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Picture Books November 2017
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| Windows by Julia Denos; illustrated by E.B. GoodaleDescribing the plot alone -- a child in a red hoodie takes his dog for a walk at twilight -- doesn’t do justice to the arresting, sunset-hued illustrations or the lively urban neighborhood depicted in Windows. City-dwelling kids, as well as anyone looking for a comforting read, will find lots to love in this "gorgeously understated celebration of everyday enchantment" (Booklist). |
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Lucy & Company
by Marianne Dubuc
Canadian. This compilation of three, short, cozy stories features a little girl named Lucy and her four animal friends: Marcel the mouse, Henry the rabbit, Dot the turtle and Adrian the snail. (Anton the bear also makes two surprise appearances!) Readers will be delighted to spend time in Lucy's world, as the friends share snacks on a picnic, celebrate a special birthday with a treasure hunt and find a new home for some lost baby chicks.
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Queen Dog
by Bridget Heos
Queen Dog has ruled her castle with grace and majesty since she was a pup. Her people adore her. They provide her with delicious meals and shower her with attention. Lately, though, they have been a bit distracted and service has started to slip. Queen Dog tries her best to make do--but then a stranger moves into the castle! Who is this tiny newcomer commanding all the attention? A servant, or a pretender to the throne?
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The Bad Seed
by Jory John
This is a book about a bad seed. A baaaaaaaaaad seed. How bad? Do you really want to know? He has a bad temper, bad manners, and a bad attitude. He’s been bad since he can remember! This seed cuts in line every time, stares at everybody and never listens. But what happens when one mischievous little seed changes his mind about himself, and decides that he wants to be—happy?
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The Book of Mistakes
by Corinna Luyken
One eye was bigger than the other. That was a mistake. The weird frog-cat-cow thing? It made an excellent bush. And the inky smudges… they look as if they were always meant to be leaves floating gently across the sky.
As one artist incorporates accidental splotches, spots, and misshapen things into her art, she transforms her piece in quirky and unexpected ways, taking readers on a journey through her process. Told in minimal, playful text, this story shows readers that even the biggest “mistakes” can be the source of the brightest ideas—and that, at the end of the day, we are all works in progress, too.
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Zebra on the Go
by Jill Nogales
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages: the circus is beginning! Fierce Lion and speedy Zebra are stepping into the ring to perform their act but wait! Things aren't going quite according to plan... Zebra is on the go with Lion in hot pursuit! Jill Nogales's rollicking text keeps readers on their hooves er, toes while Lorraine Rocha's vibrant illustrations bring the whole circus to life.
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| After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan SantatHumpty Dumpty's "great fall" is notorious, but what happens after the hapless egg is reassembled? It turns out that not everything can be fixed with bandages. Can Humpty Dumpty conquer his newfound fear of heights, or is he permanently grounded? Find out in this quirky, modern nursery rhyme homage. For another tale of overcoming fear, try C. Roger Mader's Tiptop Cat. |
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Robinson
by Peter Sís
A boy who loves adventure.
A mysterious ocean journey.
A remote island wilderness.
Discover what surprises await in this beautiful dreamlike exploration of courage and loneliness, independence and friendship.
Lush, transporting paintings float from reality to fantasy and back again as Peter Sís blends a true story from his childhood with the fictional adventure of Robinson Crusoe to create a moving, magical picture book that readers will want to return to again and again.
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| I Want That Nut! by Madeline ValentineMouse and Chipmunk are BFFs until they spy a new "friend": a beautiful acorn. Both want to lay claim, and soon the pair is locked in a devious battle, each trying to snatch the nut for their own exclusive activities (such as dance parties, tic-tac-toe, and tea-time). Told through earth-toned artwork and speech bubbles, this tiny power struggle will resonate with kids who are navigating their own friendships. |
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| Small Walt by Elizabeth Verdick; illustrated by Marc RosenthalCozy, old-fashioned illustrations perfectly capture the warm relationship that forms on one snowy day, when driver Gus decides to take a chance on little red Walt, "the smallest snowplow in the fleet." Vehicle-obsessed children longing for further tales of plucky plows will also want to check out Steven Savage's Supertruck and Virginia Lee Burton's classic Katy and the Big Snow. |
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| Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie; illustrated by Yuyi MoralesThunder Boy Smith Jr. HATES his name. He looks up to his dad, but he wants to be unique. Brainstorming new names yields some interesting suggestions -- maybe he should he be called "Mud in His Ears," or "Can't Run Fast While Laughing"? -- before dad finds the right name for his spirited son. Illustrations that crackle with color underscore the connections between a child's dreams, culture, and family. |
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| Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk; illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis"Kulu" is an Inuktitut term of endearment, and the Kulu in this winsome picture book is very dear indeed. The newborn baby is welcomed not only by loving parents, but also by the animals of the Arctic, including Narwhal, Arctic Hare, and Caribou. Add in smooth, stylized art and soothing repetition, and you've got a family story that's just right for bedtime. |
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| My Heart Fills with Happiness by Monique Gray Smith; illustrated by Julie FlettUpbeat but never sappy, this mixed-media board book is framed by a repeated sentence: "My heart fills with happiness when…" Completing that sentence are a range of life's simple joys, both universal (seeing the face of a loved one) and specific (smelling baking bannock), leading to a concluding question that children can consider after the last page has been turned: "What fills your heart with happiness?" |
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