Picture Books - Bookology Magazine

The Global Ocean

April 14, 2025 by Heidi Hammond and Gail Nordstrom

Picture books can foster a deeper appreciation for the “Earth’s beating heart,” our global ocean. From ocean shores to the depths of the sea, these five Caldecott award books transport readers to this extraordinary environment.

The Yellow Bus

April 12, 2025 by Melanie Heuiser Hill

There is a boy in my storytime who is learning English alongside at least one, if not more, languages. He is a serious two-year-old. He never talks. He does not sing along. He is loathe to “participate” in any way ...

Nikki Grimes

April 10, 2025 by Vicki Palmquist

We're always excited when Nikki Grimes shares one of her new books with us. This one is especially lovely, A Cup of Quiet, which celebrates the grandparent and grandchild relationship as well as all the sounds we hear when we're quiet and we pay attention.

Vroom! Vroom! Things that Go (Or Don’t)

March 19, 2025 by Martin and Root

Small Walt by Elizabeth Verdick and Marc Rosenthal

This is a month for vehicles, imagined vehicles, that take us straight out of our chaotic and worrisome now to “what if.”

Flight

January 23, 2025January 19, 2025 by Heidi Hammond and Gail Nordstrom

Four Caldecott Award books celebrate the exhilaration of flight, with two journeys inspired by history and two by imagination.

Community Building: Picture Books

January 4, 2025 by Vicki Palmquist

a booklist featuring picture books that relate stories of peace through community building

Seeds of Hope

March 19, 2025December 16, 2024 by Martin and Root

As we enter the dark time of year and who knows what other kinds of dark times we may be facing, we are looking for stories of hope—and finding them.

Death and Grief

March 19, 2025October 18, 2024 by Vicki Palmquist

For those who are mourning the loss of a relative, a pet, a friend, a teacher, these books for young and old are recommended by our subscribers.

Floods and Hurricanes

March 19, 2025October 12, 2024 by Vicki Palmquist

With recent hurricanes and flooding so much in the news and a part of conversations, we've pulled together a group of books that will help those who learn from fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

Get Out the Vote!

January 19, 2025October 7, 2024 by Heidi Hammond and Gail Nordstrom

A close and fascinating look at the illustrations in three Caldecott books about political figures ... and how those books have been updated over the years.

Hello Fall!

December 16, 2024September 14, 2024 by Martin and Root

September may seem like the month that marks summer’s ending, but it is also a month of beginning — the traditional start of the school year, the beginning of fall.

A Mischief of Mice

April 12, 2025September 13, 2024 by Melanie Heuiser Hill

Adults should get something from storytime, too. I read a book that’s maybe more for them than the kids — it’s extra special when there’s a book like this that is fascinating for these wee ones and their adults.

Nursery Rhymes

October 7, 2024July 22, 2024 by Heidi Hammond and Gail Nordstrom

Marguerite de Angeli Book of Nursery and Mother Goose Rhymes

While no nursery rhyme books have won Caldecott Awards in the last 60 years, from 1938 to 1964 there were a number of fine books bestowed with awards.

Firefly Light and Great Books about the Night

January 19, 2025July 22, 2024 by Vicki Palmquist

Do you remember summer nights when you were a child? Running on bare feet? The grass silk-soft and dewy? Crickets chirping? A bright slice of moon? Fireflies and the first stars?

King Hugo’s Huge Ego

September 13, 2024June 14, 2024 by Melanie Heuiser Hill

Now that it’s summer, we have some school age kids coming, and I find that I need to select some picture books with more words, more humor, gorgeous art, etc. They’ll sit politely for a couple of lift-the-flap books and one-word-per-page books, but then they need something for them. When the babies start wiggling and running and sharing snacks, I pull out the big-kid books.

Freshwater Pearls

September 13, 2024April 18, 2024 by Heidi Hammond and Gail Nordstrom

This column dives into four Caldecott picture books that feature freshwater resources, precious and limited assets that sustain terrestrial life.

A Fun Rabbit Habit

June 15, 2024March 23, 2024 by Martin and Root

Rabbits hop all through children's books. And what's not to like about them? We hope you'll hop into the habit of rabbit books this spring.

Artificial Intelligence: Food for Thought

September 13, 2024February 20, 2024 by Heidi Hammond and Gail Nordstrom

Following up on Gail Nordstrom and Heidi Hammond’s Caldecott Lines of Connection article, “Food for Thought,” Gail decided to give artificial intelligence a challenge to write an article on the same topic. Here’s how it went down.

Food for Thought

June 15, 2024January 14, 2024 by Heidi Hammond and Gail Nordstrom

Sean Sherman, “In an epiphany, I tasted how food weaves people together, connects families through generations, is a life force of identity and social structure.” These formidable themes are central to recent Caldecott Award books.

Winter Books

June 14, 2024January 12, 2024 by Melanie Heuiser Hill

I have picked out a month’s worth of snowy books for the long wintery month of January. But I’m second guessing it now. Must our storytime be so snowy?

When Families Gather

June 15, 2024December 17, 2023 by Vicki Palmquist

In the midst of the holidays, or at any gathering-time of year, these books are "just right" for reading out loud to young and old. Celebrate family!

To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme

June 15, 2024October 15, 2023 by Vicki Palmquist

If you’ve ever dipped a toe into the children’s book publishing world, you’ve probably heard cautionary tales about writing in rhyme. In short, most insiders say, “Please don’t rhyme.”

Mark Ceilley

March 23, 2024October 15, 2023 by Vicki Palmquist

Writing this book was a wonderful experience for me. I am proud to be a part of writing a book that incorporates themes of friendship, kindness, cooperation, and building self-confidence.

Scary Stories

January 14, 2024October 15, 2023 by Heidi Hammond and Gail Nordstrom

According to multiple sources, being scared and overcoming our fear is good for us, and this is especially true when reading or listening to scary stories.

Granny Rex

March 23, 2024September 21, 2023 by Vicki Palmquist

Kurtis Scaletta is an experienced writer of middle grade and chapter books. Now his first picture book is out and we're curious about his experience of writing in this format.

Library Love

December 13, 2023September 13, 2023 by Martin and Root

When the Babies Came to Stay Christine McDonnell

Libraries! We want to look at books about these magical places, portals to our world, our selves, and other worlds and selves we might become.

Storytime Planning!

January 12, 2024September 13, 2023 by Melanie Heuiser Hill

It’s that time of year — new schedules and planning, new notebooks and books, new activities, and priorities … and a new storytime!

Mental Health: Several Lists

October 25, 2024August 6, 2023 by Nancy Bo Flood & Ann Jacobus

A Walk in the Woods by Nikki Grimes Jerry Pinkney Brian Pinkney

Ann Jacobus and Nancy Bo Flood have contributed several lists for PreK-Grade 8 in which mental health is a part of the story.

Mental Health: Picture Books

August 11, 2023August 3, 2023 by Nancy Bo Flood & Ann Jacobus

For a child experiencing anxiety, phobias, depression, or grief, a picture book is a good conversation starter. This list, developed by Ann Jacobus and Nancy Bo Flood, is essential.

See the Author / See the Illustrator

February 20, 2024August 3, 2023 by Vicki Palmquist

See the Ghost: Three Stories about Things You Cannot See

Once in a while, a duo creates several books together and they get to know one another. We're curious about how that works. Meet David LaRochelle, author, and Mike Wohnoutka, illustrator, of six books together (so far).

Bible Stories

October 15, 2023July 15, 2023 by Heidi Hammond and Gail Nordstrom

This month, we look at Bible stories which have been awarded recognition by the Caldecott committees, beginning in 1938.

A Shelter for Sadness

September 13, 2023June 21, 2023 by Melanie Heuiser Hill

Sometimes, I am so touched by a book that I cannot figure out how best to share it with kids. Such is the case with A Shelter for Sadness by Anne Booth and David Litchfield.

Poets and Picture Books

September 21, 2023June 19, 2023 by Martin and Root

Poets and picture book writers both know the weight of a word, the sound of a syllable, the turn of a line, and they both know that every word matters.

Robert Lawson Gave Me Animals

August 3, 2023May 19, 2023 by Candice Ransom

Is there anything finer than a middle grade book with interior art? Yes, a middle grade book about woodland animals with excellent interior art.

This Biographer and Her Living Subject

August 3, 2023April 27, 2023 by Vicki Palmquist

I wonder how often a picture book biographer has been friends with her subject for several decades and then worked closely with that person to get her manuscript just right.

Connecting with Nature

July 20, 2023April 26, 2023 by Heidi Hammond and Gail Nordstrom

While experiences in the natural world are beneficial to both children and adults, they are especially crucial for young people. This selection of Caldecott Honor books invites readers to explore and appreciate the natural world.

Finding Family: The Duckling Raised by Loons

May 19, 2023March 21, 2023 by Vicki Palmquist

The Loon Project, based in Minnesota and Wisconsin, discovered a loon family caring for a mallard duckling. Finding Family relates that story ...

This is the Planet Where I Live

August 3, 2023February 27, 2023 by Vicki Palmquist

Illustrating a book written by K.L. Going, This is the Planet Where I Live, Debra Frasier works with collage that exuberantly celebrates our connections to everything on this earth.

Let It Snow!

April 26, 2023January 19, 2023 by Heidi Hammond and Gail Nordstrom

In the far reaches of the northern hemisphere, snow graces the winter landscape and shapes the activities of the season. Picture books set in winter typically feature snowy backdrops. This column takes a look at five Caldecott Award-winning snow stories.

Fabulous Food

April 26, 2023January 10, 2023 by Vicki Palmquist

There are so many terrific books about food! I could go on and on with selections and recommendations but these are a few of my favorites.

Art Will Out

March 21, 2023December 17, 2022 by Martin and Root

This month we have been thinking about the mysteries of the visual arts—how some artists must create, no matter the circumstances.

Winter!

March 21, 2023November 25, 2022 by Vicki Palmquist

Now that snow has fallen in many places throughout the land, it's time to celebrate the frozen crystals in picture books, nonfiction, and early chapter books.

One Winter Up North

January 9, 2023November 17, 2022 by Vicki Palmquist

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota, stretching for 150 miles along the Canadian border, is the setting for John Owens’ newest wordless picture book.

Abecedaria, Part 2

March 21, 2023October 19, 2022 by Heidi Hammond and Gail Nordstrom

Not all alphabet books are for the purpose of early literacy, nor do they meet the criteria for traditional alphabet books ... Still others are thematically connected, as are the following Caldecott Honor ABC books.

Abecedaria, Part 1

October 19, 2022July 19, 2022 by Heidi Hammond and Gail Nordstrom

Traditionally, alphabet books, or abecedaria, serve as beginning literacy instruction for babies and young children to promote letter, sound, and word development. But, greater potential than instruction exists in this form of picture books.

Celebrating Black Women in the U.S.

November 25, 2022June 14, 2022 by Martin and Root

We feel called this month to celebrate the many accomplishments of Black women in this country — some of whom are historical icons, too many of whom we have we have never heard of.

Transportation, Part II: Riding the Rails

July 18, 2022May 6, 2022 by Heidi Hammond and Gail Nordstrom

In the second part of our Transportation series, we look at Caldecott Award books that consider trains from different vantage points, from the outside or inside, from a real or fantastical world. Climb aboard!

Refugees

August 27, 2022March 22, 2022 by Martin and Root

Heard on the news: “No one wants to be a refugee.” Here's a look at four picture books that share the refugee experience with young readers.

Transportation, Part I: Hitting the Road

May 6, 2022January 20, 2022 by Heidi Hammond and Gail Nordstrom

From an early age, children are captivated by “things that go,” from climbing on trucks in a Big Rig library event to racing bicycles along a park path. This article offers a line-up of Caldecott Award books that feature various modes of land transportation.

Vaunda Micheaux Nelson: Voices from History

March 23, 2022May 27, 2021 by Martin and Root

Books have been a part of Vaunda Micheaux Nelson’s life since the day she was born. “My mother found my name in a novel she was reading,” Nelson says. Books and family and history form a thread through many of Nelson’s award-winning picture books.

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