Today’s set of five all made my heart feel like someone just poured in a stream of golden honey. So full of love, belonging, participation, growth, cleverness. These gems are all perfect for preschoolers. Enjoy!
Sometimes We Think You Are a Monkey, written by Johanna Skibsrud and Sarah Blacker, illustrated by Julie Morstad
published in 2015 by Puffin
When my youngest child was a toddler, we often referred to her as The Goat. Yes, it was affectionately said, but with a hint of exasperation as well, for she ate so darn many things not intended for human consumption. Lipstick. Glue. Playdough. The tips of the Crayola Markers. There was no stopping her.
The comparisons in this book are much sweeter! Sometimes a baby’s mouth, opening and closing, “looking for a drop of milk,” reminds us of a little bird. A baby’s skin is so peachy soft, it feels like “brushing our fingers over the fine dust of a butterfly’s wing.”
But you, my dear, are not a baby bird, nor a butterfly. You are a perfect new baby.
Blanketed in tenderness, with Julie Morstad’s brilliant illustration work – gorgeous textures, compositions, hand-lettering, and a contemporary, natural palette of ocean blues, meadow golds, apple blossom pinks –this is a phenomenally sweet book to share with your little ones.
Great baby shower gift!
Sam and Jump, written and illustrated by Jennifer K. Mann
published in 2016 by Candlewick
Sam and his lovey-bunny, Jump, do everything together. Chances are, if you have a toddler, someone like Jump lives in your household, too. Worn as the velveteen rabbit, sticky with jam, sporting a grubby, gray color, with the scent of stale milk embedded in its mattered fur. You know what I’m talking about.
And you know what happens when such a creature goes missing. Sam’s Jump goes missing after a day at the beach, making Sam one forlorn little guy. But fear not, this is a story with a happy ending.
Discover how Sam and Jump are reunited and receive a bonus friend to boot in this utterly-relatable story. Mann tells it wonderfully with minimal words and enormously warm, engaging illustrations that convey all the emotions brilliantly. Charming.
Let’s Go to the Hardware Store, written by Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Melissa Iwai
published in 2016, Christy Ottaviano Books, Henry Holt and Company
When my kids were small, we read so, so many of Anne Rockwell’s books. Her understanding of young children is masterful. Her ability to tell a story that rivets the attention of a child, with a minimum of words — genius.
This latest book is a prime example. In it, a brother and sister are moving with their family into a new house and everything needs fixing, according to Mom. Luckily, Dad’s a great fix-it man if he’s got the right tools. He needs some new ones, he says. Convenient.
So off Dad and the kids go to the hardware store. It’s not one of those big box stores. It looks like this:
Excellent. As these three meander the aisles, they see a variety of hammers to choose from and learn the keen names for them – ball-peen, framing, mallet. They buy material to fix the crack in the ceiling – spackle and a putty knife. There are so many interesting gadgets and dojiggers in a hardware store!
Rockwell’s plainspoken, conversational tone is authentic and respectful of a child’s investigative mind. Iwai’s illustrations are friendly and chock-full of cool hardware supplies.
Can I just say I love two illustrations particularly: One shows Dad properly using his saw horse. I cannot tell you how many illustrations get this wrong, with a carpenter who should know better sawing a board right smack in-between two saw horses. The other shows Mom nursing her baby, just on the floor, in the middle of the mess and mayhem. Lovely and happy.
Little Home Bird, written and illustrated by Jo Empson
published in 2016 by Child’s Play
It’s time for Little Bird to migrate, but wait just a minute! Little Bird loves his home! He has a favorite branch. Delicious berries. Beautiful music chinging from a wind chime in his tree. A lovely view.
Little Bird’s solution is to cart his favorite things along with him on the long journey. Seems sensible, but in fact lugging all of these precious bits slows Little Bird down to the point he’s in danger of losing the rest of the flock. What to do?
Jo Empson’s sensitive, thoughtful exploration of home, leaving home, trying to take home with us, creating new places that feel like home, speaks to all of us, from young children through adults. Her ravishing artwork spritzes and washes and floods each page with glorious color, energy, beauty, and happiness.
It’s a great title for all, but particularly well-suited to those on the move or those third-culture-kids who consistently migrate between one home and another.
Shapes, Reshape!, written and illustrated by Silvia Borando
originally published in Italy, 2014; English edition 2016 by Candlewick
Puzzlers for little busy brains fill every page of this whip-smart book!
See these shapes? This stack of lime green squares and rectangles, bitsy ones and boxy ones? And the pile of red stripeys?
Well, if you’re clever, you can reshape them into some JUMPY things.
Ready?
orange marmalade 
[…] Let’s Go to the Hardware Store Anne Rockwell and Melissa Iwai/Henry Holt and Co. Books for Young Readers Amazon Link: Hardware Store […]