Picture Books
I Hear a Búho
RAQUEL MACKAY
jE/MacKay
Kids, Picture Books
As a child and adult caregiver snuggle together in a hammock at night, it’s a chance to share various animal sounds, introduced throughout MacKay’s effectively rhyming bilingual phrases. In English and Spanish, a repeated pattern of exchange unfolds between the companions: “Meow/ meow/ meow/ I hear a gato/ Could it be?// Sí, mamita/ That gato is me.” Fonseca’s mixed-media art employs contrasting colors, and incorporates textures of stamping and etching. Minimally detailed figures, cast in black and white, are captured busily engaging in creaturely pursuits until the call and response game, which has ranged from ducks to frogs and beyond, gives way to the actual sound of an animal that “is NOT me!” The result is a vibrantly artsy wind-down book. A pronunciation guide and glossary conclude. Ages 5–7. Publishers Weekly
Family is family
Melissa Marr
jE Marr
Picture Books, Kids, LGBTQ+
When Little Chick starts school, he discovers that there are lots of different kinds of families, all of them full of love.
Delightful and whimsical illustrations fill the pages along with wonderful text from a child's point of view about how a family is a family no matter what yours may look like. -Angie
The last zookeeper
Aaron Becker
jE Becker
Picture Books, Animals, Nature, Science Fiction
A master of the wordless form imagines a futuristic Noah's Ark in a luminous sci-fi parable for our changing world.
Masterful! Aaron Becker's latest title is wordless picture-book perfection. -Casey
A friend for Eddy
Ann Kim Ha
jE Kimha
Picture Books
"Eddy the goldfish makes a leap of faith to become closer to new friends"--
A Friend for Eddy is wonderful! No spoilers, check out the cover under the jacket! -Casey
Rumi : poet of joy and love
Rashin Kheiriyeh
jBIOGRAPHY Rumi
Picture Books
Even the greatest poet was once a child. And so it was with Rumi. When he was young he was enchanted by birds and books. He later became a scholar, but it was the loss of his best friend, Shams, that inspired Rumi to his most important realization: Love is in us and everywhere. The Persian mystic and poet Rumi is one of the best known and most widely read poets in the world. The renowned illustrator Rashin Kheiriyeh herself comes from Iran. With this picture book she creates a touching memorial to Rumi's wisdom and warmth. The strong colors and ornamental details transport us to the Persian Empire in the 13th century. Yet Rumi's story and his poetry are timeless. The Persian mystic and poet Rumi is one of the best known and most widely read poets in the world. The renowned illustrator Rashin Kheiriyeh herself comes from Iran. With this picture book she creates a touching memorial to Rumi's wisdom and warmth. The strong colors and ornamental details transport us to the Persian Empire in the 13th century. Yet Rumi's story and his poetry are timeless. Written by award-winning Iranian-American artist Rashin Kheiriyeh,this narrative nonfiction picture book has been published to honor his life and the 750th anniversary of his death. -- Publisher's website
What a beautiful introduction to the timeless Persian poet for young children. Illustrations are rich, details about his life are interesting, and hopefully this book will inspire another generation of Rumi lovers! -Victoria
Cicada symphony
Fliess, Sue, author.
j595.752 Fliess
Picture Books, Nature, Nonfiction
"There are about three thousand different kinds of cicadas but only the males make the sound we know. Some cicadas appear every year but other kinds only show up every seventeen years, but no one knows why. And there can be trillions of them! Interesting facts and a rhythmic, rhyming verse combine with colorful illustrations to portray one of the most fascinating insects in the world"--
Watch for this one in the BookWalk at Willowcreek park during cicada symphony season! -Casey
Habitats : a journey in nature
Pang, Hannah, author.
j577 Pang
Nonfiction, Picture Books, Nature
"Nature is like a magical journey that transforms with every step...Interactive split pages create an immersive experience that allows readers to take a visual journey through each unique home as they meet the incredible animals that live there"--
This is a beautiful nonfiction, seek and find, picture book! -Casey
Listen to the birds
Kroodsma, Donald E., author.
j598.097 Kroodsma
Nonfiction, Picture Books
"Discover North America's birds and their varied and beautiful songs with this informative, brightly illustrated picture book and its easy-to-use app. Hold a phone with the paired app up to the art and watch--and listen--as the birds spring to life and sing. From the woods of the East to the deserts and plains of the West, and common species such as cardinals and robins to lesser-known birds such as the Western Wood-Pewee and the Black-Headed Grosbeak, ornithologist Donald Kroodsma showcases his unparalleled knowledge of each bird's songs and calls, behavior, and habitat. ."--
This book has an accompanying app to hear all the bird songs featured making for a great and beautiful resource for young birders. -Casey
Arborama : the marvelous world of trees
Voisard, Lisa, 1992- author, illustrator.
j582.16 Voisard
Nonfiction, Picture Books, Nature
"Learn how to identify the most important North American trees. Along the way, you'll explore how trees reproduce and grow into the largest plants on earth, how they make our life possible, and what we can do to save them. Be astounded by the marvelous world of trees all around you!"--
This book would be a wonderful gift! -Casey
If you want to ride a horse
Novesky, Amy, author.
jE Novesky
Nonfiction, Picture Books
"A whimsical guide through the steps of riding a horse, whether the horse is real or lives in the imagination"--
I LOVE this book! It's a bit too long for a read-aloud at storytime, but would make a wonderful lap-sit or solo reading adventure for horse riding minded littles. Be sure to check out the secret cover! -Casey
This book is perfect for storytime with your little one! The rhyme, rhythm, and flow of the story are crafted by an author who knows what they are doing when it comes to storytelling. Raquel was a children's librarian at ICPL, leading our weekly Spanish Bilingual Storytime and now teaches ELL classes here in Iowa City. The story also mixes in a perfect amount of Spanish and includes a pronunciation guide in the back. Illustrations are engaging and striking, sure to keep everyone's attention! -Angie