Book Finder

A trio of wandering, word-loving wombats travel through a rather dull forest, enlivening it with wonderful words and inspiring a young duckling. By the end of their travels, the duckling has motivated others and even created a “duck-tionary” which, of course, is included. The animated language and jaunty illustrations are sure to enthuse young wordsmiths.  

Amos McGee, the old zookeeper from A Sick Day for Amos McGee and Amos McGee Misses the Bus, looks forward to the first snowfall of the season with his animal friends from the city zoo. Together they enjoy playing in snow, ending with hot chocolate for all. The gentle story is enriched by expressive, tender illustrations — another winner from this husband-wife team.

Spot, a Dalmatian dog, and a white cat with tan markings named Dot (from Please Look After This Cat), promote best care practices and understanding basic behaviors. Humor, information, and illustration combine in this engaging presentation. From the Pet Care series — child-friendly and accessible books about common pets that introduce young readers to their care and feeding. 
 

As a girl goes to the market to buy ingredients for wonton soup, she meets others in her village who give her treats. After her errand, she and her mother invite the villagers to join them for soup. The childlike, soft illustrations and simple text underscore the power of community and caring.

Tension builds as a small kitten tries to cross the street on a rainy day during a vehicle-dense commute. But it’s a good day to stop to rescue the tiny feline. Evocative illustrations capture the feel of the wet weather and relief as traffic subsides. 

On an island in Norway, “away from wars and weapons, safe from earthquakes, fire, and even an asteroid” a collection of seeds is preserved underground. How the seed vault was constructed is presented in attractive illustration and an accessible text accompanied by sidebars with additional information. Resources and further information are included.

A child accompanies her grandmother — her nohhum — from the city to Nohhum’s reservation. Nohhum tells the child about the moon calendar, how to listen to the moon with her heart, and the interconnectedness of all things in this moving story from the Indigenous people of Turtle Island. Backmatter includes an author’s note and more, to learn about the different names of the full moons throughout the lunar year.

Emmie is a small mouse with big ideas who lives in an attic, using things no one else wanted to make something new. One day, an interloper arrives: a cat. Rather than scheme to get rid of the cat, Emmie makes a new friend. This fresh take on a traditional rivalry is presented in clever Rube Goldberg-esque illustrations and fresh language.  

Croco, a crocodile, falls into a deep hole. Other animals offer ideas for how he can can get out, and they even work together to rescue Croco … but to no avail. The croc’s tears, however, do the trick! Lush illustrations are highlighted by the book’s vertical format, for a good-humored tale of friendship.

Bear likes his bench, book, cookies, and balloon and is soon asked by friends to share. Bear thinks one way but responds in the name of being polite — until he just can’t anymore! Humor in deadpan expression and the text size of the limited narration together create a witty look at social convention.

Patterns are all around! Patterns can be discovered in sounds, objects, and words that repeat and repeat. To find them, you must look carefully. Boldly colored illustrations outlined in strong black line help readers notice what is sure to become obvious. A thought-provoking and visually rich exploration of the math, art, and emotion of patterns.

Potatoes have the power to feed the world according to Peruvian agronomist Alberto Salas.  Portrayed as a chubby cheeked, balding man in warm-toned illustrations, Alberto Salas travels the Andes to play paka paka (hide and seek) with wild potatoes, working with indigenous people, and trying to get ahead of climate change. Informal text is often humorous but always informative. Also available in Spanish: Alberto Salas juega a la paka paka con la papa.

A jaunty rhyme describes the pleasure of bananas starting with the smile-like shape to the and ways to eat them. Bright illustrations with an occasional die-cut enhance the feel of this bright yellow fruit.

Who ate the little bug? Boldly shaped animals are eliminated with each page turn as die-cut circles decrease in size until the final spread with the ladybug perched on a young nose. This colorful book is presented in a sturdy format with its question and answers.

A child and her parents enjoy bundling up and playing in freshly fallen snow. Childlike illustrations in bold form accompany the simple text.

This handsome collection with boldly colored illustrations complements familiar (plus some not-so-familiar) rhymes and poems, sure to delight listeners and readers alike. A QR code takes readers to an audio of the book.

Peggy — an energetic toddler — and her patient grandfather go for a walk in the woods together. Peggy watches a small snail, jumps in a mud puddle, and slides down a hill, with Granddad patiently watching. When it’s time to return home, Granddad’s strong legs carry the tired child. 

Meet various vehicles (e.g., a fire truck, a train, and even a helicopter) each with their own personality as they each do their specific jobs. The simple illustrations each include something to touch, such as the rough rubbery wheel of a tractor.

Here are little squirrel, raccoon, hedgehog, and mouse … but where are you? Lift the flap to reveal a small mirror until the final spread. The animals ask where the Little Baby is. Unfold the sturdy page to discover a larger mirror and a greeting from all of the animals.

It looks like rain so Little Chick asks different animals for a dry place to wait until it stops. Young fingers can feel the wool of the goat, the chick’s soft feathers, and so on until it finds a place in the cozy barn with a horse. 

Readers will help baby critters find home as a disc is moved around on the pages of this sturdy board book. Along each short journey, they can identify other familiar items. For young travelers, the same format is used in Make Tracks In the Sky by Johnny Dyrander to introduce five vehicles that fly, one all the way to space!

A lost duckling is helped by a dog who in turn needs help. Each familiar animal is assisted by another until the duckling helps the horse find fresh water and begins the story again! Cozy illustrations and repeated text make this just right for young listeners.

A classic picture book about a chimpanzee in a very bad mood — perfect for young children learning how to deal with confusing feelings. Jim the chimpanzee is in a terrible mood for no good reason. His friends can’t understand it — how can he be in a bad mood when it’s SUCH a beautiful day? They have lots of suggestions for how to make him feel better. But Jim can’t take all the advice…and has a BIT of a meltdown. Could it be that he just needs a day to feel grumpy? The story brings hilarity and levity to this very important lesson on emotional literacy, demonstrating to kids that they are allowed to feel their feelings.

A sweet lesson as one little boy learns an effective recipe for turning a best enemy into a best friend. It was the perfect summer. That is, until Jeremy Ross moved into the house down the street and became neighborhood enemy number one. Luckily, Dad had a surefire way to get rid of enemies: Enemy Pie. But part of the secret recipe is spending an entire day playing with the enemy! In this funny and endearing children’s book, filled with charming illustrations, kids learn about dealing with conflict as well as the difficulties, and ultimate rewards, of making new friends.