Picture Books
The rice in the pot goes round and round
Shang, Wendy Wan Long, author.
jE Shang
Picture Books
Presents a song set to the tune of "The wheels on the bus," where a multigenerational family enjoys a culturally rich meal.
Amy Wu and the warm welcome
Zhang, Kat, 1991- author.
jE Zhang
Picture Books
Amy Wu would love to welcome the new student in her class, but Lin has just come from China and does not speak much English, so with the help of her family Amy tries to work out a way to bridge the language gap.
The Amy Wu picture book series is the perfect combination of lyrical storytelling and vibrant illustration. They tell the “real life" adventure stories that happen to every children of every immigrant families in their everyday growing-up. Check out this heartwarming story about Amy and her new friend from China, Lin! Lin feels warmly welcomed by Amy's yummy and jolly dumpling party, and a very special banner saying 欢迎你 (Welcome). Both kids learn a powerful lesson of inclusion through courageous and creative efforts! -Fang
A stone is a story
Leslie Barnard Booth
jE Barnard Booth
Picture Books, Nonfiction, Nature
"A stone is not just a stone. A stone is a story. Journey across history to see how one stone changes and transforms. Watch what happens when rain, ice, and wind mold this rock into something new, something you might even hold in your hand and imagine all that is left for the stone to become."--
Yet another fabulous picturebook nonfiction title! Gorgeous illustrations by Marc Martin highlight Leslie Barnard Booth's beautiful prose. Aspiring geologists, naturalists, and rock pocketers alike will delight in this exploration of Earth's past, present, and potential futures. -Casey
On a flake-flying day : watching winter's wonders
Buffy Silverman
j508.2 Silverman
Nonfiction, Picture Books, Animals, Nature
"With winter's arrival, plants and animals hunker down for the cold season. Eye-catching photos and rhyming text sparkle in this exploration of how creatures survive the snow" --
Rhyming text and beautiful photographs make "On a Flake-Flying Day" the perfect seasonal read-aloud! -Casey
Jake the ballet dog
Karen LeFrak
j394.2663 LeFrak
Picture Books, Animals
Allegra takes her little dog Jake to ballet class for the rehearsal of "The Nutcracker," and he proves himself to be a very good dancer.
What can I say other than I'm a sucker for a Nutcracker adaptation already, and then there's a scruffy black and white dog doing chassés, pas de bourrées, and jetés? I'm in! I enjoyed this intro-to-ballet picture book with a heartwarming dog protagonist, and so will kids and parents who look forward to seeing or reading "The Nutcracker" each December! -Mari
Something, someday
Amanda Gorman
jE Gorman
Kids, Picture Books
"Presidential inaugural poet and #1 New York Times bestselling author Amanda Gorman and Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor winner Christian Robinson have created a timeless message of hope. Sometimes the world feels broken. And problems seem too big to fix. But somehow, we all have the power to make a difference. With a little faith, and maybe the help of a friend, together we can find beauty and create change. With intimate and inspiring text and powerfully stunning illustrations, Something, Someday reveals how even the smallest gesture can have a lasting impact" --
Inspiring for the young, old, and everyone in between! Beautiful words and equally as beautiful illustrations. I hope this is the first of many collaborations from these two! -Angie
Harvest days : giving thanks around the world
Kate. author DePalma
j394.2 DePalma
Picture Books
Through lyrical, rhyming text and vibrant artwork, young readers can explore twelve cultures around the world, learning all about their harvest festivals, days of thanks, ancient traditions and the activities associated with them.
It’s harvest season! It’s thanksgiving season! This wonderful nonfiction picture book showcased harvest celebrations in 12 countries around the world. Each unique culture follows different festive traditions in different times of the year, while still delivering a unified warm message showing appreciation for the food, the land, and the people who work hard to raise families. I love reading the lyrical, rhyming text as well as gazing at all the mouthwatering food illustrations in this book. -Fang
Snowflakes on our tongues
Mike Ornstein
jE Ornstein
Picture Books
When a farmer is not paying attention, the farm animals romp and play as they try to catch snowflakes on their tongues. Includes back matter with animal facts as well as information on the science of snowflakes.
Winter is here on Pumpernickel Farm.. Snow is coming soon as well. Are animal friends all going to hibernate? Of course not! When the farmer isn't looking, they catch snowflakes on their tongues! You think that is the silliest joke on the farm? Definitely not! If you read through the story to the end, you will laugh out loud to see that when the animals aren't looking, Farmer Pumpernickel is also catching snowflakes on his tongue! This lovely winter book is so sweet and delightful that I just can't wait to share it with all children in our Book to Art Club scheduled on Dec.26. We will be sharing the joy of reading and laughing. We will also try catching snowflakes on our tongues while everybody is looking! Mark your calendar and come join in the fun! -Fang
Catside up, catside down : a book of prepositions
Anna Hrachovec
jE Hrachove
Picture Books, Animals
In this charming introduction to prepositions, a collection of cozy, knitted cats find themselves in silly situations and PAW-sitively hilarious positions.
Catside Up, Catside Down, is an adorable picture book featuring knitted cats in hilarious scenes! I'm looking forward to reading this one aloud in Storytime soon. -Casey
Our Italian Christmas Eve
Danielle Sedita
j394.2663 Sedita
Picture Books
In a bustling house of relatives, Danielle and Francesco's excitement turns to a mission as they race against time to remember their mother's cheesecake recipe, saving Christmas with a mouthwatering Italian feast. Includes a recipe for cheesecake.
I am not Italian and I firmly believe that the Christmas season should begin the day after Thanksgiving, but this new picture book just arrived and I just can't resist a plug for this delightful celebration of Italian food and family on Christmas Eve. Two siblings describe, in simple language, their childhood traditions of preparing and ingesting a seafood- and dessert-centric holiday feast together with a big extended family. (Right away, when the kids arrive in the afternoon, "Aunt Babe hands us each a coffee mug with a piece of Italian bread inside, covered in tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese" and things proceed from there.) The illustrations are humorous and spirited, and the vibe is festive and cozy. Mangia! -Anne W
One of the top picks in ICPL's weekly Chinese Bilingual Storytime! While reading aloud and singing along to the sweet family-themed picture book, kids and parents can enjoy a big feast of authentic Chinese food. And subtly, page by page, they learn all the Chinese words of the whole big family! -Fang