Picture Books: Something for Everyone

Time for more picture books! Most of this bunch came out in the last year or so, so you may not have read them yet. Enjoy!

 Cows Can't Jump by Dave Reisman, illustrated by Jason A. Maas

This book and its companion, Cows Can't Quack, are incredibly charming. The text is simple but clever and the illustrations are a stitch. They are a big hit with preschoolers and early readers.

 The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers

This book really is about a boy who eats books. He started with just a word, then a sentence, then whole books. At first eating books made him smart, but after a while... things didn't go so well. Can you predict what happens then?

 Too Purpley by Jean Reidy, illustrated by Genevieve Leloup

Finding the just-right clothes is sometimes a problem. This girl goes through scads of outfits to find just the right one. This book is perfect for predicting words. There are 2 more books in the series:

Too Princessy

Too Pickley

 Stanley Goes for a Drive by Craig Frazier

Stanley gets in his truck and goes for a drive. He has nothing in mind, really, until he spots a cow. Then he gets an idea. This is one of those books that’ll make you think, “How did the author ever come up with this idea? There are 2 more books in the series:

Stanley Goes Fishing

Stanley Mows the Lawn

 Along a Long Road by Frank Viva

If you are into bikes and biking, you should definitely see this book. The words are few but the pictures are very BIKE.

  A Leaf Can Be… by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Violeta Dabija

Although there aren’t many words, there is a lot of science in this book. The main pages give a fair amount of information and the end pages give more.

  Living Sunlight by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm

Another science book! This one explains how the sun is the source of Earth's power: for the plants, the animals and us. It's very much a "Circle of Life" kind of book.

 Pickles, Please! by Andy Myer [I don't know why the cover says Picklicious, my book says Pickles, Please!]

If you have a passion for a particular food, you’ll totally get this book. Alec Smart LOVES pickles. This passion leads him on an adventure and into a parade.

 In the Garden with Dr. Carver by Susan Grigsby, illustrated by Nicole Tadgell

I’ve always enjoyed reading about George Washington Carver. He was born as a slave but by the time he died, he was a college professor. This story tells about how he helped a school create a garden by making the soil richer. He was, in a way, one of the first environmentalists!

 Say Hello to Zorro by Carter Goodrich

Mister Bud was a dog with a very definite schedule. He loved his schedule. Then Zorro moved in. How will Mister Bud ever adjust? It’s very clear that the author knows dogs!

 One Mole Digging a Hole by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt

This is a basic counting book with fun rhymes and pictures (my favorite: Seven Frogs – they look like they are smiling for a camera!) Try this: before you read a page, guess what the rhyme is by studying the picture.

 A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead

Zookeeper Amos McGee takes very good care of his animal friends. But one day he wakes up sick and can't go in to work. Not to worry, his good friends take the bus and visit him. The story and illustrations are terrific. But I have one question - how do they get on the bus?

 Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley, illustrated by Roberta Angaramo

Do you know the story Puss in Boots? This book is based on that… sort of. Dog wants a pair of boots that are as wonderful as the cat’s boots. He tries many pairs but none quite work. The illustrations are quite funny.

Have you read any picture books you’d like to recommend? Write them in the Comments Box!

Gail