Book Finder

The young narrator joins his father as he works as Friday night custodian in a school. The boy packs lunch before they ride off to work. Gentle text and soft illustrations evoke the bond between them and the boy’s imaginative musings during the night job. 

Little Red Chicken tells his father about what he learned in school; unexpected occurrences in stories or “the Elephant of Surprise”! Of course, when the parent and child read traditional tales, young Red must add that blue elephant of surprise. The pair was introduced in Interrupting Chicken (opens in a new window) but stands alone and is equally funny.

David, the naughty but loveable kid from No, David (opens in a new window), again hears those words. This time, however, it’s his big brother who shouts them; David is too little to play with the older boys. The illustrator’s signature illustrations and hand drawn text create a humorous, recognizable addition to books about this sharp-toothed little boy.

On her birthday Carmela is finally old enough to go with her brother as he runs errands throughout the community. Although her brother can be annoyed by Carmela, he shows her a field of wishes when most needed. Childlike illustrations extend and enhance the warm story which is also available in Spanish, Los Deseos de Carmela. (opens in a new window)

Young animals are tucked into bed by a caring adult. Pull the tab, and see them asleep in their cozy warm beds. Heavy duty tabs slide across to create a simple but magical scene change, sure to delight.

From first cry to first meal all the way to the first birthday, there are many firsts when a baby is born. Share the fun in the brief, rhyming text and illustrations depicting diverse, slightly frumpy and totally real families.

A festive and colorful celebration of the Mexican and Latin American holiday. The rhyming narrative introduces the traditions practiced during El Día de los Muertos or the Day of the Dead, from the sugary, skull-shaped candies (calaveras) and altars built in remembrance of the dearly departed to decorating tombstones and picnics at the cemetery. Spanish words are sprinkled throughout.

Lyrical prose (in Spanish and English) and vivid mixed media illustrations describe one woman’s journey to a new country, the difficulties, and the power of libraries to transform: “We are stories. We are two languages. We are lucha…We are hope.” In a concluding piece, the author/illustrator describes her story and provides a list of the influential books she read during this period of her life. The gorgeous book is also available in a Spanish edition, Soñadores (opens in a new window).

When a storm is raging, David and George are glad to be inside the house, snug and safe. In this spectacular picture book by Caldecott Honor recipient David Wisener, a fallen tree becomes the threshold to the limitless voyage of the imagination, which David and George share as only true friends — and brothers — can.

Like the narrator, everyone sometimes has a bad day. Samuel’s started at school and didn’t improve at home. But his little brother Benji helps Samuel feel better as Benji has been made to feel better: by becoming a burrito! Samuel knows that he and Benji will both be “okay, That’s because the two of us are brothers.” Warm and empathetic, the story is based on the author’s sons, one who is autistic. See our interview with the author, Sally J. Pla ›

In each spread of this bold and humorous picture book, children can examine their place in the world around them through detailed and engaging maps that are drawn from a child’s perspective.

Eugenia Lincoln is a practical person with no time for gee-gaws, whoop-de-whoops, or frivolity. When an unexpected package containing an accordion arrives at her house, she is determined to have nothing to do with it. But her plans to sell the accordion, destroy the accordion, and give the accordion away all end in frustration. How can Eugenia stop being tormented by this troublesome package? Might she discover that a bit of unforeseen frivolity could be surprisingly … joyous?

Bixby Alexander Tam, aka Bat, is back. He was first introduced in A Boy Called Bat (opens in a new window) where Bat first met Thor, a baby skunk rescued by Bat’s veterinarian mom. Now Thor is big enough to be released, but Bat wants to keep him…even taking Thor to his sister’s play. The result is predictable but as gently humorous and engaging as this tale of Bat.

Amal’s dream of becoming a teacher is thwarted when she is penalized for insulting the landowner’s son, becoming his servant. Her tenacity and love of learning leads to a satisfying conclusion in this riveting story set in contemporary Pakistan.

When the new lighthouse keeper replaces the old one, he continues the duties: polishing the lens, refilling the oil, and keeping watch for sailors in trouble. With his wife, his life continues until a mechanical light replaces the old one and the family moves to the mainland. Though they say goodbye, the lighthouse continues to say hello. This handsome, delicately illustrated and gently told tale pays homage to early lighthouses and their keepers.

Nora announces that she and her toy giraffe Jeff are bored. Reluctantly, she takes her grandmother’s advice and soon discovers a Tiger with whom to explore grandma’s lush, jungle-like garden. Richly colored and well told, this is a tale of the power of imagination and play.

Yumi and Grandma really wanted to see each other. As Yumi travels by bus toward Grandma, Grandma travels by train to visit Yumi. Back and forth they go until they accidentally but happily meet in the middle. Humor abounds in the simple illustrations and gentle narration in an elongated format that highlights Yumi and Grandma’s treks back and forth.

A child visits his grandfather but has trouble communicating; they literally don’t speak the other’s language. That is until they find another way to share thoughts and feelings through art. As each of them expresses himself creating unique superheroes, two generations are drawn together. Universal emotions are placed in a specific but nonetheless moving context.

Family life is busy for the young narrator until after dinner when he and his dad share the Magic Hour. As day wanes but before being tucked in, father and child take a magical neighborhood walk enjoying small pleasures along the way. Gentle text and handsome illustrations combine to reveal one family’s loving and lovely tradition.

Alma Sofia Esperanza Jose Pura Candela thought her name was too long. That is until her dad shares the history behind it. Alma discovers pride in the strong relatives after whom she is named. The limited colors used in the drawings provide a look back and a look forward as Alma grows to recognize the strength in her name.

Young children will recognize the bedtime ritual shared by two siblings from cleaning up to taking a bath, from reading to snuggling with a lovey, Soft illustrations complement the brief text on sturdy pages.

The parent rabbit in a lush, flowered field with a small child-rabbit describes the warm, quiet moments together that are what love is. As the duo cozily curl together to sleep, the big rabbit concludes that “there are more reasons than there are stars up in the sky [to love the child-rabbit].”

The story of one family’s journey north during the Great Migration starts with a little girl in South Carolina who finds a rope under a tree one summer. She has no idea the rope will become part of her family’s history.

John’s mother thought cooking was more important than beauty in this gently humorous riff on a traditional tale. Here, John finds perfection in a batch of perfectly prepared black-eyed peas. A tasty looking recipe concludes this colorfully illustrated tale told with a distinctively Southern flavor.