Author: Simon Philip Illustrator: Lucia Gaggiotti Publisher: Orchard Books, 2020 Age: 2-6 Themes: cake, girls, self-control Opening: “There’s a smell I can’t ignore. It’s wafting through the kitchen door. It’s time for me to find out more.” Summary: (from my library’s catalog) How on earth do you resist the most amazing cake? One little girl is about to find out just how hard it can be… I picked this book because: it’s pure fun to watch someone else with the same weakness for cake try as hard as this adorable main character to be good. Spoiler alert: the ..read more

Author: Jutta Bauer Translator: Matthias Wieland Publisher: Red Comet Press, 2022; orig.: Kibitz Verlag, 2021 Age: 3-7 Themes: mice, contentment, happiness Opening: I am Albie. “Albieee! The king is asking for you!” Summary: (from my library’s catalog) Albie is on a mission! The king has commanded him to deliver an important message to the neighboring castle. Dutifully he dashes away. But once on his way, something comes up . . . and then another thing, and then another! What is one to do when a squirrel, a tired mother and her many children, and an old animal ..read more

Author: Jairo Buitrago; transl.: Elisa Amado Illustrator: Mariana Ruiz Johnson Publisher: Greystone Kids, 2022; orig.: Leetra Final, 2021 Age: 3-6 Themes: friendship, social interaction, toads Opening: To make friends you should sit under a huge tree. Summary: (from my library’s catalog) A quirky and uplifting guide to making new friends for kids 4 to 7 from a beloved, internationally renowned author. What’s the best way to make friends? Toad has the most magnificent ideas! Sometimes they don’t go according to plan… but that’s okay ..read more

Author: Elana K. Arnold Illustrator: Doug Salati Publisher: Roaring Brook Press, 2022 Age: 3-7 Themes: ducks, eggs, life cycles Opening: Once, when we all had to stay home for the whole long springtime, when schools were closed and work was closed and everything fun was cancelled,… Summary: (from my library’s catalog) When a family brings home two abandoned duck eggs and waits for them to hatch, they read, learn and laugh, until one day Pip and Zip are born! I picked this book because: Lots of layers here : bit of science, bit of contemporary timefra ..read more

Author: Daniel Picouly, after Hans Christian Andersen, transl. by Claudia Zoe Bedrick Illustrator: Olivier Tallec Publisher: Enchanted Lion, 2007 Age: 4-8 Themes: fairy tale interpretations, girls, emotions Opening: Once upon a time in Toulaba, a country at the far end of faraway, there lived a woman, young as the sweet breeze of spring and dark as the night when the moon merely smiles. Summary: (from my library’s catalog) In this retelling of the Andersen fairy tale, a tiny girl is stolen from her loving mother and many siblings, has adventures with a wise caiman, an injured ..read more

Author: Kjersti Annesdatter Skomsvold, transl. Kari Dickson Illustrator: Mari Kanstad Johnsen Publisher: Enchanted Lion, 2022 Age: 3-6 Themes: bedtime, imagination, mother and sons Opening: It’s evening and Bo is being silly. he does tumblesaults on the sofa and sings as loud as he can. Summary: (from my library catalog) It is time for bed, but Bo is not ready to stop playing, so Mommy joins in the fun with imagination and love, while still guiding Bo through his nighttime routine. I picked this book because: I love the BIG loose images, the sim ..read more

Author: Ulf Stark; translated by Julia Marshall Illustrator: Kitty Crowther Publisher: Gecko Press, 2019; orig. title Rymlingarna, by Lilla Piratförlaget, 2018 Age: 5-11 Themes: grandfathers, islands, death *It’s a pity when library jackets cover the endpapers. See the other half below. Opening: Outside the hospital, maple leaves glowed red and gold. I watched them through the window and thought: It’s strange how leaves are brightest the moment before they fall. Summary: (from my library’s catalog) Grandpa’s in the hospital and hating it. He swears at the n ..read more

Author/Illustrator: Vincent X. Kirsch Publisher: Abrams, 2019 Age: 3-7 Themes: best friends, moving, tree climbing Opening: When Adelia told me she had to move away, she was up in her favorite tree. “Roger, before i go, I’m going to teach you how to climb a tree.” “What if I fall?” Summary: (from my library’s catalog) Edward and Adelia have been best friends for many years, so when it is time for Adelia to move away she plans a special parting gift for him. I picked this book because: I love the message. I am already a fan of Kirsch’s somewhat quirky character ..read more

Author: Buffy Sainte-Marie Illustrator: Julie Flett Publisher: Greystone Kids, 2022 Age: 3-8 Themes: Indigenous communities, family, love, songs *The blast of color on the lower left came from a crystal in my window! Opening: Sat beside a beaver dam and watched the winter grow Summary: (from my library’s catalog) A love letter to Indigenous communities everywhere, this picture book gorgeously celebrates seasons, nature, and community. Based on Academy Award-winning Cree icon Buffy Sainte-Marie’s song of the same name, this gem of a pictu ..read more

Author: Maggie Hutchings Illustrator: Felicita Sala Publisher: Tundra, 2020 Age: 4-8 Themes: parties, birthdays, insects Opening: Your birthday was the best! Everyone said so. Summary: (from my library’s catalog) The story of an eager cockroach who gate-crashes a birthday party — with hilarious results. It’s your birthday, and little do you know that an unwelcome guest has joined in on the festivities. A friendly cockroach has snuck undetected into the house, and has proceeded to join in on all of your fun party games. You wer ..read more