| Twenty Questions by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Christian RobinsonNo wrong answers: The titular questions in this whimsical, thought-provoking volume are open-ended, working with the mixed-media illustrations to fire the imagination.
For example: "What kind of beast lives in this bathtub?"; "How did that cow get all the way up there?"; "Which of these fellows has a better singing voice?".
Re-readable: Because the answers could change every time and prompt stories of their own, kids may want to revisit this book again and again. |
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| Cloud Babies by Eoin Colfer; illustrated by Chris JudgeWhat it's about: Six-year-old Erin loves finding animal shapes in the clouds. But when the kids at school don't like the game nearly as much as the kids she sees in her frequent stays at the hospital, Erin feels confused and left out.
Why kids might like it: Erin's story has a hopeful ending and playful combination of realistic and cartoony illustrations.
Who it's for: kids living with chronic illness, and well as those who enjoy imaginative play. |
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| Remember by Joy Harjo; illustrated by Michaela GoadeWhat it is: A spare and thoughtful poem about the deep connections between humans and nature, accompanied by dreamy illustrations in soft, radiant hues.
Want a taste? "Remember the sky you were born under...Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you."
Book buzz: Former United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo (Mvskoke Nation) and Caldecott medalist Michaela Goade (Tlingit Nation) are a powerful Indigenous creative duo, giving this picture book strong appeal for adults as well as kids. |
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| 100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David LaRochelle; illustrated by Lian ChoWhat happens: A mountain cave is home to 100 dragons -- all answering to Broccoli -- until half of them drift away on the wind. Readers can giggle their way through adding and subtracting the remaining dragons as they come and go for activities such as flying to the moon, joining heavy metal bands, or becoming pro surfers.
Why kids might like it: Bustling illustrations of the expressive dragons add to the humor of this madcap mathematical tale.
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| Elena Rides by Juana MedinaStarring: eager elephant Elena, determined to work through her frustration (plus some dramatic tumbles) and find her balance on a two-wheeled bike.
Why kids might like it: Friendly text, chunky cartoon art, and an irrepressible heroine may help children acclimatize to the daunting task of practicing a new skill.
Kids might also like: Dashka Slater's Wild Blue or Chris Raschka's Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle, two other books that offer gentle encouragement for beginning cyclists. |
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| Tía Fortuna's New Home: A Jewish Cuban Journey by Ruth Behar; illustrated by Devon HolzwarthWhat it's about: Estrella’s Tía Fortuna has lived in her pink casita ever since arriving in Miami as a Jewish Cuban refugee. But now, as Estrella helps Tía Fortuna pack up for the move to assisted living, she begins to understand that home is more than a place.
Read it for: a warm, multilingual, intergenerational story that celebrates heritage and explores the balance between tradition and change. |
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| Cornbread & Poppy by Matthew CordellIntroducing: mouse BFFs Cornbread, an expert planner who's well-stocked for winter, and Poppy, a free-wheeling adventurer who waits until the last minute to forage.
How it's told: This series opener is structured to appeal to beginning readers, with three short chapters, easy-to-read sentences, and plenty of lively illustrations in Matthew Cordell's signature ink-and-watercolor style.
For fans of: Jacqueline Davies' Sydney and Taylor series or Arnold Lobel's classic Frog and Toad books. |
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| My Parents Won't Stop Talking! by Emma Hunsinger; illustrated by Tillie WaldenThe objective: a playdate in the park for Molly, her little brother, and her parents.
The obstacle: The Credenzas, a pair of neighbors who intercept Molly's moms for a gab session, sending the child into an exaggerated spiral of boredom and hilariously visualized frustration.
Who it's for: With zany, comically garish illustrations and in-jokes for grown-ups, this offbeat ode to impatience will likely appeal to older picture book readers (and the chatty adults who care for them). |
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| Let's Do Everything and Nothing by Julia KuoWhat it is: a strikingly illustrated collection of single sentences, each one evoking a different experience -- some fanciful, some everyday -- for a mother and child.
What's inside: bold yet delicate illustrations depicting the pair as they do everything from swimming with giant manta rays to sharing cozy cups of tea.
Try this next: Elizabeth Garton Scanlon's All the World, another visually arresting book about how life can feel simultaneously simple and expansive. |
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| Finding My Dance by Ria Thundercloud; illustrated by Kalila J. FullerWhat it is: an autobiography describing how Ria Thundercloud (Ho-Chunk Nation and Sandia Pueblo) went from a shy 4-year-old in her first jingle dress to a proud professional Indigenous dancer.
Reviewers say: "a moving picture book about the resilience one can find in one’s cultural inheritance" (Kirkus Reviews).
Kids might also like: Cynthia Leitich Smith's Jingle Dancer or Misty Copeland's Firebird. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!
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