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My beautiful birds
by
Suzanne Del Rizzo
Fleeing from a home destroyed in the Syrian Civil War, Sami worries about the pet pigeons he left behind and struggles to go through his days in a refugee camp, where he is consumed by thoughts of what he has lost before finding healing by caring for other birds in need of help.
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Little Excavator
by
Anna Dewdney
It's tough being the smallest vehicle on the construction site, especially when you're as eager to help as Little Excavator. Tiny, yellow, and bursting with can-do spirit, Little Excavator keeps trying to join in the park-building process, but the bigger vehicles just keep telling him "not yet." Rhythmic and bursting with machine sound effects that are "just begging to be read aloud with dramatic effect" (Kirkus Reviews), this tale of a pint-sized helper in search of a job to match is a crowd-pleaser that may rival the late author's popular Llama Llama series. For another exuberant, anthropomorphic construction vehicle, try Candace Fleming's Bulldozer series.
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Firefighter Duckies!
by
Frank W. Dormer
Meet the Firefighter Duckies: "They are brave. They are strong. They rescue…" anyone in need of help, no matter how outrageous the predicament. A gorilla with a flaming chef's hat? No problem! A whale stuck in a tree? All in a day's work! Dinosaurs who've lost control of their bikes? They've got a solution for that too, because the Firefighter Duckies aren't just brave and strong, they're also kind and helpful. With exaggerated illustrations, an over-the-top tone, and plenty of repetition to encourage child participation, Firefighter Duckies! is an upbeat and satisfyingly silly story.
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This house, once
by Deborah Freedman
Dreamy, meditative scenes both introduce the sections of a house and poetically explore the magic of a home while inviting young children to think about where things come from and what nature provides.
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Bulldozer helps out
by Candace Fleming
A follow-up to Bulldozer's Big Day finds Little Bulldozer tackling a debris-clearing job only to discover a litter of newborn kittens who prove more difficult to care for than anticipated. Illustrated by the Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator of My Friend Rabbit.
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Little fox in the forest
by Stephanie Graegin
When a young fox swipes her stuffed animal from the playground and races away into the woods, a young girl and her friend follow, arriving at a hedge archway where a marvelous village filled with miniature stone cottages, treehouses and woodland creatures share a magical existence.
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Are you sitting comfortably? by Leigh HodgkinsonIn this eye-catching picture book, a book-loving kid gets comfortable with reading -- literally. Depicted in multimedia collage art, the child's search for a comfy, cozy reading spot features everything from a floral chair (too many bees buzzing 'round) to a monster's lap (too itchy and growly) before the child finally realizes what many young readers already know: the best reading place is any place that you share. Those who relish this bookish twist on the Goldilocks story may also appreciate author/illustrator Leigh Hodgkinson's earlier (but very different) spin in Goldilocks and Just One Bear.
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Tiger tiger
by
Jonny Lambert
Although Tiger thinks he is too old to play and explore, Cub refuses to sit still and leads Tiger on an adventure through the jungle
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Can an Aardvark Bark?
by
Melissa Stewart; illustrated by Steve Jenkins
Be careful where you read this book – it's sure to provoke a gleeful cacophony of animal sounds! Veteran animal book creators Melissa Stewart and Steve Jenkins join forces in this compendium of surprising animal noises. For instance, aardvarks can't bark, but they can grunt; a dingo can't bellow (though koalas and giraffes can!); and a porcupine can indeed whine. Large type plus crisp torn-paper collages make the book welcoming for younger kids, while older kids may be intrigued by the detailed animal information in the final pages, but readers of all ages will find it hard to resist Can an Aardvark Bark?.
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Gaston
by
Kelly DiPucchio; illustrated by Christian Robinson
Gaston the puppy lives with his poodle siblings Fi-Fi, Foo-Foo, and Ooh-La-La. Antoinette the puppy lives with her bulldog siblings Rocky, Ricky, and Bruno. Even though they don't look like their families, both Gaston and Antoinette are loved and happy in their homes. When their parents discover that the two puppies were switched at birth, they attempt to switch them back…only to realize that family is about much more than biology. Chunky, stylish illustrations pair perfectly with this sweet story that will resonate with anyone who's found comfort in a chosen family. If you love Gaston, don't miss the sequel, Antoinette.
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Wolfie the Bunny
by
Ame Dyckman; illustrated by Zachariah OHora
Nobody will listen to Dot. The little bunny warned her parents about adopting a wolf cub -- "HE'S GOING TO EAT US ALL UP!" -- but in their eyes, Wolfie can do no wrong. They let the drooling (yuck!) Wolfie follow Dot around and allow him to eat his way through their carrot supply. Dot, however, remains vigilant. Yet when Wolfie finally pounces, it's not for the reason Dot expected. While adults will appreciate Wolfie the Bunny's playfully modern details (the bunnies shop at a local co-op), kids will be drawn to its bold, colorful artwork and relatable family situations.
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Bear Is Not Tired
by Ciara Gavin
After being adopted by a family of ducks, Bear is settling comfortably into his new life. Eating, sleeping, playing, swimming -- Bear does everything that his feathered brethren do. (Well, everything except flying.) Then the first winter air tickles Bear's nose; it's time to hibernate! Though he tries to resist, Bear starts falling asleep during family activities. Thankfully, Mama Duck has a smart solution that will allow Bear to snooze away the winter without missing out. Rounded shapes and pastel colors in the illustrations add a gentle, homey feel to this picture book that will be a hit with fans of Karma Wilson's
Bear Snores On.
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Mother Bruce
by
Ryan T. Higgins
An unexpected family forms after dinner plans go awry in this offbeat picture book. Grumpy, dumpy, and wearing a permanent scowl, Bruce the bear doesn't like anything -- except for eggs. After stealing -- er, collecting -- some "free-range organic" goose eggs from a nest, Bruce prepares to dine…only to discover that the eggs have hatched, and the goslings are convinced he's their mother! How does one crotchety bear cope with raising four stubborn goslings? Find out in this "visually beautiful, clever, edgy, and very funny" (Kirkus Reviews) book that's just right for reading out loud.
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Quackers
by Liz Wong
Everyone knows that Quackers is a duck. He lives with the ducks at the duck pond -- so what if he's scared of water, and has orange fur instead of white feathers? It's not until Quackers spends time with a "strange duck" (a cat) named Mittens that he understands why he feels different. But as much as Quackers enjoys fitting in with the cats, he misses his fowl family. What's a conflicted critter to do? Addressing issues of family and identity in a kid-friendly way,
Quackers
will appeal to young nonconformists, who might also enjoy Sharon G. Flake's
You Are Not a Cat
.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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