Because my office is being renovated, i need to tidy up and downsize the hundreds of books that fill my shelves. Really, it wouldn’t be wise to buy more books. Alas, I’ve come across some mighty fine picture books that have recently been published and so my book shelves will continue to grow. And grow. This posting presents a baker’s dozen of recent Dr. Larry acquisitions. I couldn’t resist.
2025 TITLES
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SHOUT OUT! SHOUT OUT!
CLARA and the Man with Books in His Window by Maria Teresa Andruetto; illus. Martina Trach
2018 / 2025 (Translation)
Clara is the daughter of a poor laundress. When Clara delivers laundry to a wealthy neighbour who lives a secluded life surrounded with books and books to keep him company. Books bring Clara together. This exquisite picture book ,translated from the Spanish, is based on a true story of the author’s mother. It is told with simplicity and clarity and sophistication. Any book about how books bring people together and how we find courage to move forward through books and friendship is worth sharing. With few words words and haunting images, this book gave me a punch in the heart. As I write these words, I am getting goosebumps. Clara is a picture book masterpiece.
Excerpt
“What does courage mean?
“Courage is being brave enough to live the way you wnat to, the way you believe…”
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ANOTHER MONKEY? by Dr. Susan Schwartz
The author draws on experiences of her son Michael’s love of his monkey puppet, Monkein, when he was four years old to tell a story about children’s devotion to their favourite toys. Michael comes to acquire ‘too many monkeys’ that he eventually chooses to give to his friends. Young readers will identify with stuffed toys and dolls they carry with them everywhere. This is a story of devotion, generosity and family. A bonus of this story is the fact that Susan’s six grandchildren collaborated to create colourful full-page illustrations for this story. This self-published story is a charming tale that provides educators with the opportunities for educators to teah about manners, numbers, counting, toy stories and diversity. There is no doubt that Another Monkey? is a labour of love, a love that Susan Schwartz is proud to share with others. Mazel Tov to you, Susan! (and the Schwartz clan). Also in French-English and Spanish-English. For more information see: Linktree website: ssconsulting_author_editor.
DON’T TRUST FISH by Neil Sharpson; illus.Dan Santat
Quick… what are three things you know about Mammals; What are three things you know about reptiles; What are three things you know about birds. Answers are given on the opening pages of this humourous – and informative- picture book. But as the title of their book suggests, “Don’t trust fish.” There is no one kind of fish. “Some live in salt water. Some live in fresh water. Some lay eggs. Some don’t. They are rebels and outlaws”. Fish facts abound in this funny funny resource. No, you mustn’t, shouldn’t every trust fish – especially Jeff who may look harmless but just may be the craftiest fish of all. I repeat “Don’t Trust Fish!” but you sure can trust that Sharpson and Santat really know a lot about fish – and what makes a sensational nonfiction picture book!.
DRAWING IS… Your Guide to Scribbled Adventures by Elizabeth Haidle
This book is a guide that provides budding artists with ‘everything you wanted to know about drawing’ support. It’s a jam packed collection of tips, inspirations. ideas and art work that inspire creativity and guide readers to ‘scribbling adventures’. Some page headings read: Drawing is Traveling, Drawing is Wondering, Drawing is Growing. Other pages and consider such important elements as Lines, Tone, Conrast and Pattern. Elizabeth Haidle provides hundreds of monochromatic drawings that spill from her mind and offer a treasure trove of art pieces. The back cover reads “This book is for you if you can.. Breathe, Blink, Ponder, Wonder, Hold a Pencil!’
I AM STRONG by Todd Parr
You can never ever go wrong with a Todd Parr title. I Am Strong, is an affirming tribute to believing in yourself, trying new things and never giving up. Brightly coloured page feature a happy animal characters, each with an important message about being positive and staying strong, even when feelings get hurt. (e.g., “I fix my mistakes.”; I can say I’m sorry.”; “I share when something is bothering me.” Mr. Parr you are a srong artist. Your books are strong teachers.
A LITTLE SAILING LESSON by Srea Stefanini / 2023/ 2025
This book, translated from the Italian is a beautiful lesson about the up and down journeys everyone goes through in life. And what matters most is the journey and not the destination. This story is an extended metaphor about mentorship letting us know that we all need to have “an experienced sailor by your side / someone you can trust, someone who knows all about the winds, the waves, and the fish. The persuasive text and the remarkable art work depicting the wonders of ocean life helped to make A Little Sailing Lesson a hugely successful picture book.
MORE OR LESS by Alison Hughes; illus. Oge Mora
We gather things more and more until we have plenty of pletnty Then, atime comes to clear out our spaces, downsize and live with less and less by sharing, donating and spreading kindness more and more. There aren’t many words in Alison Hughe’s picture book but the important story of passing our ‘stuff’ on to others fills the pages with colourful cut-page artwork by Caldecott Honor wiiner, Oge Mora.
ONE CAN by Lana Button & Eric Walters; illus. Isabelle Malenfant
A boys class is participating in a food drive with the goal of collection 100 cans. The boy is honoured to be the one to contribute the 100th can (his favourite Zoodelicious) but soon. comes to find out that his family will be on the receiving end of food donations (“Mom, are we the people in need?”) This is a lovely story to inspire conversaions about wants and needs – and sharing.
SAY MY NAME by Joanna Ho; illus. Khoa Lee
Each character shares a succinct personal history of how their names came to be thus presenting a powerful tale about the power of names. Children of Chinese, Tongan, Persian, Navajo, Mexican and Ghanian descent proudly celebrate their names, cultures and heritage helping readers to understand that understanding our names – and pronouncing names correctly – is essential to knowing each other. Presented with poetic text accompanied by astonishing rich full page illustrations. Appendix includes a pronunciatoin guide and historical references.
Excerpt
My names is Bijan Hosseini.Once a jewel cradled in my mother’s arms, I look to Allah for guidance and walk with angels over my shoulders and prayers to sustain my steps.
A FEW TITLES BEFORE 2025
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THE BOY WHO TRIED TO SHRINK HIS NAME by Sandhya Parappukkaran / 2021
Our names are artifacts of our identities and I was thrilled to add this title to my collection of books about names. Many students (and adults) with long names will identify with Zimdalamahkermishkada who thinks that he will have to shrink his name down to a shorter simpler one that teachers and classmates won’t trip over. It’s good to have a nickname (i.e., Zim). but it shrinking names just doesn’t feel right. Zimdalamashkermishkada’s name ‘explodes like a crack of thunder’ and celebrates the imptorance of being our authentic selves, a lesson that the author, Sandhya Parappukkaran, knows very well.
COLOSSAL WORDS FOR KIDS: 75 Tremendous Words – Neatly defined to stick to the mind by Colette Hller; illus. Tor Freeman / vocabulary / poetry /2024
Page by page, this book offers a celebration of ‘colossal’ words. Readers are introduced to 75 rather unfamiliar vocabulary items. Cleverly, each word is defined with a simple rhyme that bring meaning – and joy – to the wonder of words. I love the display complete list of the chosen words that are featured in the fly jacket. (e.g., herculean, inconspicuous, discombobulaled, disingenous, hirsute, capacious and magnanimous. The select words are presented alphabetically and are highlighted in coloured font within each rhyme. Quotations, fun facts and comical illustrations add to the power of this book. This book is a jovial, scintillating collection that offers an epiphany to newly acquired tremendous words. For classroom teachers this book offers a terrific and extensive spelling, vocabulary, morpheme lessons that can be carried over a month’s time – and then some.
A sample
TESTY
It doesn’t take much
to irritate Betsy
She’s annoyed easily,
Betsy is testy.
MAD AT DAD by Janie Ho
A young girl is MAD at her dad. She really is MAD. She then feels BAD. She feels SAD realizing she doesn’t really like being MAD and tries everything to help her be less MAD (counting, drawing, deep breathing). Eventually the DAD that she is MAD at helps her feel better. The words and pictures in this book explode off the page and , along with the lift-the-flap construct, seem to punctuate the angry feelings of this young girl. This is a great interactive picture book that beyond entertaining, helps young readers think about their frustrating emotions and how to deal with them. I’m so glad, Janie Ho wrote Mad at Dad.
THE MEMORY TREE by Britta Teckentrup / 2013
I recently asked the teachers in my Children’s Course which tough topic in my book Teaching Tough Topics seemed to be especially tough for them and many suggested that the issue of Death Loss and Remembrance is somewhat problematic because it strikes and emotional core and they sometimes aren’t comfortable handling children’s grief. With each of the tough topics in my resource, I argue that ‘starting with a book’ is the way to help students make connections, reveal their stories and learn about themselves and others. The Memory Tree is a worthy addition to my bookshelf of picture books that deals with death and celebrates life through memories that live on when a loved one dies. The animals of the forest come to honour their friend, Fox who took his last breath and died (no, he didn’t fall asleep). When each of he animals shared a remembrance of Fox, they are giving tributes thus helping young readers understand that our memories need to be cherished.
Excerpt
“One by one, Fox’s friends came to the clearing,. First Squirrel adn Weasel, then Bear, Deer and Bird and,. finally, Rabbit, Mouse and ohers came to sit by Fox. Fox had been loved by everyone. He had been kind and caring. No one could imagine life in the forest without him. The animls sat in silence for very long time.”