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Picture Books October 2017
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Little Excavator
by Anna Dewdney
It's tough being the smallest vehicle on the construction site, especially when you're as eager to help as Little Excavator. Tiny, yellow, and bursting with can-do spirit, Little Excavator keeps trying to join in the park-building process, but the bigger vehicles just keep telling him "not yet." Rhythmic and bursting with machine sound effects that are "just begging to be read aloud with dramatic effect" (Kirkus Reviews), this tale of a pint-sized helper in search of a job to match is a crowd-pleaser that may rival the late author's popular Llama Llama series. For another exuberant, anthropomorphic construction vehicle, try Candace Fleming's Bulldozer series.
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| I Love You Like a Pig by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Greg PizzoliWhat does it mean to love someone like a pig? That's up to the readers of this silly salute to similes. Beginning with "I'm happy like a monster" and continuing with further head-scratchers such as "funny like a fossil" and "lucky like a window," this unusual picture book encourages kids to think (and laugh) about figurative speech. Cheery pastel illustrations of kids and animals offer visual suggestions for what each expression might mean, while leaving plenty of gaps for young imaginations to fill. And on the off chance that these purposefully puzzling similes don't inspire any new interpretations, the chorus filled with "oinks" is sure to provoke audience participation. |
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XO, Ox: A Love Story
by Adam Rex; illustrated by Scott Campbell
Miscommunication, that great driver of romantic drama, is at the heart of this unorthodox epistolary love story. Squarish and squat, Ox carefully pens a confession of his admiration for Gazelle: "You are so graceful and fine...you are like a ballerina who is running from tigers." Willowy Gazelle receives the missive with rather less care, sending back a form letter (she has so many admirers). Ox's starry-eyed misunderstanding of this brush-off leads to a continued correspondence that's equal parts silly and sweet, underscored by simply stylized illustrations. Even kids who are grossed out by romance will be charmed by XO, Ox.
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Lucía the luchadora
by Cynthia Leonor Garza
When the boys on the playground tell her that girls can't be superheroes, Lucía is discouraged until her abuela reveals to her the power of the luchadoras
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| Tap Tap Boom Boom by Elizabeth Bluemle; illustrated by G. Brian KarasIt's a busy afternoon in the city when the first "tap tap" of raindrops signals a coming downpour. Soon the rain begins to pelt, and the resounding "boom crackle-BOOM" of thunder sends everyone scurrying into the subway for shelter, where soggy strangers become friends, sharing music, pizza, and umbrellas as they wait out the storm. Snappy verse and lively mixed-media illustrations add read-aloud appeal to this upbeat tale of urban community. Kids who appreciate the photographic backgrounds and cartoony characters in Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny books will love the look of this feel-good read. |
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| Quit Calling Me a Monster! by Jory John; illustrated by Bob SheaThe snaggle-toothed, spindly limbed, and purple-furred protagonist of this picture book is fed up with your judgment, okay? Name-calling isn't nice, especially when the name is "monster." So what if he lurks in dark closets and howls at the moon? That doesn't give you the right to call him anything other than his real name (which is Floyd Peterson, thank you very much)! After all, he could just as well call you a "little meat snack," but Floyd has manners. Bob Shea's energetic, scribbly artwork will appeal to Willems fans, as will the offbeat tone of this rib-tickling read-aloud about the challenges of politeness. |
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| Can I Tell You a Secret? by Anna Kang; illustrated by Christopher Weyant"Psssst!" That's Monty the frog trying to get your attention. He's got a secret, and he can only tell it to YOU: he's afraid of water! So far, he's managed to avoid getting wet (even if it did involve using an umbrella), but someday he'll have to swim. It's a tough secret for a little frog. Should he tell his parents? If he does, you'll need to give him LOTS of encouragement. Cartoony and interactive, Can I Tell You a Secret? offers "chuckles, charm, and a handy-dandy life lesson" (Booklist). Similar to the eponymous stars of the Elephant and Piggie series, Monty addresses readers directly about his relatable anxiety. |
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Bounce
by Doreen Cronin
Little ones can jump like a frog, hip-hop like a bunny, and bounce like a beach ball with a cast of free-spirited animals who know just the perfect way to enjoy a perfect day! By the creator of Wiggle.
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| What This Story Needs is a Hush and a Shush by Emma J. VirjánThis little piggy is ready for bedtime! Still wearing her towering red wig, the sleepy pig is all bathed and combed and snuggled in bed when she's interrupted by a cacophony of animal sounds. It's just her friends making their own preparations for sleep, but the onomatopoeic chorus of honks, barks, meows, coos, clucks, and neighs is far from soporific. How's a pig supposed to get any shut-eye? Find out in this 2nd volume from the Pig in a Wig series, which combines the visual simplicity of Mo Willems' easy readers with the irrepressible attitude of the Pigeon to create its own brand of fun. |
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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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