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| Lupe Lopez: Rock Star Rules! by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo and Pat Zietlow Miller; illustrated by Joe CepedaHave fans, not friends: is the rule for aspiring rock star Lupe Lopez when she starts kindergarten. But when her pencil-drumstick beats result in trouble rather than celebrity, Lupe has to reconsider her own rules -- and her new classmates.
Read it for: lively, staccato onomatopoeia in English and Spanish, plus a charismatic heroine who changes her perspective without sacrificing her bold personality. |
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| Music is a Rainbow by Bryan CollierWhat it is: "A poetic collage of emotion and purpose and a vibrant testament to the power of music" (Kirkus Reviews).
What happens: Heartbroken over his momma's absence and facing tough choices, a young boy remembers his father's advice -- "Leave room for that rainbow to find you. Broken is beautiful." -- as he seeks solace in piano.
Art alert: Celebrated illustrator Bryan Collier employs a myriad of colors to emphasize the feelings in the book's sweeping, swirling artwork. |
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| Two Dogs by Ian FalconerWhat it's about: While their human family is away, dachshund siblings Augie and Perry relieve their boredom by annoying each other -- until they break out into the yard, where they can really cause some havoc.
Why kids might like it: Simple backgrounds call attention to every expressive detail in this witty and "exuberant display of canine choreography" (Publishers Weekly).
About the author: You might recognize author/illustrator Ian Falconer's style from his popular books about Olivia the pig. |
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| A Seed Grows by Antoinette PortisWhat it is: An accessible introduction to the life cycle of a sunflower, from seed to sprout to blossom that produces new seeds.
Who it's for: While the simple, sunny illustrations offer an enchanting pleasure-read, the clear explanations and easy-to-understand words in A Seed Grows will also appeal to beginning readers or preschoolers exploring STEM concepts. |
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| Every Dog in the Neighborhood by Philip C. Stead; illustrated by Matthew CordellWhat it's about: Determined Grandma and shaggy-haired grandchild Louis are each tackling a big project in their neighborhood: Grandma's churning out letters and clearing an empty lot, while Louis conducts a census of every resident dog (complete with visits and petting).
What happens: the two projects dovetail, uniting the community (human and canine alike).
Art alert: Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell doesn't skimp on details -- rendered in his trademark scribbly style, each person and dog exudes their own unique personality. |
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| Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration by Samara Cole Doyon; illustrated by Kaylani JuanitaWhat it is: a celebration of the color brown in its rich variations.
Featuring: an inclusive, animated group of brown-skinned girls who connect with nature, family, or friends as they each describe all kinds of browns: amber, feathery, thundering, cozy, radiant, and deep.
Kids might also like: similarly sweet and affirming reads such as Angela Joy's Black Is A Rainbow Color or Ashok Banker's I Am Brown. |
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| Lights on Wonder Rock by David LitchfieldWhat it's about: how one space-obsessed girl's childhood encounter with a friendly alien shapes her whole life.
Why kids might like it: While the minimal text will inspire curiosity about extraterrestrial life and gratitude for home and family, the illustrations -- packed with cinematic compositions and luminous colors -- invite a captivating sense of wonder.
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| All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed... by Annette Bay Pimentel; illustrated by Nabi H. AliWhat it is: the biography of young Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, who was so tired of a world not built for her wheelchair that she joined fellow disability activists in a powerful protest that helped to pass the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.
Don't miss: the foreword by Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins herself, plus concluding facts and timelines for inquisitive older readers.
Try this next: Laurie Ann Thompson's Emmanuel's Dream, another galvanizing biography about a tenacious kid activist. |
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| Snail Crossing by Corey R. TaborStarring: wide-eyed, pink-shelled Snail, who's bound for the succulent-looking cabbage patch across the road despite the risk of speeding cars, hungry birds, surprise rainstorms, and rowdy ants.
Why kids might like it: Though the protagonist may be small and slow, this charming picture book offers big adventure and lively illustrations.
Kids might also like: Matt Phelan's Turtle Walk or Dashka Slater's A Book for Escargot. |
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| Green on Green by Dianne White; illustrated by Felicita SalaWhat it's about: one family's idyllic, color-soaked experience of nature across all four seasons.
How it's told: through "serene, incantatory" (Publishers Weekly) stanzas of poetry, overflowing with sensory details and featuring unique combinations of colors for each season.
Why kids might like it: In addition to the enchanting verses, Green on Green is also visually engaging, with recurring elements in the illustrations that kids will enjoy finding over and over again. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!
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