Book Finder

The entire family awaits the huge overnight snowfall predicted, dreaming of what they’ll do in it. They find a surprise when wake up, however: no snow! Realistic illustrations heighten the anticipation and make the resolution even more plausible — and understandable!

When a second guinea pig is added to keep the first classroom pet company, the animals quickly add up — until they find other homes and are subtracted. The rhyming text is as fast and funny as the animated cartoon illustrations.

Babymouse is back, this time to win the contest for selling the most cupcakes in support of a new school library. As in others of the satisfying, humorous series, Babymouse’s imagined scenarios are shown in pink.

Celebrate each day of school from 1 to 100 with a different activity. The suggestions are diverse and illustrated by photographs placed in a large format. They range from science to physical movement to personal hygiene with lots more in between.

Clementine is back, this time named her 3rd grade classroom’s Friend of the Week. Things don’t go as planned, of course, but Clementine figures out more about true friendship in this latest book featuring the energetic, irrepressible, and always likeable heroine.

Gathered by their teacher on the first day of school, each child shares what he or she wants to have happen this year. The range of answers shows the many interests and personalities in a classroom until the teacher shares her wish: to get to know each child. Lively ink and wash illustrations are sure to start anyone’s school year off right.

From racing out of the house to riding the bus with “thirty pairs of sleepy eyes” to the much noisier ride home, these short, humorous poems bring the school day to life. Loose watercolors add verve to the light and varied verse.

An imaginative boy goes to the first day of school with his “salty crew of swabbies” by his side “sailing for adventure…” The make-believe pirates are with him throughout the day. The entire tale told in pirate lingo is ideal for reading aloud. The pirates are always with the boy but depicted in monochromatic sketches on each full-color page.

The day before the first day of school Annalina declares in her diary: “I don’t want to go to kindergarten!” Her worries are familiar, expressed in boldly colored and outlined illustrations. As the month goes along, however, Annalina’s concerns are dispelled and she grows to love school, her friends and teacher, and kindergarten.

Children going to kindergarten in the U.S. are welcomed by the teacher, practice reading, eat, and more — just like their counterparts in Beijing. A day of school life in Schenectady, New York, and Beijing, China, shown in expressive photographs, highlight commonalities. Chinese is included, though it is also transliterated.

A girl with ponytails takes her buffalo to school, and as one might guess, the buffalo doesn’t respond quite the same as everyone else. But the buffalo learns about individuality and respect just like the children starting kindergarten will. Cartoon illustrations enhance the silliness of the sincere message.

The narrator is cranky with the first grade jitters, according to his parents. Aidan stays that way until his friends return from vacation. As they share friendship and information, Aidan’s concerns melt away and he looks forward to first grade. Now in an illustrated edition, children will empathize with Aidan and his friends.

The young children in class are introduced to safety rules when they have a fire drill. Their varied reactions when their routine is interrupted and a “loud bell rings” are seen in crisp, colorful collages though the steady, rhythmic text suggests that everything is under control.

Starting school can be especially frightening if you don’t yet speak English. But Carmen is determined to learn English well in order to teach her little sister. With a supportive teacher and growing confidence, Carmen gradually learns the new language. Expressive illustrations complement this recognizable story.

Her classmates laugh when Margo becomes the sun with her new yellow birthday tutu worn as a headdress. That is, until her friend, Pearl, comes to the rescue, recognizing the playful potential and dons her pink tutu similarly. Fanciful, engaging illustrations capture the child’s world, enhancing this recognizable story.

When feathers and buttons (and more) come together in school they just may make something quite special: an amazing, creative picture! Rhythmic language, playful collage and a host of inanimate but animated characters make a picture on a double foldout to conclude this inventive tale. It may just inspire additional handiwork by young artists!

Although 2nd grader Alvin Ho admires superheroes, he is quite unlike them. In fact, he is afraid of everything! Alvin’s disarming character is perfectly voiced in this two-book collection.

Calvin Coconut wants a dog — and ultimately finds the perfect pet at Dog Heaven. Now how can he and his mom’s friend, Ledward, convince mom that Calvin really is responsible enough to have a dog? This latest story about the likeable 4th grader, his friends and their problems is set in Hawaii.

Miss Brooks, the librarian at the narrator’s school, brings books alive by dressing up for reading circle. But the narrator still doesn’t find books intriguing like Miss Brooks — that is until she finds one filled with all of the gross things she enjoys; she’s discovered Shrek! Cartoon-like illustrations present the eccentric but lovable characters in this playful tale.

In this heartwarming story, Farah is trying to get used to a new country and language. She knows what’s happening around her, but without the words to say what she’s thinking in English, she feels alienated from her classmates. A trip to the apple orchard helps her begin to bridge those gaps, however, and she realizes that “Laughs sound the same as at home.” As she practices her first “outside-myself word,” she knows that she will be able to say more in time. Beautiful watercolor illustrations bring Farah, her classmates, and the apple orchard to life.

Thomas (aka Gib) Gilbert’s aunt, Emily Dickinson, gave him a poem and a dead bee to share in school. Because no one understands it, Gib defends his aunt (who jokingly tells him to call her “uncle”) and gets into a fight. Gib learns, however, to tell the truth, “but tell it slant…” This engaging glimpse of a poet and her family is based on actual events revealed in free verse and delicate illustration.