Book Finder

One morning, the young narrator cannot find his much loved toy, Bongo. He finally finds it but comes up with a smart plan to prevent Bongo from running away again. Lushly hued, expressive illustrations and a narration that incorporates Spanish words and phrases create a memorable family story.

A walking octopus? A swimming elephant? A flying snake?  Yes! Animals move in varied, unexpected ways. Stunning collage illustrations and informative text present a range of animals and how they move. Additional information about where these animals live is included.

Though Flora has danced with a flamingo (Flora & the Flamingo) and even a penguin (Flora & the Penguin), this is her first dance with 2 handsome peacocks with huge tails.  How they manage their performance and develop a friendship is revealed in lush illustrations, flaps and a huge foldout but no words.

A boy and his dog go fishing on a boat and catch a large red F. After a great deal of struggle, the pair catches other letters and hurry back to shore for a surprising FINISH. The limited palette of the cartoon illustrations effectively accentuates the boy’s heroic efforts and satisfying end.

What is wild? Can it be found only outside of the city or does the city hold a bit of natural wild?  Lush illustrations and suggestive language raise questions about what wild really is and where it can be found. 

Join a young girl as she travels around her city noticing different shapes on buses, kites, and more. Collage and paint illustrations and a lyrical text create a memorable journey while encouraging close observation.

Animals sound different in other languages just like people do! Here, handsome folk art presents similar but distinguishable folk creations of familiar animals and what they sound like in English and in Spanish on opposing pages. Readers are asked “can you repeat the sound?”

To visit grandparents, a family travels to the airport, boards the plane, and flies to their sunny destination. What is seen along the way is noted in crisp text and straightforward, appealing illustrations. A missing toy monkey adds a satisfying subplot to follow visually.

Look at some of the amazing animals found near or in the ocean in colorful, sometimes sparkly illustration. Lift the flap; touch the texture to find out a bit more about them in this sturdy, appealing, and informative, surprisingly sophisticated book.

Meet a grand old woman who lives in a shoe with lots and lots of children. She also makes stew for the diverse cast of kids (and animals), mends their clothes, and fixes broken furniture! A well-known rhyme becomes new again in bright illustration and fresh verse.

Join the train as it begins its rhythmic, rhyming counting expedition. It starts with one engine and a happy bear and ending with the caboose with 10 windows and a “goodnight!” wish. Colors are presented in the same format in Steam Train, Dream Train Colors.

Crisp color photographs of living creatures not only encourages counting from 1 to 10 but introduces a range of animals. Find a similar use of photographs in Colors (opens in a new window), another title in the series.

A satisfied cat presents both the inside and outside of its house as well as a human companion. The author/illustrator uses his signature flat, bright illustrations and straightforward language.   

A helpful but slightly confused cement truck mixes a cake and icing before blending cement and finally helping the other trucks clean up.  Bold forms and bright colors add humor to the gentle tale.

Superheroes in brightly colored uniforms are used to introduce young children to colors.  The green Hulk wears “purple pants” while Captain America sports “white stars.” 

Familiar things easily found are presented in a small size using high contrast pictures to engage the youngest child.  Illustrations are stylized but recognizable (e.g., sun, moon) in black, white, and a touch of red.

What do you get when a crocodile is crossed with a hippopotamus?  A crocopotamus, of course!  Split images on sturdy pages encourage the creation of new and imaginative creatures.

Watch the bright hot rod “brrrroommm” and the taxi “skreeeek!” across the elongated pages of this sturdy board book.  The lively sounds present an animated cacophony of vehicles that go! 

Small hands can trace shapes of young animals while discovering other tidbits about them. Simple, bright forms on sturdy pages with related words make this an engaging, multisensory experience.  Also in the series, similarly presented and equally appealing, is Homes (opens in a new window).

Itty Bitty is a very, very tiny dog. But when he finds an enormous bone, he goes straight to work, gnawing out doors and windows and hollowing out the entire inside. When his work is done, however, his cavernous house still feels incomplete. Where can he find some itty-bitty things that will make this bone a home?

A donkey announces excitedly, “I yam a donkey!” Unfortunately the donkey’s audience happens to be a yam, and one who is particular about sloppy pronunciation and poor grammar. An escalating series of misunderstandings leaves the yam furious and the clueless donkey bewildered by the yam’s growing (and amusing) frustration.

In this funny, poignant graphic novel memoir, Bell chronicles her hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with the Phonic Ear, a very powerful — and very awkward — hearing aid. The Phonic Ear gives Cece the ability to hear — sometimes things she shouldn’t — but also isolates her from her classmates. After some trouble, she is finally able to harness the power of the Phonic Ear and become “El Deafo, Listener for All.” And more importantly, declare a place for herself in the world and find the friend she’s longed for.

The famous toy actor, Sock Monkey, has been nominated for an Oswald Award. But to attend the ceremony, he must do something terrifying — he must take a bath. Luckily, his three best pals — Miss Bunn, Froggie, and Blue Pig — know just what to do to help Sock Monkey become fresh and clean … and maybe win his very own Oswald!