Books | Page 63 of 82

The Little Kitten continues the My Little Animal Friend series brilliance

Nicola Killen has a knack for seasonal books. She’s done other books which have a younger demographic and are really cute. It’s her other books that resonate with us, specifically, The Christmas Reindeer, The Little Rabbit and now, The Little Kitten. The My Little Animal Friend series is one that you’ll hold onto in your forever library. They effortlessly ooze mono-chromatic seasonal charm. Reindeer was about winter, ‘Rabbit’ about spring and The Little Kitten is about fall. None of the books are about a specific holiday, rather, they tell a short, illustrated story about an animal during that season. These books have interactive die cut pages that allow you a glimpse into what the story might look like. That, combined with the unique combination of black and white illustrations, with just a couple touches of color add up to a really magical book.

This book series is sublime and will remain in your forever library

Rot, The Bravest in the World! slays the second book curse

We love Rot. Rot, The Cutest in the World is a charming illustrated book about a mutant potato in a land of otherwise charming vegetables that are the cream of the vegetable. Rot is not. However, his attitude is positive; he’s helpful towards everyone and is more of a friend than those other edibles. Another thing that Rot was not, is a series, however, now with Rot, The Bravest in the World it’s got a shot. With two books out starring Rot, it’s a series and the second spud proves to be worth the wait.

Rot is back for another shot, and he brought his brother Snot

What Miss Mitchell Saw is addictive STEM (and anytime) reading

There is something visually jarring about What Miss Mitchell Saw that I just couldn’t put my finger on. When I saw the cover I loved it. In looking through the book there was something that I couldn’t identify that gave me a lukewarm feeling However, after looking at the book a second time I understood what caused that reaction and now see that as one of the bigger positives of the book. What educators, parents and somewhat patient readers will discover is the fascinating story of Maria Mitchell. She was a trailblazing astronomer whose upward gaze and talent awarded a crater on the moon named after her, the discovery of a comet and numerous other scientific accolades.

Fabulous art, great story and a stem background for ages 4 and up

Southwest Sunrise gorgeously and softly teaches while entertaining

Southwest Sunrise is a sneaky illustrated book. At first impression, young readers (or those poetry adverse people like me…) might look at the text by Nikki Grimes and dismiss it as a poetry book with pictures. However, once it’s read to them (or when they read it….like me), they’ll realize that it’s a fabulous story about a young boy who is moving to New Mexico from New York. Is it a stealth poetry attack that you won’t mind because of the art by Wendell Minor? Or is it an illustrated story about a young kid adapting to an entirely new way of living-with poetic text to add some literary clues to add more insight?

This is a travelogue for ages 4 and up

Good Guys, Bad Guys, it’s classic or dated-depending on your view

This is the soul of an active, imagination based play kid who is four through seven years old. Our eight year-old is still firmly in this camp where imagination is his leading currency and he spends it all of the time. Good Guys, Bad Guys is an illustrated book that speaks this language. One day a kid can be on the good side, other days they’re on the bad side and teams of who is good or bad can switch all the time. If you’re a fan of ‘come home when the street lights come on’ style books then Good Guys, Bad Guys will be just your sort of all-skate, slightly old school, pretend play, good-night book.

An old soul book about pretend play and switching sides as the street lights come on

Prairie Days is picture perfect summer (or anytime) illustrated reading

Perfect is a relative thing for an illustrated book. It requires a balance of content, art, pacing, text and unquantifiable characteristics that are combined into a book that reaches audiences regardless of where they live or what they do. Prairie Days is that sort of book. Think of a hot, summer day on the prairie and this book scorches its way into your memory. It all but leaves wet footprints in your house from the pond, with just a couple traces of dirt and rogue straws of hay strewn about the area where kids have tracked them in.

You don’t need to love the prairie to love this illustrated book

Zombies Of The World, a real (and entertaining) look at the unreal

In a more sensitive time Zombies Of The World would’ve had umpteen hundreds of people calling the police to warn about the hoards of approaching zombies. At times resembling the literary zombie equivalent to The War of The Worlds radio broadcast, this book is a realistic middle grade look at zombies. It’s also much more entertaining than you think it would be, especially for the passive zombie or undead enthusiast.

Research, wit,respect and more in the time of zombies

Mutts: Hot Dogs, Hot Cats is a classic comic in a new wrapper

Mutts by Patrick McDonnell is that friend who you might not have seen in years. The two of you had excellent conversations. They were your ying to your yang. You really like chocolate and they really like peanut butter and it was never a problem if the two accidentally rubbed against one another. It’s the Snoopy to your Woodstock. Mutt, Hot Dogs, Hot Cats is a collected works of this classic comic strip that have been released in book form that’s as fabulous the first of fourteenth time that you read it.

Hot dogs, hot cats is must-read stuff for any season