Book picks similar to
Sweet Hearts by Jan Carr


picture-books
valentines-day
childrens
storytime

Look Out, Suzy Goose


Petr Horáček - 2008
    Suzy loves being alone in the woods, but the fox (TIPTOE), the wolf (CREEP, CREEP), and the bear (PAD, PAD) on her trail have other things in mind! Bold, energetic illustrations follow Suzy on a suspenseful adventure, saved by a funny near-miss that sends her back to her flock.

A Bear's Year


Kathy Duval - 2014
       Deep in her den under a snowflake blanket, Mama snuggles her newborn babies. When spring arrives, the bears awaken and emerge from their lair, and as the weather warms to summer, Mama teaches her young ones to fish, gather berries, and dig for roots. Then, in fall, the leaves turn gold, food grows scarce, and the family prepares for hibernation and the coming winter.   With spare, accessible text and charming illustrations, here is a sweet, gentle introduction to how bears experience the changing seasons, perfect for the youngest readers and listeners.

Read It, Don't Eat It!


Ian Schoenherr - 2009
    You are holding a book.What should you do with it?Open it, and you will find out.

Polar Opposites


Erik Brooks - 2010
    Zina is a tiny penguin. Alex lives in the Arctic. Zina lives in the Antarctic. Alex and Zina are polar opposites! They live on opposite sides of the world. Their personalities are very different, too. But they find a way to meet in the middle. Erik Brooks’s simple text and vibrant watercolor illustrations bring opposites to life in this lively look at two unusual best friends.

Minerva Louise and the Colorful Eggs


Janet Morgan Stoeke - 2006
    . . until she finds some very peculiar eggs. Blue eggs, pink eggs, striped and spotted eggs.And they re in the strangest places which hen is laying her eggs on top of fence posts and under the picnic table? Minerva Louise solves the mystery, and fans will delight in the hilarious and triumphant return of their favorite daffy chicken."

Where Bear?


Sophy Henn - 2014
    But over time the bear cub grew . . . and grew . . . and GREW! And did things that bears do . . . and do . . . and DO! One day the boy looked at the bear and realized he was just too big and bearish to be living in a house. "I think it's time we found you a new place to live where you can be bearish and big," said the boy. "But where, bear?"From the only two-time World Book Illustrator Sophy Henn, here is a delightful journey that reminds us that even when best friends are apart, they always stay together.Praise for WHERE BEAR? * "[N]othing short of magnificent. Each page is absolutely charming and begs to be looked at again and again."–Library Media Connection, starred review "[A] winsome debut . . . The catchy refrain, 'Then where, bear?,'and Henn’s sophisticated matte-toned illustrations make for a zippy take on the 'finding your place' genre."–New York Times Book Review   "This gentle tale about friendship and home will give early readers and their grown-ups plenty of food for discussion."–Kirkus Reviews"Simple illustrations in bold colors allow the bear’s repertoire of expressions — chagrin, boredom, and terror — to take center stage."–Boston Globe"[C]hildren will gravitate to the rhythmic repetition and the graphic design. A notable debut."–Booklist

Sleepyheads


Sandra J. Howatt - 2014
    The sun has set, and sleepyheads all across the land are tucked into their cozy beds.Rabbit is snoozing in the weeds, and Duck is snuggled in the reeds.Bear is nestled in his cave, and Otter is rocking on a wave.But there's one little sleepyhead who's not in his bed.Where, oh where, could he be?This sweet, snuggly, and silly bedtime book with irresistible illustrations is sure to prepare little ones for a cozy night's sleep.

The Croaky Pokey!


Ethan Long - 2011
    Each goofy frog gets a chance to show off its dance moves, hopping and bopping around the pond. But will the fly figure out that these frogs are really after some lunch? That's what it's all about!From a Geisel Winner and Daytime Emmy Nominee, this musical story is the perfect at-home readaloud or classroom tool to get preschool kids moving.

The Bear Who Shared


Catherine Rayner - 2010
    But Tulip the raccoon and Violet the mouse have too . . . although maybe not so patiently. In fact, Tulip and Violet sniff, listen to, and even hug the fruit. Norris catches the fruit when it finally falls, and because he is a wise bear, he shares it and makes two new friends. A lovely simplicity of language and gorgeous artwork make this story of one of life's first lessons perfect for the youngest listeners.

Bear Has a Story to Tell


Philip C. Stead - 2012
    But first, Bear had a story to tell...Bear found his friend Mouse, but Mouse was busy gathering seeds and didn't have time to listen to a story. Then Bear saw his friend Duck, but Duck was getting ready to fly south. What about his friend Toad? He was busy looking for a warm place to sleep. By the time Bear was through helping his friends get ready for winter, would anyone still be awake to hear his story?This endearing story of friendship and patience is a worthy companion to Philip and Erin Stead's last collaboration, A Sick Day for Amos McGee, winner of the 2011 Caldecott Medal.Bear Has a Story to Tell is a Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of 2012. This title has Common Core connections.

Hands Say Love


George Shannon - 2014
    Hands feed, give, and share. Hands create, mend, and heal. Hands say love! Every day, our hands show the most important people in our lives how we care about them, from parents helping children learn to walk to families playing and working together to friends waving hello and good-bye. This perfect read-aloud for toddlers celebrates the many hands-on moments we share and reminds us that even the simplest gesture can be a profound expression of love.

Love


Stacy McAnulty - 2018
    What is love? Can you only express it in fancy meals, greeting cards, and heart-shaped chocolates? Kids will find love everywhere in this delightful book. It can be found in everyday moments such as baking cookies with grandma, notes from Mom in your lunchbox, or a family singing together on a car trip, and it isn't always what you expect! With delightful illustrations by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff and sweetly simple prose by award-winning author Stacy McAnulty, thisis the perfect book to teach children what love means, why it's important, and how they can spread the love in their daily lives.

Naked!


Michael Ian Black - 2014
    Running around, sliding down the stairs, eating cookies. Nothing could be better. Unless he had a cape...

Bad Dog


Mike Boldt - 2019
    but gets a cat instead!"Look what I got for my birthday! A pet dog!" says a little girl holding a... cat? Rocky doesn't listen or obey like all the other dogs. (Because Rocky is a cat.) And Rocky hates her leash and doesn't seem to like other dogs. (Probably because Rocky is a cat.) And rather than play fetch, Rocky prefers to... lick between her toes? Ew. Rocky is a bad "dog"! BUT Rocky doesn't bark, and is so cute when she sleeps in sunny spots. Maybe Rocky IS a good dog? (Or, you know, maybe Rocky is a cat.)Cat lovers and dog lovers alike will howl with laughter at this little girl's willful insistence that her cat is a dog. The hilarious ways in which cats and dogs are different are brilliantly illuminated with each turn of the page and will leave young readers and their grown-ups giggling.

The Wide-Mouthed Frog: A Pop-Up Book


Keith Faulkner - 1995
    He's particularly interested in the eating habits of other creatures found in the great outdoors, from the blue-feathere bird to a furry brown mouse. Until one day, he meets a big green animal with lots of teeth who finds wide-mouthed frogs simply delicious.