Book Finder

The rug is the ocean in this imaginative seafaring tale as a child and parent begin their adventure while the other parent is on the phone. Sophisticated but childlike illustrations go between fantasy and real time as the family shares escapades on the high seas. The rug will doubtless go un-vacuumed. 

Singing, playing, and talking to the seed didn’t help it bloom, but when the children listened to nature — placing the seed in a bed of soil — it flowered all summer. In autumn, the plant left them the gift of more seeds to plant next year. Child-like illustrations complement the straightforward text. 

Lola and her mother visit Zora, a beekeeper, where Lola learns about bees and the work of a beekeeper. Lola then decides to plant seeds at home to help bees, in this informative addition to the series.

Everything dad does, Lionel does, too. From hair combing to having “a think,” it’s clear that father and child enjoy each other’s company. Small format and simple illustrations on durable pages show common activities and the bond between parent and child.

Lift the sturdy flap to answer the question posed in the title. Bright illustrations and straightforward language create a fine book for sharing. Canine aficionados may appreciate What Is Puppy Going to Do? (opens in a new window). Each animal is presented in a recognizable situation.

A shower forces a child and her father indoors where they continue to share a playful afternoon. Lots of onomatopoeia and lively illustrations depict the warmth and fun of a rainy day shared.

What do you see while taking a walk on a sunny spring day? Join Maisy as she and her friends closely observe what is all around from the smallest ant to larger animals in the park.  Cousins’ signature child-like illustrations are colorful and appealing.

The golden puppy joins his girl while she works in the community garden. The young dog winds up being a helpful companion to others also working there in this short, easy to read addition to the series.

“Misery loves company,” Mama says to James Otis. It’s been a rough couple of months for them, but Mama says as long as they have their health and strength, they’re blessed. One Sunday before Valentine’s Day, Reverend Dennis makes an announcement during the service — the Temples have lost everything in a fire, and the church is collecting anything that might be useful to them. James thinks hard about what he can add to the Temple’s “”love box,”” but what does he have worth giving? A touching, powerful tale of compassion and reminds us all that what is given from the heart, reaches the heart.

A delightful bedtime tale, set on the African plains. The sun has set and the moon is rising, and that means it’s bedtime. But not if Lala has a say — because she’s not ready to go to sleep! First she needs to say good night to the cat. And the goat. And the chickens. And, and, and … Lala’s adorable stalling strategy will ring true for all parents whose little ones aren’t ready to say goodbye to the day — and all will appreciate the wonderful culmination to the bedtime ritual.

Discover what bedtime looks like for the snowplows, dump trucks, giant cranes, and more that dot the pages of this irresistible construction story. Just like you and me, the vehicles in this story get tuckered out after a long day of hard work and need to quiet down and settle in for sweet dreams. Young readers will surely identify as these trucks ask for one more story while their parents sing them a goodnight song and send them off to bed.

The story of a little girl and a duckling who both grow to understand what it means to care for each other as they learn that love is as much about letting go as it is about holding on. When a little girl finds a duckling who has wandered away from the park onto the city streets, she takes it home to care for it. The baby duck requires constant attention — early morning feedings, bathing, and tidying — until the time comes to say goodbye. When her pet has grown too big for the bath, the girl takes the full-grown duck back to the pond. Afterward, she misses it and wonders if it remembers her … until one day, the duck comes back — with six ducklings of her own.

Hedgehog, Bunny, and Squirrel are best friends. One day, they each find a letter. But not just any letter…  love letter. Someone loves them. But who? The answer may surprise you! This tale about a wonderful mix-up reminds us of the joys of friendship.

Jade is a girl who lives in two worlds and, coming from a multicultural family, she’s on a quest to understand her identity and where she truly belongs. She is trying to find her place in the world but feels different from the other kids at school. Jade’s parents have their unique approach to love and care. Sometimes Jade is embarrassed by Mama’s accent and she can’t understand why she is not just like any other mother she knows. Jade starts rebelling against her mother’s traditional ways of showing love, especially through food. It’s a struggle that takes her on a path of discovery, as she learns about her family’s rich heritage and her mother’s challenging past in Vietnam and as an immigrant. Jade then discovers that even though Mama doesn’t hug or say I love you, the healing aroma of ginger, green onions, and chicken broth does.

A sweet and playful bedtime and read-aloud picture book that reminds young readers just how loved they are. “I love you like yellow. I love you like green. Like flowery orchid and sweet tangerine …” Love comes in many forms. It can feel tart as lemonade or sweet as sugar cookies. Slow as a lazy morning or fast as a relay race. Love is there through it all: the large and small moments, the good times and bad. And at the end of the day, love settles us down to bed with a hug and kiss goodnight.

A celebration of family love and Black joy, told through gentle rhyming text and colorful illustrations. “The sun is calling us outside. Mama cheers me down the slide! We wish on puffs and sift through sand. We hike together hand in hand.” This book showcases the special role Mama plays in children’s lives and explores the many ways love can be shown!

This warmly-told story teaches us that love really does grow everywhere, in all shapes, forms, and sizes. Through gentle, rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, feel the love in a close-knit family who grow plants and sell them in their local market, and discover the types of love that exist in the many homes of their diverse community. There are kisses from Dad, songs with Grandma, charity from neighbors and playtime with friends. There’s old love, new love and everything in between! But there’s a new kid who is not quite so sure… Can the gardeners’ daughter be brave and extend the love to him?

An Asian American girl shares how her family expresses their love for one another through actions rather than words. How do you tell your family that you love them? For Hana, love is all around her: Mom stirs love into a steaming pot of xifan. Dad cheers with love at her soccer game. Hana says good night with love by rubbing her grandma’s feet and pouring her grandpa his sleepy tea. And as the light fades, Hana’s parents tuck her into bed and give her a good night kiss. So many families express their love in all they do for one another, every day. Here is a book that wraps you in a hug and invites your family to share their own special ways of showing love.

Middle school is just around the corner for Ryan Hart, which means it’s time to start thinking about the future — and not just how to prank her brother, Ray! During Black History Month, Ryan learns more about her ancestors and local Black pioneers, and their hopes for the future, for her generation. She wonders who she wants to be and what kind of person her family hopes she becomes. Drawing on the ambitions of those who came before her and her own goals, Ryan is determined to turn her dreams into reality.

Get ready for Lunar New Year, following a little girl and her family as they get ready for and celebrate the Lunar New Year festival. With information about the significance of certain rituals, told through the excited eyes of a child. Each spread includes 12 lift-the-flaps to see traditions such as decorating the house with lucky red decorations, watching a special firework display, making festive dumplings with Nainai (grandma), reading a story about the zodiac with Yeye (grandpa), watching a lion and dragon dance in the town square, and exchanging lucky red envelopes with family.

Sohee’s favorite part of Seollal (Lunar New Year) is tteokguk — the special Korean rice cake soup traditionally only enjoyed on New Year’s Day. Each bowl is said to make the person who eats it one year older. This year, Sohee wants to eat as many bowls as she can to finally be an eonni, or “big girl,” to her younger siblings and cousins. This funny story of a child’s journey to discover what it really means to be a big girl explores the traditions of the Korean Lunar New Year and the value of family and helpfulness. 

Jin wishes his family would ask him to help prepare the Lunar New Year feast. But boys, or Babas, never get asked ― only Nyonyas, the girls. It’s the eve of Lunar New Year, and Jin can’t wait for the big family reunion dinner. He loves the aromas and the bubbly chatter coming from the kitchen. His grandmother, Mamah, is cooking up a storm! As his aunties dice, slice, and chop, there’s nothing Jin wants more than to learn about the history of his family’s cooking and to lend them a helping hand. But his aunties shoo him away, claiming he’ll just get bored or be in the way. Luckily, Mamah steps in and asks Jin to help her prepare their special meal. Soon, Jin is squeezing, slicing, and stirring, too! This loving picture book about a young Malaysian boy who defies gender expectations will make hearts warm and stomachs hungry. 

Sam is trying to figure out what he’s thankful for. He’s also working on a special project to share at the Thanksgiving feast— his own version of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! Parents and teachers will find inspiration for other Thanksgiving crafts and projects, and a section at the back includes fun Thanksgiving facts.

Little Ren looks forward to the preparation for and festivities of Lunar New Year, but she is always too little to help make the delicious pineapple cakes that are her favorite. She watches family members rolling out the dough and loves the mouth-watering smell. Watching and waiting, when will Ren be old enough? Celebrate the Lunar New Year through a young girl’s family traditions in this charming picture book that includes a recipe for pineapple cakes!