Sondra Zalewski
@sondrazalewski.bsky.social
Children’s book writer musing about the craft, and posting #PBreview, while waiting for manuscript feedback.
https://sondrazalewski.com/
https://sondrazalewski.com/
I love the first line in this @jwbottom.bsky.social book: “When Ruth Patrick was five years old, she fell in love with pond scum.” The paintings by Susan Reagan contain marvelous details of aquatic life. Patrick’s fortitude against gender discrimination in science will inspire all ages. #PBreview
October 27, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I love the first line in this @jwbottom.bsky.social book: “When Ruth Patrick was five years old, she fell in love with pond scum.” The paintings by Susan Reagan contain marvelous details of aquatic life. Patrick’s fortitude against gender discrimination in science will inspire all ages. #PBreview
Lynn Burnell expertly weaves facts into a story about a whale’s life offering the reader so much to learn about a marine ecosystem. @authorjasonchin.bsky.social paintings amplify the beauty of this life cycle and bring clarity to a complex subject. A book that lives up to all its awards. #PBreview
September 30, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Lynn Burnell expertly weaves facts into a story about a whale’s life offering the reader so much to learn about a marine ecosystem. @authorjasonchin.bsky.social paintings amplify the beauty of this life cycle and bring clarity to a complex subject. A book that lives up to all its awards. #PBreview
Julia Donaldson’s story entertains readers with delightful rhyming phrases about Jonty’s journey in search of his true home. The bright illustrations from Axel Scheffler add to the enjoyment (plus a Gruffalo!). I love the diversity of humans and animals in the scenes, and kids will too. #PBreview
August 23, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Julia Donaldson’s story entertains readers with delightful rhyming phrases about Jonty’s journey in search of his true home. The bright illustrations from Axel Scheffler add to the enjoyment (plus a Gruffalo!). I love the diversity of humans and animals in the scenes, and kids will too. #PBreview
Renée Watson writes a lovely ode to summer that speaks of her like a cherished friend. A girl wakes to a sunny morning seeking all the joys the day can bring. Bea Jackson’s illustrations pop with bright colors and dynamic compositions. Summer Is Here welcomes the season with open arms. #PBreview
July 8, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Renée Watson writes a lovely ode to summer that speaks of her like a cherished friend. A girl wakes to a sunny morning seeking all the joys the day can bring. Bea Jackson’s illustrations pop with bright colors and dynamic compositions. Summer Is Here welcomes the season with open arms. #PBreview
A story about Japanese deliverymen who peddled towering stacks of soba noodle orders while bicycling in Tokyo traffic. @kyomaclear.bsky.social words paired with Gracey Zhang’s artwork convey the thrill of this vocation. Such a culturally historic and fun topic to share with kids! #PBreview
June 17, 2025 at 9:32 PM
A story about Japanese deliverymen who peddled towering stacks of soba noodle orders while bicycling in Tokyo traffic. @kyomaclear.bsky.social words paired with Gracey Zhang’s artwork convey the thrill of this vocation. Such a culturally historic and fun topic to share with kids! #PBreview
A humorous Old McDonald origin story from @underwoodwriter.bsky.social about a man who enjoys his tidy home and dislikes animals. Until a cat shows up at his door, and another cat, and a dog, and a duck, and then a menagerie! LeUyen Pham adorns each spread with charming illustrations. #PBreview
May 18, 2025 at 2:16 PM
A humorous Old McDonald origin story from @underwoodwriter.bsky.social about a man who enjoys his tidy home and dislikes animals. Until a cat shows up at his door, and another cat, and a dog, and a duck, and then a menagerie! LeUyen Pham adorns each spread with charming illustrations. #PBreview
I love the simplicity of this story. Amy Hest chose each word with care, and the bears use the same intention to prepare for a day of fishing. @erinstead.bsky.social paintings are pure perfection. Readers will learn that a day of fishing is really about quality time with one another. #PBreview
April 22, 2025 at 10:04 PM
I love the simplicity of this story. Amy Hest chose each word with care, and the bears use the same intention to prepare for a day of fishing. @erinstead.bsky.social paintings are pure perfection. Readers will learn that a day of fishing is really about quality time with one another. #PBreview
This book shares practical activities people around the world are doing to improve natural habitats in their communities. Lyrical verses by @ericasauthor.bsky.social engage the ears while artwork by @ginniehsu.bsky.social delights the eyes. Sure to inspire young, rewilding activists! #PBreview
March 17, 2025 at 1:46 PM
This book shares practical activities people around the world are doing to improve natural habitats in their communities. Lyrical verses by @ericasauthor.bsky.social engage the ears while artwork by @ginniehsu.bsky.social delights the eyes. Sure to inspire young, rewilding activists! #PBreview
Augusta Braxton Baker cultivated a love of story during her life. This librarian’s effect on kid lit is mirrored in the bold colors and patterns of April Harrison’s artwork. Breanna McDaniel’s book belongs in every library where it can influence literary inclusivity, just like Baker did. #PBreview
February 26, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Augusta Braxton Baker cultivated a love of story during her life. This librarian’s effect on kid lit is mirrored in the bold colors and patterns of April Harrison’s artwork. Breanna McDaniel’s book belongs in every library where it can influence literary inclusivity, just like Baker did. #PBreview
This touching story highlights the camaraderie between a school bus and her community. Loren Long’s illustrations focus color only on the bus. The Yellow Bus feels destined to become a classic with appeal for all ages. A wonderful tale about love, devotion, and new beginnings. #PBreview
February 5, 2025 at 7:38 PM
This touching story highlights the camaraderie between a school bus and her community. Loren Long’s illustrations focus color only on the bus. The Yellow Bus feels destined to become a classic with appeal for all ages. A wonderful tale about love, devotion, and new beginnings. #PBreview
A heartfelt Christmas story by @tavaresbooks.bsky.social. Kids will enjoy rooting for the impatient Dasher when she travels alone and loses sight of the North Star guiding her home. This book reminds readers to be brave, kind, and thoughtful—grand notions for the holiday season. #PBreview
January 28, 2025 at 10:23 PM
A heartfelt Christmas story by @tavaresbooks.bsky.social. Kids will enjoy rooting for the impatient Dasher when she travels alone and loses sight of the North Star guiding her home. This book reminds readers to be brave, kind, and thoughtful—grand notions for the holiday season. #PBreview
FLAT CAT shows readers we often don’t know what we want until we try something new. @taralazar.bsky.social uses fun language like splish-splosh and fuzzy-wuzzy, while the illustrations by Pete Oswald push the humor even further. Kids will love seeing Flat Cat in a waffle maker—pure fun! #PBreview
January 28, 2025 at 2:46 PM
FLAT CAT shows readers we often don’t know what we want until we try something new. @taralazar.bsky.social uses fun language like splish-splosh and fuzzy-wuzzy, while the illustrations by Pete Oswald push the humor even further. Kids will love seeing Flat Cat in a waffle maker—pure fun! #PBreview
This story by @armyvet5.bsky.social is a wonderful way to introduce kids to voting. A girl and her grandmother pick up neighbors on their long walk to a voting site. E. B. Lewis’ paintings depict the diversity of the urban community and the hope in their hearts to carry out this call. #PBreview
January 28, 2025 at 1:53 AM
This story by @armyvet5.bsky.social is a wonderful way to introduce kids to voting. A girl and her grandmother pick up neighbors on their long walk to a voting site. E. B. Lewis’ paintings depict the diversity of the urban community and the hope in their hearts to carry out this call. #PBreview
The Bright Side by Chad Otis tells a story about an unhoused boy living in a bus and shows us that kids are both adaptable and resilient. Staying positive through adversity often requires imagination, something available to children if they are loved, no matter where they sleep at night. #PBreview
January 27, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The Bright Side by Chad Otis tells a story about an unhoused boy living in a bus and shows us that kids are both adaptable and resilient. Staying positive through adversity often requires imagination, something available to children if they are loved, no matter where they sleep at night. #PBreview
This @saraoleary.bsky.social book highlights the Brontë siblings’ imagination and the storytellers they embodied. Briony May Smith’s timeless illustrations enrich the story and back matter gives a deep dive into the history of the family. A wonderful literary bio tackled in a unique way. #PBreview
January 27, 2025 at 1:30 PM
This @saraoleary.bsky.social book highlights the Brontë siblings’ imagination and the storytellers they embodied. Briony May Smith’s timeless illustrations enrich the story and back matter gives a deep dive into the history of the family. A wonderful literary bio tackled in a unique way. #PBreview
This bio about Robert McCloskey will make readers chuckle when viewing Becca Stadtlander’s paintings of duck antics paired with Emma Bland Smith’s tales of the havoc they caused in an apartment. What an impressive effort by McCloskey to ensure his illustrations were authentic. #PBreview
January 27, 2025 at 12:05 AM
This bio about Robert McCloskey will make readers chuckle when viewing Becca Stadtlander’s paintings of duck antics paired with Emma Bland Smith’s tales of the havoc they caused in an apartment. What an impressive effort by McCloskey to ensure his illustrations were authentic. #PBreview
A poem containing layers of meaning mirrored in the collages by Melissa Sweet. Children will want to read this book over and over again. Kwame Alexander sums it up in the author’s note when he says that he and Deanna Nikaido “wrote this poem to remind us all that words are fun…” #PBreview
January 26, 2025 at 2:52 PM
A poem containing layers of meaning mirrored in the collages by Melissa Sweet. Children will want to read this book over and over again. Kwame Alexander sums it up in the author’s note when he says that he and Deanna Nikaido “wrote this poem to remind us all that words are fun…” #PBreview
Sometimes the other birds are too noisy, so Only flys off on their own to read. This book shows how some of us need quiet or alone time, but no one wants to be lonely. Kids will see new ways to enjoy friendships and will love the details in the
@airlieanderson.bsky.social paintings. #PBreview
@airlieanderson.bsky.social paintings. #PBreview
January 26, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Sometimes the other birds are too noisy, so Only flys off on their own to read. This book shows how some of us need quiet or alone time, but no one wants to be lonely. Kids will see new ways to enjoy friendships and will love the details in the
@airlieanderson.bsky.social paintings. #PBreview
@airlieanderson.bsky.social paintings. #PBreview
abicushman.com excels at drawing animals with expressive faces. In this book she pairs her images with hilarious dialogue and somehow gets NF animal facts in there too. Kids won’t realize how much they’re learning! Wombats are indeed pretty weird, and a whole lot of fun. #PBreview
January 25, 2025 at 10:39 PM
abicushman.com excels at drawing animals with expressive faces. In this book she pairs her images with hilarious dialogue and somehow gets NF animal facts in there too. Kids won’t realize how much they’re learning! Wombats are indeed pretty weird, and a whole lot of fun. #PBreview
I love how @judithhenderson.bsky.social & Ellen Yeomans built this story around a simple, mysterious yellow envelope. It’s full of spunky Gmas and bright colors by Rashin Kheiriyeh. GRANDMOTHERS GALORE! has a Grammy, Abuela, Nana, Nonna, Bibi, Nai Nai, Bubbie, plus a whole lot of heart. #PBreview
January 25, 2025 at 9:17 PM
I love how @judithhenderson.bsky.social & Ellen Yeomans built this story around a simple, mysterious yellow envelope. It’s full of spunky Gmas and bright colors by Rashin Kheiriyeh. GRANDMOTHERS GALORE! has a Grammy, Abuela, Nana, Nonna, Bibi, Nai Nai, Bubbie, plus a whole lot of heart. #PBreview
Kids will love the silliness @karilavellewrites.bsky.social brings to her picture book about animal heads and heinies. Readers are sure to giggle while gaining knowledge that’s often accompanied by a pun. Butt or Face? provides a fun, interactive way to introduce children to NF topics. #PBreview
January 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Kids will love the silliness @karilavellewrites.bsky.social brings to her picture book about animal heads and heinies. Readers are sure to giggle while gaining knowledge that’s often accompanied by a pun. Butt or Face? provides a fun, interactive way to introduce children to NF topics. #PBreview
Ms. Mouse is a brilliant architect who designs imaginative dwellings for creatures throughout the world (detailed illus by Smith). The re-printing of Mendoza’s book by @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social is a gift to the PB community, sure to resonate with future generations as it did mine. #PBreview
January 24, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Ms. Mouse is a brilliant architect who designs imaginative dwellings for creatures throughout the world (detailed illus by Smith). The re-printing of Mendoza’s book by @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social is a gift to the PB community, sure to resonate with future generations as it did mine. #PBreview