Book Finder

Starting in space, an alien family bids adieu to their offspring (they look a lot like octopuses) who then head for earth landing in the ocean. When read the other way, he journeys home. The vertical format and strong design create a sophisticated literary and visual jaunt.

Search and find each intricate photograph to identify toys and other familiar play objects. Ultimately, a space traveler and a princess come together in a toy room in this latest installment by Wick.

A girl finds a book with a red cover on a winter day that transports her to a sunny beach. The idea of getting lost in a book (figuratively and magically) is presented wordlessly; only illustrations are used. The story can be told or written any number of ways according to the writer’s interpretation of the story.

Join three children who find a magical piece of chalk that begins an exciting series of events to figure out “what next.” This might be fun to use together with Crockett Johnson’s Harold and the Purple Crayon.

Malcolm the rat narrates his adventures in Mr. Binney’s fifth-grade class. At night, the school comes alive with the Midnight Academy, a secret society of classroom pets that protects the school. When the leader (an iguana named Aggy) goes missing, Malcolm sets out to find Aggy to ensure her safety and to clear his name.

Morning routines may never seem the same after sharing day’s start with a small, chubby knight in armor and his long-eared dog who climb a ladder to wake up large dragons. Cheerful, bright, amusing illustrations and catchy rhymes propel readers to the satisfying start of the day.

A polar bear journeys from one exotic setting to another winding up with a friend looking at the stars. The bear’s expedition is revealed without words, using soft-lined, expressive, whimsical illustrations.

Annabelle finds a box with colorful yarn from which she makes sweater for all, adding color and life to a dull landscape. The box is empty when stolen by a greedy man but is yarn-filled when it returns to Annabelle. Textured pictures and understated text on open pages tell an engaging yarn.

A fox lives near the old house where Tilly and her parents have moved far from friends and the familiar. She follows the fox one night into a secret, moonlit garden where she finds friendship. Rich language, a calm pace, and a suggestion of magic create a memorable story.

Join Strega Nona and Big Anthony for holidays in Calabria (Italy) where feasts, food, and fun abound from early December to Epiphany. Of course, Big Anthony gets into trouble, but all ends well in this cheerful holiday offering with these enduring characters.

Señor Calvera is back! This time, he is looking forward to Grandma Beetle’s birthday party — but he can’t figure out what gift to give her. He consults with Zelmiro the Ghost and chooses one gift for every letter of the alphabet: acordéon, bigotes, cosquillas (accordian, moustaches, and tickles). It isn’t until he reaches the letter Z, however, that Señor Calvera finds the best gift of all for Grandma Beetle.

Grouch, Grump, and two-headed little Gloom ‘n’ Doom — three crabby monsters — tried to create the “biggest, baddest monster EVER!” When the huge monster comes alive his first words are “Dank you!” causing the cantankerous little monsters to succumb to his kind ways. Cartoon line and wash illustrations and understated text present a pleasing monster saga.

Madcap illustrations bring hilarious new life to the 1962 song, “Monster Mash.” It all begins with a bulbous scientist “working in the lab late one night” when his monster arose from his slab and begins to dance the monster mash. Other monsters — and finally two human children — join the green Frankenstein-like critter for colorful, frenzied fun.

This silly-spooky parody of Ludwig Bemelman’s Madeline (opens in a new window) emulates the original’s cadence, storyline and illustration but with a decidedly Halloween-y twist. It begins, “In a creepy old castle/all covered in spines/lived twelve ugly monsters in two crooked lines… The ugliest one was Frankenstein.” It is sure to amuse even those not familiar with the original.

Angelito Diaz along with his skeleton family celebrates the Day of the Dead in the Land of the Living — and he was scared. Angelito isn’t nearly as frightened after he meets Pablo — and overcomes his fear of the living. Colorful, stylized illustrations and a brief note about the Mexican Day of the Dead/El Dia los Mueros conclude this recognizable story.

Chavela loves chomping chicle — chewing gum and blowing bubbles. One day, while out with her abuelita, she finds a mysterious kind of gum she has never seen before. She pops it in her mouth and blows a giant bubble that lifts her up into the air and carries her on a magical journey. Candy-colored paintings illustrate this fantastical story with an ecological twist. An afterword provides information on natural chewing gum, the rainforest, and sustainable farming, as well as music to a traditional Latin American folksong.

Boy is transported to the Land of Story when the Magician’s Saint George puppet disappears. There Boy meets well known characters from traditional tales, demonstrates great bravery, and gains a real name. Gentle humor and familiar characters are hallmarks of this fantasy for younger readers.

Nat Field finds friendship and relief from the loss of his parents when acting and is thrilled when chosen to go to England to perform in the new Globe Theater. Instead, he is transported back in time to perform in the original and meet William Shakespeare. Past and present come alive for contemporary readers in this riveting look at the connections between time and place.

When the Volnick family accidentally brings a Boggart home to Toronto from Scotland, the results are tumultuous and very funny. It’s up to Jess and Emily to figure out how to return the rascally spirit. The family meets the Boggart again on another visit to Scotland with similar outrageous results (which include a renowned water creature) in The Boggart & the Monster (opens in a new window). Both books are steeped in the magic and traditions of the region in which they are set.

Absorbed in his book, a child ignores his mother’s persistent calls, creating his own outrageous, imaginative adventures with the use of the word “meanwhile…” Wit and ingenuity abound in text and illustration until the boy’s adventures — and the book — conclude.

The Great Depression changed everything for 11-year-old Oscar and his widowed dad. Oscar’s prized model trains are sold, his dad leaves Illinois to find work in California, and Oscar begins an adventure through time and places after he jumps onto a model train.

Annie and Jack travel to a long-ago Ireland to inspire Augusta to share her creativity with near calamitous results. How the sibling team solves the problem and achieves their mission is a worthy addition to the appealing Magic Tree House series.

As a girl leaves her sandcastle on the beach, a wordless nautical fantasy begins in this handsomely illustrated, surprisingly complex tale.

A girl is transported from the library to an underwater world where she observes coral reefs and sea life in this fantastic but illuminating adventure.