| George & Lenny Are Always Together by Jon AgeeAnxious brown bear George and curious gray rabbit Lenny are BFFs who do everything together. So what will happen when Lenny wants to try a bit of solitude? This sweet and simple story offers expressive art to explore a timeless question about friendship. |
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Oh, Olive!
by Lian Cho
Although her parents are serious painters devoted to minimalist precision, rambunctious and ultra-confident young Olive expresses herself through bold splashes of color. Can this family of artists learn to understand each other?
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| Where the Deer Slip Through by Katey Howes; illustrated by Beth KrommesFrom sunrise to nightfall, various wild animals visit a woodland farmyard. Each creature is portrayed distinctly in rhyming words packed with alliteration and onomatopoeia, and kids can follow each delicious detail in the delicate, meticulous scratchboard-and-watercolor art by Caldecott Medalist Beth Krommes. |
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| Pickle on Wheels by Sylvie KantorovitzPractice makes progress -- eventually -- for Pickle, a pup who's frustrated that he can't immediately roller-skate like his hero, SuperDog. Good thing new friend Coco is on hand to help! Soothing art and large, easy-to-read panels make this graphic novel ideal for beginning readers who are building their confidence, just like Pickle. |
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| You and Me, Anemone by Rachel Vail; illustrated by Chris RaschkaCharming wordplay and enticingly textured embroidery art combine in this read-aloud ready tale of a kid and an anemone with a shared aversion to being "booped." Whether you're looking to share a fun story about sea creatures or start a kid-friendly discussion of boundaries, you'll want to check out this affirming book. |
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| I'm Afraid, Said the Leaf by Danielle Daniel; illustrated by Matt JamesThrough the observations of one curious child, young readers (or listeners) can join in the appreciation of nature's interconnectedness, from the leaves supported by the tree to the creek that cools off the overheated bear. Inventive perspectives in the artwork heighten the quiet yet thought-provoking tone of this picture book. Read-alike: Monique Gray Smith's You Hold Me Up. |
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| Do You Even Know Me? by Reem Faruqi; illustrated by Ani BushryAdorable cartoon illustrations underscore the kid appeal of this story about Salma, a kindhearted Muslim American girl, and Luke, a bullying classmate who's heard misinformation on TV. Sensitively told, Do You Even Know Me? offers a message of peace, empathy, and living into your beliefs. Read-alike: The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad. |
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Runaway Blanket
by Nancy Deas
A toddler is told it's time for bed but he's not ready because he saw his blanket packing up a bag and running down the road, but luckily the child catches his blankie just in time for a goodnight snuggle.
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| Simone by Viet Thanh Nguyen; illustrated by Minnie PhanWhen a wildfire threatens their California home, art-loving Simone and her Má evacuate to a shelter at a school gym. There, remembering Má's story about fleeing floods in Vietnam with nothing but her crayons, Simone leads the other kids in a hopeful drawing project. This moving story provides kids with a portrait of resilience during hard times. |
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| My Daddy Is a Cowboy by Stephanie Seales; illustrated by C.G. EsperanzaA pre-dawn trip to the ranch means precious one-on-one time for a Panamanian American girl and her father. The sensory details of their ride through the nearby streets are captured in eye-popping, hyper-realistic colors and compositions that pulse with energy, creating a distinctive and indelible celebration of family. |
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