Best seasonal book:
The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper I ordered this one
on a whim when it got solid reviews, because our only solstice book is a bit
tired, and was blown away by how much I enjoyed this one. Strong recommendation
here.
Favorite Picture Books:
JustIn Case You Want to Fly by Julie Fogliano is probably my favorite traditional
picture book title of 2019. Normally rhyming doesn’t work for me (I’m looking
at you Hallmark cards), but this is just so sweet and the illustrations by the
incomparable Christian Robinson don’t hurt a bit.
Go read all the titles with Julie Flett illustrations right now if you have not. The
illustrations on this one are gorgeous.
ABig Bed For Little Snow by Grace Lin
This companion to last year’s A Big Mooncakefor Little Star is just plain fun.
Saturday by Ogee Mora
I
suspect Mora will be a #kidlit force to be reckoned with in the coming years.
This story works on many levels and is a gentle illustration of reframing
frustrating situations.
Explorers by Matthew Cordell
Wordless picture books (this one has a few words here and there) have been my
jam since poring over Peter Spier titles as an elementary schooler in the 1980s.
As always Cordell’s illustrating powers are top notch.
A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel
This one essentially serves as a philosophy book for your 3-7-year old, but in the best possible way.
Hush, Little Bunny by David Ezra Stine, Hush Little
Baby books are a weakness of mine, since we had a long drawn-out version of
this song that was a regular when our eldest was an infant. This one is lovely.
Favorite illustrated nonfiction:
Hey, Water!
by Antoinette Portis
Portis is another #kidlit author you’re not going to see
much of on the shelves of everyone’s favorite Big Box book store, but
everything she does is stellar. There’s a lot happening here, from the water
cycle to the ability to use this as a parent/child read-along for new readers.
TheImportant Thing About Margaret Wise Brown by Mac Barnett This book, oh this
book. Wow is all I can say, though I can’t get my library patrons to check it
out for whatever reason, so your mileage may vary. Great lesson for kiddos
about being true to yourself, whoever that self may be.
Weirdest picture book that I still kind of love:
Just Because by Mac Barnett
Barnett seems to make my favorites list every year (this year twice!), but this one is just odd. The illustrations are completely amazing though. Buy it for the weirdest 4yo in your life.
