On the Shelf

Header Right Social

FacebookInstagramYoutubeMeetupOn the Shelf Blog

Header Right Search

Animals

Perfect Plan

by Leave a Comment

The Perfect Plan, Written and illustrated by Leah Gilbert
Format: Book
Who It’s For: Kids

Maya has a Perfect Plan, a plan to build her dream tree fort, the coziest, comfiest, most incredible tree fort in the absolute whole world!! She has designed it herself of course, and even found the right sort of trees in the wood to hold this special place for reading and dreaming. However, when Maya starts to build she just cant seem make it work, no matter how hard she tries. Maya has two choices- give up, or find someone who can help. Plucky Maya turns to her friends the animals, who provide the just-right help needed for each part of the project. Then a huge storm comes up, which chases her home and threatens to undo all their hard work! What will Maya find when she returns to her amazing tree fort? This book is a sweet fantasy about creating something of your own, asking for help and, of course, the magic of talking to animal friends! I loved the beautiful illustrations in this book as well.

Find The Perfect Plan in the catalog

If You Were an Elephant

by Leave a Comment

If You Were an Elephant by Leslie Staub
Format: Picture Book
Who it’s for: Kids

If you were an elephant, you could turn the page with your trunk. You could use your tent size ears to fan yourself. You could eat all day long and munch on whole bushes, branches and leaves. And you could drink gallons of water and spray it all over like a fountain, while taking a swim. Elephants in the savannah are the biggest animals who live on land. With thick as tree trunk legs and feet as flat as pancakes. You could roam wild places in your herd, with your mom, grandma and lots of cousins.

Did you know that adult elephants only need about two hours of sleep a day?  They sleep standing up. But they can only dream if they sleep lying down.

In this picture book about elephants, you will learn tons of facts all about a day in the life a young African bush elephants.

Find If You Were an Elephant in the catalog!

 

Counting Creatures

by Leave a Comment

Counting Creatures by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Sharon King-Chai
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Kids

Oh my goodness, what a gorgeous book this is! A simple premise of how many babies does each animal have, with sumptuous color and lift-the flap excitement makes Counting Creatures one of my newest faves. Children will enjoy guessing how many babies will be revealed under each flap and then counting them with you. The author does a great job with accurate terminology for each kind of baby as well. (Leverets, anyone?) As Donaldson gets to the end, when more and more babies come to be, she adds a surprise that will have you turning right back to the first page to start over! Snuggle up with your littles to Counting Creatures, you will love this one.

Find Counting Creatures in the catalog

The Barnabus Project

by Leave a Comment

The Barnabus Project by Terry, Eric, and Devin Fan
Format: Book, eBook
Who it’s for: Kids

A 2021-2022 Black Eyed Susan Book Award nominee, The Barnabus Project tells the story of Barabus, a “failed project” living in a glass jar under the Perfect Pets store. Barnabus and his friends were created in the lab under the store, but didn’t quite turn out as expected. Barnabus, half elephant and half mouse, discovers that he and his friends are about to be recycled. Cue the escape scene! Barnabus and the other “failed” projects work together to try to make it to the outside world they’ve heard so much about.

Terry and Eric Fan are known as The Fan Brothers, a writer-illustrator duo responsible for such works as The Night Gardener, named an ALA Notable Children’s Book. In The Barnabus Project, they are joined by their brother Devin in his debut. The brothers’ artistic style is almost cinematic and the details will keep everyone interested.

Some aspects of the story are a bit dark (there are scary green-suited figures, and the lab itself is depicted as quite dark and mysterious), and the story brings up questions about what “perfect” and “failed” really might mean, so parents and caregivers may want to read The Barnabus Project before sharing with the kids in their lives to be sure it will appeal to them.

Find The Barnabus Project in the catalog.

The Silver Arrow

by Leave a Comment

The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Kids

Dear Uncle Herbert,
You’ve never met me but I’m your niece Kate, and since it’s my birthday tomorrow and you are super rich do you think you could please send me a present?
Warmly,
Kate

Kate has no idea when she writes this letter to her Uncle Herbert, whom she has never met, but is told is very rich and very irresponsible, that he will actually show up on her birthday with a present.

She certainly has no idea that the present will be an actual steam engine called “The Silver Arrow.”

She really couldn’t have guessed that tracks would suddenly appear from her backyard into the woods beyond, and that the train will take off along them.

She couldn’t have even had an inkling that talking animals will be waiting with tickets at magic train stops all over the world, and she and her little brother Tom are expected to conduct them to their destinations.

These are the first of many surprises for Kate as she embarks on an adventure filled with thrills and chills in this novel for children by Lev Grossman (author of The Magicians novels for adults) which makes a wonderful read-aloud for families to share together.

Find The Silver Arrow in the catalog

The Rock from the Sky

by Leave a Comment

The Rock from the Sky by Jon Klassen
Format: Book
Who’s it for: Kids

Do you have a favorite chair in your house, or a favorite table at a café; that one place where you feel at peace? And don’t you hate it when someone is in that spot? Well, Turtle can relate. He has a favorite spot, too. One day his spot changes—a huge rock falls from the sky, right on his spot! Follow Turtle and his two friends, Armadillo and Snake, as they navigate the uncertainties of the future and how to deal with a bad feeling that just won’t go away.

While this book may be intended for younger audiences, it is absolutely delightful! The dialogue is light and dynamic, making it the perfect choice for story time with your children, or if you just need a good pick-me-up. There are subtle shifts in color schemes that pair beautifully with the pace of the book, and who wouldn’t enjoy a little turtle in a top hat?

Find The Rock from the Sky in the catalog.