July 2 – National Pickle Month

About the Holiday

July is made for picnics and picnics are made for pickles! If your sandwich or hot dog is just not the same without the tang of pickles or you love nothing more than biting into a crunchy gherkin, dill, or other variety, then this holiday is for you! Instituted in 1949 with encouragement by the Pickle Packers, this observance celebrates the popularity of pickles. An eye-popping 5,200,000 pounds of pickles are eaten in the US every year! Pickles have a storied history, going back thousands of years to 2030 BC, when pickling was used as a preservative. Even Cleopatra and Julius Caesar lauded the beauty and strengthening properties of pickles! So, if you relish pickles by themselves or incorporated into your favorite dish—enjoy!

Thanks to Tundra Books for sending me this book for review!

The Wise Pickle

Written by Sarah Howden | Illustrated by Sabina Hahn

One day, a pickle appeared “on the side of the road, against the wall of a dry cleaners” and, speaking into the ether, took stock. “‘I am a pickle on the side of the road. . . I have lived a lot of life.'” Hearing this, animals began to gather and seek answers from the pickle’s seemingly vast store of knowledge. A rat propped the pickle upon a pillow, and from there it made pronouncements, both philosophical and mystical. When a mouse offered the pickle a crumb, the pickle said, “‘I’m here to feed others, not to eat.'”

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Sabina Hahn. Text copyright © 2026 by Sarah Howden. Courtesy of Tundra Books.

Over hours and days, this gherkin guru’s followers hung on its every word, even as their mentor shriveled in the hot sun. Their questions ranged from the proverbial “‘Why are we here?'” to the more pointed “‘How did you get here?'” The pickle was generous with its answers, revealing that it “‘used to live underwater . . . in a salty brine like the sea, but with more garlic,'” and sharing its inauspicious, yet shocking, past and its last wishes.

As the pickle’s prospects grew bleak, the animals accommodated its final desire and gathered to say goodbye. But this extraordinary pickle’s mission is not finished. In fact, its influence may just be taking off.

Smart, funny, and steeped in the tart and tangy pleasures of absurdism, Sarah Howden’s ingenious story will keep kids and adults laughing at its melding of droll humor, parody, and endearing characters. Her deft touch with straightforward storytelling amplifies her beguiling descriptions and laugh-out-loud dialogue, leaving readers happily enlightened. Howden’s enigmatic hero is one readers will never forget.

From the moment the pickle bounces onto the scene, Sabina Hahn’s deadpan graphite pencil and watercolor illustrations hilariously trace the pickle’s elevation from sidewalk curiosity to enthroned guru. The pickle’s wide, staring eyes express subtle emotions as the animals gather, their paws clasped in reverence as they lean in to learn his story and absorb his wisdom. Infused with sincerity, Hahn’s simply composed images are as charming as they are farcical, a perfect match for Sarah Howden’s story.

The Wise Pickle is a hilarious, contemplative story that all ages will eat up and request again and again. It is a must for any library or home collection and would make a delectable gift for any child.

Ages 4 – 8

Tundra Books, 2026 | ISBN 978-1774886984

Sarah Howden is the author of several books for children, including Cone Cat, Cone Dog and The Tunnel. Her poems have been published in Grain and Jones Av., and stories in Chirp and Chickadee magazines. Sarah is also an editor at Orca Book Publishers, where she enjoys helping other writers sculpt their stories. She works out writing conundrums on walks around her neighborhood or by distracting herself with snacks (she won’t say no to a crunchy pickle). Having grown up in the Niagara Region, she now lives in Toronto with her husband, daughter, and two mischievous cats. Follow her on Instagram.

Illustrator, animator and sculptor Sabina Hahn has been a voracious reader and an unstoppable doodler her whole life, which has led her into the world of children’s books. She loves stories, tall tales and most importantly, pickles. Sabina grew up in Riga, Latvia, and now lives in New York. Visit her at sabinahahn.com.

National Pickle Month Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-pickle-maze

Pack a Peck of Pickles Puzzle

The pickle jar has toppled over! Can you pick up the pickles in the maze to pack them in the jar again?

Pack a Peck of Pickles Puzzle | Pack a Peck of Pickles Puzzle Solution

You can purchase The Wise Pickle from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

June 30 – Honoring George Washington on America’s 250th Anniversary

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

On July 4th America will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. This foundational document, adopted by delegates to the Continental Congress, summarized the colonists’ motivations for severing their ties with Great Britain to become an independent country. George Washington’s leadership—as a young man, through the war for independence, and as president—set a high standard for future politicians and presidents. Today’s book honors Washington’s legacy.

Thank you to Abrams Books for Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book for review!

George Washington: A Revolutionary Life

By Tim Grove

Absorbing and surprising, George Washington: A Revolutionary Life presents the biography of the man who became America’s first president as well as a look at 18th-century life and social constructs. George Washington looms large over the history of the United States, just as his stature in a crowd commanded attention—George stood 6 feet 2 inches, while the average man was around 5 feet 2 inches. As historian and author Tim Grove eloquently reveals, George Washington influenced much more than our nation’s war for independence and nascent government. He was a savvy experimental farmer, entrepreneur, spy, and leader—and all without formal education past the age of 14.

With a natural curiosity and penchant for continuous education, George leapt at a wide range of opportunities to learn from books and the people he met on his many professional and military excursions. He incorporated all of his experiences, including defeats as well as success, into a world view that informed his opinions on farming and British rule, his actions during wartime, finesse in negotiating, and his leadership in building a new government.

Having inherited farmland from his father at the age of 11 and an estate including Mount Vernon at age 20, following his brother’s death, as well as attaining another vast estate with his marriage to Martha Dandridge Custis at the age of 27, George Washington was an enslaver throughout his life. Grove points to private correspondence in which he expressed his sincere wishes to “see a plan adopted for the abolition of [slavery]” and his freeing of William Lee in his will to demonstrate Washington’s evolving opinion on the inhumanity of slavery. Ultimately, however, Washington bowed to the authority of the Virginia legislature to affect this change.

The stories of enslaved men, women, and children, including Ona Judge, Martha Washington’s personal maid; William Lee, Washington’s valet; and Doll, Mount Vernon’s chief cook, are woven throughout Grove’s narrative in detailed sections, giving readers a view of their lives at Mount Vernon.

Readers also meet and get to know the strong and influential women in Washington’s life, including his mother, Mary Ball Washington; his wife Martha Dandridge Custis Washington; Catharine Macaulay Graham, an “English political thinker”; and Elizabeth Willing Powel, who hosted and participated in political and philosophical discussions among the delegates to the Constitutional Convention at her home.

Tim Grove concludes with examples of George Washington’s continuing legacy that we as a country still celebrate today. Images of maps, paintings, photographs, documents, and other types of primary sources liberally accompany nearly every page, helping readers visualize and understand colonial life. Back matter includes a timeline of George Washington’s life, notes for every chapter with links to online sources, an Author’s Note, and an Index.

Tim Grove’s George Washington: A Revolutionary Life is a thoughtful and thoroughly fascinating biography of George Washington that reveals him as a remarkable and astute man, who with courage and humility united disparate colonies toward one goal while setting America and her system of government apart as an example of what democracy could achieve. Grove’s writing is not just accessible, it is riveting. His engaging text, which flows smoothly and quickly, clearly explains important concepts, connecting the culture of yesteryear and today in ways that readers of all ages can appreciate.

George Washington: A Revolutionary Life is a must for all public and school library collections as well as for classroom history and government classes. History buffs of all ages will find the book an immersive and enlightening reference for home bookshelves as well.

Ages 10 – 14+

Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2026 | ISBN 979-8887076461

About the Author

Historian Tim Grove has written several books for young readers. His book Star-Spangled was named a Best Book of 2020 by Kirkus Reviews and the Chicago Public Library, and First Flight Around the World was a finalist for the American Library Association’s YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction award. He holds a graduate degree in history and an undergraduate degree in journalism. Grove’s career has included positions at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, National Air and Space Museum, and National Museum of American History. Grove lives in Falls Church, Virginia. Visit him at timgrove.net.

About Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon is owned and maintained for the people of the United States by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union, a private, nonprofit organization (501c3) founded in 1853. At the forefront of the field, the Association is the oldest national historic preservation organization in the country. It is directed by a board of regents, comprised solely of women, who represent nearly 30 states. The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association preserves, restores, and manages the estate of George Washington and educates visitors and people throughout the world about the life and legacies of American’s first president.

You can purchase George Washington: A Revolutionary Life from these booksellers

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Picture Book Review

June 25 – National Day of Joy

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

The National Day of Joy encourages everyone to look for simple moments and expressions of happiness in daily life. Cheerful smiles and greetings, random acts of kindness, upbeat moods, and general positivity can affect not only immediate interactions but our moods and our health. To honor the day and the idea, find ways to start each morning with a positive attitude for the day to come. Need ideas for how to get started? Say “Hello” to those you meet, listen to and encourage others, happily help out where needed, send a surprise letter, card, or text to a friend or family member far away. And, of course, doing something fun with your kids always makes the day better. Today’s book shows how simple pleasures and hard-won accomplishments can bring a special kind of joy to all ages.

Thank you to Abrams Books for Young Readers for sending me this book for review!

Robin and the Stick

By E. B. Goodale

“Robin always had a stick.” Sticks were Robin’s go-to for playing, decorating, and general all-around love. It was easy finding sticks—right outside his window, an old tree “rained them down as it blew in the wind.” Every morning as mama lifted Robin into the air, she said, “‘Today you are the biggest you’ve ever been!'” Robin wasn’t sure what she meant. One day when Robin and Mama went for their walk, they encountered “the best stick Robin had ever seen.”

The stick was so large it blocked the sidewalk, and even though Robin tried every way to lift it, this stick didn’t budge. Mama explained that it was a branch—a stick too heavy to pick up. Every day, Robin tried different ways to lift it, but never could. Then one morning the day began as usual, plus “one hundred kisses” from Mama, before they went outside, where the branch still waited. This time Robin put every ounce of strength into the mission and suddenly, Robin was holding it aloft! Robin dragged the branch home, proudly thinking “today I’m the biggest I’ve ever been!” and knowing the perfect way to use this prize.

E. B. Goodale’s debut book in her “Robin’s World” series for the youngest readers is infused with the joy of growing and learning and will make you smile from beginning to end. In her adorably pint-sized book, Goodale plays with notions of change and growth as well as young and old. Robin is shown in various perspectives—small at home and when first encountering the branch to larger closeups of Robin’s day-to-day efforts to lift it. On the day of Robin’s ultimate success, Goodale mirrors the image of Robin’s first sight of the branch, but from the opposite side. Now Robin fills the page, while the branch, shown along the illustration’s narrowing path, appears much smaller than before.

Readers suddenly join Robin in the idea that today may just be the day—and, indeed, it is! As Robin lifts the branch and proudly drags it into the house, adults will appreciate the mother’s comically accepting stance at the door. Goodale’s heartwarming black-and-white monoprint and oil paint illustrations, tapped with red in Robin’s coat and Mama’s uplifting phrase, also highlight concrete moments and Robin’s focused attention.

A joyful book for offering encouragement, celebrating milestones, inspiring imagination, looking back and looking forward, Robin and the Stick is a must for every library collection and a story adults and children will enjoy at home for years. The book makes a wonderful gift for baby showers and new parents. The lack of pronouns makes it a universal story for any child.

Ages 3 – 6

Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2026 | ISBN 978-1419780837

E. B. Goodale can often be found wandering in her local arboretum, looking for the perfect stick. She is the author/illustrator of The Moon Remembers, Also, and Under the Lilacs, and has illustrated many other books for children, including Windows by Julia Denos, and The Bees of Notre-Dame by Meghan P. Browne. She lives with her family under a big old tree in coastal Massachusetts. Visit her at ebgoodale.com.

National Day of Joy Activity

Robin and the Stick Coloring Page

Join Robin for exploration and fun with this coloring page! Parents, caregivers, and teachers can find this activity as well as a video of E. B. Goodale talking about making of Robin’s World on E. B. Goodale’s website.

You can purchase Robin and the Stick from these booksellers

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Picture Book Review

June 24 – It’s Hurricane Season

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

If you live in a coastal area, you’re used to watching for hurricanes during the summer and fall. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, while the Eastern Pacific season begins a month earlier. Meteorologists and wary residents follow these tropical cyclones as they swirl across the ocean, threatening any landmass in their way. To be categorized as a hurricane, the storm must possess sustained winds of or above 74 miles per hour. You can learn more about hurricanes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website. Kids can learn ten facts about hurricanes on the National Geographic Kids website.

Thanks to Abrams Books for Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book for review!

Tajín and the Twelve Thunders: A Pre-Columbian Myth

By Magaly Morales

Tajín was a fun-loving, mischievous boy who wanted nothing more than for the animals to play with him, but even the monkeys, jaguars, and macaws ran away from him. Tajín went to the wise god Quetzalcóatl to ask why no one would play with him. Quetzalcóatl told him that he must learn to be more gentle, and sent him to learn from the Twelve Thunders, saying “‘they bring harsh storms, but they also bring calming rains.'” Tajín walked through the jungle to the Pirámide de los Nichos, the home of the Twelve Thunders.

When Tajín met the Thunders, he discovered that his reputation as a “troublemaker” was well-known, and the Thunders rejected him, despite his offer to cook and clean. At last one of the Thunders convinced the others to give Tajín a chance, and they relented. As he helped with the work, Tajín learned when to be gentle and when more strength was needed.

Then one day it rained, and Tajín knew the Thunderclouds were nearby. He went out to watch and witnessed how the wind swirled with a wave of their capes, how stomping their boots caused ground-shaking thunder, and how brandishing their lightening bolts lit up the sky. When the Thunders returned, Tajín begged them to teach him their art, but they told him he wasn’t ready.

One hot day when he was left alone, Tajín went to the Thunders’ storage chest and gathered boots, a cloak, and a lightning bolt. Tajín danced lightly, and a gentle, cooling rain fell. But then he began dancing wildly, and “the rain raged and the winds swirled.” The trees, lashed and bent, tossed the monkeys from their branches. The oceans rose in enormous, crashing waves. Tajín watched sea creatures playing in the wild waves. “What fun that looks! he thought.” But the Thunders were angry. They ordered Tajín to come down, but he refused and ran away. When the Thunders cleverly caught him, his fortunes were forever changed.

Back matter includes an Author’s Note, in which Magaly Morales reveals her connection to the myth, a short history of the region of El Tajín as well as the meaning of the name “Tajín,” two photographs of the Pirámide de los Nichos (Pyramid of Niches), and a select bibliography.

Magaly Morales hooks children from the start as Tajín’s antics alienate his other would-be playmates, leaving only him and young readers to meet the twelve Thunders and learn Tajín’s fate. Morales immerses kids in the Thunders’ deliberations to let Tajín stay with them and the resulting non-stop action that leads to suspense and a surprise ending. Morales’s distinctive illustrations are prismatic masterpieces, sizzling with the heat of their Mexican setting and the vividness of this child-centric origin story of how the first hurricanes were created. Images of the twelve Thunders at work will wow children as will the lush natural scenery.

Tajín and the Twelve Thunders: A Pre-Columbian Myth is a rousing read-aloud, which could also easily be converted into a play for classroom settings. The story will delight children, and its rambunctious protagonist is sure to guarantee requests for repeat readings. The book is a superb addition for any library collection.

Ages 4 – 8

Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2026 | ISBN 978-1419768859

About the Author

Magaly Morales is the illustrator of several picture books, including What Can You Do with a Paleta?, a Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award winner; The Courage of the Little Hummingbird: A Tale Told Around the World; and Pura’s Cuentos: How Pura Belpré Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories, which received starred reviews in Booklist, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly. Tajín and the Twelve Thunders is Morales’s debut book as both writer and illustrator. She was born and lives in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.

Hurricane Season Activity

Catch the Wind! Windsock Craft

You can feel the wind in your hair and see it blowing through the trees, but can you actually catch it? You can with this easy-to-make windsock!

Supplies

1 large yogurt container (32 oz) or 1-pound deli salad container
1 long-sleeve T-shirt
Strong glue
Dowel, 5/8 diameter x 48-inches long or longer
String
Rubber band
sewing seam ripper or cuticle scissors
X-acto knife or Scissors

Directions

Remove the sleeve from a long-sleeve t-shirt with the seam ripper or scissors
Cut the shoulder off the sleeve by cutting straight across from the underarm seam
Cut 2 inches from the bottom of the yogurt container OR cut the bottom out of the deli container
With the X-acto knife or scissors, make a hole a little smaller than the diameter of the dowel about 1 inch from the rim of the container
Slide the container into the large opening of the sleeve
Fold about a ¾ -inch edge over the rim of the container and attach all along the rim with strong glue
Put the rubber band around the outside edge of the opening
Tie the bottom of the sleeve’s cuff together with the string
To attach the dowel: Option 1: leaving the t-shirt in place, push the dowel and material through the hole in the container. The t-shirt material will hold the dowel in place (I used this option). Option 2: cut a small hole in the t-shirt at the location of the hole in the container. Push the dowel through this hole and the hole in the container. Secure with strong glue
Stick your windsock in the ground in an open area where it can catch the wind. As the wind changes direction, you can turn your windsock so the opening faces the wind.

You can purchase Tajín and the Twelve Thunders: A Pre-Columbian Myth from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

June 22 – International Being You Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Sometimes people find it hard to show their true, even quirky parts of themselves when they’re trying to live up to expectations or fit in with a certain crowd. International Being You Day invites everyone to disregard these pressures and celebrate their individuality. The holiday encourages self-acceptance, and the courage to acknowledge and show your real personality, whether that’s flashy or quiet; take part in activities that speak to you, not just the group; and to believe in your own skills and knowledge—to be confident and authentic. Today’s book puts a humorous and ultimately sweetly poignant spin on the holiday.

Thanks to Scholastic for sending me this book for review!

The Mystery of the Lost Cape (The Terrible Trio #3)

Written by Swapna Haddow | Illustrated by Minky Stapleton

Our intrepid friends Zeb the zebra, Marge the penguin, and Barry the lemur have settled into their roles as the most unlikely of superheroes as Zeb’s power is blending in with a crosswalk, Marge can make mac ‘n’ cheese from anything, and Barry has very nice handwriting. It’s tidying up day at their official lair—the Superheroes Café—and Zeb suggests sorting out the dress-up box. Only, it’s not a dress-up box, it’s the Lost-and-Found box, and Barry’s scandalized that Zeb and Marge want to play with other animals’ belongings.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Minky Stapleton. Text copyright © 2026 by Swapna Haddow. Courtesy of Scholastic.

As Barry begins matching items with their possible owners, he finds a polka-dotted cape and just has to try it on. As soon as he ties it around his neck, he begins flying! Barry wants to try it out, but he’s conflicted. If he just borrows it, though, just to see what it’s like to be a real superhero, that would be okay, right? He dons a pair of goggles and soon he’s flying over the city. In no time he helps apprehend a wolf gang of bank robbers.

The “Masked Crusader” is all over the news, and Marge and Zeb can’t stop buzzing about him. They aren’t the only ones obsessed. Barry, himself, can’t seem to let go of his new alter-ego. He takes on just one more mission, then another and another and . . . When Barry finally comes back to the café, Zeb discovers the cape and remembers that Emu is offering a $50,000 reward for its return. He calls—only too late remembering that Emu has two superpowers—flying and butt kicking. Each of our intrepid heroes are afraid of getting their booty kicked, and they skirmish over who should hand over the cape and . . . Riiiiippp!

After Zeb fails to fool Emu with a similar-looking tablecloth, Barry takes the rap. But before he gets his butt kicked, he tells Emu that he only used the cape to become a real superhero like her. Suddenly, Emu breaks down, admitting that she’s only a flying—and butt-kicking—superhero because of the cape. The three are surprised, reminding her that she “almost kicked Barry’s butt a moment ago” without wearing her cape and reassuring her that their butts were all terrified and are “still a bit frightened.” Emu takes their words to heart (and to her booty-kicking feet). She leaves happy and more confident than ever. The whole experience has given Barry a new idea—one that will make use of his true superpower, help their superhero community, and add another offering to the Superhero Café.

In this this third—and final—book in her The Terrible Trio series, Swapna Haddow follows up The Not So Superheroes and The Day the Mac ‘n’ Cheese Ran Out with the equally charming and hilarious The Mystery of the Lost Cape. Haddow’s signature silliness is magnified with clever misdirection and comical cluelessness, and Zeb’s retelling of how the cape got torn is laugh-out-loud funny. Layered with witty running-gag subplots and character arcs, the story pulls them all together in a heartening and satisfying ending.

Loaded with rollicking action and evocative facial expressions as well as favorite comedy and mystery tropes, Minky Stapleton’s incredibly detailed illustrations immerse readers in this world where laughter is their superpower. Stapleton exuberant interactions among these lovable characters will keep readers riveted to this fast-paced story. Her dynamic, easy-to-read text mimics the characters’ quirky dialogue, highlighting emotions through size and special effects.

A joy to read and a winning finish to this standout series, The Mystery of the Lost Cape: The Terrible Trio #3 is a must for graphic novel fan as well as for any library or home collection. This series would make a wonderful gift to start off summer reading or for any occasion.

Ages 7 – 10

Scholastic, 2026 | ISBN 979-8225045043

About the Author

Swapna Haddow grew up in the UK and wrote her first book at age eight. She wishes she’d kept it, but it seemed like a good idea at the time to trade it for two stickers and a couple of marbles! Her first published book was the hilarious junior novel Dave Pigeon, which grew into a laugh-out-loud, award-winning series. She has since written many funny, colourful, and much-loved picture books as well as further junior fiction series. Swapna loves to write stories filled with boisterous animals causing mayhem, with friendship and humour consistently at the heart of her work. Swapna now lives in Dunedin, New Zealand, with her husband, son, and their dog. Her first homegrown tall tale with Scholastic New Zealand is But Then… the almost true story of an overdue book. Visit her at swapnahaddow.com.

About the Illustrator

Minky Stapleton is a multi-faceted illustrator with a range of styles, all with a dash of humour. An award-winning Art Director and Creative Director originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Minky gave up advertising to follow her first love, illustration. She now resides in Auckland, New Zealand, where she balances illustration projects with running classes for kids on how to design scary monsters. Minky has illustrated many titles for Scholastic, from hilarious picture books to historical fiction and high-energy, heavily illustrated junior fiction. Visit her at minkystapleton.com.

International Being You Day Activities

The Terrible Trio Coloring Pages and More

You can find lots of The Terrible Trio activity pages for kids to enjoy, including coloring pages, drawing pages, a page for finding your own superpower and animal, and Marge’s Mac ‘n’ Cheese recipe to download on Swapna Haddow’s website!

The Mystery of the Lost Cape Teachers Guide

Teachers, homeschoolers, and other educators can find an exciting and detailed Teacher’s Guide developed by Scholastic that’s full of comprehension questions and fun, thoughtful activities for individuals or a whole class on Swapna Haddow’s website.

You can purchase The Mystery of the Lost Cape (The Terrible Trio #3) from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

June 18 – National Go Fishing Day

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Is fishing your thing? Do you like nothing better than heading down to the lake or stream and spending a relaxing day with a fishing pole, some bait, and the possibility of reeling in a “whopper?” Perhaps you like fly fishing better, challenging yourself to flick that hook in just the right place. Then again, maybe taking a boat out to deep water and pitting yourself against the truly big fish is more your style. However you like to fish, make some time to enjoy your hobby today! If you haven’t yet discovered the joys of fishing, today’s book is sure to get you hooked!

Fly Rod Was First: Cornelia Crosby’s Adventures in Angling

Written by Cathy Ballou Mealey | Illustrated by Billie Michael

When Cornelia Crosby was born in 1854, Maine was a fishing paradise. “From lunkers to whoppers, the biggest trout and salmon pulled from the rivers and lakes were longer and heavier than baby Cornelia.” As a young girl, Cornelia spent much of her days outdoors, exploring the fields, woods, and waterways around her home—an antidote for her poor health. As a young woman, with her health improved, Cornelia was sent to the city to attend school, but she relapsed and returned home.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Billie Michael. Text copyright © by Cathy Ballou Mealey. Courtesy of Sleeping Bear Press.

Here, the long days stretched out before her. She decided to try fishing, and with her first catch she was hooked. Cornelia spent spring and summer traveling among the fishing camps that dotted the state of Maine, wearing a full-length skirt and high-neck collar that amused her male counterparts. With her bamboo fishing rod, she reeled in fish after fish. During the winter, Cornelia worked as a telegraph operator and “daydreamed about casting her line into deep, cool waters.”

One day she crafted an original fish tale from her experiences and sent it to the newspaper, which published it. Readers were enthralled, and the editor wanted more of Cornelia’s stories. He even gave her a nickname, “Fly Rod.” “Fly Rod” Crosby’s columns about Maine’s natural beauty and extraordinary fishing opportunities took off. How good was fishing in Maine? It was so exceptional that Cornelia and her guide “once landed fifty-two trout in forty-four minutes.” On another “especially good day, she caught more than 200 fish!” But as one of the first public advocates for “catch-and-release,” Cornelia returned most of these to the water.

Cornelia’s stories began appearing in newspapers across the country, bringing visitors to all parts of Maine. Hotels and restaurants thrived. The railroad even “hired Cornelia to promote tourism and she wrote the first official state slogan. By 1895 “Fly Rod” Crosby was a legend, and Maine had become a top vacation destination. But at the height of her career, an accident curtailed her ability to hike or get out on the water. She fished from docks, however, and wrote her column into her eighties. Cornelia is remembered with a statue in the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame, a wilderness trail named for her, and even a bluegrass tune, “The Ballad of Fly Rod Crosby.”

Following the story, readers can enjoy Cathy Ballou Mealey’s step-by-step tips on how to write a fish story and see a photograph of Cornelia Crosby holding an impressive catch of fish.

Cathy Ballou Mealey’s biography of the trail-blazing Cornelia Crosby will fascinate children as well as adults as she transports them back more than 180 years to the pristine waters of Maine. With lovely, evocative language, Mealey puts readers at Fly Rod’s side to witness her fishing prowess, follow her innate talent for storytelling, and experience her impact on Maine’s nascent tourism boom. Mealey’s distinctive subject easily lends itself to a wide range of topics for educators and students to further explore, including fishing, the growth of US tourism and tourist attractions, women in journalism, changing fish and animal populations, and so many more.

Billie Michael’s magnificent illustrations transport readers to the mid-1800s with shimmering lakes and roaring rivers teeming with dazzling salmon and rainbow trout, sport undertaken in formal clothing, steam train travel, and the country-wide influence of newspaper columnists. Her images of Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby are packed with personality, exhibiting her brilliance and indefatigable spirit. Readers can almost hear the “swish” and “snap” of Crosby’s fishing line, while each page contains clear depictions of life and common objects from the period, inviting children into an exciting transitional era.

An exceptional biography of a remarkable woman, Fly Rod Was First: Cornelia Crosby’s Adventures in Angling will charm and inspire readers to embrace their passion and generate excitement for learning about the past. The book is a must for any school and public library collection as well as for children who love fishing, young adventurers, and history and biography buffs.

Ages 6 – 9

Sleeping Bear Press, 2026 | ISBN 978-1534113602

Cathy Ballou Mealey lives in Massachusetts where she still tells fish stories about the giant hornpout she caught (and released) at midnight on a dock at Beaver Lake. She is the author of Make More S’mores and the Sloth and Squirrel books. To learn more, visit her website. You can also find her on Instagram or BlueSky @catballoumealey.

Billie Michael is an illustrator with a passion for creating artwork that is full of detail, texture, and rich colors. She works with watercolor, colored pencil, and other media to bring stories and characters to life. When she’s not drawing, Billie loves watching movies, going on very long walks, and playing guitar. She lives with her cat, Louise, in Philadelphia. Visit her at billiemichael.com and on Instagram.

National Go Fishing Day Activity

Go Fishing Game

Kids can go fishing right at home with this easy-to-make game! With a paper plate pond, a few printable fish, and a few other supplies, kids will be catching a whole lot of fun!

Supplies

Printable Colorful Fish Template
Printable Black and White Fish Template
Printable Go Fishing! Playing Die (optional)
A large straw, wooden dowel, or pencil for a fishing pole
String
Two 1-inch round magnets for fishing pole
Paper clips
Scissors
Crayons (optional)
Glue (optional)

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-go-fishing-game-1

Directions

Color the paper plate blue
Print the Go Fishing! Game Playing Die (optional)

To Make the Fish

Print the fish templates or have kids draw and color their own fish and cut out
Tape a paper clip to the back of the fish or slip a paperclip onto the nose of the fish
If using back-to-back templates, cut fish out, put a paper clip between the sides and glue or tape the two sides together

To Make the Fishing Pole

Tie a length of string to the straw, pencil, or dowel
Sandwich the other end of the string between the two circular magnets
Lay the fish on the plate
Go fishing!

Optional Game: Kids can roll the die to determine which fish to catch.

You can purchase Fly Rod Was First: Cornelia Crosby’s Adventures in Angling from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

June 16 – Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

On July 4th America will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. This foundational document, adopted by delegates to the Continental Congress, summarized the colonists’ motivations for severing their ties with Great Britain to become an independent country. Written largely by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence contains this famous proclamation: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” the Declaration of Independence has served as an inspiration to other nations around the world.

USA ABC

By Ingela P. Arrhenius

This year the United States of America is celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence as well as American traditions, pastimes, ideals, and everything that makes our country unique. With this special alphabet board book, you can share your love of American culture with your little one! Charmingly illustrated by Ingela P. Arrhenius, this book takes kids on a tour of America, one letter at a time.

First you’ll drop in on Grandma as she pulls a freshly baked Apple pie from the oven then it’s off to a Baseball game and further afield as young children visit with other kids as they enjoy American favorites among foods, music, and games. They’ll even meet George Washington and take a trip to the moon! Along the way they’ll also celebrate our country’s ideals, symbols, and stunning geography.

Ingela P. Arrhenius’s vibrant pages are cheery and inviting, marked with bold capital and lowercase letters and simple text that fosters early letter recognition and reading as children grow. This engaging board book also includes plenty of opportunities to count, name objects and colors, and even talk about the fifty states that make up our map. This sturdy book makes a perfect at-home read-aloud or companion to take along on any outing.

Ages Baby – 3

Nosy Crow, 2026 | ISBN 979-8887772806

About the Illustrator

Ingela P Arrhenius graduated from art school in the early 90s and has been working as an illustrator ever since. At first, she worked in advertising and magazines, but her focus over the past ten years has been on products and books. She has created patterns for fabrics, wallpaper and stationery, as well as packaging and home accessories. She has also collaborated with several toy producers around the world and her love of retro style, typography and colour is reflected in all her work. Ingela lives in Stockholm with her husband (an author) and two sons. Visit her at ingelaparrhenius.com.

You can purchase USA ABC from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

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USA ABC

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