Picture Books

¡Vamos! let's celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos book cover

¡Vamos! let's celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos

1976- author Raúl the Third

j394.2646 Raul
Diverse Characters, Picture Books

"Little Lobo is celebrating two big holidays this fall! On Halloween, he and his friends dress up in costumes, trick-or-treat for candy, and share spooky stories. Then, everyone in the town prepares food, drinks, and other gifts and decorates the cemetery with ofrendas so they can enjoy Día de los Muertos with the spirits of the people they love. Join Little Lobo and his friends as they celebrate, and learn some Spanish and traditions along the way!"--Back cover.

Mari's picture

I love, love, love Raul's illustrations, and this is a great way to combine and explain the two holidays in both English and Spanish! -Mari

Santa's first Christmas book cover

Santa's first Christmas

Mac Barnett

j394.2663 Barnett
Kids, Picture Books

Santa returns home to the North Pole Christmas morning and, thanks to his loyal elves, gets to experience the magic of Christmas for the first time with a perfect tree, treats and presents.

Anne W's picture

A beautiful story accompanied by beautiful illustrations - sweet and simple with a few laugh-out-loud moments - a new Christmas classic. As a librarian, I rarely recommend purchasing books, but this one should be part of your family's Christmas traditions for years to come. -Anne W

The café at the edge of the woods book cover

The café at the edge of the woods

Mikey Please

jE Please
Fantasy, Humor, Kids, Picture Books

"Rene and Glumfoot are ready to serve very fine cuisine at the café at the edge of the woods. But when their first customer, an ogre, demands pickled bats and battered mice, Rene is ready to give up! She can't possibly serve such rubbish. Or can she? With a little bit of compromise, perhaps she can satisfy her customer and still serve the most delicious grub"--Provided by publisher.

Casey's picture

What a debut! This one had me in stitches. With perfectly paced rhythm and rhyme, and hilarious illustrations, Mikey Please's first solo book will be a read-aloud favorite, especially for littles who enjoy icky humor. -Casey

My grammie's house book cover

My grammie's house

Lana Button

jE Button
Picture Books

"A boy shows potential homebuyers all the things that make his grandmother's house special, like the cupboard that doubles as a clubhouse, the tree that is perfect for climbing, the "swings that are older than the hills" and the best spot to eat scotch cake cookies."--

Fang's picture

Look at this little helper who did super job touring and advertising Grammie’s house for sale! He even added himself as the last, but the most important selling point: a new friend! I already fell in love with the house, and of course, the book, too! -Fang

Birthday soup book cover

Birthday soup

Grace Seo Chang

jE Chang
Picture Books

Korean American Maia learns the importance of a mother's love while making a traditional birthday soup.

Fang's picture

I learned this tradition from my mom. She always did and/or said something special to honor her mom on her own birthday, from when she was still young to the age of being a grandma. Not sure from which year during my childhood I started to repeat the same thing to her. And magically as the years go by, my own children started to understand how struggling moms can be when they give birth to a baby. Yes baby’s birthday is also mom’s suffering day. It’s the time to celebrate, and to appreciate as well. I’m very delighted to read about the similar Korean tradition of “miyeok guk” (birthday soup) in this heartwarming story book. Don’t forget to try that soup recipe after reading! It’s yummy! -Fang

The soldier's friend : Walt Whitman's extraordinary service in the American Civil War book cover

The soldier's friend : Walt Whitman's extraordinary service in the American Civil War

Gary Golio

j973.7 Golio
Kids, Picture Books, Nonfiction, History

When Walt Whitman saw his brother's name on a list of wounded Union soldiers, he went to see him in the war hospital, and did not stop visiting and ministering to Civil War soldiers for the next three years.

Anne W's picture

A moving and fascinating story of poet Walt Whitman's service to wounded Union soldiers during the Civil War. In a period that would profoundly influence Whitman's development as a writer and person, after his brother was injured in the war, Whitman worked at a DC military hospital ministering to the wounded - reading to them, listening to them, helping them write letters, feeding them (many had never tried ice cream before, just one of many treats Whitman brought to the hospital to share), and helping to bury the dead. -Anne W

The Hotel Balzaar book cover

The Hotel Balzaar

Kate DiCamillo

jFICTION Dicamill Kate
Fiction, Mystery, Kids, Early Chapter Books, Picture Books, Short Story

At the Hotel Balzaar, Marta's mother rises before the sun, puts on her uniform, and instructs Marta to roam as she will but quietly, invisibly like a little mouse. One day, a mysterious countess with a parrot checks in, promising a story--in fact, seven stories in all, each to be told in its proper order. As the stories unfold, Marta begins to wonder: could the secret to her father's disappearance lie in the countess's tales? --

Casey's picture

I am beyond excited for another Júlia Sardà illustrated title! I cannot wait to read this collaboration with incredible storyteller, Kate DiCamillo. -Casey

Towed by Toad book cover

Towed by Toad

Jashar Awan

jE Awan
Humor, Picture Books

"A picture book about a helpful toad tow truck driver who needs some help of his own."--

Casey's picture

Sometimes we all need a little help! Don't miss Jashar Awan's latest adorable and fun picture book, "Towed by Toad". -Casey

Godfather Death book cover

Godfather Death

Sally Nicholls

j398.20943 Grimm
Classics, Kids, Picture Books

A retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale in which a poor fisherman chooses Death to be a godfather to his son.

Casey's picture

Júlia Sardà's illustrations shine in Sally Nicholls's retelling of a classic Grimm Brothers tale. It's a beautiful and chilling read, just right for the start of fall. -Casey

A mischief of mice book cover

A mischief of mice

Christie Matheson

jE Matheson
Mystery, Kids, Picture Books, Animals, Nature

A menagerie of forest animals, whose temperaments match their collective nouns, try to solve the mystery of a missing group of mice.

Casey's picture

Collective animal nouns, a mysterious disappearance, and beautiful autumnal illustrations make Christie Matheson's latest title for perfect storytime sharing this season! -Casey