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| Our Pool by Lucy Ruth CumminsWhat it's about: A hot day in the city draws everyone to the same destination: the public pool.
Dive in! Bold, saturated colors will grab young readers' attention, along with words that evoke a sensory experience: the smell of sunscreen, the feel of cold splashes, the muffled sounds underwater, the sight of a diverse community at play, and the taste of ice cream on the way home.
Kids might also like: Amy Duchene's Pool Party. |
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| Penny & Pip by Candace Fleming; illustrated by Eric RohmannMeet: observant, compassionate Penny, the only person in the natural history museum who notices a dinosaur egg hatching; and Pip, the baby sauropod who imprints on Penny, prompting her to hatch a clever plan to bring her new friend home.
Art alert: Sweet and simple illustrations with plenty of white space keep the focus on the two small protagonists in the big museum.
Try this next: Mark Pett's Lizard from the Park. |
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| Reggie: Kid Penguin by Jen de OliveiraIntroducing: the zany misadventures of Reggie, a young penguin who, just like any other kid, lives by his own particular logic and perspective.
What's inside: a disastrous picture day haircut; a hatful of popsicle soup; a miniature city for roly-polies; rebelling against a backpack leash by pretending to be a dog.
Who it's for: Though ideal for beginning readers, this sweet, slapstick-filled graphic novel can also be a fun read-aloud or read-along. |
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| The Together Tree by Aisha Saeed; illustrated by LeUyen PhamWhat it's about: Faced with bullies at school, new student Rumi hides alone under a willow tree, drawing pictures in the dirt. But when one friendly classmate joins him, things begin to change.
What's inside: mixed-media illustrations highlighting the sincere emotions in this tale of compassion and belonging.
Try this next: Marie-Louise Gay's Mustafa and Matthew Burgess' Bird Boy. |
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| Before, Now by Daniel SalmieriWhat it is: a cozy yet thought-provoking look at life's patterns, as shown through opposites.
Featuring: a collection of moments from one person's life as they grow from "a small person in a big chair" to a teen at a "loud concert in a quiet field" to a parent (and then grandparent) feeding a little one "squishy oatmeal in a hard bowl."
Reviewers say: "a "whoa" kind of idea pitched at just the right level" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| Wombat Said Come In by Carmen Agra Deedy; illustrated by Brian LiesWhat it's about: With a wildfire raging outside his burrow, Wombat hunkers down to wait it out in peace. However, the arrival of shelter-seeking friends -- wallaby, kookaburra, sugar glider, platypus, and koala -- stretches Wombat's patience as well as the calm atmosphere in his home.
Further reading: To visit other anthropomorphic wombats who take in guests (gracefully or not) during dangerous wildfires, try Michelle Kadarusman's Room for More or Christian Trimmer's Wombat, the Reluctant Hero. |
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| Me and the Boss: A Story About Mending and Love by Michelle Edwards; illustrated by April HarrisonStarring: little Lee and his confident big sister Zora, aka "the boss."
What happens: Lee accompanies Zora to an embroidery class, where she completes a perfect project. Lee needs more time to practice, but his final result earns him a not-so-bossy hug.
Art alert: Folksy, textured, mixed-media illustrations from award-winning illustrator April Harrison invite re-reading, and -- if paired with the instructions at the end -- may inspire kids to try some crafting of their own. |
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| This Book Is Not For You! by Shannon Hale; illustrated by Tracy SubisakStarring: bibliophile Stanley, disappointed that the bookmobile man won't let him borrow a book about a girl. The man says that only girls can read about girls, only cats can read about cats, only robots can read about robots...you get it.
What happens: Curious readers begin swapping books, forcing the man to realize his limited viewpoint. (Also, it's tough to say "no" to an allosaurus who really wants to read about ponies.)
Read it for: humorous illustrations and a gentle message. |
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| Sal Boat: A Boat by Sal by Thyra HederWhat it's about: Wannabe-seafarer Sal is desperate for his own boat, and he's got the gumption to build it from scraps found throughout his waterfront town. Sure, his neighbors all think he needs advice, but Sal's sure he knows what to do.
Anchors aweigh? Just as Sal's build hits a major obstacle, his neighbors arrive with support, leading to a joyful sunset flotilla.
Why kids might like it: splashy watercolor illustrations enliven this tale of determination and community.
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| Wutaryoo by Nilah MagruderStarring: inquisitive Wutaryoo -- so called after the question she's asked by all the other animals -- who doesn't look like any of her friends and doesn't know where she came from.
What happens: Wutaryoo goes on an epic journey to discover herself, learning about all kinds of animal origins on the way.
Why kids might like it: Fanciful readers will appreciate the illustrations of wild and wonderful creatures, while philosophical types will mull over Wutaryoo's messages about identity. |
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Ask your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!
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