Type: historical fiction picture bookAges: 4-8Author: Barb RosenstockIllustrator: Mary Grandpré The general premise of this book is based on the true life of Vasily Kandinsky, with some added dialogue and other small embellishments. Kandinsky “heard” colors and his art reflects…
Type: longer picture book (with “chapters”)Ages: 5-8Author: Nancy Smiler LevinsonIllustrator: Carolyn Croll It’s always a joy to witness (in real life or in books) a child discovering the love of words, reading and storytelling. This one’s based on a true…
Type: picture bookAges: 3-8Author: Patricia MacLachlanIllustrator: Kenard Pak This shines a light on simpler times–something I think we all commonly wish for in our modern busy lives. The artwork is beautiful, which you’d probably guess if you’ve seen other books…
Type: picture bookAges: 3-7Author: Robert HeidbrederIllustrator: Dušan Petričič If you’re up for it, don’t just read this book aloud to your children…act it out! When the conductor changes to staccato, jump around. When he moves to pianissimo, whisper softly and…
Type: picture bookAges: 3-7Author: Cynthia RylantIllustrator: Diane Goode This was Rylant’s very first book! We’ve read tons of hers over the years and are big fans. This one is very sweet, and, knowing it’s based on her childhood, makes it…
Type: picture bookAges: 4-10Author: Elizabeth SpiresIllustrator: Emily Arnold McCully Functioning lighthouses are one of those things I’m sad that technology has replaced. They involved such strenuous work, yes, but have a unique charm to them. When I prepare to read…
Type: [mostly] wordless picture bookAges: 3-6Author: Alexandra Day Reading this as a parent, I couldn’t help but be displeased–with both the daughter for disobeying and with the mother who had no idea where her small child was all afternoon. BUT,…
Type: (mostly) biographical picture bookAges: 5-10Author: Matthew OlshanIllustrator: Sophie Blackall It’s always gratifying to read picture book biographies–often they’re more memorable than adult ones! The author’s note in the back reveals that he added some of the conversation plus a…
Type: non-fiction picture bookAges: 4-8Author: Jessica Rusick We’ve seen a number of picture books that touch on Arizona’s desert creatures (this book isn’t specifically about AZ), and yet I still learned something in this new-to-us one! Each page has you…
Type: picture bookAges: 2-6Author/Illustrator: Anne Hunter Everyone is very friendly and kind to the possum family as they each help in their own unique way. The book left me with questions, though: First, what happened to the mother possum? Babies…
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