1. A Perfect Day by Lane Smith
A Perfect Day starts so nicely, so peacefully, and then bear enters the picture, and each “was” turns into a “WAS.” Turns out, sometimes what you consider perfect is all about perspective. Hilarious and simple. The multimedia illustrations are rich in texture, and Smith uses scale to the greatest advantage to tell the story and create laughs. Don’t miss the note about the real bear who visits Lane Smith’s studio!
2. The Wolf the Duck & the Mouse by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen
Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen strike again! In this misadventure, a mouse is gobbled up by a wolf, but instead of meeting its end, the mouse finds a duck. Apparently, being swallowed isn’t the worst thing when you make a home inside the wolf’s belly. Plus, you don’t have to worry about being eaten by wolves! The two friends' partying leads to a bit of trouble, but their hilarious solution saves the day. Klassen and Barnett are true masters of comedy and storytelling. Klassen's textured mixed media illustrations are a delight as usual. How does he get so much expression out of a pair of ovals and circles?
3. Now by Antoinette Portis
Now could not be more appropriately titled. All about appreciating the moment and wondering at the world, this is a bit of mindfulness for the younger set. Antoinette Portis explores the senses and experiences of childhood that are familiar to young readers with bold, colorful illustrations and a bit of humor.
4. Priscilla Gorilla by Barbara Bottner, illustrated by Michael Emberly
For Priscilla, it’s all gorillas all the time. And why does she like them so much? “They always get their way,” she explains. She dresses as a gorilla for a report at school. Inspired by her favorite quality, she decides she will stay a gorilla for the rest of the day, even when her teacher tells her it’s time to change out of her costume. Her behavior causes a chain reaction that means a lot of time in the “thinking corner” for a lot of kids. When her parents prompt her to dig a little deeper, Priscilla may learn there’s more to gorillas than just getting their way. This is an exuberant story that blends childhood passions (that border on obsession) with a lesson on cooperation and behavior that never veers into didacticism. Michael Emberley’s equally exuberant pencil and watercolor illustrations bring the story to life with personality and humor.
5. Big Cat, Little Cat by Elisha Cooper
At first glance, there's not a lot to this book, but upon closer inspection, I can see life as a whole represented through these two cats: the bigger mentoring the smaller, the two playing, becoming friends, and eventually the bigger succumbing to old age. Cooper illustrates the book in simple but lively black and white ink drawings, which fit the text perfectly.
6. Life on Mars by Jon Agee
“Everybody thinks I’m crazy. Nobody believes there is life on Mars. But I do. And I just know that I’m going to find it.” This young astronaut even brings a cupcake for the life he’s sure he will find. To his great disappointment, he walks around to see no signs of life. But the reader does. Somehow he misses the enormous Martian following him. Just imagine a young reader’s cries of, “Look behind you!” It’s all about dramatic irony and expansive Martian vistas in this hilarious book for young readers.
7. Robinson by Peter Sís
At his mother's suggestion, Peter decides to abandon his plan to dress as a pirate, like his friends, for the costume party. Instead he dresses up in a homemade costume of Robinson Crusoe, the hero of his favorite story. He’s bursting with excitement...until all his friends make fun of him. He goes home, climbs into bed with a fever and drifts into a dream where he’s living inside the story he’s loved for so long. The lush, dreamlike illustrations fill the pages with the wonder and beauty of imagination and art.
8. The Giant Jumperee by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
Rabbit is minding his own business when a mysterious voice shouts “I’m the giant jumperee and I’m scary as can be!” which proves to be true, as rabbit jumps out of his skin. Rabbit fetches cat and cat fetches bear and bear fetches elephant, but all of them are scared off by the rhyming warnings of a voice coming from a burrow in the ground. But Mama Frog has no fear as, hands on hips, she gives him to the count of three to come out. (Spoiler alert: not even the Giant Jumperee would defy Mama Frog.) With a cozy English feel, The Giant Jumperee reads like a classic, with a little repetition, a little rhyming, a little humor, and warm illustrations.
9. Claymates by Dev Petty, illustrated by Lauren Eldridge
What can you do with two blobs of clay? Lauren Eldridge answers that question as she transforms the blobs into two animals: an owl and a wolf. But left to their own devices, the brown and gray clay decide to have a little fun, and turn themselves into all sorts of things. A celebration of play and creativity, with lots of laughs, this stands out as something unique.
10. Noodleheads See the Future by Todd Arnold
Meet mac and mac, the Noodleheads. These elbow macaronis have literally nothing in their heads, and it shows as they misinterpret the world around them and get into trouble. Ziti asks for a hand, and they say they can’t because their hands are attached. Hilarious and silly, it's more than just slapstick. Arnold has a note in the back of this book, explaining the folk tale origins and inspirations for these stories. He also notes that stories like this help children understand humor and logical thinking. The joy of this easy reader is that the reader understands how figures of speech work and the Noodleheads don't.
Honorable Mention:
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
Once Upon a Jungle by Laura Knowles, illustrated by James Boast
A Hundred Billion Trillion Stars by Seth Fishman, illustrated by Isabel Greenberg
The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken
Short Stories for Little Monsters by Marie-Louise Gay
Charlie and Mouse by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Emily Hughes
Snail and Worm Again by Tina Kugler
Frankie by Mary Sullivan
(This second group of honorable mentions is all easy readers.)
