Just looking at this stack of books today warms my heart. Lush illustrations and tenderhearted characters bring a palpable response of peace, security, belonging, and healing.
These days are filled with turmoil and conflict, and assuredly children pick up on that. It’s the perfect time to snuggle up together and read reassuring, beautiful picture books.
The Way Home in the Night, written and illustrated by Akiko Miyakoshi
first published in Japan in 2015; English edition published by Kids Can Press in 2017
Akiko Miyakoshi is making a name for herself with her gorgeous, flannel-soft, rosebud-tender illustration work and the rich themes of imagination and belonging thrumming through her books. (See my review of The Tea Party in the Woods here.)
Here she explores the many varied life stories which surround us, the array of homes cocooning our neighbors, each holding an aroma of mystery, a tease of the unknown, and our common desire for repose.
As one little bunny goes for a quiet evening stroll with Mama, the glow of lamplight from within apartment windows gives glimpses of neighbors’ lives and piques curiosity. What are they talking about? What are they cooking up for supper? What happens next, after we lose sight of them? So many different narratives, yet ultimately bound together with deeply human needs — home, and a place to lay our heads to sleep.
Attuned to universal wondering, this hushed story will resonate deeply with young and old, ages 2 and up. Outstanding.
Little Fox in the Forest, a wordless book by Stephanie Graegin
published in 2017 by Schwartz & Wade Books
My word! This book is flooded with wave upon wave of adorableness, kindness, and imagination, with one well-shot arrow of childhood angst piercing through to create pitch-perfect tension for preschoolers.
It’s the ol’ lovey-gone-missing plot, portrayed with panache. A little girl’s favorite stuffed fox accompanies her to the playground one day. While she’s enjoying a hearty swing, a real fox kit spies the toy, snatches it, and hot-foots it into the forest.
With determination borne of desperation, the little girl tracks her beloved fox, a host of darling woodland residents and one schoolmate assisting her. What they discover — a splendiferous woodland village that’ll set your heart a-flutter — plus one small, pathetic fox kit, leads to a resolution sweet as a butter cookie.
Could anyone not feel their heart flood with warmth upon reading this story? I think not. A perfect picture book for ages 2 and up.
Home and Dry, written and illustrated by Sarah L. Smith
published in 2016 by Child’s Play Inc.
Coming to us from Australia, this quirky charmer features the Paddling family whose home on a rocky outcropping of an island looks mighty idyllic; plus a rainstorm to end all rainstorms; and dear Uncle Bastian, a lonely old fellow whose busy life has heretofore superceded pleasant holidays but who has decided to finally pay a long-overdue visit to his family.
The collision course of events here — picnics and paddlings and Paddlings and predicaments — makes for a rollicking series of near-misses and thorough wettings until all ends in coziness, hospitality, belonging, and everyone “home and dry.”
With a plot and illustrations crammed with affection and the humble joy of home and family, this is a delight for ages 3 and up.
The Giant Jumperee, written by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
originally published in the UK; first U.S. edition 2017 by Dial Books for Young Readers
Two UK childrens’ literature rock stars teamed up to create this sunny, funny, jolly tale, and what a joy it is!
Something is lurking in Rabbit’s burrow! It calls itself the Giant Jumperee! Good heavens! What can it be?
Rabbit is affrighted! And as each of his animal friends stoutly offers to help remove this unseen monster, they become just as alarmed! After all, it shouts out such dire warnings!
When even Elephant is left cowering, Mama Frog calmly steps up to the challenge and what do you know — that Giant Jumperee is heading home to tea in a merry minute. Timeless and happy, for young lapsitters, ages 18 months and up.
Time Now to Dream, written by Timothy Knapman, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
published in the UK in 2016; first U.S. edition 2017 by Candlewick Press
Here’s another book awash in the perfection of Helen Oxenbury’s art, with a story brilliantly balancing delicious ingredients: tingly mystery, tenderness, bravery, sibling camaraderie, and the warmth of home.
Alice and Jack are enjoying a fine day when, coming through the forest, a sound disrupts their playtime. It’s a weird sound. An uncanny howl. It goes something like this, “Ocka by hay beees unna da reees…”
orange marmalade 
We have The Giant Jumperee out from the library and I have read it dozens of times with my two year old — he loves counting with mama frog and announcing the punchline now that he knows it! It’s a such a great picture book and I’m thinking we may end up getting our own copy. It’s not my first Helen Oxenbury — we have and love Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt — but now I’m on the lookout for more of her books. So far we tried King Jack and the Dragon which is wonderful as well — our library copy of that one is also currently on heavy rotation 🙂
I hadn’t heard of Time Now to Dream til this post though! Since my little guy has had some scary dreams lately, I think it might be just the thing to read together before bed. Thanks as always for sharing such wonderful books — my library list always explodes after reading these lists (which is a good thing, of course!)
I’m so glad you’ve discovered Helen Oxenbury. You will find treasures galore if you check out her long list of books. Her out-of-print series “Out and About” is perfect for Age Twos if you can find them. (Our Dog, Eating Out…and there are a couple of other titles). There is another Jack book out now as well — Captain Jack and the Pirates.
[…] Juiciest: The Way Home in the Night Akiko Miyakoshi/Kids Can […]
[…] recently I posted about Little Fox in the Forest which also contains that imaginative, small woodland world […]
[…] You know when a great idea exists, it flutters around in several minds at once? I’m astonished at the remarkable similarity between two wonderful 2017 picture books. One I’ve posted about earlier. In fact, it won an Orange Marmalade Juicy for Quiet Books. That’s Akiko Miyakoshi’s The Way Home in the Night. […]