Author: Anika Denise
Illustrator: Christopher Denise
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano/Henry Holt and Co, 2019
Age: 3-7
Themes: Siblings, family life, rabbits
Opening: When you’re ihn the middle…you’re not the oldest and you’re not the youngest. You are right in between .
Summary: (from my library catalog) Illustrations and easy-to-read text celebrate the joys of being the middle child in a loving family of rabbits.
I like this book because: I’m a middlest child, and can identify with every whisker twist of this in between bunny. The illustrations themselves are lighting up all the adorable markers in my brain, but feeling noticed is what made me fall in love. I would have worn the pages onion-skin-thin had I had a book like this when I needed it.
Resources/activities: list the pros and cons of different positions in the family – maybe even include parents!; discuss within a class or larger group, reform new ‘family’ groups with oldest, middle, youngest, twin, members – we might find we are more able to listen to the woes of a friend over a sibling; talk about what positions our parents, grandparents, teachers, guardians had in their families and see if their feelings are the same today as they might have been in the past.
For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.
Summary: (from my library catalog) Three household adventures in the life of 
I like this book because: it transported me back to my own childhood, growing up just outside of New York City! And considering the pub date, it’s likely that the best librarian in the world, Mrs. Nienburg, read it to us in school. And she would have because it’s well written and funny! I love a book that pushes you to read pout loud from the get go, makes you want to ‘act’ it out in the telling, give it an amplifier. There are not very many of those that do it so well.
Resources/activities: kids love to hear family stories, things they can’t remember themselves, but are fully aware that they exist! Share them! Listen! Take the time and allow kids in a group to share theirs – because, as Simone Weil once said, “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.”
For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog 
Author/Illustrator: Matt James
Opening: “No school for Norma!” said Norma, putting on her mother’s shoe. A few days earlier, there had been a phone call. Her great-uncle Frank had died, and today was for saying goodbye.
Summary: (from my library catalog) Although Norma does not understand all the rituals that happen when she attends a funeral with her family, she does enjoy playing with her cousin and feels the deceased would have liked the funeral.
Why I like this book: it is my personal belief that we do not talk about death enough. It was a mysterious thing to me as a child, especially when I was not allowed to attend funerals as a small child. This book reminds me, in the best way, of my first experience. It was not as bad as the grown-ups made it out to be. Share it – it’s beautiful.
Resources/Activities: to help make death a part of life, share this book with friends and relatives, bring it to class to share; companion titles: The Scar/ Charlotte Moundlic, The Tenth Good Thing About Barney/Judith Viorst, My Father’s Arms Are a Boat/Stein Erik Lunde.
For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog 
Author: Peter Bently
Summary: (from my library catalog) Although it sometimes seems that parents are just there to boss their children around, they are also good for many other things, from mending toys, kneecaps, and clothing to telling bedtime stories.
I like this book because: it’s a silky-smooth read aloud that will amuse the parents or caretakers as much as children. The illustrations are light and playful, yet Ogilvie has managed to pack so much emotion and tenderness into each and every face and posture!
Resources/Activities: make Valentine cards of appreciation for your parents or caretakers, especially if any of the text should ring true to you!
For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.
Author/Illustrator: Shinsuke Yoshitake
Summary: (from the interwebs) Getting dressed and undressed can be difficult, especially for little ones. While getting ready for a bath one evening, a little boy gets stuck in his clothes. He panics and starts to fear what life would be like if he never got unstuck. How will he play outside? How will he stop the cat from tickling his tummy? It’s good thing that Mom is around to help. But when it’s time to put on his pajamas, the boy finds himself with a whole new problem . . .
Why I like this book: I work in a bookstore. The library is my second home. I visit big box stores, maybe once a season – or less. But maybe I should more often. It’s where I found this book, sticking out like a sore thumb amidst the glittery, sparkly, too pink or too commercial covers (and some comfortable favorites too, but I just told you I am biased. You got that, right?). What a gem! I want you to discover it like I did though. Go!
Resources/Activities: discuss everyday difficulties and make a list of pros and cons – is the predicament good, or bad, and how can you tell? Take a bath! Ha!
For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog 
Author: Florence Parry Heide
Summary: (from my library catalog) Relates the misadventures of Marigold, a monkey, as she shops with her mother for a coat, makes a hobby of “bugging” her best friend, Maxine the hippo, and imaginatively copes with finding the right outfit for the first day of school.
Why I like this book: I chose this book today in honor and memory of a dear friend, the wonderful artist and illustrator, Jill McElmurry, whose work on The Little Blue Truck series you may be familiar with. Today would have been her 63rd birthday. If you manage to find a copy, share it with a child or read it yourself, and enjoy Jill‘s work paired with FHP‘s wonderful rich text. That‘s all for today.
Resources/Activities: Hug someone you love today.
For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.
julie rowan-zoch 