Classics, Nonfiction, and Children's Literature
Step Gently Out by Helen Frost and illustrated by Rick Lieder (Candlewick, 2012) is a lovely poem illustrated by photographs of the smallest creatures outside. Bees on a flower, an ant, a cricket singing, a spider on a silken thread. The poem is lovely, and the pictures invite the reader in to the natural world.
No Two Alike by Keith Baker (Beach Lane Books, 2011) celebrates the uniqueness of winter with gorgeous digital paintings of two birds enjoying nature. The text is rhythmic and rhyming, and provides a gentle framework for the how nothing is completely alike – snowflakes, fences, trees. The ultimate conclusion is that the birds are similar
In the Tree House by Andrew Larsen and illustrated by Dusan Petricic (Kids Can Press, 2013) is a subtle book about childhood and a special place. Two brothers create a tree house together, but when the older brother “grows up” faster, the younger brother is discouraged and alone. It takes a black out to bring
Good People Everywhere by Lynea Gillen and illustrated by Kristina Swarner (Three Pebble Press, 2012) is a sweet book about all the good people around us today. Each page begins with “Today,” followed by something that someone is doing to help, from a doctor to a big sister who holds her little brother to a
Wishes by Jean Little and illustrated by Genevieve Cote (North Winds Press, 2012) builds on the familiar refrain that “if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.” Each page has another sometimes silly ending to the “if wishes were…” beginning, from “if wishes were snowflakes” to “if wishes were kisses.” I love the analogies in this
How To by Julie Morstad (Simply Read Books, 2013) has a non-traditional structure. Each page has a phrase to finish the beginning “How to,” coupled with a creative illustration to show how do do that thing. For example, “how to go fast” has a child on piggy back, a child on a scooter, a child with
Penguin wonders how he can contribute to the community talent show in Penguin’s Hidden Talent by Alex Latimer (Peachtree, 2012). Predictably, he finds he does have a talent, and his friends greatly appreciate it in the end. Although Penguin’s Hidden Talent follows a predictable format, it is still a heartwarming book about finding your place in a community as
Rosie Sprout’s Time to Shine by Allison Wortche and pictures by Patrice Barton (Knopf, 2011) is a book about selflessness and overcoming jealousy. Rosie is tired of being overshadowed in her class by Violet, whom everyone believes is the Best in everything she does. When it comes time to begin the class unit on growing a
Because Amelia Smiled by David Ezra Stein (Candlewick, 2012) is a circular book to emphasize our individual and unseen influence on others. When Amelia smiles, Mrs. Higgins smiles too and makes cookies for her son in Mexico. When he eats the cookies, he teaches his class a song about cookies and his student makes a decision.
Crafty Chloe by KellyDiPucchio and illustrated by Heather Ross (Atheneum, 2012) is a sparkly book for the creative child, and yet my not-crafty five-year-old son enjoyed it too. Chloe is not good at sports or dancing or video games like some of her friends, but she is good at making things. When her friend has
When No One is Watching by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by David A. Johnson (Eeerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2013) is about a girl who loves to be crazy (dancing, singing, grunting disapproval, and so forth) but only when no one is watching. If she’s around others, she is quite and sullen. She’s withdrawn and
Night Knight by Owen Davey (Templar Books, 2011) begins and ends with a boy with a colander as a hat, holding a play horse, but the rest of the illustrations show a different story: a knight coming to the end of his day. The illustrations are playful and fun as the “knight” bathes with the
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