A surprise box is delivered to the very grumpy Elephant. In it, he discovers a host of hats which he shares with his animal friends to improve their grumpiness, too. Flat forms on open pages make this a true celebration of friendship — and hats!
Hooray for Hat!
A series of 26 poems, all haiku, mark each of the four seasons starting with autumn while highlighting the letters of the alphabet. Each short poem is accompanied by Koo, the young panda, who is joined by two children and illustrated in handsome, spare watercolors.
Hi, Koo! A Year of Seasons
As two children take a walk, they observe and listen to the call of familiar birds — a mourning dove, starling, woodpecker and others. But they hear nothing from the nesting bird; that is until its eggs hatch. A gently rhyming text and textured illustrations present recognizable birds, concluding with “A Word from the Bird” to answer questions about the once-silent robin.
Have You Heard the Nesting Bird?
More than 40 years ago, Spier won a Caldecott Honor for his illustrations of this traditional folk song. In it, a fox cheerfully poaches the farmer’s geese. Now the artist has added color to original black/white illustrations, enlivening the tale for a new generation. Music and additional verses are included.
Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
Meet animals like the cow in informative rhymes and cartoon illustrations. Turn half the page and make a “pow” — half pig, half cow. Funny critters emerge with each half page turn. See and read the poem about another farm animal when pages match.
Flip Flap Farm
Three little pigs named Sweet Pea, Nibbles and Clean Bean, try to be big, bigger, biggest as they “flopped and plopped…muddled and puddled…walloped and wallowed” until stopped by their mother. Comic illustration and lively language make a fun farm tale.
Big Pigs
How many types of green exist? There’s “anaconda green, electric-eel green, green-iguana-in-the-sun green” and more as presented in the fresh language and imaginative illustrations that show a seemingly simple color in a rich new way.
The Big Green
When the bats awaken from winter hibernation, not only do their stomachs grumble, they are hungry for music! The latest in this series presents the varied music interests of very likable (and rather human) bats.
Bats in the Band
Familiar animals and their young are presented in a game-like board book that engages and informs. The text on the parent’s page and colors provide clues as young children turn smaller pages to identify the puppy, hatchling, kitten, hamster and fish. Forest animals are presented in a companion book, You Are My Baby: Woodland (opens in a new window) (Chronicle).
You Are My Baby: Pets
A duckling is afraid to swim but with the continued encouragement of his parents and siblings makes the plunge. Surprisingly expressive photographs and the duckling’s rhyming narrative convey emotions ranging from trepidation to the joy of success.
Swim Duck Swim
How do animals greet everyone? With woofs and meows for a big hello! Beginning with a dog’s “licky and loud … bow-wow-wow-wow!” the split pages hide the sounds until the turn — sure to delight young readers. Bold, colorful illustrations exude joy and spirit.
Say Hello Like This!
Animals and their young in natural habitats are presented in crisp color photographs. Appealing images show animals cuddling, walking and more while the only words on each sturdy page are the name of the animal and its young (e.g., rhinoceros calf).
My First Book of Baby Animals
How animals survive — even thrive — in winter is presented in a variety of poetic forms, each accompanied by factual information. Textured prints dramatically bring the frozen setting and its inhabitants to life as they await spring.
Winter Bees and Other Poems
Stink would have preferred a trip to James Madison’s home but is happy when his parents win a sleepover at the aquarium. At the aquarium, Stink likes learning about sharks and other creatures but he still finds it kind of creepy. Share the evening with Stink and his family, learning and laughing.
Stink and the Shark Sleepover
Offley is a vibrant street where a delightful white mouse named Hermelin lives and narrates his story. Using an old manual typewriter, Hermelin shares how he solves mysteries and even saves a baby — and ultimately finds a human friend and partner. Humor abounds in the clever illustration and narrative in Hermelin’s appealing saga.
Hermelin the Detective Mouse
Meet a variety of animals face-to-face and then learn about some of their most unique features. For example, why do the harpy eagle’s feathers stick out? Questions are posed and then answered by the animals themselves, shown full-face in striking, realistic collages. Additional information about animals, their size and distribution is included.
Creature Features
Young Amelia, the literalist who grows up to be a truly unique maid, is inspired to start her own backyard zoo. As in other Amelia Bedelia stories, the wordplay is sure to amuse as it expands readers’ language.
Amelia Bedelia Goes Wild
Tembo, a young elephant, explores the savannah but always responds when Bibi, her grandmother, calls. The large format and dramatic illustrations complement the comfortably repetitious narrative while presenting an elephant herd.
My Bibi Always Remembers
Crabby Crab is not happy with its claws or legs — but “we love you just the way you are, even when you’re crabby!” Readers will also appreciate the title character’s silly ideas in Cowy Cow. Childlike humor in simple text and line and wash illustrations on colored pages are used in the appealing “Thingy Thing” series.
Crabby Crab
Really peculiar critters (in which the author includes himself) make for an engaging and informative book. Each double page spread introduces unique but real animals and insects from around the globe. Included with the informal text are scientific names, distribution and detailed drawings of each creature.
Unusual Creatures: A Mostly Accurate Account of Some of Earth’s Strangest Animals
A jolly group of young children visit baby animals at a farm, chasing, following, feeding them — and more. Each activity includes a sound or a word sure to encourage repetition. Soft lines and gentle colors capture the diverse group of toddlers on each sturdy page!
Baby Animal Farm
What better way for three cubs to spend an afternoon than baking with Grandma. Together they bake and wrap chocolate cake before walking home through the snowy woods, all told in warm illustrations and cozy rhyming text. A recipe for Grandma Rosie’s chocolate cake is included.
Baking Day at Grandma’s
Some fly, others only walk but regardless of where they live or what they eat, the parrots presented are fascinating. They are pictured in handsome, realistic illustrations and a brief text. Further information about each parrot appears at the end, along with a glossary and additional resources, making this a book that can be enjoyed by many.
About Parrots: A Guide for Children
When ten mice start their day, they engage in routine activities — always equaling 10. Lively verbiage and numerical equations combine with animated illustrations to present the rodents’ antics (e.g., “10 mice wake.9 mice tidy. 1 mouse somersaults. 9+1=10”).