Like children often do, this dog and cat take a most circuitous route home, encountering lots to see, smell, and hear along the way. Brief rhythmic, sometimes rhyming text accompanies this familiar adventure. Readers familiar with the author’s Inside Cat and They All Saw a Cat may recognize the styles and critters in this volume.
Two Together
They’re beautiful in so many ways, tall or small, leafy or spiky, and can be found around the world. Short, varied poems introduce a range of trees from across the globe, encouraging readers to care for them. Illustrations not only decorate but will help to identify specific trees.
Tree Whispers
The teeny-weeny unicorn is so small that he’s used as a chess piece by his brothers. He laments his small stature until he happens upon a gnome that’s even teenier and learns that he was big enough to smash her roadster. Pastel illustrations effectively convey the movement and humor in this relatable and very funny tale.
The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn
Abuela and the young narrator speak in recipes that they make together weekly. Lorito, his grandmother’s parrot, speaks Spanish but the boy does not. Slowly, however, he learns to roll his Rs and pick up Spanish words. When Lorito flies away, it returns when the boy pronounces ingredients for arroz con leche. (The recipe is included.)
Squawk of Spanish
A young artist is asked to paint in her favorite color and starts with red, yellow, and blue only. She discovers that her favorite color is hidden within them! Warm illustrations call to mind batik to effectively demonstrate variations within hues and color mixing, leading to Jo’s self-portrait.
A Rainbow in Brown
Jaunty language and buoyant watercolors illustrate a range of children sharing their fondness for favorite books. Whether read alone or together, with a dog, or even in the bathroom, “This is my book, / My favorite book. / I wake and I take it. / I sleep and I keep it.” This joyful celebration is not to be missed!
My Book and Me
Mavis, a hen that knits, saves her friend the sheep (not to mention wool for her knitting) proving that even the most chicken of us can find a spark of bravery when needed. Madcap humor in this delightful romp is sure to holdup to many readings.
Mavis the Bravest
Húóng lived in Vietnam until the bombs forced her family to flee to a new country. Not only were the sights, sounds, and smells different she took on a new name. As she became comfortable in her new home, the child was comfortable with her two names: Húóng and Jennifer. An author’s note details the actual family story and includes a photograph and glossary.
I Am Both: A Vietnamese Refugee Story
What is better than a warm day at the beach? A gentle rhyme accompanied by lightly hued illustrations detail the joyful day a group of children and their adult share on such a day.
Good Night, Good Beach
Art’s dad wakes up still feeling sluggish from his cold so father and son go on a hunt to make a cold-fighting juice. With a bit of help from the community, a tasty, healthy juice starts dad’s recovery. Realistic illustrations complement the contemporary story which includes a juice recipe. Also available in Spanish: Jugo Fresco (opens in a new window), translated by Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz.
Fresh Juice
Short, poetic lines are accompanied by lush watercolor illustrations depict the many animals that live in it to eat, explore, and more. “It’s shelter from a storm. / The forest is…/home.”
Forest
A plump pooch is given a treat — a strawberry — and the epic race is on! Though chaos ensues throughout the house, readers will appreciate the fast-paced humor in the comical illustrations and understated text as dog and strawberry race to the finish line.
Dog vs. Strawberry
Aurora is nervous before a class presentation where she will use sign language to tell her story. When she makes the butterfly sign, it goes round the world and back, providing the needed confidence. Created by deaf author and illustrator, this magical tale will resonate with all.
Butterfly on the Wind
Bunny’s predictable vacation by the sea is upended with the arrival of Bob, a purple monster. At first Bunny is pleased when a storm ruins Bob’s belongings but a change of heart allows her to find a friend and new ways to share the seaside. Humorous, detailed illustrations contrast Bunny and Bob’s size and their approaches to life.
Bunny’s Most Fabulous Vacation Ever!
Their friendship started when one boy accidently bumped into another’s block building when they discovered that building together was more fun. So was imaginatively watching dragons and other fantastic creatures wreck them. Swirling, meticulous illustrations in Santat’s characteristic style detail the children’s friendship with its ups and downs, but one that is built to last.
Built to Last
A range of poets, from Lois Lowry to Lee Bennett Hopkins, express thanks for critters small and large. Expressive, idealized watercolors depict adorable animals and children in poems of gratitude.
Bless Our Pets: Poems of Gratitude for Our Animal Friends
A big brown bear announces it is the only bear in the book until a polar bear, then other bears join them. Together they discover along with the reader how different types of bears are similar and different. Fact and humor combine in this humorous informational picture book with additional resources included.
Bears Are Best!
The rug is the ocean in this imaginative seafaring tale as a child and parent begin their adventure while the other parent is on the phone. Sophisticated but childlike illustrations go between fantasy and real time as the family shares escapades on the high seas. The rug will doubtless go un-vacuumed.
Ahoy!
A prickly hotel? Plants and animals thrive because of the cactus and its spring flowers, seeds, et al! A simple introduction to this environment and the lives it supports provides an intriguing introduction to this environment.
Welcome to the Cactus Hotel
Singing, playing, and talking to the seed didn’t work but when the children listened to nature placing the seed in a bed of soil it flowered all summer. In autumn, the plant left them the gift of more seeds to plant next year. Child-like illustrations complement the straightforward text.
We Found a Seed
“Somewhere in the big, big city…” live two babies sharing similar activities with their parent. After something to eat and a nap, this baby and that baby meet in the park to play. Lively language and bouncy illustrations depict familiar families.
This Baby. That Baby.
Young children are invited to a powwow, from one car traveling there to 10 tribal citizens enjoying it. The indigenous author and illustrator team that wrote Powwow Day (for slightly older readers) now introduces younger readers to the powwow tradition in this 1-to-10 counting board book.
On Powwow Day
Words in English and Spanish label bold shapes depicting people, common animals, and familiar objects on sturdy pages. Interesting juxtapositions add to the appeal on bright spreads.
Miro / Look
Lola and her mother visit Zora, a beekeeper, where Lola learns about bees and the work of a beekeeper. Lola then decides to plant seeds at home to help bees in this informative addition to the series.