Lovely and informative, this picture book details the many captivating characteristics of eggs.

Beautifully illustrated, with splendid detail, this gorgeous picture book is as informative as it is lovely. From the moment readers open the cover, they are presented with learning opportunities. The endpapers at the front of the book show a comparative assortment of the many eggs discussed inside, while the endpapers at the back of the book show the animals hidden inside the eggs! Readers will love poring over the gorgeous illustrations as they discover fascinating facts about various animals' eggs. 

The thing I love about this book is its simplicity. Each page is anchored by a simple statement, which is then expanded on using educational sidebars or detailed illustrations, or both. In this way, the book can be adapted to the very young, or to older readers as well, making it perfect for at-home learning, library reading, or classroom discussions.

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

• ​Before reading this book, create a KWL chart listing things you KNOW (K) in one column, and things you WANT TO KNOW (W) in another column. After you've read the book, list all the things you LEARNED (L) about eggs in a third column. Click here for free KWL chart templates from Canva.
• Select an egg that interests you, from this book. Study it and then write a poem or draw a picture about it.
• Choose two eggs from this book. What do these eggs have in common? How are they different? Using a Venn diagram, organize your observations. Click here for a free, printable Venn diagram template.
• Conversation starters:  "Which egg did you find most interesting? Why?" "If you were an egg, which one would you be? Why?" "What is one thing you learned about eggs from this book?"

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

A delightfully entertaining tale that teaches collective nouns.

Something mysterious has happened in the field--a rabbit has disappeared! Soon, a group (or scurry) of squirrels is on the case, trying to discover her whereabouts, asking the other animals in the forest if they have any idea where she could be. Young learners will delight in identifying the various animals, and then counting the animals represented in each group. Additionally, the informative back matter will assist readers in learning the names of each animal collection. 

The lovely illustrations work well with the author's use of lyrical language to propel the action forward and keep young readers guessing--all the while, teaching collective nouns, many of which may be unfamiliar. A Fluffle of Bunnies would make an ideal addition to a unit on baby animals, or it could be a vehicle through which collective nouns are introduced and taught. With educational opportunities abounding on each page, it's the perfect choice for a library read-aloud, at-home learning, or bed-time snuggling. 

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

• Take a nature walk. Identify the animals you see and recall their collective nouns. 
• Which collective noun is your favorite? Draw a picture of those animals, or write a story or poem about them.
• Pair with Christie Matheson's A Mischief of Mice (Sourcebook Jabberwocky, 2024).
• Conversation starters:  "If you could be any animal in this book, which one would you be? Why?" "What is your favorite animal? Why?" "Which collective noun is your favorite? Why?"

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

A fun and fascinating look at some of the world's most interesting plants.

Full disclosure:  this book is classified as middle grade and is significantly longer than a picture book, but in honor of the first day of spring, I had to include this gorgeous book, packed with information and overflowing with vivid illustrations. It contains fascinating facts about some of the most intriguing plants on earth--a meat-eating plant, a tree that makes the sound of an explosion when its seeds dry, the flower that killed Abraham Lincoln's mom.  

FANTASTIC FLORA would make an ideal resource for classroom teaching or at-home learning. The engaging illustrations and captivating content make it easily accessible to both younger and more advanced learners. Additionally, scattered throughout each chapter, are sidebars that extend learning opportunities, informing readers about the origin of a plant's name,  the science behind the plant's adaptations, or the ways the plant may have impacted history. ​Readers will love learning about all the wild, weird, and wonderful things that make these unique plants special.

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

• Choose your favorite flora and compose a poem, draw a picture, or write a story about it.
• Check out this website for a teacher's guide and extension activities to consider.
• Go on a stump hunt. Walk through a wooded area and look for tree stumps. Investigate the wood rings. What information about the tree can you gather by looking at the rings? 
• Conversation starters: "What was your favorite plant? Why?" "Of all the plants included in this book, which one did you find most interesting? Why?" "If you were a plant, which one would you be? Why?"

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

A tender, heartwarming tribute to parental love and the precious gift of adoption.

When a tiny baby joins a family, there's no limit to the love that is shared! CRAZY-MUCH LOVE is bestowed upon a child whose parents have waited and dreamed and traveled far distances in order to bring her into their family. As the child grows, she begins to realize just how special she is and how very much she is loved.

The lyrical words and the author's use of repetition work so beautifully to answer the questions of this child's heart: How much is she loved? and How long will that love last? The lively, fun, and vibrant illustrations in this gorgeous picture book reflect the vivacious nature of love that never quits or ends or gives up, but lasts forever and always!

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

• Think of a family member that you love. Write a letter or draw a picture for them. 
• Pair with Nancy Tupper Ling's The Story I'll Tell.
• Conversation starters:  "What is your favorite thing to do with your parent or caregiver?" "What are the things you love most about your parent or caregiver?" "What are the things you appreciate about your family? Is there anything you would like to change?"

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

A lyrical exploration of the beauty of night.

DARK ON LIGHT, written in mesmerizing rhyme and coupled with captivating illustrations, is sure to inspire readers to grab a flashlight, go outside, and explore the wonder of night. Animals, vegetation, and starry skies take on a spellbinding beauty in this gorgeous picture book. 

What I love most about DARK ON LIGHT is in the way the lullingly lyrical text mingles with the adventure that is depicted in the illustrations.  Astute readers will notice that the children are not just out exploring their nighttime surroundings. Subtle clues along the way let the reader know that there is something else going on entirely. The siblings are not just out on a night walk, but rather leading a search! This element of mystery and discovery is sure to encourage multiple readings, making this a perfect choice for library and classroom learning, or bedtime snuggling!

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

• Take a night walk with a parent or caregiver. Use your five senses to discover the sights, sounds, and scents of nighttime.
• Write a poem about night! Consider including sensory words in your poem. (For a list of sensory words, click here.)
• Brainstorm a list of nocturnal animals. Write a story or draw a picture about a nocturnal animal's adventures at night.
• Pair with Marie Dorleans' The Night Walk.
• Conversation starters:  "Which is your favorite--day or night? Why?" "What is your favorite thing to do at night?" "If you were a nocturnal animal, which one would you be?"

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

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!

A delightful board book introducing various constellations to the youngest learners.

I love picture books that are simply written, brimming with information, and radiating with beautiful illustrations. In just a few foldout pages, this informative board book challenges readers to solve riddles, predict the animal that awaits discovery, and learn a little more about our galaxy's constellations.  Young learners will love answering the questions, guessing the animals, and maybe even heading outdoors to locate a few constellations in the sky!

This  book is both captivating and educational. Little hands can trace the stars, unfold the pages, and point to the creatures hidden in the lovely illustrations. The author doesn't just share the information, she challenges young readers to think, solve, and predict, making this book perfect for classroom, library, and at-home learning. 

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

• Go out at night and try to identify one of the constellations you learned about in this book. Were you able to find one? If so, which one did you see? Draw a picture of it.
• Create your favorite constellation using black or navy construction paper, gold star stickers, and chalk. For detailed instructions, check out this website.
• Choose a constellation in this book and make a constellation box using a shoebox and a flashlight. For detailed instructions, check out this website.
• With the help of a care-giver, purchase glow-in-the-dark stars. Identify the constellations you'd like to recreate, and consider placing them on the ceiling of a bedroom or playroom. 
• Conversation starters:  "Which constellation is your favorite? Why?" "If you were a constellation, which one would you be? Why?" 

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

When big news arrives in the galaxy, Little Star must choose between hiding her light, or shining courageously.

Little Star is happy shining her little light in the night sky, but when a big announcement is made to the galaxy, everything changes--Holy Night is coming! When Little Star is called upon to play a special role, she must face her fears and decide whether she will hide her light, or embrace the exciting news--and her own part in it!

With captivating illustrations and lyrical language, this heartfelt picture book creatively tells the story of the birth of Jesus, from the perspective of a little star learning the truth about Holy Night. This beautiful book is sure to become a favorite, perfect for Advent celebrations, Christmas family traditions, or year-round reading. 

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

• Pair with the Christmas Story in the Bible (Luke 2:1-20).
• Create a hand-print picture of Little Star using finger paint. Paint one hand with yellow or gold finger paint. On a piece of dark blue or black construction paper, press painted hand (with fingers tightened together) in the shape of a five-pointed star. For instructions and pictures, check out this website.
• Conversation starters: "How did Little Star feel when Maker asked her to shine for Holy Night?" "Have you ever been asked to do a job that you'd never done before? How did  you feel?" 

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