Book Finder

From one child to many creatures in different locations, life on earth is very diverse but delicate. This important message is gently delivered in lyrical text and highly detailed line and wash illustrations.

When small letter i’s dot falls off, Little i sets off to find it. Savvy readers will appreciate the send off and what Little i sees and experiences (such as the exciting and loud exclamation mark). Rich colors in textured illustrations present an artfully humorous alphabetic story.

Elizabeth “Libba” Cotton heard music all around her growing up in North Carolina. She became a self-taught guitarist using her brother’s instrument until he moved. Her musical talent remained hidden until it was uncovered after she started working for Pete Seeger. Libba’s story is told effectively with swirling text and soft illustrations in a limited palette. 

A girl’s search for friendship becomes an adventure as she travels with her song, “la la la”, as her only company. Richly hued, radiant illustrations reveal the girl’s journey. A note from both the author and illustrator provides insight into this multilayered, memorable, nearly wordless story.

Join the young koala’s search for a safe place to live and eat when he outgrows his mother’s pouch. A dramatic text on realistically illustrated pages is accompanied by additional factual information in a different font to both engage and inform.

Two children walk across an autumn landscape greeting birds, animals, leaves and more. Gradually, the season changes and the now-bundled up kids greet the signs of winter. Soft illustrations and lyrical text gracefully evoke the evolution of seasons.

The daring Duck on a Bike wowed the other animals as he rode around the farm. This time, they all join him on the tractor into town! Ebullient artwork and repeating phrases create a rollicking adventure for Duck and company to the amazement of townspeople.

A child finds a book atop a bin “free to a good home.” At home, the girl ignores the warning and does the martial arts poses calling to life a succession of animals causing chaos. Soon after she cleans up the mess, her mother walks in with a surprise: zoo tickets! Inspired by her son’s martial arts study, McClintock’s illustrations call to mind Asian art.

A child and his mother see the moon peek in and between the buildings as they take a nighttime walk. Though it appears in different places, it is the same moon that watches over the sleeping child when he returns to go to bed. Dark pages with uncluttered forms are punctuated by light to delight.

When a whale becomes caught in fishing net, the father is concerned about how he will provide for his family. His son, however, is determined to set the huge mammal free. Against his father’s wishes, he returns to the entrapped whale and successfully frees it. Shimmering illustrations present a compelling story of compassion and courage.

Jinnee lives by the seaside and is quite magical. Using her magic, for her sons she created little house in a big city, a very special train, a steam shovel that saves the day, and more. The fictionalized biography of author/illustrator Jinnee, better known as Virginia Lee Burton, is presented to bring her work into focus. This is sure to introduce a new generation to books such as The Little House, Choo Choo, and Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel.

Even the worst bad seed can become better. Just ask the sunflower seed who became a seriously BAAAAD seed when the petals fell and he was almost eaten by a giant! Now he again says thank you and at least tries to be better. Readers will appreciate the broad humor in overstated text and illustration and just might see part of themselves in the bad seed.

Although Baabwaa likes to knit and Wooliam likes to read, they both long for an adventure. They find a different and quite literary adventure when they meet a “rambunctious” wolf in sheep’s clothing in this hilarious story with equally funny, expressive watercolor illustrations.

After his initial fall and being put back together, Humpty Dumpty becomes more fragile. He’s now afraid of heights but longs to fly. How he climbs back to the top of the wall and is able to go beyond is surprising and exhilarating. Illustrations from varied perspectives add depth and dimension to an inventive story.

Fox realizes that winter is coming as the first snowflakes fall on its nose. Forest dwellers from the smallest to the largest offer advice, but when the fox meets its companion, they do what foxes do in winter: dance! Textured illustrations accompany the well-paced narration to suggest animal behavior and simple delight.

Baby Lincoln decides to go on a ‘necessary journey’ away from her bossy older sister, Eugenia. Baby returns with lots of stories and a sister who missed her. Fans or newcomers to the Deckawoo Drive series are sure to enjoy this charming, gentle, and very funny story.

Vincent Van Gogh often had trouble sleeping. As a child, his parents fussed but Vincent continued to travel in his imagination, which precluded sleep. Glowing illustrations suggest the artist’s style and a rhythmic text provides an engaging introduction to Van Gogh and his powerful paintings. An author’s note includes additional information as well as images of several of Van Gogh’s paintings.

A small, underfed horse was found by a group of Marines during the Korean War. She was named Sergeant Reckless for her courage and willingness to carry ammunition into battle. The story of this faithful, brave animal is presented in a gripping narration and realistic (though not explicit) illustrations. 

All the other kids have pirate costumes for their adventures while the narrator has one like Robinson Crusoe. When teased about it, he heads to his bedroom where he dreams he is marooned on an island, savoring the solitary adventure until his friends return. Signature illustrations are evocative, detailed, and delicate, accompanied by brief but effective narration.

A boy on a bike spies a red book by the side of the road. As he reads it in his chilly seaside village, he sees a girl in a boat in a much warmer place reading a red book, and so on. Could children be connected by a book? No words are needed in this intriguing, surprisingly sophisticated story which unfolds through illustrations in a companion volume to The Red Book.

Pigeon has given up his private detective work. That is until a young canary goes missing along with other colorful birds. Young mystery lovers will enjoy the humor and graphic comic elements in this comical mystery.

A vivid imagination helped Miguel Cervantes to grow beyond a tough childhood and to create a cultural icon: Don Quixote. Luminous illustrations and rich poetry follow young Miguel to adulthood where his creativity triumphs. A note about Cervantes from the author and illustrator conclude this stunning book.

The legendary battles between Rock, Paper, and Scissors started long ago in the Kingdom of Backyard, the Empire of Mom’s Home Office, and in the Kitchen Realm. Exaggerated, expressive, and over-the-top illustrations bring the tale of the saga that is still plays out on hands everywhere.

They’re all gone now but a group of dinosaurs comes back to life even if only while reading funny epitaphs. Equally comic illustrations and a smattering of factual information are included on the pages of this clever collection.