Simon & Schuster
Nominated by: Tara
When his best friend moves away, Brimsby buries himself in his work. He is lonely, and longs for someone to talk to, to share meals with. On a walk one day, Brimsby notices a tree filled with birds who are trying to survive in the snow. Brimsby’s ingenious solution to the birds’ dilemma is the start of a new friendship. The quiet text is matched by gentle illustrations that convey the warmth and humor of this story of friendship.
Dial Books
Nominated by: Bridget Wilson
Cat’s jealousy of the Easter Bunny makes him want to take over the job and get the attention, but it isn’t that easy. Perfect pacing encourages page turns of this lengthy picture book, moving the story along as Underwood masterfully shifts Cat’s attitude toward the Easter Bunny from envy and rivalry towards compassion and helpfulness. The story features a unique format of a narrator’s conversation with Cat, who “speaks” via facial expressions and placard drawings. The humorous text is reminiscent of parent/child conversations and perfectly balanced by charming illustrations. Parents will enjoy this book as much as young children, while older siblings will chuckle at Cat’s clever, conniving thinking, making this a book for the whole family to enjoy.
Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: librarygrl2
Every morning, a dad knock-knock’s on his son’s bedroom door to tell him “I love you”. One morning the dad doesn’t knock, and the boy writes a letter asking why his father isn’t around any more. The letter the dad writes back about the hopes he has for his son’s bright, beautiful future is full of hope and inspiration. Any child dealing with the absence of a parent, due to incarceration or other circumstances, will find strength in this beautifully illustrated book. This is one of those books that may make a powerful difference in a child’s life.
Nancy Paulsen Books
Nominated by: Joanna Marple
Maple loves her name and she loves the tree that her parents planted when she was born; it’s the perfect friend as they grow together through the seasons. In the spring, a new tree and a new baby arrive and, after a little adjustment, the siblings look forward to sharing their trees together. The simple text and lovely illustrations, from the tree itself to the leaf rubbings and prints in the backgrounds, delightfully capture the joy of the seasons and the excitement and adjustment of a new baby. Simple is best in this heartfelt and lovely story, perfect for encouraging a child to enjoy nature or look forward to a new baby.
Candlewick Press
Nominated by: Travis Jonker
Chris Haughton’s Shh! We Have A Plan, is a hilarious tale of four hapless friends who set out to catch a bird. Despite having minimal text, it is a joy to read aloud. The small font encourages whispering, and the short, repeated phrases are accessible to even the youngest of listeners. With its muted colors and quiet text, Shh! We Have A Plan would make a wonderful bedtime book for preschoolers and kindergarteners.
Simon & Schuster
Nominated by: Holly
A girl has a dream – to own the brand-new, bright green bicycle she sees in the store window. It’s the sort of desire everyone can relate to, and rarely is it told as elegantly as in Mark Pett’s The Girl and the Bicycle. When the girl gets down to the business of making her dream a reality, she discovers it ain’t easy. Told with honesty and heart (and nary a single line of text), it’s storytelling at its most pure, with a conclusion that will make everyone smile.
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: A Library Mama
A movie director struggles to capture a documentary about the mighty moose. But woodland creatures keep getting in his way, acting quite unlike proper animals. With laugh-out-loud hilarious movie outtakes, author Richard T. Morris teams up with illustrator Tom Lichtenheld to bring us unforgettable characters and their antics on the movie set. Kid appeal runs high and brings story time to a new dramatic level. The original concept paired with the detailed cartoon sketches Lichtenheld is known for, bring an unexpected surprise that pushes silliness to its extreme.