Book Finder

A girl explains how her family once hunted whales but now use their family-owned boat to take tourists out to whale watch. Illustrations in color show the contemporary narrator and boat, while sepia-toned images depict the history. Interesting bits of African American history are embedded in this engaging, educational, and accessible story.

From fish to produce, the detailed maps and a list of things to find on each double page spread, demystify how the produce sold at a farmers market gets there. Sophisticated children will be able to follow the maps; younger children will look for specific objects in this attractive book that requires keen sight and much examination.

A slightly grumpy CJ asks his grandma why they have to take a bus across town every Sunday after church. Her answers are playful, wise, and effective; CJ admits he’s glad they came to see their friends at the soup kitchen where they serve. Bright, stylized illustrations and rich, well-paced language presents a warm relationship and a diverse urban locale. (2016 Newbery Medal Winner)

A long format is ideal to introduce boats large and small and the sounds they make as they “chum-splish” and “GRRRRR BRRRR…” across the sturdy, colorful pages of this lively book.

Is it one story or four? Is it about cows, commuters, a thief, or a boy? Careful reading and re-reading is required to tell. Warning: it may take young readers to explain how this clever Caldecott-winning book works!

Tom rides his bicycle, passing busses, cars, and even an elephant. He then dons his costume and make-up for his job as a unicycle-riding circus clown. Broad forms and bright colors introduce Tom’s mode of transportation including the names of all the parts of a unicycle.

This book tells the greatest space robot adventure of all time through the eyes — and heart — of Steven Squyres, professor of astronomy at Cornell University and lead scientist on the mission. This suspenseful page-turner captures the hair-raising human emotions felt during the adventures with two tough rovers.

Just like his counterpart the garbage truck from I Stink (opens in a new window) (Harper), this very confident and informative fire truck enjoys showing off all of his parts. Firefighter and truck aficionados will appreciate the overview of working trucks and firefighting.

Join a mother and child as they count from one to ten and back again on New York’s subway. Their iconic journey, told through bold, bright colored forms and simple text, starts with “1 MetroCard, Momma and me” and continues until they arrive at “1 station, central and grand.”

Stanley is a very talented hamster who runs a garage. There he fixes his customers’ cars, taking care of everything from overheating to flat tires. After a busy day, Stanley returns home happily. Attractively simple shapes and bold colors in black outlines on uncluttered pages not only chronicle Stanley’s work but begin with illustrations of tools used. The same format is used in a companion book, Stanley the Builder (opens in a new window).

Maisy, the engaging white mouse, gets around by bicycle, trolley, and even dreams of flying in a rocket ship. Bright, child-like illustrations and a tab to pull on each page encourage active participation in this very basic but very appealing introduction to modes of travel.

Each vehicle on the construction site snuggles down at the end of the day. Sound has been added to this edition of the picture book version (opens in a new window) with the same title. Icons on each page ask young readers to match the button which makes the sound — from the final sounds of digging and dumping to yawns and snores.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

Ellen Prentiss “was born with saltwater in her veins” whose father taught her to sail and navigate on his trading schooner. When she married a man who also loved the sea, Ellen’s tenacity, her ability to read the sea and dare the win allowed them to sail from New York to San Francisco in 1851 in record-breaking time. A brief note about Ellen includes source notes.

On black pages, a die-cut reveals from 1 to 10 lights. With a turn of the page, a vehicle is revealed in full color, highly stylized illustrations. A clue encourages guessing before the big reveal. The final one light is the night light in a child’s room.

What sound does an excavator or a forklift make? Each makes its own noise, presented here in bold, dramatic typefaces dynamically shown on sturdy horizontal pages. Children can be encouraged to repeat sounds made by the variety of equipment — likely to delight construction aficionados.