Book Finder

Iggy Peck loves to build anything using almost any material.  His teacher, however, disagrees about architecture. Iggy rises to the challenge and changes her mind in this rhyming, thoroughly satisfying tale of an aspiring (and inspired) young architect. 

Ada Twist constantly asks questions: what, why, where? Her parents tire of it until they realize that Ada Twist is really a budding scientist! Told in rollicking rhyme and playful, style-conscious illustrations, this engaging tale is satisfying as well as inspiring.

Madame Chapeau makes the perfect hat for each of her customers but she herself remains quite lonely. That is, until a young girl makes the ideal chapeau for Madame Chapeau. Illustrations are fun and worth looking at again and again as they are an homage to haute couture. 

As in other stories about the young bear, Ted’s first attempt at rescuing the day as a firefighter ends in minor disaster. But he rebounds and ends up being a huge help after all.

When he bumps his knee, Ted decides to become a doctor to care for everyone. Though Ted’s diagnoses irritate adults, young Dr. Ted winds up saving the day.

Ted spruces up his home and school and helps another young person by employing his artistic talent and creativity. Simple illustrations accompany an engaging text.

Animal control officer Francine Poulet has a crisis of confidence when the animal comes out on top after Francine’s first encounter with the screaming “ghost” raccoon. Humor abounds in both the story and illustrations in this rollicking and very satisfying saga.

Sam the zookeeper has the job of feeding the animals every day at three o’clock. Could Sam have forgotten to feed Elephant, the other zoo animals wonder. Follow Sam on his rounds — with bananas for the monkeys, red berries for the bear, a fish for the seal (“Deliciously good!” barks Seal).

Follow three scientists as they study the osprey, a fascinating raptor, in and around Missoula, Montana. How these large birds are tracked and studied is revealed in a highly accessible well-researched text and color photos. Further information appears in sidebars and back matter.

Cornelius Washington was proud of his hometown, New Orleans. His job as a sanitation worker was important before Hurricane Katrina devastated the city but became even more important after when Cornelius worked with others to help restore it. Textured illustrations and a hope-filled narrative combine fact with fiction for a moving look at a catastrophic event.

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.

Because dogs can actually “see” with their sense of smell, they have been trained to work in various fields to help humans. A crisp text accompanied by color photographs shows dogs working in different ways: from the military and police duties to locating invasive plants to pointing to particular medical issues. Additional resources are included at the end.

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.

This ode to building a house from the ground up features six kinds of craftsmen and the 24 tools they use, accurately labeled. The answer to each inquiring refrain is revealed under a gatefold, seven in all, engaging the reader in an informative guessing game.

From planting to harvesting, Stanley grows wheat on a large farm. Cartoon illustrations of the charming hamster-as-farmer present a straightforward, simplified look at typical activities.

Girls didn’t always have the freedom to choose what they wanted to do. This is certainly true for Callie Tate, the only girl in her family. How she follows her interests and deals with not being taken seriously is revealed in rich, well-paced language. Callie’s story started in The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate though both books can be read without the other. Both will appeal to sophisticated readers.

Ahmed must carry his secret with him as he does his chores throughout the bustling, colorful streets of Cairo. Later in the day with his family all around him, Ahmed shares his wonderful secret: he can write his name in Arabic. Mild tension will keep children guessing what it is that Ahmed carries with him and detailed realistic watercolors are sure to inspire discussion.

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.

Why the once-planet Pluto was demoted to a lesser planetary status is explained in readable text and engaging illustrations.

Max and his soil scientist parents live in a marsh where Max discovers mud’s special properties. He gains super powers to put things right — including a way to effectively deal with a bully.

Move over Tom Edison! This intriguing look at Tesla’s importance in early use of electricity is well documented and handsomely illustrated first look at an important scientist and inventor.

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.

Renowned children’s literature authority Leonard S. Marcus speaks with their creators and others — twenty-one of the world’s most celebrated authors and illustrators — and asks about their childhood, their inspiration, their determination, their mentors, their creative choices, and more. Amplifying these richly entertaining and thought-provoking conversations are eighty-eight full-color plates revealing each illustrator’s artistic process from sketch to near-final artwork in fascinating, behind-the-scenes detail.

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).