George in the Dark

GEORGE IN THE DARK by Madeline Valentine. Knopf, 2014.

Why is George afraid
Only of the dark? and brave
All the other time?

Journey and Quest

JOURNEY by Aaron Becker. Candlewick Press, 2013.

QUEST by Aaron Becker. Candlewick Press, 2014.

Journey, quest without
A word. Adventure, intrigue
Will you go along?

The Numberlys

THE NUMBERLYS by William Joyce and Christina Ellis. Aladdin/Moonbot, 2014.

What happens when there
Are no letters just numbers?
The Numberlys know.



Go here for an app for The Numberlys: http://moonbotstudios.com/the-numberlys/#.U6GwB15FEds

Animal Fare Redux

A PIECE OF CAKE by LeUyen Pham. Balzer and Bray, 2014.

Mouse has made a cake
For Bird's birthday. But the cake
Does not quite make it.

I AM COW, HEAR ME MOO! by Jill Esbaum and Gus Gordon. Dial, 2014.

Is Nadine afraid
Of anything? It turns out
That the dark scares her.

HICKORY DICKORY DOG by Alison Murray. Candlewick Press, 2014.

Rufus goes to school
To join his master Zack
Wreaking some havoc.

Nonfiction Wonders

BEHOLD THE BEAUTIFUL DUNG BEETLE by Cheryl Bardoe with illustrations by Alan Marks. Charlesbridge, 2014.

Dung beetles pretty?
They are "diamonds in the dung,"
Important insects.

FEATHERS: NOT JUST FOR FLYING by Melissa Stewart with illustrations by Sarah S. Brannen. Charlesbridge, 2014.

Feathers can protect,
Attract, dig, carry, detract
And help birds to fly.

Woodland Litter Critters ABC

WOODLAND LITTER CRITTERS A B C by Patience mason with illustrations (photographs)by Robert Mason.

Take a look around
Critters are all around you
Make some for yourself?

I love the clever ways that "litter" comes together to form all manner of creature. Kids could use this as a model for making other projects such as counting and other concept books, too.

Animal Fare Week

MOGIE, THE HEART OF THE HOUSE by Kathi Appelt with illustrations by Marc Rosenthal. Aladdin, 2014.

Mogie helps sick kids
Just by being there for them
The heart of the house.

Animal Fare Week

GOATILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS by Erica S. Perl with illustrations by Arthur Howard. Beach Lane, 2014.

Goatilocks devours
Porridge, chair, and bed but wants
To make her amends.

Animal Fare Week

PARDON ME! by Daniel Miyares. Simon and Schuster, 2014.

How irritating
To be crowded on his pad
Or is it a pad?

Animal Fare Week

MISTER BUD WEARS THE CONE by Carter Goodrich. Simon and Schuster, 2014.

Mister Bud's cone makes
It hard for him to see or
Play with friend Zorro.

Animal Fare Week

FROODLE by Antoinette Portis. Roaring Brook, 2014.

Brown bird doesn't cheep
The other birds think he's strange
Until they try it.

The Secret Life of the Wooly Bear Caterpillar.

THE SECRET LIFE OF THE WOOLY BEAR CATERPILLAR by Laurence Pringle with illustrations by Joan Paley. Boyds Mills Press, 2014.


Caterpillar's life
Is one of change after change
And at last a moth.

Charlie and the New Baby

CHARLIE AND THE NEW BABY by Ree Drummond with illustrations by Diane DeGroat. Harper, 2014.

Charlie's life is changed
When the new baby arrives
Takes over the house.

Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too

NELLY GNU AND DADDY TOO by Anna Dewdney. Viking, 2014.

Nelly and Dad build
A little house that needs
To become a home.

Thank you, Octopus

THANK YOU, OCTOPUS by Darren Farrell. Dial, 2014.

Thank you, Octopus
For all the fun we two have
Though we're different.

Boom Snot Twitty

BOOM SNOT TWITTY by Doreen Cronin with illustrations by Renata Liwska. Viking, 2014.

Boom, Snot, and Twitty
Are the best of friends. What can
They agree to do?

Potpourri of picture books

I AM OTTER by Sam Garton. Balzer and Bray, 2014.

Otter makes breakfast
But Otter makes a mess, too
Who can Otter blame?

THE COSMOBIOGRAPHY IF SUN RA by Chris Raschka. Candlewick Press, 2014.


Making his music
No matter what others thought
That's who Sun Ra was.

IF I HAD A RAPTOR by George O'Connor. Candlewick Press, 2014.

If YOU had a pet
Raptorhow might your day go?
What can raptors do?

Help! We need a title!

HELP! WE NEED A TITLE! by Herve Tullet. Candlewick Press, 2014.

The book's almost done
readers are already here
Come back later, please?

It is Night

IT IS NIGHT by Phyllis Rowland with illustrations by Laura Dronzek. Greenwillow, 2014.


Where to sleep at night?
Each animal has its place
All curled up safely.

Tyler Makes a Birthday Cake

TYLER MAKES A BIRTHDAY CAKE by Tyler Florence and Craig Frazier. Harper, 2014.


A dog's birthday cake?
Tyler wants to make one and
Needs some expert help.