9. Fireworks

9. Fireworks. Matthew Burgess. Illustrated by Catia Chien. 2025. 44 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture books, Caldecott Medal]

First sentence: In the summer, the sun rises
between buildings on our block
to greet us at breakfast,
and it beats warmer and brighter
when we venture out across
steamy city sidewalks.

Premise/plot: A poetic look at a summer day. It is implied that it is the fourth of July, though, that is not stated specifically. But there is a HUGE fireworks display in the evening that they (siblings?) watch from the rooftop.

My thoughts: What makes this one pop? POETIC language, great imagery, and phenomenal illustrations. I love, love, love, love, LOVE the illustrations. I do. The illustrations are incredible. The text is so descriptive and packed with imagery.


© 2026 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Turkey Day

Turkey Day (School Reader Level 1) Grace Maccarone. Illustrated by John Manders. 2010. Scholastic. 32 pages.

Wake up, turkeys! Don't be slow.
It is time to go, go, go!
Turkeys go from near and far.
They go by bike. They go by car.

Where are all these turkeys going? Perhaps to a Thanksgiving feast and celebration all their own?! (After the meal, readers even see the turkeys dancing. There's one with a fiddle. And yes, he's on the straw!) This one is a simple book; A fun, easy story designed to be read by the earliest of readers. I liked the rhyming. I liked the silliness.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers