Book Finder

Spring holds many surprises for each of the Penderwicks in this latest adventure.

Josephine Baker’s life and struggles of this performer and activist comes to life.

The fun of friends playing a game of basketball comes to life.

The author retells the saga of Hiawatha who with the Peacemaker was instrumental in creating the federation of tribes, known as the Great Iroquois Nation. Dramatic illustrations evoke mystery and drama to complement the straightforward narration. An author’s note concludes this sophisticated, unique and handsome book.

Simple shapes and few words are used in this sturdy and sophisticated board book that focuses on rhyming words. The author’s Hippopposites (2012) is equally appealing (and sophisticated).

Whimsy abounds in the gentle colors and playful pigs from A to Z. Alliterative sentences describe the activities and suggest other things that begin with the letter.

Single verbs accompany charming illustrations on each open page of this sturdy book to describe a bear cub at play. Pastel backgrounds allow the strong lines to stand out.

Various animals don clothing from gloves to hats. Each is presented on the page with a single word.

Jack wants to join the child’s tea party but so does a chipmunk. The adventure unfolds wordlessly in soft illustrations.

It is a family that makes a house a home described here in rhythmic language and depicted in idealized, soft illustrations.

Count colorful fruits and veggies from one to 12 as one examines the appealing photographs. This is a fine companion to the author’s Edible Colors (2014).

A mother bear teaches her cubs what they’ll need to know as they grow. Lyrical language and gentle illustrations follow the bears over a year.

Music can be magical as Bear discovers when music inspires him to dance – to glide across the wintery landscape. (Part of the Goose and Bear series)

Child-friendly illustrations bring the additional verses to the familiar rhyme to life in this lively recasting.

“There were five of them. And they were waiting…” Though seasons change, each waiting toy is ultimately satisfied and all are surprised by the latest addition. Gentle illustrations and text capture the difficulty of waiting and the pleasure when it is over.

The familiar “Wheels on the Bus” has been augmented (e.g., a fire truck goes “woo-oo”), adapted and presented here in Spanish and English. The accompanying illustrations are cheery, adding humor and verve.

Many animals, like people, live in groups. Many of these groups have special words to describe them — from a colony of koalas, to a scurry of squirrels, and even a flamboyance of flamingos. Stunning collage and line illustration of each group march across each double page spread. A bit of information about the animals’ behavior is included in this memorable book.

Two plush toys, Stingray and a buffalo named Lumphy, and Plastic, a red ball, want to play in the snow. And so they do! Lush illustrations and rich language come together in the toys’ first picture book adventure. (The characters were first introduced in longer novels; all are ideal as read-alouds for younger children.)

How young Sadie manages to deliver the elephant to her Great-Aunt Josephine makes for a laugh inducing romp. The silly story is told through comic illustration and an unassuming text with lots of sound effects.

Harriet Powers was born into slavery but learned a great deal about fabric and quilting which she used when freed after the Civil War. Her story unfolds in upbeat illustrations and informative text. An author’s note provides additional insight into the artist and her quilts.

The charming black and white pup, Rocket, and other familiar characters from the author are back for an alliterative excursion through the alphabet. Each letter gets its own double page spread on which the letter is highlighted.

Visit some of London’s landmarks as the palace guards chase down the queen’s hat that the wind blew off her head. Royal head and hat are reunited after the jaunt shared on open pages that use strong line and dashes of color for a regal read.

As a hurricane approaches, animals and their behavior before a storm are described using the cadence of the familiar rhyme, “Over in the Meadow,” Handsome, realistic illustration evoke the mood of the weather and its impact.

Bob is a very talented pup who lives with the young narrator and his family. Bob, however, is not a showoff, demonstrating his talent for his family only. The understated, easy-to-read text and lightly colored cartoon line drawings emphasize the humor of Bob’s humility and his family’s affection for him.