before his nest blows away entirely. This charming picture book gently nudges little fledglings everywhere to try out their wings.

To those who cannot understand subtlety, I have included a lot of titles this month that remind us – ALL of us – of the importance of treating others with kindness. In a day and age when everyone likes to blame others and never accept responsibility, I think it is critical that each of us look in the mirror and figure out how we can make things better by our treatment of others. Let’s start our own bug…not the flu, the “kindness” bug.

Reynolds is very successful and doesn’t need me promoting his work, but I am including this book for three reasons: (1) I love everything Peter Reynolds writes and illustrates; (2) kids deserve a nice story about the value of vocabulary and (3) everyone could heed the book’s message of the importance of kindness.

Given some of the latest despicable tragedies, I’d encourage every family to cuddle up to this wonderful poem about the importance of love in a young child’s life by Caldecott Honor and Newbery Winner Matt de la Peña, with beautiful illustrations by Loren Long.

Applegate – a Newbery-winning author – has another hit on her hands. As Publishers’ Weekly notes, this accessible and moving novel demonstrates how the creative resilience of a child's mind can soften difficult situations, while exploring the intersection of imagination and truth. Beautiful book – needs to be a part of every middle school teacher’s classroom library.

A perfect addition for Black History Month. Harrison’s beautifully illustrated book features 40 African-American women who changed the world. Truly inspiring.

There are few things more gratifying to me than reading funny poems to children, and Prelutsky has always been one of my favorites. A fun poetic romp any parent can relate to regarding the ritual of trying to get kids to go to bed.

Moss encourages her young audience to concentrate on two areas: focusing on inner self-esteem and building social confidence. Through procedure and practice, she reminds kids that real confidence doesn’t come from being the smartest, prettiest, or the most popular one in the room but from the comfort one has with him- or herself. Great book for all upper elementary and middle school teachers.

Conceived by the amazing Kate DiCamillo and featuring enchanting illustrations by Jaime Kim, this nearly wordless graphic story follows a little girl in search of a friend.

Tilby has written and illustrated a wonderful story that gives children the right idea of how to stand up for themselves, without offending well-intentioned friends and family who proffer what they “should” do with their lives. Terrific read-aloud.

Adorable Christmas gift by the dependable author of the How to Catch series.