Year: 2026

Clara and the Birds

Sophie Rosen , ,

Simpson, Emma. Clara and the Birds. Varennes, QC: Milky Way Picture Books, 2024.
Where do you feel you belong? Where are you happy? In this gentle picture book, a little girl enjoys watching birds but finds people more difficult. Other children describe her as shy, but she feels lonely. Until one day when she rescues a small bird in the forest and life changes. Clara might still be shy sometimes, but she can also be brave enough to make friends. A quietly sweet story to share with kids five to eight years old.

More stories of solitude

Another story about overcoming loneliness

The Eclipse of 1919

Sophie Rosen

McCully Emily Arnold. The Eclipse of 1919: How Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity Changed Our World.New York: Christy Ottaviano Books, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2025.
What is a theory? Is it an idea or an opinion or a guess? Not for scientists. For scientists, a theory is an explanation of the natural world that is based on repeated, carefully-conducted observations and experiments. An explanation that builds on scientific laws and provable facts.
Albert Einstein, born in Germany in 1879, was not an outstanding student at school. But he was outstanding at thinking about mysterious things. Like what would happen if he travelled faster than the speed of light? Even once he’d graduated from college – fourth in his class of five students – he kept thinking about that question. He had an idea that energy, mass, motion and time were all related.  But how could he find evidence for his idea? How could he conduct an experiment that could be repeated over and over again? Why, an eclipse of the sun!

This brilliant picture book by Emily Arnold McCully tells the story of how Einstein came up with the theory of general relativity and how he tested his theory with the help of astronomers and scientists in England. A prologue and an author’s note provide more information. Wonderful pen and ink and watercolour illustrations greatly enhance this biography for readers eight to thirteen years old. Happily recommended for anyone wanting to understand more about the natural world.

Students conducting research projects: note how the author provides a lengthy list of sources at the end. Always properly list where you found your information! Art students: notice how the layout on each double-page spread shows emotion and creates movement.

More books about Albert Einstein

More books to expand your general knowledge

More picture books for artists

How Democracies Die

Sophie Rosen ,

Levitsky, Steven and Daniel Ziblatt. How Democracies  Die. New York: Crown, 2018.
What are four signs of authoritarian behaviour? The first chapter of this 231-page book by two Harvard professors of government provides an answer. Lack of commitment to democratic processes. Rejection of legitimate political opponents. Acceptance and encouragement of violence. Willingness to limit the rights of opponents. The authors then go on to provide a more detailed explanation of these traits and how they have been demonstrated in American history. While the book in its entirety is only suitable for adults and students of American history, the basic outline is a useful starting point for any class studying forms of government and can be applied to both real-life and fictional situations. Highly recommended. 

Stories about authoritarian societies

Guide for reading fiction

Guide for reading nonfiction

More books for adults

The Wildcat Behind Glass

Sophie Rosen ,

Zei, Alki. The Wildcat Behind Glass. New York: Restless Books, 2024.
How does a democracy disappear? How does a dictatorship take over? This story set on a small Greek island in the summer of 1936, shows fascism quietly but steadily gaining power and dividing a family, putting lives in peril. Written from the point of view of a young girl and inspired by the author’s childhood, the 223-page novel – translated into English – is highly recommended for readers 10 years old and up. 

More novels about dictatorships

More novels set in Greece

Listen to the translator read an excerpt from The Wildcat Behind Glass

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A Knot is Not a Tangle

Sophie Rosen , ,

Nayeri, Daniel. A Knot is Not a Tangle. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2025.
Is it possible to be perfect? Is it wise to try? Why are old worn-out possessions sometimes treasured? In this colourful picture book illustrated with watercolours by Vesper Stamper, a young Iranian boy makes a rug with his grandmother and learns the value of imperfection. Accompanied by an author’s note explaining the materials, colours, and designs of rugs in Iran, this book is highly recommended for curious and thoughtful readers five years old and up. 

More philosophical stories

More stories set in Iran

Bear By Himself

Sophie Rosen ,

Hayes,  Geoffrey. Bear By Himself. New York: New York Review Books Kids, 2025.
Sometimes we need time to be alone. Time to silently watch the world go by. Time to recall favourite memories. Time to think our own thoughts without interruption. Bear spends a day by himself, enjoying life, in this delightful picture book first published in 1976. The small size, the small softly coloured illustrations, and the brief phrases on each page combine to create a lovely story perfect for read aloud to a small group. Or sharing with just one other person. Truly a classic to treasure. Highly recommended for readers – and listeners – 4 to 8 years old. Recommended, as well, for teachers who want to introduce a discussion about device-free days in a middle-school classroom. 

More stories of solitude

Stories of individuality

The Promise

Sophie Rosen , , , ,

Bat Zvi, Pnini and Margie Wolfe. The Promise. Toronto: Second Story Press, 2018.
What are the stories of miracles in your family’s history?  What events happened long ago that are still recounted as reminders of the mysteries of life? This nonfiction picture book – illustrated with collages by Isabelle Cardinal – is the story of a miracle: two sisters who survived despite near certain death in the Auschwitz concentration camp. Their courage and determination is remembered and honoured by the two authors: daughters of the sisters in the story. Supplemented with photos, this picture book is recommended for readers 10 years old and as an introduction to teaching older students how to write about their own family histories. 

More books about World War 2

Picture book memoirs

A guide to writing your own stories of memories