|
Picture Books February 2017
|
|
|
|
| Wolf in the Snow by Matthew CordellAfter losing her way in a snowstorm, a parka-clad girl comes face-to-face with a tiny wolf cub. Rather than being scared, the girl immediately recognizes the wolf as a fellow lost soul. Scooping it out of the snow, she follows the sound of howling, determined to reunite the furry wanderer with its pack. Can the girl deliver the cub to safety and find her own way home as well? You'll have to read it find out! Wordless except for huffs, howls, and other sound effects, Wolf in the Snow will immerse young readers in its stylized snowscapes and invite them to share in a cozy, satisfying conclusion. |
|
| A Greyhound, a Groundhog by Emily Jenkins; illustrated by Chris AppelhansThere aren't many words in this book, but you may still want to rehearse it a bit before sharing it with a child. Composed almost entirely of rhyming tongue-twisters, this charming look at the friendship between a dog and a groundhog can be dazzling when read aloud. Go ahead, try it as fast as you can: "A round hound, a grey dog, a round little hound dog…A greyhog, a ground dog, a hog little hound dog." Whew! The playful tone of the text is mirrored in the illustrations, which combine a soft watercolor palette with loose, lively brushstrokes, creating a captivating reading experience for adults and kids alike.
|
|
|
We Found a Hat
by Jon Klassen
Fans of Jon Klassen know that combining animals with hats is the perfect recipe for understated moral dilemmas. Following the stolen hats in I Want My Hat Back and This is Not My Hat, this latest book takes a different slant: a single cowboy hat coveted by two desert-dwelling turtles. Though they found it together and it "looks good" on them both, the turtles agree to forget about the hat in the name of fairness. Forgetting, however, isn't easy. From the comically oversized hat to the turtles' shifty eyes, Klassen's typically spare illustrations speak volumes, ramping up the tension only to resolve it in a surprisingly gentle twist.
|
|
| XO, Ox: A Love Story by Adam Rex; illustrated by Scott CampbellMiscommunication, that great driver of romantic drama, is at the heart of this unorthodox epistolary love story. Squarish and squat, Ox carefully pens a confession of his admiration for Gazelle: "You are so graceful and fine...you are like a ballerina who is running from tigers." Willowy Gazelle receives the missive with rather less care, sending back a form letter (she has so many admirers). Ox's starry-eyed misunderstanding of this brush-off leads to a continued correspondence that's equal parts silly and sweet, underscored by simply stylized illustrations. Even kids who are grossed out by romance will be charmed by XO, Ox. |
|
|
Big Hugs Little Hugs
by Felicia Bond
The illustrator of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie presents a tribute to the universality of love that depicts animal families who express their affection for each other by sharing exuberant hugs, in a tale that also incorporates details about opposites and animal habitats.
|
|
| Hug Machine by Scott CampbellWith his big eyes, striped shirt, and comically long arms, the human Hug Machine is an irresistible little guy -- both to readers and to the recipients of his embraces. Whether they need to be calmed down or cheered up, the Hug Machine is willing to hug anyone (including an unhappy baby, a spiky porcupine, and a giant whale) or anything (such as a rock, a mailbox, and an ice cream truck). But after a big day of hugging, the Hug Machine is tired…and ready to receive a loving squeeze from his mom. The Hug Machine's blend of sincerity and deadpan daffiness is perfect for cuddle-loving kids. |
|
|
Hugs from Pearl
by Paul Schmid
Pearl the porcupine loves to give hugs, but her friends don't like receiving them, so when Pearl finds inspiration in an unlikely place, she is able to continue doing her favorite thing in the world. By the creator of A Pet for Petunia. 40,000 first printing.
|
|
| Dinosaur Kisses by David Ezra SteinBursting out of her egg with wide-eyed exuberance, yellow speckled baby dinosaur Dinah has a lot of love to give. She sees two smaller critters kissing and longs to give it a try, but each of her efforts at a gentle kiss turns into an overpowering STOMP, WHOMP, or CHOMP -- the latter involving the back end of a brontosaurus! Will Dinah ever find someone she can safely smooch? Kids will have to stick with Dinah throughout her goofy, giggle-worthy learning curve to find out. Pick up Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen's Tyrannosaurus Wrecks for another dinosaur-themed example of "preschool humor at its finest" (The Horn Book Magazine). |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
Michigan City Public Library 100 E. 4th Street Michigan City, Indiana 46360 219-873-3044mclib.org/ |
|
|
|