| The Whale's Tale and the Otter's Side of the Story by Kate Messner; illustrated by Brian BiggsWhales or otters: which animal is "absolutely, positively cooler?" If you read this clever book front to back, whales are the clear winner, but otters triumph if you read from back to front. Funny and fact-filled, this unusual story highlights the power of perspective. |
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Greta Green Builds a Submarine by Sue FliessMeet Greta Green: pint-size pioneer of the sea! Greta Green adores the ocean and spends her time cleaning the shoreline with her trusty bird and hermit crab. She can only dream of diving below the surface to discover the wonders hidden beneath...until the day that Greta gets a big idea: She and her pals will build their own submarine! With cheerful rhyming text and whimsical artwork, this is a story about dreaming big, protecting our oceans, and staying true to your heart. The book includes information on submersibles and submarines, famous shipwrecks, and real-life female pioneers of the sea.
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| Hold by Randy Ribay; illustrated by Zeke PeñaIt's tough to get out the door with a toddler, and never more so than in this playful read. Daddy's request for his child to briefly hold a water bottle gets increasingly outlandish as the child asks to hold more items, from toys to the family cat to the rain in the sky. A twist ending and bold, stylized illustrations enhance this sweetly silly tale.
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How to Read a Very Serious Book by Mireille MessierReading serious books is a very serious matter. Or so thinks a seriously knowledgeable narrator who guides two young readers as they practice various ways of presenting a Very Serious Reader persona to the world. For instance, wearing a stick-on mustache, glasses on the tip of your nose, and a pencil tucked behind an ear are all good ways to look studious while you read. And of course, every page should be turned with a flourish. Humorously illustrated in comic-book style panels, this lighthearted picture book pokes fun at the idea of serious books and encourages kids to read what they like--because all books are meant to be seriously enjoyed.
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| A Fish Like Me by Jamie Sumner; illustrated by Devon HolzwarthWhen using their wheelchair on land, the star of this picture book can zoom like a rocket. But in the pool, they experience a different kind of freedom, swimming like a variety of sea creatures. Fluid artwork buoys this inclusive, joyful story. |
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Tiny Gardenby Deborah UnderwoodOn a street that covets big, showy gardens, Andrew sets out to grow his own tiny garden in this picture book about slowing down, appreciating the little things, and staying true to yourself. From bestselling, award-winning author Deborah Underwood and debut illustrator Jax Chow. Andrew loves plants, but he's overwhelmed by the fancy plots in his neighborhood--too big, too tall, too much. With soil, seeds, water, and patience, Andrew's tiny garden blooms into a size his neighbors may not understand, but that's perfect for tiny leaves, tiny colors, and tiny visitors.
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| Dino Poet by Tom AnglebergerIt's a classic Triassic tale: to avoid being eaten, a frog offers a Coelophysis...some notes on his poems? Scampering through various predicaments and poetry styles, the predator-prey duo in this goofy graphic novel make learning hilarious. Next in the series: Pen Pals.
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Deadly Dinosaurs by DKIt's nighttime at the museum, and the dinosaurs models have come to life! Which one is the most deadly?
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| Penny & Pip by Candace Fleming; illustrated by Eric RohmannCompassionate Penny is the only person in the natural history museum who notices the dinosaur egg hatching -- which means that baby sauropod Pip immediately imprints on the girl. Sweet and simple illustrations keep the focus on these two small characters in a big museum. |
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| Dinos That Drive by Suzy Levinson; illustrated by Dustin HarbinCombining two perennial kid favorites -- dinosaurs and vehicles -- this picture book in verse boasts giggle-inducing wordplay alongside bustling, imaginative depictions of dinosaurs operating cars, trains, helicopters, and lots more. For fans of: Richard Scarry's classic Busytown books.
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The Great Dinosaur Sleepover by Linda BaileyA young boy's disappointing birthday party gets turned upside down with a blast from the prehistoric past.
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| The Iguanodon's Horn: How Artists and Scientists Put a Dinosaur Back Together... by Sean RubinHow do paleontologists use fossils to reconstruct what dinosaurs might have looked like? Readers get an insider's look at the process in this lively nonfiction picture book focused on the Iguanodon, whose appearance has been reimagined several times. Detailed illustrations add to the abundance of facts, making this book ideal for STEM-loving younger elementary school kids. |
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