🎉 National Bubble Wrap Day!

Let's Pop!

Yes, this is a real day, and yes, it absolutely deserves celebrating! I mean, why not?! 

(The kids will thank you.)

National Bubble Wrap Day is a joyful reminder that sometimes the simplest things bring the biggest smiles. That soft crackle-pop sound? It’s practically universal. Kids love it. Adults secretly love it. Scientists even agree it can reduce stress and engage the senses in calming ways.

Why Bubble Wrap Is a Big Deal (Especially for Kids)

Bubble wrap isn’t just packaging... it’s a sensory experience.

• Touch: The raised bubbles invite squeezing, pressing, and popping

• Sound: Each pop delivers instant cause-and-effect feedback

• Focus: Repetitive popping can help kids regulate energy and attention

• Fine motor skills: Pinching and pressing strengthen small muscles

A Cold-Weather Connection ❄️

Bubble wrap also pairs beautifully with winter and weather learning:

• Talk about how air gets trapped inside bubbles (hello, insulation!)

• Compare bubble wrap to winter coats or animal fur that trap warm air

• Use it during cold-weather units as a tactile way to explain heat retention

Easy Bubble Wrap Activities 

• Bubble Wrap Painting: Paint + popping = art therapy

• Freeze the Wrap: Put bubble wrap outside or in the freezer and compare textures

• Pop Patterns: Can you pop every other bubble? What shape appears?

• Quiet Challenge: Can you not pop it? (Harder than it sounds.)

Why We Love This Day

National Bubble Wrap Day gives us permission to:

• Celebrate play

• Embrace sensory learning

• Laugh at something delightfully ordinary

And honestly? In a world that can feel heavy, popping a few bubbles feels like a small, satisfying win.  So go ahead, Let's pop! 

🫧 Pop Till You Drop

Pop goes the bubble—

soft, then loud,

a tiny thunder

wrapped in cloud.

Press with a finger,

press with a thumb,

here comes a pop—

then another one.

Air trapped inside,

then—pow!—it’s gone,

science and silliness

rolling as one.

So pop till you giggle,

pop till you plop,

pop every bubble—

then…

pop till you drop!

Book Review #123

 Wolf In The Snow

Author: Matthew Cordell
Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
ISBN: 978-1250115572
Reading Level: Grades K–3 (visual literacy)

Main Character:
A young child and a lost wolf pup, neither named, whose parallel journeys unfold during a winter snowstorm.

Plot: Wolf in the Snow is a wordless picture book. It tells a clear and powerful story about survival in cold weather. A child becomes separated from her family during a snowstorm, while a wolf pup is separated from its pack. As the storm intensifies, the child helps the pup find its family, only to be rescued moments later by the wolf pack when the child collapses from cold and exhaustion. The story ends with both reunited with their families.

Settings: The entire book takes place in a snow-covered forest during an active winter storm. The environment itself functions as a force in the story, shaping movement, visibility, temperature, and survival.

Genre/Theme/Style: Wordless Picture Book, Weather & Environmental Science & Winter Survival.

The illustration style uses stark contrasts, limited color, and motion lines to communicate snowfall, wind, cold, and urgency. Scientific ideas are conveyed visually rather than verbally.

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars?  This book teaches cold-weather science without ever explaining it outright. Children see how snow reduces visibility, how cold exhausts the body, and how animals are adapted to survive winter conditions. The lack of text invites observation, inference, and discussion. (Caldecott Medal Winner)  

Critical Analysis:
Wolf in the Snow is an outstanding example of visual science literacy. It illustrates real winter weather conditions, snow accumulation, wind chill, isolation, and exposure through cause-and-effect visual storytelling.  The contrast between the child’s vulnerability and the wolves’ adaptation subtly introduces biological and environmental concepts.

Because the book is wordless, readers must actively interpret what is happening, making it especially effective for developing scientific thinking and observation skills.  The illustration style uses stark contrasts, limited color, and motion lines to communicate snowfall, wind, cold, and urgency. Scientific ideas are conveyed visually rather than verbally.

Connections: Great for lessons on winter weather, animal adaptations, and survival in cold environments. It works well alongside nonfiction titles about snowstorms, hibernation, or Arctic animals. It is also ideal for library programming, guided discussions, and inquiry-based learning, where students are asked to explain what the weather is doing and how it affects living things. 

Book Review #122

 

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder ❄️

Author: Mark Cassino
Illustrator: Jon Nelson
Publisher: Chronicle Books
ISBN: 978-0811859719
Reading Level: Grades K–4 (accessible for younger readers; interesting enough for upper elementary)

Main Character: Nonfiction book. Instead, snow itself takes center stage as the subject of exploration.

Plot: The Story of Snow explains how snow forms, why snowflakes are unique, and what makes winter weather cold. The book walks readers through the science of snow in clear, child-friendly language, beginning with clouds and water vapor and moving all the way to individual snowflakes landing on the ground. Real snowflake photographs taken through a microscope help children see details they might never notice on their own.

Settings: The setting shifts between the atmosphere, winter landscapes, and close-up microscopic views of snowflakes, helping readers understand cold weather on both a large and tiny scale.

Genre/Theme/Style: Nonfiction, weather & Earth science, & winter. 

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars?  This book excels at making cold-weather science understandable and fascinating for children. The real snowflake photography sets it apart from many weather books and reinforces the idea that science involves observation, patience, and curiosity. 

It invites kids to look more closely at the natural world instead of just reading about it.  The style blends factual explanation with wonder. Scientific vocabulary is introduced, supported by photographs and diagrams rather than overwhelming text.

Critical Analysis: The Story of Snow is an excellent example of high-quality children’s nonfiction. It helps young readers by presenting accurate science. The pacing allows children to absorb information in small sections, and the visuals do important instructional work rather than serving as decoration. This book is especially effective for introducing basic meteorology concepts such as precipitation, freezing temperatures, and crystal formation.

Connections: This book is great for classroom weather units, winter science lessons, or library programming focused on cold weather. It also connects naturally to hands-on activities such as observing snowflakes, tracking winter temperatures, or discussing how weather changes across seasons.

A New Year, A New Story!

OpenAI. (2025). AI-generated illustration reading in winter [Digital illustration]. DALL·E.

As the new year begins, libraries are full of quiet excitement and new possibilities. Shelves are ready with fresh stories, cozy corners invite curious readers, and every book is waiting to be opened for the first time this year.

Reading in the new year is like setting out on an adventure. One book can take you to a snowy mountain, another to outer space, and another to a place that feels a lot like home. Libraries make it easy to explore all of it. You do not have to know exactly what you are looking for. You just have to start and see where it leads.

The new year is a great time to try something new as a reader. You might choose a longer book, discover a new author, or pick a story about a topic you have never explored before. Libraries are safe places to experiment, wonder, and grow. Every visit is a chance to find a story that surprises you.

Libraries are also places where reading becomes a habit, not a chore. You can set a simple goal for the year, like reading a little each day or finishing one book each week. There is no rush and no pressure. Reading is not about speed. It is about enjoyment, imagination, and learning something new along the way.

As the year unfolds, the library is always there. On quiet days. On curious days. On days when you need a good laugh or a gentle story before bedtime. A new year brings new pages, and the library is the perfect place to begin turning them.

Find out what's new at your 

local library!

Book Review #121

Shanté Keys and the New Year’s Peas

Author: Gail Piernas-Davenport
Illustrator: Marjorie Priceman
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
ISBN: 9780807509282

Genre: Fiction / Cultural Picture Book

Topic: New Year traditions, family, hope, and cultural heritage through the story of a girl learning about good luck foods for the new year.

Main Character: Shanté is a curious, thoughtful young girl who loves learning about her family and the traditions that matter to them. As New Year’s Day approaches, she wants to understand why her family eats black-eyed peas and what the tradition means.

Plot: As she watches the traditions unfold, Shanté becomes curious about why her family eats black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day. Her questions lead to conversations with family members who explain the meaning behind the custom and the hope it represents for the year ahead.

Settings: The story is set primarily in Shanté’s home during the days surrounding New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

I Gave This Book 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 4 Roars? This book captures the feeling of standing on the edge of a new year with curiosity and hope. It introduces children to a meaningful cultural tradition while keeping the story warm, accessible, and relatable. Kids see themselves in Shanté’s excitement, questions, and desire for good things to come. However, be prepared for some children to dislike peas! 

Critical Analysis: Gail Piernas-Davenport weaves cultural learning into an engaging narrative rather than presenting it as a lesson. Shanté’s journey to understand why her family eats black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day unfolds naturally through conversation, family interaction, and anticipation. The style is warm, conversational, and joyful. The language is accessible for young readers while still rich enough to support read-aloud sessions and classroom discussion.

Marjorie Priceman’s illustrations are energetic and expressive, filled with motion, color, and emotion. The artwork reflects the excitement of New Year’s Eve and the warmth of family traditions, helping young readers feel the celebration rather than simply observe it.

Accuracy: The book accurately reflects the Southern tradition of eating black-eyed peas for good luck in the new year. Cultural elements are presented respectfully and clearly. The story follows a clear, linear progression from curiosity to understanding. Shanté’s questions guide the narrative, making it easy for young readers to follow along while building anticipation for New Year’s Day.

Connections: This book works especially well for January story times and early-year classroom themes such as new beginnings and family traditions.

Possible activities include:
• sharing family New Year traditions
• creating a “hope for the new year” drawing
• exploring foods associated with celebrations
• discussing how different cultures welcome a new year

Happy New Year!

OpenAI. (2025). AI-generated illustration,  New Year [Image]. DALL·E.

Book Review #120

 Balloons Over Broadway: The Inspiring True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Author: Melissa Sweet

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

ISBN: 9780547199450

Genre:

Biography / Informational Non-Fiction

Topic:

The life and inventive work of Tony Sarg, the puppeteer who created the giant Macy’s parade balloons.

I Gave This Book 5 Roars!🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁 

Why 5 Roars?

It brings history to life with joy, color, and creativity. Kids not only learn about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but they also get to see how one person’s imagination and persistence can spark a beloved American tradition. The artwork is dynamic, detailed, and fun to explore.

Critical Analysis:

Melissa Sweet blends biography with art in a way that feels fresh and inviting. Her mixed-media illustrations, collages, watercolors, sketches, and newspaper clippings mirror Tony Sarg’s inventive spirit. 

Each page introduces a small step in Sarg’s journey, from his childhood curiosity about how things work to his later experiments with marionettes and float designs. 

Accuracy:

The book is well-researched and grounded in factual historical content about Tony Sarg, Macy’s, parade development, and early balloon engineering. Sweet includes archival materials and author notes that clarify sources and confirm the accuracy of events and design details.

Organization:

The story unfolds chronologically, following Sarg from curious child to accomplished puppeteer. The clean structure helps young readers understand how his ideas grew over time. Bonus endnotes and visual extras extend learning without overwhelming the main narrative.

Design:

The layout is lively and engaging. Sweet uses layered images, colorful typography, and interactive elements that draw the eye across the page. The artistic choices echo Sarg’s own playful style, making the book feel like a visual celebration.

Style:

Friendly, upbeat, and imaginative. Sweet writes with a tone that invites curiosity and wonder, balancing information with charm.

Awards:

• Sibert Medal Winner

• Orbis Pictus Honor Book

• NCTE Notable Children’s Book

• Multiple starred reviews

Connections:

This book pairs beautifully with November lessons on Thanksgiving, parades, American traditions, invention, and STEAM concepts. 

It can lead to classroom or library activities such as:

• designing your own parade balloon

• exploring simple puppetry

• learning about engineering challenges

• discussing how traditions evolve over time

Book Review #119

Thank You, Omu!

Author: Oge Mora
Illustrator: Oge Mora
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316431248
Reading Level: Ages 4–8

Main Character:
Omu, a kind woman whose delicious stew draws her neighbors to her door.

Plot:
Omu makes a pot of thick stew. The smell drifts through her community, and one by one, neighbors come knocking. She generously shares a portion with each visitor until the pot is empty. When dinner time arrives and Omu has nothing left for herself, the neighbors return, this time bringing food for her.

Settings:
A lively urban neighborhood filled with people who look out for one another.

Genre/Theme/Style:
Realistic fiction celebrating gratitude, generosity, community, and the joy of giving.

I Gave This Book 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 4 Roars?
It is a great November story. Kids see kindness in action, feel the warmth of community sharing, and learn that giving often circles back in unexpected ways. The collage-style artwork brings the scenes to life with texture and color that feels comforting and rich.

Critical Analysis:
Mora’s storytelling is gentle and rhythmic, making it easy for young readers to follow. The repetition of neighbors arriving at the door builds anticipation, while the final act of gratitude teaches kindness. Her collage illustrations, layered paper, paint, and patterns to create a vibrant visual world that mirrors the book’s theme of gathering and togetherness.

Connections:
This book pairs well with November lessons on gratitude and thankfulness. It can lead to classroom or library discussions about helping others, sharing what we have, and noticing the kindness in our own communities. Children can create their own “acts of kindness” lists, write thank-you notes, or even design collages inspired by the artwork.