First Laugh--Welcome, Baby!


Rose Ann Tahe - 2018
    Who will earn the honor in this story?The First Laugh Ceremony is a celebration held to welcome a new member of the community. As everyone--from Baby's nima (mom) to nadi (big sister) to cheii (grandfather)--tries to elicit the joyous sound from Baby, readers are introduced to details about Navajo life and the Navajo names for family members. Back matter includes information about other cultural ceremonies that welcome new babies and children, including man yue celebration (China), sanskaras (Hindu) and aquiqa (Muslim).

The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess


Tom Gauld - 2021
    Their wish was twice granted when an engineer and a witch gave them a little wooden robot and an enchanted log princess. There's just one catch, every night when the log princess sleeps, she transforms back into an ordinary log. She can only be woken with the magic words Awake, little log, awake.The two are inseparable until one day when the sleeping log princess is accidentally carted off to parts unknown. Now it's up to her devoted brother to find her and return her safely to the kingdom. They need to take turns to get each other home, and on the way, they face a host of adventures involving the Queen of Mushrooms, a magic pudding, a baby in a rosebush, and an old lady in a bottle.This is acclaimed graphic novelist Tom Gauld's first picture book for children, inspired by a bedtime story he made up for his daughter. In his words, I was trying to make a book inspired by three different sets of books: The books that I remember enjoying as a child, the books that I watched my daughters enjoying, and the books I enjoy now as an adult. I wanted the book to have its own quirky feeling but also to function like a classic bedtime story.

Bobo and the New Baby


Rebecca Minhsuan Huang - 2018
    Meet Bobo.Bobo is a dog who likes his life just the way it is: at the center of his beloved parents' attention.But a new baby is about to change everything…In this warmhearted new-sibling book, Bobo proves that dogs are not only man’s best friend, but baby’s best friend, too.

Little Owl Lost


Chris Haughton - 2010
    Now he is lost, and his mommy is nowhere to be seen! With the earnest help of his new friend Squirrel, Little Owl goes in search of animals that fit his description of Mommy Owl. But while some are big (like a bear) or have pointy ears (like a bunny) or prominent eyes (like a frog), none of them have all the features that make up his mommy. Where could she be? A cast of adorable forest critters in neon-bright hues will engage little readers right up to the story's comforting, gently wry conclusion.

Big Cat, Little Cat


Elisha Cooper - 2017
    . . And so a story of friendship begins, following two cats through their days, months, and years until one day, the older cat has to go. And he doesn’t come back.This is a poignant story, told in measured text and bold black-and-white illustrations about life and the act of moving on.

Tough Chicks


Cece Meng - 2009
    They wrestle worms, rope roosters, and are often found under the hood of the tractor. All the other animals and even the farmer himself tell Mama Hen to make her chicks good. "They are good!" Mama Hen replies. But could her chicks be too loud, too independent, and too tough? Lively language and bold illustrations capture all the fun and humor of this delightfully different farmyard romp that's also a resounding endorsement for letting girls be girls (even if they're loud and tough and like to play with tractors.)

Mo's Mustache


Ben Clanton - 2013
    A big, black, beautiful mustache. Everybody likes Mo's mustache. Now Knot, Dot, Nib, Tutu, Bob, Bill, and Ben all have mustaches too. In fact, soon EVERYBODY has a mustache! Why is everyone copying Mo? And how will he (and his mustache) ever stand out?     A wonderfully silly book about style and individuality, sure to grow on readers who don't have facial hair -- and even those who do!

Under the Lilacs


E.B. Goodale - 2020
    Goodale comes a celebration of nature, family, and building our own hands-on adventures—perfect for any reader who has ever craved a bit of independence . . . In this lush and playful picture book from E.B. Goodale, illustrator of Windows, Kate feels ignored by her mother and sister and so decides to run away. In a neighboring yard, she builds a fort and enjoys a sense of independence—until she finds herself making room for her family in her new home . . . Under the Lilacs is the perfect celebration of striking out on your own—while still making room for everyone.

Green on Green


Dianne White - 2020
    All the while, there is another colorful change on the horizon—the birth of a new sibling.

Utterly Otterly Night


Mary Casanova - 2011
    Sweet, spicy air beckons. The moon is as huge and golden as Owl’s eyes. So Little Otter sets off for some fun. But with wolves on the prowl, Little Otter’s adventures are a series of dizzying close calls. When he finally returns to his den, Little Otter’s family is all played out and ready for bed!

A Kitten Tale


Eric Rohmann - 2008
    The first three kittens are wary—snow is cold, it’s wet, it covers everything. As the seasons pass and winter begins to loom, the three skittish kittens worry. But the fourth kitten is getting excited. Snow will cover everything! “I can’t wait!”

Puppy, Puppy, Puppy


Julie Sternberg - 2017
    From the moment they wake up in the morning to when they go to bed at night, the two do everything together—from sharing breakfast to making a mess of the garden. Even nap time cannot keep the two apart for long, as Puppy finds a way to stay near Baby. Julie Sternberg’s sweet, spare text is fun to read aloud and complements Fred Koehler’s humorous and heartwarming illustrations, creating the perfect picture book for the youngest children.

Nope


Drew Sheneman - 2017
    Nope tells the nearly wordless story of a baby bird who isn’t so sure it's a good idea to leave the nest, and Don't Eat That! is about a misguided bear looking for a post-hibernation snack. Nope is scheduled for spring 2017; Paul Rodeen of Rodeen Literary Management brokered the deal for world rights.

I Love You Because You're You


Liza Baker - 1999
    Cozy and sensitive watercolor illustrations from David McPhail are the perfect complement to Liza Baker's rhythmic, rhyming text. This book is sure to become a family favorite -- and an enduring classic of the genre.

Lost for Words


Natalie Russell - 2014
    Giraffe decides to write a poem, Hippo writes a story, and Flamingo composes a beautiful song. But poor Tapir can't think of anything to write --and the harder he tries the more upset he becomes! But everything starts to change when Tapir stops trying to write and begins to draw.This gentle story from author and illustrator Natalie Russell will inspire even the littlest artists to find their creative spark.