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Indie Spotlight: Children's Picture Books
September 30, 2024
In this edition of Indie Spotlight, our monthly thematic roundup of BookLife titles, we feature children’s picture books. Want to see your book featured? Check out the Indie Spotlight calendar at booklife.com/indiespotlight.
Tales of Standing Out and Fitting In
ISBN 978-1-03-580597-6
Author statement: “A young boy is sad, confused, and feels disconnected due to events around him. It's only when a new addition to the family comes along that his smile begins to return. My son, like many, was not coping well during lockdown, and this was compounded by the loss of his grandmother. Since he was born I had read him a bedtime story virtually every day, so one evening when he was sad and said he did not want a story, I said I would write him one.”
Sophia and Sinclair Get Lost! by Colleen Olle, illus. by Marcy Tippmann
ISBN 978-1-73613-663-8
Author statement: “In this engaging autumnal adventure, best friends Sophia, a tireless rabbit, and Sinclair, a thoughtful turtle, discover that their bothersome differences can not only help them overcome obstacles but also strengthen their friendship.”
The Strange Tail of Oddzilla by Lori R. Lopez
ISBN 978-1-5413-9874-0
Author statement: “The Strange Tail of Oddzilla follows a Soup Monster as he crawls from the pot and dreams of fitting in, something many kids will relate to. It isn’t easy for Odd, encountering rejection and eventually being abducted by scheming pirates to star in their carnival. He befriends a small girl who, like me, is a big monster fan. The story is humorous, touching, and designed for all ages.”
Holiday Books
Allie’s Howling Halloween Adventure by Shawna James and Alexandria R. James
ISBN 978-1-77768-469-3
Author statement: “The mysterious, creaking house in Allie’s neighborhood has always been a source of fear and curiosity. When Allie, her sister Marie, and her best friend Ryan are swept away on a wild Halloween night, they uncover a startling truth about the grouchy man who lives there. Will they survive the night and make it out unscathed, or will they be caught in the midst of a terrifying discovery?”
Cora’s Christmas Challenge: A Magical Story of Friendship, Festive Fun, and the Spirit of Giving
Sally Kashner
ASIN B0D5KM5CKC
Author statement: “As a former English teacher who began writing in my 70s, I’ve always cherished the magic of Christmas and the importance of teaching children about generosity. Writing this book allowed me to blend my love for storytelling with the timeless lessons of the holiday season, creating a story that I hope will resonate with families for years to come.”
Santa’s Holiday Mix-Up by Renita Bryant
ISBN 978-1-957092-92-8
Author statement: “Santa’s Holiday Mix-Up is the first book in the Holidayville Adventures series. The multi-book series includes holiday mashups across Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day and more! The idea came to me while working on a Halloween story. However, the original manuscript felt limiting. So, I decided to step outside of the norm and create a series that integrates two holiday seasons instead of only highlighting one.”
Inspirational Stories
The Dandelion’s Dream by Scott Metcalf, illus. by Judith Robinson
ASIN B0CV1CSCLP
Author statement: “I wrote a story years ago, when my now 22-year-old daughter was a little girl, about her picking a dandelion to give to her mother as a flower. Overnight, it transformed into a puffball that we took outside and blew for wishes. Two years ago, I turned that story into the poem ‘The Dandelion’s Dream.’ I shared the poem with friends. One of those friends was Judith Robinson, an artist in London. She loved the poem and asked if she could paint it.”
Nya’s Shining Star by Quiana M. Shamsid-Deen
ISBN 978-1-957092-86-7
Author statement: “The story centers on Micah, a young boy who, on the anniversary of his sister Nya’s passing, finds a magical book that takes him on a journey to reconnect with her spirit. I was inspired by the life of my daughter, Nya Iman Shamsid-Deen, who blessed our lives for three short days. Her spirit continues to guide our family, and I have poured this enduring love into the pages of Nya’s Shining Star.”
Science, Nature, and the Environment
The Child and The Tree: A Tale for Better Times by Nohra Bernal
ISBN 978-1-954548-08-4
Author statement: “This heartwarming story about a child who finds a tree in the wilderness touches on migration, resilience, forest regeneration, and individual empowerment. I wanted to convey in one story both social and environmental themes that inspire hope—even in unlikely circumstances–and highlight the beauty of our truest nature.”
Needle in a Haystack: How Clyde W. Tombaugh Found an Awesome New World by Diane Phelps Budden
ASIN B0CNVB77J1
Author statement: “Pluto was discovered at Lowell Observatory in 1930 by a self-educated young man who built his own telescopes. Clyde’s passion for astronomy began in fourth grade and filled the rest of his life. His perseverance to reach his dream of becoming an astronomer is an example for everyone.”
What’s So Special About a Tree? by Susan Polk Van Dusen
ASIN B0CYF2SB4K
Author statement: “What’s So Special About a Tree? is a labor of love, as it contains a simple, gentle rhyming verse set alongside original artwork by my late father. My dad was a talented visual artist who specialized in watercolor, oil, and charcoal. As a longtime professional writer, I was inspired to incorporate some of his artwork into a children’s picture book."
Anxiety and Emotions
Baby Worries by Frances Mackay
ISBN 978-0-646-86022-0
Author statement: “This story was inspired by my nephew’s new baby. Every time my nephew brought his baby to our family gatherings, the baby had this very serious look on his face as if he was thinking, ‘Who on Earth are these people?’ and ‘Why am I here?’ It was so funny, it made me wonder what babies might think when they meet their extended family for the first time. So the story is about a baby’s hilarious imaginings as he meets each family member—will he have the huge bushy eyebrows of his uncle Max when he grows up?”
Petunia the Perfectionist by Marissa Bader
ASIN B0D343YCQ4
Author statement: “Petunia does not like to make mistakes. So instead of enjoying her jam sessions on her guitar, Petunia practices until her fingers ache. And rather than creating art with her crayons, she color codes them. When my last book, Stella’s Brave Voice, was initially published, it contained an error. Many people reassured me that everybody makes mistakes. A friend even suggested this could be the inspiration for my next book. And so it was!”
Ready, Set, It’s Time for Bed: An Easy Nighttime Routine by Teneil Brown, illus. by Pei Jen
ASIN B0C7JRCQNX
Author statement: “Ready, Set, It’s Time for Bed is my debut picture book, created during the pandemic as I navigated teaching my daughter about the time of day and her bedtime routine. Through this journey, I connected with other parents facing similar bedtime struggles; this solidarity became the catalyst for making my story come to life. My goal is to help children of all ages overcome difficult concepts and learn about other cultures.”
Playful Adventures
Acorn Party: A Pacific Northwest Counting Story by Audrey Sauble
ISBN 978-1-946748-21-8
Author statement: "This little squirrel wants to plan a party—and a party means lots of snacks. Squirrels sometimes get a little distracted, though. Can you help Squirrel and his friends count to 10 and make sure everything is ready in time? This story started as a simple twist on a counting book–one where the main character gets a little distracted and has to start over a couple times. I'm an author-illustrator, though, so my picture books frequently change and grow while I'm working on the illustrations. Over time, this one grew from a simple book about numbers into a story about friends working together as a community."
The Day I Had a Dinosaur by Ashley Wall
ISBN 978-1-960616-11-1
Author statement: "When Luke and his friends have 'real-life' dinosaurs for a day, there can only be one outcome, the best-osaurus day ever! Join these kind-hearted friends as they adventure through their day, ensuring that no dinosaur is left out, and everyone has fun working together. The Day I Had a Dinosaur was inspired by my son's huge imagination and the exciting things kids could do if their toys came to life. With the goal of enhancing imagination and creating a love for reading in children, I set out to create a fun book that would engage and teach children, all while making them smile."
Hello Monster Trucks by Amanda Minuk
ISBN 978-1-990730-41-2
Author statement: "I began writing a few years ago with a desire to create content that is both educational but fun. I wanted to write a book about trucks, inspired by my truck obsessed kiddo. But I knew it needed to be different from the countless other truck books out there. That’s when I came up with the idea to put a twist on the concept of the monster truck. Instead of the vehicle, they would be trucks with monsters on top! This playful wordplay adds an unexpected and imaginative element to the story, making it both educational and enjoyable for kids and parents alike."
Hip Hop Don't Stop by Lori Nelson Lee
ISBN 978-0-9794171-6-0
Author statement: "Hip Hop Don't Stop is a lyrically written story that reminds us that hip hop is much more than just music – it's an American cultural art form that celebrates words and rhythms. Hip Hop Don't Stop was created out of emotional chaos during the height of the pandemic and social injustice movement of 2020. Amid the sadness, fear, and frustration taking place all around me, I was able to find some much-needed joy, love, and laughter by concentrating on the actual blessings in my life – my husband and my kids."
Magenta by Sheri Fink
ISBN 978-1-949213-54-6
Author statement: "Magenta is a little kitten lost in the woods until she discovers a mysterious cottage filled with magic and wonders. Most magical of all is Iridessa, the young sorceress who accidentally enchants Magenta with wings and the ability to talk. There's only one problem… Iridessa's white raven, Obsidian, doesn't like cats and isn't happy about this strange new companion. Magenta was such a fun fantasy story to imagine and to write. I followed my inspiration for my 17th book and enjoyed bringing the story to life through the characters and the magical setting, which created a wonderful ambience for the story to unfold."
Pin a Tail on an Agouti by Sunny D.
ISBN 978-2-9528383-5-1
Author statement: "Mummy didn’t want an agouti. Not those long claws. Not those long teeth! Not that ratlike face. But Zach did. Until his agouti started to leave stinky wet spots everywhere, gnaw at everything, and disturb the entire household. Then Zach decided to take revenge in an epic fake tail fail. Often we see dogs, cats, bears, in picture books, but this wonderful agouti, nature's gardener, is overlooked in children's literature. Pin a Tail on an Agouti joins fact with fiction and it is hilarious while being educational."
