Storytime: New and Notable Picture Books (27)

This week's Storytime features two unlikely friends, a duck that's stuck, wintry fun, a childhood guardian, and an old favorite!

Bear and Squirrel Are Friends... Yes, Really!

Written and Illustrated by Deb Pilutti
Ages 4-8, Available Now

Goodreads

Yes, bears sometimes eat squirrels. But can they still be friends? Find out in this clever picture book that’s perfect for preschoolers.

The other bears said, “Squirrel would make a good midnight snack!”
Bear said, “Squirrel’s my friend. I would never eat a friend.”

But what happens if Bear gets really, really hungry? Squirrel has just the solution! This story about the power and bond of friendship will warm the hearts—and tickle the funny bones—of everyone who reads it.

Bear and Squirrel are very unlikely friends. All of the other bears and all of the other squirrels can't fathom how the two could possible be friends. But Bear and Squirrel are able to look beyond their differences and see their similarities instead! Love the color palette employed by Pilutti in this one. Very cute with a great ending!

Click, Clack, Ho! Ho! Ho!
Writtenby Doreen Cronin; Illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Ages 4-8, Available Now

Goodreads

Santa comes to the barnyard in this holiday addition to the award-winning Click, Clack series from the New York Times bestselling and Caldecott winning team who brought you Click, Clack, Moo and Click, Clack, Peep!

It’s the night before Christmas and all through the farm, not a creature is stirring, not even a...duck?

Farmer Brown is busy decorating his home in preparation for Santa’s arrival on Christmas Eve! All seems calm in the barnyard, but Farmer Brown isn’t the only one who is getting ready...

Ho
Ho
OH NO!

Once again, Duck has gotten the whole barnyard STUCK in quite a predicament! Will anyone be able to un-stuck Duck and save Christmas?

The farm animals are getting into trouble again - this time on Christmas night! A must for little fans of the Click, Clack books. I especially loved the animals sneaking up to the roof via roof and harness.
 

Bear & Hare: Snow
Written & Illlustrated by Emily Gravett
Ages 4-8, Available Now

Goodreads

There's a brand new adventure awaiting friends Bear and Hare as they head outside to see ...SNOW! Tasting snowflakes, making snow angels, throwing snowballs (LOTS of snowballs) - what fun there is to be had! Hare loves the snow, but perhaps Bear needs a little more convincing? Follow the escapades of this loveable duo in the second book in an exciting new series from award-winning author-illustrator Emily Gravett.There's a brand new adventure awaiting friends Bear and Hare as they head outside to see ...SNOW! Tasting snowflakes, making snow angels, throwing snowballs (LOTS of snowballs) - what fun there is to be had! Hare loves the snow, but perhaps Bear needs a little more convincing? Follow the escapades of this loveable duo in the second book in an exciting new series from award-winning author-illustrator Emily Gravett.

I adore Emily Gravett's illustrations and this new wintry book featuring Bear and Hare. If I remember correctly, Bear & Hare Go Fishing! was wordless, but this newest book does have text, though its minimal. A sweet book to gift this holiday!

Jack Frost (Guardians of Childhood #3)

Written & Illustrated by William Joyce
Ages 4-8, Available Now

Goodreads

Before Jack Frost was Jack Frost, he was Nightlight, the most trusted and valiant companion of Mim, the Man in the Moon. But when Pitch destroys Mim’s world, he nearly destroys Nightlight too, sending him plunging to Earth where, like Peter Pan, he is destined to remain forever a boy, frozen in time. And while Nightlight has fun sailing icy winds and surfing clouds, he is also lonely without his friend Mim. To keep the cold in his heart from taking over, he spreads it to the landscapes around him and earns a new name: Jack Overland Frost.

But a true friend always comes through, and on one particularly bleak night, Mim shines down and shows Jack a group of children in great peril. Through helping them, Jack finds the warmth he’s been yearning for, and realizes bringing joy to others can melt his own chill. It is this realization—that there will always be children who need moments of bravery, who need rosy cheeks, who need to build snowmen, and who are then eager for a spring day—that makes Jack realize why he is a forever boy, and worthy of becoming a Guardian of Childhood.

This newest Guardians of Childhood picture book shares the story of Jack Frost, a guardian who is forever a boy, reminiscent of Peter Pan. As readers would expect from Joyce, the illustrations are detailed and absolutely gorgeous. A wonderful new addition to the Guardian series, just in time for the holidays!

Michael Bird-Boy
Written & Illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Ages 4-8, Available Now

  

Goodreads

A bird-loving boy sets out to solve a pollution problem in this classic eco-conscious tale from Strega Nona author and illustrator Tomie dePaola, now featuring a new cover and refreshed artwork.

Michael is a young boy who loves birds. Every day he puts on his bird suit and does his work in the countryside, until one day an ominous black cloud appears. What could be causing the black cloud? When Michael discovers that an artificial honey factory is to blame, he comes up with a real sweet solution; one that will keep everyone healthy, including his beloved birds.

Originally published in 1975, this old favorite has just been reissued by Simon & Schuster. This quiet little story teaches an important lesson about collaboration, nature, and the environment. Highly recommended!

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