Humble Pie (Jory John)

 

Jory John and Pete Oswald never disappoint. 

This one is interesting....by humble - but don't get kicked around! 

Goodreads says:

Serve up the eighth picture book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Food Group series from Jory John and Pete Oswald!

The Humble Pie likes to give others the spotlight. Aw, shucks!—they deserve it!

But when he’s paired with his best friend, Jake the Cake, for a school project, he soon realizes that staying in the shadows isn’t always as sweet as pie. Readers of all ages will laugh along as their new pie pal discovers that letting your voice be heard always takes the cake!

Jory John and Pete Oswald serve up another heaping plate of laughs and lessons with this empowering, witty, and charming addition to their #1 New York Times bestselling series!

Check out Jory John and Pete Oswald’s other funny bestselling books for kids ages four to eight and anyone who wants a

The Bad SeedThe Good EggThe Cool BeanThe Couch PotatoThe Smart CookieThe Sour GrapeThe Big CheeseThe Good Egg The Great Eggscape!The Bad Seed The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky!The Cool Bean As Cool as It Gets!The Big Cheese Have Yourself a Cheesy Little ChristmasThe Bad Seed Goes to the LibraryThe Good Egg and the Talent ShowThe Cool Bean Makes a SplashThat’s What Dinosaurs Do

The Good Egg (Jory John)

This book is brilliant! We loved The Bad Seed and this is the companion book. We have read most of the Jory John books as an author study and this one did not disappoint. We had waited for it for days from the public library and when it arrived and I put it at the spot I display the story for the day, word spread quickly and story time couldn't have come quick enough.

My students quickly caught on to and related to the theme of finding a good balance between doing your very best and cutting yourself some slack. They were happy to let me know they've found a good balance between being neat and not missing any words.


Goodreads says:

In this follow-up to Jory John and Pete Oswald’s popular picture book The Bad Seed, meet the next best thing: a very good egg, indeed!

With Jory’s same hilarious voice and Pete’s edgy artwork from The Bad Seed, The Good Egg is the hilarious, sure-to-crack-you-up second book from this dynamic pair:

The good egg has been good for as long as he can remember. While the other eggs in his carton are kind of rotten, he always does the right, kind, and courteous thing. He is a verrrrrrry good egg indeed! Until one day he decides that enough is enough! He begins to crack (quite literally) from the pressure of alwayshaving to be grade-A perfect.

In this funny and charming story, the good egg learns that it’s not always necessary to be perfect, and sometimes okay not to always be a good egg.

The Girl and the Mermaid (Hollie Hughes)

 

This is a "turning the hearts of the children to their fathers" kind of book. Storytelling through generations is beautiful.

Goodreads says:
**"An instant classic" - Lancashire Post**
**"Magical" - Inis**

Alina and her granny live in a lighthouse by the a home filled with the warmth of Granny's magical stories.

But Alina is worried. Granny's memories and stories are starting to fade away, and she doesn't know how to bring them back. Then one day, she meets a mermaid on the rocks near the lighthouse – and she's swept into a magical deep-sea adventure that will change everything.

A modern classic from the bestselling creators of The Girl and the Dinosaur.

The Great Dinosaur Sleepover (Linda Bailey)

 

6, no 7 dinosaurs show up in the middle of the night to have a birthday party with Jake. (did the author do that 6-7 bit on purpose?)

What's sadder than a cancelled birthday party? And what would be more exciting than playing with actual dinosaurs? Kids will love this book.

This author is Canadian! She is from Winnipeg. I love finding Canadian authors.

Re-read January 9, 2026 Another lesson in why reading with kids is better. I hadn't noticed the t-rex lurking in the background until reading it with them. So cute! 

Goodreads says:

A young boy's disappointing birthday party gets turned upside down with a blast from the prehistoric past in this hilarious, dino-mite picture book adventure.

Jake loves dinosaurs, so with his birthday coming up, he knows just what kind of party he wants — a dinosaur sleepover! Dino games, dino balloons, dino cake. Dino everything! But when the big day arrives, his friends all come down with the flu, and the party seems to be on the edge of extinction.

Then, in the middle of the night, Jake hears a strange noise and goes to investigate. To his surprise, he finds some prehistoric party guests right there in his living room! They've invited themselves in to make sure Jake has a birthday he'll never forget —just don't tell the T-Rex!

An unforgettable birthday tale with huge laughs and heart, this newest picture book from acclaimed author Linda Bailey celebrates friendship, inclusion and fun – and is brought to life with magnificent, cinematic artwork from award-winning animation director and illustrator Joe Bluhm.

Eyes that Speak to the Stars (Joanna Ho)

 

This author is just my kind of person....totally woke. Her bio says she has a passion for anti-bias, anti-racism and equity work. This is part of a series. The first book, Eyes that Kiss in the Corners is also profound.

This story made me think of the promise of turning the hearts of the children to their fathers. The boy finds power in realizing he has eyes like his father, grandfather and baby sibling. It made me think about the "Hyde eyes" in our family. That might make a beautiful picture book too.

Goodreads says:

A young Asian boy notices that his eyes look different from his peers' after seeing his friend’s drawing of them. After talking to his father, the boy realizes that his eyes rise to the skies and speak to the stars, shine like sunlit rays, and glimpse trails of light from those who came before—in fact, his eyes are like his father’s, his agong’s, and his little brother’s, and they are visionary.

Inspired by the men in his family, he recognizes his own power and strength from within.

Nothing in Common (Kate Hoefler and Corinna Luyken)

 

This is a message for our time. We are all connected - even though we don't think we are. Beauty can be found in diversity...but we have to get beyond the surface. This may be a kid's book, but I know a swack of adults that need this message. 

The author says, "The dog could do marvelous things. And did. Things they felt under the floors of their hearts." I had to think about that for a while. Maybe she means feelings that we bury? An emotion that we haven't quite figured out yet? 

Together, two people who have nothing in common bring joy to someone. None of them are the same. They each feel alone - but together, they find joy....from heaven.

I don't know Kate Hoefler but Corinna Luyken is a master story teller. She wrote/illustrated The Book of Mistakes and Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse....and more (those are two that I have previously read)

Goodreads says:

Two neighbors both love to watch the old man and his dog from their windows, but they never wave to each other. After all, they have nothing in common. But everything changes when they are the only ones who notice that one day is different—there is the old man, but where is the dog?

Lost Evangeline (Kate DiCamillo)

 

Kate DiCamillo is in her Norse tales phase. I read The Puppets of Spelhorst and wasn't quite as enamored. This one left me with a feeling like this is a special book. There is another one called The Hotel Balzaar. I don't think the stories are connected at all except that they're all in her series of Norendy tales.

The first picture in the book was in color and seemed to be glued in. That was interesting. Also, this is a tale with a typical mean old step mother who is happy to get rid of her. Her father spends his life searching for her and in the end it says there is a status in Denmark with a real working lantern. 

The illustrations in this book were very captivating. I found myself wanting to sit and look at them longer than usual. It's a quick read....less than an hour. This is another magical Kate DiCamillo book. She seemed to be channeling Thumbelina, Hansel and Gretel, and Alice in Wonderland in a dark and magical way.

Goodreads says:

Two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo reunites with two-time Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall in an original fairy tale set in the world of The Puppets of Spelhorst and The Hotel Balzaar.

When a shoemaker discovers a tiny girl (as small as a mouse!) in his shop, he takes her in, names her Evangeline, and raises her as his own. The shoemaker’s wife, however, fears that Evangeline has bewitched her husband, so when an opportunity arises to rid herself of the girl, she takes it. Evangeline finds herself far from her adopted father and her home, a tiny girl lost in the wide world. But she is brave, and she is resourceful, and with the help of those she meets on her journey—including a disdainful and self-satisfied cat—she may just find her way again. Return to the magical land of Norendy in this third original fairy tale by renowned storyteller Kate DiCamillo, perfect for savoring alone or for reading aloud with someone you love. Graced with exquisite black-and-white illustrations by Sophie Blackall, this timeless story of a girl and her father will make you believe in the impossible.