The picture books listed below (mostly 2024 titles) are highly recommended. There is a range of themes in the 13 picture books listed below. Some titles are funny. Some titles touch the heart. Each title has sensational art work.
DAD, I MISS YOU by Nadia Sammurtok; illus. Simji Park
Picture books can offer readers so much in terms of enjoyment, information and feeling. Dad, I miss you is rather bleak as the story unfolds but it is one of the most powerful picture books I’ve recently come across a that present the harsh life of an Indigenous child being sent to a residential school. The story is told is told in aturn by the voices of a boy who expresses his fears and confusion, and a father who’s monologue conveys his own fears and sadness as well as his hpes for a better future for his child. In its simplicity, it is strong story about connection and separation. The book is based on Inuit writer, Nadia Sammurtok’s family history of residential school separation. The superb artwork by Sumji Park clearly evokes the events and memories of father and child presented throughout. Dad, I Miss You is a heart-rending book that needs to be shared, discussed and felt.
I can’t do this anymore. I’m so hungry, Dad. I need you.
We miss you a lot, but you’re learning to read in English and count numbers
They said it would be better this way.
DON’T THINK OF TIGERS by Alex Latimer
The artist asserts that he can draw anything but he can’t draw tigers, and claims that there will not be a single tiger illustration in the book. Latimer demands that readers ‘Don’t Think of Tigers’ and or course the pages are filled with tiger art, comical, lively, silly and imaginative depictions of this captivating jungle animal. An amusing read indeed!
I really, really can’t draw tigers, so
whatever you do, please
DON’T THINK OF TIGERS!
DR. COLOR MONSTER: And the Emotions Toolkit by Anna Llenas
When feelings are difficult to work through, a visit with the Color Monster is sure to help deal with emotions. When a young girl has a weird, unpleasant feeling the Doctor tries to get to the root of the problem and with the help of his emotions toolskit, he helps the upset girl to calm down and regulate her emotions and help her feel better. A wonderful full-page spread of 27 meditative things that help bring positivity and happiness to help the girl – and readers – deal with weird feelings is worth the price of the book (e.g., sunbathing drawing a picture of how you feel, smelling scents that you like, moving your body, going out for fresh air, a hug). The colourful (of courser) art work is lively filling each page with delight. Dr. Color Monster is a wonderful prescription to help us name and validation our emotions. Also by the author, The Color Monster, The Color Monster Pop-up book, The Color Monster Board Book, and The Color Monster Goes to School.
This is the emotions toolkit. Here we keep everything that helps us calm down and regulate our emotions to feel better. Should we open it and look inside?
I’M SO SORRY YOU GOT MAD by Kyle Lukoff; illus. Julie Kwon
Jack behaved badly by knocking over a classmate’s castle. The teacher is asking Jack to write an apology telling him to explain 1. What you did 2. That you are sorry. 3. How you’ll help fix it. This book helps readers understand that there’s more to an apology than just saying, “I’m sorry” which is frustrating for Jack who thinks he isn’t at fault. The story is told entirely in hand-written notes, including several thrown-away writing drafts. . I’m So and Sorry You Got Mad is a terrific story with an important lesson about taking responsibility and taking the challenge of making amends that come from the heart.
LIAM AND THE LETTERS / WALTER AND THE WORLD by Stephanie Simpson McLellan; illus. Mike Dias (chapter book)
Two Tales of Twenty Six is two stories for early readers designed in a flip-book format. Walter the mouse is out to conquer twenty-six cats in order to reach the outside world. Turning the book upside-down and back to front, readers will meet character in a parallel adventure of a young boy, who is learning to read by conquering the twenty-six letters of the alphabet and eventually come to read about Walter the mouse’s adventure. This delightful book is one to read back and forth, forth and back, more than once.
THE MOON’S JOURNEY by Beryl Young; illus. Sean Huang
Beryl Young describes a family’s journey as they travel across the ocean from Wales to a new home in Canada. The story is set in the 1950’s and is based on a true story that has been recorded in the Canadian Museum of Immigration of Pier 21 in Halifax. Readers travel with Faith who is nervous about the strange new place which will be called home. The night moon that watches over Faith and her family brings her friendship and good company and hope. The Moon’s Journey is a worthy addition to stories about immigration and for many young readers an informative introduction to Pier 21, a gateway to Canada for one million immigrants.
Gareth said, “I have an idea. Tomorrow when we get to the dock, I’ll ask the captain to set up a towline between the ship’s funnel and the moon.”
Faith looked up at him, “You mean the moon would come with us?”
“Of course, silly,” Garth said.
PASTA PASTA LOTSA PASTA by Aimee Lucido; illus. Mavius Demirag
One by one, the relatives arrive each bringing a pasta dish to prepare for the family (Nonna Ana from Catania prepares lasagna; Nonno Titi from Tahitii prepares spaghettini; Zio Tony from Shoshoni prepares ravioli; Zia Trini anf Houdini prepare rotini etc), Rhming stanzas delight as each dish is prepared. Tbis book is a yummy shout out to lotsa lotas pasta.
Ring-a ding, the doorbell righs and oh!
What did my nonna bring?
Nonna Ana from Catania
only likes to eat lasagna.
Sift the flour, form a crater –
bye-bye eggshells see you later!
Add some basil just for flavor;
stir and stir – we’re pasta makers.
SOS WATER by Yayo
Any book that can help young readers think about climate change and their part in taking care of the environment is worth sharing. This picture book tells the story of a sailor named Lalo and a goldfish named Rosa in search of a safe place in the world for Rosa to be safe. However, every place they visit from the North Pole to tropical jungles, from deserts to Paris is is strewn with plastic bottles. The cover illustration is spectacular (Lolo rowing is rowing a boat in a sea of thousands of plastic bottles. Simple text, humour, imagination and a thoughtful message about recycling and glorious illustrations (often comic like) help to make SOS Water is a treasure of a picture book. Thank you Yayo.
I dreamed I had magical powers to clean the world.
“What can I do? ” I asked the sea.
WHO’S WALKING DAWG? by Marie Prins; illus Leanne Franson
Dawg wants to go for a walk but his busy family ignores him and so Dawg takes matters into his own paws and wanders off into the neighbourhood. Eventually the family members worry about the gone dog and go searching for, Dawg who (spoiler alert) returns home just in time for supper. This is an amusing story with appealing, clear text matched by appealing, clear illustrations.
He followed his nose past a cat by a car, a bunny in a bush, and a toad near the road…
WINDSONGS by Douglas Florian (poetry)
I think I each of Douglas Florian’s poetry collections that shine on the wonders of nature. I was pleased to get his newest release in this tribute to weather including Rain, Hurricane, Hail, Wind, Frost, Thunder, Tornado). Florian’s rhymes delight as well as help readers ponder the elements of weather, whether the weather be hot or weather be whether be cold. I have always been a fan of Florian’s colourful, playful, poetic, art work, poems unto themselves.
from “Sun”
The
sun is the force,
and the sun is the source
of whether it’s raining or sunny, of course.
YOU CHOOSE by Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart 2003/2023
This is an entertaining interactive picture book that inspires ‘would you rather’ choices by asking readers to answer questions and choose from many illustrations to answer the question. For example, “When you get hungry, what would you eat?” invites readers to examine a double page spread of about 75 brightly coloured food drawings (ice-cream sundae, tarts, waatermelon, cheeses, corn on the cob, spider and worm stew); “Is there a job you would like to do?” invites readers to examines 50 panels, each showing a different occupation (dentist, librarian, construction worker, pilot). I love this book for this element of choice, problem solving and storying and for the possibility of visiting each spread again and again. (also: You Choose Your Dreams, You Choose in Space, You Choose Fairy Tales). Fun! Fun! Fun!
SHOUT OUT
EYES OPEN by Susan Meiselas (nonfiction)
This art book is an awesome presentation of 23 Photography Projects for Curious Kids. Each project from around the world provides impetus that plant seeds for young photographers to pay attention and connect with the world as professional photographers do. Project titles include: Alphabetography, Neighbourhood, Personal Space, Strangers Meet, Generations, Parallel Lives, Imagined Landscapes accompanied with vivid photos to gaze upon and wonder. Eyes Open is not just for young people. The book is designed to enhance the artistic self by thinking about”how to focus, frame, to see light, movement and emotions” It is a marvel of a collection inviting readers to open their eyes, notice and perhaps capture the wonders of people, places and things. (It is a terrific resource for art teachers helping to enrich visual literacy and media skills).
SHOUT OUT
A HAPPY PLACE by Britta Teckentrup
“Follow me, whispers the star, and I will help you find a happy place.” And so begins a child’s journey ‘into the deep blue night, past the sparkling river. / up the rolling hills. /into the moonlit woods.” Star and child continue to dance and sign in the light of the moon as they encounter and dance together with a tippy-toed squirrel, a bushy tailed fox, a long-eared hare and other creatures of the night. Britta Teckentrip’s magical wonderous illustrations must have been created with the beams of the moonlight. What is especially staggering about this picture book is the construction of the pages with peek-through pages and cutaways to take children on a magical moonlight adventures. This is a marvel of a publication. A book to be treasured and read again and. again. A five-star (and shining moon) gift of a book. WOW!
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FYI
The 2025 Caldecott winners for best illustrated book were announced on January 27.
Caldecott Medal; CHOOCH HELPED by Andrea L. Rogers, illus. Rebecca Lee Kunz
Caldecott Honor Titles include
HOME IN A LUNCHBOX by Cherry Mo
MY DADDY IS A COWBOY by Stephanie Seals; illus. C. G. Esperanza
NOODLES ON A. BICYCLE by Kyo Maclear; illus. Gracey Zhang
UP, UP, EVER UP by Anita Yasuda; illus. Yuko Shimizu
FYI… LARRY’s CHOICE… THE YELLOW SCHOOL BUS by Loren Long