Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
Ted is a really cute book by Tony DiTerlizzi, the fabulous co-author/illustrator of the Spiderwick Chronicles. In this story, a young boy who feels neglected by his father finds solace in an “imaginary” friend, a large raspberry-colored, rabbit-like creature named Ted. Ted has a lot of ideas of ways to have fun, starting with a harmless game called Monopoly-Twister, but soon evolving to more destructive activities like giving each other haircuts, or turning dad’s study into an indoor swimming pool. Finally the boy’s father forbids him to play with Ted ever again! Ted lets us in on a little secret though: when Father was little, he had an imaginary friend named “Ned” who his father forbid him to play with… If your child has an imaginary friend, they will probably relate to Ted, which I think is loosely based on DiTerlizzi’s own childhood! See this book listed in our catalog
Friendship
Always
Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
The unfathomable expanse of devotion between a child and their beloved pet is explored in Always by Alison McGhee, with adorable illustrations by Pascal Lemaitre. In this book, we meet a girl, and her tiny dog, who vows to keep the castle (their small home) safe, by taming wild squirrels, preventing closet avalanches, and vanquishing evil of all kind. If you have a protective family pet, your child is sure to relate to Always. When the tiny dog in this story proclaims, in all seriousness, to “protect the blanket,” it certainly reminded me of my dog, who insists on sleeping in the bed every night!
Jellybeans
Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
Jellybeans by Sylvia van Ommen is strange and wonderful. It begins with a rabbit named George getting a text message. The message is from George’s friend, a cat name Oscar, who suggests they get together in the park to eat jellybeans and drink hot chocolate. When they’re sitting under a tree enjoying their snacks Oscar begins a philosophical discussion about what might happen when they die. Will they go to heaven? Can they meet up at the entrance? What if they don’t recognize each other? Is there going to be jellybeans in the afterlife? This book is a fantastic way to discuss the passing of a loved one in a kid-friendly style that is not scary, but hopeful.
Minnow and Rose: An Oregon Trail Story
Submitted by Sue from Leonardtown!
Minnow and Rose: An Oregon Trail Story written by Judy Young and Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. Rose, a young pioneer girl, was traveling across the western plains of the United States with her family in a wagon train in the mid 1800s on a path known as the Oregon Trail. It was a very long and tiresome journey, one without much adventure to break up the monotony of the tedious and dusty daily routine. Rose longs for something interesting to happen. Minnow, a little native girl, lives in one of the villages scattered across the plains. She is small, but spirited. She has earned the nickname Minnow because of her favorite activity–swimming in the nearby river. Minnow and Rose’s two different cultures come face to face when Minnow’s village helps the wagon train cross the rushing waters of the river, and Rose accidentally falls in. Curiosity and caution come together to forge an unusual friendship between the girls when a thrilling and scary circumstance happens.
Chicken and Cat Clean Up
Sumitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
It is obvious from the beginning of the adorable wordless story Chicken and Cat Clean Up by Sara Varon, that Chicken and Cat our two title characters are very different. Chicken is up early making breakfast, when Cat is just rolling out of bed. Cat is daydreaming about getting the perfect pet. Chicken is reminding Cat it’s time to go to work. Chicken and Cat have a house-cleaning business, however Cat seems to lack focus. Cat would rather dance or eat than clean. And Cat’s kind of clumsy. But Cat is good at something, something that might help save the day!
The Clouds Above
Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
I love The Clouds Above by Jordan Crane. It could be Where the Wild Things Are for a new generation. Simon, and his cat Jack, while trying to avoid their despicable teacher “Missus Poe,” find a mysterious staircase leading to seemingly no where from the roof of their school. Of course, they decide to climb it, and at the top they find a cloud named Perch (the birds named him). Perch decides to fly them somewhere warmer, and so begins their adventure. This is a really fun story for any fans of weather, cats, and running away from school!