Book picks similar to
A Closer Look by Mary McCarthy


picture-books
picture-book
storytime
interactive

It's an Orange Aardvark!


Michael Hall - 2014
    Another winner from the author of My Heart Is Like a Zoo, Perfect Square, and Cat Tale!Five carpenter ants at home in their tree stump hear a noise. What is it? One ant thinks it is a hungry aardvark lurking outside the stump, just waiting to eat them. One ant makes a hole in the stump to see. Orange light floods the stump—it's not an aardvark, proclaims the ant chorus. It's orange! So what is lurking outside the stump? This very funny picture book features die-cut holes on almost every page, suspenseful page turns, a wonderful surprise ending, and an introduction to a rainbow of colors. It's an Orange Aardvark! is a tour de force for Michael Hall, the acclaimed and bestselling creator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo, Perfect Square, and Cat Tale.

It's Pumpkin Time!


Zoe Hall - 1994
    A brother and sister get ready for Halloween early -- by planting their own pumpkin patch! Readers will discover the simple joys of gardening and enjoy watching the exciting transformation from pumpkin seed to jack-o'-lantern.

Fish


Liam Francis Walsh - 2016
    After an epic journey beneath the lake's surface, they find what they came for—a FISH, along with some unanticipated menace from a few other letters.This clever, wordless picture book, by a popular New Yorker cartoonist, is filled with charm and heart and will have no problem swimming its way into the hearts of young readers.

It Looked Like Spilt Milk


Charles G. Shaw - 1947
    Is it a rabbit, a bird, or just spilt milk? In this childhood classic, kids are kept guessing until the surprise ending and they're encouraged to improvise similar games of their own. This beloved classic picture book teaches that, with a little imagination, something ordinary could become something extraordinary.Supports the Common Core State Standards

Barnyard Banter


Denise Fleming - 1994
    Roosters in the barnyard, cock-a-doodle-doo . . ."It's another noisy morning on the farm, and all of the animals are where they should be -- except Goose. And where is Goose? Young children will enjoy clucking, mucking, mewing, and cooing while they search for Goose on every gorgeously illustrated spread.

Nose to Toes, You Are Yummy!


Tim Harrington - 2015
    An accompanying free song is available online.

Let’s Play!


Hervé Tullet - 2016
    Thus begins a spectacular ride of color, motion, shape, and imagination, filled with the artistry and delight that we know and love so well from Press Here and Mix It Up! But on this journey, prepare to leap headlong into a completely new dimension: emotion. Connecting not only to the mind but also to the heart, this dot expresses an extraordinary sense of humor, fear, joy, and more as it pushes, lurches, wiggles, and slides its way through—and even off!—the pages of this glorious companion to Press Here and Mix It Up!

Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow?


Susan A. Shea - 2011
    School Library Journal declared it "a standout concept book [that's] engaging, fun . . . and a favorite for storytimes or one-on-one settings." (App also available.)

I'm Trying to Love Spiders


Bethany Barton - 2015
    Lay on a BIG spidey smoocheroo.b. Smile, but back away slowly.c. Grab the closest object, wind up, and let it fly.d. Run away screaming.If you chose b, c, or d, then this book is for you! (If you chose a, you might be crazy.)I'm Trying to Love Spiders will help you see these amazing arachnids in a whole new light, from their awesomely excessive eight eyes, to the seventy-five pounds of bugs a spider can eat in a single year! And you're sure to feel better knowing you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than being fatally bit by a spider. Comforting, right? No? Either way, there's heaps more information in here to help you forget your fears . . . or at least laugh a lot!

Flip, Flap, Fly!: A Book for Babies Everywhere


Phyllis Root - 2009
    But what these babies like best, of course, is spotting other baby animals! With the buoyant rhythms of Phyllis Root and David Walker’s cheerful illustrations, here is a guaranteed favorite for babies and toddlers, who will love shouting out the rhyming word sure to come on the next spread.

I Won a What?


Audrey Vernick - 2016
    Fans of Sparky will flip for this whale of a tale!I have to win this goldfish.My parents won’t let me have anything fluffy. Or shaggy. Or feathery. Or that eats mice.But finally, tonight, they say I can keep anything I win at the goldfish booth.And I win!Just not a goldfish.I win…Nuncio?

A Penguin Story


Antoinette Portis - 2008
    She is convinced there is something more out there. So she sets out on a quest—a quest for color. When she finally finds what she's been looking for, it's everything she hoped for and more. But that doesn't mean she will ever stop looking.

Duck Sock Hop


Jane Kohuth - 2012
    Duck Sock Hop comes once a week! The mood is high, the sun is low, the music starts, get ready, go! In this tongue-twisting, toe-tapping picture book, ducks grab socks from a big sock box and head on down to the duck sock hop. In socks with stripes and socks with spots, socks with squares and socks with dots, these brightly, boldly illustrated ducks dance until their socks go rip; and ducks teeter, tumble, twist, and trip. But not to worry; in this preschool-perfect read-aloud, when one sock hop ends, the countdown to the next one begins. So, prepare for a feel-good, giggle-inducing read.

I Am a Cat


Galia Bernstein - 2018
    Each of the big cats has something to say about Simon not being “cat” enough. According to them, he just doesn’t measure up. He doesn’t have Lion’s mane or Cheetah’s spots. He doesn’t sleep in trees like Panther or climb mountains like Puma. He’s small and fuzzy, not big and strong. But ultimately, Simon shows the big cats that he’s just like them . . . only smaller.   A celebration of both individuality and community, I Am a Cat is a strong debut that shows we’re all more alike than we think . . . if we look closely enough.

A Funny Little Bird


Jennifer Yerkes - 2010
    Except his plan quickly backfires when his magnificent plumage attracts the attention of everyone, even the fox! In his rush to safety the little bird loses every last bit of his new decorations, making him invisible once again. Except now in place of his loneliness is the knowledge that putting others first is the key to friendship and high self-esteem.