Picture Books
July 2019

Recent Releases
My Cat Looks Like my Dad
by Thao Lam

Little Bear’s grandpa is wonderful and, no matter what, is always there for Little Bear, from building forts and making campfires to giving the best bear hugs of all.
Bear Came Along
by Richard T. Morris; illustrated by LeUyen Pham

What it’s about: Bear’s impromptu log ride down a winding river turns into a group expedition as he’s joined by several other animals, each one bringing an enlightening new perspective to share. 

Art alert: Perspective is also key to the retro illustrations, which show the animals’ journey from varying points of view, heightening both the goofy sight gags and the drama of an unexpected waterfall. 
How to Two
by David Soman

What 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.
Under My Hijab
by Hena Khan

As a young girl observes that each of six women in her life wears her hijab and hair in a different way, she considers how to express her own style one day.
I Can Only Draw Worms
by Will Mabbitt

Bright, high-contrast artwork complements the laugh-out-loud counting story of a growing number of worms--the only thing the droll narrator can draw--who become friends but are rather difficult to tell apart. By the author of the Mabel Jones series.
Colorful Reads
A Fire Truck Named Red
by Randall De Sève; illustrated by Bob Staake

What it’s about: At first, birthday boy Rowan is disappointed to be gifted Red, his grandfather's rickety old toy fire truck. But then Papa begins fixing up the rusty relic while regaling Rowan with tales of Red's derring-do, leaving the boy excited to embark on some adventures of his own with the now-refurbished vehicle. 

Who it’s for: Similar to Mike Austin's Fire Engine No. 9, this lively intergenerational picture book is sure to satisfy young truck aficionados.
It's an Orange Aardvark!
by Michael Hall

Starring: Five hard hat-wearing carpenter ants, all wondering what’s causing the noise outside their tree stump home. Could it be a sneaky gray aardvark? Each time they peek outside, a different color is revealed, provoking increasingly outlandish guesses from the most anxious ant.

Art alert: Die-cut holes and vivid colors are used to clever, comical effect, amping up the playful suspense.

For fans of: the colorful cut-paper art of Lois Ehlert and Eric Carle.
Yellow Time
by Lauren Stringer

What it is: a lyrical, read-aloud ready celebration of autumn’s brightest color.

Why kids might like it: readers and listeners alike will be drawn in by Yellow Time’s simple, expressive language and glowing, windswept illustrations.

Want a taste? “Black crows fill bare branches and raise their voices in praise of yellow time...They fill still-leafy trees with their voices, announcing its coming to everyone.”
They Say Blue
by Jillian Tamaki

What it’s about: One young girl tries to understand the colors of her world, both seen and unseen. 

Why kids might like it: Imaginative, whimsical illustrations accompany the girl’s observations about natural colors such as the hidden orange of egg yolks inside their shells, the surprising purple of a spring crocus, and the reflected blue of water. 

Who it’s for: thoughtful kids who wonder about the world around them.
Green is a Chile Pepper: A Book of Colors
by Roseanne Thong; illustrated by John Parra

What it is: a color concept book that explores Mexican American culture. As well as the titular green chiles, children will find a whole spectrum, including red skirts for baile folklórico and orange marigolds for Día de los Muertos.

Read it for: inviting rhymes, vibrant folk-art illustrations, and Spanish labels to bolster language learners.

Try this next: Round is a Tortilla and One is a Piñata, also by author Roseanne Greenfield Thong and illustrator John Parra.
Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!


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