Picture Books

I'm a unicorn book cover

I'm a unicorn

Helen Yoon

jE Yoon
Picture Books, Humor, Fantasy, Kids

"See?" cries the calf. "Uni means one, and corn means horn!" Even their baby picture proves it: they were born with one horn! But as the eager little calf continues their research, a budding identity crisis arises...

Casey's picture

Potty humor AND unicorns?! Get ready to repeat this read. -Casey

Octopus Shocktopus! book cover

Octopus Shocktopus!

Peter Bently

jE Bently
Picture Books

An octopus falls from the sky one day. It lands on a roof and there it stays. The village's children quickly make friends with it, even though the adults are wary. But the octopus proves very handy indeed, making a perfect slide, helping out with some painting, and even rescuing a cat stuck in a tree. But just when all the neighbors decide they want an octopus of their very own, it disappears. Where has it gone and will it come back?

Mari's picture

An imaginative and colorful story set in a idyllic little neighborhood by the sea. I loved the bright color of the Octopus and the rhyming is well-done and easy to read aloud. It gives cozy vibes as Octopus celebrates holidays and enjoys the seasons changing on top of the house The small community mutually benefit from the Octopus, who helps beautify the neighborhood by painting fences and raking leaves, and it in turn loves to play with the children. This book will spark imagination for young readers and wish they also had a giant octopus on the roof of their house! -Mari

Books aren't for eating book cover

Books aren't for eating

Carlie Sorosiak

jE Sorosiak
Picture Books

Leopold the goat owns a delightful bookstore, and he has a talent for matching his customers with the ideal book--an adventure story for the girl in the rain boots, a novel about gnomes for the man who loves to laugh, and a book of birds for the woman in the feathered hat. But one day, another goat arrives and proceeds to eat every book Leopold offers. Can Leopold find just the right one to tempt this reluctant reader?

Mari's picture

I am always drawn to books with goat characters because they are my favorite animal. This is a cozy quick read set in a bookstore with delightful illustrations and calming pastel colors. A love letter to the books, libraries and bookstores set in a world where goats can learn to turn pages instead of eating them, and dress like and live among humans. A world I wanna be in! -Mari

Brown is warm, black is bright book cover

Brown is warm, black is bright

Sarah L. Thomson

jE Thomson
Picture Books, Nature, Read Woke

Illustrations and text celebrate the colors brown and black, demonstrating the many positive assocations with these two colors.

Casey's picture

This lovely picture book is everything you want in a fall read-aloud, beautiful, touching, and repeatable. I cannot wait to share it at preschools and in-house storytimes! -Casey

On the other side of the forest book cover

On the other side of the forest

Nadine Robert

jE Robert
Picture Books

What's on the other side of the forest? A young rabbit and his father are determined to find out in this modern picture book that feels like a classic, calling to mind the tender work of Beatrix Potter. Some say that wolves, ogres, and giant badgers live in the forest beside Arthur's house. That's why no one ever goes in there, to see what's on the other side. But one day, Arthur's dad has an idea--a magnificent idea! Build a tower to look over the treetops! But a magnificent idea takes a lot of work. Will the villagers join and help them? And when the tower takes shape, what will they see on the other side? This wonderful, heartwarming story by Nadine Robert--with illustrations by Gérard DuBois reminiscent of classic children's books--shares the importance of community and cooperation to achieve a big dream.

Melody's picture

I am breaking out of my nonfiction and fiction groove to recommend the literally loveliest thing I've read all year. Kids who have the patience to sit down and listen to a good story, well told, will cuddle up with you to enjoy this picture book. But not my kid! As a 6yo, he thinks books like this are for preschoolers. Joke's on him, tho, these beautiful books are also for art-appreciating adults. Gerard Dubois's illustrations feature clean and elegant lines with expert level coloring. If you love fantastic illustrations and an uplifting story about the strength of a community and the wonder of our world, you will love this picture book. -Melody

If you're a drag queen and you know it book cover

If you're a drag queen and you know it

author Lil Miss Hot Mess

jE Lilmissh
LGBTQ+, Picture Books

Drag queens sing verses of this popular song that encourages everyone to express their fabulousness by singing, posing, and twirling along.

Mari's picture

I love both of the sing-along picture books by Lil Miss Hot Mess! They are so fun to act out and sing and the illustrations are colorful and so fun to look at! This one was an absolute hit sung and performed by local drag queen Valencia, especially her dramatic twirling of her dress! This book is a staple for Drag Storytimes and an absolute blast to read at any time! -Mari

Pizza! : a slice of history book cover

Pizza! : a slice of history

Greg Pizzoli

j641.82 Pizzoli
Nonfiction, Picture Books

From Geisel Award-winning author Greg Pizzoli comes a hilarious and mouth-watering history of pizza. Do YOU like PIZZA? Because right now, somewhere in the world, someone is eating it. Did you know that in the United States we eat 350 slices of pizza every second? Or that in Sweden they serve pizza with bananas and peanuts? All over the world, people love pizza-but where did it come from? And who made the first pizza? Join award-winning author and illustrator Greg Pizzoli as he travels through time and around the globe to discover the mouth-watering history of pizza. Bursting with color, flavor, and fun facts, Pizza!: A Slice of History reveals the delicious story of the world's best food.

Mari's picture

This book was added to the collection just in time for a Pizza-riffic storytime with preschoolers this week! Greg Pizzoli's bold-colored (and only the colors of pizza, I might add) and adorable illustration accompany pretty much all of the information about pizza anyone could want or imagine knowing, including the history of the ingredients, the different styles of pizza across the world and factoids like we eat 350 slices of pizza every second in the US. I got so hungry flipping through the pages! -Mari

Don't worry, Murray book cover

Don't worry, Murray

Stein, David Ezra, author, illustrator.

jE Stein
Picture Books

"Murray worries...about lots of things. He doesn't want to go out in the rain. He's scared of the barking dogs at the park. Fireworks make him jump. But gradually he learns that he can put on a raincoat. He can make new friends. He can be brave."--Front jacket flap.

Casey's picture

Don't Worry Murray serves as a lovely reminder about trying new things and tomorrow being a new day. -Casey

The legend of Iron Purl book cover

The legend of Iron Purl

Tao Nyeu

jE Nyeu
Picture Books, Crafts, Humor, Mystery

Armed with a pair of knitting needles and her trusty ball of yarn, mysterious hero Iron Purl must use her knitting superpowers to defeat her nemesis, Bandit Bob, who causes mischief and mayhem wherever he goes.

Casey's picture

Yarn crafting caregivers will delight in Tao Nyeu's hilarious and adorable The Legend of Iron Purl. -Casey

Lou book cover

Lou

Breanna Carzoo

jE Carzoo
Picture Books, Humor

"Meet Lou. Lou has an important job ... as the neighborhood toilet for dogs on their walks. Useful as he may be, he gets the feeling that deep down inside, there might be more to him than that. He just doesn't seem to know exactly what yet. When disaster strikes, will Lou find out what he's made of and save the day?"--

Casey's picture

Sweet, funny, and super cute, Lou is bound to be a hit with the littles in your life! -Casey