Lauri Fortino's Blog, page 13

Picture Books At The Library 224

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all. But I can share them! Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.) Check your local library or bookstore for availability.SPEAK UP, MOLLY LOU MELON: Molly Lou’s mother encourages her to speak up when something is wrong, for those who can’t, and even when it’s hard, and Molly knows just what to do when a bully ...

Congratulations 2021 Caldecott Medal Winner!

When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people’s water, one young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource.

When I first read this beautiful picture book last summer, I knew it would be a contender to win this year’s Caldecott Medal, a medal awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

“M...

Interview Alert: Holly Hatam

Please welcome multi-published picture book illustrator/author Holly Hatam to Frog on a Blog! If you’ve read the New York Times Bestselling picture book Dear Girl, A Celebration of Wonderful, Smart, Beautiful You! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, then you’ve seen Holly’s amazing art. Holly, who’s been creating art since she was a little girl, is also a greeting card designer, and a textile engineer. Her latest book, Dear Baby, A Love Letter to Little Ones by Paris Rosenthal was published this past S...

My Library’s Top 3 Circulating Print Picture Books and Top 15 Digital Picture Book Checkouts Of 2020

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I’m so grateful for every one of my blog followers. Thank you for your numerous comments, likes, and shares over this past year, a year that has been, well, difficult in so many ways. Your support has encouraged me to keep blogging and keep sharing the many wonderful picture books the world has to offer. Cheers to you, and best wishes for a spectacular 2021 for all!

Picture Books At The Library 223

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all. But I can share them! Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.) Check your local library or bookstore for availability.



PENNY AND THE PLAIN PIECE OF PAPER: Bored with her plain piece of paper, Penny abandons it and sets off to explore other types of paper, but when she doesn’t fit right on any of them, she m...

A Montessori Teachers Approach to Picture Books in the Elementary Classroom by Donna Paul

Please welcome picture book author, teacher, and eternal optimist Donna Paul to Frog on a Blog. Donnas book Carl The Cantankerous Cat was published earlier this year. It features an engaging story, 70 vocabulary words, a glossary, and post-reading follow-up activities. Donna is a Montessori elementary teacher with over ten years of classroom experience. Shes stopped by today to share 5 principles that she keeps in mind when choosing picture books for her classroom. Lets hear from Donna!

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Happy Book Birthday to ARE YOU A POLAR BEAR? by Andrew R. Gabriel

Title: Are You a Polar Bear?

Author: Andrew R. Gabriel

Illustrator: Catherine Suvorova

Publisher: StoryBook Genius Publishing

Release Date: December 5th, 2020

Format: Hardcover and Paperback

Summary: A polar bear cub wakes in his den to the snowy world outside after a long slumber. Theres no one around, not even his mom and he cant remember what she looks like! The little cub journeys out to find her and along the way he meets many arctic creatures that are not like him. Follow this brave...

Picture Books At The Library 222

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all. But I can share them! Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.) Check your local library or bookstore for availability.



SCOUT THE MIGHTY TUGBOAT: When an oil tanker in distress is too heavy for Scout to pull alone, she calls on her tugboat friends to help.



MY DAY WITH GONG GONG: When May spends the whole ...

Picture Books At The Library 221

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all. But I can share them! Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.) Check your local library or bookstore for availability.



THE SUITCASE: When a weary stranger arrives one day with only a suitcase, everyone is full of questions, but to learn the answers, they must either trust the newcomer or discover what they ...

Interview Alert: Kitty O’Meara

It’s my pleasure to share an interview today with Kitty O’Meara, author of the lovely picture book And The People Stayed Home.

Just published, the book And The People Stayed Home began as a heartfelt poem posted on social media, which was shared over one million times, and earned Kitty the title “poet laureate of the pandemic.” It’s a testament to the resilience of people during uncertain times, as it paints a picture of life in lockdown and hope for a brighter tomorrow. Let’s hear more f...