Book Finder

Not only did Edith Houghton play baseball in 1912, she played when she was only 10 years old!  As an adult, Edith became a baseball scout, looking for other baseball talent. Her little-known story is well told and handsomely illustrated.

Loggerhead turtles are confused by artificial lights on the beach. A group of children work to turn them out so that turtle hatchlings can follow the moon to the sea. The story of how children became activists and can continue to contribute positively is engagingly presented.  Suggestions conclude this attractive, can-do book.

Sarah Roberts lived in Boston in 1847 but was prevented from attending school. While her family finally won the right for Sarah to go to the all-white school, the struggle for desegregation continued. This little-known story of one child’s impact on history is accessible in text and touching, realistic watercolor illustrations. Additional information is appended.

How Bruce Wayne became Batman is told in a picture book (not comic book). Muth’s well-crafted watercolor illustrations are dramatic accompanied by a brief telling of how young Bruce overcomes his fears of the dark by falling into a bat cave.

A colony of penguins, a pod of whales, a formation of rocks, and other groups of animate and inanimate things bring a lonely child to his own group. The joyful reunion creates a family. Stylized illustrations are rich with humor and liveliness, deserving of many readings.

Energetic illustrations depict a day in the life of animals on the African savanna. They lunge and trot, leap and scurry as they hunt and are hunted. The animals’ speeds are noted in a concluding note. 

When the zoo closes at dark, a monkey opens his cage to explore. It sees a hairy lion and a bald hippo; noisy monkeys and a quiet turtle and more. When the sun comes up, the monkey’s door closes and the zoo opens for visitors. Playful, evocative illustrations complement the charming zoo and its varied inhabitants.

This Old MacDonald not only has a farm with animals (E-I-E-I-O!) but lots of construction equipment (like a bulldozer and an excavator) and, happily, a handy Mrs. MacDonald who fixes them! Comic illustrations add humor, surprise, and spirit to the recognizable cadence of the story.

Becoming a family can be hard, especially when the child doesn’t look like his/her parent. A small puppy narrates how “Mom is learning how to be my mom and I am learning how to be Mom’s kid. We are learning how to be a family.” Soft illustrations and gentle text tell an encouraging story.

Mira brings color and builds community through her beautiful art which she first gives to individuals and then has them contribute their own paintings. Based on an Urban Art Trail in San Diego, the animated illustrations evoke Mexican folk art while remaining child-like. 

Marisol McDonald likes the letter M and most words that begin with it. Except for MONSTER. The night noises Marisol hears turnout not to be a monster at all. The satisfying story is recognizable, reassuring and entertaining, presented in both English and Spanish. 

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.