The Heart and the Bottle

By Oliver Jeffers

This is a heartfelt book that shows how young kids might deal with loss. We love it because its clever use of metaphors leave something for all ages to uncover. Young children will enjoy the simple illustrations and text. Older kids will begin to understand the deeper meaning behind the humble storyline. This book prompts meaningful discussions concerning losing a loved one.   

Terri Dehning
Culver Public Library Children's Room

 

Scaredy Squirrel

 

Written and illustrated by Melanie Watt

 Scaredy Squirrel insists that everyone wash their hands with antibacterial soap before reading this book.

That gives you a basic idea of what Scaredy Squirrel is like.  He has a safe home, in a familiar tree, a daily routine, and is prepared for emergencies.  What happens when Scaredy Squirrel encounters changes and even dangers to his world?  You’ll find out as you read of his plans, adventures, and new beginnings in this cautionary tale that’s lots of fun, too.  (You may want to add “Silly” in front of Scaredy Squirrel’s name!)

Terri Dehnig
Culver Library Children's Room

Here's What You Do When You Can't Find Your Shoe (Ingenious Inventions for Pesky Problems

Written by Andrea Perry, Illustrated by Alan Snow

This collection of poems about inventions you never imagined is reminiscent of Shel Silverstein’s quirky, slightly grisly children’s poetry. Children will love the fabulously intricate color illustrations, which perfectly complement and bring to life Perry’s eccentric ideas. For example, “The Sure-Footed Shoe Finder,” a contraption that locates your lost shoe by matching the scent of its other pair, is illustrated with a number of complicated looking machines. One is a hodgepodge of wheels, half a bicycle handlebar, and some kind of metal device that seems to transfer the smell of the shoe, via a series of tubes and what looks like a plunger, to a rat trapped in a cage, who then leads the chase for the forgotten shoe. Meanwhile, the margins of the pages are filled with assorted lost shoes, including a high heel that looks suspiciously like a rat. In addition to fabulously fantastical drawings, there are several inventions in the mix that are simply too good to pass up, such as the Crumbunny. The Crumbunny a pink monster/ bunny hybrid with a vacuum for a nose, solves that age-old problem: What to do about those nasty little crumbs left behind after you’ve snacked in bed? “The snack-time pet knows what to do! He cleans the crumbs beneath the sheet, and when he’s full, sleeps at your feet.”


Rachel Meade
Culver Library Children's Room

Dragons Love Tacos

 

 

 Written by Adam Rubin

Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

Hey Kid! Did you know that dragons love tacos? Thus opens Adam Rubin’s delightfully conversational book about a taco party for dragons. The unusual narration style is both accessible and refreshing and will immediately grip young readers. An omniscient narrator talks to both to the boy protagonist and the taco-loving dragons in turn. The story hinges upon a ridiculous, yet ultimately simple premise: dragons love tacos but they HATE spicy salsa. The rest of the story flows easily and naturally from this starting point, written in a rhythmic repetitive style that is both easy to read, and hilarious. Appealing watercolor illustrations add to the story’s charm and comic effect. The interaction between the narrator and the illustrations is fantastic, such as when the narrator inquires: “Hey dragon, how do you feel about spicy taco toppings?” Under the text, in a two-page spread, a dragon dramatically flops on his back, feet in the air, arms on his belly, tongue hanging out, eyes rolled back. No words necessary.

Rachel Meade
Culver Library Children's Room

Pete the Cat

Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin
Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin
Pete the Cat and his Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin

These stories of Pete the Cat are fun to read and excellent for young children in many ways. There is repetition, rhyme, and important reading skills a child will need in school. The stories follow Pete through various places in his cool attire and offer the reader chances to predict what comes next. Pete loves to sing about what he's doing and each book has information about a website where you can hear Pete's song. Even if you can't hear it, it's fun to make up the tune for how he sings or raps. These books can be enjoyed together as you read to your child and interact with him/her. They are "cool" "rocking" and "groovy" for all ages!

Here Comes the Big, Mean Dust Bunny

Here Comes the Big, Mean Dust Bunny!
by Jan Thomas

Picture book: JE THO

Oh, no!  Dust bunnies!  An embarrassment to some parents, but this book is great fun with the little critters.  The pictures are colorful and the actual story a very good lesson for young children.  Excellent to read together with your child, this book also contains practice with rhyming words.  Check it out!