Book picks similar to
Join In and Play by Cheri J. Meiners


picture-books
children
childrens
juvenile-non-fiction

That Book Woman


Heather Henson - 2008
    Living way high up in the Appalachian Mountains, he'd rather help Pap plow or go out after wandering sheep than try some book learning. Nope. Cal does not want to sit stoney-still reading some chicken scratch. But that Book Woman keeps coming just the same. She comes in the rain. She comes in the snow. She comes right up the side of the mountain, and Cal knows that's not easy riding. And all just to lend his sister some books. Why, that woman must be plain foolish; or is she braver than he ever thought? That Book Woman is a rare and moving tale that honors a special part of American history; the Pack Horse Librarians, who helped untold numbers of children see the stories amid the chicken scratch, and thus made them into lifetime readers.

What James Said


Liz Rosenberg - 2015
    As they go about their day and James tries harder and harder to get her to talk to him, they both realize that true friendship surpasses any rumor... or misunderstanding.A classic childhood situation is brought to life with humor and poignancy with energetic illustrations by Matt Myers and a simple, telling text by Liz Rosenberg.A Neal Porter Book

I Am Too Absolutely Small for School


Lauren Child - 2003
    After all, why would she need to count higher than ten when she never eats more than ten cookies at a time? Once again, it's up to ever-patient big brother Charlie to persuade Lola that school is worthwhile — and that her invisible friend, Soren Lorensen, will be welcome, too.

Achoo!


Mij Kelly - 2009
    She soon explains, "I'm ever so sorry...I just didn't know that's what I should do."With Swine Flu the #1 health issue in the news today, here is a critically important lesson about hygiene for young children to learn. One effective way to control this virus and slow down its spread involves teaching children to cover their mouths when they sneeze or cough. Children have been hit hard by the Swine Flu outbreak, and Achoo! helps them understand how important it is to follow some simple rules of basic hygiene and good manners. They come to understand with Suzy Sue that they too can take practical steps to reduce their risk of getting sick or passing the flu virus on to their friends.Achoo! is a delightfully funny combination of verse and color pictures that will keep kids laughing, even as they learn that good manners and good health practices are closely interrelated. Along with covering one's mouth, children learn the importance of washing their hands, wiping their nose with a tissue instead of their hands, brushing their teeth, and many more basic rules of hygiene and good manners.And author Mij Kelly and illustrator Mary McQuillan take a light approach when teaching these lessons. Mij Kelly's funny story never becomes preachy, and Mary McQuillan's whimsical illustrations are sure to induce giggles among young readers. Meanwhile, they're passing a very important message on to children about the importance of self-protection and consideration for others during a very real health crisis.

Turtle in a Tree


Neesha Hudson - 2021
    . . and admitting when you're not quite all the way right.A greyhound swears there's a turtle in the tree. A bulldog says it's a squirrel. After all, a turtle in a tree? Who's ever heard of such a thing? But their argument leads to a most surprising discovery . . . that maybe neither one of them is all the way wrong, or all the way right, and friendship is all about listening to someone else's perspective.

Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship


Irene Latham - 2018
    . . and they're not sure they want to. Irene Latham, who is white, and Charles Waters, who is black, use this fictional setup to delve into different experiences of race in a relatable way, exploring such topics as hair, hobbies, and family dinners. Accompanied by artwork from acclaimed illustrators Sean Qualls and Selina Alko, this remarkable collaboration invites readers of all ages to join the dialogue by putting their own words to their experiences.

Dear Deer: A Book of Homophones


Gene Barretta - 2007
    Speaking in homophones, she describes the quirky animal behavior she sees. There's the MOOSE who loved MOUSSE and ATE EIGHT bowls, and the WHALE who was ALLOWED to WAIL ALOUD--and that's just for starters.This playful picture book introduces children to the richness of language through the concept of homophones. A romp through the zoo has never been so eye-opening.A Children's Book-of-the-Month Club Selection

Dear Treefrog


Joyce Sidman - 2021
    . . Are you new here too? When a shy girl moves to a strange new home, she discovers a treefrog perched in a secret spot nearby and learns that sometimes, all it takes to connect with the people and the world around us is a little patience, a curious mind, and a willingness to see the world through a different perspective than your own.

Ugly


Robert Hoge - 2013
    His mother refused to look at her son, let alone bring him home. But home he went, to a life that, against the odds, was filled with joy, optimism and boyhood naughtiness.Home for the Hoges was a bayside suburb of Brisbane. Robert's parents, Mary and Vince, knew that his life would be difficult, but they were determined to give him a typical Australian childhood. So along with the regular, gruelling and often dangerous operations that made medical history and gradually improved Robert's life, there were bad haircuts, visits to the local pool, school camps and dreams of summer sports.Ugly is Robert's account of his life, from the time of his birth to the arrival of his own daughter. It is a story of how the love and support of his family helped him to overcome incredible hardships. It is also the story of an extraordinary person living an ordinary life, which is perhaps his greatest achievement of all.(Featured on the ABC's Australian Story program, 16 September 2013. http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content...)

I'm Gonna Push Through!


Jasmyn Wright - 2020
    No matter what stands in the way of your dreams, remember this: YOU can push through anything! If someone tells you it’s too hard, don’t you ever listen. You tell them, “I’m gonna push through!” Inspired by a mantra written for her third-grade students, Jasmyn Wright’s call to “push through” is an invitation to young readers to announce their own power and to recognize and reaffirm that of others, regardless of setbacks.

No Fits, Nilson!


Zachariah OHora - 2013
    But if one little thing goes wrong, Nilson throws the biggest, most house shaking-est fit ever! Amelia helps Nilson control his gorilla-sized temper by promising him banana ice cream and letting him play with her froggy coin purse. But, sometimes, Amelia needs to be calmed down, too. Inspired by Ohora's own "negotiations" with his two sons, No Fits, Nilson! is a hilarious preschool pick for kids and parents navigating the treacherous tantrum phase.

Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction


David Macaulay - 1973
    This critically acclaimed book has been translated into a dozen languages and remains a classic of children's literature and a touchstone for budding architects. Cathedral's numerous awards include a prestigious Caldecott Honor and designation as a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year for Macaulay's intricate pen-and-ink illustrations.Journey back to centuries long ago and visit the fictional people of twelfth-, thirteenth-, and fourteenth-century Europe whose dreams, like Cathedral, stand the test of time.This title has been selected as a Common Core text exemplar (Grades 6–8, Informational Texts: Science, Mathematics, and Technical Studies).

The Invisible String


Patrice Karst - 2000
    For Adults Too!OVER 400,000 Copies Sold!

The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos


Deborah Heiligman - 2013
    And, it's true, many of them do. But Paul Erdos never followed the usual path. At the age of four, he could ask you when you were born and then calculate the number of seconds you had been alive in his head. But he didn't learn to butter his own bread until he turned twenty. Instead, he traveled around the world, from one mathematician to the next, collaborating on an astonishing number of publications. With a simple, lyrical text and richly layered illustrations, this is a beautiful introduction to the world of math and a fascinating look at the unique character traits that made "Uncle Paul" a great man.

Sorry!


Norbert Landa - 2009
    They live in their Bear-Rabbit house. They even cook together in their Bear-Rabbit kitchen. One summer day, Rabbit spots something shiny and twinkling in the sun in their Bear-Rabbit yard. What is it? Bear and Rabbit can’t agree. Is this the end of their friendship? Tim Warnes’ illustrations bring this funny and touching store to life as two friends learn what really matters to them.