Night Lunch
Eric Fan & Dena Seiferling
Tundra Books
Noses sniff the air as mouthwatering smells waft down city streets, luring growling bellies to the Night Owl. Inside this elegant, horse-drawn establishment, a feathery cook works the grill, serving up tasty dishes for shift-workers and operagoers alike: a mince pie for Fox, a ham sandwich for Badger and puddings for little Possums. Mouse, a poor street sweeper, watches as the line of customers swells, ever hopeful that someone will drop a morsel of food — but Owl’s cooking is far too delicious for more than a crumb to be found. As the evening’s service winds down, weary Owl spots trembling Mouse. Has he found his own night lunch, or will he invite this small sweeper inside for a midnight feast for two?
From the imagination of two acclaimed picture book creators, together for the first time, this dreamlike picture book is a magical ode to Victorian lunch wagons. Evoking the sounds, sights, smells and tastes of the city at night, Night Lunch reveals how empathy and kindness as well as dignity and gratitude can be found — and savored — in the most unexpected places.
Old Wood Boat
Nikki McClure
Candlewick Press
Old wood boat remembers the wind. Dilapidated and parted from the sea, she remembers and waits as her mast cracks and blackberry vines creep across her deck. But one day, a family tows her home. Scraped, scrubbed, sanded, and varnished, she is made beautiful and seaworthy again. After libations have been poured out, the family casts off, and old wood boat embarks on adventure once more.
In this love letter to sailing, heralded artist Nikki McClure tells the story of a restored boat in timeless and reverent prose that perfectly accompanies her stunning cut-paper illustrations. At once delicate and bold, each page is masterful, rendered from a single sheet of black paper with precision and care that is sure to enthrall readers from coast to coast.
Bathe the Cat
Alice B McGinty & David Roberts
Chronicle Books
It’s cleaning day, but the family cat will do anything to avoid getting a bath. So instead of mopping the floor or feeding the fish, the family is soon busy rocking the rug, vacuuming the lawn, and sweeping the dishes. Bouncy rhyme carries the story headlong into the growing hilarity, until finally Dad restores some kind of order–but will the cat avoid getting his whiskers wet?
The Secret Stream
Kimberly Ridley & Megan Elizabeth Baratta
Tilbury House Publishers
Follow a headwater stream from its start as a spring in the forest on its journey to becoming a river, nourishing life all along its length. The main text, written in the first person from the point of view of the stream itself, sticks to the top or left of each spread, introducing major ideas: how insect larvae and nymphs recycle leaves; kingfishers; beaver dams, etc. Further information on, for instance, aquatic insect metamorphosis or otters’ transparent eyelids, is found underneath headings in a slightly smaller font. As the water flows downstream, children read about riffles, how aquatic insects must anchor themselves or be washed down to be a trout’s meal, the importance of trees along the stream’s banks, and the animals that find food or shelter near the water. Most but not all animal species are labeled in the illustrations, which are mostly realistic looking and come to life with masterful use of shading and sunbeams. The text alternates between rhyming and not, which can be distracting. Endpages are two halves of a map showing the course of the stream and the many sights pointed out in the text.
Still This Love Goes On
Buffy Sainte-Marie & Juli Flett
Greystone Kids
Based on Sainte-Marie’s song of the same name, Still This Love Goes On combines Flett’s breathtaking art with vivid lyrics to craft a stunning portrait of a Cree worldview. At the heart of this picture book is a gentle message about missing our loved ones, and the promise of seeing each other again.
This gem of a picture book features sheet music of Buffy Sainte-Marie’s beloved song and notes from Sainte-Marie and Flett about their inspiration for the song and illustrations. Brimming with love for community and the land, Still This Love Goes On is destined to be read and sung for generations.
Bedtime for Bo
Kjersti Annesdatter Skomsvold & Mari Konstad Johnsen, translated by Kari Dickson
Enchanted Lion Books
It’s time for bed, but little Bo isn’t ready to stop playing quite yet! As his mother gamely guides him through his nighttime routine, he imitates various animals–a hibernating bear after eating a snack, a snuggling sea otter when taking a bath, a coiled python while curling up under the covers… Mommy joins in on the fun and keeps one step ahead of Bo until he falls asleep, soaring like a bird into the world of dreams.
A lively and imaginative take on getting ready for bed that celebrates creative family play and the joyous love between mother and son.
Thanks to the Animals
Allen Sockabasin & Rebekah Raye
Tilbury House Publishers
Now available as a board book!
Little Zoo Sap and his family are moving from their summer home on the coast to the deep woods for the winter, traveling on a big bobsled pulled by big horses through the snow. When Zoo Sap falls off of the sled unnoticed, the forest animals hear his cries. First to come are the beaver, who put their tails together to cradle him. Then all the other animals circle round everyone from the tiny mouse to the giant moose to the great bald eagle keeping him warm and safe until his father comes back to find him.
Under the Same Sky
Britta Teekentrup
Tiger Tales
There are so many different kinds of people in the world, in so many different places. But we all share the same emotions, hopes, and dreams, and we all engage in the same activities to find joy in our lives. This enchanting picture book, which features die-cut pages, explores the idea that we are all connected by a common thread, despite differences in who we are and where we live. No matter where in the world people are, we are all one under the same sky.
I Want to Be a Vase
Julio Torres & Julian Glander
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Shapes. You’ve heard of them. You might have even interacted with a few. But do you really know them? From plucky Plunger, who wishes to defy his shape and become a beautiful vase, to other household objects with dreams of a life beyond their predestined roles, I Want to Be a Vase takes readers on an essential and visually stunning journey through the lives and intimate dramas of often-overlooked household appliances.
Big Truck Little Island
Chris Van Dusen
Candlewick Press
When a big truck and its big load get stuck on a narrow road, traffic on the little island comes to a halt. Some cars need to go south and some have to travel north. How will Meg get to her swim meet? What about Barry’s ballet class? Luckily, the kids come up with an ingenious solution: why not just swap cars? Inspired by an incident that happened on Vinalhaven, Maine, Chris Van Dusen tells a fun tale of resourcefulness and community through clever, rhyming wordplay and whimsical illustrations, sprinkled with plenty of cars and trucks for transportation-loving readers.