Picture Books
by Matt Phelan
The setup: When the weather turns brisk, Papa Bear declares "sweaters ON!", sending his little cubs scampering to don the cozy autumn gear Papa Bear knitted for them.
The fallout: The cubs' enthusiastic but confused attempts to dress themselves leads to hilarious chaos, perfectly captured by the warm colors and goofy sight gags in the illustrations.
Who it's for: easily distracted kids (and their patient caregivers).
by Andrea Davis Pinkney; illustrated by Brian Pinkney
What it is: a short and sweet collection of poems, quotes, and activities celebrating Black and brown babies and the families who love them.
Who it's for: In addition to baby-friendly text, this book boasts endearing illustrations, making it perfect for snuggly, one-on-one sharing between caregivers and their little ones.
Want a taste? "Brown baby, born bright. Greet the world. Spread your light. Sparkling eyes blink hello. Bright brown baby, you will GO!"
by Adam Rubin; illustrated by Adam Rex
Starring: Gladys, an oblivious chicken whose accidental reputation for wish-granting propels her on a zany odyssey throughout "Ancient Times."
Why kids might like it: Illustrated in a theatrical, comically exaggerated style, the silliness of Gladys' adventures will amuse younger kids, while older kids might enjoy the tongue-in-cheek use of archetypes from mythology.
Book buzz: This is the first collaboration between Dragons Love Tacos author Adam Rubin and Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich creator Adam Rex.
by Brendan Wenzel
What it is: a peek into the perception of an indoor cat who wonders about many things -- and draws many distinctly feline conclusions -- as it gazes out of every window in the house.
Reviewers say: "A tour de force in terms of perspective, imagination, and creativity" (Booklist).
Kids might also like: creator Brendan Wenzel's equally inventive They All Saw a Cat, in which a cat is the observed rather than the observer.
by Anne Wynter; illustrated by Oge Mora
What it's about: Late at night in an urban apartment building, a baby's cry sets off a chain reaction of wakeful neighbors, each one adding to the cacophony until, eventually, they're soothed to sleep by the quieter sounds surrounding them.
Why kids might like it: The story's cumulative style encourages interaction, while the artwork offers an attention-grabbing blend of dynamic lettering and paper collage.
Try this next: Mac Barnett's Noisy Night, which also explores the nighttime soundscape of apartment dwellers.
by Gaia Cornwall
Starring: Jabari, a kid who's determined to build a machine that flies across his yard.
What happens: After his initial attempts crash, Jabari -- drawing on inspiration from his little sister and soothing support from his dad -- perseveres, tinkering and re-trying until his project finally takes off.
Series alert: Kids who want to spend more time with relatable Jabari and his family will enjoy the characters' first outing in Jabari Jumps.
by Ana Crespo; Giovana Medeiros
What it's about: Competitive twins Lia and Luís have just gotten their favorite Brazilian snacks at the family store when Luís claims that his bag of biscoito de polvilho is "more" than Lia's two coxinhas de galinha. Can they use math to figure out if he's right? And, more importantly, can these sibling rivals find a way to share?
Featuring: cheerful illustrations, a Brazilian Portuguese glossary, and child-oriented examples of counting, measuring, and comparing.
by Kimberly Derting and Shelli R. Johannes; illustrated by Joelle Murray
What it's about: Young chemist Libby is thrilled by the chance to host the science booth at the school fair.
Why kids might like it: Not only will readers feel for Libby's trials and triumphs with slime, bubbles, and bottle rockets, they can also experiment along with her using the instructions provided.
Series alert: Kids who are inspired by Libby should also check out the adventures of Cece and Vivi, Libby's companions in the Loves Science series.
by Daniel Kirk
What it's about: A falling acorn prompts squirrel siblings Newton and Curie to investigate questions about the physical world, such as why things fall down, how birds fly, how playground swings move, and how teeter-totters work.
Concepts include: gravity, weight, force, mass, and simple machines.
Art alert: Even those who are skeptical about learning physics via anthropomorphic squirrels will be charmed by the vivid colors and expressive characters in this picture book.
68 Calhoun St.
Charleston, South Carolina 29401
843-805-6930
Original source can be found here.
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