I’m super excited to be featured on J Lenni Dorner’s blog Operation Awesome today in the Debut Author Spotlight!!! CLICK HERE!
Author: Lauri Fortino
Listen to the sounds
Great post about “sound” words in picture books!

This week at the Carrot Ranch,Charli Mills is talking about sound, and has challenged writers to
I thought it was quite timely for me as I had just written a piece about audiobooks. However, I have decided to keep that for posting another day and have instead decided to look at picture books. Regular readers may not be surprised.
Picture books are often a child’s first introduction to stories, poems, fantasy and other worlds. The language of picture books is immensely important and must captivate the ear as the illustrations engage the eye. Through picture books children are learning the sounds of the language:…
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Picture Books At The Library 74

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.)

Baby Leo loves the water, so his father takes him to swim class with the other toddlers.

This is the story of the horse chestnut tree that stood outside the window of the factory where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis during WWII.

When Chuck brings his woodchuck to school, his woodchuck helps him make friends with a girl named Caroline.

A happy monster goes for a walk in the rain with his bunny friends.

When disaster strikes, Samanthasaurus Rex uses her own unique skills to save her family from a fiery volcano.

From the animals in the woods to neighbors in their homes, we all share our feelings.

Climb aboard the spaceship with Zoey the chicken and her best pig, Sam, as they set off on an out-of-this-world adventure.

What might be on the other side of the ocean–tall buildings, funny animals, pink houses, or someone just like you?

When the other ladybugs make fun of Lucy because she has no spots, she sets off to find some very special spots of her own.

Everybody tells her how dogs should be, but this girl knows better.

Hector the bear just wants a bit of peace and quiet, but Hummingbird won’t stop talking.

An interpretation of the lyrics to Bob Dylan’s 1970 song of the same name, reimagined to portray the love between parent and child.

Fairies are all around us, and if you want to have one come to you, build a fairy house.

After visiting the eye doctor, a near-sighted dog gets glasses.

Join a rascally band of pirates as they swash buckle their way through the neighborhood.
My View Book Review: Sloth the Lazy Dragon by Regan Macaulay

Title: Sloth the Lazy Dragon
Author: Regan W.H. Macaulay
Illustrator: Alex Zgud
Publisher/Year: Guardian Angel Publishing/2016
Back Cover Blurb: Sloth is a lazy and overweight dragon taking up space atop a hoard of gold and jewels within a mountain inhabited by dwarves. One dwarf helps Sloth lose weight through diet and exercise. The grateful dragon, now able to fly, leaves the dwarf and his people a special gift.
Radish the dwarf bravely and cautiously enters the cave where Sloth the fire-breathing dragon resides, surrounded by mounds of gold and precious gems. Radish is hopeful that Sloth won’t eat him and offers to help the portly dragon lose weight. Sloth is skeptical at first, wondering why the little fellow, so small he’s “hardly a mouthful”, would want to help him. But he’s keen to get in shape, so he accepts Radish’s offer. After three years of exercising and eating healthy, Sloth is ready to fly again.
Being a dragon fan, I was immediately drawn to this book. When I was much younger, I collected dragon figurines, along with other mythical creatures, such as winged horses and unicorns. Lore that features these fantastical beings continues to fascinate me.
What I like most about Sloth the Lazy Dragon is that it’s not your typical “knight defeats evil dragon and rescues the princess and all the townsfolk” kind of story. Instead, we meet a chunky, overweight, can-barely-move dragon and a little dwarf who is willing to put his fear aside and help him. There’s no damsel in distress, but rather, a suffering dragon. There’s no weapon-wielding, white-horse-riding hero, but rather, a tiny man with a beard and a pointy cap…and oh yah, some free weights.
Through a clever story told with a captivating voice and filled with interesting words, like diminutive, atrophied, and dirigible, as well as enchanting and fun illustrations, this book, oh so subtly, relays the message that being active and eating nutritious foods is important for your health. Kids will eat this story up, no pun intended, because it will capture their imaginations.
Favorite lines:
“Why do you not fly outside the mountain?” the dwarf asked anxiously.
“Use your eyes, little man,” the dragon snorted. “Can you not see my girth?”
DCL Actor’s Table Reading of The Peddler’s Bed
I’m happy to share a DCL Actor’s Table Reading of The Peddler’s Bed, which was organized, recorded, and edited by Mr. Scott Mosher, Paralibrarian at the DeWitt Community Library. Thank you, Scott and the talented script readers!
Have 5 minutes? Have a Listen!
You will also find a link to this recording of The Peddler’s Bed on my Teacher’s Resources page along with a Reader’s Theater children’s recording of the book, and other fun stuff.
Also check out the DeWitt Community Library’s SoundCloud page for more Actor’s Table Readings and Reader’s Theater recordings.
Picture Books At The Library 73

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.)

Big Duck thinks she is wiser than the others, but it’s Little Duck who proves he’s the wisest.

When Maia’s best friend Nico moves away, a big hole is left in her life and in her heart.

When Tokyo plants three seeds under the bricks in the city where he lives, magic blooms.

After a young boy’s beloved dog dies, the boy makes friends with a stray he meets on the beach.

Scruff the dog makes a remarkable discovery while digging for bones one day.

A giant squid decides that he has all the right “qualifications” to be President Squid.

Babysaurus has lost his mamasaurus and turns to his prehistoric friends to help find her.

Ruby has red blocks and Benji has blue blocks. Will they learn to share and have twice as many blocks to play with?

When Doris the gorilla is called a baby for having a blankie, she tries to disguise Frankie the Blankie rather than give him up.

Pip the panda is reassured by his mother that no matter how big he grows, her love for him will continue to grow too.

Everyone in the Ellis family is excellent, except Ed the dog, who is determined to find something at which he, too, can excel.

Billy, a grumpy boy, finds the perfect pet in the grumpy section of the animal shelter.

A little girl is worried that her friend, who has a perfect store bought doll house, will not like the one she made herself out of a cardboard box.

Flora dances with her two new peacock friends.

This is a field guide to the fierce but adorable grumpasaurus, found in every home where there are small children.

Two young chicks train in the art of ninjutsu in order to rescue their parents from a hungry fox.

Sophie doesn’t want to be friends with the kids at school, especially Steven, but over time she realizes that people who like the same things as you can be the very best of friends.

Long ago, as the kingdom of Morocco grew, all the people forgot the dangers of the desert, and they forgot about the storytellers, too.
A Picture-Perfect Baby Shower Idea by Karlin Gray
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Frog On A Blog Certified Guest Post
Of course, you don’t have to be an author to give picture books as gifts. I may be a tad biased, but I believe a picture book is the perfect gift for a shower, a birthday, Christmas, any special occasion, or for no occasion at all. It’s a story and pictures wrapped up neatly between two beautiful covers. What’s better than that? Not much.
But have you ever thought of giving a picture book instead of a card? Today, author Karlin Gray stopped by to tell us why picture books make the perfect greeting cards too!
A Picture-Perfect Baby Shower Idea
by Karlin Gray
As my son’s reading interests shift from picture books to chapter books and graphic novels, I have been moving books from his shelves to mine. In doing so, I was reminded of a wonderful thing that my family and friends did at my baby shower.
Instead of a card, guests gave me their favorite picture book. They wrote their good wishes to my “Baby” (since we didn’t know the gender) on the inside cover pages. Eight years later, the gifts of bottles, bibs, and binkys are gone. But the picture books are still here.
At some point during those early sleep-deprived years, I started pasting friend’s holiday picture cards next to their signature in the books. This way, my son could connect the book to the person who was kind enough to give it to him.
I treasure all those notes like “Eat up all the joy to come!” (My tiny co-worker with a huge appetite wrote in The Very Hungry Caterpillar) and “Enjoy the music!” (My childhood friend with a hippy heart wrote in Free to Be You and Me). Other books given were You Are My I Love You, Kitten’s First Full Moon, On the Night You Were Born, A Treasury of Curious George, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Goodnight Moon, and Where The Wild Things Are.
And because I ended up having a baby who wasn’t too fond of sleeping, these books were read to him at a very early age . . . again and again.
Today, I continue this gesture, giving picture books as baby-shower cards. My go-tos are usually by Patrick McDonnell: when it’s for a boy—Art; when it’s for a girl Me, Jane; and when it’s for “Baby”, Hug Time.



Certainly, buying a picture book instead of a card is more expensive. (Board books are a nice option, priced around $3-5 and drool-resistant!) But it will not end up in the trash or stuffed into some box in the closet. It will be part of the child’s world for many years and a lovely reminder of the person who found just the right card—picture perfect!
Karlin Gray is the author of NADIA: THE GIRL WHO COULDN’T SIT STILL, a nonfiction picture book on Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci. Visit her at karlingray.com.

Picture Books At The Library 72

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.)

A young boy with an unusual name, which is the same as his father’s, wants to change his name to something that fits him better.

Three sisters who take weekly trips to the zoo always buy food to feed the animals and never buy anything for themselves. Because of their kindness, a vendor gives them each a magical balloon.

Charlie visits his grandparents for two weeks each summer, but always feels lonely, until he discovers an old bridge he can bong like a bell and receives a response from somewhere off in the distance.

A young boy is frustrated because his gorilla won’t go to bed.

A simple box can be a child’s most imaginative plaything.

Senor Sasquatch wants to relax beside Mr. Blobule’s pool without getting wet, but he is constantly splashed by the other guests.

Poetic text celebrates United States immigration and the country’s diverse immigrant heritage.

A little boy named Sam takes a trip to the beach and meets a new friend, but leaves behind his stuffed bunny Jump when it’s time to go home.

Joey loves things that fold. When he gets the chance to learn origami, he discovers that practice and patience lead to perfect paper cranes.

As the seasons change, a mother explains how the love for her child knew to blossom in her heart naturally, like the wonder of the great outdoors.

A father tells his young son the story behind each of his tattoos.

A father acts like a boy and a boy like the father while visiting the zoo; and they both leave exhausted.

A sword, a shield, and a helmet are found in the stove, but who put them there?

Grandpa teaches energetic little Mei Mei to do tai chi while she teaches him to do yoga.

It’s Alice’s birthday, but her friend Gertrude seems to have forgotten. Or has she?

Ming is curious and playful and ready for adventure, but even she gets scared of new things sometimes.

A boy has a problem. He tries to avoid it, but it gets bigger. When he finally musters up the courage to face it, it turns out to be something quite different than expected.

Penguin is grumpy from his grumpy hat all the way down to his grumpy socks.

Bertie the giraffe leads a very predictable life, until one day, he meets Blue, who shows him the world in a new way.

It’s the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone’s just a bit nervous, especially the school.
How to Buy a Picture Book (without Buying a Picture Book)
These are some great ideas on how to support authors even if you can’t buy their books! Thanks Josh Funk!
By Josh Funk
My first book came out last September: Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast. I have two new books out this September: Pirasaurs! and Dear Dragon. You’re probably tired of hearing about it by now, so lucky for you, I don’t plan on talking about them in this post.
Today it’s how to support picture book authors and illustrators.
One of the best things you can do is buy their books.
But what if you’re not in the market for picture books at this time in your life, so the idea of buying one doesn’t really interest you? Maybe it doesn’t fit your budget. Or maybe you have an irrational fear of dinosaur-pirates, letter-writing-dragons, and anthropomorphic breakfast foods.
Here are ten other ways to support picture book authors and illustrators:
- Give the book as a gift. You probably know someone who might like it. Give it to her/him. Or donate it…
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Teach Your Children About Different Cultures Now! by Kids VS Life
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Frog On A Blog Certified Guest Post
Today’s guest article comes to us from the folks at Kids VS Life, a company “dedicated to introducing mature concepts, places and things to young children using interesting stories and music videos.” Their site is brimming with fun, informational eBook picture books for kids, all free! They stopped by today to tell Frog on a Blog readers about two exciting new books designed to introduce kids to different cultures.
Teach Your Children About Different Cultures Now!
by Kids VS Life
Hey Parents!
The world is a BIG place.
So many different countries, so many different cultures…
Children should be taught about the world outside of their home country, but where do you even begin?
Right here! We want to present you with 2 books to broaden their horizons:
1. Kids Meet Japan

Click Here To Download Kids Meet Japan
Written from the perspective of a father who is working and living in Tokyo, Kids Meet Japan aims to introduce Japanese culture to children. This story is jam-packed with basic Japanese words and interesting facts that will give your child a newfound appreciation for this unique Asian country.
2. Kitty Catties Take France: An Illustrated Kids’ Guide

Click Here To Download Kitty Catties Take France: An Illustrated Kids’ Guide
This book covers the geography, language and culture of France. It even covers some basic French vocabulary. The idea is to familiarize children with everything that makes France a great place to be a kid! As they follow the adventures of Kitty Catties, your children will definitely become interested in this mini French culture class, which is designed to offer them plenty of fun en route.
We all have a responsibility for broadening our children’s horizons, and these two free iBooks will give them a taste of the world around them!
P.S. Do you want your child to learn about another country?
Tell us which one! We’re constantly creating new children’s material, which means we’re always open to new suggestions. Find us on Facebook or Twitter.
Picture Books At The Library 71

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.)

Henry is having a horrible time camping. So Herman comes up with a plan to help his best friend have the time of his life.

An ugly dumpling is ignored and sad until an encouraging cockroach sees the dumpling’s inner beauty and helps him see it too.

Nibbles the book-eating monster has nibbled his way out of his own book and now he’s causing mischief in other people’s stories.

Penelope, an exuberant hippo, and Tiny, her cautious mouse friend, plan their act in the school talent show.

A father shows his love for his three kids by spending time with them.

A little dinosaur has a good time making himself a cake, but after he eats it all, what’s he to do?

All of the animals find cozy places to keep them safe and warm during a storm.

Grandfather’s garden has an overabundance of tomatoes. So the family sets out to share them with their community.

When a boy is gulped down by a hungry snake, he finds a clever way to trick the snake and escape its belly.

A young boy is disappointed when he gets his grandfather’s rusty, old toy firetruck instead of a shiny new one. But when he learns about all the fun his grandfather had with it, he begins to like it after all.

Flo and Sam help their new friend Bob learn how to play hide and seek.

A big brother walks his little sister home from school for the very first time.

When Vincent loses the shopping list his mother gives him, he relies on his memory to pick up what she needs, with unusual consequences.

Friends Bear and Hare play hide and seek, counting from one to ten each time.

Secret Agent Man (a.k.a. S.A.M.) needs new shoes. But the mission will be dangerous. Shoe Store Man looks shifty.

Officer Seth and Officer Thea help a little boy who’s lost find his parents at the local festival.

Children can be quiet as a mouse, mischievous as a monkey, stubborn as a mule, and so much more.

Rosie isn’t like her brothers and sisters. She doesn’t have feathers. She can’t fly. And she can’t caw. What is she, really?
Teri’s Tenacious Tommy Teesox by Teri Roche Drobnick
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Frog On A Blog Certified Guest Post

Artwork for Tommy Teesox is by Jamie Drobnick, daughter of Teri Roche Drobnick.
Children’s book authors are creative in many ways, not limited just to writing. I know authors who are also visual artists, craftsmen, or performers. I was a floral designer for ten years, so I’d like to think I have a bit of artistic creativity in me too.
Today’s guest article is by Teri Roche Drobnick, creator of Teesox, adorable hand-stitched animals made from reclaimed clothing. Teri tells us how her fight with Lyme disease led her to writing children’s picture books about Tommy, one very tenacious Teesox.
Teri’s Tenacious Tommy Teesox
by Teri Roche Drobnick
I read my Tommy Teesox picture book manuscripts to a preschool class for the first time recently. What a blast! Entertaining kids and turning them onto books is an amazing gift to be able to give.
I never envisioned myself as a picture book writer, but was encouraged to do so by friends and family. I have now gained so much satisfaction and enjoyment (despite not being published yet), that I plan to do this for the rest of my working days.
It all started as a diversion when I was spending many hours on IV therapy for my Lyme disease. I needed something to pass the time and started sewing whimsical sock animals out of reclaimed clothing (teesox.com). It quickly blossomed into a business, and as my health returned, writing children’s books about my quirky characters seemed to be the next logical step. Well, many conferences, workshops, books, classes, #SCBWI meetings and critique groups later – I finally feel like I know a little something about writing children’s picture books. But it has been quite the learning curve!
I have now completed four picture book manuscripts and am actively seeking representation from an agent. The first two stories star Tommy Teesox:
Tommy Teesox Wears a Mask and Cape
When Tommy Teesox tries to make friends, he is teased for wearing a cape and mask, until astonishing things start happening…
Tommy Teesox Tackles Superhero Camp
Tommy Teesox receives an invitation to superhero camp. Does he have what it takes? Only when he learns to believe in his superpowers…

Teri’s reading Tommy Teesox to the preschool where her daughter Casey Drobnick teaches.

Teri would love to connect with other picture book writers through social media:
Teesoxbyteri.etsy.com (Check out Teri’s custom-made Teesox characters on Etsy.)
My First Picture Book: A Q&A With Karlin Gray

Recently, I had the extreme pleasure of answering some questions about my debut book experience for Karlin Gray, author of Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still, which was published June 7, 2016 by HMH. Karlin says, “Since I am new to the picture-book world, I wanted to learn from other writers. What inspired their stories? How did they go about crafting their first book? What did they do when they finally received that offer?” Those are just a few of the fun questions Karlin asks on her blog.
Click Here to read my responses to Karlin’s questions.
Look for my review of Karlin’s debut book, Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still, this fall.

Picture Books At The Library 70

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.)

Homer the dog goes away to wolf camp to learn how to bring out his inner wolf.

Simple text follows a young boy and the many animals he meets on his adventure through the jungle.

Mouse enlists the help of his friends Mole and Rabbit to help him reach the shiny red “marble” he spots in a tree.

Jack has been looking forward to playing his trumpet in the concert for weeks. But as the day draws nearer and nearer, his worry gets bigger and bigger.

Betty the fairy can’t seem to do anything right. But there is one thing she is very fairy good at.

A little duckling finds a book without pictures. Though he dislikes it at first, he soon discovers he can read the words and make up the pictures in his imagination.

Creative collage fish, made from unusual materials, swim down the street when it rains.

A small fish makes the long journey down the river to the sea.

A boy and a bear who both love exploring learn to share their adventures together.

When Penguin hears Whale singing the blues, he tries to help. But how do you stop a blue whale from feeling blue?

As one pig gets set to eat his perfect peanut butter and jelly sandwich, nine other pigs decide to add a special ingredient of their own.

All Joseph ever wanted was to ride a bike. When he helps a girl with wild curly hair fix her broken bike, he may finally get his chance to ride.

Learn the who, what, where, why, and when of the invention of the doughnut.

After Liam writes to his mailbox, asking for more mail, he gets his wish, but soon he realizes that sending mail is even more fun than receiving it.

A young girl walks through the bustling city, while a pigeon flies above, both spotting hidden shapes at every turn.

Ursula, a bear, and Ricardo, a human, are preparing for the water ballet, but a new regulation at the community pool-no bears-leaves Ursula cut from the competition.

A boy and his dog love to play catch, but one day they encounter a different sort of ball, one they may not be able to catch.
help you help me
Fellow writers, what do you do while you’re waiting? Vicky Lorencen has some great ideas (as usual).
Every writer I know is a “waiter.” We wait for our muses to return from Rome. We wait for feedback from critique partners. We wait for emails from editors and agents. We wait for books to launch and reviews to post. For those of us who are pre-published, we wait (and wait and wait) for our first big break into print. Given that waiting is a given no matter where we are in the waiting room, it’s wise to find ways to use the time, well, wisely. Otherwise we’re time-twiddlers in danger of becoming solitary sadsacks. And yeesh, don’t even get me started on those pricey catered pity parties. What’s that? How do I know about pity parties? Well, uh, [insert awkward silence so long you would take a nap in it here], let’s move on.
And so, my little twice baked potatoes, to help each other whilst…
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Picture Books At The Library 69

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.)

Young Raj is a natural at playing the piano, so his father sends him for lessons, but the more he practices, the less he enjoys playing.

A little girl hears her father mowing the lawn one day, in the process destroying her favorite flowers–the dandelions.

Mr. King likes pretty things. He also likes machines. So when he discovers a flower has been nibbled by a caterpillar, he builds himself a Caterpillar-Catcher.

A young girl tries to entice her older sister to play with her by creating an unbelievable tree fort from her wild imagination.

It is time to get dressed and Michael counts on his dog, Maggie, for help as he places yellow socks, a brown hat, blue pants, and other colorful articles of clothing where they belong.

While exploring, Lola the cat comes across a stage with a ballet performance about to begin. Lola puts on a costume and joins right in.

After an adventurous day, Theo finally has a memento of her own to add to Poppa’s travel trunk.

Join a family of rabbits as they have all kinds of fun, from digging holes to building snow rabbits to thumping their feet.

After stealing food from hikers and other forest animals, a hungry bear thinks the moon is following him, but when the moon disappears, the bear promises to be good if only it will come back.

Mira lives in a gray and hopeless urban community until a muralist arrives and, along with his paints and brushes, brings color, joy, and togetherness to Mira and her neighbors.

An asteroid that wants nothing more than for his personal outer space to be respected is hit by a passing satellite and sent on what turns out to be a great adventure.

Syd loves Grandad and Grandad loves Syd, so when the two embark on a trip from which Grandad plans not to return, Syd learns that those who are dear to us will always remain near to us, no matter how far away they may be.

It’s mealtime on the ark, and all the animals have been fed, but Noah can’t seem to find anything that the two hungry chameleons will eat.
My View Book Review: Imagine by Karen Kilpatrick

Title: Imagine
Author: Karen Kilpatrick
Illustrator: Tara Louise Campbell and Matthew Wilson
Publisher/Year: Nina Charles Publishing/2015
Series: Pumpkinheads
Back Cover Blurb: Slide down rainbows and swing from stars! Bounce on clouds and drive fast cars! Join the Pumpkinheads as they switch the world around in a silly adventure that explores the power of imagination and the differences that make the world beautiful.
Imagine you could fly like a super hero. Imagine you’re a shark in the ocean deep. Imagine you could change the world around you with the swish of a magic wand. These are just some of the fun things the super cute children do in Karen Kilpatrick’s latest book from her Pumpkinheads series Imagine.
Karen’s books always feature a racially diverse cast of characters, and Imagine is no different. When children open up this book, they will see kids who look like them. They will see kids who look different from them. And most importantly, they will see all of the kids playing together, pretending together, and having fun together.
I like how this story of friendship and imagination, aptly illustrated in bold, bright hues, emphasizes that “colors make the world beautiful, just like me and you”! In this way, all children can see themselves as beautiful. And they can learn to appreciate the unique beauty every person possesses, inside and out.
Final thoughts: Karen Kilpatrick’s Pumpkinheads series could easily be adapted for television. Children would love to see illustrators Tara Louise Campbell and Matthew Wilson’s adorable kid characters and dazzling backdrops brought to life on the screen.
Picture Books At The Library 68: Browsing Encouraged

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.)
Don’t have time to drop by the library or bookstore this week? No worries! ‘Picture Books At The Library’ is your one-stop browsing shop. Browse recent picture book titles here, then go and find them out there.

Join this little Adelie penguin chick, as she leaves the nesting ground and sets out across the vast Antarctic ocean.

Dump Truck Duck and his friends Dozer Duck and Digger Duck are breaking ground to build a new playground.

The forest animals are planning a party and everyone is invited, even the Wicked Witch.

Follow two children as they trek through trees, climb over sand dunes, cross a river, bushwhack through blackberry bushes, hop on clouds, and even descend into a dark cave on their way to the playground.

As she takes in the beauty of her canyon home, a tiny wren discovers what was waiting inside her all along–her own beautiful gift.

On the farm, workers pick vegetables, collect eggs, and make cheese. At the market the next day, the workers set up their stands and prepare for shoppers to arrive.

A young boy must figure out how to entertain his large elephant friend.

Jim the cat describes his favorite places inside and outside his house.

On the way to grandmother’s house, a young child’s constant refrain of “Are we there yet?” turns a boring car trip into an imaginative adventure.

Through puns and poetry, Chicken Lily overcomes her fears and reads a poem onstage at her school poetry jam.

A girl named Ruby tries everything she can think of to help her dog Oscar get rid of his hiccups.
Picture Books At The Library 67

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.)

On his first day of work, Maxi the little taxi zooms around town splashing in puddles and getting very dirty. Soon, no one wants to ride in him–until a little boy convinces Maxi to go to the car wash.

Pig siblings Henry and Henrietta love their blanket. As much as they each love playing with the blanket, they don’t love sharing it. Will ripping it in two solve all their problems?

Poco loves birthdays, and he loves inventing things. He invites his amigos over and fires up a new invention, the Cake-Baking Bunk Bed. But things don’t go quite as planned.

Getting George to sleep is a nightmare. But getting a monster to sleep? That’s an adventure.

A young boy tries to win a goldfish at the carnival and ends up with a far bigger prize.

From playtime to naptime, a dog and his girl do everything together as they spend the day exploring their neighborhood with the girl’s mother and father.

A young bear accompanies his father on a long walk to the river to cool down on a hot day.

A book invites its readers to explore fluffy, furry, or squishy objects and creatures, both real and imaginary, that are found within its pages.

A cranky hippo and an overzealous bird become unlikely friends.

Corky tries to live each day to the fullest. As the end of her days draws near, Old Bear urges her to use the key he gave her at her birth to open the door to wonder.

The bunny family is searching for the perfect burrow to call home.
Picture Books At The Library 66

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.)

Owl takes drastic measures to have a good night’s sleep.

Everyone on Grimloch Lane enjoys the trees and shrubs clipped into animal masterpieces after dark by the Night Gardener, but William, a lonely boy, spots the artist, follows him, and helps with his special work.

A boy goes on a long car ride to visit his grandmother and discovers time moves faster or slower depending on how bored he is.

While waiting with family members for high tide to come in, a youngster who is very knowledgeable about the seashore and what lives there helps to build a raft.

It’s time to get dressed and go to the park, but Alfie is still in his pajamas. Putting on clothes seems like the least appealing thing to do for this energetic and curious little alligator, especially when there are so many amusing distractions.

Quackers is a duck. Everyone he knows is a duck. And then he meets…Mittens. Maybe Quackers isn’t a duck after all.

When the old zookeeper moved the monkeys to a cage beside the picnic area, she didn’t know the trouble it would cause.

In this wordless picture book, a cat named Spot ventures out an open window and through a city on a journey, while his owner tries to find him.

When a young boy decides to get a pet, he discovers it’s not as simple as ABC. Every animal he brings home makes his poor sister sneeze.

A child plays outside in the snow until the cold wind forces him back inside for hot chocolate with Mommy.

A little boy carries a parachute around with him everywhere he goes, just like a security blanket. Will he ever have the courage to leave it behind?

Join Mary and Max as they visit their Aunt Helen’s farm and discover where many things we eat, drink, and wear come from.
Stop By and Say “Hi”!

If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by and chat with me at the East Syracuse Free Library Author Greet and Meet Event on Saturday, June 25 from noon-2 pm. I’ll be signing books along with nine other local authors representing books for all ages.
Click Here for more information about the participating authors.

The address for the East Syracuse Free Library is 4990 James St., East Syracuse, NY 13057.
Hope to see you there!
SCBWI Summer Reading List 2016
Are you looking for some excellent books for kids to read this summer?
The SCBWI Summer Reading List 2016 is available now! It features 1,400 titles from 350 publishers, and is divided into 15 geographical regions. The books are further divided by grade level. You can go to the SCBWI site and download the complete list or download by region.
You can also click this link for access to the full list: SCBWI Summer Reading List 2016
HAPPY SUMMER READING!
Picture Books At The Library 65

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.)

Press only a finger to the page to embark on a journey of color, motion, shape, and imagination.

Count along as the pages meet and part and the pictures come to life with movement and sound.

Jonah loves Shabbat. But this week, as he and his family get ready to celebrate, Jonah begins to hiccup.

As her mom reads a bedtime story, Lucy drifts off. But later she awakens in a dark, still room, and everything looks mysterious.

When a powerful storm begins to rage one summer evening, a young boy holds little hope for the next day’s promised trip to the beach.

In this story, told in the form of a television broadcast, the bears and their cub catch two escaping prisoners who are hiding at the carnival.

When the lights flicker out one evening, Maya is afraid. Papa used to light candles to soothe her. Now that he’s gone, Maya feels helpless against the dark.

Two young explorers set out to prove that the Great Spotted Whale is real.

Clarence was just an ordinary truck until one fateful day when an unplanned trip through a strange truck wash changed him.

Hoot the owl is excited to teach his younger sister all of his wisdom, but much to his annoyance, Peep is more interested in capturing the magic of the world around her than in listening to his advice.

Early one spring, a little duck arrives at her pond and finds it still frozen, but not for long.

When a bear breaks a little girl’s kite, she thinks he is a horrible bear, until she makes a mistake of her own and learns the power of saying “I’m sorry.”
Happy Book Birthday to KINDNESS by Kirrily Lowe

Happy Book Birthday!

Happy Book Birthday To Kindness by Kirrily Lowe!
- Title: Kindness
- Author: Kirrily Lowe
- Illustrator: Henry Smith
- Publisher: Wombat Books
- Release Date: June 1, 2016
- Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
- Summary: ‘Like streams of water in a dry land, is the gift of kindness in my hand.’
In Kindness a little girl learns about the greatest gift of all. Kindness is something she wants to keep but on her journey, she realises kindness is something you have to give away.
Kindness – the fifth book in the inspirational Invisible Tree Series captures a child’s journey of compassion to find the virtue of kindness.
- More Information: WombatBooks.com
Picture Books At The Library 64

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all, but I can share them. Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.)

As Elliot moves from one foster home to another, his visits with his real parents leave him anxious and conflicted about where he wants to be.

A young brother and sister spend an afternoon imagining great adventures together.

Making friends is hard, especially in a new country. But even though everyone is different, it’s the differences that make friendship so magical.

Tina is a very curious cow who believes the sky is the limit and anything is possible. But her sisters think her ideas are very silly.

What may appear to be an abandoned garden is actually home to an eclectic array of playful insects.

When a boy plays hide and seek with an elephant, he soon discovers just how good the elephant is at playing the game.

Follow young river otters through the seasons as they chase one another, slide down mudbanks, and learn to swim.

It’s hard to get your parents to go to bed. But follow this young girl’s instructions and your parents will be sound asleep in no time.

Georgie the cat loves to throw parties but this time, not one of his friends can come.

Captain Jack and his fellow sailors are off on a swashbuckling voyage, complete with enemy pirates, a disastrous shipwreck, and the perfect treasure to end the day.

A bear finds a piano in the woods, learns to play it, and travels to the big city to become rich and famous, but ultimately discovers that his old friends in the forest back home are still the best audience of all.



