A DAY WITH NO WORDS by Tiffany Hammond. Illustrated by Kate Cosgrove If you are looking for a picture book with deep meaning check out A Day with No Words by Tiffany Hammond. Told in first person from a nonverbal autistic boy, this beautiful story gives us an inside view into his life. A touch screen tablet gives voice to his thoughts as he navigates the world around him. His heightened senses cause him to react in non typical ways sometimes, and while in the park, he encounters some cruel remarks about his behavior. His mother quickly comes to his defense through the use of a tablet as well. She is autistic and while she does have some speech ability, it is clear that it is a bit of a struggle for her also. Our author understands this momma personally. She is autistic herself and the mother of two autistic boys. There are so many directions you can take a picture book like this with your kids. Can I suggest a couple? First, sit for a minute and really encourage your kids to think about what it means to not be able to communicate with a voice. Second, talk about the wonderful advancements in technology that have helped not only your family, but the doors it has opened up for those who deal with disabilities. Third, have the discussion on how to handle being around those who are impaired in some manner. Disabled people are exactly that, PEOPLE. They just face extra challenges in their lives that we may not. They deserve our respect and care just like anyone else, so always be kind with your words and your actions! One more thing before I wrap this up! Kate Cosgrove knocks it out of the park with her illustrations. Created in pencil and ProCreate, she gives the pictures a feeling of chalk pastels. Not everything is perfectly lined and tidy which fits this story perfectly.

BIG by Vashti Harrison 2024 Caldecott winner Big by Vashti Harrison is a read definitely worth checking out. Bringing a timely message in today's culture, Big tackles the subject of self image, specifically the line between socially acceptable chunky little kids and the socially unacceptable image of older kids that are just "too big." Using chalk pastels and lots of pink to create the dreams of a little girl, Harrison helps the reader identify with the time in all of our lives that we dreamed of future big things. However, for this little girl, the pages turn to gray when the dreams come crashing down because of words said, doors closed on possibilities all due to size. For a while the words stick to the little girl. They box her into a tight space where she can barely move, but that's not the end of the story. This precious little girl learns that there is so much more to her than her size! Absolutely Beautiful!

SHADOW (BOOK 2 OF THE HEIRS OF NEVERLAND) by Kara Swanson Kara Swanson's Shadow, Book 2 of the Heirs of Neverland Series, picks up where Dust left off and takes readers into the heart of the brokenness of Neverland. Peter Pan is selfish, and that selfishness has affected the inhabitants of Neverland for a long time. Shadows have filled the world and its people. The light is being snuffed out bit by bit. It's time to deal with the root cause of all of this darkness before it is too late. It is time to grow up, to take responsibility, to face the consequences of past actions, so the darkness can be defeated and the light returns. Shadow is a redemptive story. However, there is a lot of darkness that you encounter. At the end you hold your breath and hope that things are going to turn out alright, because there is death, there are prices for the sins of the past that do not just easily wrap up and drift away. But that is the truth of life, is it not? Forgiveness and a new life through Christ are a choice, but not everyone chooses to accept the gift. Before I jump to the Heads Up section, I want to talk about the author for a minute. Kara Swanson grew up in the remote jungles of Papua New Guinea as a missionary child. She lived in what we could almost equate as another "world." Reading this book I feel that we are getting glimpses of that upbringing. I am going to go out on a limb and wonder if some of the warfare we are seeing is the result of spiritual warfare maybe seen. This is PURE SPECULATION ON MY PART! Swanson does mention at the end of the book in her Acknowledgements that she fought some shadows this year. She says we all did. The book was published in 2021. HEADS UP- There are some elements to the story to be aware of. There are a couple of gruesome parts as people die. There are a couple of throats slit with blood that pours out as a war rages for the saving of Neverland. Swanson also refers to "dark magic" in the book. It's hard to exactly pinpoint the darkness that is affecting Neverland. Is it an overtaking of sin or at one point I questioned whether we are dealing with possession of one of the characters. He has a blackness that overtakes his body with veins that drip an ooze out. At one point the shadow residing inside the character talks to a person it's fighting using the pronoun "we." **Side note - My oldest daughter loved the story of Peter Pan from her childhood. In high school she drew the silhouette of Peter with scenes from the Disney movie that you see in the picture.

THE LUMBREJACK'S BEARD by Duncan Beedie The Lumberjack's Beard by Duncan Beedie is a humorous tale that is sure to bring about some giggles. Think of this as sort of a Jan Brett's The Mitten meets folk hero Paul Bunyan. Jim Hickory (isn't that name fantastic) is a burly lumberjack with a kind side. When he finds out that he is taking some critters' homes by chopping down trees, he invites them to live in his beard. This works for a short time, but isn't a good, long-term solution. Author/illustrator Duncan Beedie includes some laugh out loud funny illustrations that both kids and their parents will enjoy.

INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD by Lynne Reid Banks Today's post is going to be a throwback to a book that has been around for a while, Lynne Reid Banks' Indian in the Cupboard. Published in 1980, this book is a childhood favorite of my son and I recently did it with my younger lit class. It was a hit with them, and as I read through it again, I was reminded of what a childhood classic it truly is. What makes it such a classic? It is probably the same element that makes the book The Velveteen Rabbit and the Toy Story movies so endearing to us. They tell the stories of our beloved toys coming to life. Sitting with my lit class I shared remembering how as a child I would sneak into my bedroom trying to catch my dolls and stuffed animals talking with each other. We yearn for these objects that we love to breathe and communicate with us past our imagination. Indian in the Cupboard takes this all a step farther. With life comes responsibility. The toys are no longer just play objects to be used at a child's whim. No, these little lives need shelter, food, and other necessities, and Omri, the main character, has become their provider. Closing the book, there is a feeling of sadness that the end of the adventure has been reached. Know that there are a total of 5 books in the series, the first 3 being the most well known, where more adventures await!

BIBLE INFOGRAPHICS FOR KIDS by Harvest House Bible Infographics Team. Illustrated by Brian Hurst Do you have kids that like to have pictures and charts to go along with their facts? Then let me introduce you to Bible Infographics for Kids created by the Harvest House Bible Infographics Team and Illustrated by Brian Hurst. This meaty picture book is not just for little kids. We have been using this book (and the second volume - review will be coming soon) in our family devotions, and the older ones at home have been enjoying the material alongside my younger one. Not only is this book good as a devotional, but it is also a great reference tool on several topics such as miracles, prophecies Jesus fulfilled, facts about the disciples, key numbers used in Revelation, etc. I will include a picture in the comments of this fantastic book, so you can have a look inside!

THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon Ariel Lawhon's The Frozen River is a masterful work of historical fiction. In 1789, Martha Ballard (a true historical figure) was a midwife in Maine. One night she attended to a woman who had been raped. The woman accused two men who were highly respected in the town. When one of those men is found dead, frozen in the ice of the Kennebec River, Ballard as a "medical professional" is called in to examine the body. She can draw no other conclusion but murder. The question becomes who is the murderer and does it somehow tie in to this accusation of rape. Ballard investigates, but she lives in a world that often chooses a man's word as truth over a woman's despite the evidence that is evident. Interspersed with the main story line is the fact that as town midwife, Ballard knows the secrets that are going on behind locked doors including babies born out of wedlock and the destruction that leads to for the mother but not the father. Understandably, she struggles with how to handle some of these situations. I am going to diverge for a moment and talk about our author. Ariel Lawhon is a Christian, however, her story is not what we would call Christian Historical Fiction. The book does reference scripture in multiple places, and redemption and righting wrongs are at the heart of the text. However... HEADS UP- The book deals with a lot of relationships behind closed doors. That being said there are no intimate details to encounters. Ballard, herself, enjoys a robust relationship with her husband, again with no intimate details. There is a very small sprinkle of curse words. There are also a couple of what I would call crass words.

EVERGREEN by Matthew Cordell Evergreen by Matthew Cordell is a super sweet picture book. Written and illustrated in a classic type style reminiscent of Maurice Sendak's writing/illustrations or Miriam Young's Miss Suzy, Evergreen is a timid little squirrel that needs to make a delivery for her mother of soup for a sick friend. What follows is a series of adventures where little Evergreen begins to gain confidence and know that she can do it! This darling book is a great fit for the child that loves animal stories, adventure stories, or is timid and needs a little help knowing that they can accomplish big things. I've got to take a minute and talk about the illustrations. Cordell is a Caldecott winning artist and reading through Evergreen it's easy to see why. His drawings are done in pen and watercolor and they are fabulous with lots of details.

SERAPHINA by Rachel Hartman YA read Seraphina by Rachel Hartman is an engaging fantasy read, but there are a few hiccups along the way that you need to be aware of. Seraphina is an impossibility. After all, she is half dragon and half human. Even though dragons can take on a human form and live among humans, reproduction was never a reality, but for a few it was. She is one of a handful whose true identity is hidden and must be protected at all costs. But Seraphina has contacts in both the dragon and human worlds and when humans end up dead and it looks like it is dragon induced, something must be done to protect the alliance between the two worlds. This fantasy read is quick to pull the reader in and leave them in awe of a dragon related tale, but it is not the easiest book to read. Hartman throws dragon terminology and names at the reader in rapid fire succession. However, as the reader passes deeper into the pages, links and understanding begin to emerge. For fantasy lovers this book is hard to break away from. HEADS UP- There are a few things to be aware of. One is a small spattering of language in the book. Second, we know that there is a male character who prefers males. No details are given about the relationship, but it is mentioned. Third, there is a love triangle that emerges. There is not a complete resolution at the end, but an understanding is formed. Seraphina is the first of a two book series. I will be reading the second book in the future.

UNDONE: A MODERN RENDERING OF JOHN DONNE'S DEVOTIONS by Philip Yancey Sometimes in life suffering, sickness, and death happen, and we can't understand why. 400 years ago, a man named John Donne was living through the bubonic plague. Coming down with the sickness himself, he lived under the constant tolling of the bells ringing out for each life that was cut short by the plague. As he listened to the sound, he penned a series of devotions where he cried out to God, wondering where he was in the midst of such a great crisis. Fast forward to 2020 and COVID. Having already formed a love for Donne's book, author Philip Yancey revisited it during the pandemic. He then took the devotional and tried to convert it into a more reader friendly version to help a world that was facing a new pandemic find answers. As the book went to the editor, Yancey received word from his doctor that he had Parkinson's Disease. What came into existence was a book that helps us walk through the uncertainty of sickness and death. I have read this book twice and still feel that I have barely scratched the surface of its depth and wisdom.

THE POWER OF SNOW by Bob Raczka. illustrated by Bryony Clarkson I am smiling as I write this post today. Oh, the irony of Ohio's weather! Sunshine streaming in the windows this morning and forecasted snow this afternoon. I am good with it. Ohio's temperamental weather is one of the traits that make it endearing to me. It reminds me a bit of a toddler - one minute showing affectionate love and the next having a tantrum on the ground! It keeps you on your toes! I read The Power of Snow by Bob Raczka this morning to my kids knowing that snow is coming. This beautiful picture book depicts snow perfectly in math terms with the use of powers. Snow begins with just a couple of drifting flakes (2 to the first power). Before you know it, it's doubled (2 to the second power) and so on. In just a few short pages you work yourself up to 16,384 flakes (or 2 to the fourteenth power). It's a fun way to experience math. (Be sure to see the author's notes at the end!) But this book won't just appeal to math kids. This book is written in verse form. Descriptive rhyming words for the falling snow are fun to read. Then there's the artwork. Illustrator Bryony Clarkson's illustrations are marvelous. In her Illustrator's Notes at the end she tells us that every two page spread contains the exact amount of snowflakes equal to the exponent. Her artwork is filled with precious creatures and as the snowflakes multiply the pictures become more dense with the falling snow. Absolutely delightful!

15 SECRETS TO SURVIVAL by Natalie D. Richards Ohio author Natalie D. Richards has penned an intriguing, squeaky-clean adventure story in 15 Secrets to Survival that will delight the middle grade audience! Baxter, Abigail, Turner, and Emerson have a problem. Their parents are best friends, but they can't stand each other. When they are put together on a trivia competition team and things don't go as planned, they turn on each other and break the rule of being respectful to each other. Their "punishment" is to be taken out in the snowy, mountain wilderness with a guide and learn how to work together as a team. When the guide turns up missing it will take all four of them to work together to have any chance of survival. Filled with exciting twists and turns, 15 Secrets to Survival does a fantastic job of keeping you hooked until the end.