I Want My Hat Back

I Want My Hat Back

By: Jon Klassen

Winner of of multiple awards, "I Want My Hat Back" has great art and a simple lovable story. Each time I read it I notice something I hadn't seen before. There are so many opportunities for read-out-loud fun, and fun questions you can ask kids after reading it to them. The art is simple and stark but it works beautifully. What is said is just as important as what is not said, the artwork is as much a part of the story as the text. There is so much to like about this book and I highly recommend it.

That Is Not a Good Idea! 

By: Mo Willems

 This seems like a straight-forward story of a fox trying to catch and eat the goose, but like all Mo Willems books there is a hilarious twist. The style of the picture book reminds me of silent movies and vaudeville. The art is cute and the text is perfect for read out loud fun. The ending on first read, takes you by surprise first time and just makes you want to giggle.

I highly recommend this book for teachers, librarians, and parents. It works in all situations and kids will want to hear it multiple times because it is an easy laugh.

The Disney Ballad of Nessie

The Disney Ballad of Nessie
written by: Kiernan Lachlan
illustrated by: Andy Harkness

I never thought that I'd suggest or choose a Disney book, but this has both a beautiful story and beautiful illustrations; on top of those are some great messages for kids. Nessie lives in the forest with her friend McQuack then a man comes and builds a country club / miniture golf course forcing  Nessie and McQuack to move. They have trouble finding a place to live and Nessie cries in despair so much that it fills a valley creating a loch, her new home. One of the best lines I have read in a children's picture book is here, "Dinna be afraid to cry; it really is okay! Sometimes it's through our tears that we find a better way."

Lessons for adults as well as children. An all around amazing book. 

Lines That Wiggle

lines that wiggle

By: Candace Whitman
Illustrations by: Steve Whitman

This is one of my favorite picture books. The use of color, the illustrations, the creativity, and the way it all connects. I have used this book for as inspiration for art activities with elementary age children. Love the monsters in the illustrations which make it usable for a monster theme. It is a fabulous picture book to give as a gift because it is almost like a piece of art.

The simplicity of the text makes it sharable with toddlers and preschool-age children but the complex illustrations and art make it great for use with elementary age children.

I Need My Own Country

 
I Need My Own Country
By: Rick Walton
Illustrated by: Wes Hargis

I wanted a picture book that went along with a flag craft I created for my After School Art program. I was hoping for something where a child created a flag of their own. In the story the little girl has turned her room into her own country. This book is super cute and has great illustrations. The story is the perfect length for preschoolers and elementary school students that may require a short story. The Social Studies concepts abound and the text is sweet and playful.

I highly recommend this book for story time or for class rooms discussing countries / nation states for early elementary where you are lightly touching on the topic.

The Monster Who Loved Books

Monster Who Loved Books

By: Keith Faulkner

Illustrated by: Jonathan Lambert

This is one of my go to books for story times especially when the theme is monsters or books. Bradley lives above his father's book store and is awakened one night when he hears something down stairs in the book store. It turns out that there is a monster eating books. Bradley shows the monster what books are really for and in telling the monster about books gets whisked away to a place where books come to life.

This book shows how books can whisk you away to a different world and expand your imagination. The pop-ups fit well with the story and do not seem gratuitous. The illustration has been executed with a child's eye in mind and the story flows for great out loud reading. The details in the background provide for easy conversation with kids about books and nursery rhymes they may know. I highly recommend this book.

Earth to Clunk

Earth to Clunk
By: Pam Smallcomb
Pictures by: Joe Berger

I thought this was a great book about about a boy and his pen pal Clunk from the planet Quazar. They send each other letters and things that they think the other would (or would not) like. I think that this book has cute illustration, you could easily tie it to a writing lesson, it has a hilarious plot, and I could definitely see kids wanting multiple reads.

I recommend this book to teachers, parents, and other librarians because you can make up crafts and learning activities to pair with it really easily.