Mix It Up!

by Herve Tullet

Ages: birth – 7 years (approximately grades preschool – 1st)

Our story begins with a smudgy gray spot of paint smack dab in the middle of the page, along with the instructions to “Tap that gray spot. Just a little, to see what happens.” Instantly joined by more dots (upon turning the page, of course), our story zips into what happens when different colors are mixed. First, readers experiment mixing paints with their fingers, rubbing red into blue and so forth. But then, the real fun begins as reader shake, tilt, press, and rub the pages to make more colors in more ways. The fun doesn’t end with the final turn of the page, as readers are encouraged to experiment on their own (parents and caregivers, beware!).

Mix It Up is the second of Herve Tullet’s innovative, interactive books. Preceded by Press Here, this newest addition to Herve’s collection packs the same literary punch in a world full of screen time technology. Putting an emphasis on physical interactions with the books, Mix It Up! presents the challenge of an i-device, the educational concepts of a beginning art class, and the literacy concepts of a book all in one, small, exciting package. Those who enjoyed Press Here, aspiring artists, or those who enjoy i-devices will enjoy Mix It Up! 

Find Mix It Up! in our catalog.

Sparky!

written by Jenny Offill
illustrated by Chris Appelhans

Ages: birth – 8 years (approximately grades preschool – 2nd)

Our young protagonist wants a pet. After nixing the first few ideas (“A bird or a bunny or a trained seal.”), her mother tells her she can have any pet she wants as long as it doesn’t need to be walked or bathed or fed. And so, after a quick trip to the library, our protagonist gets a pet that fits the bill delivered via express mail: a sloth. After dubbing her new pet sloth Sparky, our protagonist (and her persnickety friend, Mary Potts) find that Sparky isn’t so great at normal pet things. He can’t really fetch or play hide and sneak (or dance on his hind legs like Mary Potts’ cat can), and lives up to his slow-moving, under-achieving nature at the Trained Sloth Extravaganza our protagonist throws to show off Sparky’s talents. Despite his shortcomings, our protagonist loves Sparky and comes to appreciate him just as he is.

With a quirky premise and engaging watercolor illustrations to match, Sparky! is a book that will capture the hearts of those both with and without pets. Filled with humor and lessons to let others’ opinions deter your own, as well as to take things for what they’re worth, Sparky! is an enjoyable tale that will resonate with those who enjoy Jon Klassen’s illustrations (Extra Yarn and I Want My Hat Back) or other pet stories such as What Pet To Get? or How to Train a Train.

Find Sparky! in our catalog.

Extra Yarn

written by Mac Barnett
illustrated by Jon Klassen

Ages: birth – 8 years (approximately grades preschool – 2nd)

In a drab little town filled with while snow and black soot, Annabelle finds a box of yarn in every color. She takes to the task of knitting a sweater, first for herself and her dog, to find that the box was still filled with the extraordinarily colorful yarn. She then busies herself knitting for her naysayers, her classmates and teacher, her parents and neighbors, and eventually covers the entire town (yes, animals, trucks, and buildings, too) with knitted sweaters. And still her box remains full. This amazing feat draws the masses to shake Annabelle’s hand, including a mustachioed archduke who makes Annabelle an offer she can’t refuse for her magical yarn box. Except that she does refuse, and the Duke deigns to steal the box and sail with it to his faraway kingdom. Upon opening the box and finding it empty, the archduke angrily tosses the box out of his castle’s window and curses Annabelle. As if to spite the greedy archduke, the box almost magically returns to Annabelle, and who lives (and knits) happily ever after.

Jon Klassen’s Caldecott Honor illustrations are true to his simplistic, cut-out style. Both the drab hues of the town and the colorful splashes of yarn are perfectly attuned to the story’s quite simple narrative, and often times seem to tell a story in and of themselves. Paired with Mac Barnett’s words, a true deviation from his usual plotlines, makes this a truly winning title. Those who enjoyed the simplicity of Pom and Pim or the whimsy of Sparky! will enjoy this Caldecott Honor title.

Find Extra Yarn in our catalog.

Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons

by Jon J. Muth

Ages: 0-12 years (approximately grades preschool – 5)

Koo, a curious panda bear, takes a trip through the seasons and the alphabet in modified haiku. Starting in fall and easily transitioning through the remaining seasons, Jon J. Muth's illustrations and poems find Koo in interesting (but sometimes expected) circumstances as he eats warm cookies in fall, stomps through snow in winter, explores a rainy terrain with flashlights in spring, and draws wonderful chalk art in summer. Although each of the 26 haiku accompanies a picture, the book as a whole doesn't necessarily contain a plot. The seasons (and beautiful watercolor illustrations) are what drive the story forward in a gentle, playful way. Each modified haiku contains a capitalized letter of the alphabet, starting at A and ending in Z, giving an added depth to the motion of the story. Readers can easily separate each picture and poem from each other for an introduction to haiku or the alphabet, or can look at the book as a whole (including the clever play on words for a title!) for more advanced reading. This story is best suited for children who enjoy poetry, the changes in seasons, or enjoyed Firefly July or the collected works of Jon Muth.

Find Hi, Koo! in our catalog.

Gaston

by Kelly DiPucchio

Ages: 0 – 6 years (approximately grades preschool – K)

Gaston lives with his three siblings, Fi-Fi, Foo-Foo, and Ooh-La-La with their mother, Mrs. Poodle. As Mrs. Poodle’s puppies grow, they learn all the nuances of being as polite and poodle-like as possible. Gaston, though he tries, never manages to quite fit the mold. As hard as he practiced his manners, he still slobbers when he should sip, he “RUFF”s when he should “Yip!” Despite Mrs. Poodle was very pleased with all of her puppies all the same. On their first public stroll in the park, Mrs. Poodle and her pups come upon Mrs. Bulldog and her children, Rocky, Ricky, Bruno, and Antoinette. Seeing that there has been a horrible mix up (Gaston is a bulldog and Antoinette is a poodle!), the mothers let Gaston and Antoinette decide to trade places so they will fit in better with their new families. As you may have guessed, it seems another terrible mistake was made because “that looked right, it just didn’t feel right.” Upon their final switch, Gaston and Mrs. Poodle, as well as Antoinette and Mrs. Bulldog agree to meet regularly and teach each other their own specialties.

With playful illustrations reminiscent of simple marker or finger paint, Gaston is a bold story about standing out, fitting in, and being yourself. In the end, as Gaston and Antoinette have a family of their very own, the takeaway message is to be yourself, and let your children do the same, because those who matter most will love you anyway. Such a sweet message is not overdone, and the mixed poodle-and-bulldog pups (complete with brown splotched coats and pompadour poofs) articulate it to the non-readers perfectly. Gaston will be a hit for those who love puppies (French Bulldogs and Poodles in particular), those with an independent streak, and those who enjoyed A Ball for Daisy or the illustrations of Jon Klassen.

Find Gaston in our catalog.

Exclamation Mark

by: Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld

Ages: 0 - 9 years (approximately grades preschool – 3)

A special little punctuation isn’t sure where he fits in. In fact, he always finds himself standing out, even when he tries so desperately to fit in. Even when he scrunches and squishes himself down, he never quite feels like part of the group… period. One day, he meets a very interrogative fellow who won’t leave even a moment of silence with all of his questions. Fed up, our punctual hero cries “STOP!” unleashing the very thing he knows he was born to do: stand out! After showing his friends his newfound talent for exclaiming, he goes off to make his mark on the world…

This very fun story explores punctuation in a way that is accessible for all ages. Younger readers will have their first meeting with the different forms of punctuation in a very personable way, while older readers will revel in the oh-so-clever puns and double entendres while the various forms of punctuation interact with each other. Overall, this book is simply about a lost soul finally finding himself, a message that we can all relate to and revel in its importance. Exclamation Mark will enthrall readers who enjoyed Little Red Writing and 123 Versus ABC, as well as those who like a zippy plot with a happy ending.

Find Exclamation Mark in our catalog.

Pom and Pim

by Lena and Olof Landstrom

Ages: 0-6 years (approximately grades preschool – kindergarten)

Pom and Pim, a child and indiscernible stuffed animal, experience a day of ups and downs. While the warm sun shines (“What luck!”) on the beginning of their walk, Pom trips over a rock (“Ouch! Bad Luck”), only to fall directly upon a $20 note (“What luck!”) with which the duo buys a scrumptious ice cream treat. This rise and fall of luck continues throughout Pom and Pim’s adventure and, while perhaps predictable, the ending captures the lighthearted point-of-view that perhaps your luck isn’t what befalls you, but how you react to it.

Simplistic in its story, syntax, and illustrations, Pom and Pim is perfect for both beginning readers and read-alouds. In fact, the illustrations alone tell the story that the accompanying words simply clarify, making for a wonderful opportunity to predict “What happens next?” Children and adults alike are sure to be charmed by the simplistic illustrations and descriptions of both Pom and Pim, as neither are truly discernible in what they are (gender in Pom’s case, type of stuffed animal in Pim’s); they can truly be every-child and every-lovable-stuffed-thing. Easily imagining themselves in Pom and Pim’s situation, this quick read is sure to have readers looking on the bright side, and wanting to read it again! For those who find the stuffed-friend companionship in Corduroy appealing, or those who enjoy the simplicity but vibrant nature of Eric Carle’s illustrations, Pom and Pim is for you.

 Find Pom and Pim in our catalog.

I Want My Hat Back

by Jon Klassen

Ages: 0 - 8 years (approximately grades preschool - 2)

Bear has lost his hat. He wants it back. To achieve this, Bear goes from animal to animal, asking if any of them have seen his hat. “Not around here,” replies the frog. “What is a hat?” asks the armadillo. “I saw a hat once. It was blue,” chimes the snake. “Why are you asking me? I would not steal a hat! Don’t ask me any more questions!” snaps the rabbit. It isn’t until his questioning is nearly complete that Bear, wide-eyed, realizes that he has seen his hat! The next scene depicts bear with a very familiar red hat who, when asked if he’s seen Rabbit, replies, “Why are you asking me? I would not eat a rabbit! Don’t ask me any more questions.”

The very sparse nature of the illustrations goes swimmingly with the sparse text. Without quotation marks or other dialogue attributions, each animal’s words stands next to a very simple depiction of the conversation or actions that coincide. The simplicity of both the illustrations and text lend themselves to the somewhat complex nature of the plot, as Bear moves along on the road to discovering the whereabouts of his hat. Some animals throw readers slightly off the trail, giving comprehension skills a workout. The fate of the hat-stealing bunny is also left to the imagination, discovered only by an understanding of Bear’s denial versus Bunny’s. Although the grim retribution in this story might not be for the faint of heart, I Want My Hat Back is alternatively a comical depiction of what might happen to a thief or liar. If you enjoy Mo Willem’s plucky Pigeon or the muted illustrative works of Peter Brown (Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, Children Make Terrible Pets), you will love Klassen’s I Want My Hat Back.

Find I Want My Hat Back in our catalog.

Mo's Mustache

by Ben Clanton

Ages: 0 – 6 (approximately birth through 1st grade)

After a long wait, Mo finally receives his mustache in the mail (Huzzah!). After taking his new accessory for a spin around town, soaking in the admiration for his look, Mo starts to notice everyone else getting mustaches, too… And so, no longer feeling that his mustache is special, Mo switches from a “big, black, beautiful” mustache to a “long, lined, lovely scarf.” A few days later, much to Mo’s dismay, now everyone else dons both a mustache AND a scarf. Frustrated and unamused at these copycats, it takes Mo completely losing his temper to find out that nobody is copying him to hurt his feelings, but because they think he’s “tredirific,” “a visionary,” “a fashion guru.” Taken aback and flattered, Mo decides to apologize for his outburst in the only way a “gentleman of style” can: with an all-inclusive fashion show (complete with one-of-a-kind, multi-colored afro)!

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but it’s sometimes hard to remember that when you see the people around you donning the very thing you think makes you special and unique. Mo’s Mustache addresses this topic in a fun and fashionable way that will remind readers that being a trailblazer might mean having to share their awesome discoveries. With many font changes, interjections, and asides, this tale might seem better suited for an older audience, but the lovable stick-figure characters will easily lure in the younger crowd, giving them a chance to admire Mo’s panache. This book is a dream for those who enjoyed Mo Willems’ cartoony art in Leonardo the Terrible Monster, the message of individuality in Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, or the silliness of Mustache Baby.

Find Mo's Mustache in our catalog.

Bully

by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Ages: 0-8 years (approximately grades preschool – 2)

One day, a young bull is told to “go away!” by a bigger bull, presumably an older sibling or otherwise more authoritative figure. Visibly rumpled by this experience, the young bull goes to the farm where he encounters other animals who ask if he wants to play. After telling each of the animals exactly what he thinks of them (“Chicken!” to the chicken and “Slow poke!” to the turtle), a bystanding goat decides to call this “bully” out on his actions, giving him a little taste of his own "Bully!" medicine. Realizing that what he has done to his farm friends is exactly what the older bull had done to him, the young bull regrets his actions, apologizes for hurting his friends, and is very lucky indeed that his friends take him up on his renewed offer to play.

A wonderful precursor to The Hundred Dresses or Jane, the Fox, and Me, Bully is a simplistic depiction of how being mean affects all those involved. The young bull’s animal friends slowly flee from the scene as the bully becomes physically bigger and bigger as his actions escalate, until he eventually can only fit a hoof on a page. After discovering that he’s a bully, the young bull physically deflates and spirals down to his normal size and regular ego, giving him room to finally apologize to his friends. The sketch-like illustrations on a very simple background bring the focus to the characters’ actions, and also make the overall message stand out in a not-too heavy-handed, bullying way.

Find Bully in our catalog.

The Day the Crayons Quit

written by Drew Daywalt
illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Ages: 0-8 years (approximately grades preschool – 3)

You’d be hard pressed to find any young reader who doesn’t enjoy coloring. For many of us (adults included!) all that’s necessary for a fun afternoon is a blank sheet of paper and a box of crayons. Unfortunately, the crayons themselves aren’t as easily satisfied. One day when our protagonist, Duncan, arrives to school, he finds a stack of letters addressed to him. These letters contain the grievances of all the colors in his crayon box. They quit! Red is overworked, beige is underused, white is misused, and yellow and orange are in an all-out war over who should be used to color the sun. It’s absolute chaos in the pigmented world of the crayons, and it’s up to Duncan to use his creativity to set things right.

Although this is Daywalt’s first (very successful, as a 2015 Monarch Award nominee) attempt as an author, The Day the Crayons Quit is just one of the many fantastic titles Jeffers has illustrated. Each letter is composed on a different type of paper (lined, coloring pages, etc.) in each crayon’s specific handwriting. With each letter comes a depiction of the crayon in question and his objections, in a creative, funny, and in true Oliver Jeffer’s style, childlike illustration, not to mention Duncan’s creations to boot! A wonderful, colorful story that any reader who has used crayons or lodged a complaint will connect with, The Day the Crayons Quit is not only relatable, but a laugh-out-loud funny tale that will encourage readers to use their imaginations the next time they sit down with their own box of crayons.

Find The Day the Crayons Quit in our catalog.

Corduroy

by Don Freeman

Ages: 0-6 years (approximately ages preschool -1)

In this classic Don Freeman story, a little girl spots Corduroy the teddy bear while shopping with her mother and instantly falls in love. The girl’s mother, after pointing out Corduroy’s missing button, declines the girl’s request to buy the bear. After the department store (which is reminiscent of a 1950’s Marshall Field’s) closes for the night, Corduroy comes to life and decides to look for his lost button that he now dearly misses. A small mishap involving a mattress and a lamp later, the nighttime security guard finds Corduroy in the furniture section of the store, and promptly returns him to the toy department. Lucky for Corduroy, because the girl from the previous day finds and buys him as soon as the store opens. It is after the girl puts a new button on his overalls and introduces Corduroy to her bedroom that the bear discovers it was not his missing button or a bed he wanted after all, but a home and a friend.

With simple, sketch drawings colored in with a 1950’s color palette, the illustrations transport readers to a simpler time (whether that time is childhood or the past is up to you!) and a gentler mindset. This heartwarming title is great for readers who have a special fondness for their furry friends or who have a huge imagination and wonder whether their toys come to life after dark and love them back. This book connects flawlessly with the popular Toy Story movies, and can be used as a precursor to introducing young readers to the Disney stories, or as a way to gently lure them back into books. Whatever the reason for handing your reader Corduroy, the story is sure not to disappoint!

Find Corduroy as a picture book, a read-along kit, a downloadable video, or in Spanish and Japanese in our catalog.

Deep in the Sahara

written by Kelly Cunnane
illustrated by Hoda Hadadi

Ages: birth-8 years (approximately grades preschool – 2)

A young girl, Lalla, who lives in Eastern Africa, wants more than anything to wear a malafa like the women she sees all around her in her daily life. Lalla believes that the traditional Muslim head covering will make her look beautiful, mysterious, grown up, and regal. As the women around her explain that a malafa is more than something worn to change how others view you, Lalla’s desire to wear a malafa only grows stronger and stronger. It isn’t until Lalla tells her mother at the evening call to prayer that she wants to wear a malafa to show her faith and pray with everyone that, finally, for the right reasons, does she want and get one.

This lyrical, enchanting story portrays the wish of so many children: to grow up and be like the adults around them as soon as possible. The malafa, as shared by Cuannane in the author’s note, is a veil that Muslim women wear to adhere to the modesty and earnestness of their internal faith, not an external ornament or show of oppression as many might mistake it to be. Hadadi’s paper collage illustrations capture the narration’s passion, and the malafa’s beauty so perfectly that readers might spend more time gazing at the art than reading the simple-yet-powerful story about growing up. Earning multiple starred reviews from professional review journals (such as Booklist and Publisher's Weekly), Deep in the Sahara is best suited for ages birth to eight years old, and would entice readers who enjoy the works of Patricia Polacco (especially The Keeping Quilt and The Blessing Cup) or Allen Say (especially Tea with Milk), who want to learn more about East African cultures, or who might be trying to grow up too quickly.

Find Deep in the Sahara in our catalog.

The Short Giraffe

written by Neil Flory
illustrated by Mark Cleary

Ages: 0-7 (approximately grades preschool – 1)

When Boba the baboon comes to take a picture of the tallest animals in the world, the giraffes are thrilled. They hope that this will be the most perfect picture ever. Except that Geri doesn’t fit in the frame. The terrifically tall tower (that’s a group of giraffes, people!) comes up with all sorts of ways to get Geri up to height with the other, regular-sized giraffes including stilts, hanging from a tree, and bouncing on springs. Needless to say, none of these experiments end very well and all hope seems quite lost for including Geri in the picture. That is, until a wise little caterpillar, the shortest animal of the bunch, suggests the revolutionary idea that instead of Geri ascending to their level, it may be easier for the tower to descent to his. Picture perfect!

Creative problem solving and inclusiveness are the main driving points for this plot, showing readers that experimentation is great even if it doesn’t lead to the desired result, and that being a friend is far better than being right. The cartoon-like, bright illustrations keep the messages light-hearted and enhance the silliness that ensues during Geri’s attempts to be tall. Children will love this story because, if anyone, they know all about being short! This is also a great title for children who love giraffes or guessing what the real solution to a story’s problem will be.

Find The Short Giraffe in the catalog.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

by Eric Carle

Ages: 0-5 years (approximately grades preschool - kindergarten)

In this classic picture book, written and illustrated by notable children's author and illustrator, Eric Carle, in 1969, readers follow the life of a very tiny and very hungry caterpillar from the time he hatches from his egg, eats through a week’s worth of delectable food, spends a quiet time in his cocoon, and makes his final metamorphosis to a beautiful butterfly. The beautiful, childlike illustrations draw young readers in instantly and keep them hooked until the very end is a defining staple of Carle’s work. What is wonderful about this title isn’t just its classic status, but the enduring interest children have in its many timeless subject matters: caterpillars transforming into butterflies, delicious food, and of course, counting.

How one simple picture book can successfully encompass so many topics of interest is a question that can be answered upon your first read of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Helping your reader count one apple on Monday, two pears on Tuesday, and so on, die cut page by die cut page could amuse for hours. That is until a full, two page spread on Saturday shows the ravenous caterpillar eating what most of us (okay, or maybe just I) would like to have for our Saturday lunch, including, but not limited to: a piece of cake, a pickle, lollipop, a sausage, and a watermelon. The then gargantuan caterpillar, taking up an entire page, feels sluggish just as a young tummy might after consuming so much, and turns into the iconic butterfly. What is even more brilliant about Carle’s iconic illustrations is that they are easily emulated by children, turning this read-aloud into a wonderful segway into a drawing session, turning readers into artists, who could perhaps draw all the scrumptious things they would like to eat one Saturday afternoon…

Find The Very Hungry Caterpillar, available as a picture book in English and Spanish, or as a read-aloud DVD, in our catalog.

Star Wars: Darth Vader and Son & Vader’s Little Princess

by Jeffrey Brown

Ages: 3-10 years (approximately grades preschool – 4)

Laugh your way through the joys (and mishaps) of parent-and-childhood through the eyes of Darth Vader and his son and daughter, Luke and Leia. These books will appeal to any level of Star Wars fan: from those who are not at all familiar with the workings of the Galaxy, to those who are able to use the Force themselves (or at least wish they could…). Whichever side of the fandom you fall into, Jeffrey Brown’s hilarious duo of books show the Star Wars characters you love and loathe are just like you and your kids!

In these two books, you will see Darth Vader deal with the everyday trappings of parenthood in a way that only a Sith can. View the younger side of parenthood with Darth Vader and Son, where Darth pours Luke cereal (using the Force), answers tough questions like “where to babies come from?”, and fends off a bothersome Luke during an important holo-call from Darth Sidious. In Vader’s Little Princess, Darth teaches a mostly school-or-teenage Leia how to drive, meets her scruffy-looking boyfriend (Han Solo), and fields complaints from Luke about Leia taking forever in the bathroom.

Not enough Star Wars for you? Fear you should not, young Padawan! The books are both peppered with actual Star Wars references from Darth telling Luke “It is pointless to resist, my son” as Luke throws a tantrum, to a horrified Darth finding Luke playing in the trash compactor, to Darth listening sympathetically to Leia’s dilemma of telling her boyfriend she loves him, and "all he said back was, 'I know.'" Full of laughs for parents and children already in love with the Star Wars world, and a great primer for those who want to learn more, Darth Vader and Son and Vader’s Little Princess fit the bill for anyone looking for a quick read between the ages of three to ten years old, and is a wonderful pairing with this week’s previous Kid Lit Pick, Star Wars: Jedi Academy.

Find Darth Vader and Son or Vader’s Little Princess in the catalog.

Maple

by Lori Nichols

Ages: 0-6 years (approximately grades preschool – 1)

This is a lovely, sweet story about sisters that starts with a girl named Maple who loves her name and where she got it. Her parents planted a maple tree when Maple was “still a whisper.” Maple grew up with her tree and made it her friend, playing with it and taking care of it throughout the seasons. One day, Maple notices a sprout by her maple tree. Soon after her sister, Willow, is born and Maple is sure to let Willow know just how special she is, just like she did with her maple tree.

A story that starts and ends with the power and importance of a name and a namesake, Maple is a beautiful story with even more beautiful illustrations. The characters (mainly Maple and Willow) are reminiscent of the popular Peanut characters, very simple cartoons with subtle coloring, with slightly more intricate backgrounds than Charles M. Schulz gave his gang. This simple story is sure to hit a sweet spot with new big sisters, a child with a tangible namesake, or any child that has a special object or shrubbery in their life.

Find Maple in our catalog.

How to Train a Train

written by Jason Carter Eaton
illustrated by John Rocco

The kids of Glencoe love trains, it’s not hard to see. And now there is a book to help control the train bug: How to Train a Train. This isn’t your ordinary train book, though. After an overview of the different types of trains, this book gives step-by-step instructions of how to capture a train in the wild, house break it, and even teach it tricks like fetch and rolling over. From naming your train, to bathing him, to making sure your train is happy in his new home (“Don’t worry. You’ll know”), this book has got it all. By the end, you will have your very own lovable pet train!

A clever play on words in the title, How to Train a Train is much more than meets the eye. The expressive, full-page illustrations that depict each step of the “training” process are worth a second (or third!) glance, as the first one will have you rolling around with laughter. In fact, most of the humor in this title is found within the juxtaposition of sparse words on the page and their matching illustrations (“Start with a simple trick…” showing a train rolling over “then move on to something harder” showing a close-up of a ginormous train jumping through a hoop of fire held by a young boy). This book is best for children ages three to five years old who love trains, love pets, or just love a funny story.

Find How to Train a Train in our catalog.

Xander's Panda Party

written by Linda Sue Park
illustrated by Matt Phelan

Ages: 0 – 6 years (approximately grades preschool to 1)

Xander the panda wants to throw a party for only pandas. The catch? He is the only panda at the zoo. After some chewing some bamboo, he knows exactly what to do: invite all the bears to come, too! After the invitations go out, the koala bear tells Xander that he isn’t really a bear, but a marsupial, and he wouldn’t want to intrude on the bear party. Feeling silly for making such a mistake, Xander amends his invitation to include all the mammals of the zoo. That is, until the rhinoceros refuses to attend without his bird. This charade carries on until, eventually, all the animals of the zoo (even the humans!) are invited to Xander’s panda party, which happens to fall on the day that a new zoo inhabitant, Zhu Zi, arrives from China…

Written in perfect rhymes, Xander’s Panda Party creatively shows the advantages of being inclusive in a way that is fun and not overbearing. The watercolor illustrations give each zoo animal life, movement and personality that could easily stand alone. However, they work perfectly with the poetic story to create an interesting, light-hearted tale that is great for children between the ages of birth and six years who love animals and the zoo, or who are about to have a birthday party. Park includes an afterward with information on pandas, marsupials, and the rhinoceros/oxpecker bird relationship.

Find Xander’s Panda Party in our catalog.

Feathers: Not Just for Flying

written by Melissa Steward
illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen

Ages: 4-9 years (approximately grades preschool – 4)

It’s spring, and all the birds are coming back from their winter vacations. Just look up and you’ll see them all across the sky. Have you ever noticed how many different types of birds there are, and wondered why some of them fly, some of them swim, and some of them waddle? Or how some of them live in the tropical oceans and some of them live in the snowy arctic? Feathers: Not Just for Flying, is a brilliant, easy introduction into the versatility of the many types of feathers there are on birds who live all over the world.

Each feather is presented on a scrapbook-formatted page with a detailed illustration accompanied by a large-print explanation of what the it does, often likened to an ordinary object that young readers are sure to be familiar with (ex: “Feathers can shade out the sun like an umbrella…”). Along with these big, coverall descriptions, is a smaller, seemingly handwritten blurb going further into depth about the science behind the feather’s function, and on which bird the feather might be found. With this wide range of presented information, Feathers is a great read for bird lovers of all ages, abilities, shapes, and sizes.

Find Feathers: Not Just for Flying in our catalog.