Single verbs accompany charming illustrations on each open page of this sturdy book to describe a bear cub at play. Pastel backgrounds allow the strong lines to stand out.
I Play
Various animals don clothing from gloves to hats. Each is presented on the page with a single word.
I Get Dressed
Jack wants to join the child’s tea party but so does a chipmunk. The adventure unfolds wordlessly in soft illustrations.
Jack Wants a Snack
It is a family that makes a house a home described here in rhythmic language and depicted in idealized, soft illustrations.
The House That’s Your Home
Count colorful fruits and veggies from one to 12 as one examines the appealing photographs. This is a fine companion to the author’s Edible Colors (2014).
Edible Numbers
A mother bear teaches her cubs what they’ll need to know as they grow. Lyrical language and gentle illustrations follow the bears over a year.
A Bear’s Year
Music can be magical as Bear discovers when music inspires him to dance – to glide across the wintery landscape. (Part of the Goose and Bear series)
Bear Can Dance!
Child-friendly illustrations bring the additional verses to the familiar rhyme to life in this lively recasting.
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
“There were five of them. And they were waiting…” Though seasons change, each waiting toy is ultimately satisfied and all are surprised by the latest addition. Gentle illustrations and text capture the difficulty of waiting and the pleasure when it is over.
Waiting
The familiar “Wheels on the Bus” has been augmented (e.g., a fire truck goes “woo-oo”), adapted and presented here in Spanish and English. The accompanying illustrations are cheery, adding humor and verve.
¡Vámonos! Lets Go!
Many animals, like people, live in groups. Many of these groups have special words to describe them — from a colony of koalas, to a scurry of squirrels, and even a flamboyance of flamingos. Stunning collage and line illustration of each group march across each double page spread. A bit of information about the animals’ behavior is included in this memorable book.
Tower of Giraffes: Animals in Groups
Two plush toys, Stingray and a buffalo named Lumphy, and Plastic, a red ball, want to play in the snow. And so they do! Lush illustrations and rich language come together in the toys’ first picture book adventure. (The characters were first introduced in longer novels; all are ideal as read-alouds for younger children.)
Toys Meet Snow
How young Sadie manages to deliver the elephant to her Great-Aunt Josephine makes for a laugh inducing romp. The silly story is told through comic illustration and an unassuming text with lots of sound effects.
Special Delivery
Harriet Powers was born into slavery but learned a great deal about fabric and quilting which she used when freed after the Civil War. Her story unfolds in upbeat illustrations and informative text. An author’s note provides additional insight into the artist and her quilts.
Sewing Stories: Harriet Powers’ Journey from Slavery to Artist
The charming black and white pup, Rocket, and other familiar characters from the author are back for an alliterative excursion through the alphabet. Each letter gets its own double page spread on which the letter is highlighted.
R Is for Rocket: An ABC Book
Visit some of London’s landmarks as the palace guards chase down the queen’s hat that the wind blew off her head. Royal head and hat are reunited after the jaunt shared on open pages that use strong line and dashes of color for a regal read.
The Queen’s Hat
As a hurricane approaches, animals and their behavior before a storm are described using the cadence of the familiar rhyme, “Over in the Meadow,” Handsome, realistic illustration evoke the mood of the weather and its impact.
Over in the Wetlands: A Hurricane-on-the-Bayou Story
Bob is a very talented pup who lives with the young narrator and his family. Bob, however, is not a showoff, demonstrating his talent for his family only. The understated, easy-to-read text and lightly colored cartoon line drawings emphasize the humor of Bob’s humility and his family’s affection for him.
My Dog, Bob
Mia must share her room with Abuela but she and her grandmother can’t even speak the same language! How they grow comfortable with each other and learn to communicate – even without language – is affectionately conveyed through Mia’s narration and gentle, warm illustrations.
Mango, Abuela, and Me
Two mice visit each other: the country dweller visits his urban cousin followed by the urban mouse going country after which each decides their own home is best. Handsome illustrations and contemporary language distinguish this retelling of a traditional fable.
Mousetropolis
An economy of words and animated line drawings with a dash of red combines to tell the story of a bear that loses a scarf but finds companionship. Two words describe the satisfying action on each page: Lost. Found
Lost. Found.
Every day holds something for which children and adults can be grateful. This becomes clear in this small book which features dePaola’s signature illustrations in a light colors combined with straightforward, simple language.
Look and Be Grateful
A dozen original lullabies by the author of Good Night Moon are presented here for the first time. Each sweet piece has been newly illustrated by a well-known illustrator in distinctive styles, ranging from Melissa Sweet to Sean Qualls. A CD is included.
Goodnight Songs
Highly realistic portraits for familiar animals from one to 10 are presented with a tidbit of information about where and how they live. But this is more than a simple (and gorgeous) counting book. Each animal is either endangered or threatened; additional information at the end brings readers up to date with each animal’s status.