Tell Me a Picture


Quentin Blake - 2001
    In Tell Me A Picturehe shows the quality of paintings made for children and links them to the wider world of fine art through their infinite capacity to tell stories: a pleasure we all understand.Here he chooses an alphabet of pictures with, as he explains, 'story in common'. Some are by illustrators, others are by artists whose pictures you usually see in art galleries. From them Quentin Blake shows how stories can be told around any picture. Throughout the book his characters complement the paintings, introducing each image, pointing out details and asking questions. By initially presenting only the pictures - without the distractions of any information beyond the artist's name - children are shown that they already have the skills to respond to the work of artists like Goya and Tintoretto.Quentin Blake and the National Gallery also suggest ways to have fun with children on gallery visits, and end the book with delightful, brief accounts of the artists and pictures Blake has chosen for his 'gallery'.

Beautiful Oops!


Barney Saltzberg - 2010
    A smear. A smudge. A tear. When you think you have made a mistake, think of it as an opportunity to make something beautiful! A life lesson that all parents want their children to learn: It’s OK to make a mistake. In fact, hooray for mistakes! A mistake is an adventure in creativity, a portal of discovery. A spill doesn’t ruin a drawing—not when it becomes the shape of a goofy animal. And an accidental tear in your paper? Don’t be upset about it when you can turn it into the roaring mouth of an alligator. An award winning, best-selling, one-of-a-kind interactive book, Beautiful Oops! shows young readers how every mistake is an opportunity to make something beautiful. A singular work of imagination, creativity, and paper engineering, Beautiful Oops! is filled with pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, tears, holes, overlays, bends, smudges, and even an accordion “telescope”—each demonstrating the magical transformation from blunder to wonder.

Around the World


Matt Phelan - 2011
    The challenge of circumnavigating the globe as no one ever had before--a feat assuring fame if not fortune--attracted the fearless in droves. Three hardy spirits stayed the course: In 1884, former miner Thomas Stevens made the journey on a bicycle, the kind with a big front wheel. In 1889, pioneer reporter Nellie Bly embarked on a global race against time that assumed the heights of spectacle, ushering in the age of the American celebrity. And in 1895, retired sea captain Joshua Slocum quietly set sail on a thirty-six-foot sloop, braving pirates and treacherous seas to become the first person to sail around the world alone. With cinematic pacing and deft, expressive art, acclaimed graphic novelist Matt Phelan weaves a trio of epic journeys into a single bold tale of three visionaries who set their sights on nothing short of the world.

The Museum


Susan Verde - 2013
    Each piece of art evokes something new inside of her: silliness, curiosity, joy, and ultimately inspiration. When confronted with an empty white canvas, she is energized to create and express herself—which is the greatest feeling of all. With exuberant illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds, The Museum playfully captures the many emotions experienced through the power of art, and each child’s unique creative process. Praise for The Museum "Verde and Reynolds deliver a simple premise with a charming payoff… this “twirly-whirly” homage to a museum is, on balance, a sweet-natured and handsome celebration." —Kirkus Reviews "Debut author Verde makes an engaging case for understanding art as an experience rather than an object." —Publishers Weekly "The rhymed text captures the excitement of a being sparked by art.” —Booklist "Communicates a fresh, playful, childlike perspective on art and normalizes childlike responses to it. The idea that posing, laughing, and curious questions are all appropriate museum behavior may be a new one for both children and parents, and knowing this is sure to make for more enjoyable museum visits." —School Library Journal "For parents who have trouble communicating the excitement of art to their children, The Museum can serve as the starting point for a conversation. The book is also a wonderful reminder of visual art’s power to encourage and empower self-expression. Children and adults will finish this book excited about their next art experience, and perhaps tempted to dance through the halls of a museum in the near future." —Bookpage "This playful picture book pays tribute to the joyous effect art can have on the viewer." —Shelf-Awareness

John, Paul, George & Ben


Lane Smith - 2006
    . . John [Hancock], Paul [Revere], George [Washington], and Ben [Franklin]. Oh yes, there was also Tom [Jefferson], but he was annoyingly independent and hardly ever around. These lads were always getting into trouble for one reason or another. In other words, they took a few . . . liberties. And to be honest, they were not always appreciated. Until one day, they all played a part in securing America's freedom."Deftly drawn, witty, and instantly appealing, the illustrations creatively blend period elements such as wood-grain and crackle-glaze texturing, woodcut lines, and formal compositions typical of the era, with gaping mouths and stylized, spiraling eyes typical of modern cartoons," wrote Booklist, and School Library Journal declared, "Exercise your freedom to scoop up this one."

Children of the Dust Bowl: The True Story of the School at Weedpatch Camp


Jerry Stanley - 1993
    with photographs from the Dust Bowl era. This true story took place at the emergency farm-labor camp immortalized in Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. Ostracized as "dumb Okies," the children of Dust Bowl migrant laborers went without school--until Superintendent Leo Hart and 50 Okie kids built their own school in a nearby field.

A Little Book of Sloth


Lucy Cooke - 2013
    You’ll fall in love with bad-boy Mateo, ooh and ahh over baby Biscuit, and want to wrap your arms around champion cuddle buddy Ubu!From British filmmaker and sloth expert Lucy Cooke comes a hilarious, heart-melting photographic picture book starring the laziest—and one of the cutest—animals on the planet.

In the Beginning: Creation Stories from Around the World


Virginia Hamilton - 1988
    With commentary by the author. “A must for mythology shelves.”--Booklist

This is San Francisco


Miroslav Sasek - 1962
    Illustrator Miroslav Sasek captures both the breathtaking landscape and the cosmopolitan flavor of the City by the Bay in This is San Francisco. First published in 1962, Sasek's jaunty, colorful illustrations will still dazzle kids and adults alike.

Library on Wheels: Mary Lemist Titcomb and America's First Bookmobile


Sharlee Glenn - 2018
    As librarian at the Washington County Free Library in Maryland, Titcomb was concerned that the library was not reaching all the people it could. She was determined that everyone should have access to the library—not just adults and those who lived in town. Realizing its limitations and inability to reach the county’s 25,000 rural residents, including farmers and their families, Titcomb set about to change the library system forever with the introduction of book-deposit stations throughout the country, a children’s room in the library, and her most revolutionary idea of all—a horse-drawn Book Wagon. Soon book wagons were appearing in other parts of the country, and by 1922, the book wagon idea had received widespread support. The bookmobile was born!

Why Do Leaves Change Color?


Betsy Maestro - 1994
    This informative concept book includes detailed pictures of leaves in different sizes, shapes, and colors and a list of activities that kids can do with leaves.This is a Stage 2 Let's-Read-and-Find-Out, which means the book explores more challenging concepts for children in the primary grades. Let's-Read-And-Find-Out is the winner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Science Books & Films Prize for Outstanding Science Series.Supports the Common Core Learning Standards and Next Generation Science Standards

The Book of World History


Anne Millard - 1979
    A brilliant overview of world history from prehistoric times to the early 20th century

Guitar Genius: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid-Body Electric Guitar and Rocked the World


Kim Tomsic - 2019
    

Vincent's Starry Night and Other Stories: A Children's History of Art


Michael Bird - 2016
    The book also includes reproductions of featured artworks, a comprehensive timeline of events, and extra feature spreads on places connected with art.An essential reference book for all children who love art and stories, this book is the perfect blend of both. Discover artists and their art around the world, in exciting and imaginative tales about artists and the way they created their work.• Fresh, new take on presenting the history of art – using a well-thought-out timeline, carefully selected artists and artworks, beautiful illustrations, and engaging storytelling, this book will delight all curious minds• Perfect for home, classroom or school library – an interesting supplement to learning about art and history for parents and teachers• Be inspired – the stories explore art from different parts of the world, and they draw on events from history that inspired many great works of art• A beautiful gift – this is a beautiful book; hardcover with exquisite illustrations and photographs throughoutLet your child discover the wonder of art and history with Vincent's Starry Night and Other Stories. Michael Bird is a writer, art historian and radio broadcaster. His books include 100 Ideas that Changed Art. He has also published many essays and articles, and lectures widely. He currently holds a Goodison Fellowship at the British Library, where he is researching the oral history of modern British art.Kate Evans is a freelance illustrator with clients including HarperCollins, The Guardian, Macmillan Books, National Geographic, Transport for London and V&A Magazine. She has had exhibitions in Bristol, Bath, London and Stockholm. Kate lives and works in Bristol.

Roald Dahl's Revolting Recipes


Roald Dahl - 1994
    Quentin Blake's illustrations combine with full-color photographs of the luscious results to perfectly capture Roald Dahl's wicked sense of fun."Deliciously playful. Dahl, one suspects, would have been tickled." -- Publishers WeeklyThe late Roald Dahl was one of the most beloved storytellers of all time. Quentin Blake has illustrated more than a dozen books by Roald Dahl.