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Kids' Picture Books January 2017
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NextReads will be taking a hiatus! Stay tuned for more information!
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Marta! Big & Small by Jen Arena
Venturing out into the jungle, Marta, “una niña…an ordinary girl,” observes the world around her, discovering that compared to a bug, she is grande (“Big, very big”), while next to an elephant, she is pequeña (“Small, very small”). This vibrantly illustrated picture book invites youngsters to identify opposites and learn simple Spanish words.
Recommended by Joy |
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Digby Takes Charge by Caroline Church
While it might seem that getting a mere six sheep into the pen would be easy for a sheepdog like Digby, it’s not! The sheep just won’t do what they’re told. Find out what important word Digby needs to learn to get the job done.
Recommended by Carol |
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Emily's Blue Period by Cathleen Daly
Emily is an artist. She loves to paint! But when her dad doesn’t live at home anymore, she feels pretty mixed up. She remembers that Picasso had a “Blue Period” where he painted in blue when he was sad. Emily decides she might need to do that for a while to help her deal with the sad things going on. This is a great book about working through hard times.
Recommended by Laura |
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The Sleeping Gypsy by Mordicai Gerstein
This dreamy picture book is inspired by and titled after Henri Rousseau's famous painting, The Sleeping Gypsy. Why is this woman sleeping alone in the desert? Why is she smiling? What will the lion do? Adults and children will enjoy the opportunity to explore art and the story behind the story. It includes details about the painting. For ages 4 to 12.
Recommended by Barb |
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When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes
If you’re looking for a book that introduces seasons, this book is your ticket out of Winter and into Spring! The illustrations and descriptive text walk you through the different stages of Spring, showing the time it takes to change from one season to the next. It is like a field trip you won’t have to leave the house for! You’ll catch glimpses of bunnies, hear birds sing, see plants grow, and feel the rain and snow! With simple highlighted text and huge pictures, it is perfect for grades K-3.
Recommended by Courtney |
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Hoot and Peep by Lita Judge
In this sweet tale, Hoot is an owl and a big brother. He thinks he has some wisdom to impart to his younger sister, Peep. He wants to teach her to sing, but Peep already has her own unique voice figured out. As they fly through the city, Peep ends up imparting some of her own wisdom to Hoot and ends up teaching him to sing with her amazing voice. (Grades PreK-2)
Recommended by Alicia |
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We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen
This is the final book in Klassen’s celebrated “Hat Trilogy.” Two turtle friends find a hat and both want it. In the end, they decide friendship is more important than a hat. Klassen has created a picture book full of expressive, lovable, minimalist characters for fluent early readers to enjoy reading.
Recommended by Tiffany |
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The Little Snowplow by Lora KoehlerThe Little Snowplow is teased and ridiculed by the larger plows and trucks. How can something so little keep up with all the storms and snowfall on Mighty Mountain Road? Little Snowplow works extra hard at pushing and lifting to prove to the big machines that he is strong. Will he be able to save the day when a huge avalanche buries the town? This is a delightful debut picture book for Lora Koehler. She says living in the mountains of Utah makes her appreciate a snowplow of any size!
Recommended by Judy
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Tacky the Penguin
by Helen Lester
Tacky doesn’t fit in with the other penguins—he’s a little too much for the other penguins’ liking. While his conforming companions, Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect all look and act how penguins should, Tacky wears a colorful Hawaiian shirt, is loud, doesn’t march in rhythm, and sings off key. It is Tacky’s individuality that ends up saving his conventional penguin pals from a group of hunters. This book is an essential read for kids and grownups, affirming that our individual gifts can inspire and serve others.
Recommended by Tiffany
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Fast Food
by Saxton Freymann
If you use your imagination, veggies can be turned into all sorts of things. Cucumbers can be cars with a red pepper as the driver. Bananas can be airplanes. Freymann has an amazing ability to turn ordinary vegetables into amazing creations which make his wonderful and humorous books come to life!!
Recommended by Ruth
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Edward Gets Messy by Rita Meade
Edward likes things neat and orderly. He despises dirt. But staying clean is hard work. Edward has to avoid eating messy foods, he can never use markers or glue sticks, and he can’t join his friends when they are having fun outside. One day during Art, a drop of green paint lands on Edward’s clean, white shirt. What will he do? Once he recovers from the shock, Edward discovers that being messy can be fun. Join Edward in this humorous celebration of all things messy.
Recommended by Milissa |
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If you Give a Mouse a Brownie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
Laura Numeroff’s beloved character Mouse is back! This time, giving him a brownie leads to ice cream, then a spoon-- and then things get really out of hand when drumming the spoon on the table makes him want to start a band! Somehow, as always, the story comes full circle and brings him back to wanting another brownie…just as much as Numeroff’s fans wanted another mouse story!
Recommended by Stacy |
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10 Little Ninjas by Miranda Paul
In this creative retelling of 10 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, Daddy and Mommy are trying to put a multicultural cast of youngsters to sleep. Each page has the rambunctious kids pretending to be something new. Their numbers decrease one by one until finally everyone falls asleep in this great counting book with a clever take on a familiar tale.
Recommended by Christa |
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Polka Dots for Poppy by Amy Schwartz
Four sisters look forward to school shopping the next day. Ava wants a princess look, Isabelle wants purple, Charlie Ann wants a cowboy vest, and little Poppy wants polka dots. Three sisters get their wish, but not little Poppy. No polka dots are to be found anywhere in the store. That night, Poppy is sad but after she is asleep, her sisters come to the polka dot rescue. This is a fun sibling story for any family.
Recommended by Betty |
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Who What Where? by Olivier Tallec
The sequel to the equally charming “Who Done It?” is this clever book that is part seek-and-find, part memory game, part mystery, and a whole lot of fun! Each page asks the reader a simple question: can you use your powers of observation to solve the puzzles? Perfect for readers of all ages, and even more fun to do together with a friend or grown-up.
Recommended by Lindsay |
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The Water Princess by Susan Verde
Young Gie Gie lives in Africa where the sky is her kingdom. Each morning she awakens before sunrise to travel by foot, over 4 miles, gathering water for her family in a pot on her head. She wishes for a day when water will be close to her community. Meanwhile, she will journey again tomorrow. This beautifully illustrated poetic book in sepia, gold and brown will engage the preschool reader and be a good topic of discussion for older kids.
Recommended by Alanna |
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Queen Victoria's Bathing Machine by Gloria Whelan
A great, rolling doggerel accompanies this story about finding a way to allow the queen to enter the sea without any part of her being “seen!” Funny and factual, this will be a fun read for you and yours.
Recommended by Kristin |
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Chiquita's Children : Teaching Children About Foster Families
by Jan Wolff
Chiquita is a young hen in a very active barnyard. She has many friends, but longs to have and raise her own chicks. The farmer comes each day to collect her eggs, but one day, he gives her a gift: one dozen multi-colored eggs to cozy into and brood. All her barnyard friends come to encourage her except for one feisty enemy. This is the newest edition in the Small Horizons "Let's Talk Book" series which helps children understand foster care, adoption, diversity, and empathy.
Recommended by Tina
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The Other Side
by Jacqueline Woodson
A beautiful and hopeful depiction of Segregation in the South. Two girls (one black, one white) desire to be friends, but the fence that runs through their town keeps them separated. Woodson’s poetic language and the realistic images help the story of friendship feel universal. This is a great book to help a younger school age kid understand a difficult topic.
Recommended by Rebecca
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Questions? Comments? Email lbroderick@ppld.org
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Pikes Peak Library District P.O. Box 1579 Colorado Springs, Colorado 80901 (719) 531-6333http://ppld.org/ |
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