“Hello, Stranger-Friend” begins Maya Angelou’s story about Thandi, a South African Ndebele girl, her mischievous brother, her beloved chicken, and the astonishing mural art produced by the women of her tribe. With never-before-seen photographs of the very private Ndebele women and their paintings, this unique book shows the passing of traditions from parent to child and introduces young readers to a new culture.
My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me
Originally read at the 2005 White House tree-lighting ceremony and published as a Christmas book for adults, Angelou’s stirring poem is presented alongside convivial winter scenes in a picture book intended for young readers, but whose message and splendid artwork will appeal to all ages. Angelou celebrates the spirit of the season — a time to learn to look beyond complexion and see community — with a resonating call for hope, unity, and, above all, peace. [Booklist]
Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem
Renowned poet Maya Angelou’s text urges us to face what frightens us, whether it is real or imaginary. Haitian-American artist Jean Michel Basquiat’s full-color paintings capture just how challenging it is to be brave.
Life Doesn’t Frighten Me
As seasons change, Alice and her friend, Zack, notice changes in the length of the day. Together with Alice’s little brother, the children examine the changing seasons as they observe birds, animal tracks, and more. Two articulate chickens named Maisy and Daisy add a bit of whimsical humor as well as scientific detail in this winning and enlightening book.
Secrets of the Seasons
Growing up is not easy, even for a small seed. But with encouragement from a bespectacled worm, a frightened seed pushes on and up and develops into a handsome flower. Rhyming text and cartoon line drawings suggest the challenges of sprouting — both literally and figuratively — while presenting a saga in which many children will see themselves.
Rooting for You
“I am a plant eater,” announces a boy with a wide grin eating munching on a slice of watermelon and surrounded by a harvest of fruits and vegetables. He then introduces where, how, and the different parts of what he (and we) eat. Cheery, informative illustrations are clearly labeled and correspond to the straightforward, engaging text.
Plants Feed Me
Birds craft surprisingly unique nests. Brief verses introduce different birds and how their nest is made complemented by equally engaging but concise factual information in a different typeface. Memorable illustrations are realistic, made of cut paper collages placed on uncluttered pages.
Mama Built a Little Nest
Water is essential for all life on earth. In the author’s signature style, the water cycle, clouds, and more are introduced. Straightforward language and characteristic illustrations include maps, cautions, and additional tidbits of information about rain and related topics.
It’s Raining
The mayor of Food Town introduces each of the five groups: grains, vegetables, fruit, protein, and dairy. Each personified group parades through town with its relatives. Humorous illustrations of foods with personality, all labeled, are used with an understated text to present palatable nutrition information. A bit more easily digestible information ends the book.
The Food Parade: Healthy Eating with Nutritious Food Groups
Seasons are celebrated from spring when “Rain beats down,/roots stretch up…” to a cold winter night as “A welcome mat of moonlight/on the floor…” entices a child to snuggle in a warm bed. Accessible, jewel-toned illustrations add setting and movement to a wide range of appealing and very short poems.
Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems
Fog is the only type of cloud that is close enough to feel; all other clouds can only be seen. Folk art and crisp text brings different types of clouds into focus for budding scientists. Cloud facts and directions for making a cloud in a jar conclude this informative and engaging introduction to clouds, weather, and observation.
Clouds
While children cavort through a sprinkler on a suburban lawn, animals thrive or survive in other habitats (desert, field, wetland, and seaside). The same sun has a different effect in different places on all living creatures presented in a clear text and handsome, realistic, detailed illustrations.
Beneath the Sun
From sunup to sundown in all types of weather, a small tugboat helps much larger ships into the New York harbor. Realistic illustrations and a crisp text present basic information about the tug and the ships it assists.
Tugboat
Trains carry commuters and cargo; some travel in cities, others go places where there are no roads. Travel on trains through lively language and delicate but detailed illustrations. An author’s note reveals she traveled by train to inform the reader and to let her imagination soar.
Train
Rhythmic language and lively illustration invite readers to join a mother and her child as they travel on the subway. The young girl enjoys the sights and sounds of a diverse city when they travel uptown by going “down, down, down.”
Subway
Pokerfaced Pete the cat sings the traditional song with his guitar as he travels the farm in a red pickup truck and his big green tractor. Deadpan illustrations add verve and humor to the familiar tune and farm animal sounds.
Pete the Cat: Old MacDonald Had a Farm
Joe drives his car to his bus where he picks up five dogs and five cats, then drops some off to continue their travel by boat, plane, and train. Boldly colored illustrations and broad shapes much like the author used in My Car (opens in a new window) are sure to appeal.
My Bus
They met in the middle, the workers who built the railway across the United States. The narration speaks directly to readers which follows two unnamed children journey to California. Combined with richly detailed illustration, this dramatic, informative journey is the winner of the 2014 Caldecott Medal. (2014 Caldecott Medal Winner)
Locomotive
Mr. Small enjoys the view from his small aircraft. This is one of Lenski’s now classic “Little” picture books all of which are characterized by simple line illustrations and an unpretentious, straightforward story.
The Little Airplane
Bulldozer was the first to get up when Little Green rolled into town and yelled GO which continued until Little Red came to town and hollered STOP. Red and Green are later joined by Little Yellow’s SLOW DOWN. Vehicles with personality populate this funny, vehicle-filled saga.
Go! Go! Go! Stop!
Frankie is an 18-wheeler with a big personality who shares onomatopoeic sounds he makes and the bright sights he sees as he delivers his cargo. The truck and all he meets along the road are expressively illustrated accompanied by animated language.
Big Rig
There are a surprising number of trucks, introduced from A to Z in a rhyming, informative text. Upper and lower case letters are cleverly used in the simple graphic illustrations, sure to engage readers while introducing a wide range of trucks.
Alphabet Trucks
A golden retriever with a “smart nose” is doing his job: tracking down a young child lost in the woods. The dog’s narration is gentle with the child he’s tracking seen in the dog’s thought bubbles. Additional “dog nose facts” and advice for teachers and parents are presented after the child and parents are reunited.
When You Wander: A Search-and-Rescue Dog Story
When 13 well-known illustrators are asked about their favorite animal, the results are as varied in word and illustration as each artist’s style. Eric Carle introduces a cat called Fifi, while Mo Willems’ is “an Amazonia Neotropical Lower River Tink-Tink.” A clever collection of the exotic and expected is rich and varied; plus it benefits the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.