"Jollyfish possess the secret of fundamental glee -- There's no creature half as happy at the bottom of the sea." ~ from Jack Prelutsky's Stardines Swim High Across the Sky
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| Lost. Found. by Marsha Diane Arnold; illustrated by Matthew CordellAfter a winter breeze whisks away a bear's red fuzzy scarf, the humble garment goes on an unexpected odyssey. Passing through the paws of several woodland creatures, the scarf becomes a toy, a turban, and a tug-of-war rope, and is so well-used that by the time scarf and bear are reunited, the scarf seems to be ruined. But in meeting all the other animals, the bear has found something even better: new friends! Using only the two words in the title (and a handful of funny sound effects), this sparse but lively tale is just as cheerful and cozy as the red scarf it depicts. |
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Charley Harper's count the birds
by Zoe Burke
Introduces the numbers one to ten using illustrations of different birds for young readers to count, from one singing bunting to ten baby quail
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Steve, raised by wolves by Jared ChapmanInstructed by his wolf mother to just be himself when he departs for his first day of school, little Steve upsets his new classmates by howling, shredding and pouncing just like the wolves who raised him.
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Little Elliot, big family
by Mike Curato
When Mouse departs for a family reunion, little Elliot, the polka-dotted elephant, goes for a walk through the streets of a busy city in search of a family of his own. By the creator of Little Elliot, Big City.
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| Mother Bruce by Ryan T. HigginsAn family unexpected forms after dinner plans go awry in this offbeat picture book. Grumpy, dumpy, and wearing a permanent scowl, Bruce the bear doesn't like anything…except for eggs. After stealing -- er, collecting -- some "free-range organic" goose eggs from a nest, Bruce prepares to dine…only to discover that the eggs have hatched, and the goslings are convinced he's their mother! How does one crotchety bear cope with raising four stubborn goslings? Find out in this "visually beautiful, clever, edgy, and very funny" (Kirkus Reviews) book that's just right for reading out loud. |
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Beyond the pond by Joseph KueflerTiring of his everyday routine at home, a little boy decides to explore the depths of his pond, where he discovers a not-so-ordinary world that changes him forever. A first picture book.
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| The Plan by Alison Paul; illustrated by Barbara LehmanThe do-it-yourself spirit is alive in both the plot and style of this unusual book. The illustrations do most of the storytelling, using small details to add depth to the experiences of a farm girl and her father as they rebuild an old biplane and find solace from past sadness. The text contains only 20 words, all beginning with "P" and all connected by an added or subtracted letter -- "plan," for instance, becomes "plane," which becomes "planet," and so on, encouraging readers to engage in creativity and wordplay of their own. Children who relish this warm, clever tale of aeronautic ingenuity will also want to try Peter Spier's classic Bored -- Nothing to Do! |
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How to share with a bear
by Eric Pinder
One cold day, Thomas builds a cave of pillows and blankets where he can read, but when he goes to get a flashlight, a young "bear" goes inside and nothing Thomas does discourages the bear from being near him
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Using paper, clay, dolls, and even food, these books all feature inventive illustrations that go beyond typical two-dimensional art.
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Leo: A Ghost Story
by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Christian Robinson
Meet Leo -- look, that's him disappearing into the wall! Since Leo is a ghost, not many people can see him (you're one of the special few), so Leo spends a lot time alone. After a disastrous attempt to welcome the new family that moves into his house, Leo wanders around until he meets Jane, a bright, playful girl who mistakes him for an imaginary friend. Can Leo tell Jane the truth without scaring her away? You'll have to read to find out! Beautifully illustrated with Christian Robinson's vintage-style artwork, Leo is a wistful, whimsical, and heartwarming ghost story.
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| Viva Frida by Yuyi MoralesViva Frida is not so much a biography of talented Mexican artist Frida Kahlo as it is a sensory experience. Portrayed by an exquisitely crafted and photographed doll, the Frida Kahlo in this book looks out from under her distinctive brow, inviting readers along (in English and Spanish) as she sees, dreams, plays, and loves. Balancing the minimal text are illustrations that burst with saturated colors, touchable-looking textures, and details from Kahlo's real art and life (including her many pets). Though there's an informational note at the end, this biography focuses mainly on the creative process of an exceptional artist. |
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| Stardines Swim High Across the Sky and Other Poems by Jack Prelutsky; illustrated by Carin BergerIn this beguiling collection from popular poet Jack Prelutsky, animals are combined with objects or attitudes to create outrageous new species, such as the shining Stardines, untidy Slobsters, splashy Fountain Lions, and wordy Bardvarks (who "think they're poets, and persist in writing rhyme.") The mix-and-match style of Carin Berger's dimensional paper artwork is perfect for these wonderfully weird creatures, rendering each with such depth and creativity that readers feel compelled to linger on each page. Those who fall under the spell of this author-illustrator pairing should be sure to pick up their earlier book, Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant. |
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| Nancy Knows by Cybèle YoungNancy the elephant knows only one thing: that she's forgotten something. But what? As she tries to recall, many other things fill Nancy's thoughts -- and delicate paper sculptures of those things fill Nancy's outline on the page. Overwhelmed, Nancy thinks about things with wheels, things that fly, and things with specific smells, sounds, and locations, but it's not until Nancy is able to empty her mind of other things that her memory finally returns. Anyone, young or old, who's ever struggled to remember something can relate to Nancy and may also enjoy author and illustrator Cybèle Young's latest book of sophisticated paper art, Some Things I've Lost. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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