Book picks similar to
Grandpa and Bo by Kevin Henkes


picture-books
picture-book
children-s-books
children-s

Phoebe and Digger


Tricia Springstubb - 2013
    And when Mama is busy with the baby, Phoebe and Digger are busy, too: "Waa!" says the baby. "Rmm!" says Digger. Poop! goes the baby. "Rmm!" says Digger. Finally, Mama says it’s time to go to the park, the one with real dirt — and while Mama and the baby sit on the boring bench, Phoebe and Digger happily build and knock down and dig things up. That is, until a big girl comes by, a kid with mean teeth and grabby hands. Phoebe tries everything she can, but what if she never gets Digger back? Comical illustrations and a spot-on story are sure to make readers of all ages smile in recognition.

Maple


Lori Nichols - 2014
    She and her tree grow up together, and even though a tree doesn’t always make an ideal playmate, it doesn’t mind when Maple is in the mood to be loud—which is often. Then Maple becomes a big sister, and finds that babies have their loud days, too. Fortunately, Maple and her beloved tree know just what the baby needs.

At the Hotel Larry


Daniel Pinkwater - 1997
    He gets to spend time with his friends, and he has a great job as a lifeguard (although very few guests use the pool!). On his days off, Larry puts on his human disguise and goes out for blueberry pancakes with his best friend, Mildred. One day, after stuffing themselves with pancakes, Larry and Mildred decide to go to the zoo. And who should they find in the polar bear pen but Larry’s brother, Roy! Of course, Larry invites Roy and his two friends, Bear Number One and Bear Number Three, to come to dinner. But how do you entertain four wild polar bears?

Along the Tapajós


Fernando Vilela - 2014
    Here, the homes are on stilts and everyone travels around by boat—even to school! When the rainy season comes, they must leave their village and relocate to higher ground for a while. But after moving this year, Cauã and Inaê realize they’ve left behind something important: their pet tortoise, Titi! Unlike turtles, tortoises can’t swim, and Cauã and Inaê are really worried. So the pair sneaks back at night on a journey along the river to rescue him. Will they be able to save Titi?This picture book, first published in Brazil, offers kids a unique look into the lives of children who live along Brazil’s beautiful Tapajós River.

Sakura's Cherry Blossoms


Robert Paul Weston - 2018
    In America, Sakura misses the blossoming cherry tree where she and her grandmother would play and picnic. How will she feel at home in this new and unfamiliar place? What if she forgets the beloved grandmother she left behind? Making friends with her neighbour helps Sakura feel more settled and when springtime finally arrives, a gorgeous and fateful surprise awaits her.Sakura's Cherry Blossoms captures the beauty of the healing power of friendship through Weston's Japanese poetry-inspired text and Saburi's breathtaking illustrations.

Clifford's First School Day (Classic Storybook)


Norman Bridwell - 1999
    Clifford tries to fingerpaint and, sliding through the paint, makes a very creative masterpiece. Then, during water play, he is captain of the ship, until he tips over the mast and falls into the water! A bag of flour used to make cookies for snack time intrigues Clifford, until it falls on him, and covers him with white powder! Oh Clifford! However, he's not done yet. Outside, Emily Elizabeth puts him on a slide and, CRASH! He lands in someone's sand castle! But Clifford helps repair it and all is well. Emily Elizabeth's teacher asks her to bring Clifford back when he's a little bigger. As Emily Elizabeth says, "She should see him now."Featuring a full page of stickers!

Cheer Up, Mouse!


Jed Henry - 2013
    His forest friends, including Badger, Hedgehog, Rabbit, and Mole all knock themselves out trying to cheer up the little guy, to no avail. In the end, all Mouse really needs is a hug! Jed Henry’s wonderful illustrations, in watercolor pastels and colored pencils, beautifully complement the spare text. Readers will love seeing all the exuberant animal antics in trees, ponds, and even underground tunnels as they try to distract their gloomy friend. A charming antidote for the blues.

Two at the Zoo


Danna Smith - 2009
    There are lions, zebras, and penguins, of course, but also chameleons and eagles . . . and even tarantulas! Playful, quirky illustrations put the loving relationship between the youthful grandfather and the grandson on proud display, while an upbeat, rhymed text full of sparkling verb sounds invites even the youngest readers and listeners to participate.

George and Martha Rise and Shine


James Marshall - 1976
    In five brief episodes two hippos confirm their friendship: “The Fibber,” “The Experiment,” “The Picnic,” “The Scary Movie!,” and “The Secret Club.”

I Love Mom with the Very Hungry Caterpillar


Eric Carle - 2016
    Show Mom just how much she means with this colorful book from the World of Eric Carle. Join The Very Hungry Caterpillar as he honors Mother's Day and celebrates incredible parents everywhere. With joyful illustrations and colorful creatures, this charming keepsake is a great way to show parents, grandparents, soon-to-be mothers, aunts, friends, or whomever you call "Mom" just how much you care.

The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra


Marc Tyler Nobleman - 2017
    (It's common knowledge that goats are a chupacabra's favorite food!) One night, tired of living in fear, the impetuous goats whip out their trusty candelabra and head off to find the beast and scare it away before it can find them. Little do they know that candelabras are the chupacabra's third-favorite food . . . and he isn't about to stop there. This chupacabra has quite the appetite, and the goats are in for a big surprise!

The Berenstain Bears and the Week at Grandma's


Stan Berenstain - 1986
    By the end of the visit they've learned a lot from their lively grandparents--and the older bears have discovered how wonderful it is to "be" grandparents.

The Only Child


Guojing - 2015
    USA Today  declared it “a compelling and melancholy debut from an important new talent" as well as "an expansive and ageless book full of wonder, sadness, and wild bursts of imagination.” And like Shaun Tan's The Arrival and Raymond Briggs's The Snowman, it is quickly becoming a modern classic.   A little girl—lost and alone—follows a mysterious stag deep into the woods, and, like Alice down the rabbit hole, she finds herself in a strange and wondrous world. But... home and family are very far away. How will she get back there?   In this magnificently illustrated—and wordless—masterpiece, debut artist Guojing brilliantly captures the rich and deeply-felt emotional life of a child, filled with loneliness and longing as well as love and joy.

My Blue Is Happy


Jessica Young - 2013
    Or maybe your best friend likes pink because it’s pretty like a ballerina’s tutu, but you find it annoying — like a piece of gum stuck on your shoe. In a subtle, child-friendly narrative, art teacher and debut author Jessica Young suggests that colors may evoke as many emotions as there are people to look at them — and opens up infinite possibilities for seeing the world in a wonderful new way.

When You Need a Friend


Suzanne Chiew - 2015