Category Archives: Picture Book Recommendations

Nov1

Interview with Dr. Elena Rybak

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Dr. Elena Rybak is the author of the picture book, Berry Good Friends: Healthy Me! Series.

As we start November, our thoughts are wandering towards Thanksgiving. Health Science often gets over looked in the classroom, but I always found the place to squeeze it in is November. As a teacher, I always looked at this as a time to do some Science and Reading tie-ins to nutrition. To help with this, I’ve found a wonderful picture book series to help with read-alouds in the classroom and bedtime stories at home. Let me introduce you to Dr. Elena Rybak and her Healthy Me! Series.

Dr. Elena Rybak, PHD is a holistic and interactive health educator that focuses on digestive health. Her books center on educating children and their families on how the digestive system works with other systems in the body to bring total body health. She is the author of When the Body Speaks: Understanding Cleansing, Gut Health, and Individual Healing — along with educational wellness titles for families and children. With her Healthy Me! Series, she brings her healing knowledge to children with engaging stories and beautiful illustrations. I had the chance to talk with her about her reading memories and influences, writing practices, and what she has in store for us next.

  • What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?

Dr. Elena Rybak: As a child, I loved reading books about dogs and adventures. I enjoyed getting lost in a story and imagining the places I could go and the experiences I could have through its pages. Those books helped fuel my imagination and gave me an appreciation for how stories can entertain us while opening our minds to new worlds. Looking back, I think that early love of reading helped inspire my own desire to create books that children can enjoy and learn from.

  • Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?

Dr. Elena Rybak: I didn’t have just one favorite author. I was drawn to stories that captured my imagination, especially books about animals and adventures. What I loved most was the ability of a good author to take readers beyond their everyday lives and make them curious about the world around them. Today, I bring that same appreciation for imagination and learning to my own writing. I want my books to engage children while introducing ideas that can make a positive difference in their lives.

  • Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.

Dr. Elena Rybak: My writing is inspired by both my professional work and my life experiences. As a holistic nutrition practitioner for more than 23 years and a mother of three boys, I’ve had many opportunities to observe how our everyday habits influence our well-being. Sometimes an idea grows out of something I’ve seen in my practice; other times, it begins with a simple concept I want to share with readers. I focus on developing the message I want each book to communicate and finding a way to make it meaningful and accessible to its intended audience.

  • What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?

Dr. Elena Rybak: I want to continue creating books that help people better understand their bodies, their health, and themselves. My Healthy Me! children’s series introduces young readers to healthy habits in an engaging and approachable way. It currently includes Berry Good Friends, Veggie Parade, and Water Please! For adult readers, my book When The Body Speaks explores the body’s systems and the signals they give us. I also wrote When Survival Became a Choice, which explores the emotional journey that can follow cancer treatment. Whatever the audience, I hope my books encourage curiosity, understanding, and positive change.

  • What is writing to you in one sentence?

Dr. Elena Rybak: Writing is my way of turning knowledge, life experience, and a passion for helping others into stories and ideas that can inspire people to live healthier, more thoughtful lives.

Book Blurb:

Berry Good Friends: Healthy Me! Series

Berry Good Friends — is a fun, rhyming picture book that introduces children to the colorful world of fruits and their health superpowers. Each cheerful fruit character shares how it helps the body grow strong – from apples that support bright smiles to berries that boost brain power and bananas that fuel energy for play. Written in playful rhyme and designed for young children, this story makes healthy eating easy to understand and exciting to explore. Part of the Healthy Me! series, this book helps children build positive habits around nutrition through joyful storytelling and engaging visuals. A special parent and teacher note at the end provides simple guidance for reinforcing healthy choices at home and in the classroom. Perfect for ages 2-7, classrooms, family reading time, and wellness programs.

Berry Good Friends: Healthy Me! Series is available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com. It was a Book of the Year Finalist at B&N.

Amazon Buy Link
Barnes & Noble Buy Link

For more information on Dr. Elena Rybak, please visit her Author page on Amazon.com.

Amazon Author Page

Oct22

Interview with Colleen M. Bratley

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Colleen M. Bratley is the author of the picture book, “Jack and Bubble”.

As we enter into our spooky season, children are encouraged to use their imaginations as they embrace their learning. This is a great time to settle down with a book with your child as their mind escapes to the realms of fantasy. I have a fabulous picture book that will endear learning about kindness and self-expression, “Jack and Bubble”. I had a chance to talk to the author, Colleen M. Bratley, about her reading experiences as a child and how she is trying to make reading a positive time for learning social and moral skills.

  • What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?

Colleen M. Bratley: Feeling like I went to another place or world just by reading a book. It was exciting to me. I didn’t read as much when I was younger, but from middle school on, I almost always had a book open.

  • Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?

Colleen M. Bratley: I didn’t have a favorite; I loved so many of them. Any creative, well-written book was my favorite. How the author wrote, their style, helped me develop my own style. I wanted my words to flow as well as some authors’ did. It was definitely, and still is, a daily process. I even enjoy the edits many authors abhor.

  • Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.

Colleen M. Bratley: I write mostly at night. The day gets in the way, and other interruptions, so the quiet of night works best for me—either that or early in the morning. I very often wear headphones with classical music or just the sound of rain in the background. It helps me focus.

  • What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?

Colleen M. Bratley: I have numerous books in mind. I love children’s books that tell a story and also guide them with morals, love, and new learning or a new way of looking at things. Then I also love to write young adult, not only for the same reasons as the children’s books, but also in fiction where you can create new worlds, exotic and paranormal situations which expand the mind and nudge them to think outside of the box, learning that nothing is really impossible. That is fun.

The next children’s book I just finished for illustrations is titled Danica Dares To Dream. That was fun and is actually lightly based on my daughter Danica. Then I have the third book in the Morac series I am writing, which is almost done, along with, And Then I Saw Her, another young adult book almost finished. The next young adult will be about a female Cherokee shaman; I don’t have all the details worked out on that one yet. I have others but only the basic ideas written out.

  • What is writing to you in one sentence?

Colleen M. Bratley: Creating an adventurous, mind-bending, uplifting, thrilling, creative, and clean story for others to enjoy makes my heart sing.

Book Blurb:

Title: Jack and Bubble

A young boy and bee meet together in a fantastic world. Through their friendship, they learn the magic of self-expression and the freedom of showing their true selves. The lesson of expressing oneself through style while learning to be tolerant of others is shown beautifully through this unusual pairing of friends.

Jack and Bubble are available at the author’s website below.

Buy Link Here

For more information on the author, visit her website below.

More Info Here
Oct2

Day 5: Book Review Recap for 2026 Back to School Blog Tour

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Thank you to all the readers that have stopped by this week. It’s been a pleasure bringing you all of the different children’s books. All of the participating authors really appreciate you exploring and learning about their books.

Below, I’ve recapped each book and its author and linked back to its review. If you missed any of the book reviews, or maybe, you’re stopping by after the first week of October, you can catch up on any of the books you’d like.

Day 1: Penny Lane in Florence by Sarah Arias

Day 2: Enyonam’s Kind Heart by Bright Love Tales

Day 3: Ellie’s Magical Surprise by Erin Davenport

Day 4: It’s Not Your Fault by Ann Moody

Thanks again for stopping by. Submissions for the 2027 Back to School Blog Tour starts in the beginning of the summer in 2027. Plus, I take submissions for book reviews and author interviews all year round. Please feel free to submit if you’re a children’s author.

Submit Here

-Tiffany Turner

Head Writer/Editor of the Indie Children’s Authors Connection

Oct1

Day 4 of the 2026 Back to School Blog Tour

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Welcome to Day 4 of the Back to School Blog Tour. Today, I have a helpful book for those children going through a trauma with a parent that is doing drugs. As a retired teacher, it is sometimes part of teaching to try to help support children with trauma at home. It is also helpful to let other children know some of the difficulties other children might be experiencing in their daily lives.

The book, “It’s Not Your Fault: A Child’s Story of Drug Addiction” is a picture book that goes through the process of a child saving her mother from a drug overdose and what happens after. It’s a great read for any classroom during Red Ribbon Week to help understand the process of drug addiction and how it affects children.

Cindy is a third grader with a family that might differ from others. She tells her story about her mother’s addiction to drugs and how that has affected her. It’s a brilliant telling of how she calls 911 when her mother overdoses. She talks about the steps she goes through and all the people that help her and her mother along the way. From the police officers, to the judge and child services worker, Cindy relates her point of view of all that happened, including finally going to live with her grandparents. The message of it not being her fault is skillfully described through character dialog and personal thoughts from Cindy. It’s a beautiful depiction of what a child struggling through this kind of trauma might experience and want to share with others.

I would recommend this picture book as a great read-aloud during Red Ribbon Week to illustrate what illegal drug use does to families. Told through the sensitive point of view of the daughter of a drug user, children will relate with the protagonist and understand that this kind of situation is not the fault of any child. Plus, it opens up the classroom or home to discussions about this topic, whether there is a family member or friend going through a similar situation.

“It’s Not My Fault: A Child’s Story of Drug Addiction” is a read-aloud that tells the point of view of a child of a drug user and how it affects her family and life. It will be an asset to any classroom or home library to help explain how drug use isn’t the fault of the child related to the user, and that there are a lot of helpful safety nets available to help through this type of trauma.

“It’s Not My Fault” is available on the Wildfire Rose Book Company Website.

Purchase Your Copy Here

You can also donate this book as a gift to CASA workers, DJFS, foster care groups that can use this book in their work with children.

Info Here
Sep30

Day 3 of the 2026 Back to School Blog Tour

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Welcome to day 3 of the Back to School Blog Tour. Today, I have a fantastical, magical surprise for you. It’s Ellie’s Magical Surprise, a picture book that will help beginning readers with their phonics and imagination. Written by Erin Davenport, this beautifully illustrated picture book will sparkle in the minds of any child that wanted to own a unicorn, including myself when I was a child.

Ellie is waking up on what she thinks is a normal day. But after breakfast, she discovers, with help from her mother, someone else living in the horse stables on her farm, a magical unicorn. After exploring each stable, she bonds with the new creature living with the other horses. It’s a pleasant surprise that will enchant any horse owner and child that loves horses.

The first thing that stands out about this picture book is the repeated rhyming words that help with phonics identification for beginning readers. This is a picture book that beginning readers will be able to follow along or read themselves. It brings to mind the early rhyming text used by Dr. Seuss to help children with decoding words. But even better. After exploring the stables on her farm, Ellie discovers a new friend, a unicorn. I am sure the adventures that await them will be enchanting.

I recommend this picture book for teacher’s needing beginning reader books in their reading groups or if teaching reading workshops. It also has a little girl protagonist to give variety in storytelling heroes. The rhyming patterning of the text is great for beginning decoding. It will also be a great fantasy picture book read for parent’s that are homeschooling, especially if your child adores horses and would love to own a unicorn.

Ellie’s Magical Surprise is a beautifully illustrated book that will help any horse-loving child with their phonics and decoding.

This Kindle unlimited book is available on Amazon as a ebook or in print.

Purchase Here!

For more information on Erin Davenport and her other books, visit her author page here.

Sep29

Day 2 of the 2026 Back to School Blog Tour

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Welcome to Day Two of the Back to School Blog Tour. I’m sure about now, thoughts are turning to fall and reading unit planning. I’ve got a wonderful picture book with the theme of kindness and sharing to add to any reading unit. Enyonam’s Kind Heart is a beautifully illustrated picture book told from the perspective of a kind Ghana girl that chooses kindness and transforms her neighborhood. It’s a great book to dive into for this new fall season.

Enyonam is a Ghana girl that lives in a wealthy home, but is gifted with a kind heart. When talking with her grandmother, she learns that sharing often leads to spreading kindness. Through actions of buying oranges from the older market woman with no sales, sharing the oranges as snacks, and showing her cousin how to share, love and kindness spreads in her neighborhood. Her cousin, Ale, also learns the lesson when he finally decides to share his locked up toys with his other classmates.

This is a beautifully told story highlighting Ghana culture, vocabulary and traditions. The culture is reflected in the story and illustrations with loving details. We’re taken into Enyonam’s neighborhood and shown aspects of Ghana that many readers will enjoy learning about. There are very helpful discussion activities and questions at the end of the book which will help any teacher or parent with home schooling.

I found this to be a great introduction to morals and themes in a story as well. Plus, this would be a great picture book to start with the social morals that have to be emphasized in creating the classroom community each school year.

I highly recommend Enyonam’s Kind Heart as a beginning of the year read-aloud or literature circle story to heighten the community building in a classroom or at home.

To purchase the book at the Bright Love Learning Hub website, please hit the button below.

Purchase Here

Nov21

A Second Interview with Michael Dibley

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The holidays will soon be upon us. Likely, thoughts of what gifts to get are churning in your mind for your child or grandchild. Books are great gifts! Picture books are wonderful ways to connect with your child during read-aloud time before bed and to stimulate their imagination. So, I’ve been gathering info on some great new picture books for you to consider for your child’s home library. Teachers, these would be great for your class library.

 “The Magpie’s Reflection” is my first choice for your gift giving list. It’s a great story about losing something you take for granted and then trying to recover. Your child will meet Magnus, a magpie thrown into a moment of turmoil and shown kindness to survive. This touching story will warm your heart as it did mine. I had a chance to interview the author, Mike Dibley, about his love for writing and reading, and what he’ll be up to in future projects.

  1. What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?

Mike Dibley: Probably reading Peter Rabbit books. There was something magical about them. I also fell in love with the watercolour style of the books, something that has kept with me after all this time.

2) What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?

Mike Dibley: Children’s books are what I want to keep writing about. It’s all an adventure, whether it’s stories told or stories to learn. It’s all fine with me.

3) What is writing to you in one sentence?

Mikie Dibley: Writing is relaxing and a way to declutter thoughts.

Book Blurb/Cover:

High above the bustling city, two magpies Millie and Magnus perch on a rooftop, judging the world below with sharp eyes and sharper beaks. But when a powerful wind sweeps them apart, Magnus is thrust into a journey he never expected. Lost and alone, Magnus is rescued by a kind old woman who shows him a different side of life, one filled with warmth, kindness, and self-discovery.

As he heals, Magnus begins to see himself and others through a gentler lens. But will he ever find Millie again? And if not, can he find the courage to fly forward into the unknown?

“Magpie’s Reflection” is available on Amazon in Kindle or paperback format.

Purchase on Amazon

Link here for the first interview with Mike Dibley and information on his book, “Iwa, the Snowflake”.

For more information on Mike Dibley, please visit his Amazon Author Page.

Sep3

Back to School Blog Tour 2025 Day 3 – Book Review of “Brave Enough: Atlan and the Farm Animals”

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“Brave Enough: Atlan and the Farm Animals” by Bowe Balhoff is a charming picture book of facing fears and unknown experiences on a farm. The main character, Atlan, is a quiet 4-year-old boy based on the author’s real son. He is experiencing his first trip away from his parents by spending time on his grandparents’ farm. The kindness and love that surround the little boy start the story. The grandparents start with comforting things to calm his fears of his new surroundings. Home-made ice cream is the ticket. But of course, new experiences, such as feeding chickens and a pig, could be overwhelming for any 4-year-old. They kindly guide him through these activities.

The unique aspect of this story is that Atlan changes into an animal several times when scared, expressing how he feels in relation to meeting the other animals. First, he turns into a snail while feeding the chickens. Then, he turns into a mouse when meeting the pig, and so on. The animals he turns into embody his feelings. These are such relatable symbols for children dealing with new experiences and the real fear that goes along. When he has acknowledged his feelings for the situation, he changes back into a boy. It’s such a nice way to show this emotional change for the character. His grandmother’s voice is the catalyst for the emotional growth as she guides him into navigating his fear of the farm animals.

New experiences such as feeding chickens and a pig could be overwhelming for any 4-year-old. I loved the way that this story acknowledges those fears, and brings comfort to the character and the reader alike. Techniques to help with anxiety are shared within the story, such as slow breathing, trying to look at a new point of view, and trying to focus on the fun aspects. Granny’s protective arm, showing the support of family, is another life line for the character and reader.

Overall, this is a great story showing a young boy facing the unknown with support from his family. I would recommend this book to any parent or teacher that is trying to model how a child can face unknown challenges, navigate their complex feelings, and look to their family for support. This would be great for any class or home library. Grandparents would find this a fabulous gift to give their grandchildren, especially if they own a farm.

“Brave Enough: Atlan and the Farm Animals” is available at Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.

For more information on books by Bowe Balhoff, visit her website at: https://www.bowebalhoff.com/.

Jun9

Interview with Shanna Ward

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Shanna Ward is the author of the picture book “Little John T. Ward and the Quilted Code: Let Ward Do It“.

Summer is upon us, and it’s time to think about keeping your child’s mind engaged in learning by reading. This is a crucial time to continue to stress reading so as to not lose the gains that happened during the last school year. This is easy to do with selected educational bedtime stories or on your child’s at home D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read) time.

I have a great summer reading and Juneteenth recommendation along with an interview with the author. “Little John T. Ward and the Quilted Code: Let Ward Do It” is a way to bring historical references to teaching about unity, friendship and the courage to speak out and make a difference. Using her connection to her ancestor, Shanna Ward has brought to life the story of a boy that helped fight oppression. She brings the insightfulness of a boy helping others with beautiful illustrations expressing the struggle and story. I had a chance to ask her some questions about what inspired her as a child, what her writing routine is like, and what she has planned along her writing path.

1) What is your favorite memory from reading as a child?

Shanna Ward: One of my favorite memories from reading as a child was sitting with my Grandparent’s parents before bedtime as they read my favorite story to me. It was such a comforting and bonding experience, and I always looked forward to spending summers with them. The characters and adventures from the story would come to life in my imagination, and it was a magical time that instilled in me a lifelong love for reading.

2) Who was your favorite author and how did they influence you?

Shanna Ward: I have always been drawn to Judy Blume’s relatable and honest depictions of the joys and struggles of growing up. Her characters faced real-life challenges and emotions, making her books deeply resonant for me as a young reader. Blume fearlessly tackled topics like friendship, family, and the complexities of adolescence with authenticity and empathy. Her writing normalized the experiences and feelings I was navigating, making me feel seen and understood. Judy Blume’s ability to address sensitive subjects with compassion and understanding has had a lasting influence on my own approach to empathy and storytelling.

3) Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.

 Shanna Ward: I make it a habit to write every day, usually late at night when my mind is more creative. I start by outlining my main points and organizing my thoughts. Then, I dedicate uninterrupted time to writing and setting specific goals for the day. I find that this routine helps me maintain focus and productivity. Additionally, taking short breaks between writing sessions helps me stay energized and maintain a clear perspective on my work.

4) What subjects would you like to write about in future projects?

 Shanna Ward: I would like to explore writing about topics such as African American History, Insurance, and travel experiences. These subjects align with my interests and allow for creativity and exploration in my writing. Additionally, I am open to branching out into new areas that can expand my knowledge and offer fresh perspectives to my audience. I’m currently writing a psychological thriller and tap into narcissistic characteristics.

5) What is writing to you in one sentence?

Shanna Ward: To me, writing is a creative expression that allows me to articulate thoughts, share stories, and connect with others on a deeper level.

Book Blurb:

Join Little John T. Ward on a journey of kindness and courage as he, alongside his ponies Libby and Dom, discovers the power of unity and friendship. As he aids escaped slaves in finding their way to freedom, John T. and his community learn that even a small boy can make a big difference. With vibrant illustrations and heartwarming moments, this tale is perfect for young readers aged 6-9, teaching them the importance of helping others and working together. This book is an essential element to teaching about the injustices of slavery to the younger generation.

“Little John T. Ward and the Quilted Code: Let Ward Do It” is available on Amazon.com and is a Kindle Unlimited title.

Purchase Here

For more information on Shanna Ward and her book, visit her website at: https://www.bequest1820project.com/.

Meet Shanna Ward in person at the Columbus Book Festival in the Indie Authors Alley.

Dec17

Interview with Pompey Poppleton

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Are you looking for the perfect Christmas gift or stocking stuffer? Does your child or grandchild like books with a sense of humor? Do they like books with dogs? If so, I’ve found a great combination that will make the perfect Holiday gift for your young reader.

“Billy Boxter Meets Snotser” is a farcical book that tells the story of a troublesome foster dog. Billy thinks he can tame the dog, and the story that unfolds will warm your heart.

Pompey Poppleton is the author of this book. He lives in a small village on the west coast of Ireland, and he draws from his childhood and literary background to write his stories. I had the opportunity to talk with him about his writing journey and how he wrote his debut book.

What is your favourite memory from reading as a child?

Pompey Poppleton: I read only Sinead de Valera books as a very young child for many years. Sinead’s stories were all based on Irish myths, fairies, ghosts and witches. During the summer months, my granddad and I, with his beloved cocker spaniel Suzie, would walk every evening. We’d walk together past an old cottage by a towering gnarly, oak tree and hop over a large metal gate through poppy fields that led into a dark forest. We would be gone for hours.

It was thrilling to visit ancient sites like a hill fort as well as my cherished mystical forest. Enchanted lakes, forests and witch’s cottages were often the locations for many of Sinead’s books, which brought her stories to life when I would later be in bed reading them after my walks. I would have a perfect image in my mind based on where we had explored and the stories became so much more invigorating and realistic to me. Her books instilled in me a love for reading, history, the Irish landscape and the other world, the world of mythology.

Who was your favourite author and how did they influence you?

Pompey Poppleton: From the age of eleven, I started reading P.G. Wodehouse books, and he was a major influence in how I wrote the Billy book. I love the fun and farcical element to his stories with silly names thrown in. My favourite is The Blanding book series. The dotty Lord Emsworth, who faithfully adores his pet pig, is my favourite character out of all the P.G. Wodehouse books. Mr. Kringle is loosely based on him. He also adores and spoils his pet cat, an old Ragamuffin, called Orangutang.

Do you have a writing routine?

Pompey Poppleton: Not in terms of time, I wouldn’t ever decide to sit daily for a certain number of hours to write. But as regards to story writing and plotting, I would always follow a particular routine and that is to write everything by hand.

I like the freestyle method. I just write whatever comes to mind, and then later organize into characters, names, traits, themes, chapters and so on. I could get an idea for a name, Billy’s dog for example, but then how I want Billy to look could just pop into my head so I would write that down too. Everything looks a mess in my A4 notebook with random lists and words like names, locations, plots and anything that comes to mind just written down. It really is chaos to anyone else looking at my notes. My ideas would come to me, always when I am out and about, like a quirky name or location. So, I would make a note of it in my phone or into a notepad.

The next stage would be to decide how many chapters I would like. Again, I would write under each chapter title, add rough ideas, and organize what event or story would happen. That would give me direction as to where the book was coming from and going to. If that felt right, I would proceed with more details and particulars in relation to plot and character.

This book has been fifteen years in the making. It wasn’t easy in the beginning to write so freely and to be farcical. When I decided to let go of what I thought the book should be, I then began to write the way I really wanted. That was when the story truly came alive and the ideas flowed readily. The book was finished in no time.

Book Blurb for “Billy Boxter Meets Snotser”:

Snotser is a 2-year old parson terrier. Injured and starving, he was brought to the shelter after being abandoned. He’s fostered many times, but none of the fosterers have any patience with him. Billy finally adopts Snotser, but chaos ensues just as Mrs. Dank, the rescue warden, arrives for a final unannounced visit.

Snotser must now go to obedience school and pass his course. This is Snotser’s last chance to stay with The Boxters. Will Snotser be denied his forever home? Can Billy devise a plan that will work? Or will Snotser get drawn into more trouble that could sabotage Billy’s plan to keep him.

“Billy Boxter Meets Snotser” is available at: Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com.

For more information on Pompey Poppleton, please visit his Amazon author page here.

Website link will be available soon.