30 Days of Diverse Picture Books - Beautiful Moon by Tonya Bolden

Here we are at Day 23 of 30 Days of Diverse Picture Books. One week left! This has been such a fun series to research and share with all of you - I hope you are enjoying these picks as much as we've been enjoying reading each of them.

Today I'm sharing a new title, Beautiful Moon: A Child's Prayer by Tonya Bolden. I saw the cover of this book online and that was all it took for me to know I had to get a copy on our library list pronto. I mean, just look at it - that is a simply awe-inspiring painting by Eric Velasquez that graces the cover. Plus the kiddo looks a whole lot like Sprout, or at least how he'll look in a few years (good grief, probably before I know it!). And the spreads inside the book are just as stirring. Velasquez is one of the most talented artists working in children's books, in my opinion, and I so enjoy sharing his work with Sprout.

Bolden's premise for the book is a young boy praying at his bedside. She starts the story with the boy waking up, having forgotten his prayers before going to sleep. First we see him praying, then we see images of all the people he's praying for - those with no homes, those who've gone to war, those who are sick. It's a wonderful theme for a book, and Bolden's craft shows through in every line, demonstrating connection and empathy (and, bonus, the boy's dad is black and his mother is white). The best detail is the moon shining down on all, both the boy and those he prays for, a bit that, I'll confess, I didn't even notice, but Sprout picked right up on.

No matter your faith or beliefs, it's nice to have books like Beautiful Moon to share with our kids. Titles that show little ones the importance of caring for others, are so crucial - and when they're as well-done as Beautiful Moon, an absolute joy to read together.

Beautiful Moon by Tonya Bolden, published by Abrams Books for Young Readers

30 Days of Picture Books - Thanksgiving Titles

Today is Day 12 of Picture Book Month, and since we're heading into the holiday season, it seems like a good time to share some titles to get you in the festive mood. But I can't quite bring myself to jump right over Thanksgiving, no matter how much the retailers seem to want us to. Thanksgiving is a great time to talk and think about everything we have in our lives that so richly blesses us.

And what could be a better way to be thankful than with some tremendous picture books? As is the case with so many holidays, it's not easy to find multicultural titles for Thanksgiving -- but we managed to find a few that round out the experience by helping us look at the holiday with a fresh perspective.

First up is Gracias the Thanksgiving Turkey by Joy Cowley. I love this book for its humor and heart as well as the colorful illustrations by Joe Cepeda. In the story, Miguel's Papa, a long-haul trucker, sends home a live turkey for the family to fatten up for Thanksgiving dinner. Miguel names the turkey Gracias, and as you might expect, he's reluctant to make her a meal when the time comes around. Still, Miguel's grandfather's all for putting Gracias on the turkey platter - but an unexpected intervention from the parish priest saves Gracias at the last minute. There are lots of great lessons here, including the importance of friendship and responsibility, and plenty to talk and think about.

Next is Giving Thanks by Chief Jake Swamp, illustrated by Erwin Printup Jr. Subtitled A Native American Good Morning Message, this isn't a title that should be restricted to Thanksgiving, but with the spirit of gratitude we all have in our hearts at this time of year, it seems a good fit. The text is clear and simple, filled with appreciation for all the beauty and bounty in the natural world around us. And the illustrations are just breathtaking - vibrant and warm, simple and yet full of emotional depth. Best of all, this title is free of some of the most persistent stereotypical images we find in so many Thanksgiving books, and it reinforces the idea that we all have much to be thankful for.

If pilgrims are on your mind, why not check out Molly's Pilgrim? This is an older title, written by Barbara Cohen and most recently illustrated by Daniel Mark Duffy. Though its cover is somewhat subdued (albeit beautiful), the message behind it is a fantastic one. Molly and her parents are from Russia, having come to America for freedom after the Cossacks sacked their village and burned out many other Jewish families. When Molly is assigned a project to make a pilgrim woman for the school Thanksgiving display, Molly's mama makes one that looks just like her. But it doesn't look like the pilgrims in Molly's textbooks. Will the other girls make fun of Molly for this, like they do for so many other things? A tale of inclusion and acceptance, this story speaks volumes, especially to those new to the tradition of American Thanksgiving.

Tradition is what you make it, wouldn't you agree? Still, it's hard when your family doesn't go along with what everyone else does. That's the conflict at the center of Duck for Turkey Day by Jacqueline Jules, illustrated by Kathryn Mitter. Tuyet is excited to be celebrating Thanksgiving with her family, especially her cousins and her grandmother from Viet Nam. But she's a little upset that the family will be having duck for dinner, not turkey, as she's sure everyone else will be having. Tuyet tries to talk the problem over with her mother and grandmother, but they are sticking to their guns - and Tuyet has to admit that the duck with its spicy sauce is pretty tasty. But what will happen when she tells her friends at school that her family didn't have turkey? An unexpected ending to this tale not only reassures but also confirms that there's no one right way to celebrate!

This year, add a little extra flavor to your celebration with one of these great multicultural titles -- and make it a truly American Thanksgiving!