Picture Books At The Library 201

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.) Check your local library or bookstore for availability.

43822704. sx318 — SWEEP: Ed’s in a bad mood and, before long, his bad mood grows and grows and sweeps through the whole town.

42046146. sx318 — ARRIVEDERCI, CROCODILE: A crocodile follows Napoleon from Paris to Venice in search of watery canals and Italian food, and discovers that he fits right in with the people there.

43497894 — JUNIPER KAI: SUPER SPY: When Juniper’s parents start making secret plans, she sets out on a mission to find out exactly what they’re up to.

43679803. sx318 — OUR FAVORITE DAY: Thursdays are Papa’s favorite days because that’s when his granddaughter comes to visit. And they are her favorite days because Papa always makes them special.

43293245. sx318 — BETTY BUILDS IT: Lonely Betty builds herself a friend, but when her friend goes haywire, her little brother comes to the rescue.

46851200. sx318 — TWO FOR ME, ONE FOR YOU: When Bear brings home three tasty mushrooms for Weasel to cook up, they argue over who gets two and who only gets one.

43263123. sx318 — MY SHAPE IS SAM: Sam was a square who longed for softer corners and rounder edges, and to roll like circles do.

43571416. sx318 — SONG OF THE RIVER: A young boy named Cam decides to follow a trickle of water down the mountain and out into the sea.

43679820. sx318 — BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON: As a little frog sings to himself in the swamp one night, he realizes his song isn’t complete, so he invites other animals to join in. *Rhyme*

43218173. sx318 — SENORITA MARIPOSA: Every autumn, millions of monarch butterflies fly south, all the way from Canada to Mexico. *Rhyme*, *Bilingual*

Interesting variety in this group of picture books!

Picture Books At The Library 200 (+ a Giveaway!)

Hey, Everybody! I can’t believe this is my 200th Picture Books At The Library post! Time flies when you’re reading picture books. 🙂

To celebrate this milestone, I’m giving away two books to one lucky winner: A copy of my book The Peddler’s Bed and winner’s choice of one of the books I’ve featured in today’s post. All you need to do is leave a comment on this post (and reside in the U.S.) and I’ll choose a winner at random on September 30. Be sure to follow this blog so that I’ll have access to your email address and can contact you if you win.

42972052 — RUBY FINDS A WORRY: Ruby has a worry, and it’s all she can think about, but when she meets a boy with a worry of his own, they both find a way to make their worries disappear.

43574748. sx318 — LIONEL AND THE LION’S SHARE: Lionel doesn’t like to share, but after he eats all of the cake at Chloe’s birthday party, he learns a valuable lesson about what it means to be a friend.

43069834. sx318 — DUCK!: When Duck runs around the farm shouting “Duck!” to all the other animals, they grow increasingly frustrated as they try to explain to Duck just which animal is which. *Funny*!

43064089. sx318 — MY GRANDMA AND ME: Whether it is down the hall to visit their friends or to the mosque during Ramadan or on a flight of fancy on a rocket ship, Mina and her grandmother are never far apart.

40796143. sx318 — HATS ARE NOT FOR CATS!: A patronizing, plaid-hat-wearing dog informs a cat that hats are only for dogs, but the cat, joined by others, dons a wide assortment of hats, proving, at last, that hats are for everyone. *Rhyme*

41754247. sx318 — SQUEAK!: A woodland mouse wakes up with a squeak, and his noise sets off a chain reaction of animals waking each other up.

42927035. sx318 — MY TINY PET: After moving to a tiny house, a young girl is forbidden to get a pet until she introduces her parents to microscopic tardigrades, also called water bears.

Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win two books: The Peddler’s Bed, written by me, and a book of your choice from the titles listed in today’s post! I’ll choose a winner at random on September 30. Be sure to follow this blog so that I’ll have access to your email address and can contact you if you win. Good luck! (U.S. residents only)

Picture Books At The Library 199

38244392. sx318 — PAPER MICE: One night, two newly made paper mice explore a dark house and discover a shared love for adventure.

41942470. sx318 — IS 2 A LOT?: While on a magical car ride, a boy asks his mom if two is a lot, and she answers in a clever way.

40864759. sx318 — IT’S NOT A BED, IT’S A TIME MACHINE: A boy is afraid of bedtime because it’s dark and spooky, until he discovers that his bed is a time machine.

39999362. sx318 — THE INVENTION HUNTERS: When the globetrotting Invention Hunters visit a construction site in their flying museum, a boy helps them by explaining how simple machines work. *Includes educational matter*

38363612. sx318 — MOON BABIES: Follow baby moons as they awaken in their crescent cradles, have an outing, story time and more, before returning to sleep. *Rhyme*

41844556. sx318 — THE PECULIAR PIG: Penny, puzzled by why she’s different from the other piglets, uses her strange oink growl to chase away a snake that’s threatening her family.

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Curious, creative, caring kids feature in this week’s list of picture books At The Library!

42359657. sx318 — ALBERT’S QUIET QUEST: When Albert settles into a quiet spot to read, he’s interrupted by a steady stream of rowdy friends who just want him to play.

42058585. sx318 — HEY, DOG: A boy cares for, feeds, and helps an abused stray dog to learn to trust humans again.

42054794. sx318 — A QUIETER STORY: A girl pens an adventure for her pet kitten, but after his fearful reaction she realizes her next story should probably have a little less pizzazz.

43465512. sx318 — MY PUPPY PATCH: A young girl takes her new puppy out for its first walk beyond the garden gate, practicing commands as they go.

42042209. sx318 — GHOST CAT: A boy who used to have a cat believes that its ghost is darting through his house by day and purring in his bed at night.

42180208. sx318 — NOPE. NEVER. NOT FOR ME!: When she and her mom add a little fun and exploration to their meal, a little girl discovers that trying something new may not be so terrible after all.

46585581. sx318 — ROCKET SAYS LOOK UP!: A girl named Rocket is excited about the meteor shower that will be visible tonight and wants the whole community to be excited too, especially her big brother Jamal.

41887684. sx318 — HOW TO BE ON THE MOON: Anna and Crocodile are going to need a lot of patience and plenty of sandwiches if they’re going to rocket to the moon.

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50/50 rhyme and prose in this batch of picture books AT THE LIBRARY!

43484019. sx318 — LIKE A GIRL: Twenty-four inspiring women encourage young readers to stand up, prevail, create, soar, train, and change the world like a girl. *Rhyme*

47161877. sx318 — LILI MACARONI: When Lili goes to school, she is teased about her red hair, her laugh, and her last name, which makes her heart ache, until she tells the whole class how she feels.

42778196. sx318 — THE RANGER: A ranger named Annie helps a wounded fox, who returns the favor a few days later.

42729152. sx318 — LOOK! I WROTE A BOOK!: A girl teaches us how to write a book, from coming up with ideas to writing the story to selling your finished book.

42585370. sx318 — HIDE AND SEEK: When the moon rises in the night sky, the DeVillechild twins are missing from their painting, and the rest of the Shiverhawk children set out in search of the girls. *Rhyme*

42201433. sx318 — MAX ATTACKS: Max, a feisty cat, is on the prowl, attacking curtains, socks, and shoelaces, but it’s the swishy fish he really wants. *Rhyme*

40653192. sx318 — MOTH: Peppered moths adapt to the ever-changing world in order to survive.

42201392. sx318 — TANGLED: Several shapes get tangled and stuck inside a jungle gym and it’s up to a clever straight line to help them. *Rhyme*

40864898. sx318 — THE GREAT GRAN PLAN: When a little pig discovers the big, bad wolf’s plan to gobble up Little Red’s granny, he makes a plan of his own to save her. *Rhyme*

40796128 — ULTRABOT’S FIRST PLAYDATE: When Ultrabot has his first playdate, he is worried and shy, but soon learns that he and Becky have a lot in common.

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43730968. sx318 — LULA AND THE SEA MONSTER: Lula’s family must leave their beloved house on the beach, but Bean, a tiny creature she rescued from a seagull doesn’t want her to go.

41854889. sx318 — THE KING OF KINDERGARTEN: A young boy, full of confidence on his first day of kindergarten, has a great day.

42042208. sx318 — PAINT IT OUT!: Horse wants to paint a mural, but Buggy says they need a plan. *Easy Reader*

40645858. sx318 — THE PAWED PIPER: A girl longs for a cat, so she lays a trail leading to her room, and in the morning she’s surprised to find more than sixty-seven furry friends.

42201360. sx318 — ONE DARK BIRD: A single starling is joined by hundreds more, and together they dance across the sky. *Rhyme*

42202079. sx318 — LEILA IN SAFFRON: Shy and unsure of herself, Leila seeks out the characteristics that make up her unique identity, and finds reasons to feel proud of who she is.

37863831. sx318 — TRAINS RUN!: A celebration of all types of trains, from how they run to the sounds they make. *Rhyme*

42785288. sx318 — MY BIG BAD MONSTER: A girl learns to overcome the monster of self-doubt with a little creativity and the help of some friends.

40864894. sx318 — BUNNY IN THE MIDDLE: Celebrates the ups and downs of being a middle child, especially being not too small for the big stuff and not too big for the small stuff.

41473921. sx318 — I AM A TIGER: Mouse believes he’s a tiger and convinces the other animals he’s one, too, until a real tiger shows up.

40058532. sx318 — LITTLE RED READING HOOD AND THE MISREAD WOLF: When Little Red Reading Hood sets off to take her sick grandmother a treat, she meets a wolf who’s after something else she’s carrying in her basket.

42054793. sx318 — LET’S SCARE BEAR: Mouse, Fox, Snake, and Spider try to frighten Bear, the biggest, loudest, bravest, strongest–and possibly trickiest–animal in the forest.

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Three rhymers, one wordless, and nine perfect prose picture books make up this week’s lovely list. Enjoy!

41717725. sx318 — ME, TOMA AND THE CONCRETE GARDEN: When Vincent goes to stay with his aunt in the city for the summer, he meets a new friend, and together they transform a community.

40945572. sx318 — SUMMER: As the burning hot sun hangs in the sky, the grassland animals fight over a small bit of shelter under a tree.

41543266 — PAPA PUT A MAN ON THE MOON: Marthanne’s whole community is excited about the moon landing, and she is especially proud because her father helped create the fabric for the astronauts’ spacesuits.

39739362. sx318 — DADDY-SITTING: A girl enjoys taking care of her father through a day of ordinary activities, and encouraging him to be anything he wants when he grows up.

38595349. sx318 — UNICORN DAY: The unicorns are celebrating their favorite day of the year, but when a non-magical party goer is revealed, everything comes to a screeching halt. *Rhyme*

41860067 — JASPER & OLLIE: Jasper, an impatient fox, and Ollie, a slow-moving sloth, race to the pool on a summer day.

41646628. sx318 — MY NAME ISN’T OOF!: The first time Warren, a fledgling bird, leaves the nest, he falls straight to the ground, and his fellow forest dwellers all have advice to share.

42649175. sx318 — NEVER TRUMPET WITH A CRUMPET: After the Queen accidentally sends a party invitation to the zoo, she tries her best to teach her rowdy guests manners. *Rhyme*

42369291. sx318 — MAYA AND THE LOST CAT: After Maya helps a cat find its way home, she discovers it’s difficult to say goodbye.

42201325. sx318 — THE FISHERMAN & THE WHALE: When a fisherman and his son encounter a whale entangled in fishing line, they do what they can to help. *Wordless*

42369297. sx318 — BEAR’S BOOK: After his book falls apart, Bear decides to write his own story, but he can’t come up with any ideas.

40702895. sx318 — CHIP AND CURLY: When Curly springs into town, Chip worries that his dream to win Spud City’s annual sack race will be mashed.

40699661. sx318 — A FATHER’S LOVE: Throughout the animal kingdom and within snug houses, fathers express love for their children in their own unique ways. *Rhyme*

Picture Books At The Library 194

So many different art styles! Love it!

41553890. sx318 — NOW WHAT?: A sleepy puppy makes a bed out of blocks just in time to take a nap.

41219449. sx318 — MANGO MOON: A young girl whose father was deported remembers the last night they spent on the porch together looking at the mango moon.

41392784. sx318 — RABBIT NINJA: A young rabbit imagines how much easier life would be if he were a ninja.

MY SHOES AND I: As a boy travels with his papa from El Salvador to the U.S., his new shoes help distract him from the long and difficult journey. *Bilingual*

40538577. sx318 — SIGN OFF: Road sign figures come to life and work together to greet a new day. *Wordless*

42194010. sx318 — BUTTERFLIES ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: When the first day of school arrives, Rosie’s belly hurts and her mother tells her it’s butterflies dancing in her stomach.

39209549. sx318 — THIS IS MY ROOM!: JoJo’s first night in her own room is interrupted by a lion, a bear, and a tiger.

42201974. sx318 — CYRIL AND PAT: Cyril and Pat have lots of adventures and fun together, but none of the other park animals think Cyril should be friends with Pat because Pat is a rat. *Rhyme*

40612726. sx318 — SOCK STORY: When Phil and Dale, a pair of socks, get separated in the wash, they must face the prospect of life on their own.

41553891. sx318 — SEA GLASS SUMMER: On a visit to his grandmother’s seaside cottage, Thomas explores the beach with his grandfather’s magnifying glass, discovers sea glass, and imagines the long ago time from which the sea glass may have come.

36874211. sx318 — WHAT KIND OF CAR DOES A T. REX DRIVE?: Uncle Otto is a used car salesman who, with the help of his niece and nephew, finds the perfect vehicles for his dinosaur customers.

41708578. sx318 — I AM A WOLF: A dog who insists she is a wolf finds the perfect home with a young girl who sees past her prickly personality.

40864908. sx318 — OGILVY: When Ogilvy discovers that in this new town only bunnies in dresses play ball and knit socks while only bunnies in sweaters make art and climb rocks, Ogilvy finds a way to do it all. *Rhyme*

42046182. sx318 — TROPICAL TERRY: Terry longs to be flashy and fancy like the other tropical fish, so he fashions himself a costume, but soon learns it’s better being himself.

Picture Books At The Library 193

41150332. sx318 — NOVA THE STAR EATER: When Nova the Star Eater gobbles up Earth’s sun, one little girl has an idea to save the day.

Goliath: The Boy Who Was Different — GOLIATH: Much larger than everyone else, and feeling lonely and out of place, Goliath leaves home in search of others like him.

42046148. sx318 — SEAGULL & SEA DRAGON: A seagull flies through the sky and a sea dragon swims through the ocean, each wondering about the other’s home.

WHEN PENCIL MET ERASER: Pencil likes his drawings just the way they are, so when Eraser alters them, he’s not happy.

41554345. sx318 — FIELD TRIP TO THE MOON: A girl is accidentally left behind on a field trip to the moon and makes some new friends. *Wordless*

40945567. sx318 — THE LAST PEACH: Two bugs argue over whether or not to eat the last peach of the season.

41219358. sx318 — MY LITTLE CHICK: Lena loves chickens and is determined to help hatch an egg, but must learn patience along the way.

Picture Books At The Library 192

41967068 — PENCIL’S PERFECT PICTURE: Pencil wants to create the perfect picture for his dad, but he doesn’t know what it takes to make it perfect.

41546735 — THE TIDE: A young girl, who loves her grandpa very much, worries about his forgetfulness and whether he’ll forget her one day.

40796207 — GONDRA’S TREASURE: Gondra, a little dragon, celebrates her uniqueness while talking with her parents about differences between her father’s homeland in the East and her mother’s in the West. **Clever concept!**

41219623 — ELENA’S SHELLS: Elena loves collecting shells, but when a hermit crab decides to move into one, she’s not happy. **Cute!**

36911915 — GOOD NIGHT, WIND: After working hard through the fall and winter, Wind is ready for a nap, but everywhere he goes to rest, he’s turned away. **Amazing art!**

39280461 — THE THREE VIKINGS: On their daring trip to Valhalla, three vikings, even the littlest one, use their skills in different ways.

41157966 — MOMMY SAYANG: When Aleeya’s mom becomes sick, Aleeya worries, but then she finds the perfect way to help her get better.

39874653 — BIKES FOR SALE: Maurice and Lotta, two bike riders whose paths never cross, become friends after both of their bikes are wrecked.

37975428 — WHEN A TREE GROWS: When Moose rubs his antlers against the tree where Squirrel built his nest, he sets off a chain of comic catastrophes.

39280467 — AMY IS FAMOUS: Amy loves being the superstar of her class, but when a new girl comes to school and becomes the new superstar, Amy is jealous.

Picture Books At The Library 191

43523543 — HAND IN HAND: Separated from her mother and her brother, Ruthi struggles to find hope and carry on with her life.

39280463 — BEDTIME FOR LITTLE BULLDOZER: Little Bulldozer was ready for bed, but he wasn’t sleepy, even after reading to his stuffed animals, getting nice and cozy, and having a drink of oil.

39073377 — IN A MINUTE, MAMA BEAR: Mama Bear tries to hustle her cub through the days activities, but Bella insists on going her own pace and showing Mama the value in slowing down. *Rhyme*

39208905 — LAWRENCE IN THE FALL: While on a hike through the woods with his father, Lawrence the fox discovers the beauty of nature and finds the perfect thing to collect.

41154329 — LAMBSLIDE: A flock of lambs mishears the word “landslide” as “lambslide” and begins a campaign to have one built for them on the farm.

41115890 — SADIE AND THE SILVER SHOES: After Sadie loses one of her new silver shoes, she meets a new friend, Ellie, and discovers that Ellie has a shoe that matches hers.

36764044 — NOBODY HUGS A CACTUS: Hank, a cactus who is as prickly on the inside as he is on the outside, decides he wants a hug. **Most adorable cactus ever!**

41716952 — BEING EDIE IS HARD TODAY: A sensitive girl imagines transforming herself into different animals to help manage her intense emotions during difficult situations at school.

40877002 — GARGANTUA JR.: Gargantua Jr. wants to protect Earth from space robots and giant asteroids, just like his mom, but he’s too little.

40828083 — DOG VS. ULTRA DOG: Tuffy the dog worries that his boy Tim will soon replace him with Ultra Dog, a superhero dog whom Tuffy can’t compete with.

40637580 — MITZVAH PIZZA: During her weekly fun day out with Daddy, Missy meets a new friend and learns she can buy pizza for people who can’t afford a slice.

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40915197 — THE NIGHT LIBRARY: A boy learns to love reading again with the help of two enchanted lions, Patience and Fortitude.

39940129 — FERGAL AND THE BAD TEMPER: Fergal the dragon has a fiery temper, especially when others tell him what to do, or when thing’s aren’t fair.

40589879 — A KITE FOR MOON: Using a kite as stationery, a young boy makes a promise to one day visit the moon.

41717722 — TEDDY: The almost-true story of a president, a cartoonist, a toymaker, and a bear, and the creation of the world-famous teddy bear.

35795885 — PUP 681: A tiny sea otter pup is rescued after being washed ashore and learns that sometimes family can be just one person who loves you.

41109172 — JUST LIKE MY BROTHER: Little Giraffe proves her courage during a game of hide-and-seek with her older brother.

41214247 — MY ISLAND: A girl with a vivid imagination sings, shares, and dreams with her animal friends.

40915485 — A NEW HOME: In a shared voice, a boy moving from New York City to Mexico City and a girl moving from Mexico City to New York City express their fears about leaving home to live in a new and unfamiliar place.

36963767 — AFRICVILLE: A young girl visits Africville, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and all the stories she’s heard from her family come to mind.

41214331 — MY FOREST IS GREEN: Using different artistic mediums like collage, photography, and paint, a young artist creatively depicts the many shapes, colors, and textures of his natural surroundings.

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39950866 — A TWIN IS TO HUG: A celebration of the ups and downs of being a twin. *Rhyme*

40666884 — THE SECRET CAT: Lucy yearns for a pet, so when a mysterious cat named Silvring appears one night, Lucy follow her on an amazing adventure.

41739523 — BUG: Bug loves insects, not math, but maybe insects can help Bug pass her math test.

41214328 — KARATE KAKAPO: Kakapo’s ready for her black belt test, but when it’s time to do a flying kick, there’s a problem, kakapos can’t fly.

41183535 — THE TALLEST TREE HOUSE: Fairies Mip and Pip have a contest to see who can build the tallest tree house the fastest, but when a gust of wind blows through the forest, one fairy’s tree house is in trouble.

40915502 — RAJ AND THE BEST DAY EVER!: Raj is sure he will have the worst day ever when Dad forgets his wallet at home and they can’t do any of the things they had planned.

40758727 — HOW I LEARNED TO FALL OUT OF TREES: Roger and Adelia have been best friends for many years, so when it’s time for Adelia to move away, she plans a special parting gift for Roger to help him cope.

41183536 — GEORGIA’S TERRIFIC, COLORIFIC EXPERIMENT: In order to become a great scientist, Georgia must create her own, unique experiment, but her family can’t help because they’re all artists, not scientists.

41546728 — SHHH! I’M READING!: When pirates, penguins, and aliens arrive and invite Bella on an adventure, she tells them all to sit quietly and wait because she’s reading.

44669592 — DANCE, DOLPHIN, DANCE: A playful dolphin dances through the kelp forest, but when a shark gives chase, the dolphin must swim for its life.

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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.) Check your local library or bookstore for availability.

I’m a bit behind in my posting, but hopefully you’ll find some titles here that you haven’t yet read. More coming soon!

MIRA’S CURLY HAIR: Mira doesn’t like her very curly hair until she discovers something wonderful about her mother’s beautiful hair.

OTTO AND PIO: A strange creature is left on Otto the squirrel’s doorstep, and he does his best to care for it even though it keeps growing larger.

GOODBYE, SCHOOL: Franny finds a way to say goodbye to the school she loves on the last day of class.

BABYMOON: First-time parents spend time together bonding with their new born baby.

STUBBY: Based on the true story of a brave little stray dog that accompanied a soldier all the way to the front lines during WWI.

RUBY’S SWORD: Ruby wants to play with her older brothers, but they always leave her out of their games, until she starts to build her own castle. Love the art!

I WILL BE FIERCE: A girl conquers her fears on her first day of school just like a fierce warrior off on an adventure.

VACATION FOR DEXTER: Dexter the dinosaur helps his best friend Jack to be brave on their first plane ride.

GROWING SEASON: When El’s best friend Jo suddenly has a growth spurt, leaving El as the smallest student in her class, she begins to feel smaller every day. Sweet story and illustrations!

ERNESTINE’S MILKY WAY: When Mama gives Ernestine a special job–to carry two jars of milk down yonder to Mrs. Ramsey and her children, Ernestine knows she can do it.

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QUEENIE QUAIL CAN’T KEEP UP: When Queenie’s watchful eye spots a cat in the grass, she rescues her family from danger and teaches them the value of slowing down.

MAYBE TOMORROW: Optimistic Norris invites melancholy Elba to accompany him on a trip to the ocean. Love the feel good colors!

RUBY’S BIRDS: When energetic Ruby’s neighbor invites her on a nature walk, Ruby learns to quiet down and look for birds.

THE QUIET BOAT RIDE: Unlikely friends, Fox and Chick, enjoy a boat ride, a chocolate cake, and a sunset together.

THE FARMER: Paul the farmer works hard to tend the earth and sow his seeds, but what happens when the water dries up?

SPROUT, SEED, SPROUT: A young boy learns to be patient while waiting for his avocado seed to sprout.

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POETREE: Sylvia loves poetry, and even leaves a poem tied to a tree, but she’s surprised when the tree writes back.

I DO NOT LIKE BOOKS ANYMORE: Natalie is excited about reading on her own, but when she tries reading her first book, the letters and words look like scribbles and she becomes discouraged.

BORN TO RIDE: In Rochester, NY, in 1896, Louisa defies convention and ignores her brother’s warnings by learning to ride a bicycle.

LUBNA AND PEBBLE: When a lost little boy arrives in the “world of tents”, Lubna must decide if he needs Pebble more than she does.

A LITTLE CHICKEN: When one of her mother’s eggs accidentally rolls out of the coop, Dot must pluck up her courage to save her soon-to-be sibling.

I LOVE YOU ALL YEAR THROUGH: Cuddle up and celebrate the simple, special moments shared between grown-ups and little ones all year through. Rhyme. Beautiful illustrations!

YOU ARE YOUR STRONG: A child explains how to conquer fear, anger, and other emotions to find your “strong.” Love the gold cover and interior art!

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MUSIC FOR MISTER MOON: All Harriet wants to do is play her cello by herself, but when she throws a teacup out the window to chase away a noisy owl, she accidentally knocks the moon out of the sky.

HERE AND THERE: When Ivan’s with his mother, he’s like a noisy bird, but when he’s with his father, he’s as quiet as a mouse, until his father gets out his guitar.

THE LITTLE PINK ROSEBUD: A little pink rosebud is reluctant to leave the safety of her tiny, dark underground house.

AS WE GROW: A depiction of each stage of life and the journey of transformation that we all experience as we grow up. Rhyme

WHEN GRANDMA GIVES YOU A LEMON TREE: A girl is unhappy at first when she receives a lemon tree for her birthday from her grandma instead of one of the gadgets on her wish list.

PAULA KNOWS WHAT TO DO: When Paula’s father, grieving the loss of her mother, can’t get out of bed one morning, Paula knows how to help him.

Picture Books At The Library 184

A SCARF FOR KEIKO: After Sam’s Japanese neighbor, Keiko, is sent to an internment camp in 1942, he makes her a special gift as a token of friendship.

CAKE: After being invited to a party, Cake finds the perfect thing to wear, a brand new hat. So colorful!

THE DONKEY EGG: After Fox leaves him with a large, green egg, Bear spends weeks caring for it in the hopes that it will hatch.

WILD BABY: When her baby goes barreling through the jungle, it’s up to mama to make sure her curious tot doesn’t get into too much trouble.

ARRR, MUSTACHE BABY: Mustache Baby and his firstmate, Beard Baby, set out to be heroes on the high seas, but soon the lure of pirate treasure takes hold.

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THE BABY BEAST: When an egg arrives on Beast’s doorstep, he’s not sure how to take care of it. Super bright and colorful!

DIANA DANCES: When Diana struggles in school, her parents can’t figure out how to help, but a doctor recommends dance school, and it changes everything.

THE BIGGEST PUDDLE IN THE WORLD: Sarah and Charlie go to stay at their grandparents’ house and it rains for days, but when it finally stops, their grandfather leads them on a quest to find the biggest puddle in the world.

WHEN SPRING COMES TO THE DMZ: Through the seasons, a boy and his grandfather look out over the DMZ, the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, which is teeming with wildlife, and dream of the day they will be reunited with family. Fascinating!

SHEEP DOG AND SHEEP SHEEP: An oblivious sheep helps a sheep dog to be the best sheep protector he can be. So cute!

LITTLE DOCTOR AND THE FEARLESS BEAST: A girl who lives in the jungle treats the crocodiles aches and pains.

WHY SHOULD I WALK? I CAN FLY!: Follow a baby bird as it tries, fails, and tries again to fly. Rhyme

WHEN I FOUND GRANDMA: When Maya’s grandmother comes for a visit from far away, she’s not what Maya was expecting.

WHEN YOU ARE BRAVE: Just as a young girl who moves away to a new home conquers her fears, so, too, can we all be brave when life is scary. Love the color palette in this one!

BE A MAKER: From a snack with a friend to a trip into outer space, discover the many ways you can imagine, create, and be a maker in the world. Rhyme

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THE BIG, ANGRY ROAR: After Cub gets in trouble for hurting his sister, he’s mad, and must find a way to let his anger out.

CHICKS RULE: After Nerdy Chick isn’t allowed in the Rocket Club, she bans together with chicks of all flocks and feathers to prove that chicks can do anything.

THE SECOND SKY: From the moment he hatches, Gilbert dreams of flying, and, after several failed attempts, discovers there’s more than one way to fly.

SERGIO SEES THE GOOD: When a downcast Sergio gets home from a terrible day at school, his mom shows him a simple way to measure how bad the day really was.

THE DOG WHO WANTED TO FLY: Zora is determined to learn how to fly so that she can catch a pesky squirrel.

THE NEW NEIGHBORS: The bunnies are excited to hear that rats have moved into the apartment downstairs, but the other residents are wary of their new neighbors.

A PLAN FOR POPS: When Pops takes a spill and winds up in a wheel chair, Lou and Grandad come up with a plan to cheer him up.

TINY T. REX AND THE IMPOSSIBLE HUG: When his friend is sad, Tiny T. Rex is determined to learn how to hug.

THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD AND ME: A celebration of our relationship to the natural world–just as a pebble is part of a mountain, each of us is part of something bigger.

A FRIEND FOR HENRY: Henry, a child on the autism spectrum, searches for a friend among his classmates.

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THE AMAZING IDEA OF YOU: Just as there is potential in every apple seed to be a tree and in every tadpole to be a frog, there is potential in every child to be a unique and creative adult.

DUST BUNNY WANTS A FRIEND: A lonely dust bunny tries to befriend some ants, a cat, a teddy bear and others.

THE GOOSE EGG: Henrietta the elephant accidentally takes home and hatches a goose egg and now she must teach the gosling how to be a goose.

WHAT IS GIVEN FROM THE HEART: James Otis struggles to find something to give to a girl whose family lost everything in a fire.

UNDER MY HIJAB: As a young girl observes that each of the six women in her life wears her hijab and hair in a different way, she considers how to express her own style one day.

BEAR NEEDS HELP: A polar bear needs help with an untied shoe, but the other animals are too afraid to help.

LOLA DUTCH, WHEN I GROW UP: Determined to decide what to be when she grows up, Lola tries several careers, until her friend Bear reminds her not to be in such a hurry.

DRAGON NIGHT: Georgie, who’s afraid of the dark, befriends and goes on a nighttime adventure with a dragon who dwells in a book and is afraid of a knight.

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CRAB CAKE: When a pile of trash is dumped into the ocean, crab rallies the other sea creatures to help clean things up.

HUSH, LITTLE BUNNY: A re-imagining of a classic lullaby featuring a papa bunny and his little one.

HANDS UP: A young girl lifts her hands up in a series of everyday moments before finally raising her hands in resistance at a protest march.

SEA BEAR: A polar bear waits patiently for spring when the ice breaks up and she can hunt, but by the end of summer, she must swim very far to find land.

STARDUST: A little girl dreams of being a star so that she can shine just like her sister does.

THE TALL MAN AND THE SMALL MOUSE: A man enlists the help of the tiny mouse who’s been living in his house to fix the town’s great clock.

AUNTIE LUCE’S TALKING PAINTINGS: Through her aunts vibrant paintings, a girl comes to understand the place her family calls home.

HOW DO YOU DO: All Water Buffalo and Crane can think about is how hot it is, day after day, until Goat arrives dancing and leading them on an adventure.

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Sometimes things are out of our control. That’s why I haven’t posted a ‘Picture Books At The Library’ segment in over a month. Yikes! It has to do with library budget and when orders get processed and it’s all very boring. So…while we are waiting on brand new 2019 titles to arrive (soon!), I’ve put together a roundup of 2018 picture books that you may have missed. Lots of wonderful books to seek out! With gorgeous art in all!

FOUND: While missing her dog, a young girl finds, befriends, and cares for another lost dog. Wordless

SOPHIE JOHNSON, UNICORN EXPERT: Sophie is so caught up in teaching others about unicorns that she fails to notice the magic right under her nose.

I JUST LIKE YOU: A diverse group of animals show how friendship can be as simple as appreciating the critter next to you.

LOVE, Z: While out looking for adventure, a young robot finds a message in a bottle that starts him on a quest to find out what love it.

TWINKLE: Twinkle’s spells go from clumsy to catastrophic on her first day of fairy school.

MOUSIE, I WILL READ TO YOU: Follow a mama mouse and her baby on the little mouse’s journey to becoming a reader.

THE BOOK THAT JAKE BORROWED: Jake borrows a library book, drips jelly on it, and must face the consequences.

FOX EXPLORES THE NIGHT: A fox sets off from its den to explore the neighborhood and hunt for food.

NO BORING STORIES: A bunny wants to help the other animals write a story, but they won’t let him because bunnies are too boring.

STEWART’S BEST PEN: Stewart and his pen Craig are best friends, so when Craig disappears, Stewart’s the one who feels lost.

HOW TO EAT PIZZA: A slice of pizza tries to convince the narrator not to eat him. Funny!

WOKE BABY: A woke baby is up early, raises his fists in the air, cries out for justice, and grows up to change the world.

WHAT’S FOR BREAKFAST: While practicing his swooping, Pip the owl crash-lands in the middle of Theodore the mouse’s breakfast.

HAROLD LOVES HIS WOOLLY HAT: Harold feels like a very special bear in his woolly hat, so when it’s stolen, he has to get it back.

STAR IN THE JAR: When a little boy stumbles across a lost star, he decides to take care of it.

IS THAT YOU, ELEANOR SUE: Eleanor Sue is a master of disguise, but when her mother gets in on the act, anything can happen. Pretty darn cute!

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Here are some 2018 titles you may have missed:

PINE & BOOF BLAST OFF: Pine and Boof build a rocket so that they can return an egg from outer space to its nest. Fun!

SPECTACULARLY BEAUTIFUL: Every day, Shahad came to school with perfect hair, but her perfect hair cannot hide her scars.

NIGHT PLAY: A boy and his animal friends put on a stage play. Lift-the-flap pages

ONCE UPON A SNOWSTORM: A boy, lost in the woods during a snowstorm, is aided by the forest animals. Wordless

DREAMLAND: Amelie ventures into a fantastical world in order to uncover her favorite dreams.

LOVED TO BITS: A boy relays the special relationship he has with his teddy bear. Rhyme

ELEANOR WYATT PRINCESS AND PIRATE: Join Eleanor and her friends as they romp through tea parties and sword fights to discover the best treasure of all–being yourself. Rhyme

THE CASE OF THE MISSING CHALK DRAWINGS: The chalks are drawing flowers on the chalkboard, but someone keeps stealing their artwork. Clever and fun!

Top 21 Circulating Picture Books of 2018

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Which picture books were checked out most often from the Community Library of DeWitt and Jamesville in 2018?

Our top circulating picture book will probably not be a big surprise: Disney Frozen. Movie and TV tie-ins will forever be popular with kids. It’s a fact of life. This particular version is actually a “look and find” concept book–not a true picture book, in my opinion, but the library has it cataloged as a picture book AND it circulated a whopping 20 times, so I felt it was worth noting in this year’s list.

Also making the list this year is the top book of 2017: Ellie in Concert. This book actually circulated two more times in 2018 (19 times) than in 2017 (17 times), yet wasn’t number one this time around. Interesting, huh?

The rest of the books in our top 21 include the ever-popular series Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol, another Frozen tie-in starring Olaf the snowman, and (Yay!) a beautiful mix of new and old stand alone favorites.

Circulated 20 Times:

This may seem like a small number, but when you consider that each book may be checked out for up to 3 weeks (21 days), that 20 times means the top book was checked out over and over for the entire year!

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