Category Archives: Picture Books about Belonging

Norman The Slug with the Silly Shell by Sue Hendra

March 14, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Aladdin/Simon & Schuster] Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell is a light-hearted and brightly-illustrated picture book about finding a way to be who you want to be – especially if you weren’t born that way. Norman is a slug, but when he looks over at the snails, he’s in awe of them. He wants a beautiful shell like they have. He really wants to hang out with them and join in on their group pyramid. […]

Categories: 2017, Picture Books, Picture Books about Being Different, Picture Books about Being Yourself, Picture Books about Belonging • Tags: Book Review, Books, Children's Books, Picture Book, Picture Books

Lots More Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi and Ron Barrett

March 13, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book/Atheneum Books for Young Readers] In 1988, Judi and Ron Barret created Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing to help out parents everywhere in answering the universal and boggling question, “Why don’t animals wear clothing?” It’s a very funny book that makes us giggle and provides some solid examples as to why it would be a bad idea for animals to wear clothing. Now in 2018, Judi and Ron Barrett are back with even […]

Categories: 2018, Picture Books, Picture Books about Animals, Picture Books about Belonging, picture books about inclusiveness • Tags: Animals, Children's Books, Clothing, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates and Juniper Bates

March 7, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Paula Wiseman Book/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers] The Big Umbrella is a beautiful and reassuring picture book about friendship, inclusiveness, and shelter from the rain. Set in a background of muted blues, grays, browns, and green — the contrast of the bright, red umbrella with its warm and adorable smile is a huge win that warms your heart. This beautiful umbrella meets readers on a rainy day. We see it waiting patiently by the […]

Categories: Picture Books, Picture Books about Belonging, picture books about inclusiveness • Tags: inclusiveness, Picture Book, Picture Books, umbrella

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For those Searching for Themselves: Bogo the Fox Who Wanted Everything by Susanna Isern and Sonja Wimmer

September 15, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

Bogo the Fox Who Wanted Everything is a visual wonder and delightful read that encourages acceptance of yourself. It skillfully addresses and dissuades our natural desire to feel inferior. It also elegantly emphasizes that despite failures and setbacks, you are still valuable to your friends and family. And finally, it skillfully does the important work of urging each one of us to accept ourselves and bravely pursue what we love.

Categories: Magical Picture Books, Picture Books, Picture Books about Being Different, Picture Books about Belonging, Picture Books about Foxes, Picture Books about Friendship, Picture books about helping, Picture Books about Inventing, Picture Books about Overcoming Obstacles, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Bogo the Fox Who Wanted Everything, Children's Books, Children's literature, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

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Chee-Kee: A Panda in Bearland by Sujean Rim

September 6, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Reviewed from Copy Courtesy of Little, Brown Young Readers] No matter who you are, now is a fantastic and important time to read Chee-Kee: A Panda in Bearland. It is a wonderful, disarming, and charming book for everyone who has ever felt like they didn’t belong and an even better book for those who have never moved, never felt on the outside, and do not often (or ever) interact with those who have. Those who have felt or still feel […]

Categories: Children's Books, Diverse Picture Books, Picture Books, Picture Books about Bears, Picture Books about Being Different, Picture Books about Belonging, Picture Books about Finding Friends, Picture books about Immigrating, Picture Books about Panda Bears, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Art, Bears, Chee-Kee: A Panda in Bearland, Children's literature, Immigration, Panda Bears, Picture Books, Picture Books about Immigration, Recommended Picture Books, Sujean Rim

The Kraken’s Rules for Making Friends by Brittany R. Jacobs

October 18, 2016 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy from the author. No other compensation was received.] The Kraken’s Rules for Making Friends is a playfully illustrated, gratifying, and thoughtful look at what it takes to make friends. Everyone needs friends — even legendary sea monsters. The Kraken may be terrifying, but really, he is just like the rest of us and wants friendship. It isn’t his fault that he’s a monster. He is who he is. But one day, Kraken starts to really […]

Mr. Particular: The World’s Choosiest Champion! by Jason Kirschner

June 6, 2016 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] Mr. Particular: The World’s Choosiest Champion is a fabulously action-packed graphic-novel styled picture book with retro-esq illustrations. It is an entertaining and delightful plea for people everywhere to examine their particularities, keep what’s helpful and discard what isn’t. It has a great message of how we should balance improving ourselves with being true to ourselves. If you do, you might just find that your real super powers […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Being Different, Picture Books about Belonging, Picture Books about Bravery, Picture Books about Friendship, Picture Books about Overcoming Obstacles, Picture Books about Resolving Conflict, Picture books about Superheros, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Book Review, Children's Books, Children's Picture Books, Highly Recommended Picture Books, Humorous Children's Books, Jason Kirschner, kidlit, Kids Picture Books, Picture Book, Picture Books, Read Aloud, Recommended Picture Books, Superheros

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Hudson in Provence by Jackie Clark Mancuso

June 3, 2016 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] Hudson in Provence is a beautiful and fun picture book told in a series of bucolic gouache paintings of a most endearing little dog’s visit to Provence. Each painting is striking, charming, and utterly absorbing. Hudson (a most endearing little dog) and his maman are heading on a vacation to Provence! How exciting! They even get to take the super fast TGV train! They stay in a gorgeous […]

Categories: Children's Books, Fine Art Picture Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Being Different, Picture Books about Belonging, Picture Books about Bravery, Picture Books about Dogs, Picture Books about Overcoming Obstacles, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Book Review, Children's Books, Children's Picture Books, France, Highly Recommended Picture Books, Hudson in Provence, Jackie Clark Mancuso, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books, Picture Books about Cats, Picture books about Dogs, Picture books about France, Provence, Recommended Picture Books

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Fish Jam by Kylie Howarth

May 5, 2015 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] Jazz is an awesome little fish! He scooba-dooba-diddly-doos all over the place. He loves, and is great at, making music! There is only one, rather big, rather important problem. No one around him (except for a very loyal and very cute puffer fish) wants to hear his incessant improvisations. The little fish tell him to “Shhhh!” The seals tell him to “Shhhh!” Even the penguins are telling him […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Being Different, Picture Books about Belonging, Picture Books about Finding Friends, Picture Books about Fish, Picture Books about Jazz, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Book Review, Children's Books, Highly Recommended Picture Books, kidlit, Kylie Howarth, Little Bee Books, Picture Books