Book Finder

A baseball game. A kid watching. An outfielder needed. It should be an easy out, but not really when all manner of fantastic things get in the way of catching the ball. What really happens in this a riveting, nearly wordless baseball game is open to interpretation and certainly worthy of multiple examinations.

Even good guys behave badly sometimes and that includes American hero, Abraham Lincoln. Rather than demount old Abe from a pedestal, this historical episode serves to demonstrate that even the best folks make mistakes and that errors can be rectified. Humorously told and expressively illustrated, additional information concludes the tale of Lincoln’s almost-duel.

People collect lots of different things: bugs, art, marbles and more. But Jerome collects words that he heard, saw, or read. When Jerome’s word collection goes flying out of his albums, he learns that words are even more powerful when creatively put together and shared. The pleasure in language is evident in the narrative as well as line and wash illustrations.

What is a maker? “A maker starts with/empty space/ideas/hope/and stuff.” With those things, one can craft a boat, a card, a tie-dye shirt, or even a sock puppet. Poetry, art, and ideas come together in a charming whole to encourage, inspire, and stimulate creativity. Textured illustrations show a range of children creating, sharing and more.

Hippos are denser than water and so sink in water. Plus, they can’t actually swim but push off to “sail through the water like otters.” Interesting factoids about these huge land animals are presented in cartoon illustrations complete with funny asides in conversation bubbles. Further resources are included at the end. The author approaches a furry animal in the same way in The Truth about Bears (opens in a new window).

Did you know that snails build “roads of slimy mucus”, other snails can follow those trails, often to eat together? That snails live everywhere on earth in all types of environments? Find out much more about these amazing — albeit slimy — creatures in this comically illustrated but fascinating glimpse at snails.

One sunny morning, two children bounce out of bed to start counting and exploring insects. What they find — leafhoppers, ladybugs, and more — are presented through rich, rhyming text and in numbers that always add up to 10. Colorful illustrations depict an idyllic countryside and young, cheerful explorers.

Travel with Nate Bell and a group of kids whose adventure begins at the Science Museum. They travel back in time to explore dinosaurs and the eras in which they roamed the earth. Several suggestions for further investigation conclude this lighthearted but informative book.

Joan was not like other girls her age. Rather than parties and such, Joan preferred to visit the Natural History Museum to talk to the curator about reptiles and even her own crocodile. In this fascinating look at an early scientist, readers will meet a unique, perhaps eccentric woman (and her komodo dragon) whose work can be appreciated today.

What would happen if the “S” in the word moose comes loose? And the “E” breaks free? Follow the madcap sequence as the cow, goat and other animals share their ideas. Comical line drawings and wacky scenes play with words for laugh-out-loud silliness.

The true story of four African American women whose talent and tenacity led to careers at NASA is recast for younger readers. The unfairness and dscrimination caused by segregation is presented in an accessible, age appropriate, and engaging way.

When the new lighthouse keeper replaces the old one, he continues the duties: polishing the lens, refilling the oil, and keeping watch for sailors in trouble. With his wife, his life continues until a mechanical light replaces the old one and the family moves to the mainland. Though they say goodbye, the lighthouse continues to say hello. This handsome, delicately illustrated and gently told tale pays homage to early lighthouses and their keepers.

Pete Seeger was a musician, an activist, an environmentalist and more. An overview of his life and work is presented as though a ballad-like narrative almost ready to be sung. Strong, clean lines in black and white with a “golden thread” running through are created by cut paper illustrations for a powerful introduction to Seeger’s life and times.

Even as a kid, Max had a good arm. He even pitched while he served in the Navy where he struck out Joe DiMaggio. The next time he pitched to the star, Joltin’ Joe hit a homerun which is when Max’s career as a baseball clown really started. Meet Max Patkin and follow his unusual baseball career in comic illustrations and straightforward text.

A new year starts every month somewhere in the world. Join the celebrations from Russia to Spain, from Jordan to Chile (plus many more) in lively poems and textured, colorful collage illustrations. Additional information about the celebrations and different calendars concludes this lush, unique fête.

Who is Baby Monkey? Well, he’s a baby and a monkey but one with a job: he’s a Private Eye! Readers will solve the mysteries with Baby Monkey as they carefully examine signature monochromatic sketches interspersed with narrative. The format is wholly original as is the humor and art. (For the less keen-eyed, a key to the visuals is included.)

Nora announces that she and her toy giraffe Jeff are bored. Reluctantly, she takes her grandmother’s advice and soon discovers a Tiger with whom to explore grandma’s lush, jungle-like garden. Richly colored and well told, this is a tale of the power of imagination and play.

A colorful line-up of simply shaped animals opens this book. Sharp-eyes will see the one that is hiding, angry, sleeping, and more on each double page spread. Some are sure to recall “Who’s Who?” on the black pages with only eyes showing. An answer key is provided for the impatient or less observant.

Tasty treats create shapes which turn into an array of creatures with just a few additional lines and a lot of creativity. Baklava Squirrels are made from the edible Greek parallelogram; oval jelly beams make colorful butterflies, and more in this original – and appetizing – look at shapes.

The third brother was a different kind of dinosaur. Rather than a more typical stegosaurus, he was a stegothesaurus who knew lots of words and loved to use them. Then he met an equally loquacious allosaurus and learned how this meat-eater acquired his words! Words and wordplay and simple, silly illustrations will delight both non-dinosaur and dinosaur aficionados.

In this companion to Triangle (opens in a new window), Square’s block is seen and greatly appreciated by Circle. Circle declares that Square is a genius, but is he? This second installment in Barnett’s trilogy is sure to amuse as well as confound.

“Millions of year ago, dinosaurs walked the Earth.” Some were small, some walked on two legs, others on four. An easy text and colorful but simple, dramatic illustrations on double page spreads present a variety of the ancient creatures each clearly labeled. Even today, you can see their bones at museums. Endpapers are used to further extend the informative presentation.

Sapphire was not like other dragons. She had no desire to “crush castles or capture princesses.” But the local residents of a forest shun Sapphire until other fierce and fiery dragons destroy the woods. Almost translucent illustrations in rich, layered colors move the satisfying story to its dramatic conclusion.