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I’ll Be This, You’ll Be That!
Mansi Sharma’s I’ll Be This, You’ll Be That! is a tender picture book about a little boy whose anger toward his mother softens through imagination, play, and the steady reassurance of love. After Grandma’s glasses break by accident and Mommy scolds him, the boy decides he won’t talk to her, hug her, or even accept her slice of cake. But when he begins pretending he’ll become grass, a cloud, a river, a rock, a flower, a shark, the wind, and finally a bird, his mother answers each transformation with one of her own. She’ll be the soil, the sky, the shore, the beetle, the hummingbird, the sea, the mountain, and the mama bird beside him. Slowly, the game carries them both back to warmth, laughter, cake, and closeness.
What I liked most is how honestly the book treats a child’s anger without making it seem silly or wrong. The boy’s feelings are big, prickly, and dramatic, exactly the way they can be at that age, especially when shame sneaks in after an accident. I found the mother’s response quietly beautiful. She doesn’t lecture him into forgiveness or rush him past his feelings. She joins him. That idea feels simple on the page, but as a parent, it landed with real weight. The writing has a soft, repeating rhythm that makes the story feel almost like a call-and-response lullaby, and some of the images are genuinely lovely.
The artwork has a sweet, hand-drawn warmth that suits the emotional arc of the story. I especially liked the way the early pictures hold the boy’s stubbornness in bright, crayon-like color, while the nature scenes open the book outward into clouds, rivers, birds, flowers, and wind. The artwork feels childlike in a way that matches the story’s imagination. The strongest image for me was the one where the mother and child are hugging at the end, because the emotion is immediate and easy to read. You can see the happiness in their faces.
By the end, I felt moved by the book’s gentle confidence in repair. It understands that children don’t always need a perfect explanation for love; they need to feel that it’s still there when they’re messy, mad, embarrassed, or trying very hard not to care. I’ll Be This, You’ll Be That! is a sweet and emotionally aware children’s book for families with preschool and early elementary children, especially kids who are learning how to name anger, accept comfort, and come back after a hard moment. I’d recommend it to parents who want a cozy story about unconditional love that also gives them a quiet little model for patience.
Pages: 38 | ASIN : B0GKY1FWFR
The Momma Puzzle
Hilary Plattner’s The Momma Puzzle is a memoir about a daughter trying, across decades, to understand the mother who died by suicide when she was six. Plattner builds the book like an excavation, moving through childhood memories, family silences, old letters, medical records, obituaries, photographs, and the stories of relatives who remember too much, too little, or not quite enough. What emerges is not only a portrait of “Momma,” Ann Plattner, but also a tender, unsettled account of inheritance: grief passed through rooms, documents, voices, and even birthdays. The memoir begins with the terrible bewilderment of a child who doesn’t know how to answer the phone when someone asks for her mother, then widens into a search that reaches back to Ann’s father Henry, forward into Plattner’s own motherhood, and finally toward a hard-won farewell to shame.
What moved me most is how carefully Plattner resists the easy shape of blame. This could have been a book of accusation, or a book determined to absolve everyone, but it’s more honest than that. I felt the weight of the author’s longing in small, almost domestic details: the sequined fish Momma made for a sea-themed birthday party, the afternoon reading Charlotte’s Web in the bedroom where she would later die, the box of letters that becomes both treasure and wound. Plattner lets these objects carry emotional pressure without forcing them to become symbols too neatly. I found that restraint deeply affecting. The book understands that love for the dead is rarely clean. It can be protective, baffled, angry by absence rather than by rage, and still fiercely loyal.
The writing has a searching, conversational intimacy that I appreciated. Plattner often circles a memory, returns to it, reconsiders it, and then turns it in the light again, which gives the memoir the feel of a mind working in real time. At moments, that repetition can feel heavy, especially when the investigation moves through family history and documents, but I also think that heaviness is part of the point. Trauma doesn’t arrive as a tidy revelation. It gathers, misfiles itself, slips out of folders, waits in a photograph. The strongest idea in the book, for me, is that understanding may not mean solving the mystery in any absolute sense. It may mean learning where the story no longer belongs to you. When Plattner reads the medical records and begins to see that her mother’s path toward suicide began long before motherhood, the emotional shift is quiet but enormous. The daughter is not erased from the story, but she is released from being its cause.
I finished The Momma Puzzle feeling sobered, softened, and grateful for its refusal to turn pain into spectacle. It’s a memoir about suicide, but even more, it’s about secrecy, memory, motherhood, and the brave, imperfect work of telling a family story without pretending to own the final truth of it. Plattner has written a book that doesn’t close the wound so much as teach the reader how to sit beside it with more compassion. I’d recommend it to readers who appreciate reflective memoirs about family history, complicated grief, mothers and daughters, inherited trauma, and the fragile mercy of finally saying goodbye.
Pages: 340 | ASIN : B0G4G51M3D
My Dad, My Hero
My Dad, My Hero, by Kacey Hoysted, is a short, rhyming picture book about a kid whose father serves in the army. The child talks about Dad’s “cams and combat boots,” the obstacle courses, the late nights, the gear, and the long stretches apart, then circles back to how much fun they have together and how he is their hero who helps keep them safe. The last pages invite children to write a letter to their own hero parent and add a picture, and there is a heartfelt note from the author, plus a closing “Lest We Forget” spread filled with poppies and a glowing sky.
I really liked how simple the writing is. The rhymes feel natural and light, and they roll off the tongue when I read them out loud. There is no heavy explanation of war or danger, just small kid-sized details like painted faces, staying awake until sunrise, and missing Dad when he goes. It lets the big emotions sit in the gaps between the lines. The repetition of “my dad” and “my hero” gives the book a steady rhythm, like a heartbeat in the background, and it makes the story feel like a little poem a child might actually come up with.
The book treats military life as something real and tough, but also full of love and pride. I felt a tug in my chest when the art switches to silhouettes in the poppy field and again in that final “Lest We Forget” page, because it nods to sacrifice without spelling it out. The activities at the end are a sweet touch. They turn the book into a keepsake, not just a quick bedtime read. Kids can claim their own hero, whether that parent is deployed, training, or working odd hours, and that feels both comforting and empowering.
I would recommend My Dad, My Hero to military families and especially to kids who have a parent in the army or any service role that takes them away from home. Hoysted’s book is idea for classroom discussions about remembrance days or service and sacrifice because it offers a very soft, age-appropriate narrative. It is short, warm, and easy to share, and it opens the door to big conversations without feeling scary.
Pages: 26 | ASIN : B0GKD3542T
What’s Normal Is When the Emotion Matches the Circumstance
William W. Hedrick, MD, author of What’s Normal Is When the Emotion Matches the Circumstance, has spent his medical career wrestling with one stubborn question. What is a normal emotion, and when does it become an illness? He walks through his early training, his unease with the DSM checklist style of diagnosis, and his doubts about simple “chemical imbalance” stories. He then builds his own model of six primary emotions, tied to brain centers and neurotransmitters, and he defines “normal” as when the type and level of emotion match the actual situation on a simple one-to-ten scale. Along the way, he folds in cognitive therapy ideas, brain chemistry, addiction to our own internal chemicals, and many case examples to show how his framework might work in real clinics.
I was genuinely pulled in by his main idea that context and proportion matter more than labels. The notion that anxiety in a grocery store and anxiety on the edge of a cliff are not the same thing, even if the body feels similar, clicked for me right away. His definition of normal emotion as “the emotion that fits the circumstance” feels both humane and practical, and I could picture real patients using that one-to-ten scale to check their own reactions. I appreciated the boldness of some of his stronger claims. For example, he treats major depression as almost entirely a rogue “depression center” that drugs must calm, and he is clear about his doubts that talk therapy alone can fully reach it. I understood the logic, and I saw real compassion in his effort to remove blame from people who are suffering, and his stance pushed me to think harder about biology, medication, and responsibility.
Hedrick’s tone stays calm and professional, and he explains brain chemistry and therapy ideas in plain language, with stories, history notes, and even word origins that give the book an old-school charm. Some chapters slow down to take longer side trips into the DSM or historical theories, which helped me see how deeply his ideas are rooted in the broader story of psychiatry. I appreciated how often he brought things back to real people in real rooms.
I came away feeling this book would suit thoughtful readers who like to sit with ideas and do not mind a slower, reflective pace. Primary care clinicians, therapists in training, and medically curious readers who have lived with anxiety or depression themselves would probably get the most from it. If you want to see how one experienced doctor tries to rebuild our understanding of emotion from the ground up, this is a smart and often moving read.
Pages: 128 | ASIN : B0B193TDVK
The Warmest Memories
Saturdays With Gramps centers around a little boy who learns that love never truly dies after losing his grandfather. Where did the idea for this story come from?
Saturdays With Gramps was inspired by my own experiences with loss. I lost my dad when I was 27, and years later I navigated the loss of my mom—first ambiguously, as dementia slowly changed who she was, and then physically when she passed away. During that time, I was also helping my children grieve their Grammy and find ways to keep both her memory and their grandfather’s memory alive. Writing this story became a way to honor those relationships and the love we shared. My hope is that the book helps children and families feel less alone in their grief, and gently reminds them that love doesn’t disappear—it continues in memories, traditions, and the bonds we carry forward.
Is there anything from your own childhood included in Sam’s story?
Yes! My dad, Henry, co-founded a restaurant named Embers, and they served the most delicious pancakes. When I was growing up, we would go to Embers every weekend for brunch, and I couldn’t wait to devour a syrup-drizzled stack of pancakes! I have the warmest memories from those days. In the story, I named them “Grampscakes” because my dad, who went by Papa to his grandkids, always called himself PapaBurger, as his restaurant also served yummy burgers (namely, the Emberger Royal!). Grampscakes are a way to honor that silly nickname of his, and those awesome pancakes!
The artwork in Saturdays With Gramps is wonderful. Can you share with us a little about your collaboration with illustrator Ellie Beykzadeh?
Ellie is truly the most amazing illustrator. Her work is so stunning and always highlights every emotion beautifully. Her illustrations bring the book to life. I love working with Ellie because she is so talented, collaborative, and has the most creative ideas. She’s such a kind human, to boot!
What is one thing you hope young readers and their families take away from your book?
My greatest hope is that young readers and their families find comfort in knowing that love never truly dies. Even when the people we love are no longer with us, their love continues to live on — in memories, traditions, and the quiet ways they remain part of our lives.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Saturdays were Sam’s favorite—Grampscakes dripping with syrup, lively chess matches, quiet moments spent birdwatching. Just Sam and Gramps, soaking up their special day together.
But when Gramps passes away, Sam is heartbroken—and Saturdays feel empty.
With his mom’s gentle guidance, Sam begins to understand a powerful truth: even though Gramps is gone, the love they shared—and their cherished traditions—will always remain. Because like syrup on pancakes, love sticks around.
Saturdays with Gramps is a tender, heartfelt picture book that helps children process grief and loss with warmth, comfort, and hope. Through gentle storytelling and beautiful illustrations, it reminds readers that the bonds we build with those we love remain long after they’re gone.
✅ Ideal for ages 7+
✅ Introduces loss in an age-appropriate, relatable way
✅ Encourages open conversations about big feelings
✅ Validates kids’ emotions and experiences
✅ Offers healthy, hopeful coping strategies
✅ A supportive resource for parents, educators, and therapists navigating bereavement
Whether a child is grieving a grandparent, parent, pet, or any kind of loved one, Saturdays with Gramps reminds them they’re not alone—and that love lasts forever.
Saturdays With Gramps
Saturday With Gramps follows Sam, a boy who spends every Saturday wrapped in the cozy routines he shares with his grandfather. They eat Grampscakes, play chess, watch for cardinals, and just enjoy being together. Then Gramps grows tired, and Sam learns he has died. With his mom’s help, Sam starts to understand how love sticks around even when someone is gone, and he finds small ways to keep Gramps close.
This is a very emotional children’s book. The writing feels gentle, simple, and totally honest. I liked how nothing was rushed. Gramps grows tired slowly, and Sam notices it in those tiny everyday ways that feel so real. The moment his mom explains what happened is soft but clear, and I appreciated that. It does not sugarcoat the truth, and it also does not overwhelm. The whole thing felt like being spoken to kindly. I also loved the little details. The root beer, the petunias, the cardinal. They made the story feel warm and lived-in.
This whole picture of grief as something you move through by remembering what you shared felt calming. I found myself smiling at the thought of those Grampscakes and the way love turns into traditions you carry forward. It reminded me of how small rituals can feel huge when someone is gone. The message that love never dies felt simple in the best way. It stayed with me after I finished the last page.
I’d totally recommend Saturdays With Gramps for kids who are dealing with loss, and for the grown-ups trying to help them through it. The story is gentle, the pictures are bright and comforting, and the message feels steady and warm. It is a great read for families, counselors, teachers, or anyone who wants to help a child understand grief without making it scary.
Pages: 31 | ASIN : B0FFNC6BDF
Tiger and My Eye Patch
A young girl begins her summer burdened by an eyepatch meant to correct her lazy eye, and the weight of it grows heavier each time her classmates sneer. Branded “Pee Wee the Pirate,” she endures a name flung at her by children blind to the harm it causes. Relief arrives only when she escapes to Johnson City, where her grandparents wait with open arms, and with Tiger, their towering, gentle Great Dane. Tiger adores her. He offers no judgment, no mockery. Just warmth. Yet Tiger’s size and enthusiasm often land him in trouble, and before long, the girl’s courage and ingenuity are put to the test as she tries to save the companion who has quietly saved her.
Tiger and My Eye Patch, written by Colleen Lent, is a children’s story best suited for readers around ages 3 to 8. Its spirit echoes classic series like The Berenstain Bears, delivering an abundance of life lessons without losing its sense of play.
Lent draws from her own childhood, and that honesty radiates through the narrative. The sharper emotions, the confusion, and the vulnerability surface in the protagonist’s perspective and give the story a lived-in quality. Her world feels colored by past hurts, yet not dominated by them.
Joy still rises. It unfolds through tender moments with her grandparents and through the undeniable bond she forms with Tiger. The giant dog, good-natured yet misunderstood, mirrors her own struggle. His size invites assumptions, and he, too, carries the burden of being judged before being known. Their connection emerges naturally from shared experience, and it becomes the emotional heart of the tale.
Tiger and My Eye Patch maintains a light tone, but beneath it runs a clear thread of catharsis. Lent writes toward healing her own and that of any child who has ever been singled out for being different. The lesson she imparts, treat others with kindness, especially when they stand apart, is delivered with grace rather than force. Paired with lively, colorful illustrations, the story becomes both a comforting read and a meaningful one, offering young audiences a narrative they can enjoy again and again while absorbing its gentle wisdom.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0FV9W4242
You Are Always in My Heart
You Are Always in My Heart, by Rebecca Choy, is a tender and honest children’s book about love, loss, and the power of memory. It’s told from both a grown-up’s and a child’s perspective, showing how they each face the idea of death and saying goodbye. Through gentle words and warm illustrations, it explains that while death means someone can’t come back, love never goes away. The story also gives children comforting ways to remember someone, by writing, drawing, hugging a favorite toy, or looking at photos. It’s bilingual, too, written in both English and Cantonese, which adds a special cultural touch.
This is a heartfelt children’s book. The language is simple, but the feelings are big. I found myself tearing up more than once, especially when the child wonders if the parent will die and how they’ll cope. The way the author handles that fear is so real and compassionate. There’s no sugarcoating, just honesty mixed with comfort. I also loved how it quietly teaches emotional resilience, reminding both kids and adults that it’s okay to cry, to be angry, to be scared. The writing feels like a soft hug during a hard talk.
What really stood out to me was the cultural layer about Cantonese traditions and how death is often not talked about. That part felt so important. It makes the story not just about love and grief, but about breaking the silence and giving children permission to ask tough questions. It’s thoughtful and brave, but still full of warmth. And the illustrations, crafted by Choy and her daughter Bella, are full of heart. They draw young readers into the story with a beautiful simplicity.
I’d recommend You Are Always in My Heart to parents, teachers, or anyone who wants to help a child understand loss in a gentle way. It’s not just for kids who have experienced grief, but for any family that wants to build openness and empathy. This is the kind of picture book you keep close, maybe even read together when life feels a little too big. It’s tender, healing, and full of love.
Pages: 48 | ISBN : 978-1-7389652-1-2
