In a Jar
Written and illustrated by Deborah Marcero.
In a Jar is a stunning picture book with a beautiful message about friendship and loss.
Llewellyn, the protagonist, collects items in jars. Things like fallen leaves, feathers, seashells and stones. Mostly what he collects are memories.
One day while he is out collecting, he meets Evelyn, and together they collect extraordinary things like rainbows, the wonders of winter and even the soft sounds of summer.
Their friendship blossoms, but the time comes that Evelyn must move away. That makes Llewellyn’s heart feel like an empty jar. But he finds a way to stay close to Evelyn, even though they are so far apart.
This story is beautiful and magical. It’s a reminder to notice the little things and cherish the big things. It would make an incredibly special book for children who find themselves leaving friends and family behind.
The Proudest Blue, A Story of Hijab and Family
Written by Olympic Medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali. Illustrated by Hatem Aly.
The Proudest Blue is an important story about universal themes of childhood like having confidence in your identity, bullying and the bond between siblings.
The first day of school is always exciting, but this year it’s also the first day of hijab for sixth-grader Asiya. Little sister, Faizah, is proud of the beautiful, blue hijab her sister chooses to wear.
Boys at school, whom the illustrator chooses to make faceless shadows, point and make fun of Asiya, calling her hijab a tablecloth. Faizah overhears and remembers Mama’s words, “Don’t carry around the hurtful words that others say. Drop them. They are not yours to keep. They belong only to those who said them.”
The message this beautifully illustrated book provides is an empowering one for all children.
Mixed, A Colorful Story
Written and illustrated by Arree Chung.
Mixed is a delightful story about three colors: Reds, who are the loudest, Blues, who are the coolest, and Yellows, who are the brightest.
The three colors live nicely side by side until one day a Red announces that he is better than the other colors. Soon, the only way the colors can get along is by segregating their city into three distinct parts of town. One for each color.
They all stay separate until one day a Yellow meets and befriends a Blue. Over time, they fall in love, get married and have Green!
Green is so cute that even the grumpiest colors fall in love with her, and opinions about “mixing” begin to change. Eventually, other colors mix, and soon there are many new colors! Mixed presents the topics of inclusion and diversity in a simple yet imaginative way.
Sandy Foster lives in Grain Valley and is a Bookstagrammer (@picturebookapotamus), freelance writer, and mother of two. You can find children's book reviews and resources at HappyBeingMom.com.