| Bedtime for sweet creatures by Nikki Grimes; illustrated by Elizabeth ZunonWhat it’s about: A toddler’s bedtime routine gets wild when every ploy to stay awake -- from clinging like a koala to hopping like an antelope -- conjures up a colourful imaginary animal.
Art alert: Bold hues and lively patterns in the collage illustrations infuse energy into this cozy read.
Try this next: Mary Logue’s Sleep Like a Tiger, another lyrical bedtime story featuring imagined animals. |
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| In a jar by Deborah MarceroWhat it’s about: Can you collect the sunset in a jar? Llewellyn the rabbit can, and together with his best friend Evelyn, he collects rainbows and snowball fights and the sound of the ocean.
What happens: After Evelyn’s family moves away, lonely Llewellyn realizes that his collecting allows him to share experiences with his friend, even when they’re apart.
Read it for: the caring friendship, reassuring conclusion, and gently fantastical art. |
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| The old truck by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome PumphreyWhat it is: the quietly moving story of a small family farm, and the trusty red truck that lasts through three generations.
Why kids might like it: short, easy-to-read sentences will appeal to listeners and beginning readers alike.
About the authors: Creators (and brothers) Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey used over 250 handmade stamps to create the endearing artwork in The Old Truck. |
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| Almost time by Gary D. Schmidt and Elizabeth Stickney; illustrated by G. Brian KarasWhat it’s about: When Ethan and his dad run out of maple syrup one chilly winter, Ethan begins the long wait for spring, when the saps runs, the trees are tapped, and sugaring time rolls around again.
Why kids might like it: Ethan’s impatience for the season to change will be relatable to all kinds of kids, and those who aren’t familiar with sugaring may be fascinated by the process. |
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What color is night? by Grant SniderA debut picture book combines evocative artwork and simple text to explore the spectrum of colors that can be found at night, from a glowing white moon and golden fireflies to neon-colored city lights and the rainbow spectrum of the dream world.
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Snow still
by Holly Surplice
Waking up to discover that the woods have been transformed by a snowfall, a little fawn takes his first faltering steps into an exciting, snow-covered world and explores wintry surprises before returning to the warmth of his home and family.
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| No! by Tracey Corderoy; illustrated by Tim WarnesWhat it’s about: Like many toddlers, Otto the rhino loves saying “No!” -- in fact, he can’t seem to stop saying it, even when he’s missing out on something he wants.
Don’t worry: With a hug and a bit of understanding, Otto learns that saying “Yes” has its benefits too.
Who it’s for: While it may or may not inspire defiant kids to adjust their attitudes, adult caregivers will find humor and hope in this cartoon-illustrated story. |
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No swimming for Nelly
by Valeri Gorbachev
Loving her new swimsuit and wearing it for everything except swimming, water-fearing Nelly is approached by her swimming champion grandma, who takes her through the steps of dipping toes, learning to float, blowing bubbles and kicking before Nelly discovers how much fun swimming can be.
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| No more poems! A book in verse that just gets worse by Rhett Miller; illustrated by Dan SantatWhat it is: zany, rambunctious rhymes from singer-songwriter Rhett Miller, accompanied by attention-grabbing art from Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat.
What’s inside: silly gross-out jokes, an extreme case of sibling rivalry, a milder case of Purple Pox, a rallying cry for weirdos of the world, and a highly detailed slideshow created by a kid determined to get a dog. |
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The book with no pictures by B. J. NovakThe Emmy Award-winning actor best known for his performances in The Office presents a silly read-aloud book that combines a deliberately image-free format with wacky nonsense text, goofy song lyrics and more.
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| There are no bears in this bakery by Julia Sarcone-RoachWhat it’s about: Muffin the cat keeps a careful watch over his home, the Little Bear Bakery. That’s why he’s the first to investigate the strange noises in the bakery -- could there be an uninvited ursine visitor?
Is it for you? Adults will be amused by Muffin’s faux-noir narration, while kids will relish the messy mayhem of bears in a bakery.
Kids might also like: For further comical mystery from author/illustrator Julia Sarcone-Roach, try The Bear Ate Your Sandwich. |
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There are no cats in this book!
by Viviane Schwarz
The irrepressible feline trio of Tiny, Moonpie and Andre from There Are Cats in This Book find their desire to travel the world compromised by an inability to get out of their book, a challenge that prompts pushing and jumping before they enlist the reader's help in wishing themselves free.
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!
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