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Picture Books February 2017
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| Egg by Kevin HenkesPink, yellow, blue, and green, four candy-colored eggs wait on the cream-colored page. And then: CRACK! Pink, yellow, and blue, three chicks emerge -- but what about the green egg? Curiously, the new chicks peck away at the unhatched egg until the shell finally cracks, revealing…a crocodile?! The birds' uncertainty (and eventual acceptance) towards their reptile companion drives this minimal but carefully crafted story, illustrated in author/illustrator Kevin Henkes' distinctive ink-and-watercolor style. Those looking for a similar tale with a more humorous tone will enjoy Emily Gravett's The Odd Egg, while those who want another sweetly contemplative read may appreciate Waiting, also by Henkes.
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| A Greyhound, a Groundhog by Emily Jenkins; illustrated by Chris AppelhansThere aren't many words in this book, but you may still want to rehearse it a bit before sharing it with a child. Composed almost entirely of rhyming tongue-twisters, this charming look at the friendship between a dog and a groundhog can be dazzling when read aloud. Go ahead, try it as fast as you can: "A round hound, a grey dog, a round little hound dog…A greyhog, a ground dog, a hog little hound dog." Whew! The playful tone of the text is mirrored in the illustrations, which combine a soft watercolor palette with loose, lively brushstrokes, creating a captivating reading experience for adults and kids alike.
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| XO, Ox: A Love Story by Adam Rex; illustrated by Scott CampbellMiscommunication, 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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| Hug Machine by Scott CampbellWith his big eyes, striped shirt, and comically long arms, the human Hug Machine is an irresistible little guy -- both to readers and to the recipients of his embraces. Whether they need to be calmed down or cheered up, the Hug Machine is willing to hug anyone (including an unhappy baby, a spiky porcupine, and a giant whale) or anything (such as a rock, a mailbox, and an ice cream truck). But after a big day of hugging, the Hug Machine is tired…and ready to receive a loving squeeze from his mom. The Hug Machine's blend of sincerity and deadpan daffiness is perfect for cuddle-loving kids. |
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A book of hugs
by Dave Ross
Various kinds of embraces and hugs are pictured, such as arm hugs, knee hugs, bear hugs, blanket hugs, and birthday hugs, and hints are given on when to hug and what not to hug. Children's BOMC Alt.
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Hugless Douglas
by David Melling
One of the leading children's author/illustrators today combines a perfect match of humor and endearing artwork to launch a new character: Douglas is a big brown, lovable bear who wakes up one morning in need of a hug.
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How do you hug a porcupine?
by Laurie Isop
A child figures out the best way to hug a porcupine as he watches his friends hug other animals
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The perfect hug
by Joanna Walsh
Through simple rhyming text and adorable illustrations, young readers will explore many different kinds of hugs in the search for the perfect one, in a heartwarming follow-up to The Biggest Kiss.
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I lost my kisses
by Trudie Trewin
Matilda Rose loves to kiss hello, goodbye, good morning, and goodnight, but on the day her father is to return from a trip, she cannot find her kisses anywhere, despite knowing how they feel, taste, and sound.
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| Dinosaur Kisses by David Ezra SteinBursting out of her egg with wide-eyed exuberance, yellow speckled baby dinosaur Dinah has a lot of love to give. She sees two smaller critters kissing and longs to give it a try, but each of her efforts at a gentle kiss turns into an overpowering STOMP, WHOMP, or CHOMP -- the latter involving the back end of a brontosaurus! Will Dinah ever find someone she can safely smooch? Kids will have to stick with Dinah throughout her goofy, giggle-worthy learning curve to find out. Pick up Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen's Tyrannosaurus Wrecks for another dinosaur-themed example of "preschool humor at its finest" (The Horn Book Magazine). |
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What color is a kiss?
by Rocio Bonilla
Loving to view her world in every color of the rainbow, sassy young Monica paints and paints in the hope of discovering the color of a kiss before learning, with the help of her mother, that kisses and love come in all colors.
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Prince of a frog
by Jackie Urbanovic
A whimsical adaptation of the classic Frog Prince fairy tale follows the experiences of a rambunctious misfit frog who embarks on a mission to unlock his true royal self.
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The biggest kiss
by Joanna Walsh
A classic board book celebration of kisses is filled with charming animals and irresistible text that shows how there's a kiss for everyone, from the sleepy goodnight kiss and the splishy splashy fish kiss to the sticky lipstick kiss and finally the best kiss of all.
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Count my kisses, 1, 2, 3
by Sandra Magsamen
A debut entry in a new book-and-accessory series features a loving mommy pig who helps her piglet count from one to 10 while bestowing kisses along the way, in a volume complemented by colorful wooden beads that children can use to practice early counting skills and a handle built into the book for easy portability.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Central Mississippi Regional Library System
100 Tamberline Street
Brandon, Mississippi 39042
601-825-0100
http://www.cmrls.lib.ms.us
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