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Fireworks by Matthew Burgess; illustrated by Cátia Chien Two smiling siblings enjoy a sizzling summer day in the city, exploring steamy sidewalks, romping through fire-hydrant spray, sampling sweet watermelon, and more. Nightfall brings a trip to the roof and the "POP," POOF," and "BOOM" of a fireworks show, before being tucked into bed with "kaboom"-filled dreams. The poetic text brims with delightful detail and sound effects, while color-infused artwork pops with surprise and excitement. Share this book and have children write or draw about their own perfect summer day! Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children Ages 4 - 8 Siblings; City Life; Summertime; Onomatopoeia |
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It begins millions of years ago as water drops seep into a cave, picking up minerals, and initiating the formation of a stalactite hanging from above slowly dripping down to form a stalagmite on the ground. Of course, the two form a bond, chatting through the millennia and watching the comings of goings of a trilobite, triceratops, giant sloth, and even humans, as they grow ever closer. Lighthearted text and amusing artwork tell a funny tale of friendship sprinkled with scientific concepts just begging to be explored. Caldecott Medal Honor Book Ages 4 – 8 Friendship; Nature; Caves; Geology; Time; Humor |
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On a warm day, a boy describes how his elder brother takes him on a hike up to a lake for a swim "like Father used to." Perched atop a rock, the boy takes off his shirt, stretches, and watches Brother dive into the water. However, the narrator suddenly, experiencing "a stomach full of stones," is too afraid to jump in. It is only after he closes his eyes and remembers Father that he is able to move forward. The expressive artwork uses cool blues and greens to depict the current-day scenes, and warm yellows and oranges to bring the memories to life. Poignant and lyrically told, this picture book sensitively touches upon navigating loss and grief, gaining strength in family, and finding a way to heal. Caldecott Medal Honor Book Ages 4 - 8 Family Stories; Brothers; Grief; Memory; Courage |
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Mabel wakes up early to greet the best day of the week. Grabbing a bowl of dry cereal, she drags a chair through the house (passing family members along the way) and sets up outdoors to await the "the best thing in the world," a garbage truck with its shiny hubcaps and lights, cool automatic arm, and crash-bang sounds! Many youngsters share Mabel's enthusiasm (the bright-hued artwork show others waiting at their windows) and will enjoy this charming slice-of-life picture book. Share this book and have young listeners think about what their best day of the week is and why. Caldecott Medal Honor Book Ages 3 - 7 Families; Imagination; Finding Wonder in the Ordinary; Trucks |
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by Jonathan Fenske Fed up with swabbing "slop" and "glop," a mop decides to run away, launching a madcap chase involving a bunny ("I can HOP and stop that mop!"), a pony ("I can CLOP and stop that mop!"), and other animal characters. The buoyant mop is undeterred — even by a stop sign — wreaking havoc until the final chuckle-inducing page. Filled with simple words, plenty of repetition, and bouncy rhymes to support beginning readers, the action-packed story is fun to read. The cartoon artwork provides context clues, while perfectly matching the silliness of the text. Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book Ages 4 - 8 Emerging Readers; Humorous Stories; Rhymes |
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I Like Hoops by Juwanda G. Ford; illustrated by Jada Jeni Bennett With 5 minutes remaining on the clock, a basketball game is down to the wire! But don't worry, there is still plenty of time for shots and misses, passes and dribbles, blocks and steals, and teamwork and good sportsmanship. Simple words, short sentences, and context clues in the cartoon artwork tell a story filled with end-of-game excitement and plenty of smiles. Perfect for emerging readers (and sports fans). Geisel Award Honor Book Ages 4 - 8 Emerging Readers; Basketball; Teamwork; Sportsmanship |
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When a crop failure forces Junior's family to move to town, the boy is thrilled to discover a library located nearby that is available for use by him and other members of his Black community. Borrowing a book for everyone in his family, he is surprised that his father sits with his book every night but does not open it, eventually discovering that he cannot read. A tenderly told narrative and vibrant artwork make for a compelling family tale. Based on the author's experiences growing up in the 1950s, this story is set in Roxboro, North Carolina, and a note at book's end provides context about the Jim Crow South. Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizing an African American illustrator of outstanding books for children Ages 6 - 11 Families; Libraries; Books; U.S. History |
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by Andrea L. Rogers; illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz Two-year-old Chooch just wants to "help," no matter the often-messy consequences. Sissy is frustrated that he seems to get away with everything, until she realizes she once made similar mistakes, and she now has the role of teacher. Created by two citizens of the Cherokee Nation and sprinkled with Cherokee words, this charming story features a modern Native family and has much to say to all families. Information about Cherokee culture, a glossary, and a guide to making pinch pots are appended. American Indian Youth Literature Award for best picture book (also winner of 2025 Caldecott Medal) Ages 4 - 8 Families; Siblings; Traditions; Culture; Native Americans |
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Croco by Azul López; translated from the Spanish by Kit Maude A crocodile's life seems very ordinary until he manages to tumble into a deep hole. Trapped, Croco receives and tries out advice from other animals. Suspense builds as a snake tells him to wrap himself around a tree trunk, a pair of birds advise flapping his wings, and a trio of monkeys recommend grabbing the walls — all to no avail (as Croco lacks the necessary physical characteristics). Even a group effort fails, leaving Croco in the hole and in tears (which ultimately pay off as his tears eventually fill the hole and float him to salvation). The book is held vertically, underscoring Croco's predicament, and the detailed vibrantly colored artwork does much of the storytelling. This entertaining animal tale imported from Mexico could inspire explorations about real-life crocodiles and their habitats and abilities. Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States Ages 4 - 8 Crocodiles; Animal Stories; Helping Others |
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This handsomely illustrated informational picture book introduces the smallest of the Hawaiian Islands, from its birth in a volcanic eruption to the arrival of Polynesian voyagers, the impact of invasive species, and the devastation wrought during WWII and the decades following as the U.S. military used it for target practice. In 1994, after years of struggle, the land, which is considered sacred, was finally reclaimed by Hawai'i and work on cultural and conservation restoration is ongoing. Lyrical text and informative fact boxes clearly explain historical events and environmental impacts while underscoring the power of persistence and advocacy. The book includes a timeline, glossary, photos, and information about how to help. Asian/Pacific American Award recognizes works that highlight Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage (Pasifika picture book award) Ages 7 - 11 Hawai'i; U.S. History; Nature; Conservation |
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In this heartfelt story, a young narrator learns about her family's history. Her mother grew up in a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York, and her father grew up in a Hindi family in Mumbai, India, before the two met in upstate New York. Though their lives together allow her "to be part of many things at once" (holiday celebrations, foods, relatives from across the globe), the girl sometimes feels like she does not quite fit in anywhere. However, after observing a butterfly (no two are exactly alike), she concludes that she too can be both uniquely herself "and part of many things at once." Warmly illustrated, this thoughtful book is based on the author's experiences, and historical events mentioned in the story are explained in a note at book's end. Share this book and reflect on your own family history. Asian/Pacific American Award recognizes works that highlight Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage (Asian American picture book award) Ages 4 - 8 Families; Family History; Identity |
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Can a childhood game help feed the world? Born in an Andean city in Peru in 1943, Alberto grew up playing paka paka con la papa (potato hide-and-seek), which honed his awareness of the world around him. As an adult (and a celebrated plant scientist), Alberto played the game again as he traveled the mountains hunting for wild potato species with “superpowers” (providing nutrition, blocking diseases, fighting off insects, etc.). Scientists can use these plants to create durable new species, but they must be found before climate change causes them to become extinct. In this picture book biography, playful text and earthy artwork tell an important tale. A large amount of additional information provides more details and photos. Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children Ages 5 – 10 Nature; Conservation; Agriculture; Scientists; South America |
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This inspiring picture book biography introduces Wanda Merced, who grew up in Puerto Rico and always dreamed of studying the stars. After losing her sight while in college, she had to find a new way to continue her work. She eventually learned that she could research the stars by tuning into radio waves in space, essentially hearing what she could not see. Sonification, the presentation of data through sound, is clearly explained in the narrative along with other scientific concepts, and additional information supports the text. Both the lushly hued artwork and the uplifting storytelling convey Wanda's challenges and experiences and her message that "Science is for everyone!" Schneider Family Younger Children's Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience Ages 6 - 9 Astronomy; Scientists: Challenges |
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Pikes Peak Library District
P.O. Box 1579, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80901
(719) 531-6333https://ppld.org/ |
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