Miss Amanda’s Picture Book Picks – January 2025

Picture books are such a wonderful way to explore the world, and I am a firm believer that they can be enjoyed by all ages. Here are three new(ish) books that I recommend as we start the new year.

Brown Girl, Brown Girl, written by Leslé Honoré and illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera

Honoré wrote the poem “Brown Girl” in 2016 for her daughters and reworked the poem in 2020 to honor Kamala Harris as the first brown girl elected as Vice President. Caldecott honoree Cozbi A. Cabrera illustrated this book, released in November 2024. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially to those who have a brown girl in their life. The affirming text and beautiful art make it a joy to flip through.

A Hat for House, written by Audrey Perrott and illustrated by Druscilla Santiago

Perrott writes in her bio that she didn’t starting her writing career “until life sent scary storms her way.” Whether these were actual or metaphorical storms, I’m glad she was able to pull something meaningful from a bad situation. A Hat for House is about how a community can band together to help one another after a disaster. Santiago illustrated this book with an expressive, cartoon style and diverse cast to capture a feeling of togetherness.

The Star in You, written by Katrina Moore and illustrated by Amber Ren

Moore, a former teacher, dedicated this book to her former students. Anyone who spends time around children knows that sometimes they just need a little personal attention to really shine. This book is all about how your star- perhaps a metaphor for mood, self-esteem or overall spirit- can grow and shrink and change depending on what you go through in life. It ends optimistically, with a teacher encouraging a student to share joy. The art by Ren is very gentle and romantic, making the words feel even more comforting.

~posted by Amanda H.

  Picture books are such a wonderful way to explore the world, and I am a firm believer that they can be enjoyed by all ages. Here are three new(ish) books that I recommend as we start the new year. Brown Girl, Brown Girl, written by Leslé Honoré and illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera Honoré wrote … Continue reading “Miss Amanda’s Picture Book Picks – January 2025” 

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