Tag Archives: Sharing

Elem. – The Wishing Leaf

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George, Kallie. The Wishing Leaf. Illustrated by Paola Zakimi. Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2025. 978-1-4197-7246-7. 40 p. $18.99. Grades Pre K-3.

The forest animals know that when the last autumn leaf falls, they can make a wish and it will come true. But when the last leaf on the tree seems to refuse to let go, the forest animals grow impatient and begin going home one by one. Bear, however, uses his imagination and finds active ways to wait while thinking of what his wish will be, even as he starts to get really sleepy. Will Bear be able to make his wish as the last leaf falls?

THOUGHTS: A cozy seasonal read taking the reader from the last traces of falls to the first whispers of winter, this book also provides a gentle lesson on patience and waiting. For the youngest readers who need a mild reminder of the rewards that having patience can bring, Bear shows us mindful ways to learn to wait. Even Bear’s impatient friends win out in the end, thanks to the thoughtfulness of Bear.

Picture Book

Elem. – The Wanting Monster

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Murray, Martine. The Wanting Monster. Illustrated by Anna Read. Enchanted Lion Books, 2025. 978-1-592-70419-4. Unpaged. $19.95. Grades 1-4.

The Wanting Monster is an intimidating creature who does not like to be ignored. In an idyllic village setting, the Wanting Monster creeps into the villagers’ thoughts by whispering in their ears about greed and jealousy. Gradually, the village folk start taking beautiful things from the natural world to keep just for themselves. A stream, meadow flowers, and, eventually, the stars in the night sky are stolen and coveted by just a few. The village turns bleak and dark. When the littlest child in the village notices the Wanting Monster and shows it compassion, the monster’s feelings of emptiness are cured, and balance is restored to the community and the natural world.

THOUGHTS: A powerful choice for discussing themes of sharing and community. The gorgeous folk art-like illustrations include diverse representations and pairs well with the emotional message. The daunting monster and villagers’ sinister transformation make this best suited for older lower elementary students. Because of the strong moral lesson, I cataloged this under Folk Tales in my library. 

Picture Book

Elem. – Where to Hide a Star

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Jeffers, Oliver. Where to Hide a Star. Philomel, 2024. 978-0-593-62224-7. Unpaged. $22.99. Grades PreK-1. 

Author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers is back with another volume in his The Boy series. Where to Hide a Star, opens with the unnamed boy playing a game of hide-and-seek with his two friends, penguin and star. When the star is accidentally forgotten in a rowboat during the game, the boy and penguin go looking for it, but it is nowhere to be found—the rowboat has drifted away! Thankfully for the star, the boat washes ashore at the North Pole, home to a girl who loves stars. Together the star and the girl go on many adventures and become fast friends. Meanwhile, the boy and the penguin have recruited their friend the Martian to help them locate the star. When they arrive at the North Pole, the boy is torn–he wants to take the star home, but he doesn’t want the girl to lose her new friend and be unhappy. The girl is similarly conflicted. The dilemma is solved when the Martin suggests a game of hide-and-seek. He hangs the star in the night sky so both the girl and the boy can always see their star friend. 

THOUGHTS: This delightful friendship story will find a home on many elementary shelves. While the title will be best appreciated by those who have read the prior titles in the The Boy series, readers with no background knowledge of the series will also be able to enjoy this story of friendship and sharing.

Picture Book

Elem. – The Hare Who Wouldn’t Share

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Small, Steve. The Hare Who Wouldn’t Share. Beach Lane Books, 2025. 978-1-665-97293-2. $18.99. Grades PreK-3.

Hare does not like to share his turnips (or anything). In fact, Hare doesn’t understand why anyone would want to share! All of his neighbors share with each other, and Hare just does not understand it. One night, Hare comes across a boar who is on the prowl for something good to eat. Hare races back to his neighbors to give the warning and help them hide their carrots, only to lose his own turnip field. Will Hare’s helpfulness also teach the importance of sharing?

THOUGHTS: A super cute book that teaches the importance of sharing and friendship! The illustrations are adorable, especially when you see the boar’s snout peeping into the hole searching for the carrots!

Picture Book

Elem. – I Want To Read All The Books

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Ohi, Debbie Ridpath. I Want To Read All The Books. Simon & Schuster for Young Readers, 2024. 978-1-481-41630-6. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-2. 

Hana starts the story wondering where rain comes from. Her mom gives her a book that helps her answer that question, which causes Hana to realize that maybe books can answer her other questions she has. So she starts reading all the books and getting answers to all her questions. Soon she runs out of books at her house so she goes to all her friends’ houses. Once she reads those books, her mom takes her to a bookstore where Hana declares that they should buy all the books. Her mom then takes her to their local public library where she gets more books! Hana is excited as she gets the answers to her questions, but those lead to more questions! Her mom takes Hana to another public library, this one is huge with tons of books but that doesn’t make Hana happy. She gets upset that she will never be able to read all the books! However, the librarian points out that isn’t the fun of reading sharing what you love with others? When Hana gets home, her mom asks her a question which gives Hana an idea and Hana’s book club is born!

THOUGHTS: This is a super fun picture book that would be a great beginning of the year read aloud, or for an event.

Picture Book

Elem. – The Bakery Dragon

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Kurtz, Devin Elle. The Bakery Dragon. Alfred A. Knopf, 2024. 978-0-593-71096-8. Unpaged. $18.95. Grades K-2.

Ember loves gold as much as any other dragon, but unfortunately his gentle wisp of flame is not nearly enough to frighten the villagers into giving him their coins. Not wanting to return to his lair empty-handed, he ambles into the village where a kindly baker rescues him from a rainstorm. While helping the baker, Ember discovers that his hands are just right for kneading, and his tiny flame is perfect for lighting the wood stove. Incredibly, the dough is transformed into loaves of shining gold while baking! And this buttery treasure tastes even better than it looks. Returning to the bakery with his hungry dragon friends, Ember discovers that “baking gold is better than taking it. And sharing it is best of all.” Author and artist Devin Elle Kurtz’s digital illustrations, created in Photoshop, positively glow! Ember is an adorable little hero whose expressive eyes reveal his every emotion: fear, surprise, and pride. The final two-page spread includes diverse representation amongst the villagers, including a wheelchair user and varied skin tones.

THOUGHTS: Readers will delight in joining Ember on his fantastical, heartwarming journey of self-discovery!

Picture Book

Elem. – Shared Space

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Frost, Maddie. Shared Space. Harper. 2024. 978-0-063-24609-6. Unpaged. $19.99. Grades K-2.

Mouse lives in Apartment 2B, inside a tree stump. He loves having his own yard, which he keeps perfectly landscaped and tidy, with not a leaf out of place. When Pak-Rat moves into Apartment 2A, things change. Pak-Rat has a penchant for “lawn flair” and covers the lawn with pinwheels, windchimes, pink flamingos, garden gnomes, and more. Mouse tries to “squeak up” but Pak-Rat can’t hear him over all the twirling, chiming, and spinning. At his wit’s end, Mouse waits until nighttime, digs a deep hole, and buries all of Pak-Rat’s lawn décor. But after Mole discovers the buried treasure while digging a tunnel and puts it all back above-ground, it’s time for Mouse to tell Pak-Rat the truth about how he feels. With communication – and a little compromise – Mouse discovers that having a friend to share his space with is actually a wonderful thing. Maddie Frost’s digital illustrations feature sunny, cheerful colors in a woodsy setting. With a variety of page layouts and panel sizes, Shared Space is an appealing stepping stone into graphic novels for early readers. It’s also a great selection for fans of opposites-attract friendship stories such as Cornbread & Poppy by Matthew Cordell.

THOUGHTS: Author and illustrator Maddie Frost delivers valuable lessons about the benefits of honesty and flexibility embedded within a humorous storyline.

Picture Book

Elem. – The Sharing Book

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White, Diane. The Sharing Book. Margaret Ferguson Books, 2023. 978-0-823-44347-5. 32 p. $18.99. Grades K-3. 

Two friends spend the day making memories on a fun-filled camping trip. The day begins with a beautiful sunrise followed by a pancake breakfast. The fun continues with games of hide-and-seek, tire swinging, hiking, fishing, canoeing, napping in a hammock, storytelling, and music around a campfire. These simple experiences become special because they are shared with friends. The lyrical text celebrates life’s simple moments, and the repeated refrain reminds readers that things like meals, laughter, adventures, stories, and music are made even more memorable by enjoying them with those we care about. Hand-painted and digital illustrations feature three families enjoying the outdoors together, and their smiles, laughter, and comradery match the text’s inclusive feel. 

THOUGHTS: This title underscores the idea that love, friendship, and kindness are always worth sharing. After reading, encourage students to share their own camping experiences or other ways they’ve enjoyed the outdoors with those they care about.

Picture Book

Elem. – All Kinds of Special

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Sauer, Tammi. All Kinds of Special. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 978-1-534-49603-3. 36 p. $18.99. Grades K-3. 

It’s a new beginning for Mia and her mother when they move to a house all their own. It has five rooms, eleven windows, and a whole lot of promise. Saying goodbye to her old apartment and friends was hard, but the new house comes with something extra special: a yard and a mango tree. Mia looks out her window each morning, waiting for the mangos to ripen. When they finally do, Mia and Mama are in for a big surprise: more mangos than they can possibly use on their own! Deciding something as delicious as mangos deserves to be shared, Mia sets up a “free mangos” sign and table in the front yard, and soon, their house is the busiest spot on the block. It’s clear this is the start of all kinds of new beginnings and friendships for this mother-daughter duo. Brightly colored digital illustrations capture the love, pride, and excitement of new beginnings and complement the lyrical text.

THOUGHTS: This will be a fun read-aloud for units about families or building community connections.

Picture Book

Elem. – Figgy & Boone: The Big Cheese

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Transler, Janee. Figgy & Boone: The Big Cheese. Simon Spotlight. 2023. 978-1-665-91452-9. $17.99. Grades PreK-1.

Figgy and Boone are at it again! First, they ran out of cheese, which they love! Thankfully, they found a big wheel of cheese for them to eat. The only problem is the wheel is too big for them to move. Boone thinks of several ways to move the cheese, but all of his plans fail. Figgy figures out a way to move the cheese and, with lots of sharing, everyone is happy.

THOUGHTS: Another great Figgy & Boone beginner graphic novel! As with the previous story, the beginning of the book informs young readers how to read graphic novels, which is incredibly helpful for someone who may not know the correct way to read this specific genre. Add in some fun rodent characters, and this book is a delight!

Graphic Novel