A bold, vibrant, and lively presentation of the beloved poem by Lewis Carroll.

"Jabberwocky," Lewis Carroll's classic nonsense poem gets reimagined in this vividly exciting, fast-paced picture book. With bold illustrations, Myers brings the babble to life in the form of a thrilling basketball match. Readers will love following along, with every turn of the page, as the tension builds and the dynamic illustrations complement the mesmerizing words. 

What makes this book even more compelling is the fascinating illustrator's note in the back of the book. Incredibly, Christopher Myers' extensive research uncovered a possible link between Lewis Carroll's gibberish and an ancient game played by the Aztecs and other cultures, similar to basketball, that could have influenced the author's vision for the poem. The thought and research behind Myers' illustrations brings another layer of possibility to a poem that has inspired imaginations for generations.

Here are a few activities that align with the themes of this book:

• Write a poem! It can be nonsensical, like "Jabberwocky," or not. It's up to you! You can even draw a picture to illustrate it, when you're finished. 
• Pair with Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass:  And What Alice Found There.
• Grab a ball, find a court, and go outside and play a game of basketball, or practice shooting hoops.
• Conversation starters:  "What was your favorite part of this book? Why?" "Of all the nonsense words in this poem, which one was your favorite? Why?" 

Looking for more perfect picture books? Check out Susanna Leonard Hill's website!

The fascinating true story of the development and construction of the vault that holds the worlds' seeds.

text copyright Megan Clendenan, 2025, illustrations copyright Brittany Cicchese, 2025, Charlesbridge

Seeds are vital to life, and this informative picture book tells the story of a seed bank in Norway that plays backup to the roughly 1,700 other seed banks all around the world. Sometimes, seed banks are destroyed by war or weather. When that happens, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault comes to the rescue with extra seeds to replace those which were lost.

Through breathtaking illustrations and lyrical language, this gorgeous picture book details the effort it took to plan and build the vault that stores the world's seeds. Many of the spreads contain sidebars with cleverly phrased information that support the text and extend learning opportunities. Additionally, the comprehensive back matter at the end of the book makes this an ideal resource for classroom instruction or at-home learning. 

Here are a few activities that align with the themes in this book:

• Collect an assortment of seeds. Sort them, and compare the seeds you've sorted. Click here for a seed sorting activity.
•  Choose a seed that you would like to plant. Plant the seed and watch it grow. In a journal, draw pictures or write about what you observe. 
• Grow an assortment of seeds--flowers, fruit, and vegetables. Compare and contrast the sprouts. Which ones sprout quickly or slowly? Which ones grow tall or short?
• Pair with A Seed is Sleepy (Aston/Long, Chronicle Books, 2014) and It Starts With A Seed (Knowles/Webber, Words & Pictures, 2017).
• Conversation starters: "Which seeds are most important to you and your life now? Why?"  "What is one possession that you have that is worth protecting? How do you keep it safe?" "What things do seeds need in order to sprout and turn into plants?"

Looking for more perfect picture books? Check out Susanna Leonard Hill's website!

A lovely, lyrical tribute to a snowy day.

This quiet picture book captures both the peaceful beauty, and the feelings of anticipation and adventure that snow days bring. Covering the arc of an entire day, it begins with the first flakes and a child's flurry of excitement, as he goes out and experiences the snow. Snow-filled activities ensue, but it is joy of family and special moments shared between parent and child that bring an extra layer of warmth to this lovely book. The rhyming text adds a gentle lyricism that complements the soft beauty of the illustrations, making it a perfect choice for bedtime snuggling, library reading or classroom learning.

Here are a few activities that align with the themes of this book:

• ​Is there snow on the ground in your location? If so, bundle up and go out and play in the snow! 
• No snow? No problem! Try this recipe to make fake "snow." 
• Write a poem or draw a picture about a snowy day. 
• Pair with The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats and Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner.
• Conversation starters: "Do you love snow days? Why or why not?" "What is your favorite thing to do in the snow?" "What is your favorite memory of a snowy day, in the past?"

Looking for more perfect picture books? Check out Susanna Leonard Hill's website!