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Life on Mars
by Jon Agee
Arriving on the planet Mars, a young astronaut looks around: it's dark, it's cold, and there's no one to eat the chocolate cupcakes he's brought. Undeterred, he sets out to explore…and a shy, curious Martian picks up his trail. Minimal but effective sight gags abound in the heavily outlined illustrations as the Martian -- huge, orange, and pointy-eared -- mirrors the astronaut's movements but is never detected, not even when it offers a timely bit of assistance. Kids who love yelling advice at clueless characters will relish this offbeat read and may also like Mac Barnett's Sam and Dave Dig a Hole.
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| I Got a New Friend by Karl Newsom EdwardsThe curly-haired girl and the floppy-eared puppy are both a little skittish when they first meet, but once they get used to each other, they become fast friends. Soon, they're doing everything together: eating, sleeping, playing, keeping clean, and (of course) hugging. The sweet straightforwardness of their friendship is echoed in the easy-to-read text and boldly outlined cartoon illustrations -- the only twist is an ambiguous ending that may send readers back to the beginning to figure out who is narrating. This winsome read is sure to be a hit in households that have recently welcomed a new pet.
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Shy
by Deborah Freedman
"Shy loves birds, but he's only ever read about them in books. When a real bird finally comes along, he's dying to meet her, but he's too afraid to get leave the gutter of the book. Can he put aside his fears, step out onto the page, and get to know her?"
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Firefighter Duckies!
by Frank W. Dormer
A quack-out-loud nonsense story about little duckies of all dispositions features a flock of brave and strong Firefighter Duckies who rescue imperiled animals and practice their kindness skills when the emergencies that require their attention become overwhelming. Simultaneous eBook.
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Spunky little monkey
by Bill Martin
Little monkey will not get out of bed, so the doctor prescribes some exercise, and monkey learns to dance
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| What Can a Crane Pick Up? by Rebecca Kai Dotlich; illustrated by Mike LoweryLittle ones may well wonder what a crane CAN'T pick up by the time they reach the end of this peppy book, which shows smiling cartoon cranes lifting all kinds of things -- from trucks and train cars to a polar bear, cartons and cartons of underwear, and even other cranes. With its cheerily simple illustrations and silly, rhythmic rhymes, this fun book will have kids wondering about the limits of all kinds of big machines. For more great picture books that show just what different construction vehicles can do, try William Low's Machines Go to Work, Sally Sutton's Roadwork, or Nathan Clement's Job Site. |
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| Bulldozer's Big Day by Candace Fleming; illustrated by Eric RohmannFollowing his first outing in Bulldozer Helps Out, perky yellow Bulldozer is eager to celebrate his birthday. Zipping around the construction site, he asks his friends to "guess what day today is!" only to be disappointed when Digger, Dump Truck, Cement Mixer and others seem to be too busy working to pay him any attention. Have his friends truly forgotten his special day? Heavy-lined, primary-colored block prints lend a satisfying heft to the denizens of the construction site, all of whom gather after work for a surprise birthday party, complete with enormous cake. |
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| Busy Builders, Busy Week! by Jean Reidy; illustrated by Leo TimmersExclamation points pepper the rhymes in this exuberant picture book about an animal construction crew. They've got one week to complete a mysterious project (though sharp-eyed readers will clue in before the big reveal), and they'll only succeed by working together. From planning and digging to building and painting, each day brings a fresh wave of cartoony, wide-eyed animal workers to get the job done. Fanciful details -- such as a roller-skating giraffe or a relocated family of worms -- will draw in young readers and encourage repeat readings of this sweetly upbeat story. |
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| Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker; illustrated by Tom LichtenheldLots of big-truck books are rowdy, but this popular read is just right for bedtime. Opening at sunset, it shows Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, and other personified construction vehicles finishing up the day's work and getting themselves ready for a good night's rest. Simple rhymes describe the trucks' bedtime routines as well as what they've been up to all day (lifting, digging, dumping, etc.), while crayon-textured cartoon illustrations show the machines happily settling in to sleep; may your truck-loving toddler be inspired to follow suit! |
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| The Mixed-Up Truck by Stephen SavageIt's his first day of work, and the red-striped cement mixer is eager to please. When the experienced trucks on the construction site tell him to "mix up some powdery white cement," he rushes off to collect some white powder, adds water, and…"presto! A CAKE!" Oops -- it was flour, not cement! Though readers are clued in by the pictures, it takes a few tries for the cement mixer to get it right, with each comical mistake revealed after a repeated refrain. Kids who want more of the crisp artwork and can-do spirit in The Mixed-Up Truck will want to check out author Stephen Savage's earlier book, Supertruck. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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San Mateo Public Library 55 West 3rd Avenue San Mateo, California 94402 (650) 522-7802www.smplibrary.org |
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