I find myself going to the library often and checking out children’s picture books. I’m always looking for what is current in the children’s book market and what I consider “good reads” for my granddaughters. Here are some books I have found.
2-21-21
Another book that came to my attention, on the library “new book shelf,” was, The Unbudgeable Curmudgeon, by Matthew Burgess, fabulously illustrated by Fiona Woodcock. Published in 2019, this book explores how a bad mood can fester. No matter what another person does to get you out of that mood, it isn’t working. You decide to dig in you heels and not budge. Inevitably, the bad, grumpy mood starts to rub off on the other person. Then they turn into a curmudgeon. Then what do you do? I know a couple of siblings who should read this book. I bet you do too!
2-23-2020
Another recent find was Hope, written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell and published in 2019. It is a series of letters from grandparent to grandchild. These letters tell the new grandchild that he/she is full of possibilities, wonder and light. It has a Lion King “circle of life” feel to it, with a lion family in the illustrations. The message is very hopeful. Things may change in life, time and experiences go on, but our hearts will always be together. This might be a nice book for a grandparent to give to a new grandchild, perhaps a shower gift!
1-12-2020
On one of my recent trips to the library I found this new picture book, published in 2019, titled Growing Season, written and illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler. This book piqued my interest because one of my sons complained about being the smallest kid in his class in elementary school. When it was his “growing season,” he ended up being one of the taller students. This book is about best friends El and Jo who are the smallest students in their class. In the spring, Jo starts growing like crazy. El feels very small. At the end of the school year, their teacher allows each student to take a flowering plant home, to take care of over the summer. Jo ends up with an aster that has no flowers. Jo’s teacher encourages her to give it time. I like how this beautifully illustrated book explores the growing season of both plants and students. In the back of the book the author gives information about plant life cycles and some fun facts.
9-18–19
Recently I was given a picture book called, Kenya Brown’s Summer Time Blues, by T.T. Telfair and illustrated by Scot Mmobuosi. First grade is winding down and Kenya doesn’t want the school year to end. To her, summer is boring. Other students seem to have all kinds of fun things lined up for summer. Kenya’s mom works, so she and her siblings usually hang around their apartment and watch TV. Kenya’s teacher convinces Kenya that she is choosing to be bored. She tells Kenya that she has an excellent brain and can think up fun activities to do each day in the summer. The summer fun book is born! As a former elementary school teacher, I love how this book encourages students to take control of their time and create exciting activities for themselves and others. This book was published in 2019.
6-4-19
Poe Won’t Go, by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by Zachariah Ohora, was published in 2018. It is a story about the power of kindness. The problem is an elephant named Poe, who sits in the middle of the only road in town, won’t move. The situation affects the entire town. The townspeople try many different ways to get Poe to move with no success. Then a girl has an idea… This is a clever book with amazing illustrations. Both children and adults will enjoy the humor and theme of this book, independently or as a read aloud.
3-21-19
Recently I came upon a book published in 2019 called, Cheerful Chick, by Martha Brockenbrough, illustrated by Brian Won. Chick is born to cheer. Around the barnyard, she can be a little annoying because she has so much energy. She has a dream to build a barnyard cheering team. The other animals are not as excited about it as she is. It appears that no one wants to join her team. Will she quit? She has worked so hard. This rhyming picture book is a fun read aloud and the illustrations are great.
3-1-19
Published in 2018, Sorrel and the Sleepover, by Corrinne Averiss, illustrated by Susan Varley, is a sweet story of friendship and having things in common. When Sorrell met Sage, she found a friend who was just like her. They seemed to have everything in common. After sleeping over at Sage’s house, Sorrell realizes that one thing about them is very different. Can they still be friends? In some aspects this book reminds me of Ella and Penguin a Perfect Match, by Megan Maynor. In that book Ella wants Penguin to like everything she likes and do everything she does because they’re best friends. Can they still be friends if Penguin doesn’t like everything Ella does?
2-23-19
Did you ever think a dog could be a fork? I didn’t until I read the book Sterling, Best Dog Ever, by Aidan Cassie. This book, published in 2018, is the story of a homeless dog who lives in a box next to the BUTLERY CUTLERY CO. Sterling sees the sign that says this company ships to all the best homes. On the company assembly line, Sterling manages to get himself packaged with silverware and is shipped to the Gilbert’s house. Sterling was not what the family had ordered, but they decided to keep him. Sterling wanted to stay with the Gilberts, so he decided to be the best fork ever. This book explores the theme of be yourself, and not what you think others expect you to be. The illustrations in the book are delightful!
1-22-19
If you’re looking for a book to teach your kids or grandkids how to behave, on the field, playing a sport, The Day Dad Joined My Soccer Team, is the book for you. This book, by Maureen Fergus and illustrated by Mike Lowery, was published in 2018. The coach says he needs a parent volunteer. So, a boy tells his father that the team needs his help. Before he can explain that the coach needs a snack coordinator, the boy’s father has suited up and is ready to play. The dad demonstrates all the bad sportsmanship examples one could think of. This is a funny role reversal book where a son tries to teach his dad how to behave on the field when playing soccer.
9-28-18
Douglas, You Need Glasses!, by Ged Adamson, was published in 2016. This is a fun story about a girl named Nancy and her nearsighted dog Douglas. Douglas gets into all sorts of trouble. He chases a leaf thinking it’s a squirrel and misses important signs like “Caution Wet Cement.” He even went home to the wrong house on occasion. A disaster finally makes Nancy insist that Douglas get his eyes checked. The book goes through the process of an eye exam and selecting frames. Douglas identifying objects on the eye chart is hysterical. The book even has two pages of real children who wear glasses. This book made me think of when I was a child and I got my first pair of glasses for nearsightedness. After getting my glasses, I remember saying to my mom, “I never knew that building had windows!” It was a building that had windows from top to bottom! All I know is that my five year old granddaughter wanted to read this book over and over and study all of the illustrations.
8-24-18
Pretty Kitty, by Karen Beaumont and illustrated by Stephanie Laberis, was published in 2018. This is a fun counting book about an old man who lives in a big city and seams to be a cat magnet. He finds a cat who follows him home and before long more and more cats find their way to his door mat. He keeps telling the cats as they arrive, “Don’t look at me like that. I do not want a kitty cat. SCAT!” As the story progresses, we learn more about the old man as we count cats. Will this old man ever allow cats in his house? Pretty Kitty, is a great read aloud with repetitive text, begging for audience participation, and the illustrations were examined closely by my granddaughters. Enjoy!
8-12-18
I’m a Duck, by Eve Bunting, published in 2018, is an adorable book about a duckling, who while still in her egg, rolled into the pond. She was rescued by her mom, but ever since that day she is afraid of the water. With encouragement from family and friends, she gains confidence and eventually faces her fears. I love the rhythm and rhyme of this book and the illustrations by Will Hillenbrand are lovely. It is a fun read aloud and will help to motivate young readers to face their challenges and fears. I’m remembering how tentative my children were when they began swimming lessons and they didn’t even have the added pressure of being a duck, who was afraid of the water. The pressure!
7-24-18
Here’s another picture book, I checked out from the library, that I really like. The title is, A Hippy-Hoppy Toad, by Peggy Archer, published in 2018. It’s the story of a toad just hanging out, on a twig, in the middle of the road, when the twig snaps and the toad flies up and lands on a tree. This is the beginning of the toad’s encounters with animals and people as he moves down the road. This book has a circular ending which delights the readers and listeners. The story has a totally engaging rhythm and rhyme that preschoolers and early elementary school children will love. It would be a great read aloud in a classroom or at home with your children or grandchildren.
7-13-18
Here is a book I really enjoyed, No Hugs for Porcupine, by Zoe Warring published in 2017. No one wants to hug Porcupine for obvious reasons. He feels left out when each night, all the other forest animals hug each other goodnight and he is not included. Armadillo comes along and shows him what a kiss is. Porcupine is very excited to show this to his forest friends. I like this book because it shows that you should accept who you are. You can find new ways to express yourself and not be left out.