Father’s Day is around the corner!

Tad and Dad Words and pictures by David Ezra Stein   Tadpoles grow into frogs and kids grow into bigger ones, in case it’s escaped your attention. And just in case it has, David Ezra Stein, receiver of a Caldecott Honor for “Interrupting Chicken” and the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award for “Leaves” is…

Read More

Chook Chook Chook!

Ol’ Mama Squirrel By David Ezra Stein   Ever since Beatrix Potter introduced a saucy red squirrel to young readers in 1903 named Squirrel Nutkin, they’ve provided an endless source of fascination for kids – and adults. It’s the time for seeing these bushy-tailed rodents palming nuts as they seek out winter storage units for…

Read More

Celebrating the Art of the Picture Book

Penguin Portfolio A Spotlight on Picture Books With recent articles causing a bit of a firestorm in the Young Readers’ world with the genre of picture books being touted as almost obsolete, unnecessary and about to be supplanted by chapter books, Penguin Young Readers Group has chosen to react to this perception in a very…

Read More

It’s the first day of Fall!

Leaves by David Ezra Stein As memories of summer fade and the coloration changes to russet reds and orange, I’ve found one perfect book for the youngest of young readers to welcome the entrance of fall. It’s called Leaves and someone no less than renowned children’s picture book writer, Tomie de Paola, gives it enthusiastic…

Read More