children's book review of author

Where to Find the Best Children’s Book Reviews

Sarah S. Davis

Sarah S. Davis holds a BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master's of Library Science from Clarion University, and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Sarah has also written for Electric Literature, Kirkus Reviews, Audible, Psych Central, and more. Sarah is the founder of Broke By Books blog and runs a tarot reading business, Divination Vibration . Twitter: @missbookgoddess Instagram: @Sarahbookgoddess

View All posts by Sarah S. Davis

There are more great children’s books being published than ever before, but how do you know which ones to read? Fortunately, today there are so many ways to access children’s book reviews. Here are some of the best places to find reviews of children’s literature.

Part 1: General Children’s Book Reviews

In this first section of our roundup of the best children’s book review websites, I’ll discuss publications that cover all things kid lit.

The Children’s Book Review

As its name implies, The Children’s Book Review is all about book reviews of children’s literature. With huge coverage of all kinds of kid lit, The Children’s Book Review is simple to browse books by subject and books by age, along with buzzy “trending” books and “showcase” books. Your typical book review lays out the specs (intended age, page count, etc.) and provides a medium-sized review with information about the author and/or illustrator. The Children’s Book Review is definitely one of the most comprehensive book review sites for kid lit, and it supplements its reviews with author interviews and curated lists.

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Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media is an organization that reviews media (books, TV, movies, apps, games) with a special focus on educating parents and other adults on “What Parents Should Know,” vis-à-vis content warnings and age appropriateness. Some of the qualities Common Sense Media covers include “Educational Value,” “Positive Messages,” “Positive Role Models and Representations,” and “Language.” Especially notable is Common Sense Media’s focus on diversity, with an invitation to reach out if they’ve “missed anything on diversity.” Also of note, Common Sense Media is one of the few children’s book reviews websites that rates books using a star system. If you just want to know quickly how good a book is, navigate over to Common Sense Media and find a book’s star rating.

The Horn Book

Children’s book review magazine The Horn Book takes its name from”horn books,” which were some of the earliest books made to educate children. The Horn Book is a leading publication in print and online for finding children’s book reviews. This treasured magazine’s website is well-organized, and you can find all the reviews in an easy-to-search database . For the best of the best, browse by The Horn Book ‘s starred reviews . If you buy a paid subscription, you’ll have access to the huge, searchable archive of more than 70,000 reviews, known as “The Guide.” There, you can browse book reviews by Authors/Illustrators, Subjects, Series, and Reviewers. Though some reviews cost a subscription to view, some content, like the “Book Bundles” (check out the one on “Our Bodies, Our Selves” for an example), which group together like-minded books based on themes and include bite-sized reviews, are available for free.

Kirkus Reviews Children’s Books

One of the leading book review sites for all genres and age levels, Kirkus has plenty of kid lit content. Kirkus lets you easily sort by different categories like age, format (picture book, chapter book, etc.), sub-genre (biographies and memoirs, historical fiction), and category (e.g. fiction vs. nonfiction). You can also filter by what books get a coveted Kirkus star. What’s great about Kirkus’s unique format is each review is brief and to the point. If you don’t want to go digging for the bottom line, Kirkus’s kid lit reviews are a good place to start.

Publishers Weekly Children’s Bookshelf

If you’re looking for the buzziest kid lit books, check out Children’s Bookshelf, the free weekly newsletter from Publishers Weekly . This publication is known for its up-to-the-minute chatter about the publishing industry, including children’s books, which are reviewed in roundups, as well as all kinds of bookish content. Subscribing to Children’s Bookshelf is one of the best ways to stay current with kid lit.

School Library Journal

Leave it to the librarians to guide you on what children’s books to read. The long-running School Library Journal has tons of reviews of every kind of kid lit book imaginable. With a special focus on advising libraries whether or not to purchase a book, School Library Journal dishes out bite-sized takeaways (known as a “VERDICT”) at the end of each review. School Library Journal also has tons of non-review content, getting you caught up with the latest news in the world of children’s literature.

Part 2: Special Focus Children’s Book Reviews Websites

In this section, I’ll highlight the places to go for more specialized kid lit coverage.

American Indians in Children’s Literature

This phenomenal site concentrates on promoting the best children’s literature by Indigenous authors and illustrators. Search the site for specific topics or skip right to the “Best Books” for the books most worth celebrating.

The Brown Bookshelf

The Brown Bookshelf is dedicated to featuring book reviews of kid lit by Black authors and illustrators. Start by searching the site or filtering for book reviews . The Brown Bookshelf also compiles great resources for finding more children’s books by Black voices. You’ll find the most up-to-date coverage on the blog .

Disability in Kid Lit

Although no longer updated, the book reviews on Disability in Kid Lit are worth consulting if you’re looking for children’s book reviews about disabled protagonists. You can use the well-indexed search function and browse by different disabilities depending on what condition or identity you’re looking for. Also of note, the “Honor Roll” puts the spotlight on the best representation of disability in kid lit.

Hijabi Librarians

The reviewers and writers at Hijabi Librarians set their lens on children’s and YA books with Muslim representation. Along with author interviews and book discussion guides , Hijabi Librarians includes book reviews and resources for Muslim voices in children’s literature.

Latinx in Kid Lit

Looking for coverage of Latinx authors and illustrators in children’s literature? Definitely be sure to check out Latinx in Kid Lit. This resource compiles reviewed books that feature Latinx representation. You can search by age range — for example, middle grade books — and find that each review includes “Teacher Tips” for educators. The Latinx in Kid Lit blog also has tons of great content, including interviews, Latinx book deals, and publishing industry news specific to Latinx creators.

Social Justice Books

Social Justice Books is focused on…you guessed it, social justice in children’s literature! This site has loads of great guidance on the best social justice topics in kid lit, like the carefully curated booklists by theme . Check out the book review database , which aggregates reviews and is organized by themes like “Activism,” “Asian American,” and “Bullying.” Each book is given a star rating, making for an easy browsing experience if you’re just looking for the best reads.

Special Focus: Can’t-Miss-It Resources for Diversity in Children’s Literature

Cynthia leitich smith’s cynsations.

Bestselling and award-winning author Cynthia Leitich Smith maintains a website all about children’s and young adult books. On Cynsations you’ll find a broad array of content, including diverse author/illustrator interviews and news roundups.

Social Justice Books’ Sources for Book Reviews and Recommendations

Already highlighted above, Social Justice Books is a terrific resource for finding diverse children’s book reviews with a social justice focus. But I also wanted to shine a light on their list of sources for diverse kid lit book reviews if you’re looking for even more sources of diverse children’s literature.

We Need Diverse Books Resources

We Need Diverse Books is a non-profit alliance to further diversity in children’s and YA literature. Although We Need Diverse Books does not publish book reviews, they do have an outstanding roundup of resources for diversity in kid lit that should be a stop on everyone’s journey to find more diverse children’s literature.

Part 3: Children’s Book Review Social Media Accounts to Check Out

Instagram is a great resource for finding children’s book reviews. A diverse range of educators, Bookstagrammers, librarians, and more all highlight great children’s books. Here are some of Book Riot’s favorite children’s book review influencers to follow on Instagram.

@babylibrarians — Margaret and Jen

Run by Book Riot writers Margaret Kingsbury and Jen Sherman , Baby Librarians will get you up to speed on the best and latest in children’s literature.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Baby Librarians (@babylibrarians)

@hereweread — Charnaie Gordon

Charnaie Gordon is a huge book influencer focusing on diversity in children’s literature. You won’t want to miss the books she loves.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Charnaie Gordon | Diversity (@hereweeread)

@leeandlowbooks — Lee and Low Books

The POC-owned Lee and Low Books is a children’s book publisher dedicated to diversity. They feature the best of the best books on their Instagram.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lee and Low Books (@leeandlow)

@lgbtqkidlit — Laurie and Julie

This account is managed by two moms and showcases children’s book reviews with queer themes.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Laurie(s/h) Julie(s/h)disabled (@lgbtqkidlit)

@littlefeministbookclub — Little Feminist Book Club

As its name implies, Little Feminist Book Club is dedicated to sharing the best children’s books with feminist themes.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Little Feminist Book Club (@littlefeministbookclub)

@noodlenutskidsbooks — Jenn S.

Jenn S. writes book reviews of new picture books focused on diversity.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jenn S. (@noodlenutskidsbooks)

@readwithriver — Alessandra Requena

This Bookstagrammer promotes the best children’s books.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alessandra Requena (@readwithriver)

@shelvesofcolor — Saranya & Ishaan

Saranya and Ishaan review diverse children’s books on Bookstagram.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saranya & Ishaan (@shelvesofcolor)

@thebookwrangler — Mike

The Mike behind this popular bookstagram account is a K–5 librarian who shares his favorite recent reads.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mike (@thebookwrangler)

@thetututeacher — Vera Ahiyya

Educator Vera Ahiyya shares diverse book reviews on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vera Ahiyya (@thetututeacher)

Still hunting for more great children’s books? Check out our Children’s Books archive , as well as these helpful posts:

• 50 Children’s Books About Diversity That Celebrate Our Differences
• The Best Children’s Books By Age: A Guide To Great Reading
• 13 Places To Find Free Children’s Books Online

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Welcome to  The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

We are one of the nation’s leading children’s book review journals for school and public librarians. We provide concise summaries and critical evaluations to help you find the books you need for your library’s collection.

April’s Big Picture

Shakespeare’s works have proven to be fertile ground for YA reinventions, with the romance, heartbreak, and betrayals of high school easily slotting into the Bard’s most dramatic plays. This month’s Big Picture, however, eschews comedy or tragedy to instead mine the history plays, focusing mainly on Shakespeare’s Richard III. Author Lindsay Eager casts a seventeen-year-old drama kid in the role of a charismatic, unapologetically villainous protagonist. Both loving and scathing in this assessment of theatre kid culture, Eagar brings a tremendous facility of form and voice to bear on this delightfully over-the-top novel.

Our best books of the year list for 2023 is available! Whether young readers are looking for a belly laugh or a cathartic cry, they’ll find something to love with this year’s selection.

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The Bulletin is partnered with the Center for Children’s Books, a research center whose mission is to facilitate the creation and dissemination of exemplary and progressive research and scholarship related to youth-focused resources, literature, and librarianship.

Cover illustration from The Good Little Mermaid’s Guide to Bedtime copyright © 2024 Nici Gregory. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Tundra Book Group

April’s Features

© 2024 Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. All Rights Reserved.

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Review of the week

How to help the earth, written by tish rabe.

Reviewed by Dev P. (age 6)

The Lorax is sending messages to the children about keeping the Earth clean. He shows them ways to dispose of the trash and how to recycle things. The Lorax tells the children to reuse plastic bags, use both sides of paper, and donate old clothes, toys, ... more

Featured Reviews

After the fall - how humpty dumpty got back up again, written by dan santat.

Reviewed by Sebastian E. (age 8), Jack P. (age 7) & Luke P. (age 7)

This book is about Humpty Dumpty who is afraid of heights because he fell off from a big, gigantic wall. We’re sure you’ve heard about it. Humpty Dumpty loved watching birds but because he was afraid of heights he could not go up on the wall and watch ... more

Avocado Baby

Written by john burningham, reviewed by aaron s. (age 6) & william l. (age 7).

There was a family that wasn't very strong and the mom was having a baby. They were expecting it to be stronger, but the baby wasn't very strong. The children decided to give him avocado pear. Every day the baby would eat avocado pear. He got stronger ... more

A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Written by david a. adler, reviewed by logan w. (age 9).

Do you want to learn about Martin Luther King Jr.? If you do, then look for A Picture Book of Martin Luther King, Jr. You will also learn a lot of history from this book. My favorite part in the book is the March on Washington when Martin said these ... more

Abel's Island

Written by william steig.

Reviewed by Michelle P. (age 10)

Abel is a mouse who has a wife named Amanda. She is a mouse, too. Abel and Amanda went on a picnic. Abel went to play a joke on Amanda when a hurricane started to form. They left their picnic where it was and started to walk home. Abel and Amanda didn?t have ... more

Esperanza Rising

Written by pam ryan, reviewed by breanna d. (age 10).

From rags to riches! Esperanza is a loving and rich 13-year-old girl. She lives with her Mama, Papa, Abuelita and many servants on a ranch in Mexico. Esperanza's life seems to be perfect. However an unbelievable event tears her family apart. In the beginning ... more

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

Written by michael rosen, reviewed by rachel 1 (e. k.) (age 6) & ray a. (age 7).

Four kids went on a bear hunt with a man. They said they're not scared. We think it is funny because they go through all sorts of things. They fall in all kinds of things like a river and a mud puddle and a forest and other things. Every time the four kids ... more

The Black Pearl

Written by scott o'dell.

Reviewed by Marissa B. (age 10)

The book, The Black Pearl, is about a man named Senor Salazar and his son Ramon Salazar. Senor Salazar owns a pearling business where they go scuba diving for pearls. When Ramon goes to the lagoon on business, he ends up going after the pearls--against ... more

Hiccups for Elephant

Written by james preller.

Reviewed by Justin T. (age 7)

“Hiccup!” “Hiccup!” This book is about an elephant that gets the hiccups and wakes up the other animals that are his friends and they try to cure the hiccups, but it doesn’t do it. They tell him to drink a lot of water really fast. They tell ... more

Staying Nine

Written by pam conrad.

Reviewed by Zishan Q. (age 11)

Staying Nine is about a girl named Heather. She wants to be nine years old forever and doesn't want to change. She didn't want to have a birthday party because she thought she could stay nine if she didn't have a party. One day Heather looked at ... more

Valentine's Day Disaster

Written by geronino stilton.

Reviewed by Abby H. (age 7)

Geronimo Stilton is the main character in the story. One day Geronimo wakes up. He was so busy the night before setting up decorations that he forgot to set his alarm. So, on Valentine’s Day he he sleeps in and he’s late for work. That might not seem so ... more

Risky Friends

Written by julie anne peters, reviewed by haley c. (age 10).

Kacie Shannon thinks she's going to have a bad day and wonders if things could get any worse. Just then she spills grape juice on her new white silk blouse. Now she's sure it's going to be a horrible day! Problems start when Skye Collinsworth, her least ... more

So You Want to Be President?

Written by judith s. george, reviewed by brandon a. (age 8) & steven h. (age 9).

Being President is hard, but picture yourself as president and having your own swimming pool, movie theater, and bowling alley in your home! This is a book about past presidents and what their life was like while living in the White House. The book is hilarious ... more

George Washington's Mother

Written by jean fritz, reviewed by lindsey e. (age 8).

Hey! This book is awesome. It is about George Washington's mom, and a little bit about George. Mary had to raise five kids on her own after her husband died. Mary doesn't want George to get hurt in the war. She begs him not to go, but he's twenty-one ... more

Amelia's Notebook

Written by marissa moss, reviewed by stacey f (age 10).

This book is about a girl named Amelia. Her mom brought her a notebook. They were going to a new house to move but Amelia did not think it was a good idea because she liked her old house. When they go to the new house they stop in all kinds of restaurants ... more

The Snowy Day

Written by ezra jack keats.

Reviewed by Kaytlin M. (age 6)

The Snowy Day is a picture book about a little boy who wakes up one day and looks out his window and sees lots and lots of snow. He is so excited and after he eats his breakfast, he gets into his snowsuit and goes outside to play in the snow. He doesn't have ... more

The Big Pets

Written by lane smith, reviewed by marley s. (age 8), samantha b. (age 7) & evan d. (age 8).

The Big Pets is about a girl and her humongous cat. Together they went to the milky pools and after when the girl comes out, the cat would lick her feet. They joined other kids and go to other places like Scratching Post Forest and String Vine city and a milky ... more

The Catcher in the Rye

Written by j.d. salinger.

Reviewed by Sam L. (age 14)

A young Holden Caulfield, fresh from being kicked out of prep school, thinks that he is an adult. After wondering around New York City for days, however, he begins to think otherwise. He feel lonely without his friends from school. When he sneaks into his ... more

Written by Hans Wilhelm

Reviewed by Donovan J. (age 6)

If you wander off from your parent or if you go somewhere that you have not told your parents about, you might get lost. This book helps you with a way to find your way back home. I think the author was trying to help us with being lost. I liked this ... more

All About Sam

Written by lois lowry.

Reviewed by Amelia G. (age 9)

Do you have a younger brother or sister? If you do, you should consider reading this book. In this book there is a silly little boy named Sam that really doesn’t get the world and does silly things. Sam’s sister, mom and dad don’t really get him either. ... more

Carl and the Meaning of Life

Written by deborah freedman.

Reviewed by Ryan A. (age 9), Jack P. (age 8), Sebastian E. (age 9) & Hudson B. (age 9)

Have you ever wondered why you are here? We all have meaning in our life. This book is about an earthworm named Carl that wants to know the meaning of his life. He wants to know why he does what he does and why he’s here. He goes and asks all the animals ... more

Wilma Unlimited

Written by kathleen krull.

Reviewed by Brewer A. (age 9)

Have you ever given up on yourself? If you have then Wilma Rudolph is not like you. Wilma was a small young girl when at the age of 4 she was diagnosed with polio and scarlet fever. Her leg was paralyzed. That did not stop Wilma. One Sunday, the Rudolphs were ... more

Thanksgiving Cats

Written by jean marzollo.

Reviewed by MB5 (age 11)

In this story, cats grew corn, potatoes, peas, pumpkins and apples. They got milk from cows to make cheese and butter. They also made bread. The cats cooked some food and ate it. Then they took a nap and rested because they were so full and tired. When ... more

Written by Kathryn Stockett

Reviewed by Lauren P. (age 14)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett is about the black maids and white employers in Jackson Mississippi. This novel covers the racist and segregated ways of Jackson during the 1960’s . Ms Skeeter Phelan (a 23 year old white female) decides, in order to pursue her ... more

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Written by mo willems, reviewed by zachary p. (age 5).

This is a very funny story about a pigeon who really wants to drive the bus. All he could think about was driving the bus. He says "please" and cannot stop thinking about getting to drive the bus. He keeps making funny faces as he tries to get ... more

Abuela's Weave

Written by omar s. castaneda.

Reviewed by Ivan A. (age 10)

Once upon a time a girl named Esperansa was helping her grandma make clothes for la fiesta del pueblo (the town's party). Esperansa and her grandma worked day and night. The day came and Esperansa had to go to the town. She got on the bus, but when she ... more

Tending To Grace

Written by kimberly fusco.

Reviewed by Mecca J. (age 14)

Cornelia Thornhill's world seems to be slowly closing in on her. Problems from her past permanently damage her ability to show her inner-self and to express any feelings toward the world. In her mind she's a "bird tethered to the ground." With her ... more

"Here I Am!" said Smedley

Written by simon puttock, reviewed by jackson g. (age 8).

Smedley is a chameleon who is very shy and is almost always blending in. Then there is a new girl in class named Sally Skinky. She tells Smedley that he could enter the Big City Art Exhibition and win the big prize! You'll have to read the book to see what ... more

The Littles Get Trapped

Written by john peterson.

Reviewed by Yandeiris D. (age 9)

Imagine being only six inches tall! In this book The Littles are a family that is very small and they live in a house with humans called the Biggs. The Biggs don't know that the Littles live in the house. Tom and Lucy feel sorry for the Biggs cat because ... more

Smoke Screen

Written by amy goldman koss.

Reviewed by Lyndsay L. (age 11)

Have you ever told a big lie that keeps getting bigger and bigger? The girl in Smoke Screen did. It all started with a piece of cotton. Instead of telling the truth about her watery eye to the boy she has a crush on, Mitzi tells a lie about her mom that grows ... more

Here Comes the Strikeout

Written by leonard kessler.

Reviewed by Casey B. (age 7)

This story is about working hard every day. Bobby is a baseball player. He strikes out 21 times. Willy gives Bobby a bat to help him. Bobby begins to cry at home, so Willy helps him with his hitting. Bobby works hard and gets the game winning hit. My ... more

Written by David Green Burg

Reviewed by Armani B. (age 9)

Bugs is a funny book by David Greenburg. It is funny because it has people riding on spiders and jumping on spider webs as a jump house. The book Bugs shows things that you will never see a bug do in the real world. This book includes different types of bug. ... more

Military Planes: Flying Machines

Written by kelly baysura, reviewed by eiji r. (age 8).

The book Military Planes is about when the first war planes were made. In World War 1, the observer who sat in the back of the plane had to watch for enemy planes. Some planes had only one seat and others had two. There were many different kinds of war ... more

Angel in Charge

Written by julie delton, reviewed by gigi y. (age 10).

Do you believe a ten year old girl can be in charge of her brother and the house independently while her mother is away? An interesting fiction book Angel in Charge will tell you more about lovable siblings. Angel, a ten-year old girl, lived with her ... more

Anastasia at Your Service

Reviewed by Shae D. (age 10)

Anastasia at Your Service! The book that I read was Anastasia at Your Service. It was about a girl named Anastasia, of course. Anastasia wanted something very badly, but her parents said that from now on when she wanted something, she had to earn it. Anastasia ... more

The Girl Who Hated Books

Written by manjusha pawagi, reviewed by jamie l. (age 8) & duval m. (age 8).

This book is about a girl who hated books. Her name is Meena. There are books all over her house! Her parents read and read and READ! But Meena always said, "...I HATE BOOKS!" One day Meena called for her cat, Max. He didn't come, so she went ... more

Down On The Funny Farm

Written by p.e. king.

Reviewed by Matthew T. (age 6) & Courtney L. (age 7)

We picked this book because it looked funny. The story is about a farmer. The farmer said hello to the old man and then the old man sold a farm to him. The farmer went to the farm. The animals on the farm are acting like other animals. The chicken acts ... more

Henry and Mudge Take the Big Test

Written by cynthia rylant.

Reviewed by Raphael D. (age 6)

This book is about Henry and Mudge. Mudge is Henry’s 180-pound dog. Mudge wasn’t such a good listener, so Henry decided to send Mudge to day school. Henry got the idea from another man walking down the street with his dog. Henry tried to train Mudge, but ... more

Little Bulldozer

Written by beverly randell, reviewed by v.s. (age 7).

The Little Bulldozer went to look at the fire engine. The fire engine told him to go away. Little Bulldozer went away. He went to look at a big truck. He told the big truck that he likes helping. The big truck told him to go away. Everyone thought he was too ... more

My Louisiana Sky

Written by kimberly holt.

Reviewed by Emma G. (age 10)

"My Louisiana Sky" is about a girl named Tiger. But before I say anything you must know that Tiger's parents are mentally challenged and they are always embarrassing her. She is named Tiger because when her mom was little she had a cat named Tiger. ... more

Bat in the Waiting Room

Written by elana arnold.

Reviewed by Gabrielle L. (age 10)

Do you like fiction books? Then you would like a wonderful book called Bat and the Waiting Game it is about an autistic kid named Bixby Alexander Tam, also known as "Bat". He has a baby skunk has a pet named Thor. Bat has an older sister "Janie" but when ... more

Chasing Redbird

Written by sharon creech, reviewed by miranda p. (age 10).

Zinnia (Zinny) Taylor is an ordinary 13 year old girl who is just getting over her Aunt Jessie's death. When she uncovers an old and lost trail, she knows that looking for this trail is her new summer project. Working on the lost trail gave Zinny a place all ... more

How to Make Four Million Dollars by Next Thursday

Written by stephen manes.

Reviewed by Emily M. (age 9)

"Can a book really teach you how to make four million dollars by next Thursday?" Jason Nozzle thought so one day when he was walking home from school. He reached into his pocket and found that he had lost his allowance money! He searched EVERYWHERE ... more

Beezus and Ramona

Written by beverly cleary.

Reviewed by Olivia N. (age 9)

This book is so good I would give it four thumbs up! It is a funny book because Ramona is an impossible little sister and she ruins everything. The story is about two sisters fighting all through the book. Ramona is always getting on Beezus's nerves. ... more

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Send Me a Message!

Hi! This is Bianca. Send me a message through the form below and I'll respond within 48 business hours. If you need to get in touch sooner, please indicate your message is urgent. Thank you, and I look forward to connecting.

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Growing readers is my calling, writing books is my dream come true.

Bianca Schulze is the founder and editor of The Children's Book Review—a resource devoted to children's literature and literacy—and the host of The Growing Readers Podcast.

Bianca is also the author of the popular Don't Wake the Dragon series (translated into 14 languages) and the bestselling 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up (an Amazon "Book of the Month"). She is a reader, reviewer, mother, and children's book lover.

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Bianca now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

I've learned many things from the thousands of books I've received for review consideration at The Children's Book Review. Most notably, I discovered that every book is not for every child, but for every child there is a book.

On Creativity

My desires to create, express and share are strong. Inspiration srtikes often as I'm drifting off to sleep. My three wild and wonderful children, along with my inner-child and my creative, encouraging husband inspire me deeply.

Writing, to me, is a way to express, communicate, and make sense of the world. A way to turn emotions into words, sentences, paragraphs, and stories. I have notes and notes of ideas for new books. Now to find the time to fine-tune them all!

I dedicate much of my day to other authors looking to be seen and heard. When I'm not reading or writing, you can find me attempting a variety of mindful practices or trying to outspeed my husband on the ski hill or the go-kart track—ha!

Published Works

Bianca Schulze is the bestselling author of the popular DON'T WAKE THE DRAGON series (translated into 14 languages) and 101 BOOKS TO READ BEFORE YOU GROW UP (an Amazon "Book of the Month"). Her forthcoming title CATTITUDE releases on March 5, 2024. All are available from your local bookseller, Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more. She is also the founder and editor-at-large of the popular destination The Children's Book Review. Click the images below to learn more and to order copies of the books.

Buy Now, Learn More

Tell the Truth, Dragon!

Just Be Yourself, Dragon!

Who Loves the Dragon?

Don’t Wake the Dragon

101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up

The Children’s Book Review (.com)

Read professional reviews and praise of Bianca's latest creative works.

Kirkus Reviews

This rollicking interactive book will easily engage young children, who'll be eager to heed all the book's comical instructions before settling in for a peaceful night. — Kirkus Reviews

Carin Berger

A rollicking good night story. I suspect there will be loud demands for this book! — Carin Berger, award-winning author-illustrator of 'The Little Yellow Leaf'

Trudy Ludwig

A truly delightful and playful interactive story for any reluctant-to-sleep young reader! — Trudy Ludwig, bestselling author of The Invisible Boy

Social Network

Bianca loves to socialize and makes appearances at retail locations, libraries, schools, and conferences. She also has a strong social network and following across Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and often speaks out in support of progressive concepts.

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The Children’s Book Review

The Children's Book Review, founded by Bianca Schulze, has been operating since March 2008. Originally started as a hobby and labor of love, it has since turned into a professional review site that provides authors, illustrators, and other creative producers a platform for reaching industry professionals and getting the word out about new and existing works. For more content and information, visit www.thechildrensbookreview.com.

Bianca Talks with Matt de la Peña and Corinna Luyken About Patchwork

September 30, 2022

If you love insightful, thoughtful books and deep conversations on life that fill your heart, then today’s episode of The Growing Readers Podcast […]

Bianca Talks with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi About How To Be An Antiracist

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, I talk with the incredible Dr. Ibram X. Kendi about his nonfiction book for caregivers, […]

Bianca Talks with Idina Menzel and Cara Mentzel About Loud Mouse

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, I talk with sisters Cara Mentzel and Tony-award-winner Idina Menzel about their debut picture book […]

Schedule a Visit

Bianca Schulze is available for virtual and in-person events. She visits schools, bookstores, libraries, and book clubs. One of her favorite things in the world is growing readers! She also speaks with parents, caregivers, educators, librarians, and fellow writers on a variety of topics. You can see a sampling of her offerings below, and she can also create a custom program to suit individual needs. All presentations are tailored specifically for the setting and audience.

Toddler & Preschool

• Meet an Author • Interactive story-time • Interactive sing-alongs • Q&A • Book signing

Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8

• Meet an Author • Book reading • Q&A • Writing workshop • For the love of reading discussion • Book club discussions • Book signing

Family Events

• Meet an Author • Q&A • For the love of reading discussion • Family book club discussions • Family story-time • Book signing

Conference and Panels

• For the love of reading discussion • Book Launch Marketing and Beyond • Kids Books? I love talking about them! • The Children's Book Review success story

A typical presentation includes a dynamic presentation, reading, and audience participation. Signed copies of 101 BOOKS TO READ BEFORE YOU GROW UP and DON'T WAKE THE DRAGON can be ordered and delivered to your school or organization.

Contact Bianca

Get in touch with Bianca here to discuss bookings for school visits, books signing, media opportunities, and more.

Featured Book Reviews

Children's Literature is a respected review source helping literature professionals and children’s and YA book lovers find valuable titles. Since 1993, we have published over 100,000 reviews. Our review team comprises reviewers who are professors, teachers, librarians, authors and other specialists in the children’s literature field. Reviews are published as part of Children's Literature and added to CLCD, also known as the Children's Literature Comprehensive Database, used by thousands of librarians and educators. We also enrich the MARC record data for various library industry vendors. Our reviews are fair, and we do not insist that our reviewers provide only positive reviews. We believe that an honest assessment of the work is critical to children's reading.

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The Picture Book Review

Reviews of children's board books, picture books, activity books, and graphic novels.

Giveaway May 15th to May 23rd: Bubble Wrap Girl by Kari van Wakeren and Illustrated by CA Nobens

May 15, 2019 by The Picture Book Review

Bubble Wrap Girl does a great job with the wish to protect our kids and runs with it in the best of ways.

Categories: Picture Books , Picture Books about Bravery , Picture Books about Overcoming Obstacles • Tags: bubble wrap , Children's Books , Picture Book , Picture Books

Interview with Toni Buzzeo on her personal mission, how research drives her writing process, and what’s essential for her creative life.

May 13, 2019 by The Picture Book Review

Toni Buzzeo author of many, many excellent picture books was kind enough to talk to me about her new book When Sue Found Sue and a bit about writing in general. I’m thrilled and so grateful she was able to take some time and answer my questions. I hope you enjoy!

Categories: 2019 , Biography , Nonfiction , Nonfiction Picture Books , Picture Books , Picture Books about Careers , Picture Books about Women • Tags: Interview , paleontologist , Picture Book , Picture Books , sue hendrickson , women

What Are You Doing, Benny? by Cary Fagan and Kady Macdonald Denton

May 10, 2019 by The Picture Book Review

In What Are You Doing, Benny? author Cary Fagan and artist Kady MacDonald Denton join together to tell the story of two brothers, their power dynamics, why NO is a limiting word, and why YES is such a better word to use instead.

Categories: 2019 , Canada , Picture Books about Behavior , Picture Books about Siblings • Tags: Canada , Picture Book , Picture Books , Recommended Picture Books , siblings

Giveaway May 8th to May 16th at Midnight! POP-UP SHAKESPEARE by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor and Amazing Pop-Upness Artwork by Jeannie Maizels

May 8, 2019 by The Picture Book Review

POP-UP Shakespeare contains an incredible amount of information and tons of interesting facts. Our authors have a great sense of humor, respect, and irreverence for Shakespeare. It’s a non-fiction book completely, but the guys are not afraid to give their opinion — and I love it all.

Categories: Biography , Humor , Nonfiction Picture Books , Picture Books , pop-up picture book , Shakespeare • Tags: Picture Book , Picture Books , Shakespeare , theater

The Cook and the King by Julia Donaldson and Illustrated by David Roberts

May 7, 2019 by The Picture Book Review

The Cook and the King pokes fun at itself, at people, at authority, at the excuses we make, at how the obvious thing can be so hard to see, and how we so easily give others credit for things we do ourselves — but that’s all secondary. The first and foremost agenda of this book is to have fun with language, to show us gorgeous illustrations, to make us laugh, and to enjoy the magnificence that is the picture book medium.

Categories: 2019 , Fantastic Read Alouds , Picture Books about Cooks , Picture Books about Kings • Tags: Picture Book , Picture Books , Recommended Forensics Piece for Storytelling

Out Now: I AM HERMES! Mischief-Making Messenger of the Gods by Mordicai Gerstein

April 22, 2019 by The Picture Book Review

I truly cannot recommend I AM HERMES! highly enough. The energy, the pacing, the illustrations, the twists and surprises, the length of the book, that it’s told from Hermes’ perspective, the graphic-novel-in-a-picture-book format, the fact that it is completely hilarious, and how much you learn when reading it — is all brilliant.

Categories: 2019 , Humor , Picture Books , Picture Books about Greek Mythology • Tags: Books , greek myths , myths , Picture Book , Picture Books

Out Today! Trees: A Rooted History by Piotr Socha and Wojciech Grajkowski

April 9, 2019 by The Picture Book Review

In Trees: A Rooted History, the illustrations on each page are so carefully and delicately crafted that they give us a transcendent-like visual experience that evokes a sense of wonder and awe.

I’m deeply impressed with how this book uses the picture book format to translate the beauty and magnificence of trees in such a way that gives us a new perspective and new appreciation. The art deftly indulges our eyes and focuses our attention on how incredible trees are.

Categories: 2019 , Children's Books , Nonfiction , Nonfiction Picture Books , Nonfiction Picture Books about Trees , Picture Books , Picture Books about Nature • Tags: Nonfiction , Picture Books , Polish , trees

Animal Noses by Mary Holland

April 5, 2019 by The Picture Book Review

In Animal Noses, readers will enjoy the large, clear, and enchanting photographs of a wide range of animals and the interesting facts about animal noses and their sense of smell that are placed alongside them. Engaging questions are dotted between facts that have children looking, guessing, and excitedly calling out what they think the answer might be.

Categories: 2019 , Nonfiction , Nonfiction Picture Books , Nonfiction Picture Books about Animals • Tags: animal noses , Animals , Books , Nonfiction , Picture Book , Picture Books

The Beauty of My Skin by Cecily Cline Walton and Illustrated by Alyssa Liles-Amponsah

April 4, 2019 by The Picture Book Review

Like a deep breath, this book is short but puts you in the right frame of mind by gently reminding its readers that they, and the skin that envelopes them, are truly beautiful.

Categories: Picture Books , Picture Books about Beauty , Picture Books about Self-Acceptance , Picture Books about Skin tone • Tags: beauty , Picture Book , Picture Books , self-acceptance

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Get your book reviewed by a professioanl reviewer for $50!

Get your book reviewed by a professional reviewer

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Best Children's Book Review Blogs in 2024

Showing 72 blogs that match your search.

The Book Nanny

https://thebooknanny.com/

The Book Nanny gives readers a look inside their book without spoilers. We give information about the violence, adult content and language a book contains so readers can find books that fit their media standards.

Blogger : Emily Campbell

Genres : Children's

🌐 Domain authority: 3

👀 Average monthly visits: 6,000 p/mo

💌 Preferred contact method: Email

⭐️ Accepts indie books? Yes

http://bookpage.com/

BookPage reviews almost every category of new books, including literary and popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, audiobooks and gift books. We rarely review poetry or scholarly books, and we do not give review consideration to self-published books, print-on-demand titles or books from presses that lack major distribution.

Blogger : Book Page Contributors

🌐 Domain authority: 67

👀 Average monthly visits: 135,000 p/mo

💌 Preferred contact method: Mail

⭐️ Accepts indie books? No

Review Tales by Jeyran Main

http://www.jeyranmain.com/

Jeyran Main is a professional book editor, marketing advisor, and book reviewer. She has had the pleasure of making friends with many publishers & authors throughout her life and career. Her passion is to spread positive energy to anyone who needs it, and in return, she would love it if they forwarded it to someone else. Please email her for book review requests, with the title and summary of your book.

Blogger : Jeyran Main

🌐 Domain authority: 23

👀 Average monthly visits: 3,000 p/mo

Alternative-Read

https://alternative-read.com

Please feel free to contact me via my contact page, should you have any PR questions.

Blogger : Brit

🌐 Domain authority: 32

👀 Average monthly visits: 5,000 p/mo

💌 Preferred contact method: Website contact form

Whispering Stories

https://www.whisperingstories.com/

Whispering Stories was established in 2015. We are a team of reviewers committed in providing professional, 100% honest, unbiased book reviews, for FREE. The majority of our reviews are for fictional books, including children’s books, (we do review non-fictional books too).

Blogger : Stacey

🌐 Domain authority: 28

Quill and Quire

https://quillandquire.com/

Quill & Quire is the magazine of the Canadian book trade. The magazine reviews around 400 new titles each year, offering the most comprehensive look at Canadian-authored books in the country.

Blogger : The Q&Q Team

🌐 Domain authority: 57

👀 Average monthly visits: 81,500 p/mo

BookWritten

https://bookwritten.com

BookWritten is a platform where you can learn more about books, literature, poetry, and much more. We believe in connecting people through the art of reading.

Blogger : Pradeep Kumar

🌐 Domain authority: 20

👀 Average monthly visits: 75,000 p/mo

💌 Preferred contact method: email

Kirkus Reviews

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/

Book reviews and recommendations from the most trusted voice in book discovery. We've reviewed the nation's top publishers' books since 1933. Our coverage includes the big 5 houses, small presses, genre publishers & more.

Blogger : Kirkus Reviews Team

🌐 Domain authority: 79

👀 Average monthly visits: 880,000 p/mo

💌 Preferred contact method: Submission manager

Literary Titan

https://literarytitan.com/

We review books, conduct author interviews, and have monthly book awards.

Blogger : Thomas Anderson

🌐 Domain authority: 30

👀 Average monthly visits: 12,000 p/mo

Bob's Books

http://www.bobsbooksnz.wordpress.com/

After twenty years with the National Library I am now out on my own promoting reading and literacy in schools. I offer my knowledge and passion for Children's's Literature to promote reading and literacy in your school using your own library resources plus new books sent to me by authors and publishers.

Blogger : Bob

🌐 Domain authority: 25

Literary Quicksand

https://literaryquicksand.com/

We’re a book blog based out of Minneapolis, MN. We feature a group of women writers from multiple countries who all come together over one thing: our love of books!

Blogger : Jolissa Skow

🌐 Domain authority: 31

👀 Average monthly visits: 4,000 p/mo

Cracking The Cover

https://www.crackingthecover.com/

Prior to starting Cracking the Cover I professionally reviewed books for the Deseret News, a daily newspaper in Salt Lake City. My reviews for Cracking the Cover are much the same. I pride myself on professionalism and believe every book deserves the same sort of treatment. I am somewhat selective about accepting review requests. Special consideration will be made for publicists/third parties that I have worked with before; authors I have worked with before; and if the title was one I was planning on requesting.

Blogger : Jessica

🌐 Domain authority: 33

The Chrysalis BREW Project

https://thechrysalisbrewproject.com/

The Chrysalis Books, Reviews, and Everything Written (BREW) Project is an up-and-coming platform that aims to help content creators and audiences to grow, thrive, and soar through reviews, interviews, features, news, press releases, podcasts, and promotions. BREW hosts the monthly and annual BREW Readers' Choice Awards, the annual BREW Book Excellence Awards, and the quarterly and annual BREW International Blog Awards.

Blogger : Esperanza Pretila

🌐 Domain authority: 18

👀 Average monthly visits: 100 p/mo

I've Read This

https://ivereadthis.com/

I worked in the Canadian publishing industry for 7 years, and loved every minute of it. Now I write book reviews for various publications, and I'm the books columnist for CBC Calgary's Homestretch. I'm the Past President of the Writers' Guild of Alberta Board of Directors and I host various literary events around the city. The majority of the books I review on this blog have been sent to me from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and all opinions are my own.

Blogger : Anne Logan

Book and Bindings

http://booksandbindings.com

Books and Bindings specializes in reviewing FICTION, mainly women's fiction, spicy romances, cozy mysteries, some suspense, contemporary fiction, literary fiction, and some paranormal. But Empress DJ is not really a fan of horror or zombies. Zombies are just so tiresome — they are horrible conversationalists and only seem to want me for my brains. Review requests outside these genres will be up for consideration.

Blogger : Empress DJ

🌐 Domain authority: 34

So you want to find a book blog?

If you’re a voracious reader, you might think of a book blog as an oasis in the middle of the desert: a place on the Internet that brims with talk about books, books, and more books.

Well, good news — we built this directory of the 200 of the best book blogs  to satiate your thirst. Take a walk around, use the filters to narrow down your search to blogs in your preferred genre, and feel free to bookmark this page and come back, as we do update it regularly with more of the best book blogs out there. 

If you’re an aspiring author, you might see a book blog more as a book review blog: a place where you can get your yet-to-be published book reviewed. In that case, you’ll be glad to know that most of the book blogs in our directory are open to review requests and accept indie books! We expressly designed this page (and our book marketing platform, Reedsy Discovery ) to be useful to indie book authors who need book reviews. If you’re wondering how to approach a book blog for a review request, please read on. 

You’ve found a book blog. Now what? 

Let’s say that you’re an author, and you’ve found a couple of book blogs that would be perfect fits to review your book. What now? Here are some tips as you go about getting your book reviews:

• Be sure to read the review policy. First, check that the book blog you’re querying is open to review requests. If that’s the fortunate case, carefully read the blog’s review policy and make sure that you follow the directions to a T.  
• Individualize your pitches. Book bloggers will be able to immediately tell apart the bulk pitches, which simply come across as thoughtless and indifferent. If you didn’t take the time to craft a good pitch, why should the blogger take the time to read your book? Personalize each pitch to up your chances of getting a response. 
• Format your book in a professional manner before sending it out. Ensure that your manuscript isn’t presented sloppily. If the book blogger asks for a digital ARC, you might want to check out apps such as Instafreebie or Bookfunnel. 
• Create a spreadsheet to track your progress. Wading through so many book blogs can be troublesome — not to mention trying to remember which ones you’ve already contacted. To save yourself the time and trouble, use a simple Excel spreadsheet to keep track of your progress (and results). 

Looking to learn even more about the process? Awesome 👍 For a detailed guide, check out this post that’s all about getting book reviews . 

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Children’s and teens roundup – the best new chapter books

Lauren Child brings a light touch to big issues, Elle McNicoll explores autism – and a secret society is at work in Paris’s sewers

T he inimitable Lauren Child revived her longest-serving character, Clarice Bean (7m sales, 25 years in print) in 2021. Smile (HarperCollins), her latest title, takes on big themes – ecosystem collapse, at home and beyond – in Child’s matter-of-fact, meandering way. She is one of those gifted authors whose plots bimble along innocuously, with the ever-sparky Clarice internal monologuing about this and that.

All the while, Child unobtrusively builds Clarice’s worry over an ill parent, and her realisation about the role of plankton (small) in sustaining blue whales (huge) for a science project that goes very wrong, but also very right. Libraries groan with publications unfairly tasking the most blameless in society with doing the work of averting climate catastrophe – “things YOU can do”, etc – but Child captures the right worry-to-comfort ratio as disasters are turned around and unexpectedly lovely things happen too.

Elle McNicoll burst on to the scene in 2020 with A Kind of Spark , which found Addie, 11, campaigning to exonerate the victims of Scotland’s witch trials. How many neurodivergent women were among them? In Keedie (Knights Of), McNicoll returns to Addie’s family a few years earlier, focusing on her protective older sister, whose autism comes with fashion sense and an aptitude for righting wrongs.

Keedie takes down school bullies (verbally). Soon, she is charging others for her services; eventually she takes things too far. It’s another gripping, original read from McNicoll, who always has a moving plot ace up her sleeve.

In The Wrong Shoes – written and illustrated by Tom Percival (Simon & Schuster) – artistic Will is at the sharp end of a costof living crisis. His injured dad is out of work; there’s no money for shoes. Naturally, jerks like Will’s nemesis Chris home in on sub-par footwear.

But when Will’s dad turns to the loan shark, a furious Will ends up in league with Chris and out of his depth in this all-too-real tale of stolen footwear – and surprising turnarounds. Nearly three in 10 children in the UK live in poverty, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. This is a book for right now.

Escapism, of course, is a tried-and-tested method that can momentarily alleviate adversity. The subject of publisher auctions, The Whisperwicks: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found by Jordan Lees (Puffin) builds its parallel worlds convincingly. Benjamiah Creek is 11, and an arch-rationalist. But a weird doll – a daemon-like poppet – soon leads him into a shadow realm. There, Benjamiah becomes enmeshed in a quest to find a missing boy, dodging the Hanged Men police force and solving riddles that will take him to the heart of Wreathenwold’s labyrinth.

Piu DasGupta’s debut, Secrets of the Snakestone (Nosy Crow), by contrast, doesn’t need much hocus-pocus to be spellbinding – just vivid storytelling and an excellent cover illustration by Helen Crawford-White. In Paris in 1895, Zélie is a mystified maidservant. Her father sent her over from Kolkata for reasons unexplained; now he has gone missing.

Making friends with Jules, who knows the sewer network, Zélie turns sleuth. Of course, there is a circus in town; naturally, a stolen, powerful object – the Snakestone – figures. Is there a secret society at work in the maze-like underworld? There is! All of this is made fresh by DasGupta’s brio and her subtle postcolonial side-eye, one that also celebrates the work of female scientists, so often unsung.

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Translated from Dutch by Laura Watkinson, Yorick Goldewijk’s Movies Showing Nowhere (Pushkin) won awards in the Netherlands. Strikingly original, it finds wry, motherless tween Cate being invited to a disused cinema to learn the ropes from the mysterious Mrs Kano. But (spoiler!) these screenings are something else altogether: vignettes from people’s own pasts that viewers can step into.

So many kid-lit tropes are present in this sensational book (grief-stricken father, semi-wicked sort-of stepmother, time travel) but Goldewijk’s magic-cineaste fable makes everything new again, even the video game Mortal Kombat . The final, emotional twist is like a kick in the solar plexus from a pixelated goon – but in a good way.

• Children and teenagers
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• Children's books: 8-12 years

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• Entertainment

Emily Henry’s new novel is kind of a ‘Funny Story’

Book review.

We never get romantic comedies in movie theaters anymore, but at least there’s a place we can find plenty of ’em: libraries and bookstores.

Emily Henry’s “Funny Story” checks both the “romantic” and “comedy” boxes with its story of children’s librarian Daphne, who moves to a small Michigan town with her fiancé, only to be dumped on the eve of their wedding. She even gets that rom-com staple, the “meet cute,” in the form of scrambling to find a roommate, who turns out to be the ex of the woman who Daphne’s fiancé dumped her for.

It’s a variation of the proverbial “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” but, in this case, it’s “the enemy of my fiancé will end up being my fiancé.”

We know Daphne and the roommate, a sommelier named Miles, are perfect for each other immediately. They probably know they’re perfect for each other immediately. But, in true rom-com form, it takes almost the length of the book for them to get it together.

I feel like 50 pages could easily be edited out of Henry’s 410 but, that quibble aside, it’s a breeze to read, with nuanced characterizations, brisk set pieces (I can easily picture a movie with, maybe, Elle Fanning) and Henry’s deft wit.

There’s this tart description by Daphne, who narrates the book, when she meets Miles, whom she says looks “like the guy from high school who intentionally failed his senior year to stick around for a while, then started selling bootleg cologne out of the trunk of his car in the mall parking lot.”

She’s being a little hard on handsome, thoughtful Miles, who turns out to be an all-but-perfect guy with one issue: He may still be hung up on the ex who dumped him for Daphne’s ex. Henry introduces tons of complications (Daphne’s friendship with a mysterious colleague, the arrival of Miles’ messy sister, the smallness of the town forcing Daphne to keep seeing her former fiancé from afar) and most of them are good fun.

Like a lot of rom-coms, “Funny Story” insists that romance is rarely tidy or packaged the way we expect it to be (that’s where the “com” comes in, right?). Early on, Daphne tells us that she had “carried my life like a handkerchief knapsack at the end of a broom handle, something small and containable I could pick up and move at the drop of a hat. And I never knew what it was I was running from.”

By the end of “Funny Story,” Daphne has started to figure out her life. It may involve a guy. It may not involve a guy. Who am I kidding? It involves a guy. But, as our heroine makes her peace with Michigan and the new life she accidentally made there, it’s also quite a bit more.

NEW FICTION

Emily Henry, Berkley, 410 pp., $29

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A Facebook user roasted the popular kids book 'Love You Forever.' The internet is divided

The 1986 book by robert munsch tells the story of a mother and son throughout their lives. while it has been wildly popular over the decades, some can't help but question some 'unsettling' aspects.

Since it was published in 1986, the children's book "Love You Forever" has sold many millions of copies and become a treasured item in many families.

Written by Robert Munsch, the story illustrates the relationship between a mother and son as they both age. The mother sings a lullaby to her son as a baby and each subsequent stage of his life, but some of those stages are a little strange, writes Marlene Kern Fischer , a New York mother, blogger and author who posted on Facebook about "Love You Forever."

"When her son grows up, the mother drives across town and sneaks into his house when it’s dark to sing to him and rock him," she wrote in the post, which has since caused a stir. "Does no one else find this incredibly unsettling?"

Comments on the post are divided between the "love it" and "hate it" crowds, with many defending the 38-year-old book as a touching story about the circle of life and the love between a parent and child.

USA TODAY talked with Fischer this week about the controversy, how she cried the first time she read it and what she thinks about the hubbub her post caused.

Check out: USA TODAY's weekly Best-selling Booklist

Unpopular opinion: 'I hate the book'

Fischer acknowledges the emotional weight of "Love You Forever."

"Anyone who doesn't cry when reading this book has a heart of stone," Fischer told USA TODAY Monday.

But "somehow, I feel that my emotions are being played upon," she wrote in the Facebook post. "Here I was a brand-new mom seeing my entire life with my son flash before my eyes."

But that wasn't Fischer's only complaint. Though the book's first pages are sweet, things get weird when the little boy becomes a teenager and the mother continues to go into her son's room, and rock him while singing the lullaby, Fischer said.

"Okay, when my boys were teens, if they had caught me rocking them, they would have gone ballistic and probably screamed, 'WTF?' before putting a lock on their door," she said on Facebook. But then the book gets "even stranger," she said.

"When her son grows up, the mother drives across town and sneaks into his house when it’s dark to sing to him and rock him. Does he not have a significant other?" Fischer vented on Facebook. "Or has the mother ruined any chance of him finding a partner by her bizarre behavior."

Fischer stressed that she may be overthinking what is meant to be a book about "a parent's love and enduring traditions."

"However, it just never made sense to me," she wrote. "I hate the book."

Commenters explain deep feelings about 'Love You Forever'

Commenters on Fischer's post had plenty to say, with one woman saying that at 50, she still lays her head on her dad's chest to listen to his heartbeat.

"If either one of them asked to rock me, I would absolutely let them do it," she wrote. "All of my friends are losing parents and children (to death, college, etc.) and those connections mean more to me than ever before."

Another wrote that whenever her dad took her and her sister to the bookstore, she would always look for "Love You Forever" and re-read it.

"I believe it helped shape me into the empathetic adult I am today," she commented. "Even at a young age, I remember grasping the symbolism, not taking it too literally, but understanding the deep love that is felt there."

Another joked that "no one gets upset about Goldie Locks breaking and entering, stealing porridge and sleeping in random bears’ beds!"

"Clearly children's books are not meant to be taken SO literally," she wrote. "This boy reminds me so much of my sons and it’s so special to me."

Other users also admit to disliking 'Love You Forever'

Many others agreed with Fischer.

"I always assumed the son having no one next to him when the mom creeps in was likely because of the mother's strange attachment," one woman commented.

Another wrote that they were relieved to learn they weren't the only one who dislikes the book.

"That mom is creating a mama's boy for life, which is toxic to his eventual romantic relationships," they wrote. "That fictional mother needs to learn a lesson in boundaries! And so does that grown adult son!"

How Robert Munsch came up with 'Love You Forever'

In an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation when "Love You Forever" became the No. 1 children's book on the New York Times, Munsch explained that the lullaby from the book was one that he and his wife came up with to comfort themselves after having two stillborn children.

"I get more letters on this than all my other stories combined and some of them get very heavy," he says in the interview before reading a letter from parents who had lost their daughter and buried his book with her.

"People who have grief experiences in their families find it a very nice book, although the people who just like to rock their kids to bed at night find it a very nice book, too," he said. "People use it whenever they want to express how they feel about family issues. It seems to help people do that."

USA TODAY has reached out to Munsch about some of the debate over his book.

Fischer noted that she respects the fact that Munsch wrote the story for his two stillborn children , and she understands that loss personally, "which is truly tragic," she wrote. "I can understand his motivation."

How is Fischer responding to all the hubbub?

Fischer's post is continuing to gather attention, something she seems to be taking in stride.

"Other than politics this has been one of my most polarizing posts," she told USA TODAY. "Everyone and their cousin has a VERY strong opinion about this book. You either love it or hate it.

"I actually received hate comments from readers who were opposed to my opinion, which honestly was meant to be a light tongue-in-cheek piece," she continued. "On the other hand, a lot of people who disliked the book felt validated by my words."

Fischer is the author of "I Was Hoping to Age Like a Fine Wine But I'm Feeling More Like an Avocado," a collection of personal stories about aging, parenting and other life events that came out Tuesday. It's available for purchase online.

You can also follow her blog , called Thoughts From Aisle 4.

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November 15, 2022

Written by Erin Kodicek, Amazon Books

Amazon’s book editors announce 2022’s best books of the year

Page overview

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

by Gabrielle Zevin

“After devouring this novel, you’ll walk with a bounce in your step, a full heart, and the buzzy feeling that this is one of the best books about friendship—in all of its messy complexity and glory—you have ever read, which is why we named it the Best Book of 2022. Gabrielle Zevin has written a novel perfect for this moment, when connection is what we crave and hope is what we need.” —Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor

by Javier Zamora

“Neil Gaiman once said, 'Fiction gives us empathy…gives us the gifts of seeing the world through [other people’s] eyes.' Solito is one of those rare nonfiction reads that achieves the same thing, and puts a human face on the immigration debate—that of a 9-year-old child making a harrowing journey from South America to the United States, and the found family who eases his way. A heart-pounding, heart-expanding memoir.” — Erin Kodicek, Amazon Editor

by Johann Hari

“We can’t stop talking about Stolen Focus. It’s vital and mesmerizing, examining why we as individuals and as a collective have lost our attention spans. Suffice to say, Hari’s three-month tech-detox and his findings will make you immediately want to stop scrolling the internet, quit thinking in slogans and 280 characters, and engage authentically in sustained thought so that we can tackle global issues like poverty, racism, and climate change. Deeply satisfying and affirming and full of light-bulb moments, this is a book everyone should read.” — Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor

by Barbara Kingsolver

“In this mesmerizing novel, Kingsolver peers into the neglected hollers of Appalachia to tell an insightful and razor sharp coming-of-age story about a boy called Demon Copperhead. Born behind the eight ball of life, Demon faces hunger, cruelty, and a tidal wave of addiction in his tiny county, but never loses his love for the place that claims him as its own. With the soulful narration by this kind, conflicted, witty boy, Kingsolver gives voice to a place and its people where beauty, desperation, and resilience collide.” — Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor

by Geraldine Brooks

“One of the best American novels we’ve read in years—galloping backward and forward in time to tell a story about race and freedom, horses and art, and the lineage of not just ancestors but actions. From Kentucky to New Orleans, from the 1850s to present day, Pulitzer Prize-winning Brooks weaves together a story centered on one of the fastest thoroughbreds in history and the Black groom that catapulted Lexington to the front of the track. A heart-pounding American epic.” — Al Woodworth, Amazon Editor

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

“We reveled in Carrie Soto’s fiery energy—Taylor Jenkins Reid ( The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones & The Six ) has written another book you’ll inhale in a day. Soto is a former tennis champ who returns to the game to defend her title. She’s unapologetic, ambitious, and willing to put everything on the line. This is a big-hearted story about her relationship with her father, taking risks, and standing up bravely in a world that doesn’t necessarily want to see strong women succeed.” — Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor

by Stephen King

“Fairy Tale’s Charlie Reade joins the ranks of King’s best characters, and the story he tells—of a curmudgeonly neighbor with dangerous secrets, a parallel world ruled by an unspeakable monster, a child-eating giant, and a dog who has lived more than one lifetime—is wonderous. Fairy Tale is fantasy, coming-of-age, friendship, and adventure—it’s good versus evil, a boy and his dog on a perilous quest; it’s King doing what he does best: setting our imagination on fire.” — Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor

by Celeste Ng

“Celeste Ng joins our Best of the Year list for the third time with her most gripping story yet. A mom mysteriously disappears amid a nationalistic movement that feels chillingly close to reality—launching her young son on a courageous quest to find her, aided by everyday heroes in unexpected places. The prose sings as the pieces click. This is fiction as revolution, serving as a warning, a dystopian fairy tale, and a suspenseful thriller with moments of hope that buoyed us as we read.” — Lindsay Powers, Amazon Editor

by Jonathan Freedland

“This is the true story of one of the few people who escaped Auschwitz, but that only touches on what this book is about. Rudolf Vrba set out to tell the world about the atrocities he had witnessed in the concentration camps, but much of the world was not ready to hear it. The author, Jonathan Freedland, paints a vivid, moving portrait of what Vrba experienced, both during and after the war. Vrba was a hero, for sure, but he was human as well. This is a forgotten story that you won't soon forget.” — Chris Schluep, Amazon Editor

by Don Winslow

“Don Winslow ( Power of the Dog trilogy, Broken ) is, without doubt, one of the best crime fiction writers in decades. And in City on Fire, he’s written one of the most immersive, head-turning, heart-stopping crime family novels since The Godfather . It’s about loyalty, love, fraternity, family, belonging, betrayal, and survival. But no matter how epic its themes, it’s Winslow’s eye for the small, personal details that will sear these characters in your heart and in your memory.” — Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Editor

These are readers’ most popular Kindle highlights from the books we loved.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin “What is a game?” Marx said. “It’s tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. It’s the possibility of infinite rebirth, infinite redemption. The idea that if you keep playing, you could win. No loss is permanent, because nothing is permanent, ever.”

Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora "Our bodies are the texts that carry the memories and therefore remembering is no less than reincarnation.”

Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari "So, to find flow, you need to choose one single goal; make sure your goal is meaningful to you; and try to push yourself to the edge of your abilities."

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver "People love to believe in danger, as long as it’s you in harm’s way, and them saying bless your heart."

Horse by Geraldine Brooks "They were, all of them, lost to a narrative untethered to anything he recognized as true. Their mad conception of Mr. Lincoln as some kind of cloven-hoofed devil’s scion, their complete disregard—denial—of the humanity of the enslaved, their fabulous notions of what evils the Federal government intended for them should their cause fail—all of it was ingrained so deep, beyond the reach of reasonable dialogue or evidence."

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid "We live in a world where exceptional women have to sit around waiting for mediocre men."

Fairy Tale by Stephen King "There’s a dark well in everyone, I think, and it never goes dry. But you drink from it at your peril. That water is poison."

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng “Whoever thinks, recalling the face of the one they loved who is gone: yes, I looked at you enough, I loved you enough, we had enough time, any of this was enough?"

The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World by Jonathan Freedland “Only when information is combined with belief does it become knowledge. And only knowledge leads to action. The French-Jewish philosopher Raymond Aron would say, when asked about the Holocaust, ‘I knew, but I didn’t believe it. And because I didn’t believe it, I didn’t know.’"

City on Fire by Don Winslow "Lesson: Don’t hold on to something’s going to pull you into a trap. If you’re going to let go, let go early. Better yet, don’t take the bait at all."

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Children’s Books

The 25 Best Children’s Books of 2020

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Picture Books

I TALK LIKE A RIVER, by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith. (Neal Porter/Holiday House, $18.99.) A boy who struggles with stuttering (as does the author, a Canadian poet) finds relief in a trip with his father to a nearby river, where he sees that turbulence and eddying are part of the natural flow. Smith’s immersive illustrations richly convey the boy’s sensory experience as he swims toward self-acceptance.

IF YOU COME TO EARTH, by Sophie Blackall. (Chronicle, $18.99.) “Dear Visitor from Outer Space,” the child narrator begins, “if you come to Earth, here’s what you need to know.” Blackall delivers on the promise: Her wondrous book seems to contain multitudes — the world’s every river, flower, person, cruise ship and bottle cap.

THE LITTLE MERMAID, by Jerry Pinkney . (Little, Brown, $18.99.) In Pinkney’s vivid reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale, the mermaid befriends a human girl instead of pining over a handsome prince, and all the characters, human and mermaid, are Black.

OUR LITTLE KITCHEN, by Jillian Tamaki. (Abrams, $17.99.) Based on Tamaki’s experience volunteering at a small community kitchen that feeds the hungry, this color-saturated, mouthwatering whirlwind of a book bursts with energy from the moment its diverse group of characters starts chopping and slicing, whisking and whipping.

OUTSIDE IN, by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Cindy Derby. (HMH Books for Young Readers, $17.99.) Underwood’s quietly profound text and Derby’s lush art provide a homage to nature, and a comforting reminder that Outside will be there for us when we’re ready. “ I’m here , Outside says. I miss you .”

A STORY ABOUT AFIYA, by James Berry, illustrated by Anna Cunha. (Lantana, $17.99.) This joyous celebration of childhood, culture and place by the Jamaican poet (who died in 2017) follows a young girl named Afiya — “health” in Swahili — whose summer frock “collects” what she sees as she dances across an island in motion. Each airy spread is a fresh canvas for its Brazilian illustrator, just as Afiya’s dress is newly washed each morning.

THE STRANGE BIRDS OF FLANNERY O’CONNOR, by Amy Alznauer, illustrated by Ping Zhu. (Enchanted Lion, $18.95.) This strangely beautiful art object of a book traces O’Connor’s first forays as a writer to an outsize fascination with the chickens in her childhood backyard. Alznauer pairs a grounded, authentic vernacular with a lyricism that takes flight, while Zhu’s depiction of odd human proportions against brilliant brushstroke plumage enchants.

THERE MUST BE MORE THAN THAT! by Shinsuke Yoshitake. (Chronicle, $18.99.) When a little girl’s brother tells her “our future is doomed,” in this entertaining yet serious story drawn in Yoshitake’s signature cartoon style, she runs in a panic to her grandmother, who helps her to imagine many possible futures, rather than to think only in terms of good and bad scenarios.

THE WANDERER, by Peter Van den Ende. (Levine Querido, $21.99.) Danger, magic, surprise and awe abound in this masterly, wordless debut about a paper boat’s nighttime sea journey into the unknown.

WHEN YOU LOOK UP, by Decur. (Enchanted Lion, $29.95.) This moody watercolor-soaked story of an introvert’s creative awakening by the self-taught Argentine artist Guillermo Decurgez (known as Decur) begins on “moving day,” as a boy who believes the world exists only inside his cellphone finds a mysterious notebook in the secret compartment of a desk in his new room.

YOU MATTER, by Christian Robinson. (Atheneum, $17.99.) An anthem to self-worth that’s also about the history of life on Earth, and in 107 words somehow covers loneliness, death and rebirth.

Middle Grade

BECOMING MUHAMMAD ALI, by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile. (Jimmy Patterson, $16.99.) Cassius Clay’s kinetic boyhood — depicted through prose, poetry and illustration — is the prism through which this uplifting novel casts the myth of the legendary boxer.

CHANCE: Escape From the Holocaust, by Uri Shulevitz. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $19.99.) This touching memoir of the author’s flight with his parents, beginning at age 4, from Warsaw to Russia to Turkestan is illustrated with his own art, including astonishing childhood originals.

CLASS ACT, by Jerry Craft. (Quill Tree, $22.99.) A Black student from the Co-op City section of the Bronx attends a private middle school in wealthier Riverdale in this moving and often funny graphic novel about the convergence of an awkward age (13 to 14) with another awkward age (America’s racial reckoning).

LORETTA LITTLE LOOKS BACK: Three Voices Go Tell It, by Andrea David Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney. (Little, Brown, $17.99.) Sparkling with Southern diction and rhythms, and peppered with poems and songs, this novel composed of read-aloud monologues follows three generations of children in one fictional Mississippi family as they survive hardships from sharecropping to voter suppression.

MAÑANALAND, by Pam Muñoz Ryan. (Scholastic, $18.99.) In this magical realist novel set in a “land of a hundred bridges” that lies “somewhere in the Américas,” an 11-year-old boy whose mother disappeared when he was a baby explores haunted ruins that once hid refugees from a neighboring dictatorship.

THE SILVER ARROW, by Lev Grossman. (Little, Brown, $16.99.) This eco-fable by the author of the adult novel “The Magicians” tackles climate change with poignant whimsy, via a magic steam train and talking animals.

WAYS TO MAKE SUNSHINE, by Renée Watson. (Bloomsbury, $16.99.) Like Beverly Cleary’s Ramona Quimby, who inspired this heart-wrenching yet delightful new series, the Black fourth grader Ryan Hart is a bright, imaginative girl who specializes in “making a way out of no way.”

WE DREAM OF SPACE, by Erin Entrada Kelly. (Greenwillow, $16.99.) Kelly moves gracefully between small-scale middle school dilemmas and galaxy-size existential questions in this lively, tender novel of three siblings adrift in a dysfunctional family as they await the shuttle Challenger’s launch.

WHEN STARS ARE SCATTERED, by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed. (Dial Books for Young Readers, $20.99.) This riveting graphic novel chronicles the young Omar’s real-life experiences during the 15 years he and his little brother spent as Somali refugees in the U.N.-run Dadaab camp in Kenya.

Young Adult

BEFORE THE EVER AFTER, by Jacqueline Woodson. (Nancy Paulsen, $17.99.) A boy struggles to move forward with his life as his pro football star father’s memory fades in this elegiac meditation on loss and longing, told mostly in verse.

DRAGON HOOPS, by Gene Luen Yang. (First Second, $24.99.) Full of insight about race and ethnicity, this graphic novel intercuts the thrilling wins and crushing defeats of one high school team with basketball’s own turbulent history.

EVERYTHING SAD IS UNTRUE (A True Story), by Daniel Nayeri. (Levine Querido, $17.99.) A modern-day Scheherazade uses storytelling to survive the fifth grade in Nayeri’s autobiographical novel about his family’s journey from Iran to America.

THE TALK: Conversations About Race, Love & Truth, edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson. (Crown, $16.99.) These essays, stories, poems, letters and illustrations work to prepare children for a world that can be bewildering and hostile, while also making plain that the hard conversations we all need to have about race are part of a broader national reckoning.

THEY WENT LEFT, by Monica Hesse. (Little, Brown, $17.99.) At the end of World War II, this searing novel’s Polish heroine, who spent her adolescence in concentration camps, sets out to find her younger brother, the only other member of her family who was not sent to the gas chambers.

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How did fan culture take over? And why is it so scary? Justin Taylor’s novel “Reboot” examines the convergence of entertainment , online arcana and conspiracy theory.

Jamaica Kincaid and Kara Walker unearth botany’s buried history  to figure out how our gardens grow.

A new photo book reorients dusty notions of a classic American pastime with  a stunning visual celebration of black rodeo.

Two hundred years after his death, this Romantic poet is still worth reading . Here’s what made Lord Byron so great.

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The Picture Show

An immersive museum in kansas city allows kids to explore their favorite books.

Katie Currid

Lindsey Anderson sits down to read Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina to her children Orion, 6, Arthur, 4, and Thora Hoke, 1, inside the exhibit inspired by the book inside The Rabbit hOle, an immersive museum dedicated to children's literature, in North Kansas City, Mo. Katie Currid for NPR hide caption

Lindsey Anderson sits down to read Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina to her children Orion, 6, Arthur, 4, and Thora Hoke, 1, inside the exhibit inspired by the book inside The Rabbit hOle, an immersive museum dedicated to children's literature, in North Kansas City, Mo.

In children's museums around the country, there are a lot of similar exhibits: the water exploration table, the kid-sized grocery store, the colorful jungle gym. But at The Rabbit hOle, an innovative and immersive museum dedicated to children's literature that opened on March 12 in North Kansas City, Mo., you won't find those things, which is exactly what co-founder Pete Cowdin intended.

"There's so much repetition, there's so much sameness, because most of the exhibits and most of the museums around the country for children are built by a handful of design companies," Cowdin says. "All those things are fine, but I do think that there's room for a different kind of experience."

Cowdin co-founded The Rabbit hOle with his wife, Deb Pettid, after years as booksellers and owners of a beloved Kansas City children's bookstore, the Reading Reptile. Now, the two are leading a revolutionary space in a 150,000-square-foot former warehouse, employing over 20 full-time artists and fabricators to bring children's books to life in interactive exhibits.

Casey Sackin explores the entrance to the museum. Katie Currid for NPR hide caption

Casey Sackin explores the entrance to the museum.

A mouse on a bike from the book Anatole , by Eve Titus, rides around a display of Paris. Katie Currid for NPR hide caption

A mouse on a bike from the book Anatole , by Eve Titus, rides around a display of Paris.

"We want to bring more critical culture to children's literature," Cowdin says, "not in a way to tear it down, but to call up the things that are actually taking away from the art of picture book making or the art of creating literature for young people."

The museum has the rights to over 70 works from the last century of children's literature, and works with the writers and illustrators or the estates of those books to bring them to life in unique and interactive exhibits. The museum features exhibits based on well-known children's classics like Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, Curious George by H.A. and Margret Rey, Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans, and, perhaps most popular, a recreation of the actual room from Goodnight Moon , the book written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd, where children and adults alike can explore the great green room.

Neon rabbit signs adorn the top of the building housing The Rabbit hOle. Katie Currid for NPR hide caption

Neon rabbit signs adorn the top of the building housing The Rabbit hOle.

Madelyn Williams, 20 months, leads her mother, Nancy, through the kitchen from Blueberries for Sal , by Robert McCloskey. Katie Currid for NPR hide caption

Madelyn Williams, 20 months, leads her mother, Nancy, through the kitchen from Blueberries for Sal , by Robert McCloskey.

But the museum also features lesser-known children's books, such as Perez and Martina , a story based on a Puerto Rican folk tale by Pura Belpré and illustrated by Carlos Sanchez, or Uptown , by the late John Steptoe, which brings a storefront from Harlem to life, created in collaboration with Steptoe's children.

"It's our mission to inspire the reading lives of children and adults," says Emily Hane, The Rabbit hOle's development and grant manager. "We want to be a place where kids can really discover the types of stories that they like that they've maybe never been exposed to before — whether it's because they've never seen a picture book with a kid who looks like them, or heard cultural stories that might resonate with their own household."

Left: Cal Kreiling, 16 months, watches a mouse on a bike from the book Anatole . Right: Parker Crawford, 18 months, knocks on the door to a tree inside the museum. Katie Currid for NPR hide caption

Left: Cal Kreiling, 16 months, watches a mouse on a bike from the book Anatole . Right: Parker Crawford, 18 months, knocks on the door to a tree inside the museum.

In the museum, patrons enter through a burrow and rabbit hole, and can play in the kitchen from Robert McCloskey's Blueberries for Sal , or take a nap against the tree from Esphyr Slobodkina's Caps for Sale . They can then pick up the book the exhibit inspired and enjoy the pages they've seen brought to life. Cowdin says kids are really the leaders in the space.

"We're not telling parents and children how to use the space and what they should [do], we're asking them to explore, and to find the books that are there and to find the exhibits and to experience exhibits and then to come together again around the book to read the book," says Cowdin. "The whole goal of the project is to bring young people — but also parents and educators — closer to the story."

The museum was inspired by places like the City Museum in St. Louis or art installation Meow Wolf, which make art-forward spaces that don't have a "right" or "wrong" way to interact with the exhibits.

Patrons peruse books inside the bookstore of The Rabbit hOle. Katie Currid for NPR hide caption

Patrons peruse books inside the bookstore of The Rabbit hOle.

Left: Fabricator Gen Goering paints the walls of an exhibit before the museum opened to the public. Right: Rabbit feet and arrows mark the sidewalks outside of The Rabbit hOle. Katie Currid for NPR hide caption

Left: Fabricator Gen Goering paints the walls of an exhibit before the museum opened to the public. Right: Rabbit feet and arrows mark the sidewalks outside of The Rabbit hOle.

"If all we did was make a beautiful place for children, it would be rare, honestly," says Cowdin. "We've done more than that and we'll continue to build on that."

On top of the book exhibits, The Rabbit hOle also features a bookstore and will soon host author talks and open a room for making crafts based on the museum's exhibits. The museum also has plans to open a resource library for educators and scholars, and will also have rotating exhibit spaces and a story and print lab, with room to host residencies for authors and illustrators.

"Whenever you're talking about children's culture, there is this [idea of], 'Oh, it's good enough. It's for kids, you know, just make it cheap. They don't really deserve anything beautiful'," says Hane. "And that's the exact opposite of how The Rabbit hOle feels. We believe that kids deserve something beautiful. Yeah, it's going to be durable. Yeah, we're going to be able to sterilize it and clean it and everything. But just because it's for children, doesn't mean it is a lesser art form."

A team of fabricators work on the exhibit inspired by the book Everybody Needs a Rock by Byrd Baylor in January, before the museum opened to the public. Katie Currid for NPR hide caption

A team of fabricators work on the exhibit inspired by the book Everybody Needs a Rock by Byrd Baylor in January, before the museum opened to the public.

The museum features an exhibit bringing to life the room from the classic children's book Goodnight Moon , written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd. Katie Currid for NPR hide caption

The museum features an exhibit bringing to life the room from the classic children's book Goodnight Moon , written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd.

Katie Currid is a photographer based in Kansas City.

• Kansas City
• children's books
• Children's Museums

Author and Illustrator Interviews

Get to know authors and illustrators by reading our exclusive interviews. discover how their own life experiences shape their books, take a peek inside their studios, and find out the secrets behind creative processes. read on ....

In this section of The Children’s Book Review  you’ll find interviews with children’s book authors and illustrators that cover a myriad of age groups and genres. We love shining the spotlight on both authors and illustrators and getting to know what makes them tick, discovering their inspirations, and finding out more about their books from concept to publication. To get you started, here are some of our more recent and exciting author and illustrator interviews:

Hey, Reader! It’s a Jarrett J. Krosoczka Interview

Sophie Blackall Discusses If You Come to Earth

Selfie and a Shelfie with Joanna Ho, Author of Eyes That Kiss in the Corners

Roseanne A. Brown Discusses A Song of Wraith and Ruin

Q&A with Hervé Tullet (Yes, It Rhymes)

After you’ve checked out an interview or two, connect with us through our Twitter handle, and share your thoughts with us on Instagram or Facebook   with #thechildrensbookreview . It’s time to be inspired …

An Interview with David and Keiko Mello, Creators of ‘The Three Stones of Ebon’

In this captivating interview, David Mello delves into the enchanting world of the novel co-written with Keiko Mello, The Three Stones of Ebon.

The Power of Pets, Place, and Personal Experience: Lauren Castillo on the Inspirations Behind ‘Just Like Millie’

Award-winning author and illustrator Lauren Castillo shares experiences and meaningful inspirations behind her latest picture book, Just Like Millie.

Growing Readers’ Hearts: An Interview with Dan Gemeinhart on Coyote Lost and Found

In this insightful interview, acclaimed middle-grade author Dan Gemeinhart discusses his highly anticipated standalone companion novel Coyote Lost and Found.

Facing Fears Together with Alysson Foti Bourque and ‘Alycat and the Sunday Scaries’

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, we welcome special guest Alysson Foti Borque, author of the beloved Alycat series.

Andrea Wang Weaves Threads of Belonging: Exploring Identity in ‘Summer at Squee’

Andrea Wang shares insights into her latest book, Summer at Squee, where she explores themes of community, identity, and inclusivity.

An Interview with P. J. Davis, Creator of ‘Nemesis and the Vault of Lost Time’

In this exclusive interview with P.J. Davis, the mastermind behind Nemesis and the Vault of Lost Time, we delve deep into the inspirations and messages.

Poetry Insights from Jane Yolen on Crafting Words, Wisdom, and Wonder

In this episode, we welcome the legendary author, poet, and children’s book writer Jane Yolen. Hear insights into her creative process!

An Interview with Kenneth Hall, Creator of ‘Goodie the Ghoul’

We delve into the whimsical world of Goodie the Ghoul with its creator, Kenneth Hall. Goodie, a lovable character embarks on an adventure of self-discovery.

Exploring Love and Light in ‘Ferris’ with Kate DiCamillo

Join us for a captivating exploration of Kate DiCamillo’s latest literary masterpiece, Ferris. Prepare to be swept away by a granddaughter and her grandmother.

Breaking Through Writer’s Block: A Journey with Barbara Dee into ‘Unstuck’

Critically acclaimed author Barbara Dee delves into her latest middle-grade novel, Unstuck! Get a glimpse into breaking through writers block.

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‘Real Americans’ is a sweeping novel with an eye for detail

Rachel khong follows up ‘goodbye, vitamin’ with the tale of three generations of people grappling with identity.

What is coded into our blood, passed down by the generations that came before? In Rachel Khong’s second novel, “ Real Americans ,” betrayals burrow down into the marrow.

Using the lens of one family, Khong examines our collective impulse to claim a place in this voracious and forgetful culture. Here, unlike the constellation of rueful scenes, diaristic observations and quirky dialogue that made up her debut, “ Goodbye, Vitamin ,” Khong structures the story into a heroic triptych. Ranging from communist China to corporate America, “Real Americans” reaches for big questions as it portrays three matrilineal generations.

After a museum heist prologue during the 1966 Cultural Revolution in Beijing, Part I concerns itself with Lily, the unmoored daughter of Chinese immigrant scientists, in 1999 New York. She is just one of the closely observed characters with a symbolic history that Khong uses to interrogate who controls inheritance, whether stories, genetics, culture, ambition or money.

Buried under student loans during the dot-com bust, Lily has been curating travel photo galleries for an unpaid internship when she meets Matthew. The young White scion of a pharmaceutical empire, he courts and weds the beautiful, reticent Lily, thereby transforming her prospects.

There is a falsified quality to the novel’s central conceit: One holiday party and a spontaneous trip to Paris later, Lily transforms into the romantic power broker and Matthew, the besotted. Raised by a disappointed woman who “had always longed for more,” Lily cross-examines her impulse toward interracial love. Seeing her and Matthew’s reflection in the mirror “was like pressing a bruise, wanting to see if the pain lingered.” Disturbed by the trend she sees among Asian female friends who date White men, Lily resists becoming what could be perceived as a trophy wife.

Ultimately, she becomes a single mother instead, living on a Pacific Northwest island teeming with evergreens. We never learn whether she regrets the choices that placed her in relative isolation, because her character is flattened by the self-interested narration of her son, Nick, who takes over in Part II. Nick’s most interesting quality is that he looks just like the handsome, rich White dad he never knew. Marred by having no true insight into his parents’ motivations, Nick “was distant, incapable of intimacy, closed off,” though, in his mind, “it felt like the opposite: There was so much inside me it was overwhelming.”

Nick’s predilection for stonewalling is revealed to be part of a sinister structure endemic to cultural assimilation. Encouraged by his overly interested best friend in high school, Nick uploads his DNA into an ancestry platform and reconnects with his estranged father, whose surname and credit card provide a springboard for Nick to ascend from the hard-fought middle class of his single mother to upper class with an Ivy League education.

There will be no student loans to burden Nick’s choices; the only readerly question in the face of his privilege is how much of his subsequent impact on the world is attributable to oblique self-loathing. Where to find sympathy for the pathos of the rich? Needing to prove oneself never ends, it seems. In that, “Real Americans” is spot on.

The people of this book endure tragedies, from the terrorist attacks of 9/11 to the ideological fervor of the Red Guard, but it is often their own self-conception that seems most hazardous to their well-being. Lily’s fraught relationship with her mother, May, for instance, stems from the woman’s stony ambition and deep yearnings.

Drawing upon near-term application of gene editing that hearkens to CRISPR, “Real Americans” pairs plausible (read: dystopian) science fiction with a heritable, fantastical stoppage of time that seems to mimic the extravagance of choices that Americans are posited as having in this novel.

“All the time in the world — it has the ring of luxury,” Lily thinks at one point. “But considering every option, feeling the past and imagining the future at the same time — it was a burden.”

As we discover in Part III, May is a scientist who is estranged from Lily for good reason. As a mother, May is a nightmare. As a character, she is gold. To negotiate her girlhood freedom, she studies hard enough to advocate for her escape from home into an academic environment that makes her prey to Mao’s anti-intellectual campaigns of pain and punishment.

A determined and calculating survivor who is self-indicting in retrospect, May fights for what can be hers, given the constraints of her existence. She is conditioned by her oppressive birth family to believe that “each person was allowed only a bit of ease. There was a limit to fulfilled desire in a life.” Only later does she realize that “life lay in the interruptions — that I had been wrong about life, entirely.”

Well written and perceptive, if predictable, about issues of power, money and class, Khong’s sophomore book covers so much ground over three continents and 50 years that by the very nature of its epic sweep, it cannot have the crackling energy and page-level panache that characterized her wry, episodic debut.

In this big, market-friendly novel, the characters feel designed and polished for a broad sensibility. But, like Kong Tee, an artist who mentored May throughout her childhood within a harsh patriarchy, Khong affirms that it is “an artist’s work to be attuned to everything,” particularly small moments. Whether filtered through Lily, Nick or May, who observes that “Americans wore uncomplicated expressions,” Khong shines with keen insights into how we access our personalities through the cultures made available by circumstance.

“As an American child, I had been told I was exceptional,” Lily thinks. “And here, maybe, I might have simply existed, part of the fabric of something larger, and been content.”

Kristen Millares Young is a journalist, essayist and author of the prizewinning novel “Subduction.”

Real Americans

By Rachel Khong

Knopf. 416 pp. $29

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Best books of 2023: See our picks for the 10 best books of 2023 or dive into the staff picks that Book World writers and editors treasured in 2023. Check out the complete lists of 50 notable works for fiction and the top 50 nonfiction books of last year.

Find your favorite genre: Three new memoirs tell stories of struggle and resilience, while five recent historical novels offer a window into other times. Audiobooks more your thing? We’ve got you covered there, too . If you’re looking for what’s new, we have a list of our most anticipated books of 2024 . And here are 10 noteworthy new titles that you might want to consider picking up this April.

Still need more reading inspiration? Super readers share their tips on how to finish more books . Or let poet and essayist Hanif Abdurraqib explain why he stays in Ohio . You can also check out reviews of the latest in fiction and nonfiction .

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