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!

A quiet picture book about the important role a blue table plays in the daily life of a family.

Sometimes, mundane or ordinary things play extraordinarily important roles in our daily lives. So it is for a simple blue table in Chris Raschka's THE BLUE TABLE. The hub of family life, it facilitates activities--meals, crafts, and gatherings--and becomes the centerpiece for feasting and thanksgiving for friends and family, alike. With text as simple and spare as the table itself, and illustrations that portray the vivid, vivacious nature of the day-to-day, this heartfelt picture book encourages readers to consider the value of family, hospitality, and thankfulness. Standing up to multiple readings, it would be a perfect choice for library story-time or at-home cuddling with young learners.

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

• ​Create your own blue table picture! On the top of the table, add the items or activities you and your family would enjoy together. For a free printable table template, click here.
• With the help of a care giver, plan a meal, cook it together, and invite a friend over to enjoy it with you.
• Conversation starters:  "What is your favorite thing to do around your table at home?" "What things are you thankful for?" 

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

 A thoughtful exploration of the life, death, and life-after-death of a Douglas fir.

As beautifully written as it is illustrated, this thought-provoking picture book will challenge readers to consider all the ways trees contribute to their environment, at all the stages of life. Young learners are often familiar with seeds, saplings, and younger trees, but decaying, dying, and dead trees are just as important--and their impact goes far beyond what is often understood. Even in their death, trees provide food, shelter, and nutrients to other living things. 

The lyrical text and captivating illustrations are enhanced by the informative back matter that clearly details the various stages of a tree's life. It also provides a brief explanation of the relationship between people and trees, a glossary of terms young learners may be unfamiliar with, and a source list for further study. This book would make a beautiful addition to a library's arboreal list, an instructive complement to a classroom unit on trees, or a perfect excuse to snuggle up and read aloud at home.

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

• Investigate trees in your area. Do you observe any signs of life--nests, insects, or animals--in the tree?  Do you notice any signs of decay? Did you see any wounds? Draw a picture or write about what you observed. 
• Pair with Hannah Barnaby's The Pine Cone's Secret (Sourcebooks Explore, 2025).
• ​​For extension activities, lesson plans, and more, check out the author's website.
• Conversation starters: "What did you learn about trees from this book?" "If you were a tree, which creatures would you want to shelter in your branches or in your trunk?" 

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

A simple, heartfelt reflection on the special things that bring joy. 

The Thanksgiving season offers opportunities to intentionally reflect on the things we are thankful for. Often, those are the things that fill our hearts with happiness. This board book prompts readers to recognize the things that might be taken for granted--stories, songs, or sunshine--that create a sense of wonder and delight. Then, young learners are challenged to discover what brings them joy. 

With spare text and vivid illustrations, this engaging board book will delight the youngest learners, while challenging older ones to ponder, too. It would make a perfect springboard into conversations about thankfulness and joy, as well as concepts revolving around emotions, community, and family relationships. MY HEART FILLS WITH HAPPINESS will stand up to multiple readings and would be an ideal fit for a read-aloud at the library, or incorporated into a bedtime routine.

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

• Choose an activity mentioned in this book and try it. Does it fill your heart with joy?
• The book refers to baking bannock. With the help of a trusted adult, gather the ingredients and make it. For a recipe for bannock, as well as a brief history of the bread, check out this website.
• Conversation starters:  "What brings you joy?"  "What things are you thankful for?" 

For more perfect picture books, check out Susanna Leonard Hill's website!