Herbert's First Halloween


Cynthia Rylant - 2017
    Together, father and son practice roaring, carve a pumpkin, and venture out in search of candy. And by the end of the night, Herbert finds his doubts have melted away. A sweet introduction to Halloween and to being brave, this book is sure to delight the youngest of trick-or-treaters.

Little Bat in Night School


Brian Lies - 2021
    Perfect for fans of We Don't Eat Our Classmates and The King of Kindergarten.Little Bat can't wait for his first night of school. He is excited about everything: his new school supplies, learning amazing things, and making new friends.     But when he finally arrives, his world turns upside down. Any little bat who's tried something new or gone somewhere they've never been before knows that first times can be scary. With the help of Little Bat and his adorable classmates, readers will see that spreading your wings is easy when you listen, act with kindness, and take a chance on new friends. With his signature, gorgeous artwork, New York Times bestseller and Caldecott Honor winner Brian Lies brings his expressive bats back for the youngest readers.

A Friend for Henry


Jenn Bailey - 2019
    A friend who shares. A friend who listens. Maybe even a friend who likes things to stay the same and all in order, as Henry does. But on a day full of too close and too loud, when nothing seems to go right, will Henry ever find a friend—or will a friend find him? A story from the perspective of a boy on the autism spectrum.

Hurry Up!: A Book About Slowing Down


Kate Dopirak - 2020
    From celebrated picture book creators Kate Dopirak and Christopher Silas Neal, this playful yet powerful picture book reminds us to be present, to be mindful, and to appreciate each moment.

Lily's Cat Mask


Julie Fortenberry - 2017
    Whimsical art brings Lily, her father, and her new classmates to life, with text that begs to be read aloud. Perfect for Father's Day, back to school, and even Halloween--Lily and her grinning cat mask are sure to make you smile back.

Little Mouse on the Prairie


Stephen Cosgrove - 1978
    But Tweezle and her friends help one another-she shows them the value of hard work while they teach her that laughter can make work more fun!

Groundhog Weather School


Joan Holub - 2009
    And where better to learn it than Groundhog Weather School!Professor Groundhog opens a school so groundhogs can learn to accurately forecast the weather each February. Following along with the amusing cast of students, kids are drawn in by the thoroughly engaging tale while they learn fun facts about different animals (groundhogs in particular), seasons, weather, and predicting the weather. With funny asides and a comic-style approach to the illustrations, this informational story presents a fresh look at Groundhog Day through the eyes of the animals who live it each year.

Violet Shrink


Christine Baldacchino - 2020
    Or bashes, or gatherings. Lots of people and lots of noise make Violet’s tummy ache and her hands sweat. She would much rather spend time on her own, watching the birds in her backyard, reading comics or listening to music through her purple headphones. The problem is that the whole Shrink family loves parties with loud music and games and dancing.At cousin Char’s birthday party, Violet hides under a table and imagines she is a shark gliding effortlessly through the water, looking for food. And at Auntie Marlene and Uncle Leli’s anniversary bash, Violet sits alone at the top of the stairs, imagining she is a slithering snake way up in the branches.When Violet learns that the Shrink family reunion is fast approaching, she musters up the courage to have a talk with her dad.In this thoughtful story about understanding and acceptance, Violet’s natural introversion and feelings of social anxiety are normalized when she and her father reach a solution together. Christine Baldacchino’s warm text demonstrates the role imagination often plays for children dealing with anxiety, and the power of a child expressing their feelings to a parent who is there to listen. Carmen Mok’s charming illustrations perfectly capture Violet’s emotions and the vibrancy of her imagination. A valuable contribution to books addressing mental health.

Love, Z


Jessie Sima - 2018
    Unable to get an answer from the other robots, they leave to embark on an adventure that will lead them to Beatrice—and back home again, where love was hiding all along.

Too Crowded


Lena Podesta - 2021
    It feels TOO CROWDED! When Gil leaves his bowl in search of open spaces, he finds a world full of many interesting…and loud … and possibly dangerous creatures.It turns out that life outside the bowl might not be right for a fish. Thank goodness for Turtle, a citizen of the not-so-great outdoors who comes to Gil’s rescue! Will Gil make peace with his home sweet home, and maybe even find room for a friend in the process?

Summer Color!


Diana Murray - 2018
    In each new scene they discover the wondrous details--and beautiful colors--of nature. Even when a little summer rain threatens to dampen their grand adventure, the fun continues as woodland scenes come to life in a whole new way. Diana Murray's spirited verse paired with Zoe Persico's charming illustrations hits a wonderful balance of sophisticated and sweet, with details that young children will immediately relate to and layered verse that will enchant readers of all ages.

Making a Friend


Tammi Sauer - 2018
    One winter day, Beaver sees some snowflakes in the sky and gets a great idea: he’ll make a friend. Yes! A snowman will be a great friend!Raccoon passes by as Beaver sets to work and offers a helping hand. The two work side by side to give their snowman everything a friend needs.But when the snowman proves to be a little cold, Beaver discovers that he may have unknowingly “made” another buddy instead.Perfect for snuggling together for a read-aloud, this sweet snowy friendship story from Tammi Sauer and Alison Friend will warm the hearts of young readers.

Chill, Chomp, Chill!


Chris Ayala-Kronos - 2021
    . . who is also a T. Rex! Join him as he learns to navigate his emotions in this timely debut picture book complete with a downloadable companion song.Should Chomp roar? Should Chomp stomp? Should Chomp . . . CHOMP? Chill, Chomp. Chill! From losing a toy to making a huge mistake on the kickball field, Chomp is a loveable T. Rex going through tough and relatable preschool experiences. When Chomp is about to lose his temper and act out,  he uses mindfulness as a tool to better understand his emotions. Whether it's sharing toys, feeling left out, or making mistakes, every child encounters frustrating situations in the classroom setting and at home. This picture book helps kids identify, understand, and cope with their feelings. With bright, humorous, and playful illustrations and a memorable companion song, children will all want to chill with Chomp as they learn chill skills to manage their emotions in sticky situations through his example.

Crow and Snow


Robert Broder - 2020
    Spending his day keeping birds away doesn’t leave Crow with many options for friends. Then one snowy day, the children on the farm build a snowman. Crow and Snow are fast friends and winter passes happily in each other’s company. Then Snow goes away. Crow misses his friend and thinks of Snow during the warm seasons until they can be reunited again. Being apart can be hard, but the very truest of friends never lose each other.

In the Tree House


Andrew Larsen - 2013
    “My brother and I spent most of that summer in the tree house. It was the best summer ever.” Sadly, everything has changed this year. His brother is now “too busy with his friends” to come to the tree house at all. But then one night the power unexpectedly goes out while the young boy is there by himself, and he's treated to an amazing view of his neighborhood, blanketed in darkness and lit only by the stars. And then, just as unexpectedly, his brother appears, wanting to join him, to savor the magic of the night. Author Andrew Larsen has created a fantasy-inducing (what child doesn't pine for a house in a tree?) and emotionally satisfying story that young children will want to revisit again and again. His unique use of the first person to tell the story along with his simple, spare style evocatively relates the feelings the young boy has toward his special corner of the world and his older brother, without being overly mushy. The emotional poignancy is further enhanced by Duýan Petričić's expressive and detailed artwork. This book makes a great resource for lessons on community, siblings or growing up. Separately, this book could also be used for classroom discussions about the environmental issues connected to the rate and severity of blackouts in recent years.