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.

Cat Problems

By Jory John, illustrated by Lane Smith

Grouchy cat has problems. Sometimes he gets dry food - not wet! Sometimes the other cat is in his spot. Or his other spot. Or his third spot! And sometimes the vacuum cleaner turns on and becomes a furocious monster!

The worst part is the squirrel who mocks him from the outside world, informing him that he has it MUCH better on the inside.

Absolutely the most hysterical book of 2021, whether or not you have a cat at home.

Animals Go Vroom!

Animal Go Vroom!

By Abi Cushman

ROAR! HISS! SQUEAK! This circular tale transports the reader on a mission to discover the source of the sounds. Using clever cut-outs, older children will learn about cause and effect when a traffic jam ensues, while younger children will delight in the various types of transportation. Is that HISS sound a snake? Or the air escasping from a tire? It may not be what you expect.

Outside Inside

Outside Inside

By LeUyen Pham

I'm not crying, you're crying! Outside Inside is all about the pandemic bringing people everywhere indoors."Something strange happened on an unremarkable day just before the season changed. Everybody who was outside ... went inside." Pham's artwork is gentle and gorgeous and will help children understand and process the pandemic. The best testament to essential workers and the power of community to come out of the pandemic.

Hello, Rain!

Hello, Rain!

By Kyo Maclear and Chris Turnham

"Every rainfall plays a different tune." This ode to the rainstorm is celebratory and sweet. It will remind us to embrace those rainy days, splashing in puddles and cozying up indoors. 

Repetitive text is arranged poetically: "Rumble rumble./Distant thunder./Rain is coming,/rain is coming." while retro illustrations carrying a printmaking quality are whimsical and quite pretty. 

Nostalgia and fun, all wrapped up in this evocative picturebook that engages the senses.

Don't Hug Doug

Don't Hug Doug (He Doesn't Like It)

By Carrie Finison

Not everyone needs to be the same as you! You may love a big, squashy hug, but Doug sure doesn't. For him, hugs are either too squeezy, too squashy, too squooshy, or too smooshy, but the reason doesn't matter at all -- hugs are a no for Doug (unless they're mom's goodnight hugs). How are you suppose to know? Just ASK before you hug.

Don't Hug Doug encourages kids to take an empathetic approach to others who do not enjoy hugging. A great resource for teachers, as well as a great example of  differences in people that need to be respected. After all, many can relate to Doug!

Books to read if you liked Madeline

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

Spunky, adventurous, and full of confidence, Madeline has rocked the girl world for decades. If you've read through all the sequels, here are some books that evoke some of the same feelings.

Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Harry Bliss

Plucky Louise longs for both adventure and a cozy home to return to when she'd finished being brave.

Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch

For 40 years The Paperbag Princess has been teaching girls it's alright to stand up for yourself, and that beauty is only skin deep.  

When We Were Very Young by A.A. Milne

Playful poems to read and reread with children.

Olivia by Ian Falconer

When Olivia tries on 17 outfits even before the book is begun, you may be debating which one is your favourite, but the funniest one is certainly Olivia in pantyhose. This pig is full of life and will delight readers on each page with her overly euphoric good nature.

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

The sweetest story of a mother and child who go blueberry picking. Little Sal has more fun eating the blueberries from the pail rather than allowing them to accumilate. At one point the two get mixed up with a mother bear and her cub before finding their rightful partners again. 

Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell

This is a story of Jane Goodall as a little child in the English countryside where she observes nature and writes in her journal about what she sees.