|
|
|
Frank the seven-legged spider
by Michaele Razi
Frank loves making beautiful webs, scaring humans, running, and scurrying but after waking up one morning missing a leg, he wonders if he still is a spider
|
|
| Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes; illustrated by Scott MagoonFeaturing: Rescue, a black Lab who's learning how to be a service dog; Jessica, a girl who's learning how to use her prosthetic legs; and the powerful connection between the two.
About the authors: Co-authors Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes write from their real-life experience of welcoming Rescue into their family.
Who it's for: kids and families looking for an authentic, uplifting portrayal of service dogs or living with disability. |
|
|
On the night of the shooting star
by Amy Hest
Glancing at each other through the fences that separate their homes, Bunny and Dog remain too shy to speak until the night when a shooting star zips through the sky and becomes a shared moment that begins a new friendship. By the author of Kiss Good Night.
|
|
|
Islandborn
by Junot Díaz; illustrated by Leo Espinosa
What it's about: Assigned to draw her country of origin, Lola – who doesn't remember life on "the Island" -- collects reminiscences from her family and neighbors.
Why kids might like it: Brilliantly colored artwork depicts Lola's city neighborhood, as well her neighbors' evocative memories of music, mangoes, and people "like a rainbow -- every shade ever made."
Author alert: Islandborn is the picture book debut from award-winning author Junot Díaz.
|
|
|
If I had a horse
by Gianna Marino
A child imagines what it would be like to have a horse, from their common personality traits to embarking on new adventures
|
|
| Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrews; illustrated by Bryan CollierWhat it is: an autobiography of Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, in which atmospheric collage art enhances the story of how ambition and community support launched the New Orleans jazz prodigy into a successful music career.
Reviewers say: "If a fairy tale were set in New Orleans, this is how it would read" (Publishers Weekly).
Look for: The 5 O'Clock Band, a companion book by the same creators, due out this June. |
|
| Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle; illustrated by Rafael López What it's about: In 1930s Cuba, a young girl is overflowing with rhythm. Despite her father's assertion that drums are only for boys, she keeps practicing on the conga, bongó, and timbales until she finally gets the chance she longs for.
Art alert: Drum Dream Girl's lively, poetic text is layered over surreal illustrations that glow with tropical color.
Did you know? Although it's fiction, this story is based on the real life of Chinese-African-Cuban drummer Millo Castro Zaldarriaga. |
|
| The Bear and the Piano by David LitchfieldWhat it's about: Readers will recognize the object in the forest clearing as a piano, but there's a steeper learning curve for the small bear who finds it. After painstakingly learning to play, he embarks on a journey of creativity and fame that leads him away from home and back again.
Why kids might like it: Fanciful, poignant, and ultimately reassuring, The Bear and the Piano offers a harmonious blend of relatable emotions and evocative mixed-media artwork. |
|
| Harlem's Little Blackbird by Renee Watson; illustrated by Christian RobinsonStarring: trailblazing 1920's entertainer Florence Mills, who was known for her on-stage presence, her generosity, and her opposition to widespread discrimination against African Americans.
What's inside: Author Renee Watson uses lyrics from Florence's songs to show readers how she used her voice "for more than entertainment," while Christian Robinson's illustrations create a "jazzy, geometric and lively" (Kirkus Reviews) portrait of the Harlem Renaissance. |
|
| Esquivel! Space-Age Sound Artist by Susan Wood; illustrated by Duncan TonatiuhWhat it's about: From the moment he started tinkering with his family's player piano, experimental musician Juan García Esquivel was dedicated to creating innovative sounds. Bursting with onomatopoeia and ultra-stylized illustrations, this biography celebrates Esquivel's outside-the-box attitude.
Who it's for: aspiring musicians and proud young eccentrics, who might also enjoy Chris Raschka's The Cosmobiography of Sun Ra. |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!
|
|
|
San Mateo Public Library 55 West 3rd Avenue San Mateo, California 94402 (650) 522-7802www.smplibrary.org |
|
|
|