Fiction Picture Books
A Stone Sat Still: (Environmental and Nature Picture Book for Kids, Perspective Book for Preschool and Kindergarten, Award Winning Illustrator) (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Brendan Wenzel
Chronicle Books
Nominated by: Heidi G.
In A Stone Sat Still by Brenden Wenzel, the soft lyrical text examines a wide array of different animal’s perspectives (it was a home, a whole world, and “a throne”) and their varied perceptions (it’s “a wave” and “a memory”) as they each interact with a stone. It deftly combines the concepts of size (a mountain to a bug and a pebble to a Moose), color (darkly shadowed to a chipmunk or glowing moonlit to an owl), seasons, textures, and environmental changes. The gorgeous illustrations of cut paper, pencil, collage, and paint create windows into micro-ecosystems; showing how a simple rock can be a minor aspect of life or an animal’s entire world. Leaving the reader with a subtle message of being at peace with who you are.
Hair Love (Amazon, IndieBound)
Kokila
Nominated by: Melissa Fox
Zuri has hair that kinks, coils, and curls every which way. She loves her hair and how it can make her feel – from a princess to a superhero. She wakes up on one special day determined to have the perfect hairstyle. Her dad offers to help and in typical dad fashion, creates styles that are not so perfect. After watching a how-to video, the perfect hairstyle is finally achieved. Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry; illustrated by Vashti Harrison celebrates family, the relationship between a dad and his daughter, and of course – hair!
Moon’s First Friends: One Giant Leap for Friendship (Amazon, IndieBound)
by
Sourcebooks Wonderland
Nominated by: Darshana Khiani
This appealing, fictionalized portrayal of an anthropomorphized moon considers a moon’s perspective as it witnesses fascinating creatures like dinosaurs and other animals that came and went on the earth including mammoths and dodos, people like the cavemen and happenings like the building of the pyramids. The phases of the moon are cleverly woven in, either to enjoy as art or identify scientifically with the help of an adult. Other discoveries and inventions are followed beneath the moon’s watchful eye until ultimately, the technology is discovered to build a rocket ship that has moon hopeful to finally connect with a friend. This book touches upon so many wonders and ultimately offers a satisfying resolution and inspiration for the ready, as well as “out-of-this-world” facts and back matter!
Once Upon a Goat (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Ms. Yingling
Traditional fairy tale conceptions get a reworking when the king and queen long for a ‘kid’ and are delivered a goat by their fairy godmother in the made for reading aloud tale, Once Upon a Goat. At first, the king and queen are bewildered, but by the time the fairy godmother offers to right the misunderstanding, the ‘kid,’ has become family to the king and queen. Without a hint of didactic tone, Once Upon a Goat succeeds at what the best children’s literature does: teaches a lesson without preaching a lesson. Acceptance, the definition of family, and loving the life we are given even when it’s not what we thought we wanted are all there – quietly making us think while we are busy laughing.
One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Kate Read
Peachtree
Publisher/ Author Submission
One Fox; A Counting Book Thriller by Kate Read is as unexpected as it is delightful. Sparse text and expressive illustrations pack each page with suspense. One famished fox and a coop full of chickens leads to an inevitable ending. Or does it? I love this fresh approach to counting, with gorgeous illustrations and a twist ending. Oh, and hens really ARE unflappable.
Ruby’s Hope: A Story of How the Famous “Migrant Mother” Photograph Became the Face of the Great Depression (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Page Street Kids
Nominated by: PH Dowding
Author Monica Kulling wrote a beautiful Depression-era story inspired by the famous Migrant Mother photograph taken by Dorothea Lange. Young readers will follow Ruby’s family as they make the hard decision to leave their failing farm to begin a journey west. This important piece of American history is told through the eyes of Ruby, helping young readers begin to understand what this difficult time must have been like to live through. As the story wraps up artist Sarah Dvojack illustrates the famous moment when Dorothea Lange approaches Ruby’s mother and takes her famous Migrant Mother photograph. Following the story is an author’s note that explains what is true and what is fictionalized in the story. There are also additional photos of the family, which readers will realize were depicted in various scenes in the book.
The Undefeated (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Versify
Nominated by: proseandkahn
Words by Kwame Alexander and pictures by Kadir Nelson combine to form a perfect tribute to the courageous struggles of black Americans, through time, for justice, for equality, for a good life. Children and adults alike will find themselves deeply moved after reading this powerful story of strength and persistence and endurance in the face of decades of torment and hatred and violence. This is a book that will be read and reread and shared again and again.
Board Books
Dream Big by Joyce Wan combines large-headed, toddler-friendly images of fifteen famous women with big child-relatable images of the dreams they dared to follow in an over-sized format. Using simple two or three-word phrases and bright, bold colors it explores these big-building, high-flying, fast-running, and steep-climbing dreamers. The final spread lists the women, their accomplishments, and then includes a space for the reader (“Can’t wait to see where your dreams take you.”) The large format and encouragement for us all to dream makes this a book kids and parents will enjoy time and again.
Good Night, World (Global Greetings) (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Aleksandra Szmidt
Flowerpot Press
Nominated by: Katy Manck
Learn to say, “Good Night” in several languages alongside a world of delightful animals in the engaging board book, Good Night, World. Pronunciation guides and an animal identification end note further add to the book’s appeal. But, it’s the vivid illustrations and charming animals that make Good Night, World more than just an exercise in extending language skill. Little ones will be asking for this one to be read over and over again.
Huggle Wuggle, Bedtime Snuggle (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Della Ross Ferreri, illustrated by Mette Engell
Beaming Books
Nominated by: Nancy
The bedtime fun in this board book begins as soon as the title with engaging assonance and consonance and lovable art. From there, inviting text coaxes the child to cozy up for a bedtime read and get ready for bed. Woven into the clever rhyme text are bedtime rituals, fun and lots of love, the most important ingredient for peaceful sleep.
Jump! (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Tatsuhide Matsuoka
Gecko Press
Nominated by: Terry Doherty
Young readers will delight in watching various animals bounce, boing, and jump through these pages as they turn the book on its end to point the animals toward the sky. With stark white backgrounds, the text and creatures stand out sharply. Pure fun!
Peek-A-Bruce (Mother Bruce Series) (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Ryan T. Higgins
Disney-Hyperion
Nominated by: Melissa Fox
The ducks are looking for Bruce the bear. Can he successfully hide from them? Bruce tries going behind a tree, hiding in the rocks, going into the bathtub, and sitting in the chair, but the little ducks find him every time. Kids can’t help loving grumpy Bruce and the ever-jolly ducks.
Peek-a-Who Too? (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Elsa Mroziewicz
Minedition
Nominated by: Miranda
Peek-a-Who Too? by Elsa Mroziewicz is the follow-up to last year’s finalist, Peek-a-Who. This board book is shaped like a triangle, making it easy for little hands to hold and explore. Each page asks a question – lift the flap to discover the answer. All readers will enjoy looking at the bright, beautiful illustrations and children will enjoy guessing who is making the sounds of the various animals (and making the sounds themselves!). This is a great board book to add to your home and library collection.
You Are Light (Amazon, IndieBound)
by Aaron Becker
Candlewick Studio
Nominated by: Cindy Mitchell
You Are Light, by Aaron Becker, uses dye-cut circles and leaf shapes to enhance its lovely text. The die-cut circles glow with color when you hold them up to the light and the colors change with each page turn. Simple rhyming words, like: “This is light that brings the dawn to warm the sky and hug the land. It sips the sea to make the rain, which waters wheat to grow the grain” evoke discussion about how light helps us. The design of this book coupled with its lyrical text makes this the kind of book that kids will pick up over and over again.