Storytime: New and Notable Picture Books (5)

Storytime is a new(ish) feature at The Hiding Spot in which I share some of my favorite new, old, & overlooked picture books.

Not a parent, teacher, or librarian? Picture books make fantastic gifts, from baby showers to birthdays and holidays. As bookworms, we all know how important books are – be the one who hands that special kid in your life the book that will make them fall in love with the magic of reading!

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New & Notable

The Nuts: Bedtime at the Nut House

Written by Eric Litwin, Illustrated by Scott Magoon

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It's bedtime at the Nut house, but Wally and Hazel Nut just aren't ready to go to sleep! Instead, they ignore Mama and keep playing and singing their song: 'We're Nuts! We're Nuts! We're Nuts!' It's only after lots of warnings and Mama finally giving them THE LOOK that these two little Nuts settle down for bed. The Nuts: Bedtime at the Nut House is a funny read aloud from Peter the Cat creator Eric Litwin and illustrator Scott Magoon that is sure to have kids singing and laughing along.   

Miss Brooks' Story Nook (where stories are told and ogres are welcome)
Written by Barbara Bottner, Illustrated by Michael Emberley

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I loved this fantastic read aloud in which the power of imagination and storytelling defeat a neighborhood bully. Missy is often late for her favorite part of the day - Miss Brooks' Story Nook - because of Billy, who picks on her as she makes her way to school. When a power outage prompts Miss Brooks to encourage the students to make up their own stories, Missy is skeptical... she likes to hear stories, not make them up! But, before she knows it, Missy is creating her very own story with a villain that she battles in real life: Billy. A great, creative conclusion to this inspiring story about the power of story make this book a must.

Hermelin the Detective Mouse
Written & Illustrated by Mini Grey

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After making his home in the attic of an apartment building, Hermelin, a small mystery-solving mouse, notices the building notice board covered with notices of missing items. Hermelin sets out to help return lost items by writing notes to the various apartment tenants, helping to recover a missing bracelet, purse, teddy bear, and more. When the tenants throw a party in the mysterious Hermelin's honor, he's touched, until the attendees scatter in a panic at the sight of a mouse. When Hermelin discovers that mice are considered pests, he sadly decides to leave his home behind, until a young tenant befriends him.

Forget Me Not
Written by Nancy Van Laan, Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin

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Forget Me Not is a touching story about a young girl, Julia, and her feelings about her grandma's onset of dementia. To start, Julia recalls when her grandma began mixing up names and forgetting small details. As her grandma's dementia worsens, the situations Julia relates intensify as well. Her grandma forgets where she is while at the supermarket, she is found outside in the snow in only her nightgown, digging for forget-me-nots, and, eventually, can no longer remember her family. When Julia's family makes the difficult decision to move Grandma to a home, Julia mourns the change, but soon realizes that Grandma is happier in her new, safe environment. Julia misses the old grandma, when she was her old sweet self, but she still loves her and greets her with a big hug each time she visits Grandma... Even if Grandma can't remember, Julia will never forget.  

Shivery Shades of Halloween
Written by Mary Mckenna Siddals; Illustrated by Jeremy Pickering

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This fantastic read aloud explores all the colors little readers will encounter in their Halloween adventures through bright, colorful illustrations and memorable rhyme. Shivery Shades of Halloween is a worthwhile addition to your library and great holiday fun!  

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Love any of the books featured this week? Want to see a certain theme explore, author, or illustrator explored in an upcoming Story Time post? Let me know in the comments!