1. We Found A Hat by Jon Klassen
Jon Klassen strikes again, this time with turtles. There are two turtles but only one hat. This creates quite the conundrum--especially for one turtle, who really wants that hat. The minimalism, the humor (the pages of them trying on the hats crack me up every time!), the perfect timing, and beautiful setting--all the ingredients of an excellent Jon Klassen hat book are there. The one thing that's surprisingly (but also satisfyingly) different? The ending. It's a book with more sweetness than mischief. I never tire of his work. And while I am sad to see the end of the "hat trilogy," I look forward to what he has in store next.
This picture book is both an informational book about taking a trip on an airplane and a story about a family's journey to visit grandparents (hopefully with a beloved stuffed monkey in tow). But also, it's a dozen or more stories of the other passengers on the flight and their luggage. Anyone who's ever flown in a commercial airplane will relate to what's portrayed. There are so many fun and wonderful details to pick out. This means endless enjoyment for kids. They can go through and follow a number of different family's or individual's stories unfold page after page. For example, one particularly sweet side story is the business woman in a suit who does nothing but "BLAH BLAH BLAH" on her cell phone until she reaches her destination and hugs her son, while the phone buzzes uselessly on the ground. The illustrations are charming and clear, though they easily could have been cluttered and busy. At first glance, I didn't expect much, but I was so wrong! It works on so many levels. An absolute delight.
3. Best Frints in the Whole Universe by Antoinette Portis
“Yelfred and Omek have been best friends since they were little blobbies.” Through shenanigans of these two round little aliens, Antoinette Portis shows the ups and downs of a friendship. Disagreements, a crashed “spossip" (spaceship), a bitten off tail (don’t worry, they grow back), and name-calling (“you double-dirt bleebo!”) are quickly forgotten as the desire to play takes over. Colorful and bold illustrations, some alien words, and hilarious references to Earth (“Warning, Frints on Boborp have been known to use their teef and not their words. Not like here on planet Earth.”) come together to form a charming and wacky story about enduring friendships. I loved it.
4. The Princess and the Warrior, A Tale of Two Volcanoes by Duncan Tonatiuh
With spare prose and his signature stylized illustrations, Duncan Tonatiuh brings to life this legend of how two volcanoes in Mexico came to be. I love Tonatiuh's illustrations which are modeled after Mixtec codices (Mesoamerican manuscripts). I also appreciate that this tale does not come from the European cannon we know so well. I love folk tales and this one is so well executed. Don't expect a happy ending though. This story is more melancholy than anything else, but it doesn't make it any less beautiful.
5. Frank and Lucky Get Schooled by Lynn Rae Perkins
“One day when Frank could not win for losing, he got Lucky. And one day when Lucky was lost and found, he got Frank.” So begins a picture book which not only tells the story of a friendship between boy and dog, but acts as a response the question, “Why do we need to learn this?” As they have adventures together, they encounter subjects Frank studies in school. When Lucky gets home, he helps Frank learn about botany as Frank picks all the various brambles out of his fur. Lucky helps Frank learn about experimentation as he and his mom try to remove Lucky’s stench with different products. Perkins covers everything from science to art, and the transitions from one to the other are seamless. There’s a vein of humor throughout. And the appealing illustrations are soft and saturated with color. Overall, it’s just wonderful!
*I have heard that some of the Spanish phrases in it are incorrect & awkward, which is too bad, but I still love the book. (It’s also a bit baffling—how does a book get published without the Spanish being edited by someone who knows Spanish???)
6. Nanette's Baguette by Mo Willems
How could I not love a rhyming picture book set in France about baguettes? Nanette is going to get the baguette and it’s her “biggest responsibility yet!” The only problem is the baguettes smells so good, and they’re so delicious, and it’s warm from the oven, and so…she eats the whole thing before getting home. You can see in this video how Mo Willems built Nanette’s town from cardboard and paper, then photographed and then digitally integrated it with illustrations and additions. But in addition to his bright and dynamic illustrations, Willems’s wordplay and rhyming brings a ton of fun to this story. Btw, even though “Nanette is beset with regret,” there is a happy ending.
7. The Night Gardener by the Terry Fan & Erin Fan
This is the story of a drab street transforming into a place of color and life through the introduction of a bit of wonder and whimsy in the form of giant topiaries that seem to magically appear in the morning. Beautifully illustrated in graphite, the pages are filled with wonderful details, as well as more obvious touches like the transformation of the story from sepia toned to full color. But my favorite part may be when orphaned William receives a pair of gardening shears from the illusory night gardener himself. Lovely.
8. This is My Dollhouse by Giselle Potter
The narrator has a homemade, mix n match patchwork of a dollhouse. Made from a cardboard box, she has lots of fun creating furniture and features (cup attached to a string = elevator, bowl filled with water = rooftop pool). Her friend, Sophie, on the other hand, has a store-bought, perfectly matching dollhouse and expects only realistic play. So what happens when the girls get together? What I loved about this one was how it reminded me of my own childhood. It's a story that celebrates free play, creativity, and imagination, and it reminds readers of the possibilities that arise when we play well with others. Great illustrations, fun creations, and directions on how to make your own dollhouse on the flip side of the book jacket..
Penguin is in a very, very bad mood, and nothing seems to be helping. Even after he takes off all his clothes, he's still grumpy. It's only after getting in the bath and washing the grumpiness away that he feels better. Messer illustrates her book with linoleum prints on a white background. They're simple, yet eye catching. In fact, the whole book is simple (perhaps misleadingly so), but text, illustrations, and story all come together to make an engaging and funny read about a very real-life situation.
10. Barnacle is Bored by Jonathan Fenske
The grass on the other side looks much greener...until you see someone get eaten on that grass. Barnacle resides on the underside of the pier. He watches the tide come in and go out day after day. He watches a fish swim freely and imagines all the fun he must be having. Things are looking pretty bleak until that same fish becomes someone else’s lunch. Better to be stuck on a pier than in someone’s stomach. Hilarious.
Honorable Mention
Have You Seen Elephant? by David Barrow
Snail and Worm: Three Stories about Two Friends by Tina Kugler
Leave Me Alone! by Vera Brosgol
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