When snow starts falling, the perfectly normal animals on Farmer Pumpernickel’s farm start acting strangely; they catch snowflakes on their tongues! Eventually, even the farmer himself gets with the rhythm. Rhyming text accompanied by comical illustrations will make a joyful read aloud.
Snowflakes on Our Tongues
What happens when round-headed kids are asked to play with triangles, rectangles, and other shapes. Can they come up with something entirely new? Where else can these shapes be found? The simple comic format and straightforward art are ideal in showing shapes all around and may lead to hands-on activities with more shapes.
Shapes and Shapes
A girl thinks everyone else in her family is smarter and more talented that she is. The girl thinks she messes up whatever she touches, even her grandmother’s nesting dolls. Her wise grandmother helps her understand that not all family members have the same gifts or look alike, but each is an important part of the same family. The author explores her own Gullah Geechee background in this touching and universal story.
Nesting Dolls
One single red apple hangs on a tree. One by one, animals see it and greedily declare it “Mine!” Only a nonplussed possum willing to share it with the apple’s resident worm winds up with the prize. Alliterative, animated, onomatopoeic language is paired with strong lines and color for a jaunty, delightful book to read aloud.
Mine!
Micah knows that his new sister Lily is a Martian. His fears are confirmed by his cousin Maxwell and doubly so when Lily goes to school with Micah for show-and-tell! Humor abounds in this out-of-this-world sibling story.
Invader from Mars: The Truth About Babies
Readers are asked to count to one. Just one elephant. Just one sausage (on a whale’s spout, with a second whale nearby). Just one fly (atop 3 bowls of soup). Sly humor on each colorful page will have young readers chortling and counting beyond just one!
How to Count to 1
A boy, his dog, and elephant set out to find Dinosaur in the big city. One must be very observant! Readers will quickly see Dinosaur on every page long before the boy does. The gentle watercolor illustrations are filled with humorous details of ubiquitous dinos and onlookers surprised to see an elephant with the boy and his dog. This is a clever follow-up to Barrow’s equally engaging, Have You Seen Elephant? (opens in a new window).
Have You Seen Dinosaur?
Together Gift and Box were a package on the way to a child from her grandmother. “Gift’s purpose was to delight. Box’s purpose was to protect.” They both arrived safely, and brought joy to the young Sofia! Imaginative illustrations on what appears to be cardboard depict packages’ long journey in an amusing, reassuring way.
Gift & Box
Doris, a performing horse, steps out of her comfort zone to find out what is twinkling beyond. She feels the “moonness” and soon is joined by a brown pony and together they dance off. Swirling illustrations combine with limited text that whirls across the pages in this joyful celebration.
Doris
Will JoJo ever be able to dance the national dance of the Philippines as easily as his grandmother? As he watches and practices, he begins to learn how to let the rhythm move through him and he dances the tininkling! Warm illustrations complement the lively text, evoking the sense of movement and joy.
Dancing the Tinikling
A young scientist explains to a caterpillar what it will be when it grows out of this stage of its life. With clear illustrations, accessible language, and lots of humor, science comes to life in the hands of the creator who wrote the informative and equally engaging The Real Poop on Pigeons and Snails Are Just My Speed.
Caterpillars: What Will I Be When I Get to Be Me?
Dance along with the residents of an apartment building: reggaeton, salsa, tango, and more! Jaunty language and bright, naive-style illustrations make music of their own, but also can be heard or watched via video when linked to the accompanying website.
Boogie in the Bronx
Brief information is placed on open pages with lots of white space to highlight portraits of baby dinosaurs that are seriously cute and seriously funny. The baby T-rex — “tyrant lizard king“ — is placed in a bejeweled royal crown, with a partial view of a huge parent looking down at the fuzzy baby. Additional information and comparative size chart conclude this informative, amusing book.
Big Babies
Folk art and crisp language introduce the human heart to readers (along with some interesting tidbits about other creatures’ hearts). Accessibly written by a pediatric cardiologist, this handsome book can be read from cover to cover or dipped in and out of.
All About the Heart
Will the runaway pea become a snack for one of the animals it rolls by? Illustrations call to mind folk art in this rollicking translation from the French. The tale is likely to hold up to multiple readings and may inspire young gardeners!
Roll, Roll, Little Pea
Short, mostly familiar rhymes and lullabies are gently illustrated by textured embroidered images, just right to remind adults of the power of short rhymes meant to be shared with the youngest.
Read to Your Baby Every Night
Marta is una niña, an ordinary girl, who is sometimes big when compared to a bug; sometimes small next to an elephant. The charming child is presented in a sturdy format with words in both English and Spanish.
Marta! Big & Small
One side of the accordion folds out to show a range of human faces (plus one canine). Infants can see familiar toys and objects on the other side of the foldout. Sturdy pages and bright, simple illustrations are just right for the youngest to examine again and again.
Look: A Tummy Time Book
Young Leo and his dad enjoy a day exploring nature, observing small creatures, and looking at trees and animals. Realistic illustrations and simple language enhance the shared joy.
Leo on a Hike
Parents welcome their new little one, examining the baby’s face and describing its features in Spanish. Cozy illustrations and the welcoming narration conclude with a glossary (just in case it’s not clear from the images!).
I Love You, Baby Burrito
Around the world, grandparents and grandchildren share everyday activities but most important of all, they share lots of love. Warm families are depicted in each color photograph in the latest addition of the Global Babies series.
Global Baby Grandparents
A small dog and tiny cat are best of friends, playing all day, until one day Tao is hurt. George misses Tao very much until the friends are reunited, one with a bandage and gentler play. Simple but evocative illustrations complement the effective, brief narrative.
George & Tao
Tired of the same Old MacDonald’s farm? Add donuts and a greedy crocodile alongside a take-charge rooster and it’s a new tune! Silliness is the word (and picture) on this farm as children will sing along with the rousing E-I-E-I-O!
Croc-a-Doodle Doo!
Following each rhyming clues is the animal that inspired various inventions such as snowshoes and water fins. More familiar inventions are followed by lift-the-flaps to intrigue or confound more sophisticated readers.