As a picture book writer, lifelong reader, employee at a literacy nonprofit, and parent of a toddler, I spend a LOT of time thinking about children’s books. When my daughter, Z, and I make it to the library, we typically come home with a giant stack of picture books that we get to learn from and enjoy in different ways. This newsletter will be a semi-regular review of the must-reads for  parents, kiddos, and picture book writers.

Top Pick: When Isaac Hears the Rain

Somehow, we made it 20 months before Z caused serious damage to a library book, or any book for that matter. But that streak ended when my little reader, excited to reread the book we’d read the night before, almost ripped out the title page of When Isaac Hears the Rain by Julie Thompson, illustrated by Leah Giles.

It worked out well, because I was also excited to reread it. A message to my library confirmed that for $9.95, they’ll replace the book and this one is ours to keep. I’ll consider that a deal!

I live in Colorado now, but I’m a Washingtonian at heart. To me, rain feels like home. Thompson’s story perfectly captures the beauty of a rainy day. When it starts to rain, people leave the park, kids huddle under umbrellas waiting for the bus, the family sadly moves inside during a barbecue—but not Isaac. Like a good rainy day, this book has a gentle lull to it. It’s both comforting and a little daring. It’s full of promise, both in the moment (who doesn’t love splashing in puddles?) and for the future (what can we nourish after the rain?) The words are hushed, paced expertly for a bedtime story, yet brimming with energy. I’m going to need to study this one more closely—I’d love to learn how to pace a story as beautifully as Thompson does.

And the ART. Gorgeous. Vibrant textures and blocky shapes contribute to a dynamic story. I’m not an art critic. I don’t have all the words to describe visual art, but I can say that Giles’s illustrations capture the movement of rain and interplay of light in a way that felt both comforting and inspiring. This is definitely a new favorite, both for me and for Z.

I’ll try to keep her from ripping more library books, but at least the kid has good taste.

Our Other Reads (In a Very Loose Ranking)

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López
So much has been said about Woodson’s sweet, empowering books. I don’t have anything unique to add. Superb illustrations, powerful poetry, and an important message make it a classic. Readers, this is the day you begin to find the places “…where every new friend has something / a little like you—and something else / so fabulously not quite like you / at all.”

Caged by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Khou Vue
This is not a book written for a one-year-old, and I knew that when I picked it. It’s the story of a young Hmong girl who has lived her entire life in a refugee camp. From the very first line—”I live in a cage but I don’t know it.”—this book is an honest, heartbreaking account. Yang pulls no punches. We see the guards’ guns, we feel the monotony and lack of choice, the waiting, the anxiety, the loss. And we have the privilege of experiencing the hope, strength, and love that thrive in the least likely circumstances.

Abuela’s Library by Lissette Norman, illustrated by Jayri Gómez
Alfonso and Abuela love to visit the library and then read under a tree by their house together. But when the tree gets torn down, Alfonso realizes they could make something beautiful out of the stump that’s left behind. I love his agency and creativity, and the helpful family and friends who band together to support Alfonso’s vision. This ode to librarians made me want to curl up in my own tree-stump-library with my loved ones.

XO, Exoplanet by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Jorge Lacera
Z seemed to enjoy the refrain of “XO, Exoplanet,” and I mostly did, although as the person reading it, I did eventually get tired of it. It’s a cute and educational story: We learn what exoplanets are and get a lesson in perspective—who gets named the exoplanet very much depends on who’s speaking. Also, shout out to Underwood for giving justice to Pluto.

A whole lot of Penelope Rex books by Ryan T. Higgins
I do most of the reading with Z (and spend much more time in bookstores and libraries than my husband does). So when he picked out We Don’t Eat Our Classmates at our favorite local indie bookstore (shout-out to The Bookies!), we had to buy it. And we loved it. It’s a bedtime staple. On this library trip, Z and I picked up the rest of the Penelope Rex books: We Will Rock Our Classmates, We Don’t Lose Our Class Goldfish, and Penelope Rex and the Problem with Pets. All are a good time—cute art, sweet messages, little Easter eggs in the illustrations and in the text. We Will Rock Our Classmates is a standout, primarily because of a very memorable line about dinosaurs maybe being extinct. Penelope Rex will remain a go-to series for our family.

If You Were a City by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Francesca Sanna
This concept book is heavily illustration-driven. The reader is asked: If you were a city, what kind of city would you be? It’s a quick, beautifully illustrated read that showcases the diversity of the human experience in lyrical prose. Short and simple—a good bedtime story!

Avocado Feels a Pit Worried by Brenda S. Miles, illustrated by Monika Filipina
I adore books that address mental health. I even have a couple of manuscripts in progress about it, including one about managing anxiety. So I really wanted to love this book, but it landed a little flat. The illustrations were fun and made us laugh, the message is compelling (and I love that Miles includes SEL information resources in the reader’s note), and the hijinks are entertaining. Our protagonist’s arc has potential, but the pacing is awkward and the stakes unclear. The ending is anticlimactic as a result. Also, I feel like this could have been much punnier! I’m glad I read it, but it’s not one I’m rushing out to buy for our home library.

What should Z and I read next? Recommendations always welcome!

With love,

Jordyn Jefferson
Learn more about my writing at www.jordynjefferson.com.