This book, published by National Geographic, has as its premise that all children share certain fundamental experiences on a daily basis.  With lush and sensitive photographs, Kerley creates a story that can both resonate with and educate children about those who live elsewhere in the world.

Mealtimes are likely to be the focus for many children, and Kerley depicts this aspect well...

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Honestly, there just aren’t that many picture books that allude to Herman Melville’s short stories. Lucky for us, now there is one--"Bartleby Speaks!"

Robin Cruise provides readers with an enchanting and humorous take on Melville’s “Bartleby the Scrivener,” a character who was famous for “preferring not to” do pretty much anything he was asked.  In Cruise’s book, Bart...

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"Always My Brother," written by Jean Reagan, provides a gentle, yet realistic depiction of a child going through the grieving process.  Becky and her older brother John are best friends, sharing a love of soccer, their dog Toby,  and knock-knock jokes.  When John dies--out of sight and without any explanation--Becky is left to cope with her feelings.

Reagan does a wonderful job of tracing how Becky doesn't know how to behave anymore.  Soccer is hard, since it is something she shared with John....
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One of my favorite books from my childhood from the realm of children’s literature is An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott.  I first read this novel when I was about 10 years old, in a 1960s edition with quirky, anachronistic illustrations that I adored.  This book was truly formative for me;  in fact, enough so that I have often given it as a gift and have written an academic e...

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