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Interesting variety in this group of picture books!
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.
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)
Curious, creative, caring kids feature in this week’s list of picture books At The Library!
50/50 rhyme and prose in this batch of picture books AT THE LIBRARY!
Three rhymers, one wordless, and nine perfect prose picture books make up this week’s lovely list. Enjoy!
So many different art styles! Love it!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
What are the top circulating picture books at your local library?
Take a look at the top circulating picture books at the Community Library of DeWitt & Jamesville in prior years: