Lizzy and the Cloud

Lizzy and the Cloud

By the Fan Brothers

Lizzy and her pet cloud, Milo, are perfect for each other. She doesn't care that clouds aren't popular pets or that hers isn't the fanciest; she just loves and cares for Milo. But as Milo continues to grow and grow, the time is fast approaching when Lizzy has to let her pet go free.  

When We Say Black Lives Matter

When We Say Black Lives Matter

By Maxine Beneba Clarke

A poetic picturebook to introduce the complex topic of Black Lives Matter. Aspects highlighted are straightforward and not overwhelming for a small child. The illustrations are bold and simplified, allowing the message to take center stage. This is an important book to read as a family and discuss together. People's faces are left blank, in hopes the reader will effortlessly insert their own family.  

Love, Violet

Love, Violet

By Charlotte Sullivan Wild, illustrated by Charlene Chua

A trailblazing book that normalizes feelings between two girls. I haven't seen another picturebook that embraces a young child's feelings for someone of the same sex quite the way this one so boldly does. Tender and sweet, it's the story of shy Violet and her crush with the snow-sparkling eyelashes, Mira.

Lovely language and a strong story arc, Love, Violet should be your choice for Valentine's Day.

Library Lion

By Michelle Knudsen

Ms. Merriweather has strict rules in her library. When, a lion saunters into the children’s area he is allowed to stay because after all, there are no rules forbidding lions. After a nap on the pillows, he joins story time, causes quite a commotion, and is spoken to by Ms. Merriweather. With renewed understanding of the rules, the lion becomes a cherished fixture with the children and staff until one day, he must decide between keeping out of trouble and helping a friend the only way he knows how. The themes of friendship and following rules are clearly present and the outcome satisfies.

Keven Hawkes uses acrylic and pencil to complete his drawings. The illustrations work together with the text, endearing us to the lion immediately. Although the lion does not wear clothes nor stand on two feet, he nonetheless displays human body language and feelings. The colours are warm and soft golds, purples and blues, lending a cozy, safe feeling to the library environment. The pictures either share the page with the text on the left, or are vignettes on the right, beginning and ending the book with a double page spread. Expressions and humour are especially well portrayed.

Awards: NAIBA Book of the Year for Picture Book (2007)

School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2006
A New York Times best seller.

Megabat

Megabat

By Anna Humphrey
Illustrated by Kass Reich

Daniel is feeling sad after moving to a new house in a new town and he misses his friends in Toronto.  When he hears weird noises in his attic bedroom, he is a bit freaked out.  Then he realizes that the noises are coming from a bat – Megabat –  and Daniel doesn’t really know what to do.  Megabat, it seems, is lost and also misses his friends from the land of Papaya Premium.  In fact, Megabat weeps so much that he creates a large puddle on the bedroom floor – Daniel’s parents even think the roof is leaking!

The crying settles down once Daniel and Megabat get to know each other.  Daniel deduces that Megabat is actually from Borneo and devises a plan to get him back there.  Little does he know that he and Megabat will actually become good friends.

Daniel begins carrying Megabat in his pocket.  He gives him his fill of fruits and juices, and they sit around watching Star Wars together.  Megabat even begins brandishing a juice box straw like a lightsaber.

Megabat says adorable things like, “It is being an honor to meeting yours.” (p.69) He gets very excited over “smoosh fruits”, a.k.a. jelly rolls. (p. 68) He also seems to be falling in love with a pigeon called Birdgirl.  Nevertheless, Daniel knows he needs to do his best to get Megabat home.  With the help of his new neighbour and friend, Talia, Daniel hopes he can complete his mission.

Megabat is perfect for young readers who still need a few pictures in their chapter books.  Highly recommended!

 

Bear Country: Bearly A Misadventure

Bear Country: Bearly A Misadventure

By Doreen Cronin

That crazy Chicken Squad is back with another mystery to solve.  

This time, their caretaker, Barbara, is missing!  She hasn’t kept to her usual routine, and now she’s not home.  The Chicken Squad soon discovers that young Anna McClanahanahan’s hamster is missing too.  Then they get reports of a headless bear and strange noises coming from town.

The Chicken Squad enlists some of its animal friends for help. They must get to town to find out what’s going on!  Find out how the Chicken Squad brings the whole town to a screeching halt in this fun-filled adventure!

A Complicated Case

A Complicated Case

By Ulf Nilsson
Illustrated by Gitte Spee

All the animals in the forest are feeling down.  Detective Gordon, a toad, and his assistant, Buffy, wonder why.  Eventually they realize that someone is saying mean things to the forest animals.  This is not allowed according to the Law, and Gordon and Buffy must solve the case to stop the bullying.  When they find the culprit, Gordon and Buffy learn that she has been made to feel bad herself.

A Complicated Case is part of a gentle mystery series that will appeal to young children.  It has lovely illustrations by Gitte Spee.  Parents can read it aloud to their child, and children who are reading chapter books can try it on their own.