Thursday, November 24, 2011

The Definitive List of the Best Children's Fiction Picture Books of 2011: Thankfully Reading and Reviewing the Best of 266 Books Published This Year


I'm thankfully reading this weekend.
Thank you, Jenn, for this fun event!


And, now, here's the list I promised you,

The Best Children's
Fiction Picture Books
of 2011


FRIENDSHIP STORIES

Bug and Bear: A Story of True Friendship by…
****
Bug and Bear: A Story of True Friendship by Ann Bonwill
Bug wants Bear to play but Bear doesn’t feel like it. Bug tries every trick to talk Bear into playing, but Bug only succeeds in making Bear angry...more


Ella May and the Wishing Stone by Cary Fagan
****
Ella May and the Wishing Stone by Cary Fagan
Ella May discovers a special wishing stone. When her friends want to use her stone, Ella May says it is too special. When they find stones of their ow...more 


I Like You the Best by Carol Thompson
***
I Like You the Best by Carol Thompson
Dolly the pig and Jack Rabbit are best friends. They like to play together. One day, when they are painting each other’s picture, the friends quarrel....more


Library Lily by Gillian Shields
****
Library Lily by Gillian Shields
Lily loves to read. Milly does not like to read at all. Lily does not like to do anything except read. Milly loves to explore outside. The two girls...more


I'm Here by Peter H. Reynolds
***
I'm Here by Peter H. Reynolds
A boy is here, yet no one notices. He’s in his own little world. He likes that. But he is a little lonely, too. Just in time a paper airplane glides...more


The Little Bitty Bakery by Leslie Muir
***1/2
The Little Bitty Bakery by Leslie Muir
The pastry chef is exhausted after a long day at work. She goes to bed, sadly, realizing that, although the day was her birthday, she had had no cake...more


Mr. Duck Means Business (Paula Wiseman…
****
Mr. Duck Means Business by Tammi Sauer
Mr. Duck has a routine and he is not a happy camper when his animal friends attempt to disrupt it. All the animals want to play in Mr. Duck’s pond, but...more


Perfect Soup by Lisa Moser
****1/2
Perfect Soup by Lisa Moser
It’s a very cold day and Murray the mouse wants to make a perfect soup. Everybody knows that Perfect Soup has potatoes and corn and tomatoes and carrots. But Murray doesn’t have a carrot. ...more


Ribbit Rabbit by Candace Ryan
****
Ribbit Rabbit by Candace Ryan
A frog and a rabbit are best friends, until they begin to fight. First they fight over small things and then they fight over big things and then they ...more


Scritch-Scratch a Perfect Match by Kimberly…
****
Scritch-Scratch a Perfect Match by Kimberly Marcus
A flea lands on a stray dog. The dog falls into an old man and they both race for relief to a general store. They discover flea powder and off goes...more


The Sniffles for Bear (Bear and Mouse) by…
****1/2
The Sniffles for Bear by Bonny Becker
Bear isn’t just sick; he thinks he is on his last leg. Why, then, isn’t Mouse properly appreciative of the severity of the situation?...more


Willow and the Snow Day Dance by Denise…
****
Willow and the Snow Day Dance by Denise Brennan-Nelson
Willow moves in a new neighborhood and helps create a new spirit of neighborliness with her presence. Even the stoic Mr. Larch can’t resist getting in...more


YOU WILL BE MY FRIEND! by Peter Brown
****
YOU WILL BE MY FRIEND! by Peter Brown
Lucy wants to find a new friend today. In her enthusiasm, she scares off many potential friends. Finally, just as Lucy is about to give up, a flamingo...more


You're Finally Here! by Melanie Watt
****
*You’re Finally Here! by Melanie Watt
The bunny has been waiting for you. (Yes, that’s YOU. You, the reader.) She is very glad you have finally appeared, but she wonders where you have been...more


GOODNIGHT STORIES


Are You Awake? by Sophie Blackall
****
Are You Awake? by Sophie Blackall
Edward is awake. It is nighttime. He wakes his mother up and engages her in conversation for a long time...more


Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters by Jane…
***
Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters by Jane Yolen
Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters is the story of monsters going home from school, eating their supper, taking a bath, even saying their prayers, and...more

 

Good night, Chickie by Emile Jadoul
***
Good Night, Chickie by Emile Jadoul
It’s time for bed. Chickie has a hard time going to sleep. His mother hen reassures him. That’s the whole story. A gentle story about...more



Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by…
****
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Rinker
One by one, the big machines of the construction site wrap up their work for the day and head for home...more



DISOBEDIENT BUT LOVEABLE

Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake by Michael…
****
Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake by Michael Kaplan
Betty Bunny discovers the wonders of chocolate cake. Sadly, there is no chocolate cake at school and she cannot, she finds, get chocolate cake until...more


Chicken Butt's Back! by Erica S. Perl
***1/2
Chicken Butt's Back! by Erica S. Perl
A boy and his mom go shopping. Mom warns her son that she will put up with no more Chicken Butt jokes. Nevertheless, the boy manages to engage his mom...more


Is everyone ready for fun? by Jan Thomas
****
Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas
Three cows are ready for some fun on Chicken’s sofa. They are ready to have fun jumping on Chicken’s sofa. Until Chicken intervenes, They are ready to...more


Merci Mister Dash! by Monica Kulling
***1/2
Merci Mister Dash! by Monica Kulling
Madame Croissant lived a quiet life with her well-mannered dog, Mister Dash, working in her gift shop, and admiring her stamp collection. Until Sunday...more


My Side of the Car by Kate Feiffer
***1/2
My Side of the Car by Kate Feiffer
My Side of the Car is the story of a girl finally going to the zoo with her father. On the way, it starts to rain, but the girl refuses to admit that ...more


No Dogs Allowed! by Linda Ashman
****
No Dogs Allowed! by Linda Ashman
A waiter in a Parisian bistro adamantly refuses to serve dogs. Or cats. Or any other animals his human patrons attempt to sneak in. Until finally...more


Not Inside This House! by Kevin Lewis
****1/2
Not Inside This House! by Kevin Lewis
Livingstone Columbus Magellan Crouse brings home a bug, but his mother orders him to take the bug out of the house. Livingstone goes outside and...more


Samantha on a Roll by Linda Ashman
****
Samantha on a Roll by Linda Ashman
Samantha gets some roller skates, but her mother cautions her not to put them on until her mom has time to go with Samantha. Of course, Samantha does...more


OLD STORIES AND SONGS



Aesop's Fables by Beverley Naidoo
***1/2
Aesop's Fables by Beverley Naidoo

As Naidoo notes in her introductory letter to the reader, Aesop’s fables aren’t like European fairy tales, with endings where everyone lives happily e...more

The Boy in the Garden by Allen Say
***
The Boy in the Garden by Allen Say
The Boy in the Garden is really two stories. One is an old folktale about a man who saved a struggling crane from a trap, met and married a young...more


 
Brother Sun, Sister Moon by Katherine…
***1/2
Brother Sun, Sister Moon by Katherine Paterson
Katherine Paterson offers a revised version of the old prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi, Brother Sun, Sister Moon with beautiful cut-paper...more



The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred by…
****1/2
The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred by Samantha R. Vamos
The farm maiden stirs up a big pot of arroz con leche with the help of the cabra and the vaca and the pato and the burro in this new version of the...more



Cinderella: An Islamic Tale by Fawzia Gilani


The Greedy Sparrow: An Armenian Tale by…
***1/2
The Greedy Sparrow: An Armenian Tale by Lucine Kasbarian
A sparrow with a thorn in his foot tricks a baker into giving him some bread, and then exchanges the bread for grander and grander things. But the...more



I Am Tama, Lucky Cat: A Japanese Legend by…
***1/2
I Am Tama, Lucky Cat: A Japanese Legend by Wendy Henrichs
I Am Tama tells the ancient story of Tama the lucky cat. Tama was alone in the cold world when he came upon a monastery. Tama sat in the doorway and...more


Light Up the Night by Jean Reidy
***1/2

Light Up the Night by Jean Reidy
A quiet little rhyming story, with the rhythm of This is the House That Jack Built that explains a boy’s spot in the big universe as the boy prepares...more


Mrs Noah's Vegetable Ark by Elena…
***
Mrs. Noah’s Vegetable Ark by Elena Pasquali
When her husband begins herding all the animals in the world into the ark, two by two, Mrs. Noah decides to save the plants in the world from...more


Naamah and the Ark at Night by Susan…
***1/2
Naamah and the Ark at Night by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Naamah is Noah’s wife and the ark is underway. Every night, Naamah sings to the animals on the ark to keep them calm. The author wrote the text of...more


One Love/People Get Ready (12 single sound…
***1/2
One Love  by Cedella Marley
Yes, it’s that song and it’s been reworked by that songwriter’s daughter (take a second look at her last name if you think I joke.) Like some of...more



***
Over in the Meadow by Jill McDonald
The classic song about mothers in the meadow with their little ones...more



Pussycat, Pussycat, Where Have You Been? by…
***
Pussycat, Pussycat, Where Have you Been? by Dan Bar-El
In this version of an old nursery rhyme, Pussycat doesn’t stop with visiting the Queen in London. He travels to many exotic locations and sees many...more


Rapunzel: Based on the Original Story by the…
****

Rapunzel: Based on the Original Story by the Brothers Grimm by Sarah Gibb
Sarah Gibb retells the old story of Rapunzel yet another time, this time with illustrations in which all the highlights, flowers, curtains, clothes...more



The Red Hen by Rebecca Emberley
***1/2
The Red Hen by Rebecca Emberley
You know this one. The hen isn’t little and she’s baking a cake, not bread, and it’s the cat and the rat and the frog who aren’t helping her, but you ...more





***
Seriously, Cinderella Is SO Annoying! The Story of Cinderella as Told by the Wicked Stepmother by Trisha Speed Shaskan
Review coming soon



Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jerry…
***
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jerry Pinkney
A little chipmunk goes on a journey, guided by the light of a star. Using the words of the traditional children’s song, Pinkney tells a dreamy...more



***
The Wise Fool by Shahrukh Husain
Finally, a beautiful brightly illustrated collection of thoughtful stories from the Islamic world for children. This book tells stories about Mulla...more


TOO LITTLE
Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld
****
Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld
Cloudette is a little itty-bitty cloud. Generally, Cloudette saw the advantages of being small, like everyone calling her cute names and always being ...more



**1/2
Little Shepherd's Christmas by Carol Heyer


Little Pig Joins the Band by David Hyde…
 ***
Little Pig Joins the Band by David Hyde Costello
Little Pig didn’t like being little when his family got out their instruments and marched in a band. He is too little to play the instruments. When he...more



Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen
 ****1/2
Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen
A tiny little fly lights on several African animals, provoking them to try to catch him. None of them succeed and off he flies. A little...more



FICTION THAT IS QUASI-NONFICTION


All the Way to America: The Story of a Big…
***1/2
All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel by Dan Yaccarino
Dan Yaccarino tells the story of his family’s move from Italy to the United States. Everywhere the family goes, they carry their shovel along, and the...more



The Bravest Woman in America by Marissa Moss
***
The Bravest Woman in America by Marissa Moss
Ida Lewis grows up in a lighthouse and her father, the lighthouse keeper, teaches her how to do all the things those manning a lighthouse must know...more


The Crossing by Donna Jo Napoli
***
The Crossing by Donna Napoli
The story of Lewis and Clark’s trip across the country is told by a small baby carried by the team’s guide, Sacagawea...more


Do You Have a Dog? by Eileen Spinelli
****
Do You Have a Dog? by Eileen Spinelli
This book, the latest combined effort of Spinelli and Valerio, takes a look at famous dogs in history, a topic that has been little studied or written...more


Doggy Whys? by Lila Prap
****
Doggy Whys? by Lila Prap
Lila Prap has written another wonderful informational picture book, this time about dogs. Like she often does, Prap begins each double page with a...more



Dogs Don't Eat Jam and Other Things Big…
***
Dogs Don't Eat Jam and Other Things Big Kids Know by Sarah Tsiang and Qin Leng


Me . . . Jane by Patrick McDonnell
****
Me . . . Jane by Patrick McDonnell
Me…Jane is a short biography of the childhood of Jane Goodall, who loved animals as a child and grew up to study chimpanzees as an adult. The bio...more



Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite by…
***
Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite by Anna Harwell Celenza




The Fabulous Flying Machines of Alberto…
***
The Fabulous Flying Machines of Alberto Santos-Dumont by Victoria Griffith


Following My Paint Brush by Gita Wolf
**1/2
Following My Paint Brush Gita Wolf
Dulari Devi worked as a domestic until she discovered the joy of traditional folk painting in eastern India. It was she who illustrated this book, the...more



The Great Moon Hoax (Carolrhoda Picture…
***
The Great Moon Hoax by Stephen Krensky
Two young newsboys depend on their day-to-day survival by selling newspapers. The two boys are overjoyed when the paper they sell, The Sun, begins a...more



Lipman Pike: America's First Home Run…
****
Lipman Pike: America's First Home Run King by Richard Michelson
It seemed like everyone in Brooklyn was playing Base, a wonderful ball game. The Pike family wanted their son, Lipman to succeed in school and so...more



The Honeybee Man by Lela Nargi
***1/2

The Honeybee Man by Lela Nargi
Fred takes care of his bees in Brooklyn. This little picture book is filled with facts about those who care for honeybees and honeybees themselves...more


Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile by Gloria…
****
Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile by Gloria Houston
Gloria Houston tells the true story of one of her personal heroes, Dorothy Thomas. Dorothy wanted to be a librarian in a big brick library, but...more




***
The Ocean Story by John Seven
As a boy and his grandfather walk along the beach, the grandfather tells the little boy the story of the ocean and the water cycle. The grandfather...more


Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner

 Snowfall changes everything. Animals go underground to keep warm. But what does it look like down there? And what do the animals do?

This l...more




 ****
Passing the Music Down by Sarah Sullivan
A boy with a gift for the fiddle is taken many miles away to an old time fiddler for lessons. The boy learns many things from the old fiddler...more


Play Ball, Jackie! (Single Titles) by…
***

Play Ball, Jackie!  by Stephen Krensky
Matty’s father gets free tickets to the baseball game. It’s the first game of the Dodgers’ new first baseman, Jackie Robinson. Many white people don’t...more



***1/2
Red Bird Sings: The Story of Zitkala-Sa, Native American Author, Musician, and Activist by Gina Capaldi
In this paraphrase of original texts by Red Bird, author Gina Capaldi retells the stories of this Native American girl who grew up between the world...more
Running with the Horses by Alison Lester
***
Running With the Horses by Alison Lester
Running with Horses is a fictional story about the rescue of the Lipizzaner stallions from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna during World War II. In...more


Soccer Dreams: Playing the Seattle Sounders…
**
Soccer Dreams: Playing the Seattle Sounders FC Way by Clare Hodgson Meeker



Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown
****
Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown
Ana only has one book. She has read it so many times that she knows it word for word. She wishes she had another book, but, since her teacher has left...more


Walking Home to Rosie Lee by A. LaFaye
****

Walking Home to Rosie Lee by A. LaFaye
“War’s over. Government say we free. Folks be on the move. Getting the feel for freedom. Not me. I’m looking for my mama, Rosie Lee.”...more


Wallie Exercises by Steve Ettinger
**
Wallie Exercises by Steve Ettinger


We're Off to Make 'Umrah by Sana…
**1/2

We're Off to Make 'Umrah by Sana Munshey
A boy and his sister and parents head off to spend time engaging in their spiritual practices. This little thin book outlines the key events in a...more


What to Expect When You're Expecting…
****

What to Expect When You're Expecting Larvae: A Guide for Insect Parents (And Curious Kids) by Bridget Heos
The author of this informational text has cleverly fashioned her book into an information guide for new insect parents. The writing is child-friendly...more



Wagons Ho! by George Hallowell
****
Wagons Ho! by George Hallowell
The story of a family moving from Missouri to Oregon in 1846 and now, is told in two parallel journals that invite comparison and contrast. The ways...more



DRESSES AND SHOES AND PINK THINGS


Birdie's Big-Girl Dress by Sujean Rim
****
Birdie’s Big-Girl Dress by Sujean Rim
Birdie’s birthday is coming and she wants to have a special dress to wear for her party. But, though she tries on many, many dresses, Birdie doesn’t...more



Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley
****
Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley
Dog sees the impressive Puss in Boots and decides that boots are the thing he is missing in his life. He heads off to the shoemaker, but what kind of ...more




Penny Loves Pink by Cori Doerrfeld
***
Penny Loves Pink by Cori Doerrfeld
Penny loves pink. But she’s worried when she thinks about her new baby brother because she knows that boys are blue. She’s tickled pink to learn that ...more



Shoe-La-La! by Karen Beaumont
****
Shoe-La-La! by Karen Beaumont
Four girls are looking for new party shoes. They go to the shoe store and try on shoe after shoe. Finally, it is time for the store to close. The girl...more


Shoes for Me! (Pinwheel Books) by Sue Fliess
***
Shoes for Me! by Sue Fliess
Hippo needs new shoes. Her mom lets her choose the ones she wants. After she tries on every pair in the store, Hippo finally finds the shoes she likes...more



The Very Fairy Princess Takes the Stage by…
***1/2
The Very Fairy Princess Takes the Stage by Julie Andrews
“Hi! I’m Geraldine. I’m a fairy princess. I know that I’m a fairy princess
because I FEEL it inside---a sparkly feel...more



BOOKS WITH INTERESTING FORMATS

11 Experiments That Failed by Jenny Offill
****
11 Experiments That Failed by Jenny Offill
The author of 17 Things I’m Not Allowed to Do comes up with another list book. This time, our main character shows all the experiments she tried that ...more


Dear Tabby by Carolyn Crimi
****

Dear Tabby by Carolyn Crimi
A letter from Stanky Skunque: “Dear Tabby, I’ve been lonely for so long. Something about the white stripes down my back puts everyone off. It’s sort...more



Love, Mouserella by David Ezra Stein
****
Love, Mouserella by David Ezra Stein
Mouserella writes a letter to her grandmouse about all the things she is doing now that she has returned home from Grandmouse’s house. She includes...more


Mirror by Jeannie Baker
****
Mirror by Jeannie Baker
Jeannie Baker does it again. She creates two worlds, side by side, one that of a family living in a city in Australia, and the other that of a family ...more


The Rabbit Problem by Emily Gravett
*****

The Rabbit Problem by Emily Gravett
Just when you think you’ve seen it all in the world of children’s picture books, you run into The Rabbit Problem. No one would say that this is just a...more


FEELINGS


Dream by Adam Montierth
**
Dream by Adam Montierth


I Believe in You by Marianne Richmond
****
I Believe in You by Marianne Richmond
“Whether it’s
sunny or stormy,
whether you’re
happy or blue,
I’m here to say,
without a doubt,
that I believe in...more


The I'M NOT SCARED Book by Todd Parr
***
The I'M NOT SCARED Book by Todd Parr
Another in the Todd Parr feelings books. With simple text and simple illustrations, Todd Parr talks about common fears children have and how to not be...more


Rain Brings Frogs: A Little Book of Hope by…
 ***
Rain Brings Frogs: A Little Book of Hope by Maryann Cocca-Leffl
When other people say, “I hate rain,” Nate says, “Rain brings frogs!”
Nate is the eternal optimist. Everyone else bemoans their fate, but N...more



Too Shy for Show-and-Tell (Little Boost) by…
***

Too Shy for Show-and-Tell by Beth Bracken
“Sam was a quiet boy.
Nobody knew much about him.”

Sam was shy. He did not like to speak up. He was very worried when he knew he would...more



FOR THE YOUNGEST



*****
The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle
Eric Carle draws animals in crazy and unexpected colors, all beautiful and bright and magnificent. He is right when he says, “I am a good artist.”...more



Baby Says Moo! by JoAnn Early Macken
****1/2
Baby Says “Moo!” by Joann Early Macken
Poor baby seems to think that everything says “Moo!” Baby’s parents show Baby people and horses and dogs and cats and ask Baby what the animals say...more


Little Chicken's Big Day by Jerry Davis
***
Little Chicken's Big Day by Jerry Davis
It’s a new day for Little Chicken. He gets up and follows his mama all over until it is finally time to go to sleep. “Wash your face!...more



Mine! by Shutta Crum
***1/2
Mine! by Shutta Crum
The toddler picks up toys scattered around the feet of the two children and announces firmly, “Mine.” The baby grabs one remaining toy and tosses it...more



Mitchell's License by Hallie Durand
****
Mitchell's License by Hallie Durand
Mitchell doesn’t like to go to bed until his dad lets him start driving. Mitchell drives his car (his dad) to bed, sitting in the driver’s seat...more



HILARIOUS


The Boy Who Cried Ninja by Alex Latimer
****

The Boy Who Cried Ninja by Alex Latimer


Charlie the Ranch Dog by Ree Drummond
****
Charlie the Ranch Dog by Ree Drummond
Charlie the ranch dog must be some kin to my favorite “head of ranch security”, Hank the cowdog. Charlie is in charge and he must be constantly on alert...more



Doodleday by Ross Collins
****
Doodleday by Ross Collins

Harvey’s mother has a fit when, as she is leaving the house for the store, she finds her son drawing. She grabs the pencil from Harvey’s hand, warning...more


I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
*****
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
A bear has lost his hat. He questions animal passersby about his hat. He suddenly remember that the rabbit is wearing his hat. The end of the story...more


More Bears! by Kenn Nesbitt
*****
More Bears! by Kenn Nesbitt
An author is quite busy writing a book when, out of nowhere, his audience petitions him, “More Bears!” He reluctantly complies, adding more and more b...more



BOOKS WITH SPECIAL APPEAL FOR GRANDPARENTS, TEACHERS,
AND OTHER GROWNUPS


Back to School Tortoise by Lucy M. George
****
Back to School Tortoise by Lucy M. George
A little story taken from a joke that’s been widely circulated among teachers. Tortoise gets up. It’s the first day of school. But on the way to school...more



***
Butterfly Tree by Sandra Markle
A girl, her dog, and her mom see what looks like an orange cloud in the distance, so they set out to find out what it is. When they arrive at the...more


Cinnamon Baby by Nicola Winstanley
***
Cinnamon Baby by Nicola Winstanley
Miriam is a wonderful baker and her favorite bread to make is cinnamon bread. Sebastian comes every day to Miriam’s bakery for a year and they marry. ...more


Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
****1/2
Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
Lane Smith tells the story of Grandpa Green through the topiary Grandpa made to commemorate all the events of his life. Lovely story depicted with...more


Grandpa, I Want to Be a Conductor Someday!…
**
Grandpa, I Want to Be a Conductor Someday! by Andrew Aiton


Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji by F. Zia
***1/2
Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji by F. Zia
Aneel loves to hear the stories his grandfather, Dada-ji, tells. When Dada-ji was young, he ate hot, hot roti and he became powerful, strong enough to...more

I Remember When... by Dawn Wynne
***
I Remember When... by Dawn Wynne
I only review the self-published books that are worth checking out. This one just might be.
A little girl asks her grandmother, “Grandma...more

Substitute Creacher by Chris Gall
***1/2
Substitute Creature by Chris Gall 
Ms. Jenkins’s class is acting up. To get his kids straightened out, Ms. Jenkins sends in the substitute teacher of all substitute teachers, Mr. Creach...more



Sweet Moon Baby: An Adoption Tale by Karen…
****
Sweet Moon Baby: An Adoption Tale by Karen Henry Clark
A family in China barely has enough food to feed themselves so they send their new baby girl off in a basket on the river. The moon guides the baby’s ...more



These Hands by Margaret H. Mason
*****
These Hands by Margaret H. Mason
Joseph’s grandpa tells the young grandson all the things his hands used to be able to do when he was younger, including tying shoes and playing the piano...more



Your Mommy Was Just Like You by Kelly…
***
Your Mommy Was Just Like You by Kelly Bennett
Grandma tells baby all the many ways her mother was like her, the way she looked and the way she acted. “Your mommy was bouncy and...more


GOING AWAY AND COMING BACK


Along a Long Road by Frank Viva
****
Along a Long Road by Frank Viva
A boy rides a bicycle up and down, around a town, into a tunnel, over a bridge, and finally around to where he starts the trip all over again...more


 Animals Home Alone by Loes Riphagen
****
Animals Home Alone by Loes Riphagen
In this wordless picture book, the humans leave the house and the animals go wild. Before the humans have been gone for ten minutes, the dog is putting...more



A Few Blocks by Cybele Young
****
A Few Blocks by Cybèle Young
Even if I’d not read the publishing information or the information about the author, one look at this book would have told me that this book was not m...more



Follow Me by Tricia Tusa
***
Follow Me by Tricia Tusa
A girl swings through pink and blue and brown and yellow, and then soars into the curl of a breeze until she drifts down home. Beautiful...more


Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat by Philip…
***
Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat by Philip Stead
Jonathan’s parents trade his teddy bear for a toaster, so Jonathan must set off on a journey alone on a Big Blue Boat to find Frederick. Along the way...more



****
Ladder to the Moon by Maya Soetoro-Ng
Suhaila travels with her Grandma Annie up a ladder to the moon. Grandma watches for troubles on the earth and brings the troubled to live with her in ...more


Leap Back Home to Me by Lauren Thompson
****
Leap Back Home to Me by Lauren Thompson
A mama frog sings a leap frog song to her little frog son, encouraging him to leap all over the place, over the creek and the hilltop and even the sun...more



****

Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes
Little White Rabbit often stops during his walks to pause and think about how life would be different if he were green or if he were very, very tall...more



***
Love Waves by Rosemary Wells

It’s hard when Mom and Dad go off to work. Children miss their parents during the long time they are separated. Did you know that parents send love wa...more 


Pirate Boy by Eve Bunting
****
Pirate Boy by Eve Bunting
While a boy and his mom were reading a book called Pirate Boy, the boy asked his mom, “What if I want to be a pirate and sail away on a pirate ship?”...more




The Queen of France by Tim Wadham
****
The Queen of France by Tim Wadham
Rose decides she is royal when she wakes up, so she becomes the Queen of France. She seeks out Rose’s mother, but no one knows where Rose is. She...more


Singing Away the Dark by Caroline Woodward
***1/2
Singing Away the Dark by Caroline Woodward
The brave main character of this little tale tells the story of her mile-long walk to the school bus stop each morning. She meets many perils...more

Subway Story

****

Subway Story by Julia Sarcone-Roach
Jessie is a subway car placed into service for the New York World’s Fair in the sixties. She loved her work carrying people back and forth across the ...more


Where's Walrus? by Stephen Savage
****1/2

Where's Walrus? by Stephen Savage
The zookeeper is sleeping and the walrus sees that someone has left the gate open at the zoo. Off goes the walrus! And right after him is the zookeepe...more

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I-SPY AND OTHER NON-NARRATIVE BOOKS


Dot by Patricia Intriago
****
Dot by Patricia Intriago
All sorts of dots populate these pages, all illustrated with very tiny modifications made to that basic dot. That’s the cleverness of this book, the t...more



I Spy With My Little Eye by Edward Gibbs
***1/2
I Spy with My Little Eye by Edward Gibbs
A fun I Spy book of animals, with clues. The pages have a cutout circle that contains a color clue on the right and then fold over to become an animal...more


Look! A Book! by Bob Staake
****
Look! A Book! by Bob Staake
An I Spy sort of adventure combined with an early reader and rhyming text. Fun, fun, fun.
“Look! A book! A hook! A cowboy cook! Weird ...more



Perfect Square by Michael Hall
****1/2
Perfect Square by Michael Hall
A perfect square is transformed many times, but each time the square finds a way to find pleasure in its new shape. When it finally is left alone, it ...more


Press Here by Herve Tullet
*****
Press Here by Herve Tullet
Press Here is a quasi-interactive book. Children are asked to press on dots, to shake the page, and to rub the dots. On the following page, things...more


Questions, Questions by Marcus Pfister
***
Questions, Questions by Marcus Pfister
A series of unanswerable questions are posed, with poetic responses and sparkling illustrations.

LIST BOOKS


Cars Galore by Peter Stein
****
Cars Galore by Peter Stein
“Cars off-roading,
jumping, thumping!
Gears all grinding!
Pistons pumping!”

In a book reminiscent of Go, Dog, Go, Peter Ste...more





I Like Cats by Anushka Ravishankar
***
I Like Cats by Anushka Ravishankar
The author uses simple text to explain the traditional paintings and drawings of cats included to illustrate this book. I’d like to know more about...more


L'imagier des gens by Blexbolex
****
People by Blexbolex
An enormous, 100+ page book of drawings of people. Bachelors and babies. Friends and foes. Biologists and astronomers. All kinds of people...more


Picture a Tree by Barbara Reid
***
Picture a Tree by Barbara Reid
A beautiful Plasticine art show and beautiful poetry reveal all that we think about trees.
“There is more than one way to picture a tree. ...more




***
A Primer About the Flag by Marvin Bell
The title says this is a primer about the flag, but it’s really a poem about flags, a meditation on flags, with fun illustrations. “There ...more


Stars by Mary Lyn Ray
****
Stars by Mary Lyn Ray
Stars are beautiful. Stars are everywhere. Stars are special.

That’s what this book is about. Stars.

Tiny little word poems and...more




The Loud Book! by Deborah Underwood
***
The Loud Book! by Deborah Underwood
Underwood illustrates various ideas of loud with plush slightly humanized animals. Some of the most interesting to me were “Burp During Quiet...more


FAMILIES WORKING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS


999 Tadpoles by Ken Kimura
****

999 Tadpoles by Ken Kimura
Mother and Father Frog have 999 tadpole babies. Suddenly the pond is too crowded. On their way to a new pond, Father is snatched by a hawk, but the...more


Blackout by John Rocco
*****
Blackout by John Rocco
No one has time to play a game with a little boy. Then the lights go out and everything is changed. The family’s electronic gadgets don’t work and sud...more





Hurry Down to Derry Fair by Dori Chaconas
***1/2
Hurry Down to Derry Fair by Dori Chaconas
Dinny Brown is anxious to get to the fair, but his family is busy with work of their own. Finally, after everyone gets ready, the family makes it to...more


I Had a Favorite Dress by Boni Ashburn
****1/2
I Had a Favorite Dress by Boni Ashburn
A girl loves her favorite dress, but it is now too small for her. Her clever mother shapes it into new things the girl can wear. As the girl grows...more


The Big Snuggle-Up by Brian Patten
***
The Big Snuggle-Up by Brian Patten
It’s a cold, snowy day. All the animals want to snuggle up at Scarecrow’s house. “A butterfly said, ‘Is it far too late for me to come...more


Lola's Fandango by Anna Witte
***1/2
Lola’s Fandango by Anna Witte
Review coming soon



 The Money We'll Save by Brock Cole
****  
The Money We'll Save by Brock Cole
Pa brings home a little turkey baby, assuring Ma that this will save the family money in the difficult times of a nineteenth century New York tenement...more




Tia Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina
****
Tia Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina
Tia Isa wants a car but she does not have enough money. Her niece finds many ways to make money and give it to her aunt. Together the two have enough ...more


MESSY


Blue Chicken by Deborah Freedman
****
Blue Chicken by Deborah Freedman
The painting of the barnyard is almost complete. It’s a perfect day for painting the barn. Suddenly, one of the white chickens decides to help. In her...more


Hogwash! (Wilson, Karma) by Karma Wilson
***

Hogwash! by Karma Wilson
It’s time for Farmer to wash the animals. All the animals are amenable to this, except the hogs. The hogs are openly rebellious. Full...more


Mudkin (Carolrhoda Picture Books) by Stephen…
***
Mudkin by Stephen Gammell
A little girl is named queen of the mud by Mudkin. They spend the day playing in the mud together until rain washes all the mud away...more



CONSTRUCTION



Job Site by Nathan Clement
***1/2
Job Site by Nathan Clement
Author/illustrator Nathan Clement depicts dramatic scenes from the work world of a construction site, zooming in on the directions of a boss and the...more


Road Work Ahead by Anastasia Suen
***1/2
Road Work Ahead  by Anastasia Suen
A family is on its way to Grandma’s house in a car. On the way, the family comes through a construction zone. The family slows down and sees all...more

Dinosaur Dig! by Penny Dale
****
Dinosaur Dig by Penny Dale
Brilliant. Author/illustrator Penny Dale places dinosaurs at the helm of heavy equipment on a construction site. What could be a better pairing than ...more


TROUBLES



The Busy Life of Ernestine Buckmeister by…
****
The Busy Life of Ernestine Buckmeister by Linda Ravin Lodding
Ernestine Buckmeister is a busy little girl. On Mondays she learns to sculpt with clay. On Tuesday she has water ballet lessons. On Wednesdays she has...more


Dear baobab by Cheryl Foggo
***1/2
Dear Baobab by Cheryl Foggo
Maiko misses his baobab tree, back home in Africa. He misses almost everything about home in Africa, but he really misses his baobab tree. He discover...more



****
Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson
Gia is sick of hearing about the baby that is coming. She hates it that the baby is coming. She is afraid everything will change. Beautiful...more



****
Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match by Monica Brown
Marisol is different, everyone tells her. Marisol likes to wear polka dotted shirts and striped pants. Marisol has brown skin and red hair and freckle...more



Rain School by James Rumford

****
Rain School by James Rumford
It’s the first day of school. A group of children are walking to school, excited about the start of classes. They walk and walk and finally they arrive...more



Secret River by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
***1/2
The Secret River by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Calpurnia’s family is having hard times. Her father is not catching any fish. Calpurnia speaks to a friend, a fortune-teller and she tells Calpurnia...more


The Savvy Cyber Kids At Home: The Family…
**
The Savvy Cyber Kids at Home: The Defeat of the Cyber Bully by Ben Halpert


Summer Jackson: Grown Up by Teresa E. Harris
****
Summer Jackson: Grown Up by Teresa E. Harris
Summer decides she is tired of being a kid; she decides she is a grownup and she wants to be treated like a grownup. But Summer’s ideas of what a grow...more



The Snow Blew Inn by Dian Curtis Regan
***
The Snow Blew Inn by Dian Regan
Emma is awaiting the arrival of her cousin, Abby. Snow starts to fall at the inn Emma’s mother runs. Quickly the inn fills with guests. Emma gives up ...more



The Twins' Blanket by Hyewon Yum
****
The Twins’ Blanket by Hyewon Yum
Two twin girls have shared everything all their lives. One of their favorite things, and one of the things they shared all their lives is a blanket...more



White Water by Michael S. Bandy
****1/2
White Water by Michael S. Bandy
Michael is a young black boy who lives in a segregated world, one world for the white people and one for black people. One day, when Michael is hot and...more


ABC BOOKS / SOUNDS / EARLY READERS / CONCEPT BOOKS


Balloon Toons: Zoe and Robot, Let's…
***1/2
Balloon Toons: Zoe and Robot, Let's Pretend by Ryan Sias
Zoe, a young girl, asks Robot, her large robot, to go mountain climbing with her. But when she leads Robot to the mountain, all Robot can see is a pillow...more


Boy, Bird, and Dog (I Like to Read) by David…
***1/2
Boy, Bird, and Dog by David McPhail
A boy, a bird, and a dog play in the boy’s treehouse. That’s the entire story. The author uses less than fifty words to tell the tale and that is the ...more


Caveman, A B.C. Story by Janee Trasler
****
Caveman, A B.C. Story by Janee Trasler
A twenty-six word story about a caveman, a dinosaur, a bear, and an armadillo and their adventures in the Stone Age. (Cavemen, dinosaurs, bears, and a...more



****1/2
Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow? by Susan A. Shea
 “If a calf grows and becomes a cow…
…can a shovel grow to become a plow?”

An interactive rhyming book for our young readers that...more



If Rocks Could Sing: A Discovered Alphabet…
****1/2
If Rocks Could Sing: A Discovered Alphabet by Leslie McGuirk
The author of this book has collected rocks in the shape of the alphabet and objects for each letter for over ten years. This book is the result. It’s...more




**
Maxwell Moose’s Mountain Monster by Barbara deRubertis

NEW FAIRY TALES, SONGS, AND MUSICALS


King Hugo's Huge Ego by Chris Van Dusen
****
King Hugo's Huge Ego by Chris Van Dusen
Hugo was a very short king with a big ego. He made his people listen to him talk about how wonderful he was for hours. He made his people bow to him...more


The Princess and the Pig by Jonathan Emmett
****1/2
The Princess and the Pig by Jonathan Emmett
A baby pig and a baby princess accidentally exchange places in this funny tale. The pig is presumed to be the princess transformed by a disgruntled...more


What Animals Really Like by Fiona Robinson
****1/2
What Animals Really Like by Fiona Robinson
We human beings think we know, don’t we? But we don’t. And this little children’s picture book proves it. When asked to participate in a musical abou...more



ZooZical by Judy Sierra
***1/2
ZooZical by Judy Sierra
It’s winter and it’s cold and the weather is miserable. Everyone is down in the doldrums. A group of animals at the zoo decide to put on a musical, ad...more

SPECIAL TOYS


Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator! by Mo…
****1/2
Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator! by Mo Willems
Amanda loves her stuffed alligator. But what will happen when her alligator learns his true origin was...a discount bin?...more

I Must Have Bobo! by Eileen Rosenthal
*****
I Must Have Bobo! by Eileen Rosenthal
Willy is distraught to find that his precious Bobo is missing when he wakes in the morning. Willy knows Bobo’s presence is essential to his happiness....more


My Bear Griz by Suzanne McGinness
****
My Bear Griz by Suzanne McGinness
“My name is Billy and I love bears. My bear’s name is Griz because he is a Grizzly Bear.”
Billy and Griz do lots of things together, like...more


PETS OF ONE SORT OR ANOTHER


Melvin and the Boy by Lauren Castillo
***1/2

Melvin and the Boy by Lauren Castillo
A little boy wants a pet, but he lives in the city and his parents say no to every pet he proposes. One day, he sees a turtle with a yellow spot on his...more



My Rhinoceros by Jon Agee
****
My Rhinoceros by Jon Agee
A boy buys a rhinoceros without realizing what he was getting into. He is disappointed to learn that his rhinoceros won’t chase a ball or roll over or...more


Olive and Snowflake by TAMMIE LYON
***
Olive and Snowflake by Tammie Lyon
Olive and Snowflake, Olive’s dog, are best friends. They do everything together.

“They played together,
slept together,
and rea...more





****
A Pet for Petunia by Paul Schmid
Petunia wants a pet skunk. Desperately. But her parents refuse. They tell her that skunks stink. Petunia is so angry that she sets off into the woods ...more


Pig Kahuna by Jennifer Sattler
****

Pig Kahuna by Jennifer Sattler
Fergus and his little brother, Dink (wearing a diaper) are collecting objects on the beach when they run across a surfboard. Because the ocean had...more


Reading to Peanut by Leda Schubert
***
Reading to Peanut by Leda Schubert
Lucy wants to learn to read and write so she starts write notes and reading them aloud at every opportunity. Mostly her dog, Peanut, eats the notes...more


Samson's Tale by Carla Mooney
**1/2
Samson's Tale by Carla Mooney


Snowmen All Year by Caralyn Buehner
***1/2

Snowmen All Year by Caralyn Buehner
If only snowmen could be with us all year long! A boy imagines all the fun he could have with a snowman if only the snowman could last the whole year....more


Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku by Lee…
****1/2
Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw
The whole story of a cat’s life, from his time in the animal shelter to his new home with a little boy, is in this book, all told in haiku. Wonderful ...more


DOGS THAT DIE


Bone dog by Eric Rohmann
***
Bone Dog by Eric Rohmann
Gus and his dog, Ella, were longtime friends. When Ella was very old, she promised Gus that she would always be with him. Then she passed away, and Gus...more


Harry and Hopper by Margaret Wild
****
Harry & Hopper by Margaret Wild
Harry and Hopper, Harry’s dog, adore each other. Then Hopper dies while Harry is at school. Harry misses his dog very much and wishes he could have to...more



****

Sammy in the Sky by Barbara Walsh
Sammy is the best hound dog in the world. When Sammy gets sick and dies, the family mourns his loss and remembers Sammy by doing things Sammy had always...more


HOLIDAYS / SEASONS



April Fool, Phyllis! by Susanna Leonard Hill
****
April Fool, Phyllis! by Susanna Leonard Hill
Phyllis the groundhog wakes up on April first, the day of the planned treasure hunt, feeling funny in her stomach; Phyllis knows winter is not over and...more


Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox by…
****
Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox by Susan Blackaby
Brownie Groundhog wakes up in February to discover that there are still six more weeks of winter. Who comes along but a hungry fox, eager to gobble Brownie...more




***1/2
Fall Mixed Up by Bob Raczka
Raczka writes and draws fall that is filled with boo-boos. This book has an I Spy kind of fun, looking on every page for the mistakes...more



Haunted House, Haunted Mouse by Judy Cox
***
Haunted House, Haunted Mouse by Judy Cox
Mouse hops inside a trick-or-treat bag and before he knows it he is out celebrating Halloween. He ends up in a very scary house with weird noises and ...more


Seasons by Anne Crausaz
***1/2
Seasons by Anne Crausaz
Author/illustrator Crausaz walks us through the seasons by letting us feel and see and hear for a few moments a few key parts of each season...more


DRAGONS, FOXES, AND OTHER SCARY CREATURES

Argus by Michelle Knudsen
*****
Argus by Michelle Knudsen
All of Sally’s class was doing a science project with eggs. Sally’s egg looked different than the other children’s eggs. When the eggs hatched, Sally ...more



Boogie Monster
***
Boogie Monster by Josie Bissett



Foxy and Egg by Alex T. Smith
****
Foxy and Egg by Alex T. Smith
Whew! Would a kid get this? What grownup wouldn’t?! “Foxy DuBois was utterly charming and always kind to strangers, so she invited Egg in...more



I'm a Shark by Bob Shea
***1/2
I’m a Shark by Bob Shea
Shark brags about how he is not afraid of anything, but there might just be one thing he is afraid of! Clever, funny text with great...more



Jam & Honey by Melita Morales
***1/2
Jam & Honey by Melita Morales
A tale told from two points of view, that of a little girl hunting for berries and a bee hunting for nectar. Both, we are learn...more



Little Owl's Night by Divya Srinivasan
***
Little Owl's Night by Divya Srinivasan
Little Owl loves the night. Nighttime is our daytime for Little Owl. He flies through the night, stopping to visit his friends and observe the quiet a...more


Pirate vs. Pirate: The Terrific Tale of a…
***1/2
Pirate vs. Pirate: The Terrific Tale of a Big, Blustery Maritime Match by Mary Quattlebaum
“Bad Bart was the biggest and the burliest pirate on this side of the Atlantic. But he wanted to be the biggest, burliest pirate in the world. And the...more


When a Dragon Moves In by Jodi Moore
****
When a Dragon Moves In by Jodi Moore
“If you build a perfect sandcastle,
a dragon will move in.
He’ll settle in all cozy
and peep at you from inside…
and you’ll...more



Wiener Wolf by Jeff Crosby
****
Wiener Wolf by Jeff Crosby
Wiener Dog thought life with Granny was too tame. He longed for adventure. One day, he snuck off to the state park when he made a group of new friends...more


CLASSIC CHILDREN'S BOOK CHARACTERS


Arthur Turns Green (Arthur Adventure Series)…
***1/2
Arthur Turns Green by Marc Brown
Arthur wants to save the planet, so he is working on a project for this purpose. Is his project actually turning him green? Another good Arthur...more


Bear's Birthday by Stella Blackstone
***1/2
Bear's Birthday by Stella Blackstone
It’s Bear’s birthday. He is having a party and all his guests are bears. They play hide-and-seek and musical chairs and Bear opens his gift and blows ...more


Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad by Jacky…
***1/2
Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad  by Jacky Davis
Ladybug Girl and her friends, Bumblebee Boy, Butterfly Girl, and Dragonfly Girl, play delightful imaginary games together in the forest...more


LaRue Across America: Postcards From the…
***1/2
LaRue Across America: Postcards From the Vacation by Mark Teague




****
Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Seaside Shenanigans by Chris Monroe
Chico the monkey carries with him everywhere he goes the tool box of all tool boxes on his tool belt. He is always prepared for emergencies. One day...more

Llama Llama Home with Mama by Anna Dewdney
****
Llama Llama Home with Mama by Anna Dewdney
Llama Llama is sick and has to stay home from school with his mother. It doesn’t take long for him to get bored at home. Later that day, Mama Llama...more


Pete the Cat : Rocking in My School Shoes by…
****

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin
Pete the Cat is back and he is singing all over the school. Brilliant lyrics, brilliant melodies. Right? Here’s a sample: “I’m reading in my...more


Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party by…
****
Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party by Melanie Watt
So many things frighten Scaredy Squirrel. He wants to have a birthday party, but he’s worried about all the things that could ruin his party: clownfish...more


CHAMELEONS


*****
Blue Chameleon by Emily Gravett

A blue chameleon changes, sometimes with great difficulty, whenever he encounters other creatures and objects in his world...more

 

Chamelia by Ethan Long
****
Chamelia by Ethan Long
“Most chameleons like to blend in. But not Chamelia.” Chamelia is different. And it is especially difficult to be a chameleon who...more

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT



****
The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man by Michael Chabon
“I can fly as high as a satellite and as straight as an arrow or through the time barrier and not get dizzy, or feel nauseous, or smash into things...more


Big Bouffant (Carolrhoda Picture Books) by…
****
Big Bouffant by Kate Hosford
Annabelle is bored with the boring way the girls in her class do their hair each morning. “Ponytails and braids! Ponytails and braids!” she moans...more



The ballad of Booster Bogg by Ellen B.…
**

The Ballad of Booster Bogg by Ellen Jackson




***1/2
Buglette, the Messy Sleeper by Bethanie Murguia
Buglette had big dreams at night and she tosses and turns so much that in the morning her bed is very messy. Her mother worries that such tossing and ...more


Chocolate Me! by Taye Diggs
***1/2
Chocolate Me! by Taye Diggs
Our main character in this story wants to be like his friends; he hates being dark skinned and having poofy hair and having a wide nose and having and...more

King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bently
****
King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bently
Jack makes a castle for himself and his friends and they spend the day fighting dragons and other beasts. Then night comes and, slowly, one by one...more


Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match /…
****
Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match by Monica Brown
Review coming soon


Meena by Sine Van Mol
****
Meena by Sine van Mol
All the children on Fly Street were scared of Meena. They called her names and talked about what they might do to hurt her and wrote WITCH on the...more



Nothing Like a Puffin by Sue Soltis
****
Nothing Like a Puffin by Sue Soltis
There’s nothing like a puffin.
Or is there?
“ A newspaper, to be sure, is nothing like a puffin.
A newspaper is shaped like a rectangle...more



Otto Carrotto by Chiara Carrer
****
Otto Carrotto by Chiara Carrer
Rabbits are strange, we are told. They all have their own quirks. Otto the rabbit only wants to eat carrots. He eats so many carrots that his ears turn...more


Phoebe Goes To Earth (Volume 1) by Demetrice…
**
Phoebe Goes To Earth by Demetrice T Jefferson



The Red Wagon by Renata Liwska
****
Red Wagon by Renata Liwska
Lucy has a new red wagon. She wants to play with it, but her mother wants her to use it to pick up some groceries for her. Lucy uses her imagination to...more


Square Cat by Elizabeth Schoonmaker
***
Square Cat by Elizabeth Schoonmaker
It’s hard being a square cat in a round cat world. Eula doesn’t like being a square cat. The worst part was when she tipped over, it was hard to get...more



**1/2

Ten for Me by Barbara Mariconda



That's How! by Christoph Niemann
****
That’s How! by Christoph Niemann
As a boy and girl walk along, the girl asks the boy how things work. The boy provides some imaginative answers. “How does a truck work...more



Willy by Geert De Kockere
****
Willy by Geert De Kockere
Willy is an elephant and all the special and somewhat odd things (size, power, steadiness, skill at listening with two large ears, skill at painting...more


20 comments:

  1. The Language of Flowers is awesome, and I think Thanksgiving week-end is a great time to read it. here is my review: http://wordsandpeace.wordpress.com/2011/10/07/73-review-the-language-of-flowers/
    As for me, I'm going to start The First Rule of Ten [egalley just received], and The Man in My basement, by Mosley, a writer I discovered this year and like a lot

    ReplyDelete
  2. I can't believe that I haven't heard of any of the picture books you mention. I have to change that. I'm participating in Thankful Reading too. I started The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly and so far I'm really enjoying it. Have you read it before?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I don't know the Book of Lost Things, but I'll stop by your blog later and see how it is coming.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good luck with the Read-a-thon :)
    I have The Language of Flowers, and hope to get to it soon.

    Your list is uch a wonderful resource, especially with the holiday buying season here!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love picture books, so I'll be keeping an eye on your postings! I've already discovered a few to check out. Of the books you're considering reading, I read THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS and loved it. Hope you do, too!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Holy cow--you finished the list! Nice work.

    As for your reading challenges, I really enjoyed the audio of The Language of Flowers, and I thought Crossed was a better-than-average middle-of-a-trilogy book. more like Empire Strikes Back than Catching Fire. Enough

    ReplyDelete
  7. Amazing picture book list! Great gift ideas!

    I have not read any of your Thankfully Reading books but hear good things about The Language of Flowers. Good luck on your reading! I finished one book last night and hope to finish two today!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Squarely, a fine list!

    Thank you...!

    Eula Square Cat

    Square Cat
    Aladdin Books
    www.eulathesquarecat.com
    http://eulathesquarecat.blogspot.com/
    @Eulasquarecat

    ReplyDelete
  9. There are so many books that I've just added to my tbr list. I love Bonny Becker's Bear books. Congratulations on all the reviews!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you so much! It took me a long, long time to post all these reviews.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I can't imagine how long that took Deb! What an astonishing list. Most of them aren't familiar to me from bookshelves in Australia. Good to see Harry and Hopper, and Mirror there! Actually I need to reed Mirror, I haven't got to it yet, and I generally love her work.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I really enjoyed The Language of Flowers...hope you do, too.

    These picture books look like so much fun!

    Here's
    MY SUNDAY SALON POST and
    MY WEBSITE

    ReplyDelete
  13. I just added quite a few picture books to my list from yours. Hope you are having a great readathon weekend. I'm definitely having a slump myself.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow, a lot of work has gone into that list! As I don't have any children (and no, I don't read children's books myself -- and I wouldn't tell you if I did ;) I'm afraid I don't know a single one!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi friends,
    I have not read any of your Thankfully Reading books but hear good things about The Language of Flowers. Good luck on your reading!nice site, Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  16. First off, thanks for posting this list. I know the amount of work that goes into putting this sort of thing together. :)

    My granddaughter is 18 months old, so I'll be buying her all sorts of books for the next few year, that's for sure. I also occasionally buy picture books for myself. I love the art.

    Ike the dog and Mrs. Larue are one of my favorite series. Just love them. I gave the detective one to a couple of mystery loving friends one year for Christmas. Great books for kids AND adults. Just love 'em!

    Lots of other great selections on your list as well. I'm sharing this to my Facebook page. :)

    ReplyDelete

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