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Picture BooksJanuary 2015
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"Awards can give you a tremendous amount of encouragement to keep getting better, no matter how young or old you are." ~ Alan Alda, American actor
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New and Recently Released!
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| Tiptop Cat by C. Roger MaderMost housecats like to climb, but this handsome black-and-white kitty has an enviable roost: waaaay up on the highest roof in his Paris neighborhood, overlooking the Eiffel Tower. However, after a confrontation with a pigeon results in a death-defying fall, the cat retreats indoors, fearfully hiding in safe closets and corners. How will the dispirited cat regain his sense of adventure? Find out in this understated yet visually arresting picture book. For another outdoor feline escapade with equally expressive art, check out Anita Lobel's Nini Lost and Found. |
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| Hunters of the Great Forest by Dennis NolanNo words are needed to create drama in this winsome tale, which begins with a brave band of explorers waving goodbye to their village as they set out on a journey. Gradually, fun details in the warmly tinted illustrations (as well as encounters with a bird, a toad, and a dragonfly) reveal that these travelers are tiny -- barely the size of an ant! But size doesn't stop them from pursuing their surprisingly sweet "prey." Similar to David Wiesner's Mr. Wuffles!, this surreal adventure in miniature is sure to provoke close attention and repeat readings. |
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| Irene's Wish by Jerdine Nolen; illustrated by AG FordA hopeful wish leads to some unexpected results for Irene, a little girl who loves her papa. Papa is a talented farmer whose work keeps him busy, and Irene wishes he had more time to spend with her. Then an incident with some accidentally ingested seeds causes Papa to undergo a mystical transformation that might just give Irene what she wished for…though not in the way she imagined it. Deep, lush colors enhance the magical feel of this fantastical yet down-to-earth story about nature, family, and the power of possibility. |
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| A Letter for Leo by Sergio RuzzierLeo the weasel is a mail carrier, but he's never received a letter. Depicted in soft watercolors, Leo's cozy community is clearly friendly -- he often chats or plays games with the other animals -- yet none of them write to Leo. One day, Leo opens his mailbox to find not a letter, but a lost baby bird named Cheep. Cheep and Leo soon form a close friendship, and though the return of Cheep's bird family is bittersweet, it results in a pitch-perfect conclusion that's sure to make you smile. Gently wistful and simply told, A Letter for Leo is just right for beginning readers, or for sharing one-on-one. |
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| Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidman; illustrated by Rick AllenJust as they did for nocturnal creatures in Dark Emperor, author Joyce Sidman and illustrator Rick Allen illuminate the habits of tundra animals in Winter Bees. They describe animals such as snakes ("twist and fold to weave a heavy cloak of cold,") bees ("deep in the winter hive, we burn like a golden sun,") and more, offering an image, a poem, and scientific facts about each. The poems are spare yet vivid and carefully crafted, as are the beautifully block-printed illustrations. This wintry read will be "savored by young artists and scientists" (Kirkus Reviews), who may also enjoy Kate Messner's Over and Under the Snow. |
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Award-Winning Picture Books
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| Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals by Ashley BryanVibrant construction-paper collages -- an "explosion of shapes and bright colors" (Booklist) on every page -- illustrate three beloved Spirituals in this Coretta Scott King Award-winning book. Interpreting "This Little Light of Mine," "Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In," and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" in his kaleidoscopic art, author and illustrator Ashley Bryan also includes the musical notation for these songs. His closing author's note gives more information about Spirituals and offers a fitting benediction: "May the spirit move you to make them your own." |
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| Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears by Emily GravettCleverly disguised as a self-help workbook, this Kate Greenaway Medal-winner aims to help an exceptionally anxious rodent overcome her fears by facing them. Little Mouse wields a human-sized pencil to draw pictures of some of the many things she is afraid of (including spiders, shadows, being alone, and sharp knives -- look at what happened to the Three Blind Mice, after all) and provides the scientific name for each of her fears. Creative collage spreads, a map, newspaper clippings, and nibbled pages add to the fun of this interactive picture book. |
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| Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book by Yuyi MoralesSkeleton-man Señor Calavera is excited about attending Grandma Beetle's birthday party, but just as he's setting out on his bicycle, Zelmiro the Ghost appears, reminding him that he needs a present, one that Grandma Beetle "would love the most." Señor Calavera begins an alphabetical search for precious gifts, with each one introducing readers to a new Spanish word. But are his A-to-Y gifts really what Grandma would love the most, or has the best been saved for last? Featuring whimsical illustrations in brilliant, riotous colors, Just in Case won the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award for its celebration of Latino culture. |
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| Maudie and Bear by Jan Ormerod; illustrated by Freya BlackwoodMaudie and Bear are best friends, though these five short stories make it clear that spirited, self-centered Maudie is in charge. While adults will recognize Maudie's behavior as realistically childlike, kids will be reassured by Bear's steady friendship, and everyone will smile at the gentle humor ("exercise is good for you," declares Maudie as she sits on the handlebars of Bear's bike). Named as 2011's Early Childhood Book of the Year by the Children's Book Council of Australia, Maudie and the Bear is an irresistible charmer that will appeal to readers who like odd-couple stories. |
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| The Watermelon Seed by Greg PizzoliWhile chowing dowon on delicious, juicy watermelon (his favorite food), the crocodile hero of this comic tale accidentally swallows a seed. Panicking about what might happen next, he addresses the reader: "It’s growing in my guts! Soon vines will come out of my ears!" Cartoony illustrations, rendered in a crisp palette of watermelon pink-and-green, underscore the croc's over-the-top anxiety, as well as the obvious, but still hilarious, solution. Winner of the Geisel Award (given to books for beginning readers), this goofy, high-energy book will please fans of Mo Willems and Bob Shea. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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West Babylon Public Library 211 Route 109 West Babylon, New York 11704 (631) 669-5445http://wbpl.us |
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