Book picks similar to
Love Big by Kat Kronenberg


picture-books
netgalley
childrens
animals

God Loves You. Chester Blue


Suzanne Elizabeth Anderson - 2012
    Chester Blue was originally written as a children's chapter book. However, since its launch it has become an inspirational story for all ages. What if when you most needed help, a blue bear appeared with a note from God One night, Miss Millie of Blossom, Ohio turns her face to the stars and asks God for help. The next day, a package arrives on her doorstep containing a blue teddy bear and a very special note. God will meet us where we are... Over the course of a year, this remarkable blue bear travels across the country, showing up just when he's needed most. During his journey, Chester Blue helps a young girl trying to impress her big sisters; helps a man who has lost his job; saves a sailor caught in a terrible storm; reunites two constantly fighting brothers suffering from a terrible case of sibling rivalry; watches a cowboy become a rodeo clown; and helps a father and daughter after divorce. Each chapter is short story demonstrating God's love for us in every situation. God is everywhere. His love can find us anywhere. Whether you are a child or an adult, God has a very important message for you, too... God Loves You. Chester Blue is an inspirational book for kids, adults, parents, families, in other words, everyone.

The Barnabus Project


Eric Fan - 2020
    A stunning picture book from international bestsellers The Fan Brothers, joined by their brother Devin Fan.Deep underground beneath Perfect Pets, where children can buy genetically engineered "perfect" creatures, there is a secret lab. Barnabus and his friends live in this lab, but none of them is perfect. They are all Failed Projects. Barnabus has never been outside his tiny bell jar, yet he dreams of one day seeing the world above ground that his pal Pip the cockroach has told him about: a world with green hills and trees, and buildings that reach all the way to the sky, lit with their own stars. But Barnabus may have to reach the outside world sooner than he thought, because the Green Rubber Suits are about to recycle all Failed Projects . . . and Barnabus doesn't want to be made into a fluffier pet with bigger eyes. He just wants to be himself. So he decides it's time for he and the others to escape. With his little trunk and a lot of cooperation and courage, Barnabus sets out to find freedom -- and a place where he and his friends can finally be accepted for who they are.This suspenseful, poignant and magical story about following your dreams and finding where you truly belong will draw readers into a surreal, lushly detailed world in which perfection really means being true to yourself and your friends.

Alice and Greta: A Tale of Two Witches


Steven J. Simmons - 1997
    And Greta... well, Greta and trouble are never far apart. Alice spends her time helping others by weaving her enchanting spells. All Greta does is wreak havoc. But when a forgotten spell comes back to haunt her, Greta's stuck learning something she should have learned long ago.

I See a Bear, but...


K.A. Morgan - 2015
    A crafty bear, a timid bunny, a curious raccoon, and a few other forest animals--all peeking out from the pages of this book. Children will get caught up in the beautiful digital illustrations and laugh at the humorous text as they respond eagerly to the clues that keep them turning the pages as they try to figure out what the animals are doing out on in the woods.

The Last Bear


Hannah Gold - 2021
    At least, that’s what April’s father tells her when his scientific research takes them to a faraway Arctic outpost.But one night, April catches a glimpse of something distinctly bear shaped loping across the horizon. A polar bear who shouldn’t be there—who is hungry, lonely and a long way from home.Fusing environmental awareness with a touching story of kindness, The Last Bear will include full-page black-and-white illustrations as well as a note from the author with facts about the real Bear Island and the plight of the polar bears.

The Curse of the School Rabbit


Judith Kerr - 2019
    Even if he is getting more pocket money for feeding it and might be able to afford a new bike after all…And with a sick sister left in bed, a snobby actor left with suspiciously damp trousers, and no rabbit anywhere to be seen, Tommy can see his hopes of a new bike disappearing as fast as Snowflake.Will Snowflake turn up, and turn out to be more good luck than bad? Or are Tommy and his family DOOMED by the curse of the school rabbit?A fantastically funny and exquisitely illustrated new young fiction title from the iconic Judith Kerr, this is the perfect story for boys and girls of six plus to read alone or with their family.

I Love You Through Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall


Junia Wonders - 2020
    A beautiful reminder to return to again and again for the cherished occasion of simply being loved.Praise for I Love You Through Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall:“With endearing rhymes and breathtaking illustrations of adorable animal families, this heartwarming read celebrates the affection parents have for their children—an unconditional love that grows throughout all seasons of life!” –BookBub“More evolved than your average children’s storybook, Junia Wonders has written a simple yet elegant poem that guides young readers through the passage of time. […] With staggeringly beautiful artwork and an easy, purposefully repetitive theme, I Love You Through Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall makes the perfect gift, bedtime story or opportunity to express your love for your child.” –Morgan Justice, Indies Today“A perfect book for young children, I Love You Through Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall is a must-read with the most vibrant and detailed illustrations. […] This would be a great story to read together as a family. […] It is such an amazing book that children are sure to love!” –Rylanne Burdette, Readers’ Favorite

Gertie's Leap to Greatness


Kate Beasley - 2016
    She has a daddy who works on an oil rig, a great-aunt who always finds the lowest prices at the Piggly Wiggly, and two loyal best friends. So when her absent mother decides to move away from their small town, Gertie sets out on her greatest mission yet: becoming the best fifth grader in the universe to show her mother exactly what she'll be leaving behind. There's just one problem: Seat-stealing new girl Mary Sue Spivey wants to be the best fifth grader, too. And there is simply not enough room at the top for the two of them.

The Boy and the Gorilla


Jackie Azúa Kramer - 2020
    Wise and gentle, the gorilla stays on to answer the heart-heavy questions the boy hesitates to ask his father: Where did his mother go? Will she come back home? Will we all die? Yet with the gorilla’s friendship, the boy slowly begins to discover moments of comfort in tending flowers, playing catch, and climbing trees. Most of all, the gorilla knows that it helps to simply talk about the loss—especially with those who share your grief and who may feel alone, too. Author Jackie Azúa Kramer’s quietly thoughtful text and illustrator Cindy Derby’s beautiful impressionistic artwork depict how this tender relationship leads the boy to open up to his father and find a path forward. Told entirely in dialogue, this direct and deeply affecting picture book will inspire conversations about grief, empathy, and healing beyond the final hope-filled scene. "Luminous." Kirkus Starred Review.

McDuff Moves in


Rosemary Wells - 1997
    After they feed him rice pudding and bathe him, they realize that they cannot bear to return him to the pound. Newly adopted, McDuff-named that night for their favorite shortbread biscuit-is last seen happily asleep on his back on a pillow next to Fred and Lucy's bed.Jeffers's illustrations brilliantly capture a bygone art deco America in Lucy and Fred's cozy home, a virtual-reality nostalgia unfaded. Dog lovers everywhere will recognize the very specific details that bring McDuff to life, from the familiar lift of a paw in the rain to the frightened eyes peeking out over the car dashboard.

Harvey's Hideout


Russell Hoban - 1969
    Mildred is loudmouthed and bossy," Father said to Harvey, "but she is not mean and rotten."When Mildred goes off to a big party where little brothers are not invited, Harvey finds a secret club in a secret place where big sisters are not allowed to be members. But when Harvey's lonesomeness overpowers his stubbornness, he discovers that a secret club with two members is much better.

Pomodoro Penguin Makes a Friend


Bryce Westervelt - 2013
    Join a little red, pasta-loving penguin named Pomodoro on his quest to cure boredom and find friendship.Pomodoro encounters a bully, but in the end, it is his love of all things pasta that helps him find an unlikely dinner partner!

Dragons at Crumbling Castle: And Other Stories


Terry Pratchett - 2014
    It’s a disaster!Luckily, there’s a spare suit of armour and a very small boy called Ralph who’s willing to fill it. Together with Fortnight the Friday knight and Fossfiddle the wizard, Ralph sets out to defeat the fearsome fire-breathers.But there's a teeny weeny surprise in store . . .Fourteen fantastically funny stories from master storyteller Sir Terry Pratchett, full of time travel and tortoises, monsters and mayhem!‘So funny I dropped my spoon laughing!’ – King Arthur

Little Monkey Calms Down (Hello Genius)


Michael Dahl - 2014
    After a major melt down, he goes to his room and uses some coping techniques to calm down.

The Many Worlds of Albie Bright


Christopher Edge - 2016
    His parents are both scientists and they usually have all the answers. Dad mutters something about Albie's mum being alive and with them in a parallel universe. So Albie finds a box, his mum's computer and a rotting banana, and sends himself through time and space to find her...