| The Book Hog by Greg PizzoliStarring: The Book Hog, an avid collector who loves the look, feel, and smell of books -- but who doesn’t know how to read.
Who it’s for: With cheery pastel colors and minimal text, this feel-good book is a strong choice for sharing aloud, as well as for beginning readers (who may identify with the porcine protagonist).
Don’t miss: the way the titles on the Book Hog’s books only become clear after he learns how to read them. |
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| How to Two by David SomanWhat it’s about: Beginning with a single child on a slide (“how to one”), more and more children are welcomed onto the playground in this charming counting book.
Art alert: With only a few words per page, the bright, dynamic watercolor illustrations are the star of the show.
Try this next: Shannon George’s One Family, another inclusive counting book that celebrates different combinations of people. |
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A Kite for Moon
by Jane Yolen & Heidi E.Y. Stemple; illustrated by Matt Phelan
What it's about: While flying his kite, a boy notices a lonely Moon. He sends up kites to her, writing notes promising he will come see her someday. As the boy grows into a man, he watches Moon through a telescope and trains to become an astronaut, until finally he goes up in a rocket ship and fulfills his promise.
Timing alert: Dedicated to Neil Armstrong, this evocative picture book coincides with the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing.
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| Not Your Nest! by Gideon Sterer; illustrated by Andrea TsurumiWhat happens: An industrious yellow bird builds a series of comfortable nests, only to find them usurped by other animals -- each one larger than the next. What’s a frustrated little bird to do?
Why kids might like it: The absurdity of big animals in tiny nests will provoke gales of giggles, while the cooperative conclusion will smooth ruffled feathers and appeal to kids’ sense of justice. |
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| No More Poems! A Book in Verse That Just Gets Worse by Rhett Miller; illustrated by Dan SantatWhat it is: Zany, rambunctious rhymes from singer-songwriter Rhett Miller, accompanied by attention-grabbing art from Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat.
What’s inside: Playful gross-out jokes, an extreme case of sibling rivalry, a milder case of Purple Pox, a rallying cry for weirdos of the world, and a highly detailed slideshow created by a kid determined to get a dog. |
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| Noisy Night by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Brian BiggsWhat it’s about: On the first floor of a tall apartment building, a child gazes upwards and wonders "What is going LA LA LA above my head?" A pattern of rhyming sounds and loud neighbors (including an opera singer, cowboys, cha-cha dancers, and sheep) follows, with each page turn providing a chance for kids to guess what's next.
Be prepared: You may want to warm up your vocal cords before attempting this raucous read-aloud! |
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| The Night World by Mordicai GersteinWhat it’s about: Woken by his cat in the very early morning, a little boy wades through the murkiness of his darkened house and out into the yard, where shadowy animals gaze with anticipation at the black, star-speckled sky. What are they waiting for? The answer, when it arrives, is dazzling.
Reviewers say: Children will be spellbound by this "delightful celebration of night and sunrise" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| The Midnight Library by Kazuno KoharaWelcome to: The Midnight Library (evening hours only), where the librarian might be a little girl in pigtails, but she knows just what each animal in the library needs.
Art alert: Contrasting cool blues and blacks with a deep, warm yellow, The Midnight Library's illustrations are whimsical, inviting, and perfect for bedtime.
Further reading: For another luminous nighttime read, try The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson. |
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| Twenty Yawns by Jane Smiley; illustrated by Lauren CastilloWhat it’s about: After a busy day at the beach, Lucy and her parents head home for an early bedtime. Once there, however, mom and dad nod off long before Lucy does, leaving the pajama-clad child to contemplate the quiet, moonlit house on her own.
Why kids might like it: Cozy illustrations and a low-key counting activity (yes, there are 20 yawns to find) add to the winsome tone of this picture book from novelist Jane Smiley.
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| Kitten and the Night Watchman by John Sullivan; illustrated by Taeeun YooWhat happens: An adorable gray kitten disrupts the nightly routine of a kindly construction site watchman.
Why kids might like it: Nighttime transforms the setting from mundane to fanciful in this hushed, lyrical book filled with closely observed details that invite a second look.
Did you know? This book is based on the true story of how author John Sullivan found his pet cat. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!
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