Book Finder

This sensitively crafted picture book offers a glimpse into the life and work of Japanese poet Kaneko (1903–30). Accompanied by colorful, soft illustrations, the first half recounts Kaneko’s short life along with a selection of her poems that thematically complement the text. The second half is a larger (also illustrated) collection of her poems in English and Japanese.

New York’s crowded subway system is known for many things, but being easy on a lost kid isn’t one of them. Pablo gets separated from his new schoolmates during his first field trip in New York City. Luckily, he has a little knowledge, a new friend, and the surprisingly approachable city itself to guide his way. This story features maps, archival photos, and fascinating facts in a graphic novel format to help readers explore the subway.

Nate, boy detective, and his dog Sludge hit the rails to help Olivia and Hoot, her pet owl. When Hoot disappears, Nate must solve the case of the vanishing owl before the train reaches its destination.

Funny, engaging poems and pictures worth poring over offer readers delightful details about some really crazy cars! Ready for a ride in the Dragonwagon? How about an Eel-ectric Car? You really auto take these poems out for a spin.

Marshall Taylor’s bike stunts get him a job at the famous Indiana bike shop Hay and Willits. But he’s meant for even bigger things — namely the 1899 World Cycling championship — where his skin color attracts as much attention as his domination on the racetrack.

Harry and Horsie may have solved the problem of how to reach the cookie jar when they create CookieBot. But building the most amazing cookie-grabbing robot ever may have created a new problem. How will they stop CookieBot from eating all the cookies in town? Delightfully illustrated with a retro-modern feel. 

Seventh grader Olive is tired of feeling left out at school because she prefers acting in the drama club rather than playing a sport. Her school is so sports crazy that the principal never acknowledges any of the other clubs during the morning announcements. Olive decides it’s time to take action and embarks on a game plan to ensure that her drama club and other groups at school get the attention they deserve. A perfect book for Readers’ Theater!

Aang and friends must join together once again as the four nations’ tenuous peace is threatened in an impasse between Fire Lord Zuko and Earth King Kuei! As the world heads toward another devastating war, Aang’s friendship with Zuko throws him into the middle of the conflict!

Readers are encouraged to participate in planting a tiny seed, wait, care for it, wait, then watch it grow into a beautiful zinnia. The rhyming text is illustrated as though from ground level with straightforward depictions of an emerging garden. Directions on planting the zinnia seeds (which may be found in the book) briefly expands information on gardening.

Pig and Goose become friends one spring morning when Pig decides to enjoy a picnic near a pond. Their growing bond is seen in each episode told in three chapters. Lightly lined and colored illustrations complement the tone of each as the friends recognize each other’s individuality.

The day was perfect for cat, dog, bird, and squirrel who wanted nothing more than the warm sun, cool water, seeds, and corn. Each enjoyed their perfection until a large carnivore arrived on the scene! Textured illustrations with a lighthearted text effectively tell the story of a perfect day — at least for one large mammal!

The narrator was born on May 17th, a “sunny spring day!” On May 19th, she ate lots of aphids but on June 2nd ate one of two brothers. The life of the praying mantis begins in spring, ends in October, with its own description of life in between. Inviting illustrations illuminate the understated text. Endpages fill in information about a praying mantis’ life cycle.

Stunning, full color photographs combine with rhythmic, lyrical language to celebrate the signs of the new season. Celebrate with children depicted basking in spring’s new growth, holding baby animals, watching and listening to “Spiders spin/Butterlies flit./Bees buzz.” — and preparing gardens for planting. A glossary of terms concludes this handsome book.

As the weather warms farmers’ markets begin to open. Celebrate the start of the season through lively illustrations and short poems that allow communities from large cities to small towns to “…teem with farmers and their goods — /tasty transformations.”

Flowers appear like other things like “Heralding trumpets,/a Mexican hat./Skittering spiders,/a fluttering bat.” But each flower illustrated is real, part of a plant. To make sure readers know this, a photograph accompanied by the common and scientific names as well as where the flower is found and how it is pollinated concludes this intriguing book.

Only the green egg remains unchanged after the pink, blue and yellow eggs hatch; three small birds wait and wait and wait for the fourth egg. After the long wait, a distinctly un-avian creature emerges and a unique friendship begins. Strong lines, soft colors with rounded shapes and repeated images with minimal language tell this distinctive tale of an egg.

Short poems present a range of familiar insects from crickets to Monarch butterflies. Each is accompanied by brief information about the critter (with additional information at the end), and illustrated with playful, animated, colorful art in Melissa Sweet’s charming signature style.

A bee flies through fields of flowers, over woodland streams and more until it winds up in its hive with others. Colorful illustrations fill each double-page spread, each with a die-cut to glimpse what appears on the next page. The rhyming text moves the bee’s saga satisfyingly along. 

An eel from the Sargasso Sea is a fascinating subject as presented in this brief look at an eel’s lifecycle. Further information is included on the CD.

A. A. Milne’s When We Were Very Young is a collection of poems that have touched the hearts of readers for more than 90 years. His verses sing with a playful innocence, weaving together the worlds of reality and enchanting make-believe. Now We Are Six contains an enchanting collection of verses about Christopher Robin and, of course, Winnie-the-Pooh

Don t miss the adventures of Chuck and David, two boys who travel to the alien planet Basidium in their homemade spaceship. This timeless series (in print since the 1950s) is a classic that is sure to be read over and over again.

The Boxcar Children — Jessie, Henry, Violet and Benny — are excited to attend a young astronomers’ convention! But when a student and his important discovery go missing, will the children be able to help?

Laika was the abandoned puppy destined to become Earth’s first space traveler. This is her journey. The author masterfully blends a graphic novel format with fiction and fact in the intertwined stories of three compelling lives. Along with Laika, there is Korolev, once a political prisoner, now a driven engineer at the top of the Soviet space program, and Yelena, the lab technician responsible for Laika’s health and life. An extensive bibliography of sources is appended.

A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny. This wordless picture book is about self-determination — and unexpected friendship.