Title: Moon Choo-Choo: A Tale of Imagination and Sibling Adventure Author: Mona Voelkel Illustrator: Nancy Kincade Publisher: Arigna Press Release Date: May 30, 2024 (National Creativity Day) Format: Paperback, Hardcover, and eBook Summary: Everybody, time to play. What should we pretend today? Destination: The Moon Engine, Engine, Number 3 Shooting through the galaxy. If our train gets lost in space, Stars will help us find our place. Where will imagination take you? Take a rollicking ride with Moon Choo-Choo and three siblings as they blast off on a journey of imagination. What will they ..read more

Please welcome debut picture book author Jackie Morera to Frog on a Blog! You may know that today is Memorial Day, the perfect day to talk to Jackie about Abuelo’s Flower Shop because her lovely book, which officially comes out on June 4, 2024, from Beaming Books, highlights grief and sadness and how people remember loved ones they have lost. Abuelo’s Flower Shop is also multigenerational, starring a young girl and her grandfather, and bilingual, featuring a mix of English and Spanish text. Abuelo’s Flower Shop is especially touching to me because I worked as a floral designer in my father-in ..read more

Happy World Turtle Day! It’s the perfect day to welcome Jana Locke, a picture book author and self-proclaimed passionate public servant, to Frog on a Blog to share her book Vote for Turtle. It might be a presidential election year, but Jana’s adorable book features something a whole lot more fun, especially for kids: voting for state symbols (and, of course, turtles). Vote for Turtle is a great first introduction to civic participation, democracy, and politics, as well as to how kids can make a difference by raising awareness of things that are important to them. Let’s hear more from Jana! Co ..read more

Title: The World In Our Backyard Author: Jami Gigot Illustrator: Jami Gigot Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books Release Date: May 21, 2024 Format: Hardcover and eBook Summary: As children play together, a sandbox becomes a desert, sidewalk chalk drawings become an art gallery, and everything that can be dreamed up is within reach. From forests to hike and mountains to climb, oceans to sail and castles to build, creative little ones don’t have to look any farther than their own backyard for wonderful things to be discovered! “Sprightly, colorful digital illustrations and spare ..read more

Title:The Truth About Stepmoms Author:Renee Bolla Illustrator: Jack Button Publisher:RNB Press Release Date:May 12, 2024 Format:Hardcover and eBook Summary:Join the adventure of a stepdaughter and stepmother as they discover the true magic of family in The Truth About Stepmoms. The story follows a young girl’s humorous yet heartfelt investigation as she attempts to uncover the truth about her new stepmom, Via. But to her surprise, she discovers that Via does not change into the wicked figure she heard about from friends, books, and movies but remains the same caring, fun-loving, and kind-hear ..read more

Title:Summer: A Solstice Story Author: Kelsey E. Gross Illustrator: Renata Liwska Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster Release Date: May 7, 2024 Format: Hardcover Summary: It’s early morning, and the forest seems silent, but life is all around. As the sun shines through the pines, one by one, the animals wake. Owl, Squirrel, Raccoon, Bear, Sparrow, Rabbit, Woodpecker, and Deer gather to celebrate summer and offer loving wishes as they send their young into the world. Do you have a children’s picture book coming out soon? I’d love to wish it a Happy Book Birthday here on Frog on a Blo ..read more

Please welcome artist and picture book author Bridgitte Rodguez to Frog on a Blog! Bridgitte’s beautiful book A Walk Through the Redwoods, which published last fall from Reycraft Books, is overflowing with lovely imagery in both text and illustrations (by Natalia Bruno). It features an abundance of plant and animal life, as well as tons of factual information. On her website, Bridgitte says, “I write stories intended to create an experience for the reader. I want my readers, be they young or old, to go on a journey.” And that’s exactly what you’ll do as you accompany a girl and her aunt on a ..read more

Title:Hello, Trees Author: Bailey Bezuidenhout Illustrator: Maria Lebedeva Publisher/Year: Kane Miller/2023 (first American edition) Topic/Theme: Trees, seasons, nature, emotions, self-reflection Of Note: Expressive text and illustrations Title: Tree Spirits Author: Louise Wannier Illustrator: April Tatiana Jackson Publisher/Year: True Roses Books/2023 (second edition) Topic/Theme: Trees, emotions, imagination Of Note: Rhyming text, interactive illustrated overlays, and color photographs I love trees of all shapes and sizes, so it’s my pleasure to share today, just in time for Earth Day ..read more

Title: Daddy, Tell Me a Story Author: Kathleen Long Bostrom Illustrator: Ela Smietanka Publisher: WorthyKids Release Date: April 16, 2024 Format: Hardcover Summary: Bedtime is looming, and Sophie wants to hear a story. So she asks her dad—the best storyteller she knows—to tell her one. He’s just started telling a story about a queen and a unicorn when—HOLD ON—this is not the story Sophie had envisioned! She interrupts to request a teeny, tiny change. And then she interrupts again, and again, and again, resulting in an entertaining game of storytelling ping pong as Sophie and Daddy work togeth ..read more

Calling all dog lovers! Happy Dog Therapy Appreciation Day! Please welcome Wendy Goldstein to Frog on a Blog! It’s a real treat to have Wendy here today to talk about her picture book Oscar’s Blue Bandana, which she both wrote and illustrated. The book stars her very own adorable dog Oscar, a Havanese, who is a real-life therapy dog. Wendy and Oscar visit kids at a cancer treatment center in New York City and a home for children and their families who receive care at New York City hospitals. Oscar’s story melts my heart, and I know it will warm yours as well. Let’s hear more from Wendy! Congr ..read more