Creative chaos ensues when a little sister puts her stamp on the book her big brother has written: "She ruined every rhyming verse, so now my story sounds much -- MORE MAGNIFICENT!" Color-coded dialogue and energetic illustrations add to the laugh-out-loud fun.
In a precarious postapocalyptic world, a robot labeled "NOA" works diligently to protect a menagerie of animals from ever-rising floodwaters. Whether or not they’re familiar with the story of Noah’s ark, kids will be riveted by the lush, detailed illustrations and wordless worldbuilding in this hopeful tale.
While vinyl-loving grown-ups will appreciate the "record collection" concept, children will adore the absolute absurdity in this alphabet book of animal recording artists, from Arnie Dillow to the Zydeco Zebras. Popular author Cece Bell (El Deafo) never misses when it comes to silliness.
Avast ye! And hold fast for a thrilling sea voyage in which a parent and child face storms and giant squid, all from the safety of home. Illustrations that shift seamlessly between reality and fantasy highlight the power of imaginative play. Read-alike: Laura Perdew’s The Fort.
Unabashed verve overflows from this picture book as it announces its supposed appeals: Bedtimes! Dentists! Brussels sprouts! Plus chores -- ah yeahhh! With exuberant artwork, enthusiastic interjections, and a twist ending, this book is sure to elicit heaps of giggles. YEAHHH!
Selling eggs, plums, peppers and pumpkins at Papa's stand in the farmer's market, one little boy learns the importance of family, community and hope when his Papa can't make it to the stand, in this moving intergenerational story inspired by the author's childhood in the rural south.
For little kids, being "big" is a good thing -- until suddenly it isn’t. Winner of the 2024 Caldecott Medal, this cleverly illustrated and tenderly told story about how judgment and fatphobia impacts a big-hearted girl will resonate with readers of all ages.
A monster claims he would never eat a child as the children playing around him suspiciously disappear one by one.
When I'm With You by Pat Zietlow Miller; illustrated by Eliza Miller
Lively artwork underscores the feel-good vibes in this friendship story told through bouncy rhymes just right for reading aloud: "You’ll be the key to my lock. The right shoe for my sock…If one plus one makes two, I'm the one who goes with you."
The Blue Pickup by Natasha Tripplett; illustrated by Monica Mikai
In a lushly illustrated Jamaican town, Ju-Girl and her Granddad bond as they repair cars, culminating in a vibrant tour of their neighborhood in Grandad’s freshly restored old pickup. Read-alikes: Margarita Engle’s All the Way to Havana and The Old Truck by Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey.
Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!