Fireworks by Matthew Burgess; illustrated by Cátia Chien
In this evocative slice of life, dazzling colors and stirring, detail-rich descriptions conjure up a sultry summer day for two city-dwelling siblings, complete with a rooftop fireworks display. Read-alikes: John Rocco’s Blackout; Jacqueline Woodson’s The World Belonged to Us.
Capture the emotional ups and downs of working with others in this celebration of collaboration in the creative process. As the girl perseveres through technical and emotional challenges, she learns that mistakes don't mean failure and setbacks are just part of the route to success.
Elvis & Romeo by David Soman; illustrated by Jacky Davis
Curmudgeonly bulldog Elvis and exuberant mutt Romeo might seem like a mismatch at first, but after a few comical miscommunications at the dog park, the canine odd couple become fast friends. With speech-bubble text and tons of visual verve, this series opener is a charmer.
Mole struggles to hit the ball during summer baseball season, but with Bear's support and a new pair of glasses, he finds the confidence to enjoy the game and the joys of summer with his best friend,
Retro Reads
Check out these awesome books from the not-so-distant past.
As soon as chubby, long-nosed Dog is given a strawberry, this book’s narrator begins the sportscast: "Welcome to the greatest race of all time!" Even kids too young for spoofs can delight in the exaggerated illustrations of Dog zooming haphazardly around its inanimate challenger. Read-alike: The Squirrels Who Squabbled by Rachel Bright.
Resilience gets a googly-eyed new representative in the anthropomorphic sandcastle who narrates this offbeat object lesson. Although it gets squished by everything from waves to Frisbees -- each incident illustrated in crisp, cut-paper collage -- nothing can keep this adorable sandcastle down.
Finding Things by Kevin Henkes; illustrated by Laura Dronzek
The story begins with a child rescuing a series of abandoned items: a ball, a flower, and a box. Each item is useful, but it’s one final, fuzzy find that brings everything together. This sweet and simple tale celebrates the abundance that can be found by those who are patient enough to look.
An inspiring story perfect for little stargazers. Luna loves the sky and finding out about all the wonders she can see above her. But the villagers can't stop worrying about the mythical Sky Dragon - a fearsome creature who is said to dwell in the sky. Can Luna share her love of the sky and show the villagers that the Sky Dragon is nothing to be afraid of? Featuring real constellations as well as facts about the milky way, eclipses, comets and other astronomical delights.
Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!