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Cristina’s bookshelf:

Central Park: Adventures Throught The Seasons
by Cristina Ergunay
illustrator Gareth Lucas | Familius | Spring 2026

• a CBC Children’s Book Council Hot Off the Press Selection, 2026

“In the park,/ Big dogs bark./ Things to see,/ Follow me!” And thus, a boy and his dachshund are off to lead a tour around the lower half of Central Park. Two brief lines of verse per spread describe kid-friendly landmarks like the skating rink, zoo, carousel, Bethesda Fountain, Conservatory Pond, and Belvedere Castle. An additional sentence or two in smaller type gives tidbits of information, such as the types of penguins in the zoo or that the original 1871 carousel was powered by a horse and a mule. While the subtitle for the book is Adventures Through the Seasons, the seasons are not specifically addressed in the text nor shown sequentially in the illustrations. The gorgeous full-bleed spreads of the park dazzle with kaleidoscopic, brilliant layers of color. The enthusiastic tour guide is always the focus, but many pictures teem with city folk. The park is shown as a place full of vitality that also contains spaces for being alone with one’s thoughts. A map that runs from left to right with the southern end of the park on the right lacks a compass to help orient readers. VERDICT This book will be especially appreciated by those doing units on city life, or children who are familiar with Central Park, whether as out-of-town visitors or as native New Yorkers who call it their backyard.”—School Library Journal

BEDTIME FOR CRANKY CRAB
by Cristina Ergunay
illus. by Heather Sketcheroos | Scholastic Cartwheel | 2020
This sweet rhyming padded board book is perfect for cranky kiddos not quite ready for bed — it’s The Pout-Pout Fish for the preschool set!

“A tired crab resists going to sleep as “ocean friends” get ready for bed. In rhymed couplets, the narration describes the ways various fish, mollusks, sea mammals, and more settle in for the night in ways both accurate (dolphins sleep with one eye open) and inaccurate (Mama sea star and Papa sea horse stay with their spawn). Cranky crab, however, displays some grouchy behavior and wants more playtime, along with another snack. In the end, crab mama is fed up and gives the young crab a kiss to send the little one off to sleep. The art has a smooth, watery look employing the pinks, purples, blues, and greens of the ocean at sunset. Each of the creatures has two oversized, round eyes, even creatures who have none (like sea jellies) or more than two (like oysters). In one particular funny picture, “little cranky crab” narrows bulbous eyes and frowns directly out at readers—no one will mistake this crab for cheery. While the plot has been seen before, there is some lovely language here—“Stingrays nestle, flip, and flap / To blanket in a sandy wrap”—and the titular crab will be a familiar figure to sleep-resistant toddlers. Despite the biological inaccuracies, it’s a whimsical and watery bedtime story.“—Kirkus Reviews