“Picture Books At The Library” Returning Soon!

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 haven’t posted Picture Books At The Library since my library shut down due to the pandemic in mid-March. But now that I’m back to work in the library (I had been teleworking) and shipments have resumed from our vendors, I’ll finally be able to share new picture books again!

I may be back to work, but the library building is not yet open to the public. We’ve been offering curbside pickup for the past several weeks. And we’re still promoting digital services and resources, as well as online programs (the summer reading program is in full swing) and access to digital books, movies, music, and more. If you haven’t already, check your library’s website to see what kinds of offerings they have. Even during times like these, most libraries are working hard to serve their communities.

I hope that wherever you are in the world, that things are improving. And I hope you will soon be able to visit your library to check out a few glorious new picture books. There are many to choose from! My third hope is that if you cannot visit your library, that you can access many wonderful picture books digitally. It’s not quite the same as having that physical book in your hands, but it’s something, at least.

Stay well, everyone. Wear your mask. Wash your hands. And stay strong. We’re all in this together, and we’ll get out of it together, too! Until then, read some picture books to help you and your kids escape even for just a few moments. I can’t wait to share tons of fabulous new picture books with you. Even if you can’t get your hands on the books right away, keep a list, keep them in mind, and when your library reopens, they’ll be waiting there for you. See you soon At The Library!

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43728123. sx318 — WHEN NUMBERS MET LETTERS: Toy numbers and letters meet and, in some cases, clash in a classroom during recess, but soon discover that they have some things in common. *Clever and fun!*

40749393. sx318 — OLD ROCK: Tall Pine, Spotted Beetle, and Hummingbird are certain that being a rock is boring until Old Rock shares what he has seen and done since he first flew out of a volcano.

51788442. sx318 sy475 — THE GIRL WHO SPOKE TO THE MOON: When Sofia dreams of visiting the Moon one night, she discovers people are hurting the Earth, and with the Moon as her guide, she learns how we can work together to make the Earth feel better. *Rhyme*

44281044. sx318 — WHERE LILY ISN’T: Lily is no longer in the house, or the park, or waiting by the door, but she remains in one little girl’s heart forever.

45730139. sx318 — SNAIL CROSSING: A determined snail spots cabbages on the other side of the road, and thus begins his epic journey. *Funny!*

42123852. sx318 — ONE HUG: A celebration of the many ways we embrace our loved ones. *Rhyme*

43495032. sx318 — FREEDOM BIRD: In the antebellum South, two siblings shelter a large, mysterious, wounded bird and eventually follow it west toward freedom.

44280867. sx318 — SUNNY: Sunny likes to look on the bright side of things, even when she was stranded at sea, until she found herself all alone and close to losing hope. *Love this one!*

46041193. sx318 — MAGNIFICENT HOMESPUN BROWN: An exuberant celebration of feeling at home in one’s own skin.

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Two of these lovely picture books were illustrated by the same artist. Can you tell which ones by just looking at the cover art?

42424217. sx318 — THE BEAR MUST GO ON: Rabbit, Bear, Squirrel, and Other Squirrel make big plans for a show, but they have forgotten one very important thing, and only shy Bear can help.

46046253 — HOSEA PLAYS ON: Rain or shine and with his saxophone case in hand, Hosea rides the bus to his favorite place–the Rochester Public Market–to play for everyone there.

45359228. sx318 — OVERGROUND RAILROAD: A girl named Ruth Ellen tells the story of her family’s train journey from North Carolina to New York City as part of the Great Migration.

47322775. sx318 — THE HEART OF A WHALE: Lonely Whale’s beautiful song calms a wriggly octopus, cheers a sad urchin, and much more, but it cannot cure his longing to meet another whale.

43015311. sx318 — I AM GOOSE!: Goose asks to play Duck, Duck, Goose with the other animals, but causes trouble by insisting that none of them can possibly be goose.

45046803. sx318 — NUMENIA AND THE HURRICANE: When Numenia and her sisters fly into a hurricane, fierce winds rip Numenia away from her family during their migration.

45169357. sx318 — BIG PAPA AND THE TIME MACHINE: In this dialogue between a child and his grandfather, crucial moments of African American history and stories of courage are shared.

44672344 — IN A JAR: When Llewellyn, a little rabbit who collects ordinary things in jars, meets a friend named Evelyn, he joins with her to capture the extraordinary.

52080062. sx318 sy475 — THE PERFECTLY PERFECT WISH: A young girl has so many choices, but only one wish.

44280895 — THE MUSIC OF LIFE: In Paris, Lenny has trouble starting to compose his symphony until he discovers that there is music all around him in everyday life.

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These recent picture books couldn’t be more different in story or art style, and each one is worth checking out!

43015303. sx318 — YOU LOVES EWE!: Homonyms cause great confusion as an increasingly cranky yam tries to make introductions and provide explanations to his silly donkey friend. *Funny!*

37572178. sx318 — BEDTIME FOR SWEET CREATURES: As a young child protests bedtime by behaving like different animals, Mommy struggles to wrangle her sweet creature into bed.

42642025. sx318 — SOMETHING FOR YOU: When a field mouse discovers that his friend is sick in bed, he is determined to make her feel better, but things don’t go as planned. *Sweet!*

44526373. sx318 — FREEDOM SOUP: As Ti Gran teaches Belle how to make Freedom Soup, she tells her the history of her family and the history of Haiti.

45032279. sx318 — PENGUIN & MOOSE: Penguin is determined to learn how to fly, and his friend Moose is determined to help him, or support him when he fails.

44145735. sx318 — THE BEST KIND OF BEAR: Bear goes on a mission to find out what kind of bear he is, a grizzly bear, a sun bear, a polar bear, a spectacled bear, or something else entirely.

46454348. sx318 — TOOTH FAIRY IN TRAINING: A new tooth fairy learns the trade from her older sister, and discovers there’s more to it than just collecting teeth from sleeping children. *Rhyme*

45894182. sx318 — THE OLD TRUCK: A girl grows up on a farm, learns to build and fix things, and eventually restores the old family truck.

43908988. sx318 — CAVEBOY CRUSH: Neander, determined to win over Neanne, brings her gift after gift, but she remains unimpressed, until he comes up with the grandest gesture of all.

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43522208. sx318 — BRUCE’S BIG STORM: Grumpy Bruce the bear does not like neighbors, but is forced to help when a big storm draws them all to his home. *Fun!*

43387393. sx318 — A STONE SAT STILL: A stone is considered from a variety of environmental and emotional perspectives as it sits where it is, an unchanging certainty in the world. *Lovely!*, *Rhyme*

42550052. sx318 — FIVE MINUTES: Throughout a child’s day, five minutes can go by quickly, such as when you’re on a roller coaster, or slowly, such as when you’re in the dentist’s chair. *Definitely relatable!*

43289978. sy475 — SMALL IN THE CITY: A little boy offers advice to his cat, which is lost in the city, from taking shortcuts through alleys to finding a friend in the park. *Sweet!*

43497892. sx318 — ALONG THE TAPAJOS: When the rainy season comes, Caua and Inae’s family must leave their village and relocate to higher ground, but after moving, the siblings realize they’ve left something important behind.

46064608. sx318 — WONDER MOLE’S SCENT COSTUME PARTY: When a wily weasel sneaks into Wonder Mole’s scent costume party with plans for a two-mole dinner, a policemole nearly foils his ruse. *Funny*!

42642077 — THE AWESOME, IMPOSSIBLE, UNSTOPPABLE GADGET: A budding young scientist at Camp C.R.E.A.T.E. must save the day when another creative camper’s invention goes out of control. *Rhyme*

44144940. sx318 — THE BOY WITH BIG, BIG FEELINGS: When a boy with big feelings–so big that they glow from his cheeks and spill out of his eyes–meets a girl who also has big feelings, he discovers that having big emotions is nothing to be ashamed of. *Rhyme*

44025488. sx318 — WHEN A KID LIKE ME FIGHTS CANCER: When a young boy is diagnosed with cancer, he learns he can fight it, but he doesn’t have to fight alone.

42479360. sx318 — AS WARM AS THE SUN: Toby, a French bulldog who dreams of being warm all the time, is not pleased when Pinkie arrives and takes all of his favorite warm spots.

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43666735. sx318 — PIGEON MATH: Telling a story about pigeons should be simple, but what’s a narrator to do when the number of feathered friends keeps changing? *Funny*!

43416624. sx318 — AT THE MOUNTAIN’S BASE: As a Cherokee family waits for their loved one, a pilot, to return home, the strength in their song sustains them.

40311206. sx318 — PEOPLE SHARE WITH PEOPLE: Touts the importance of sharing everything from blankets to toys, but not sneezes, cups, or toothbrushes. *Fun Read Aloud!*, *Rhyme*

ELBOW GREASE VS. MOTOZILLA: To face off against the monster machine Motozilla, Elbow Grease and his brothers will have to learn to work as a team.

43908866. sx318 — OAK LEAF: An oak leaf travels on an autumn breeze, up and over the world, then down again, and comes to rest on the pages of an open book.

43679868. sx318 — MR. SCRUFF: A lonely old dog longs for a home, but no one seems to be a match until a boy comes along. *Sweet!*, *Rhyme*

42785750 — SULWE: Sulwe, who has skin the color of midnight, longs to be beautiful and bright like her mother and sister. *Powerful Message!, Gorgeous Illustrations!*

41803928. sx318 — SUPER SLOTH: Though it takes a while, Super Sloth eventually saves the day after a sneaky anteater steals all the animals’ mangoes.

43521318. sx318 — THE LOVE LETTER: After Hedgehog, Bunny, and Squirrel each find a love letter, they mistakenly think it was written for them.

46668048. sx318 — FLY FLIES: Fly tries to fly straight, glide on the wind, and fly in a flock, just as the birds tell her she should, but she soon discovers that those are not her ways to fly.

42642066. sx318 — EXPLORERS: When a boy loses something important while at the museum with his family, the kindness of strangers leads to new friendships. *Wordless*

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42920022. sx318 — SING A SONG: Tells the story of five generations of families who gained hope and strength from an inspiring song.

43861612. sx318 — STORMY: With patience and kindness, a young woman gains the trust of a frightened little homeless dog. *Lovely!, Wordless* (This reminds me so much of my dog!)

43662689. sx318 — ONE RED SOCK: When a little purple hippo cannot find the mate for her red sock, she tries every sock in her drawer in order to be fashionable, or, at least, to match. *Cute!*, *Rhyme*

41219469. sx318 — THE GIFT OF RAMADAN: When Sophia attempts to fast for Ramadan, her hunger gets the better of her and she breaks her fast, but she finds another way to celebrate the special month.

43522554 — AND THEN THE SEED GREW: When a seed drops from the sky and takes root, the new plant wreaks havoc for all the garden’s inhabitants.

43261184. sx318 — NYA’S LONG WALK: When Nya’s little sister takes ill on the long journey to fetch water, Nya must find the strength to carry her and the water all the way home.

43522414. sx318 — READING BEAUTY: When a curse threatens to turn her kingdom into a place barren of books, the space princess sets out to break the curse and bring books back to her planet. *Rhyme*

43822775. sx318 — PUMA DREAMS: A young girl yearns to see an elusive puma in the wild, knowing that their numbers are dwindling and that what her gram calls a “long-dream” may never come true.

42876030. sx318 — THE KEY FROM SPAIN: Just as her ancestors were forced to leave Spain during the Inquisition, Flory flees Europe for a new life in the U.S., bringing with her a precious harmoniku and a passion for Ladino music.

43909187 — THE MANY COLORS OF HARPREET SINGH: When Harpreet’s mom finds a new job in a snowy town, and the family has to move, he finds himself choosing to wear white so he can be invisible, instead of one of his colorful turbans.

AT THE STROKE OF GOODNIGHT: A busy world settles in for a warm night’s sleep. *Interesting art!, Rhyming bedtime book*

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This group of eclectic picture books has something for every taste!

43865504 — THE PHONE BOOTH IN MR. HIROTA’S GARDEN: When the tsunami destroys Makio’s village, his neighbor Mr. Hirota creates something that helps the villagers heal.

44443013. sx318 — JUST SO WILLOW: When a storm covers Willow’s backyard in a clean, smooth blanket of snow, she’s determined to keep it that way.

44025477. sx318 — THIS IS A SEA COW: When an imaginative child writes a school report about sea cows, the subject is not happy with her portrayal. *Funny!*

44025446. sx318 — GHASTLY GHOSTS: When Dave moves into his uncle’s old house, he hears lots of creaks and squeaks, but nothing scares him until he hears a spooky voice. *Rhyme*

43885048. sx318 — THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A BOOK: When several fairy tale folks and magical items go missing, including her children, it’s up to the Old Woman Who Lives in a Book to get them back. *Fractured Fairy Tale*

43568509. sx318 — HO’ONANI HULA WARRIOR: When Ho’onani, who feels like neither a girl or a boy, finds out there will be a school performance of a traditional hula chant for boys, she longs to be a part of it.

43063329 — IF I BUILT A SCHOOL: Imaginative Jack describes the kind of school he would build–one full of animals, tubes to transport students, books that come alive, and much more. *Fun!, Rhyme*

42771987. sx318 — THE ONE & ONLY WOLFGANG: Celebrates senior pet adoption and shows that families come in all shapes and sizes.

43352266. sx318 — VERY LULU: While helping to train Lulu as a police dog, Lulu’s handler quickly discovers that Lulu’s not suited to that type of work, but she may be perfect for something else.

43578575. sx318 — LOOKING FOR YESTERDAY: A boy puts all his scientific knowledge to work to try to turn back time, until his grandfather shows him that each new day brings a chance for more good times and happy memories.

40582489. sx318 — COME NEXT SEASON: Celebrates the changing seasons as children swim in summer, collect pecans in autumn, play in snow in winter, and visit a farm in spring. *Lovely art!*

43822466. sx318 — FLY: Mama bird wants Baby bird to learn to fly so he can migrate with the rest of the flock, but Baby bird has other ideas. *Cute!*, *Wordless*

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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)

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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*

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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.

Picture Books At The Library 190

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.

Picture Books At The Library 189

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.

Picture Books At The Library 187

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.

Picture Books At The Library 186

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!

Picture Books At The Library 185

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.

Lauri Fortino's Frog On A (B)log

Sharing and Celebrating Picture Books Since 2009

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