Book picks similar to
To Live on an Island by Emma Bland Smith


nonfiction
picture-books
picture-book
nature

This House, Once


Deborah Freedman - 2017
    Deborah Freedman’s masterful new picture book is at once an introduction to the pieces of a house, a cozy story to share and explore, and a dreamy meditation on the magic of our homes and our world.Before there was this house,there were stones,and mud,and a colossal oak tree—three hugs aroundand as high as the blue.What was your home, once?This poetically simple, thought-provoking, and gorgeously illustrated book invites readers to think about where things come from and what nature provides.

Winged Wonders: Solving the Monarch Migration Mystery


Meeg Pincus - 2020
    But who solved this mystery? Was it the scientist or the American adventurer? The citizen scientists or the teacher or his students? Winged Wonders shows that the mystery could only be solved when they all worked as a team--and reminds readers that there's another monarch mystery today, one that we all must work together to solve.

The Sound of Silence


Katrina Goldsaito - 2016
    The musician answers, "The most beautiful sound is the sound of ma, of silence."But Yoshio lives in Tokyo, Japan: a giant, noisy, busy city. He hears shoes squishing through puddles, trains whooshing, cars beeping, and families laughing. Tokyo is like a symphony hall!Where is silence?Join Yoshio on his journey through the hustle and bustle of the city to find the most beautiful sound of all.

Heads and Tails


John Canty - 2017
    Leveraging the natural and universal fascination that children have with animals, the book utilises hints and recognition to build a sense of anticipation on each page, that is resolved on the following page when the identity of the animal is discovered. Young readers are engaged in the process of deduction by drawing on visual prompts and clues such as where an animal may live, what the animal may look like and sounds the animal makes. The effect is that each page presents an engaging yet accessible mini mystery for the child to solve. Accordingly, the young reader's inevitable participation in the process of discovery is ensures the book's enjoyment.

Winter, Winter, Cold and Snow


Sharon Gibson Palermo - 2016
    With colorful, child-friendly illustrations this is a sweet pick for cozy storytimes by the fire.

Grains of Sand


Sibylle Delacroix - 2017
    What should she do with all of this sand? Together, she and her brother decide to plant the grains of sand, and imagine what will grow. A field of beach umbrellas, to wave hello to the sun? Or a forest of windmills, to fill the sails of a boat? Before drifting off to sleep, the girl has her dad promise they’ll go back for new grains of sand next year.

How Will We Get to the Beach?/Como Iremos a la Playa?


Brigitte Luciani - 2000
    But the car won't start and whenever Roxanne comes up with a new way to get to the beach, she discovers she must leave something behind. Spanish-speaking children will delight in guessing just what's missing each time in this sunshine-bright romp of a book.

My Mommy Medicine


Edwidge Danticat - 2019
    Her remedy includes a yummy cup of hot chocolate; a cozy, bubble-filled bath time; and unlimited snuggles and cuddles. Mommy Medicine can heal all woes and make any day the BEST day!Award-winning memoirist Edwidge Danticat's rich and lyrical text envelops the reader in the security of a mother's love, and debut artist Shannon Wright's vibrant art infuses the story with even more warmth.

Bess the Barn Stands Strong


Elizabeth Gilbert Bedia - 2020
    Beam by beam and board by board, Bess the barn is built by able hands to keep the farm’s animals safe and sound. Through many seasons and celebrations, that’s just what she does, until she starts to sag…and creak…and slump. Then new everything comes along: a new farmer and a shiny new barn. A mean storm arrives not far behind, putting both barns to a dangerous test—can old Bess weather this threat to the farm?Bess opens her doors wide, welcoming all to celebrate the year-round ups and downs of farm life and admire the enduring strength and importance of something made to last.

Who Woke the Baby?


Jane Clarke - 2016
    Someone has woken him up! As the mystery unfolds, we learn about a chain of events involving an assortment of animals who all played a part — from Butterfly, who touched down on the same flower as Bee, which made Bee buzz, which made Frog croak, which made Crocodile thrash, to Hippo who yawned a great yawn. Find out who woke the baby — and who can cheer him up! — in this great read-aloud for little ones.

Headstrong Hallie!: The Story of Hallie Morse Daggett, the First Female "Fire Guard"


Aimee Bissonette - 2021
    She wasn't afraid of the bears, coyotes, and wildcats. But Hallie was afraid of fire and understood the threat it posed to the forests, wildlife, and people. And more than anything, she wanted to devote her life to protecting her beloved outdoors; she decided she would work for the US Forest Service. But in the 1880s the Forest Service didn't hire women, thinking they couldn't handle the physical challenges of the work or the isolation. But the Forest Service didn't know Hallie or how determined she could be. This picture-book biography tells the story of Hallie Morse Daggett, the first woman "fire guard" hired by the US Forest Service, whose hard work and dedication led the way for other women to join the Forest Service.

Canoe Days


Gary Paulsen - 1999
    In this picture book that is as refreshing and inviting as a perfect canoe day, a fawn peeks out from the trees as ducklings fan out behind their mother. Butterflies pause and fish laze beneath the lily pads. Ruth Wright Paulsen’s sunlit paintings and Gary Paulsen’s poetic text capture all the peace and pleasure of a day when water and sky are one.

I Love My Daddy


Giles Andreae - 2011
    This is an amusing, touching and heart-warming look at the special relationship between father and child from the bestselling Giles Andreae, perfectly brought to life by Emma Dodd's charming and vibrant artwork.

Monster and Mouse Go Camping


Deborah Underwood - 2018
    It takes a little convincing, but with the promise of food, Monster decides to join Mouse on a camping trip. Things quickly go awry when Mouse takes off to explore, because, well, Monster gets hungry. He starts with just a little snack—the lantern. And the sleeping bags are hard to resist. Then the tent . . . Stranded in the wild with no supplies, what are a monster and a mouse to do?   Join these friends on an unforgettable camping trip, perfect for reading snuggled in a sleeping bag or curled on a couch.

Make a Wish, Henry Bear


Liam Francis Walsh - 2019
    Henry Bear has very unusual parents. They encourage him to stay up all night, eat chocolate cake at every meal, and get into trouble with his teacher.But what happens when Henry Bear grows tired of indulging in childish things? Find out in this droll tale about making wishes with unanticipated consequences written and illustrated by the creator of Fish, which Kirkus Reviews, in a starred review, called “full-bodied” and “rewarding.”