Storytime: New & Notable Picture Books (26)

This week's Storytime features a busy mole, a little tree afraid of change, compromise between pets, an imaginative cloud, and an artist who learns its all about perspective.

Holey Moley

Written and Illustrated by Lois Ehlert
Ages 4-8, Available Now

Goodreads

Get to know Mole, the underground protector of the garden, in this fact-filled natural history adventure with vibrant collage artwork from the Caldecott Honor–winning illustrator of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

Some might think that Mole is a garden pest, but the truth is, he is a pest-preventer! Mole keeps worms and caterpillars and other crawly bugs from munching up all the growing veggie plants. And so at harvest time, there is a bounty of yummy goodies for the gardeners to enjoy—and Mole is chubby from all the eating he has done and ready to get cozy in his burrow for winter.

Complete with a beautiful glossary identifying all of the different worms, caterpillars, moths, and butterflies included in the illustrations, this colorful gem from Caldecott Honoree Lois Ehlert is sure to delight nature lovers of all ages.

I have to admit, I'm not always the biggest fan of the text in Lois Ehlert's books - some I love, others I can do without - but I always adore her collage illustrations. Her newest book, Holey Moley, is no exception. Not only is the mole in this story absolutely adorable, readers will find plenty to explore within the illustrations (and in the garden!).

Little Tree
Written & Illustrated by Loren Long
Ages 4-8, Available 10/27/2015

Goodreads

In the middle of a little forest, there lives a Little Tree who loves his life and the splendid leaves that keep him cool in the heat of long summer days. Life is perfect just the way it is.

Autumn arrives, and with it the cool winds that ruffle Little Tree's leaves. One by one the other trees drop their leaves, facing the cold of winter head on. But not Little Tree—he hugs his leaves as tightly as he can. Year after year Little Tree remains unchanged, despite words of encouragement from a squirrel, a fawn, and a fox, his leaves having long since turned brown and withered. As Little Tree sits in the shadow of the other trees, now grown sturdy and tall as though to touch the sun, he remembers when they were all the same size. And he knows he has an important decision to make. From #1 New York Times bestselling Loren Long comes a gorgeously-illustrated story that challenges each of us to have the courage to let go and to reach for the sun.

Oh, my heart! Loren Long's newest picture book is special. Young readers will love Little Tree's story, but adults will fall for this beautiful story about fear and change too. Picture books are for all ages and I want to give this book to everyone. Bravo, Loren Long, bravo!
 

Simon's New Bed
Written by Christian Trimmer; Illustrated by Melissa van der Paardt
Ages 4-8, Available Now

Goodreads

Simon’s been looking forward to trying out his brand-new dog bed all day. He may be ready for the best nap of his life, but Miss Adora Belle the cat has other ideas. She’s taken over his bed before he even gets a chance to try it—and she’s not budging. As Simon struggles to find a way to free his bed for the Greatest Naptime Ever, he may just discover something wonderful about his new bed: there’s plenty of room for two.

In this hilariously true to life story about a dog named Simon who's brand new bed is taken over by a cat, readers will learn the value of compromise. Simon's facial expressions are too funny... I'm sure many cat owners will relate to Simon's struggle!

Cloud Country

Written by Bonny Becker, Illustrated by Noah Klocek
Ages 3-5, Available 11/3/2015

Goodreads

Sitting there, among the clouds, looking down and day dreaming is... a little clo.udlet. Gale would like nothing more than to make one real cloud shape. But instead, she creates something different. Wait until all of Cloud Country finds out!

Gale, a cloudlet, finds she cannot make the cloud formations required of all young clouds, instead creating whimsical duplicates of animals and shapes she sees while Earth gazing. Will Gale graduate from Formation School or will her imagination stand in her way? Cloud Country is part of the Pixar Animation Studios Showcase, a series of original stories accompanied by the work of artists from Pixar. Illustrator Noah Klocek, who worked on films like Brave, Up, and Wall-E, has created gorgeous, soft accompanying illustrations in shades of purple.

Just Like I Wanted
Written by Elinoar Keller & Naama Peleg Segal, Illustrated by Aya Gordon-Noy
Ages 4-7, Available Now

  

Goodreads

As she tries to create a perfect picture, a girl keeps drawing outside the lines but rather than give up, she simply transforms the picture into something new.

In this picture book, originally written in Hebrew and translated by Annette Appel, a young girl is determined to make a perfect picture that will earn the praise of her teacher and classmates. Instead of being discouraged and starting over when she makes what might be viewed as mistakes, she adapts, transforming the picture into something new. Told through collage and rhyming text, Just Like I Wanted is a celebration of imagination and perspective. Recommended to pair with I Will Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson's Blackboard.

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Love any of the books featured this week? Let me know in the comments!