November is Picture Book Month

November is Picture Book Month, a time to celebrate picture books and their importance in a child's life. Since this is the 11th month, I'd like to share with you recommendations for 11 children's books, with links to my review of each book and to the author's and artist's sites. First though, I'd like to share a poem with you!

Reading a book to a child is great fun,

a short one, a long one,

a rhyming, sing-song one,

one that has colorful, nice pictures, too

of animals, scenery,

earth, sky or sea, 

to offer enjoyment to your child and you!

No More Gunk by Donna Shepherd

illustrated by Kevin Scott Collier

 Signs of Trouble by Janet Ann Collins

 illustrated by Jack Foster

Horatio Humble Beats the Big D by Margot Finke
illustrated by Ellen Gurak

Klutzy Kantor by J. Aday Kennedy
 illustrated by Jack Foster

A Wish and a Prayer by Beth Bence Reinke
illustrated by Ginger Nielson

Sh Sh Sh Let the Baby Sleep by Kathy Stemke
illustrated by Jack Foster

Mr. Topper, the Potbellied Pig by Liam Maher
illustrated by Vanda Lavar

Where is Salami by Donna J. Shepherd
illustrated by Jack Foster

Trouble on Earth Day by Kathy Stemke

I Spy a Dragonfly by Carla Burke

And for the 11th picture book on the list, I couldn't forget  
Animal Sound Mix-up by Connie Arnold
illustrated by Kit Grady

Many more quality children's picture books can be found at Guardian Angel Publishing, 4RV Publishing, and Amazon.

Hope you find many opportunities to read picture books with a child this month and every month! What do you think are some of the advantages of sharing picture books with children at an early age?

National Book Lovers Day

August 9 is National Book Lovers Day. I think we should extend that and make it at least Book Lovers Week, or maybe have August be Book Lovers Month! What do you think?

There definitely should be time set aside for children to read if they can, or be read to if they are too young to read, each day. It's so important for children to develop that love of reading when they are young.

Take time to read some books today,
a restful break from work and play.
Books are great for learning and fun,
so be a book lover and grab a good one!

International Children's Book Day

Did you know that April 2 is International Children's Book Day? I just learned that myself. It has been celebrated for over 40 years on the birth date of Hans Christian Andersen to encourage the love of books and reading in children. There are so many wonderful children's books published around the world, and this is a great day to share a variety of books with the children in your life!

My husband, Tom, helped me make a short video of us sharing an excerpt from Animal Sound Mix-up, which we do for readings at preschools, children's museum, for our grandchildren, etc. I posted it on Facebook, and it was much enjoyed. Perhaps you'd like to join in the fun too. It was suggested that Tom might find a job doing his animal sounds. What do you think?

(See an excerpt from Animal Sound Mix-up and illustrations on my Children's website.)