A New Stack of Picture Books

I think it’s time for a new bunch of picture books. Most of these are newly published. Enjoy!

  Big Chickens by Leslie Helakoski, illustrated by Henry Cole

This is my new favorite picture book. I LOVE everything about it! (Thank you Cindy for recommending it!) The text is perfect for reading aloud. The pictures are so funny, you just have to keep looking to see all the terrific details. And… there are 2 sequels: Big Chickens Fly the Coop and Big Chickens Go to Town. I love all 3!

 Hurricane by David Wiesner

Two brothers and their parents weather a hurricane. When it’s over, the boys play safari, pirates and space explorers in a downed tree. Outstanding illustrations.

 Time Out for Monsters! by Jean Reidy, illustrated by Robert Neubecker

A young boy is directed to the time-out corner by a pointed finger. While there, he figures he should fix the place up. How about a little color? A window? Dinosaurs would be nice. A monster truck? He plans on and on and the pictures get wilder and wilder. Great fun!

 Brave Squish Rabbit by Katherine Battersby

Squish was just a little rabbit. But being little led to big fears. Anyone can relate to Squish’s fears, especially as shown by this book’s perfect illustrations.

 The Chicken Problem by Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson

Peg and Cat love solving problems and eating pie. One day, they go to a farm to have a perfect pie picnic with their friend Pig. But what about the 100 chicks that just got loose from the coop? The text is lively and so are the illustrations – so much to look at!

The Bird House by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Barry Moser (sorry, no link)

A young homeless girl comes upon a house with all kinds of birds flying in and around it. Day after day she watches it, being careful to not be seen by the old woman who lives there. This is an enchanting story, as is true of so many of Cynthia Rylant’s books.

  Mr. Zinger’s Hat by Cary Fagan, illustrated by Dušan Petričić

Mr. Zinger’s hat has stories hiding in it. But he’s not the only one who can find them. His new friend Leo found a terrific story in Mr. Zinger’s hat. Not only that, Leo’s own hat has its own surprises. This book has me checking in all my hats…

 Nightsong by Ari Berk and Loren Long

Chiro is a young bat. When his mother sends him out one night for the first time, he is afraid. But she gives him some advice: Use your good sense…Sense is the song you sing out into the world, and the song the world sings back to you…” Chiro goes out and heeds his mother’s advice. This is a beautiful book. It’s one to read each time we step out into a world that scares us.

  I’m Bored by Michael Ian Black and Debbie Ridpath Ohi

A new book to love! A girl is bored. Then she meets a potato who is not only bored, but also thinks the girl is boring too. This might not seem like a good idea on which to base a whole book but it is. This book is hilarious!

  A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

This is another hilarious book by Michael Ian Black. I giggled all the way through. In it, Black lists all the reasons a pig parade won’t work. The text is quite silly and the illustrations are a wonderful treat. Read this book!

 This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

Have you read I Want My Hat Back? This is by the same author and it's another winner. This time, a fish steals a hat and feel confident he will get away with it. Maybe not...

I love gathering top-notch picture books to share with you. I have the best time! What new picture books do you recommend? Write them in the Comments Box!

Gail