Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Yule, Three Kings Day, or any of the many holidays that happen this time of year, there’s often the opportunity to share gifts with loved ones. And children are some of our favorite people to share gifts with. One of my favorite gifts to share is books (of course)! So, for this month’s post, I’ve chosen 10 picture books to look for to give as holiday gifts. And these books are special, because I know or have met at least one of the people involved in creating each of these books. I can vouch that these are some amazing people who’s work you’ll definitely want to check out!
Swim, Jim! by Kaz Windness
Jim can’t swim! A favorite in our house, this book follows a young crocodile named Jim on his journey to figure out how to swim in a way that works for him. A sweet story about conquering fears and the love of family, Swim Jim is full of colorful illustrations and fun text that kids will love reading again and again. Kaz even includes fun facts about crocodiles in the back of the book.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Kaz in one of my KidLit Connection interviews this past summer. If you missed it, check it out! Learn more about Kaz and her work on her website: http://www.windnessbooks.com
Purchase Swim, Jim! online through Bookshop.org. Or ask your local book retailer if they have it or can order it for you.
How to Say Hello to a Worm, A First Guide to Outside by Kari Percival
I absolutely adore this book! Kari Percival takes young readers through the process of growing various fruits and vegetables in a garden. Written for preschoolers, the text is simple, but informative, and the illustrations are colorful and fun. Speaking from personal experience, this book is engaging and interactive—my four-year-old loves it! And I’m excited to share a book written and illustrated by a fellow New Englander.
I had a wonderful chat with Kari in my KidLit Connection blog interview with her. If you missed it, be sure to check it out. To learn more about Kari and her work, visit her website: https://karipercival.com
Purchase How to Say Hello to a Worm, A First Guide to Outside on Bookshop.org. Or ask your local book retailer if they have it or can order it.
Moonsong by Denise Gallagher
Fulki’s village lost its moon and Fulki wants to help. She befriends a tiger and creates beautiful music. But, befriending wild animals and making music are forbidden in her village. Can Fulki and her tiger friend help save their moon despite their forbidden friendship? Moonsong is a beautifully illustrated book with a folktale feel. Denise Gallagher creates a magical world of color and song with this story that is sure to delight readers both young and old.
I was so happy to chat with Denise for one of my KidLit Connection interviews recently. If you missed it, please check it out to hear more from her. You can also learn more about Denise and her work on her website: https://www.denisegallagher.com
You can buy Moonsong online at Bookshop.org. Or ask your local bookstore if they can get you a copy!
Small But Mighty, Why Earth’s Tiny Creatures Matter by Kendra Brown, illustrated by Catarina Oliveira
From the smallest frog to little millipedes, creatures of the earth all have important jobs, even if they are small. Small But Might, Why Earth’s Tiny Creatures Matter was written by Kendra Brown, and illustrated by Catarina Oliveira. With fascinating information about all kinds of little critters and colorfully fun illustrations, young kids with a mind for science will love this book! Catarina even has activity sheets to go with the book that are available for download on her website.
I was so pleased to have Catarina as my very first KidLit Connection guest. If you missed that interview, go check it out. To learn more about Catarina and her illustration work, visit her website: https://www.catarinaoliveirastudio.com
You can buy Small But Mighty, Why Earth’s Tiny Creatures Matter online at Bookshop.org. Or check with your local bookstore.
BLOB by Anne Appert
Blob can be whatever they want to be—a giraffe, cotton candy, or even an octopus. Blob is a being of indeterminate kind. But, after the narrator continuously calls them “Bob”, Blob starts to question who and what they really are. Written and illustrated by non-binary author/illustrator Anne Appert, BLOB is an adorably silly, but also important story about being yourself.
Anne Appert is a fellow author/illustrator who I’ve had the pleasure of knowing online through community events like #KidLitArt chat on Twitter and SCBWI. I hope to meet them in-person someday soon. And I feel so lucky that we have a signed copy of Blob! You can find out more about Anne and their work on their website: https://www.anneappert.com
You can order your very own signed copy of BLOB through Words Bookstore online.
You can also find BLOB online at Bookshop.org. Or ask your local bookseller!
Charlotte and the Quiet Place by Deborah Sosin, illustrated by Sara Gómez Woolley
Charlotte lives in a noisy home, in a noisy city, where she goes to a noisy school. There is so much noise, she just can’t seem to find a quiet place. Until she chases her dog Otto in the park when he gets loose, and then discovers the feel of her own breath. Charlotte realizes her quiet place is within herself. Written by Deborah Sosin, and illustrated by my talented friend, Sara Gómez Woolley, Charlotte and the Quiet Place became a fast favorite in our house.
I had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with Sara Gómez Woolley at The Highlights Foundation this past summer where she was a resident artist. Sara is a professor of illustration, comic artist, and book illustrator. You can learn more about her and her work on her website: http://www.sarawoolley.com
Purchase a copy of Charlotte and the Quiet Place online from Parallax Press. Or ask your local bookseller if they can get you a copy!
My Sister, Daisy by Adria Karlsson, illustrated by Linus Curci
My Sister, Daisy is a beautiful family story of acceptance and love told from the eyes of an older brother, written by Adria Karlsson and illustrated by Linus Curci. He is so excited to have a little sibling and they do everything together. But, when his sibling goes to kindergarten, things change. His sibling tells him she is a girl and wants to be called Daisy. This beautifully written book is based on a true family story and handles a sensitive subject with care and compassion.
I was so fortunate to meet Adria Karlsson during my trip to The Highlights Foundation this past summer. We had chatted online and were so excited to meet each other in-person for the first time. Adria is an amazing human with a huge heart and a beautiful family. You can find out more about them online at: https://www.adriakarlsson.com
You can buy a copy of My Sister, Daisy online from Bookshop.org. Or ask your local bookseller if they carry it or can order it!
Rafa Counts on Papá by Joe Cepeda
Rafa and his Papá love to count, measure, and weigh. They use all the tools they can to quantify the things around them, from the marbles in a jar, to the height of their jumbo sandwich. But, there’s one thing that Rafa and Papá can’t measure—their love for one another. This beautiful book, illustrated and written by Joe Cepeda, is perfect for kids who love to count and measure, or for kids who love their dad.
I am so fortunate to have met and spent time with Joe Cepeda during the illustration summer camp at The Highlights Foundation this past summer. Joe was my illustration mentor for the week and gave me some great advice and shared some wonderful stories. I even came home with a signed copy of Rafa Counts on Papá! To learn more about Joe and his work, visit his website: https://www.joecepeda.com
You can buy Rafa Counts on Papá online from Bookshop.org. Or ask your local bookstore!
Road Trip! A Whiskers Hollow Adventure by Steve Light
Bear’s car needs a new headlight, so the friends of Whiskers Hollow take a road trip together to Elephant’s junk yard. With Rabbit, Mouse, and Donkey, the four friends encounter adventure and mishaps along the way. Beautifully illustrated and written by Steve Light, the characters of Road Trip! are full of charm that you and your young reader will be sure to love! I count us lucky to have our very own Steve signed copy.
This summer, I met Steve Light when he was a faculty member at the Highlights Foundation during the illustration summer camp I attended. Steve is a warm, friendly, and a super fun person to learn from. I had so much fun trying out new pen and ink techniques with him! To learn more about Steve and his work, visit his website: https://www.stevelightart.com
You can buy Road Trip! online from Bookshop.org. Or ask your local bookseller!
The Turtle Ship by Helena Ku Rhee, illustrated by Colleen Kong-Savage
A long time ago in Korea, Sun-sin played with his pet turtle and dreamed of traveling the world. But, as a poor villager, that dream seemed impossible. Until the King’s court announced a contest to design a new battleship to defend the land. The winner would travel with the royal Navy. Sun-sin got to work designing and after many failed attempts found inspiration in his pet turtle. Written by Helena Ku Rhee and illustrated by Colleen Kong-Savage, The Turtle Ship is beautifully illustrated story that was loosely based on the real Admiral Yi Sun-sin and his Turtle Ship. Colleen’s paper collage creates a colorfully unique visual journey for young readers to enjoy.
During the summer camp in illustration at The Highlights Foundation, I met Colleen Kong-Savage as a fellow participant. When I saw her collage work, I fell in love with it! Colleen is a lovely human who I feel so lucky to have spent time with. To learn more about Colleen and her work, visit her website: https://ckongsavage.com
You can order a copy of The Turtle Ship online at Bookshop.org. Or ask your local book shop!
Whether you gift one of these books or one of the thousands of amazing picture books in the world, you’ll be giving something truly special when you share a story with a child. Supporting local book stores directly or through websites like Bookshop.org also helps the local families and economy around you. What a beautiful gift it is for everyone!