A Year of Kites Written by Monisha Bajaj Illustrated by Amber Ren New York : Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2026. Picture Book. Flying kites was something I remember from my childhood. My husband and I also loved flying kites with our kids when they were young. There is something so delightful about even the cheapest kite catching the wind and soaring high! It truly feels like a timeless classic for adults and children alike. This book explains how it is a world-wide tradition as well. Each page features a different location in the world and talks about a specific reason kites are flown there at the time they are. From Greece to Hawaii to Guatemala, there are no shortages of unique holidays or reasons why people fly kites. The illustrations do an amazing job presenting gorgeous images of worldwide beauty. There is an included author's note as well as a glossary of terms. If you are looking for a way to incorporate learning about cultures around the world into any curriculum or pe...
Ella's Night Lights By Lucy Fleming Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2020. Picture book. "A light-loving magical girl with mothlike wings that are too delicate to be out in the sun collects glowing objects while flittering about at night, sharing them with others who need them most until the day her animal friends decide to return her kindness." --Editor The Faerie Isle Written by SĆne Quinn Illustrated by Dermot Flynn Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2025. Informational. 76 pgs. "Watch for seal-skinned selkies coming to shore every ninth day to dance-but keep a safe distance, lest you become mesmerized. If you spy a fair mermaid combing her hair whilst sitting upon a rock, look away, as that could be bad luck indeed. And legend has it that just one encounter with the silver-tongued fairy known as the Charmer may leave a person lovesick and heartbroken. This gorgeous book offers illuminating introductions to fifteen remarkable fairies, the lesser-known heroes and ...