Book Finder

Poppa worries that the family’s old car won’t make it, but the children convince him otherwise and so begins the summer outing — a real celebration of family and fun and even the old family car!

Seven-year old Roberta is sent to her grandparents’ home in North Carolina when her pregnant mother is put on bed rest. This sensitive story captures an earlier time and the honest emotion of a childhood fears and joys.

Regardless of where they live or what they look like, all families have much in common. They all cook, eat, play, and celebrate together as seen in engaging photographs and described through crisp text.

The young narrator helps Daddy by finding the tools and materials for a special project. Sturdy pages with flaps encourage participation and make a game of sharing the book.

Mama has three kittens. Fluffy and Skinny do things when their mama does, but not Boris who marches to his beat. Readers will recognize themselves in this satisfying and brilliantly colored picture book.

Katie is keen observer and a curious third grader. So when her dad explains why he finds spelling difficult, Katie wants to investigate. She learns that her very intelligent dad, a lawyer, has dyslexia — probably like a couple of Katie’s classmates. Expressive line and wash illustrations enhance the engaging, illuminating story. Part of The Adventures of Everyday Geniuses series.

Judy Moody’s little brother, Stink, helps find homes for rescued guinea pigs. Along the way Stink and his friends learn about caring for the critters as well as a bit about responsibility — with loads of laughs for readers along the way.

Three sisters — Joey, Stevie, and Alex (ages 8, 10, and 12) — each contribute to the telling through journal entries and their own narration to reveal a talented, energetic family. Journal entries in child-like writing vary the format and introduce a bubbly dimension.

In 1950’s Appalachia, the Collins family leads a hard existence. The youngest sister, Carolina, is adrift, when her guitar-playing cousin, Tadpole, unexpectedly arrives. Tadpole’s beautiful singing and positive outlook inspire the family, but when they learn he’s on the run from an abusive uncle, they worry the uncle will come and take Tadpole away.

In this celebration of dads, heartwarming illustrations of baby animals and their fathers remind us of the many reasons why dads are so special.

Stink’s real name is James, just like President James Madison. And like Madison, Stink is short — a notion constantly reinforced by his older sister Judy. Stink, however, learns how to cope with it while along the way learning about U.S. presidents.

Sophisticated readers (and fans of Lemony Snicket) will appreciate the sly humor and word play in this outrageously funny take-off on novels of yesteryear. Here, the Willoughby children must overcome their self-centered parents who ultimately meet their rightful — and very satisfying — end.

For one glorious, hot summer week, James went to stay with his friend Eamon’s grandparents so the boys could go to a nature camp. Though the boys seem to prefer playing video games and staying indoors, the truth is in the comic illustration. Adults will recall summer vacation while young readers will enjoy its unbridled joy.

Annie and her big (big) brother Simon have a special relationship. Simon is very patient and quite the opposite of his sister, but together they share summertime adventures, including Annie getting a bee sting and going out in a boat to hear a loon. Cartoon-like illustrations complement each short chapter in this warm book.

A young otter named Otto does many things well, but swimming isn’t one of them. With the help of his sister, Otto does learn to swim well, little by little. Idealized illustrations and a gentle text help the satisfying story to unfold.

Instead of taking a nap, Carl, the loveable large dog, and his human charge, Madeline, use the time to go boating, explore the playground, and even play a bit of baseball. Tired out, dog and toddler sleep through dinner and fireworks. Their adventures are related through realistic watercolor illustration.

Benny is busy being a pirate and doesn’t want to play with his little sister. But when Penny seems to be lost, Benny realizes that sometimes playing alone isn’t all that much fun. Words and illustration in a comic book-like format create an appealing, short novel for emerging readers.

Bonnie takes ballet classes while her little sister, Sylvie, waits outside for her. That is, until Sylvie follows Bonnie in one day and wins a place in the class. The warm relationship between the girls is revealed through Bonnie’s voice. Expressive illustrations are sure to be appreciated by dancers and non-dancers alike.

Colorful, cartoon-like illustrations clearly depict signs with mealtime meaning. From “eat” to “all done” (with more in between), the simple signs can easily be shared with young children to aid communication or just for a different way of sharing.

Everyday is an adventure with a silly baby who gets switched at the zoo, the circus, and other places. When the silly baby is retrieved by mom, that happy child makes joyful noises all the way to bedtime — or playtime! The jaunty illustrations complement the predictable adventure.

A penguin parent and child celebrate the everyday pleasures of hugging, playing, dancing, and the kiss good night. Now in a bilingual board book, both languages appear in different colors on the bold, uncluttered pages.

Grandparents and grandchildren share something special everywhere. Here the universal story of a grandmother and her granddaughter is made unique as it reflects their Hawaiian life and style.

Two boys nicknamed Squirrel and Bear are best buddies. Bear’s rhyming narration chronicles how they play outside all year round — swimming, splashing in puddles, rolling in snow, and more. Lighthearted illustrations recount the boys’ mutual affection and their play.

A rhyming text combines with tender photographs of animals and their young, concluding with how humans show affection for each other. Not only is this an interesting way to introduce families, but additional information about animals and their young is included in this warm book.