2008 picture books I liked

Unfortunately, I started my book journal in May 2008, so I am missing a chunk of the year. However, since I'm starting to become a bit more adept with Web 2.0 programs, I thought I'd put some of the highlights of the year to October on here. These are picture books I feel would really rock a Storytime.


Zen Ties by Jon J. Muth

Ages 3-6

A beautiful follow up to Zen Shorts. Koo still speaks in Haiku, and Stillwater is as wise as ever. The illustrations are simple and beautiful, and the message of helping others and seeing beyond first appearances is lovely. Good for panda or bear storytimes, or for storytimes focusing on helping others and being nice.


What Pet to Get? by Emma Dodd

Ages 3-6

This is an ideal storytime book: Short and funny with bold illustrations. Jack wants a pet, but what pet to get? An elephant? A dinosaur? Kids will definitely get the giggles and start calling out "NO!" everytime Jack suggests a new silly pet. Good for animal and pet storytimes, or just when you want to have a silly story to read. Since the final pet is a dog, you could convince yourself that it'd be good for a dog storytime, as well. It'd be a good pair with the previously discussed books by Jan Thomas.


Maisy's Nature Walk by Lucy Cousins

Ages 2-5

This lift the flap book would be great for Storyimes about nature, walks through the woods, trees, mice... It's broad enough to fit a number of topics, if a filler is needed.


Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

Ages 3-5

This is a great book for truck storytimes. It's a simple, rhyming story about a nice blue truck who helps a mean red truck when it gets stuck in the mud. Blue truck's kindness inspires his animal friends to help the mean red truck, even though he was very rude to them before he got stuck. The story can be followed by a brief discussion on why no one wanted to help the mean red truck at first, and why it's important to always be polite and nice to others.


Red Truck by K. R. Hamilton

Ages 2-5

"Can red truck make it up the hill? Red truck can! Red truck will!" The jolly red tow truck ZOOMS to help a school bus stuck in the mud. It's a short story with a fun, catchy rhyme scheme and many great noises to make! Have the kids ZOOOOM along with you with this tale, perfect for truck storytimes.


Harriet Dancing by Ruth Symes

Ages 2-5

All Harriet wants to do is dance with the butterflies, but first she has to convince them to dance with her! Harriet is the cutest little hedgehog, and young dancers will feel sad when the butterflies first ignore her, then feel absolute joy when they agree to dance with her. The illustrations are bright and cheerful, and the butterflies are appropriately colorful. Everyone looks lighter than air and hopefully kids will be inspired to dance dance dance. Good for butterfly, animal, and dancing storytimes.


Big Plans by Bob Shea

Ages 4-6

One young man is sentenced to the corner of the classroom, where he rants: "I have big plans! BIG PLANS, I say!" It's highly energetic, and that rapscallion proves that he does, indeed, have big plans for the future. A must for storytimes about occupations.


I Love My New Toy by Mo Willems

Ages 3-6

Elephant and Piggie again! This time, Piggie has a new toy, which Elephant promptly tries out... and "breaks". Piggie is sad and mad, until she realizes that the toy is SUPPOSED to come apart. Elephant and Piggie books are great explorations of friendship. They get mad at each other and they forgive each other in this book, and realize how important their friendship is. This book will work great for storytimes about toys and friends. Don't let the length deter you, there is only one sentence per page!


Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett

Ages 2-5

"Monkey and me, monkey and me, monkey and me, we're going to see, we're going to see some..." These lines get repeated through out the book, as the little girl and her stuffed monkey play pretend. When I first used it as a storytime, the kids were chanting along with me after only a couple pages! I had them clap their hands in rhyme, as the song has a fun, schoolyard chant rhythm. This worked out very well, they were clapping and chanting in time with the story. It is such a fun story to read out loud, that it is easily one of my favorite picture books of the entire year. A must for monkey storytimes!


Stuck in the Mud

Ages 3-6

Oh no! Little chick is stuck in the mud! His frenzied mother enlists the help of all the barnyard animals to pull little chick out... only to find that he wasn't even stuck in the first place! A very funny story, and the animals are very expressive. This would make a fun chicken or barnyard storytime book.


Be Gentle with the Dog, Dear by Matthew J. Baek

Ages 2-4

Tag is a gentle dog. He knows baby Elisa means well, but her friendship is a bit too painful for him. The baby and the dog manage to resolve their differences. This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Great for dog storytimes, especially for the younger set with puppies they're fond of squeezing.