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Klem-Mari Cajigas

Latest Blog Posts

Image contains a Santa in a red suit, white beard, and cap waving

In the now 200 years since it was first published, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" has become a beloved staple of many a holiday celebration. You and your family can experience this classic poem in picture books, in oh so many ways! 

Book Cover of "Let's Play Gonggi." Image contains two children, a boy and a girl,  playing with plastic game pieces; boy uses game pieces to simulate goggles.

Many of us adults now look back on our decidedly low-tech childhood pastimes with fondness. Tap into this nostalgia with  Let's Play Gonggi, a picture book from Korea! 

 

 

The Fourth of July is a fitting day to reflect upon our country's history. These picture books help tell a honest, nuanced, and sensitive story of what the Fourth of July means to different people. 

Cover image of Just a Girl: A True Story of World War II. Contains a girl dressed in red coat and hat, carrying a small brown suitcase. She is holding the hand of an unseen adult. The girl is reflected in the water puddle on the cobblestone streets. There are also three war planes reflected in the puddle.

This year's Mildred L. Batchelder Award, given to an outstanding children's book translated into English, is the wonderful Italian middle grades memoir Just a Girl: A True Story of World War II. Sensitive and age appropriate, this standout book is an ideal shared read aloud for older children.

Book cover of When Dad Was Away by Liz Weir. Cover includes redheaded girl reading a book with a green cover against a yellow background.

December is a time of holiday celebrations for many families. For families with a parent currently incarcerated, however, the reality is very different. Picture books about incarceration can help children and parents talk about a complex topic that affects millions of children and families in the United States.

Book cover illustration which includes three Wampanoag figures and a fox

Many of us are gearing up to celebrate Thanksgiving at the end of the month. But how do teach what is actually a complicated story of conflict and colonization? Learn about books from our collection and online resources that can help us teach a more accurate history.

Cover of Bravo!: Poems About Brave Hispanics by Margarite Engle

During Hispanic Heritage Month we intentionally recognize the many contributions made by persons of Latin American, Hispanic, and Latina/o descent to every part of U.S. American life. Check out these picture book biographies about Hispanic and Latino trailblazers, strivers, and justice seekers. 

Globe of wold made up of stacks and different formations of books

Add some picture books in translation to your reading routine! Picture books by international creators offer different perspectives, and feature groundbreaking art and narratives.

 Cover of Kats Hats by Daniel Pinkwater. Image contains one boy wearing a blue and white striped scarf and an orange tabby cat in the shape of a hat on his head.

At Kat Hats Incorporated, cats are trained to serve as hats  for people looking for maximum warmth. Who is the warmest cat, however, and how will he rise to the challenge when his skills are called upon? 

Headshot of Ashley Bryan. He is an older African American man with white hair and a mustache,

During a career spanning over six decades, Ashley Bryan (1923-3022) illustrated more than 70 children's picture books in a variety of media and in several genres.