Children

Since most schools shy away from teaching art and music anymore, the pandemic has provided parents with a unique opportunity to expose their children to great artists. This beautifully-illustrated Caldecott winner introduces readers to Jean-Michel Basquiat and his unique, collage-style paintings that rocketed to fame in the 1980s as a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the art world had ever seen. But before that, he was a little boy who saw art everywhere: in poetry books and museums, in games and in the words that we speak, and in the pulsing energy of New York City. I LOVE this book!

A perfect “peekaboo” book for night time reading together in bed. Pip, Pickle, and Percy the penguins are hungry. Pip and Pickle see a fish and chase it, but catching the little fish proves to be harder than they thought! Pip and Pickle are set on making a meal of that fish. Can the fish outsmart two determined, hungry penguins? Great fun with little ones.

An inspiring picture book with simple text and gorgeous, impressionistic artwork about a girl imagining what life would be like with a horse.

Everyone in the Ellis family is excellent – except Ed. Ed wonders if this is why he isn’t allowed to eat at the table or sit on the couch with the other children. So he’s determined to find his own thing to be excellent at--only to be (inadvertently) outdone by a family member every time. This funny and endearing story offers a subtle look at sibling rivalry and self-esteem, and will reassure kids that everyone is excellent at something, and that your family loves you, just as you are.

Getting George to sleep is a nightmare. But getting a monster to sleep? That's an adventure.

Sam and Dave are on a mission. A mission to find something spectacular. So they dig a hole. And they keep digging. And they find…nothing. Yet the day turns out to be pretty spectacular after all. Attentive readers will be rewarded with a rare treasure in this witty story of looking for the extraordinary – and finding it in a manner you’d never expect. Caldecott Honor book with wonderful illustrations by Jon Klassen.

Frida Kahlo, one of the world's most famous and unusual artists is revered around the world. Her life was filled with laughter, love, and tragedy, all of which influenced what she painted on her canvases. Distinguished author/illustrator Yuyi Morales illuminates Frida's life and work in this elegant and fascinating book. Another Caldecott Honoree!

Amid the hustle and bustle of the big city, the big crowds, and bigger buildings, Little Elliot, the polka-dotted elephant, leads a quiet life. In spite of the challenges he faces, Elliot finds many wonderful things to enjoy – like cupcakes! And when his problems seem insurmountable, Elliot discovers something even sweeter: a friend.

When a small robot named Z discovers a message in a bottle signed “Love, Beatrice,” they decide to find out what “love” means. Unable to get an answer from the other robots, they leave to embark on an adventure that will lead them to Beatrice – and back home again, where love was hiding all along.

Do you know that you're a magician? In this interactive book, kids – and adults – get to use their fingers to perform all kinds of magic tricks. But beware: the clever magic tricks don't always turn out the way you'd expect!

A fun and familiar exchange between a parent and child in a hilarious battle of wills as they face off over the age-old dilemma of what to wear. Includes terrific illustrations from Sydney Hanson.

Ellie is a 12-year-old vampire that loves solving mysteries, but is afraid of...everything. She's afraid of spiders, clowns, and loud noises – just to name a few. And her pesky sister Penny never lets her forget it. But with a little courage and help from her friends, Ellie just might achieve her dream of becoming a real detective.

Du iz tak? What is that? As a tiny shoot unfurls, two damselflies peer at it in wonder. When the plant grows taller and sprouts leaves, some young beetles arrive to gander, and soon – with the help of a pill bug named Icky – they wrangle a ladder and build a tree fort. With exquisitely detailed illustrations and tragicomic flair, Caldecott winner Carson Ellis invites readers to imagine the dramatic possibilities to be found in even the humblest backyard. Su!

Tired of his life as an emu, Edward decides to try being something else for a change. He tries swimming with the seals, he spends a day lounging with the lions and he even slithers with the snakes. But Edward soon discovers that being an emu may be the best thing after all.

With so many parents suddenly cast as homeschooling teachers, I’ve been looking for books that engage students while they are away from physical schools. This is one in a series of books that foots the bill. The lively text, surprising fun facts, jokes, and colorful illustrations encourage children to explore Greek mythology and make connections to our modern culture and language. Hands-on activities include making a topographical map of ancient Greece and designing Greek columns, while links to online primary sources encourage readers to explore the topic independently.