The Day I Had a Spaceship is a delightful “launchpad” for learning and imagination.

As an educator, I really appreciate how The Day I Had a Spaceship delivers important life lessons through an engaging and playful storyline. Ashley Wall’s writing is clear, upbeat, and age-appropriate, making it a perfect read-aloud choice for classrooms or bedtime.

The pacing is energetic without being overwhelming, and each character models values like teamwork, encouragement, and problem-solving in ways young readers can relate to.The plot keeps kids engaged, while the underlying themes leave a lasting impression. Vaughan Duck’s bright and expressive illustrations amplify the action and add humor and charm throughout. I especially love how the book introduces facts about space, like lunar gravity and moon dust, in natural and fun ways. This book would be a hit with any child who dreams of adventure, and it offers educators and parents a great opportunity to discuss science, kindness, and working together.

As an educator, I found The Handy Pandas by Jamie McMahon delightful. 

It would be an engaging story for young readers, filled with important lessons about teamwork, creative problem-solving, and perseverance. The panda friends’ adventures mirror children's experiences when encountering challenges, encouraging them to think creatively, work together, and persevere.

The playful narrative and vibrant illustrations (also by the author) will captivate children’s imaginations, while the underlying message about resilience and finding joy in collaboration adds depth to the story.I particularly appreciated how the book models positive social interactions and problem-solving strategies, making it a valuable resource for classroom discussions on social-emotional learning. This charming tale would be a wonderful addition to any classroom or home library, offering young readers a fun, memorable story that reinforces important life skills while sparking their creativity and sense of adventure.

How to Get an Alligator Out of the Bathtub holds colorful illustrations by Colleen C. Coggins as it explores a gator dilemma that revolves around a strange bath experience for Peyton and Bennett.

Alistair the alligator has beaten them to the tub. Suddenly, the siblings find themselves confronted not by danger, but by a resolute tub-loving gator who won't give up his newfound territory. Various techniques can be deployed to help an alligator make a different decision to free up the coveted tub.

re affords many opportunities for read-aloud adults to emphasize any or all of these messages as the whimsical tale unfolds.

As the siblings explore these options, the problem-solving, troubleshooting, and cooperative ventu The alligator is simply too flexible to worry about a lack of food or other amenities. What are the boys to do?Lynsey Martin spins an upbeat, uplifting, zany yarn that will delight all kinds of picture book readers, from alligator-loving kids to parents looking for important lessons embedded in adventure. With its appealing illustrations, messages, and heartfelt encounters, How to Get an Alligator Out of the Bathtub is highly recommended for elementary-level libraries, read-aloud adults, and anyone interested in entertaining fun that opens the door to bigger-picture thinking

2025 Finalist

"This is a delightful picture book that captures the excitement of fire trucks land firefighters, through the eyes of a young boy. The engaging story encourages friendships, teamwork and problem -solving skills."

“I liked the diverse representation of characters in this book, and the charming, colorful illustrations by Vaughan Duck. Luke is a sweet character, and young children will love to follow his adventures with his friends.” 5-star rating.

“A message-driven tale that will appeal most to young construction-vehicle enthusiasts. Our verdict: Get it!”

“I loved the illustrations in this book…This book is so childlike and fun…5 out of 5 stars.”

“I adored The Day I Had a Bulldozer… Children will love watching the diverse cast build a road to the ice cream parlor…The story centers around a toy box staple, construction trucks, making this a home run hit with young children!”

“Ashley Wall creates an engagingly fantastic story about kids who adopt new skills and information, sharing their fun together and helping each other problem-solving the ironic, lively conundrums that evolve from trying new things.”

2024 Finalist“ A laugh-out-loud, fun-filled playground adventure, with a dino-sized twist.” 

The Day I Had a Dinosaur combines an entertaining plot and educational elements to teach children about dinosaurs. It is whimsical, encouraging children to be imaginative and kind to others, particularly during playtime when others may feel left out by activities they cannot do.

Luke and his friends are adorable and welcoming. Each one has a unique personality that matches the different dinosaurs.

The author emphasizes the importance of friendliness and introduces various games that children can enjoy with both old and new friends. The colorful, eye-catching illustrations beautifully complement the narrative, with each dinosaur portrayed in bright colors and with distinct features for easy identification. Additionally, the author includes pronunciation guides to help readers correctly say the names of the dinosaurs. Overall, this book is an excellent read that promotes fun, inclusivity, and kindness among children.

“There are several SEL components to the story. The children display empathy and kindness throughout the book … A new worthy addition to the series, The Day I Had a Dinosaur, provides multiple learning opportunities while being a fun and engaging story.”er Name

“My 3 and 6 year-old loved this book!

Deb R. Reviewer & Librarian

“Highlighting the importance of patience, kindness, empathy, and never giving up, this is a well-rounded, heartwarming story that’s so fun that its lessons about friendship and supporting each other slip in offhandedly, without didacticism. The spread of worn-out dinos being carted by kids on skateboards, strollers, and wagons is laugh-out-loud funny, but even that is one-upped, a page later, by a vision of dinos striking yoga poses.”

“Embedded into the story are accompanying messages about diversity, friendship, problem-solving, adaptation, and building inclusive support systems. These themes will especially delight adults looking for picture books that feature basic examples of cooperative thinking.”

“A fun and sparkly picture book for girls and boys who love unicorns, puppies and anything that glitters. Simply, sparkle-tastic!” “A laugh-out-loud, fun-filled playground adventure, with a dino-sized twist.” 

“Ashley Wall’s vibrant story of puppy training receives colorful, fun embellishment by artist Alana McCarthy.”

“Izzy Bean’s flashy illustrations move the mystery along as much as the text, resulting in a joyful celebration of all things color—and coaching kids on the steps needed to correctly solve a puzzle.”

“The children’s book has a creative, fun, interactive plot with vibrant illustrations! It’s a brilliant read from start to finish!”

“This book gets a perfect score of 5 out of 5 stars…”

“Colorful crayons and mystery solving unite in this kaleidoscopic debut by Tussing, who originally wrote the book when she was in 8th grade.”

“Feelings on the Farm is a charming little board book chock full of goodies. In a kid-friendly format, the book presents to young children an array of feelings that they commonly experience – cranky, peaceful, rowdy, happy, grouchy, calm, mad, silly, and disappointed.”

“I recommend sharing Feelings on the Farm with your family or class. It’s a book that your family can enjoy for years!”

“Libraries and parents seeking board books that excel in the easy understanding of emotions by the very young will find Feelings on the Farm a major attraction.”