Book Finder

The four seasons come full circle beginning with melting snow and Spring planting, and concluding with cozy, indoor evenings on a snowy Winter night in these rhyming snapshots. Young children will appreciate the recognizable activities and may begin to more closely notice the changes in the weather and activities.

What makes snow crystals unique? What conditions allow their formation? How does one catch a snowflake? These and additional information and activities about snow are explored in this lucid and attractive presentation just right as one watches winter games.

Snow has a different impact on those who experience it. This lyrical celebration of snow and related activities allows readers to experience it in many ways, from seeing trees anew or getting out cavorting in it told in poetic language and evocative illustrations.

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.

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.

Of four kittens, only one is really excited about the possibility of snow but inspires the others to enjoy it when it finally comes. Bold line and simple form combine with straightforward text to create a captivating kittens’ world.

Lilly is an effervescent child who enjoys each season and the special things that can be done during them. Comic book-like format and conversation balloons clearly depict her delight and make this book easy to follow and to read.

What is summer without a rainstorm? Alliterative language and richly textured collages create a day’s play interrupted by rain — until the sun returns.

A child imagines being like the wind: playing with hats and leaves, zooming and racing throughout the country and city until she becomes a gentle breeze. Evocative language combines with suggestive illustrations in this breezy book.

The girl who tended horses loved them so much that she joined them, literally! The carefully crafted, handsomely rendered illustrations echo the Native tradition studied by the reteller/illustrator.

Rabbit’s generosity sets off a chain of events that brings his kindness full circle. The lush and accessible acrylic paintings suggest the Chinese folktale upon which the retelling is based. A note at the end supports the notion of universal truth in folktales.

The signs that autumn is here are all around, from shorter days to warmer clothing. A child chronicles these changes in short rhyming text accompanied by softly lined, serene illustrations.

Look for “signs” when “…Maples blushing/Rivers rushing — /Fall is here.” From autumn to winter, feel the change of seasons while reading these short, evocative, and beautifully illustrated poems.

If only every child could have a teacher like Ms. Frizzle, every field trip would be unforgettable! Here, the kids get the inside scoop on hurricanes by going into its eye in their school bus (turned weather plane) to learn how hurricanes form and to experience their power. There’s an extra bit of drama when Arnold becomes separated from the class, but is happily reunited.

With wordless joy a brother and sister turn a raining day into an excuse for adventure through the neighborhood.

Wondrous things happen in the skies above Manhattan in this wordless book that explores what happens when we unlock our imagination.

Short poems and translucent watercolors capture the sights, the cold, and the fun of winter. A squirrel, however, “scolds and scolds/this mean white stuff/that stole his snack/and chills his toes.”

A closer look at the four seasons is presented through questions and answers (“Does everyone have four seasons?”) and evocative poems. Large illustrations depict the unique wonders of each time of year.

When it starts to rain, Rover is pleased that other animals join him in his doghouse. That is, until a skunk finds his way there — and everyone exits! When the storm is over, Rover enjoys a bone and the solitude of his doghouse. Expressive illustrations and animated, rhythmic language make for a satisfying story.

This collection offers children an introduction to poetry through rich imagery and vivid illustrations. The stream-of-consciousness style sticks to familiar childhood themes to keep children engaged.

One of nature’s most volatile weather events is the tornado. In this updated edition, the author presents the formation, tracking, and devastation created by twisters. Dramatic photographs and a brief list of additional resources conclude this fascinating book.

Hurricanes, their origin and their destructive power (as well as their relatives, the tropical storm and depression) are presented here in striking photographs and cogent text.

The tale of herdsman Ki-pat is set on a dry African plain and is told in the familiar cadence of “The House that Jack Built”. Animals are introduced, tension builds and the resolution pours forth as the rhyme builds. Stylized illustrations create place and mood in this engaging verse.

The animal residents of Mud Flat find Spring both beautiful and surprising.