I love picture books! I always have a few on my coffee table and friends never fail to pick them up and begin reading (at once upon a time when we were able to have friends come for dinner!). Every year, I find more and more favorites and this year was no different. These books will bring back memories of long ago, will teach you a bit about remarkable people from history, bring a giggle and tug at your heartstrings. I hope you find some you’ll want to share with your children and perhaps add to your family library.
I want to close by thanking you for allowing me to share my love of children’s books with you. Please remember I post frequently on Instagram @redcanoereader. I hope to see you there.
Finally, I wish you a December full of cozy times with your family. May 2021 be a year of peace.
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he old truck
By Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey
The gentle, muted illustrations in this story took me back to my childhood. It was a time when I lived in a small Indiana town surrounded by old farms. These were farms passed down through multiple generations; usually a bit worn with multiple buildings surrounding an old farmhouse and very often old trucks scattered around on the property. We would pass by these farms as we made the trek to visit both sets of grandparents on almost a weekly basis. I sat in the front seat because I was always hopelessly carsick, which gave me the perfect view of the countryside and gave me the opportunity to daydream about the scenery we passed. I had questions flying through my mind. Who lived there? How long had the farm been there? Did children live on the farm?
The authors of this story must have had similar experiences, because this lovely story strives to answer some of these questions. It follows a farming family through the years, working hard and always using an old red truck to help them achieve their dreams. And there’s always a little girl there to help and to love the old red truck. That is until the red truck doesn’t run anymore. That’s the time it’s parked in the barnyard and forgotten about by almost everyone, except the little girl. Time passed and they both dreamed and rested and grew older, until a new farmer came a long. It’s a new farmer who looks amazingly like the little girl from long ago; it’s a little girl who grew up, became a farmer and rescued the old red truck to help her achieve HER dreams.
Thank you, @jpumphrey and @wjpumphrey for taking me back to my childhood and bringing some of my daydreams to life. Your charming book felt like a warm blanket and is one I want to read over and over. It’s going to be one of my “coffee table” books (high praise!). Those are the special ones I leave out so anyone and everyone who visits will have the opportunity to be wrapped up in that warm blanket, just as I was.
if you come to earth
By Sophie Blackall
Have you ever thought how you might introduce a visitor from outer space to our world? This exquisite picture book from two-time Caldecott Award winner @sophieblackall offers so many suggestions about what you can share. As you experience this book with your little ones, you’ll find yourself pausing on every page to have a conversation. You might talk about the expressions and the feelings on the diverse children’s faces. You might discuss how families can be different or how kids wear different clothes depending upon their climate. You might ask about the occupations of the characters or their modes of transportation or their homes. In fact every time you read this book, I promise you, you’ll find more details sprinkled throughout the pages you’ll want to talk about.
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The endearing illustrations with their softness and the sweet expressions on the children’s faces will give you a cozy feeling from beginning to end. And please take time to peak beneath the book jacket and to linger on the end papers. They are completely charming!
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This is a book you’ll want to put on hold at the library, however I’m quite certain you’ll want to add it to your forever family bookcase. It’s going on my coffee table, because once we can open our house to friends again, I know they’ll love this as much as I do. It’s that special!
It began with a page
By Kyo Maclear; illustrated by Julie Morstad
When my son was a baby, we discovered some remarkable board books. They were charming stories full of sweet animals, diverse children with angelic expressions and gentle words that were perfect to hear before I tucked him in each night. I always remembered the author, Gyo Fujikawa, and her special books, which have been my “go to” baby shower gift for 25 years. So I was delighted when I learned there was a new picture book biography about her, and even more excited when I learned it was illustrated by Julie Morstad, one of my favorite illustrators.
Gyo Fujikawa was a Japanese American girl who loved to draw. Unfortunately, she was also a girl who was invisible to the white students in her school and to most of her teachers. Happily though, one teacher recognized her talent and gave Gyo the money to attend art school. This changed her life. It gave her the courage to face the discrimination she would encounter for years to come, because she was Asian American, as well as because she was a woman. It gave her the courage to write a children’s book with multiracial children in the 1960’s and to insist her publisher break the rules and publish it. When the publisher finally agreed, Babies became a bestseller and is still in print today. She went on to create 50 more picture books for children.
This story of courage and determination gives you a peak into not only Gyo’s life, but also into the lives of Asian Americans during the last century. Julie Morstad’s illustrations will give you a glimpse into the charm you’ll find in all of Gyo’s books. You’ll see the rainbow of faces of naughty, nice and very busy babies which are similar to the little ones you’ll find in so many of Gyo’s books. And you’ll begin to understand why I’m such an admirer of Gyo Fujikawa, and why I’ll continue to tuck her books into every baby shower gift I give.
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reen on green
By Dianne White; illustrated by Felicta Sala
This is a gentle story about the seasons of a family’s quiet country life in the rolling hills by the sea. We are offered a glimpse of the wonders and joys of their everyday world.
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The richly colored illustrations add depth to the lovely words of Dianne White’s poem. Beginning with the lush end papers, you follow this young family through the seasons of their year. You’ll see the colors, feel the air and hear the sounds. You’ll want to join the young boy as he jumps in rain puddles, runs on the beach and tastes the apples from the tree. You, too, will marvel at the beauty of the snow and feel the amazement of the first flowers of spring. In fact, everytime you read this story, you and your little one will find something new to talk about. This is one you’ll remember!
one girl
By Andrea Beaty; illustrated by Dom Phuminruk
Andrea Beaty’s lyrical text and Dom Phumiruk’s gentle, muted illustrations in One Girl help us understand how books and education can change a child’s life. From the first page we are invited to go along on one young girl’s journey as she discovers the magic of a book. When she is given the opportunity to attend school, she not only shares the wonder of stories with her classmates, but is given the encouragement to write her own books. She goes on to share her books with the children of the world, inspiring them to catch the spark of reading and shine their own lights into our world.
This touching story shows the importance of education and how one person can inspire change. It’s one that reminds us how vitally important it is that ALL children have the opportunity to receive an education. Finally, it’s one for the book lovers in your life, no matter what their age.
i am every good thing
By Derrick Barnes
Illustrated by Gordon C. James
A young black boy shares all that is good about himself. He begins by telling us, “I am good to the core, like the center of a cinnamon roll. Yeah that good.” And then we’re off, following him through his life. He’s a ball of energy, ready to discover the world. He’s a daredevil and scientist. He’s courteous and respectful to friends and strangers alike. He’s full of curiosity and lots of humor. He’s a sportsman, he’s a brother, son, nephew, grandson, friend. He can give tight hugs and offer a hand to hold. He is brave and only answers to his name, whatever name he may be called. He is worthy of “respect, of safety, of kindness, of happiness… and to be loved.” He’s like children everywhere who have a right to be safe, successful and happy.
The rich illustrations perfectly capture the mood of this story which will touch your heart, and if you read the dedication, bring tears. It’s a book to share and discuss with your children now, and as they grow older. It’s one for all ages.
in a jar
Written and illustrated by Deborah Marcero
Oh, I’m simply in love. This picture book is a pure delight. I requested it be ordered at my library months ago. As the release date came and went, I impatiently waited for the library copy to be ready. I was thrilled when I picked it up and saw it was just as special as I hoped. When you open IN A JAR you’ll first notice the gentle colors exploding on every page. I absolutely want to cover the walls of my office with Marcero’s paintings! Then you’ll meet the characters in her story and they will steal your heart. It is a joy to be a part of their happiness and friendship as they discover and savor the beauty of their world. Every joy is saved in a jar, until the walls are covered with shelves full of jars. All of this sadly ends when Evelyn moves away. And with Evelyn gone, “Llewellyn’s heart felt like an empty jar.” When I saw the image of Evelyn driving away and turned the page to see the empty jar, I was immediately taken back to the time my best friend moved away; a best friend I still miss so many years later. Perhaps if I had been as wise as Llewellyn, I wouldn’t have been so heart broken.
This is a story that reminds us to savor the joys and the beauty we see and experience everyday: the wonders we glimpse, the sounds we hear, the adventures large and small and most of all the love of the friends and family who surround us. It’s truly a story for all ages. It’s going to be a part of my library and will be a gift to those dear to me.
my brother the duck
By Pat Zietlow Miller; Illustrated by Daniel Wiseman
Oh how I love this book! I read it to my nephews and their mom and aunt, and I think the adults liked it as much, or even more than the kids! Here are some of the reasons why.
- The vocabulary: fledgling scientist, research, waddling, evidence, scrawny and hypothesis, to mention a few. These fun words give you lots of opportunities to pause and have a conversation with your little ones
- The colorful illustrations and the facial expressions add so much to the story. For example, when you look at the picture with the family, you immediately understand the dad’s stress and Stella’s seriousness.
- The introduction of the scientific method
- The diverse characters
- Finally caregivers are going to have so much fun reading it, and will find so many things to talk about, they won’t mind reading it at least a hundred times!
This book is available now and would make a great addition to your family’s library. It’s also the perfect gift for a family who will shortly be adding a new sibling.
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he keeper of wild words
By Brooke Smith; illustrated by Madeline Kloepper
This gorgeous, gentle story is one you will long remember. It’s a story of a grandma, Mimi, and her young granddaughter, Brooke. It’s a story of nature, of memories and words. It’s a story about a grandma’s fear that words of nature are being forgotten and of her determination to help Brooke become THE KEEPER OF WILD WORDS.
The illustrations are full of color and full of joy. The story inspires us to make certain the words and wonders of nature are shared with our children. It will inspire parents and grandparents (or even aunts and uncles) to take our children out into the world to view the beauty that surrounds us. It’s a wonderful gift for a new grandparent or even for parents to be. It’s one I am giving to my sister so she can share the wonders of the world with her grandchildren. And it even has a pocket in the back for you and your little ones to collect your wild words. It’s available now.
What we’ll build: plans for our together future
By Oliver Jeffers
This charming story is a love letter from Oliver Jeffers to his daughter. It’s the story of a parent’s boundless love for their child. It’s a story about their magical journey as they build their future together. It’s a story told in rhyming text with illustrations that simply take your breath away. It’s a story that will surround you with love as you read it to your child. It’s a must for every home library shelf.
marjory saves the everglades
By Sandra Neil Wallace; illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon
Oh, how I love picture book biographies. They offer fascinating stories about nspiring individuals I know little about. This is a perfect example. I’ve never visited the Everglades, but it is on my list. In fact, my husband and I had hoped to go this spring and add it to our growing list of National Parks we’ve visited, but with Covid we decided to stay close to home. After reading this book, I’m glad we still have our first visit to the Everglades to look forward to. I know so much more about the history and the ecological importance of the glades. I know the animals, the birds, the insects and the flora and fauna we might see. All of that is there thanks to a determined, brave woman who made a difference and saved the Everglades.
The truly remarkable illustrations help us to see the beauty and the tranquility of the Everglades, as we watch spunky Marjory Stoneman Douglas grow from a young girl into a 108 year old woman who made it her life’s work to save an ecosystem. They help us feel the sunshine, the oppressive heat and the mosquito bites Marjory experienced during her explorations of the park.
The story inspires kids to understand how they can make a difference, just as Marjory did. It explains the importance of research, perseverance and courage. It teaches them to speak up without being a nuisance and to never give up, just as she did when the Everglades were threatened. We learn because of Marjory’s determination to save the ecosystem, the government was finally convinced to restore the Everglades to its original state, after allowing almost one hundred years of destruction.
The book includes several pages of back matter, including a page of illustrations of animals of the Everglades, Marjory’s “tips for protecting the environment” and a timeline of her life. It’s one you’ll want to share with your children about another inspiring woman in U.S. history.
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