Staff Picks: Debra Li’s Favorites

This side of the wall is safe. That side is not… or is it? A simply beautiful and beautifully simple book with a big message. In our current world where racism is such a serious issue and there are people who want to build literal walls to keep the “other” out, this book is so important.

Admittedly, I’m obsessed with hugging my little baby and smooshing my face against her chubby cheeks. But as she grows, I want her to know that she always has the option of saying “No, thank you!” to hugs and to anything that she’s not comfortable with and I love that this book tackles the issue of consent in such an accessible and light hearted way for little readers.

This abridged board book version of Stuck has a hundred percent of the fun with only a fraction of the words. When Floyd gets his kite stuck in a tree, he has just the idea to get it down—throw his shoe at it! But when that gets stuck too, naturally, he finds more things to throw up the tree—a cat, a ladder, a sink, an orangutan, even the fire department… The sparse text and hilarious storyline will make this book a favorite for your whole family, just like it is for mine!

Is Petra a pebble? An egg? An island? A rock? My personal role model since she’s so positive, confident, and adaptable? No matter what unpredictable situation she finds herself in, she is able to make the best of it. Not to mention, she is as cute as can be and makes the greatest little facial expressions.