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Picture Books September 2020
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| I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes; illustrated by Gordon C. JamesWhat it is: An affirming, encouraging poem that centers and celebrates Black boyhood, accompanied by lush, high-impact paintings of realistic boys living their lives with confidence.
Book buzz: You might recognize author Derrick Barnes and illustrator Gordon C. James as the multi-award-winning creators of Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut.
Try this next: Useni Eugene Perkins' Hey Black Child, another poetic picture book emphasizing the many ways in which Black childrens' lives matter. |
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Cannonball
by Sacha Cotter; Illustrated by Josh Morgan
What it's about: Determined to execute the perfect cannonball dive, a boy tries to follow everyone's advice but finally hears Nan, an expert and former champion, who advises doing it his own way.
From book jacket: "He's ready to make a splash! I'm ready to pull off the perfect cannonball, but everyone has advice. "You need more weight!" "Bigger shorts!" "More muscles" "Bigger shorts!" All it really takes is listening to your own voice and finding the courage to make the perfect cannonball."
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Over and Under the Rainforest
by Kate Messner; Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
What it is: "a thrilling tour of one of the most diverse ecosystems on planet earth: the rainforests of Central America. Discover the wonder that lies hidden among the roots, above the winding rivers, and under the emerald leaves of the rainforest."
Read it for: "Animals like the slender parrot snake to the blue morpho butterfly; Explores the canopies, where toucans and pale-billed woodpeckers chatter and call; Other animals include capuchin monkeys who swing from vines and slow-moving sloths who wait out daily thunderstorms."(from Hoopla)
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Your Name Is a Song
by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
What it's about: "Frustrated by a day full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name, a little girl tells her mother she never wants to come back to school. In response, the girl's mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names on their lyrical walk home through the city."
Who it's for: "Parents, educators, caregivers, and young readers who want to learn more about the names featured in the story."
What's inside: A "Glossary of Names" lists each name's meaning, origin, and pronunciation" and a " link to access an online video of the author pronouncing all the names in the book." (from Hoopla)
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| Robobaby by David WiesnerWhat it's about: Young robot Cathode is excited when the kit for building her new baby brother arrives. Her parents, however, struggle to assemble the round little robot, and after some rocket-powered "improvements" go awry, Cathode steps up with her toolkit.
Art alert: Intricate details and retro-modern charm distinguish this robot romp from three-time Caldecott Medalist David Wiesner.
Did you know? This robot family (and many other imagined worlds) can also be found in the app David Wiesner's Spot. |
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You Can Be Brave : See How Magnolia Overcame Her Fear
by Sandrina Kurtz; Illustrated by John Kurtz
What it is: "A Fun Story about Courage and Kids Dealing with Problems in a Healthy Way. Part of a series about kids dealing with everyday hurdles and accomplishments, You're a Brave Kid! thoughtfully written by Sandrina Kurtz, shows that problems are better solved when shared with loved ones."
What happens: "When Magnolia accidentally makes a small mess in the kitchen, it quickly escalates into a greater problem. The hilarious illustrations by John Kurtz show just how large a disaster Magnolia imagines it to be. Only by being brave does she realize it was never the big deal she worried it was"(from Hoopla).
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Scaredy Squirrel makes a friend
by Mélanie Watt
What it's about: "Scaredy Squirrel doesn't have a friend. It's way too dangerous. He could get BITTEN. But when he spots a perfectly safe candidate for a friend, he's prepared with a name tag, mittens, a mirror and a lemon to make the PERFECT FIRST IMPRESSION. All goes well until his PLAN takes a surprising turn, and suddenly he's pursued tooth and tail by a four-legged individual!" (From publisher description).
Series Alert: Other stories include Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach, Scaredy Squirrel at Night, Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping, and many more!
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Love
by Matt de la Peña; Illustrated by Loren Song
What it is: A heartfelt celebration of love by the Newbery Medal-winning author of Last Stop of Market Street and the best-selling illustrator of Of Thee I Sing depicts how people from all walks of life share a universal bond that supports and connects us in the face of fear and hardship. Simultaneous eBook.
What's inside: Illustrations and easy-to-read text celebrate the bonds of love that connect us all.
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| All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold; illustrated by Suzanne KaufmanWelcome to: a new year at a city school, filled with playtime, classroom time, shared food, family visits, and friendship with all kinds of new classmates.
Why kids might like it: During these isolating times, children may be reassured by the titular refrain, as well as the reminder that they're part of their communities: “No matter how you start your day, what you wear when you play, or if you come from far away, all are welcome here.” |
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| Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor; illustrated by Rafael López What it's about: As twelve kids work together in a garden, they get to know each other by asking questions.
What kind of questions? Questions such as "how do you use your senses?", "how do you get from place to place?", and "are you really good at something?" allow the kids to be matter-of-fact about how they live with disabilities and illnesses.
About the author: Other people's assumptions about her type 1 diabetes inspired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to write this refreshingly straightforward book. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!
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