2016 Picture Book Preview, Part 2

Oh picture books, oh picture books, how lovely are your pages!

Today I am in the picture book spirit.  I recently attended another Library Bound book preview event where they showcased children’s books coming out this spring, summer and fall.  So I thought I’d highlight some of the titles that I’m especially looking forward to.  Want more? Make sure to check out Part 1!

Sing With Me! by Naoko Stoop. A lovely collection of nursery rhymes featuring a diverse cast of babies and suggestions for actions in the margin. From the author of the Red Knit Cap Girl series.

One Little, Two Little, Three Little Children by Kelly DiPucchio; illustrated by Mary Lundquist.  Sing this book to the tune of the classic children’s song. A celebration of a diverse group of children and families that would be perfect for storytime.

Ten Little Fingers, Two Small Hands by Kristy Dempsey; illustrated by Jane Massey.  All about the things you can do with your hands featuring a diverse cast of toddlers. Putting this one on my storytime list.

Rosco vs. the Baby by Lindsay Ward.  A cute rivalry between a dog and a baby that ends in friendship.

Can I Tell You a Secret? by Anna Kang; illustrated by Christopher Weyant. From the team behind You are (Not) Small comes this tale of a frog who is scared of swimming. Great for helping preschoolers overcome their fears.

Daddies are Awesome by Meredith Costain; illustrated by Polona Lovsin.  A gentle rhyming story about how cool dads are featuring an array of pups. Look for the sequel Mommies are Lovely.

Be Glad Your Dad….Is Not an Octopus! by Matthew Logelin and Sara Jensen; illustrated by Jared Chapman. Debut authors bring us this silly yet informative book about animals. Back matter includes additional facts.

Grumpy Pants by Claire Messer.  Mark for storytime! A repetitive phrase frames this story of a penguin in a bad mood who needs to wash away his grumpiness. Traditional print making illustrations stand out.

Splashdance by Liz Starin. Bear is told he can’t compete in the water ballet championship, but a group of friends make his dream come true. A lovely story of social justice and inclusion.

Miles of Smiles by Karen Kaufman Orloff; illustrated by Luciano Lozano. Retro illustrations fill this delightful story of why and when we smile.

It Came in the Mail by Ben Clanton. Perfect for encouraging writing, this friendship story tells what happens when a little boy writes a letter asking for something in return.

A Unicorn Named Sparkle by Amy Young. A little girl gets a unicorn that looks suspiciously like a goat when she replies to an ad in the newspaper. Funny and endearing.

Ooko by Esme Shapiro. Ooko is a fox that has everything it needs except a friend. A charming and funny story about being true to yourself.

Lucy Ladybug by Sharon King-Chai. Lucy gets made fun of for having no spots so she decides to find some of her own. Teaches colours, numbers, and would make a great felt story.

School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex; illustrated by Christian Robinson. Pictures by Newberry winner Robinson. Told from the point of view of the school as it awaits the first day with students and teachers. Try spotting school’s face in each picture.

Barnacle is Bored by Jonathan Fenske. Oh, this is a funny one that will be great for storytime. Barnacle bemoans his boring existence but learns the grass (kelp?) may only appear to be greener on the other side of the ocean.

The Blobfish Book by Jessica Olien. A non-fiction/story hybrid about blobfish that is refreshingly funny.  Blobfish may just be the new trend!

Are We There Yet? by Dan Santat. Caldecott Medal winner Santat is back with this boredom busting tale of a summer adventure that takes the reader through different time periods.

Blue Boat by Kersten Hamilton; illustrated by Valeria Petrone. Part of a vehicle trilogy that features bold illustrations and rhymes perfect for toddlers.

The Mixed-Up Truck by Stephen Savage. If you loved Supertruck then this is a must read! A funny tale of a truck that builds a birthday cake. Marking for storytime.

A Fire Truck Named Red by Randall de Seve; illustrated by Bob Staake.  An intergenerational tale where a grandpa passes down his toy truck and tells his grandson the stories behind it.

I Love Cake!: Starring Rabbit, Porcupine, and Moose by Tammi Sauer; illustrated by Angie Rozelaar. A laugh out loud tale of friendship and forgiveness. Three friends prepare for Rabbit’s birthday party when the cake goes missing.

Make Way for Readers by Judy Sierra; illustratd by G. Brian Karas. A rhyming tale from master storyteller Judy Sierra about the joys of storytime in a preschool classroom.

Wally Does Not Want a Haircut by Amanda Driscoll.  A tale of overcoming fears. Wally will do almost anything to avoid a pair of shears touching his wool.

On Bird Hill by Jane Yolen; illustrated by Bob Marstall. This book is loosely based on the song “The Green Grass Grows All Around.”

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak. A brown-skinnmed girl takes a journey through her town and forest to note the passing of the seasons. Parts of nature respond back to her as she says hello and goodbye.

Explorers of the Wild by Cale Atkinson. A boy and a bear both take off an adventure only to have an unexpected run-in with each other other. A British Columbian author and illustrator!

Good Night Owl by Greg Pizzoli. I loved The Watermelon Seed and Number One Sam, so I am super excited to get this one about an owl who is ready to fall asleep until a mysterious noise keeps him up.

Chicken in Space by Adam Lehrhaupt; illustrated by Shahar Kober. Go on a funny adventure with the courageous and brave Zoey the Chicken as she and her friend Sam the pig venture into outer space.

Dragon Was Terrible by Kelly DiPucchio; illustrated by Greg Pizzoli. A misbehaving dragon has a village in near shambles when an unlikely hero uses the power of storytelling to tame it.

Playtime? by Jeff Mack. Following his one-word trend, Mack brings us this story of a gorilla who isn’t quite ready for bedtime.

1 Big Salad: A Delicious Counting Book by Juana Medina. Medina adds to photographs of fruits and veggies with her innovative drawings. Count up to ten to make a big, healthy salad.

Some Pets by Angela DiTerlizzi; illustrated by Brendan Wenzel. A companion to Some Bugs. Great for a storytime that celebrates pets of all shapes and sizes.

The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read by Curtis Manley; illustrated by Kate Berube. Debut author Manley combines cats, reading, and the library for a sure fire hit.  Really looking forward to this one!

Lion Lessons by Jon Agee.  Agee brings his trademark humour to this tale of a boy who signs up for lion school and learns about looking out for friends.

Hill & Hole Are Best Friends by Kyle Mewburn; illustrated by Vasanti Unka.  An import from New Zealand, this book sets geometric opposites as best friends.  The ending was a bit dark.

The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright; illustrated by Jim Field.  A mouse who yearns to be brave decides to ask Lion for help only to find Lion is scared of mice.  From the author of the Love Monster series.

Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T. Smith.  This spin-off of Little Red Riding Hood ends in friendship and features a cast of safari animals.  I’m in love with the little girl’s ponytails!

Ten Hungry Pigs: An Epic Lunch Adventure by Derek Anderson.  I loved Anderson’s first pig book, so I’m really looking forward to this food-themed one which stars a pig who wants a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  I’ve got a hunch it will make a great felt story for storytime.

Excellent Ed by Stacy McAnulty; illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach.  Ed wants to be good at something just like the rest of his African American family.  Perfect for dog lovers.

Who Wants a Tortoise? by Dave Keane; illustrated by K.G. Campbell.  When a little girl gets a tortoise for her birthday instead of a longed-for puppy, she learns that friendship comes when you least expect it.

Finding Wild by Megan Wagner Lloyd; illustrated by Abigail Halpin.  Two children go off an adventure to discover the beauty of nature in the wild and in their own backyard.  Illustrations are top-notch.

City Shapes by Diana Murray; illustrated by Bryan Collier.  Not just a concept book! Explore city life and discover the shapes that are hidden there. Collier modeled his illustrations on his own daughter – adorable!

Dario and the Whale by Cheryl Lawton Malone; illustrated by Bistra Masseva.  One of the only books I’ve seen about an immigrant family coming out this year.  When Dario and his mom move to Cape Cod from Brazil, Dario finds a friend in a creature who also doesn’t speak English.

Hooray for Today! by Brian Won.  Super excited for this one by the author of Hooray for Hat! Owl is ready for fun, but all the other animals are ready for bed.  A tale of patience and friendship.

It is Not Time for Sleeping by Lisa Graff; illustrated by Lauren Castillo.  A cumulative tale of getting ready for bed even though the little boy is sure it’s not time just yet.

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty; illustrated by David Roberts.  Girls and science, heck yes! Ada loves asking why and embarks on a scientific adventure.  Love seeing girls and STEAM together.

Duck on a Tractor by David Shannon.  Duck on a Bike remains one of my favourite preschool storytime books, so I can’t wait to see what mischief Duck gets up to on a tractor!

I’ll Wait, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony.  The animals all want to know what Panda is making, but only one little penguin has the patience to wait.  Sequel to Please, Mr. Panda.

Hungry Bird by Jeremy Tankard.  One of our local authors is back with another story about Bird. Looks like someone’s stomach is rumbling!

Is That Wise, Pig? by Jan Thomas.  Thomas’s books are laugh-out-loud funny and storytime gold. In this upcoming title, Pig keeps adding silly ingredients to a soup he is helping Mouse make.

Return by Aaron Becker. Another wordless wonder that appears to complete the story told in Journey and Quest.