#kidlitwomen – Heise Reads & Recommends

Getting to Know Animals through Picture Books

Jillian Heise — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 02:10:00 +0000

Every so often I’ll read a picture book that instantly makes me think of a bunch of other picture books that would make a good connected text set. When it happens with a topic that is both engaging to kids and also connected to curriculum concepts they may encounter, even better.

When I read How Do You Take a Bath? (out today!), I smiled at how adorable it was, but also appreciated how it could connect with science concepts about animals. Even though it reads as a book aimed at a younger audience about bath time with a specific fact about how each animal cleans itself, it also connects well with other recent picture books that share fun facts about a variety of animals through engaging picture book formats with great illustrations.

Follow elephants, pigs, monkeys, hippos, and more in this charming rhyming picture book from veteran author Kate McMullan. How does a pig take a bath? It sinks in the mud! What about a chicken? It thrashes about in dust! And a cat? Why, it licks itself clean, of course! Sydney Hanson’s adorable illustrations toggle neatly between animals in nature grooming themselves and humorous depictions of children attempting the animals’ bathing tactics. By the end of the book, the child finally makes his way to the bathtub, no mud baths or lick baths about it!

After you read this one, consider checking these others out to share with kids in your life, especially those who are curious or love learning more fun facts about animal characteristics.

An important note: These books are all good choices, but admittedly, they are very White. I had difficulty finding picture books I had read about animal characteristics from IPOC creators. We know already from the work of CCBC that there is an inequality in diverse representation in characters in children’s literature, and from Lee & Low even more lack of diversity in the authors/illustrators. But with this particular topic, I struggled even more to find any. If you have recommendations, please share them!

#pb10for10 | My Favorite Female Illustrated Picture Books of 2018

Jillian Heise — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 12:00:00 +0000

I always love participating in Cathy & Mandy’s #pb10for10 event celebrating picture books and providing many fabulous #classroombookaday choices! I inevitably end up with a longer wish list and shopping cart and a maxed out hold list at my library. So get ready, and then go check out other educators lists today!

My choice of theme this year was inspired by some of the conversation happening around #kidlitwomen & gender inequity in children’s literature. Especially the disparity in female winners/honors from the Caldecott award. The day after that post, #kidlitwomen posted this chart on the contemporary disparities courtesy of Jeanette Bradley.

This year for my picture book 10 for 10 list, I’m choosing to highlight & celebrate my favorite female-illustrated picture books of 2018.

And, yes, I had creative numbering again. LOL! I couldn’t decide between the two horse books and the two nonfiction books were both illustrated by the same person and I couldn’t choose between them, so I considered those two tied and included both.

(I mean, it wouldn’t be a top ten list of mine if I didn’t fudge the counting a little bit!)

Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse illustrated by Corinna Luyken +

If I Had a Horse written & illustrated by Gianna Marino

ALMA and How She Got Her Name written & illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

Festival of Colors illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Pearl written & illustrated by Molly Idle

Dreamers written & illustrated by Yuyi Morales

The Field illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara

All Around Us illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia

Friends Stick Together written & illustrated by Hannah E. Harrison

Mommy’s Khimar illustrated by Ebony Glenn

Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers AND Fur, Feather, Fin: All of Us are Kin

both illustrated by Stephanie Laberis

You can see my previous year’s #pb10for10 lists by clicking on the year:
2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013