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Fire Truck vs. Dragon
by
Chris Barton; illustrated by Shanda McCloskey
Don’t let the title fool you: Fire Truck and Dragon are actually good buddies. Instead of the fire-versus-water battle the neighborhood kids hope for, the two friends camp together, bring food to a cookout, and help with party games.
Why kids might like it: Hilarious misdirection undercuts the frustration of readers' foiled expectations, and a twist ending provides surprising satisfaction.
Further reading: Kids who do want a showdown between rivals might enjoy author Chris Barton’s earlier book, Shark vs. Train.
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Who stole the hazelnuts? : a forest mystery
by
Marcus Pfister
What happens: Squirrel's hazelnuts are missing! Who is the thief?
Read it for: Beautiful watercolor illustrations and rhyming text.
Author illustrator of The Rainbow Fish
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The Ocean in Your Bathtub
by
Seth Fishman
What is cool about it: Kid friendly illustrations ; Emphasizes how the ocean connects us all.
The message: How we can help our oceans get healthy again.
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One of These Is Not Like the Others
by
Barney Saltzberg
What is fun about it: Recognizes and celebrates differences in everyone.
Keep an eye out for: Subtle differences in things that appear to be the same
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Poor Little Guy by Elanna Allen Starring: an itsy-bitsy bespectacled fish and the outsized octopus who captures it.
What happens: The octopus toys with the little fish, and although its unhinged playfulness contains an undercurrent of threat, the balance of power between predator and prey isn’t exactly as it seems.
For fans of: the minimalist illustrations, dark wit, and expectation-defying twists in Jon Klassen’s This Is Not My Hat. | | Izzy & Oscar by Allison Estes and Dan Stark; illustrated by Tracy Dockray What it’s about: Every pirate needs an animal mascot, like a parrot or a dog, but pretend pirate captain Izzy has only Oscar, an expressive purple octopus.
Read it for: Izzy’s hilariously misguided training attempts; laugh-out-loud visual humor (pictures reveal that Oscar isn’t as well-behaved on a leash as the text implies); a comforting conclusion; and a list of octo-facts.
Kids might also like: Martin McKenna’s The Octopuppy. | | Octopuses One to Ten by Ellen Jackson; illustrated by Robin Page What it is: a collection of ten intriguing facts about octopuses, delivered in easy-to-understand rhymes and striking illustrations.
Did you know: that octopuses have blue blood and superior camouflage ability, as well as three hearts and nine brains?
Art alert: Textured and intricately detailed digital art creates an immersive experience for curious young readers, who are encouraged to make their own octopus art using the craft projects at the end of the book. | | Inky's Amazing Escape: How a Very Smart Octopus Found His Way Home by Sy Montgomery; illustrated by Amy Schimler-Safford What it’s about: the real-life exploits of Inky, an octopus whose drive to explore led him to make a highly unusual exit from New Zealand’s National Aquarium.
Why kids might like it: It’s tough not to like this book’s clever cephalopod hero, and the abundance of fascinating facts will grab aspiring scientists.
About the author: Naturalist Sy Montgomery writes for readers of all ages – you might recognize her from her popular adult book The Soul of an Octopus. | | Also an Octopus by Maggie Tokuda-Hall; illustrated by Benji Davis What it is: a delightfully off-kilter metafictional romp disguised as a how-to guide for writers.
What’s inside: Since “every story needs a character,” and this story stars a ukulele-strumming octopus. And since every character “needs to want something," the octopus resolves to build a purple spaceship made of glitter and waffles. You can imagine how outrageous things get after that...
Who it’s for: Budding storytellers may be inspired by Also an Octopus’ blend of absurdity and instruction. | |
Contact your librarian for more great books for ages 0-8!
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