Rosanne L Kurstedt

Best friends discover that working together is more fun than being right in this hilarious board book about a playdate gone wrong. Sticks or stones? When best friends George and Georgina disagree over which is better, their argument escalates to shouts of "I don't want to play with you!" "No, I don't want to play with you!", until two new friends show them a better way. As they argue, George and Georgina build grander and grander structures, resulting in delightfully whimsical depictions of castles and thrones built from sticks and stones. Perfect for kick-starting conversations about considering someone else's point of view, and packed with wonderfully expressive characters and the humorously overblown emotions of a childhood fight, this story makes for a laugh-out-loud story time experience.

Best friends discover that working together is more fun than being right in this hilarious picture book about a playdate gone wrong.Sticks or stones? When best friends George and Georgina disagree over which is better, their argument escalates to shouts of "I don't want to be your friend!" "No, I don't want to be your friend!", until two new friends show them a better way. As they argue, George and Georgina build grander and grander structures, resulting in delightfully whimsical depictions of castles and thrones built from sticks and stones. Perfect for kick-starting conversations about considering someone else's point of view, and packed with wonderfully expressive characters and the humorously overblown emotions of a childhood fight, this picture book makes for a laugh-out-loud story time experience.

A mother bear at work all day never stops thinking about her child in this reassuring story with a heartwarming message. In this tender picture book, a mother bear tells her child about her workday. She describes one activity after another, and follows each description with "And I think about you." Illustrations show her at her tasks, with a corresponding activity she imagines with her child in a thought bubble beside her. Then, turn the page, and the child is shown participating in a parallel activity at school. So, the mother bear reads her emails, and thinks about reading to her child, while the child reads on the carpet in the classroom. She shares a project with her coworkers, and thinks about sharing time with her child on the sofa, while the child shares a pinwheel during circle time. The rhythmic pattern will enchant and delight young readers --- all the way to the surprising end Rosanne L. Kurstedt beautifully captures the loving connection between a parent and child in this sweet story told in a gentle singsong narration, with sound effects. Ya-Ling Huang uses layers of watercolor and colored pencils to create a soft, transparent visual effect. The repeated refrain --- "And I think about you" --- is relatable, comforting and true, perfect for reassuring a child that, even out of sight, they are never out of their parents' thoughts. This book will encourage sharing stories, and could spark a wonderful routine for readers. It offers an excellent opportunity to explore what parents do all day at work as well. It is also sure to resonate with parents.