It’s full-on summer. Time once again for me to change-up my blogging for a few months so I can soak up all this green-ness and daylight…and enjoy time with a couple of my children home from college.
Summertime by Mary Cassatt
This summer I’m planning to share my absolute top, favorite, cream of the crop picks from the stacks of books I look at each week. No themed lists. Just whatever I find astonishingly good.
I could write an entire post on every one of this week’s picture books. I loved them all. I think you will, too!
Especially for big and little sisters:
Tell Me What to Dream About, written and illustrated by Giselle Potter
published in 2015 by Schwartz & Wade Books
An exceptionally-imaginative older sister tries to come up with ideas for her little sister to dream about so she can go to sleep.
This big sister has Seriously Awesome Ideas for dreamland, such as the “furry world” pictured above, yet has a dickens of a time coming up with something that suits her younger sibling. Gloriously imaginative and colorful! Ages 3 and up.
Humor for dog-lovers:
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich, written and illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach
published in 2015 by Alfred A. Knopf
A clever dog offers an extraordinarily convoluted tale to explain the disappearance of his little girl’s sandwich.
It’s all down to a bear, you see, who was lured from his den by the smell of some ripe strawberries…and off we go. Funny, with a most charming bear and dog. Ages 3 and up.
Exquisite and Wordless for Children and Their Grown-ups:
Sidewalk Flowers, conceived by JonArno Lawson and illustrated by Sydney Smith
published in 2015 by Groundwood Books
This gorgeous, wordless book follows a little girl and her father as they walk through the city to their home.
As she trots along, she sees snippets of beauty scattered through the concrete landscape which all the adults around her overlook, and she sweetly, generously shares that beauty with a variety of others. Incredible book. Hopefully it will garner some awards. Ages 6 and up.
Stylish Diversity to Ponder:
The World in a Second, by Isabel Minhós Martins, illustrated by Bernardo P. Carvalho, translated by Lyn Miller-Lachman
originally published in Portugal in 2008; first American edition published in 2015 by Enchanted Lion Books
Jaw-dropping gorgeous design/illustration in this fascinating book about all the things that might be happening at the same second all over the world.
Includes a world map showing all the places referenced. Fantastic and thought-provoking. Ages 5 and up.
Sweet Scandinavian Delight for Wee Ones:
Where is Pim? by Lena and Olof Landström, translated by Julia Marshall
originally published in Sweden in 2013; first American edition published in 2015 by Gecko Press
This is the darling sequel to Pim and Pom which I reviewed here. Pim is the little pink bunny. He is Pom’s special lovey. And egads! He goes missing!
Simple and dear for the very youngest — 18 months and older.
Poignant, Thought-Provoking, with Family Love at the Core:
Yard Sale, by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Lauren Castillo
published in 2015 by Candlewick Press
If you’ve held a yard sale, you know how tough it can be for kids to part with their stuff, no matter how much dust has gathered on it since they last realized it existed.
For the child in this story, Callie, it’s a different matter. Her family has to drastically downsize due to money troubles, and nearly everything familiar is being sold.
That’s a heavy premise for a picture book, and this one’s got some raw emotions in it. Still, there’s a warm recognition of family sticking together come what may. Plus, Lauren Castillo’s illustrations are as heartwarming and lovely as always, providing the needed embrace of comfort.
If I were reading this with a child, I would definitely help them distinguish between the average yard sale which is sheerly a decluttering of excess stuff, and a situation as heart-heavy as this one. Ages 5 and up.
A Dream of a Tale for Introverts:
Pool, a wordless book by JiHyeon Lee
originally published in South Korea in 2013; first published in the U.S. in 2015 by Chronicle Books
This soft-as-a whisper story tenderly and imaginatively leads us through a chance meeting of two quiet children.
They’re at a public swimming pool, nearly overwhelmed by the brash, noisy, rambunctious crowds of kids, when with a dive and a swish, these two strangers meet and explore an imaginative, watery world together. Elegant and meaningful, especially for the quieter ones in this raucous world. Ages 5 and up.
Eccentric and Delightful:
Crabtree, by Jon & Tucker Nichols
published in 2013 by McSweeney’s McMullens
Alfred Crabtree has lost his false teeth. Uh-oh. He’s searching through all his belongings to find them, and it’s quite a task.
Marvelously absurd. Drily humorous. It’s a total lark to comb through these groupings of Crabtree’s possessions, from his Hat & Helmet collection to his Small Yapping Dogs collection. It’s all here, laid out and labeled. Ages 7 and up.
Subversive Humor Guaranteed to Make Kids Smile:
Meet the Dullards, by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
published in 2015 by Balzer & Bray
Mr. & Mrs Dullard run an exceedingly gray, bland ship, which is just how they think things should be. Books, outdoor play, even chunky applesauce, are all verboten.
Laugh together at the boring-est parents ever, and watch the Dullard children conspire to grab some excitement. Over-the-top silliness for ages 5 and up.
Do Try This At Home:
They’re taken by Canadian photographer Nancy Rose, who builds tiny sets for these fuzzy fellows, adds some peanuts to lure them in, and then stands at the ready to snap the charming, unbelievable photos. These will tickle the fancy of you and your kids and maybe beckon you into some wildlife photography. Q&A with Nancy is included. Ages 4 and up.
orange marmalade 
What a fantastic roundup! Looking forward to seeing all these titles!
They are fantastic. Kind of broke my heart to return them to the library!
What a great selection – thank you. I had only heard of some of these. I want to check them all out. A weird fact that you may already know – Margaret Wise Brown lived in a farmhouse in Manhattan (!) and she covered the living room walls in animal fur. Maybe Giselle Potter is channelling M. Wise Brown in that spread.
Oh my! I did not know that. But that image does remind me of The Little Fur Family book with the furry cover…and now that book is making even more sense. You will love every one of these!
Great selection!
They are all brilliant!
Wow, that is a whole slew of wonderful books! Each one looks amazing! Particularly Crabtree and Sidewalk Flowers- I must find them!
Oh, I think you will love them!
[…] Tell Me What to Dream About Giselle Potter/Schwartz & Wade […]
[…] so thoroughly loved JiHyeon’s first book, Pool, that I could not wait to get ahold of this second title of hers. And it is as lovely as her first, […]