By the time Old Bear
fell asleep for the winter,
it was snowing hard.
Soon he was dreaming.
Old Bear leads us through a winter’s worth of beautiful dreams, one for each season of the year. This is another short, quiet, dreamy book that is perfect for just before bed.
Author: Kevin Henkes
Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
A perfect tall tale of daring and dairy. This book may (almost literally) have everything. Among other things, there are aliens, dads, dinosaurs, flying saucers, hot air balloons, pirates, ponies, piranhas, space time paradoxes, time machines, vampires, volcanoes, and (fortunately) the milk. An effortless read aloud and an absolute hoot.
Author: Neil Gaiman
Illustrator: Skottie Young
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Posted in Chapter Books
Tagged aliens, Animals, Fortunately the Milk, Machines, Neil Gaiman, pirates, science fiction, Skottie Young, space time paradoxes, Tall Tale, vampires, volcanoes
My friend Rabbit means well.
But whatever he does,
wherever he goes,
trouble follows.
This is another quick, funny, unexpected book with beautiful illustrations. Both boys love to chime in on the (frequently repeating lines) and happily anticipate the next wild (slightly disastrous, mostly humorous) event. A perfect treat before bed.
Author: Eric Rohmann
Illustrator: Eric Rohmann
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Animals, bedtime, Caldecott Medal, Eric Rohmann, Machines, My Friend Rabbit
Zoom (a cat who loves water) finds an address and a map left by his uncle (who has gone off adventuring) labeled “The Sea and how to get there.” But following the map does not help Zoom find what he expected–at least not at first. This is a deeply imaginative book that intrigues the boys–it reminds me of The Maggie B. with its beauty, coziness, and themes of sailing, adventure, and family. It is the first of three books about Zoom and it may be our favorite.
Author: Tim Wynne-Jones
Illustrator: Eric Beddows
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Animals, beach, Eric Beddows, Machines, series, The Maggie B., Tim Wynne-Jones, Zoom, Zoom at Sea
A chief’s son
went fishing
alone,
and a terrible storm arose.
Deliberately patterned on universal archetypes and Northwest Coast Native motifs, this story contains many unexpected elements for both its hero and its readers. The boys are fascinated by this one, and I suspect the unusual, almost frightening, images play a major role. Recommended for slightly older children, especially those who enjoy tales of the sea.
Author: Paul Owen Lewis
Illustrator: Paul Owen Lewis
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Animals, beach, Diverse Books, Paul Owen Lewis, Storm Boy, USA
The girl was small and the cat was big.
And on certain nights
she rode on his back
to the place where
the Milk-Pool was.
Another simple and beautiful bedtime tale. This has role reversals, great illustrations, and lots of creativity. Perfect for a quick and cozy read before bed.
Author: Lane Smith
Illustrator: Lane Smith
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Animals, beach, bedtime, Diverse Books, Lane Smith, out of print, The Big Pets
I’ve been meaning to write about a number Christmas books this holiday season, but somehow this sweet book keeps slipping to the front of the queue. In short, a lot of otters find a baby and a book that belong to a very unusual (and yet ultimately very relatable) mother. But the seemingly simple story quietly addresses being lost and found, bold and safe, curious and content (often all at once).
A Lot of Otters seems to have been inspired by a legend about otters and books that Ms. Berger explored in an earlier work, Animalia (which I expect will also show up here someday). It is calming and soft, with beautiful illustrations that are perfect for for kids who are enthralled by otters (like my youngest). I especially recommend it for bedtime.
Author: Barbara Helen Berger
Illustrator: Barbara Helen Berger
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged A Lot of Otters, Animalia, Animals, Barbara Helen Berger, bedtime, Diverse Books
Silly Sally went to town,
walking backwards, upside down.
This book is all kinds of silly. There are silly words, characters, pictures, and plot lines. There are lots of chances for silly voices. And tickling the listeners is all-but required.
If pure silliness isn’t enough to close the deal, there’s also plenty of repetition that makes it extra fun for the kids to join in and rollicking rhythms that it makes it a pleasure to read aloud. And it is a great choice for a bedtime story when you want to end the day quickly, but on a high note.
We don’t have the big board book version (yet?), but it would a great choice for a reader not quite yet ready for paper pages.
Author: Audrey Wood
Illustrator: Audrey Wood
A fierce little woman’s solitary life (filled with knitting, playing the bagpipes, and fishing) is suddenly interrupted by a self-proclaimed wicked pirate with an adorable parrot and an utterly unexpected, dark, secret. A spirited standoff ensues with an surprising and very satisfying outcome.
The boys particularly love the parrot and pirate. I’m partial to that fierce little knitting woman. But we all love the very happy ending.
Author: Joy Cowley
Illustrator: Sarah Davis
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Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Animals, Joy Cowley, knitting, out of print, pirates, Sarah Davis, The Fierce Little Woman and the Wicked Pirate
Jack, from the backseat, said to his dad,
This car is OK. This car is not bad.
But it’s just a car. Nothing great. Nothing grand.
It’s nothing at all like the car I have planned.
This may be the perfect picture book. The rhymes, cadence, and illustrations are irresistible (not for nothing did this book win the E.B. White Read Aloud Award). Also, we all really, REALLY want Jack’s car. (An instant snack bar? A pool? An impeccable safety record? A built-in robot chauffeur? The ability to sail, submerge, and fly? SIGN US UP.) This is the first book my oldest learned by heart; it is simply addictive.
Author: Chris Van Dusen
Illustrator: Chris Van Dusen
Comments Off on If I Built a Car
Posted in Picture Books
Tagged Animals, Chris Van Dusen, E.B. White Read Aloud Award, If I Built a Car, Machines, mystery reader books, science fiction, series