Picture Books
Bodies are cool
Tyler Feder
jE Feder
Picture Books, Read Woke, Diverse Characters
Illustrations and easy-to-read, rhyming text celebrate bodies of all shapes, sizes, ages, and colors, with different kinds of hair, eyes, spots, scars, and more.
The night walk
Marie Dorléans
jE Dorleans
Picture Books
"Mama opened our bedroom door. 'Wake up, you two,' she whispered. 'Let's go, so we get there on time.' Excited, the sleepy family step outside into a beautiful summer night. The world is quiet and shadowy, filled with fresh smells and amazing sights. Is this what they miss when they're asleep? Together, they walk out of their sleeping village. What will they find in the dark landscape? This beautiful and evocative book movingly recalls family trips and the excitement of unknown adventure, while celebrating the awe-inspiring joy of the natural world."--Amazon.
Shadowy illustrations and an unknown destination make the journey more than worth it. Families may find themselves on their own night walk after sharing this one. -Casey
The happiness of a dog with a ball in its mouth
Bruce Handy
jE Handy
Picture Books, Diverse Characters
"Starting from the happiness of waking up into a brand-new day, the picture book goes on to explore the kinds of relationships and contrasts that play out between our feelings and experiences every single day. Whether it's the nervousness of a beginning paired with the happiness of a middle; the indignity of a cut against the happiness of a scab; the boredom of nothing to do contrasted with the happiness of nothing to do; or the divide of mine against the happiness of our, these pages challenge the reader to think about daily activities and experiences and the feelings they conjure. The Happiness of a Dog with a Ball in Its Mouth is a gentle, fun, and philosophical read"--
What a nice exploration of opposites and how they are often fluid. This is a perfect book for savoring together. -Casey
Your mama
NoNieqa Ramos
jE Ramos
Picture Books, Read Woke
Illustrations and easy-to-read text twist classic "your mama" jokes into a celebration of the beauty, power, and love of motherhood.
Remember all of those "your mama" jokes in the '90s? Well, all joking aside, Your Mama is awesome! -Casey
My nana's garden
Dawn Casey
jE Casey
Picture Books, Read Woke
A little girl visits her grandmother in different seasons, and together they explore the wonders of her garden. Until, one day, Nana isn't there anymore. But as winter gives way to spring, the girl learns that life goes on, and so does the memory of those we love. --
Gardening as a metaphor for the passage of time? Yes please! -Casey
Is was
Deborah (Deborah Jane) Freedman
jE Freedman
Picture Books, Poetry
Takes a look at change, from the innocent and everyday to the gigantic and irreversible, as well as how some things remain the same.
This is a high concept book presented in the most accessible of ways, and I can't wait to share it in storytimes. Be sure to read the dedication at the end, as the poetry and illustrations come together fully realizing the larger concept here. Simply lovely. -Casey
The house of grass and sky
Mary Lyn Ray
jE Ray
Picture Books
"A house sits in a field under the ever-changing sky. For a while the house was full of laughter and children and the sounds of lives being lived under its roof. And then, for a long time, it was empty and quiet. New people came to look, but they always left. Will anyone come to stay?"--Jacket
Have you ever walked in to a house that feels like it was waiting for you? This one might be. -Casey
Stroller coaster
Matt Ringler
jE Ringler
Picture Books, Read Woke
A quick-thinking father thwarts his daughter's impending temper tantrum when he transforms an everyday walk outside into an exciting strollercoaster ride through the neighborhood.
Raul The Third's signature style meets a perfect pun for littles--be sure to watch out for all of the bilingual background fun! -Casey
The lost soul
Olga Tokarczuk
jE Tokarczu
Picture Books
"'Once upon a time there was a man who worked very hard and very quickly, and who had left his soul far behind him long ago. In fact his life was all right without his soul--he slept, ate, worked, drove a car and even played tennis. But sometimes he felt as if the world around him were flat, as if he were moving across a smooth page in a math book that was covered in evenly spaced squares...' The Lost Soul is a deeply moving reflection on our capacity to live in peace with ourselves, to remain patient, attentive to the world. It is a story that beautifully weaves together the voice of the Nobel Prize-winning Polish novelist Olga Tokarczuk and the finely detailed pen-and-ink drawings of illustrator Joanna Concejo, who together create a parallel narrative universe full of secrets, evocative of another time. Here a man has forgotten what makes his heart feel full. He moves to a house away from all that is familiar to him to wait for his soul to return. The Lost Soul is a sublime album, a rare delicacy that will delight readers young and old. 'You must find a place of your own, sit there quietly and wait for your soul.'"--
This is a stunning picture book I found in the Children's collection but this title will very possibly be enjoyed more by adults. The author reminds us that often, when we are hurrying around with our jobs, our families, and all of the countless other things on our to-do lists, our hearts move on from our souls and our souls get lost. In some ways the pandemic forced many of us to examine our priorities and what really matters in life. If there was ever a time to reconnect with our souls, that time is now! The illustrations are pensive and gorgeous and align perfectly with the moral of the story. If you like this, check out Cicada by Shaun Tan. -Victoria
Off to see the sea
Nikki Grimes
jE Grimes
Picture Books, Read Woke
"The faucet flows like a waterfall, the bathroom floor is a distant shore, toy boats sail against the waves. An imagination-fueled adventure on the high seas is just what it takes to get little one clean."--Provided by publisher.
Bathtub adventure awaits! Take the plunge, you'll be glad you did. -Casey
Bodies Are Cool! Unashamedly all bodies positive and I am definitely here for it. -Casey