Book Finder

A long-eared hound is the king’s official taster whose job is to make sure that nothing will harm the young royal. Even after dog and his cook search worldwide for new, tasty recipes, the king refuses to eat. Intervention by royal parents is required when secret candy eating is revealed, resolving all issues. Humor abounds in this satisfying saga.

The narrator begins his neighborhood trek with an infectious rhyme, saying that some days “you just gotta wokka.” In fact, he is so infectious that others join him to say and show how they wokka-wokka, too. Lively illustrations and playful nonsense rhymes make this a joyful walk down any street.

A lonely child says he hates winter until he meets an angular, spiky kind of spiky fellow that covers his house with frost and ice. Together they enjoy the snowy day but Jack Frost asks his playmate to “never mention anything warm in front of me.” Limited colors and a simple text show an unusual friendship and a wintertime adventure.

In spite of a grumpy dad who literally turns into a grizzly bear — as seen in the very amusing illustrations — the grizzly dad and his son enjoy an outing together. By the time the mom and other child return home at the end of the day, dad has returned to himself. The literal transformation is not only child-like, but the notion will be broadly appreciated!

A bath made Farley, a hairy (and very pleasing) pooch, hungry and so before his owner could slip his collar back on, Farley is off following delicious smells. Although Farley becomes disoriented, he finds his way home and even helps a lost child along the way. Comic strip fans will recognize the characters, though this tale stands alone.

A feast for the eye as well as the ear, this collection is just right for sharing. The poetry and rhymes include work by known poets as well as by children. Different sections are sure to appeal to different interests and tastes but all are imaginative. A note for adults helps demystify sharing poetry with children.

Even though there’s a special day called Children’s Day/Book Day, children and books can be celebrated everyday and in any place as is demonstrated in this vibrant book. Energetic illustrations show a wide range of children and animals playing, reading, and just plain having fun with each other and with books.

Though he lives in a small apartment, the boy who wears his sailor suit has an expansive imagination. It takes him to a remote island where a pirate lives and only ends when reality intrudes. Watercolor illustrations add detail but leave imaginative wiggle room in this gentle adventure.

Friendships come in all sizes and shapes — even among animals of different kinds. Here crisp photographs and a straightforward text chronicle the unusual friendship between a retired circus elephant named Tarra and a stray dog, Bella, who appeared at the elephant sanctuary in Tennessee. Fans of Owen and Mzee are sure to enjoy this story.

Leonard is disappointed in superhero school; the only thing his teacher, The Blue Tornado, talks about is math and other dull stuff. Fractions and division come in quite handy for the student team, however, when Ice Zombies appear! Exaggerated humor in both text and illustration make this a real champ.

Bespectacled Sunday Chutney has an unusual name — and she’s always the new girl as her family moves frequently for her dad’s work. Her voice is real as is her take on herself and her life (which she admits is sometimes lonely) and utterly charming. The illustrations are as quirky as the character herself.

Short rhymes are riddles, asking readers to figure which books are being described while additional clues are presented in animated illustrations. From Click, Clack, Moo to traditional folktales, young readers (and their adults) will enjoy this interactive book.

The traditional tale has been retold and newly presented to create a theater within the covers of a book. Scenes unfold and become 3-dimensional with text hidden under “curtains” — flaps that unfold.

Though larger animals try to call the sun up on the long, snow-filled winter night, only the song of a small chickadee awakens the day. Told with a storyteller’s voice, this gentle tale is luminously illustrated with limited colors to evoke the depth of a wintery forest and the brilliance of a new day.

Imogene’s town has abandoned the building which she makes into a museum. Can feisty Imogene save the museum from destruction in the name of progress? She finds a letter (George Washington slept there!), protests, and puts herself in a stockade until the building is saved. This book is fast, funny, and rich with an appreciation for history.

In a companion to A Chair for My Mother, young Rosa awaits the birth of her baby cousin in the now slightly frayed chair so lovingly purchased long ago. When the baby is born, Rosa introduces him to the much-loved chair and its history in this sincere and warmly told and illustrated family story.

Everyone knows that book characters come alive only when the book is opened. In this clever picture book, characters awaken when readers open it; sleep when the book is closed. Illustrations allow readers to literally look down into the book characters’ lives and enjoy the entire notion of storytelling.

Winnie Finn wants to win a prize at the county fair but she is a worm farmer. Instead of winning one herself, Winnie helps others win with her prize wigglers. Simply told and comically illustrated, this engaging tale is enlightening, informative, and just plain fun.

The famous cat in a red and white striped hat is used to introduce basic information about space as well as space trivia. As in others in the series, the limited vocabulary in a predictable format provides easily accessed and understood information about a popular topic.

Are dust bunnies real? In this silly book they are, and Ed, Ned, Ted, and Bob speak in rhyme all the time! Large illustrations and conversation bubbles show which dust bunny is speaking — that is, until the cleaning tools come out. The broad humor makes for an appealing, easy-to-read tale.

The narrator can do many things well but she just cannot skip. The rhyming, repetitive text allows readers to see what else they are likely good at doing but will help them figure out steps for skipping, too. Spare illustrations add appeal to the pleasing text.

Panda cubs living in China’s Wolong Nature Preserve provide a unique opportunity to observe the animals from birth to the time they join “panda kindergarten.” There, these appealing animals learn skills for survival in the wild. Colorful photography combines with a readable text for an engaging, informative look at these endangered animals.

Nate, boy detective, and his dog Sludge work to solve the mystery of missing pages. Called in by the head of a book club, the young detective uses his powers of observation and various clues to solve the latest whodunit in the Nate series.

Buzz and his pet fly, Fly Guy, like to play hide and seek but Fly Guy’s favorite place to hide is the dump. Will Buzz and Fly Guy ever be reunited in a place that’s filled with flies? The outrageous illustrations add to the humor of a bug-eyed Fly Guy and his bug-eyed buddy.