Book Finder

What makes a bird different from other animals that also have a beak, wings, and lay eggs? It is feathers, of course — bright or dull, on birds tall or small. Easy text and realistic illustrations show familiar and less well known birds in this appealing and informative book.

Follow a honeybee as it travels to a prairie in bloom to gather nectar and return to let other bees know of the place. Bold collages of honeybees from varied perspectives present the environment and hive. Additional information about the honeybee dance concludes this compelling look at a fascinating process.

It’s summer! A family of five (plus dog) pack up their van and head to the beach, unpack and begin their first day of vacation. Watercolors depict the exuberant family and are a fine complement to the staccato, rhyming text.

This ode to building a house from the ground up features six kinds of craftsmen and the 24 tools they use, accurately labeled. The answer to each inquiring refrain is revealed under a gatefold, seven in all, engaging the reader in an informative guessing game.

Although the booming storm frightens Bear, the cub tries different things by himself and with his parents, until the weather passes. Reassuringly, each kiss, snuggle, or song lets him feel better.

From planting to harvesting, Stanley grows wheat on a large farm. Cartoon illustrations of the charming hamster-as-farmer present a straightforward, simplified look at typical activities.

Spot explores familiar shapes that can be seen in a child’s everyday life — a book is square, for example. Shapes and objects are presented in easy language and a signature-style of illustration.

Die-cuts in concentric circles on sturdy boards are used to focus on a small sand crab’s beach. Small fingers can animate the crab with a finger puppet that is affixed to the book.

“Chirp!” says a big-eyed bird; “Slurp!” responds the anteater. Animals both familiar and more exotic greet each other with one rhyming sound on opposite sides of each colorful spread.

From 10 to one, guinea pigs celebrating a birthday are eliminated one-by-one through recognizable (but minor) disasters. With a wish, however, the 10 are reunited to continue the playful celebration.

From morning to bedtime, cuddly animals echo young children, their feelings and appearance. Rhythmic language and soft, textured illustration add to the fun and verve of the day.

One by one, five googly-eyed little chooky chicks come together to pull a stubborn worm but need the help of a big rooster. Energetic language and jaunty illustrations reveal the surprise.

A long format is ideal to introduce boats large and small and the sounds they make as they “chum-splish” and “GRRRRR BRRRR…” across the sturdy, colorful pages of this lively book.

A puppy meets different animals asking each if she is his mother. Each responds in the negative but names her young — calf, duckling, etc. — until the puppy and his mommy are reunited.

What can you see at the beach? Lift the flap to find out then make repeat the animal’s sounds in this bright, playful book sturdy enough for young hands.

A boy in a fedora uses his pen to travel, grow, “make giants of old men/who have seen better days” (an homage to his late father, Walter Dean Myers), and visit places real and imagined. Black and white line drawings and sophisticated, poetic language effectively convey the power of art and imagination and are sure to spark conversation.

Pearl, a bonnet-wearing pig in pink, finds a magic bone that fell from a witch’s basket. Can she and the magic bone save Pearl from the jaws of a hungry fox? Cartoon illustration and exceptional language make this a must to read aloud.

Is it one story or four? Is it about cows, commuters, a thief, or a boy? Careful reading and re-reading is required to tell. Warning: it may take young readers to explain how this clever Caldecott-winning book works!

Serafina Sow returns from her retirement in the Gulf of Pasta to help her three pig offspring to defeat the big bad wolf, Tempesto. Elements of the more traditional story are here (houses of brick, straw and sticks) but made fresh and funny (such as the family business of waffle-making) in this creative recasting of an old tale illustrated in the artist’s signature style.

Tacky is an odd bird, very unlike his friends and colleagues. But it is Tacky’s peculiarities that save he and his friends from hungry predators. Humor is created by offbeat illustrations of Tacky’s behavior and clever language.

A tenacious bird finally inspires Rocket, a small white dog with black spots, to learn to read and spell. Children will empathize with Rocket as they see the expressive illustrations and hear the straightforward telling showing the passage of seasons but Rocket’s gradual ability to read.

Ahmed must carry his secret with him as he does his chores throughout the bustling, colorful streets of Cairo. Later in the day with his family all around him, Ahmed shares his wonderful secret: he can write his name in Arabic. Mild tension will keep children guessing what it is that Ahmed carries with him and detailed realistic watercolors are sure to inspire discussion.

Cheerful, childlike depictions of Maria and her much loved llama set the familiar rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, in a Peruvian village. The little white llama follows Maria to school, makes the children laugh, but with a distinctive and unique setting and characters in a familiar cadence.

Little Llama Llama has a major meltdown when he tires of shopping with Mama in the shop-o-rama. But Mama Llama is smart and figures out how do end the llama drama. The rhyming text shares not only a common experience but a great deal of llama wisdom all told with good humor and rhyme.