Submitted by Ms. Tess!
The time has come. For me to announce my favorite children’s picture book of 2010. I know. It’s kind of a big deal. My favorite book last year won the Caldecott. This year my favorite book has this and this to contend with, among many, other, fabulous books, so I won’t get my hopes up. But this book has already won my heart, and that’s all that really matters 🙂 My favorite children’s picture book of 2010 is A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead. Every morning, Amos McGee gets up, has his oatmeal and tea, and heads to the zoo, where he plays chess with the elephant, runs races with the tortoise (the tortoise always wins), sits quietly with a very shy penguin, has a hankie ready for the rhino with a runny nose, and reads stories to the owl, who is actually afraid of the dark! But one morning Amos wakes up not feeling well at all. He must stay home from work. But his friends at the zoo miss him too much! And so, the elephant, tortoise, penguin, rhino, and owl hop a bus and visit Amos at home! I would argue this endearing tale of cross-species friendship and devotion is impossible not to love, so do you and your little one a favor and check it out today! See this book listed in our catalog
Award Winner
Beautiful Blackbird
How Rocket Learned to Read
Submitted by Ms. Tess!
How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills is an adorable story about the experience of learning to read, and loving to read! Rocket is a dog who loves to play outside. One day, as he is trying to nap, he is a accosted by an enthusiastic and scholarly bird, who wants Rocket to be her student. At first Rocket is disturbed, but soon finds he is interested in the stories the bird reads, and the letters and words that make up the stories. Soon Rocket is visiting the bird every day, until the seasons change and the bird must fly away. During the cold months, Rocket continues to practice his spelling, and when spring comes again, he is reunited with his bird teacher to read, spell, and learn some more. I really love this book. The message is wonderful and the illustrations are colorful and inviting. This is an excellent story for the young dog, bird, or book lover in your life! See this book listed in our catalog
The Tree House
Submitted by Ms. Tess!
The Tree House by the daughter-father-artist team of Marije Tolman and Ronald Tolman is a breathtakingly beautiful book in my opinion. It is a wordless picture book, with the “story” beginning on the front cover. We see a white bear riding a whale (perhaps a latent comment on global warming?) to a tree house in the middle of the water. The white bear is soon joined by a brown bear in a boat, and they decide to share the magnificent tree house. Soon the seasons change, the water disappears, and new animals migrate to and from the bears’ tree house, like gorgeous pink flamingos, adorable owls, and a murder of crows. The bears remain, snacking, reading, and enjoying their life together. It’s a completely lovely and enchanting book with engrossing illustrations that will hopefully spur dialog between you and your child. I implore you to please enjoy The Tree House as soon as you can. See this book listed in our catalog
Tops and Bottoms
The Lion and the Mouse
Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
Okay. I’m going to come right out and say it: The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkey is my favorite children’s picture book of 2009. This (mostly) wordless, beautifully illustrated, re-imagining of Aesop’s fable has a special place in my heart. A mouse dares hide from an owl in the mane of a jungle king. The lion spares the mouse’s life, and it scurries home to its large family. In the meantime, the majestic cat is trapped by hunters! When he ROARS for help, who shows up? His fated mouse friend, who chews him free, enabling him to return to his pride. It pays to be charitable, in the case of the lion, and corageous, in the case of the mouse. The art in this book is spectacular, and the lesson it provides will hopefully ring true with your child. It may also inspire you to learn more about the wildlife depicted in the story! I will gush no further, except to say I truly love this book and encourage you to check it out post haste! See this book listed in our catalog