This is one of my favorite books, reminding me of my days taking the bus into the inner city as a special education paraprofessional. Last Stop on Market Street also happens to be a #1 New York Times bestseller and was awarded a Caldecott Honor, […]
Category: Picture Books
Before Morning
I have been SO excited about this book, a recent library find. Rarely will I give a book a 15/15 rating (only Jabari Jumps has so far received that rating!), but this book gets pretty close. Before Morning marries poetry to intricate illustrations, creating an […]
Little Tree
Loren Long’s Little Tree uses the fall season to highlight the temptation we often have to “hold on” and resist change rather than “letting go” and surrendering to the rhythm of the seasons. While many other picture books focus on this same theme, Little Tree—for […]
Antlers Forever!
This delightful story about a moose losing his antlers for the first time reminds us that loss is a part of life, necessary for new growth. Unsurprisingly, both the author (Frances Bloxom) and illustrator (Jim Sollers) hail from Maine. “Orville Anderson Tarkington Moose” realizes with […]
A Simple Christmas on the Farm
Recently released in July, A Simple Christmas on the Farm is a new addition to the world of Christmas picture books. It adorns simplicity, a heart of giving, connection to the natural world, generosity, and open-heartedness (a definition of family that extends beyond one’s immediate […]
Bear Came Along
This sweet, simple story by Richard T. Morris highlights the power of friendship, cooperation, and strength in diversity. The illustrations are absolutely delectable, which one might predict from the Caldecott Honor seal emblazoned on the cover. Like a river, the text appears simple, but holds […]
Nobody Hugs a Cactus
This is a fun, light story with adorable illustrations and a good–if somewhat simple–message about kindness and friendship. Carter Goodrich, author and illustrator of Nobody Hugs a Cactus, has designed characters for many films, including Brave, Ratatouille, and Despicable Me. The protagonist in this story–a […]
The Scarecrow
The Scarecrow is probably not the first book that comes to mind when one thinks about Valentine’s Day books. However, this book, written by Beth Ferry and illustrated by the Fan brothers, takes us through each of the seasons (not only fall) with stunning illustrations […]
Waiting Is Not Easy!
I love Mo Willems’ books for their passionate and relatable characters, brilliantly simple illustrations, and sense of humor. Waiting Is Not Easy!, however, stands out among his books as one of the more thought-provoking. Incidentally, the book also received the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor in […]
Winter Dance
A couple weeks ago, I unwrapped this book at Christmas, read it the other day, and–wow. Poetical text and adorable illustrations unite to make this book a delight. In addition, the themes of joy, contentment, friendship, and stillness bubble just under the surface of this […]