Book picks similar to
Lily by Abigail Thomas


picture-books
babies-library
k-2
childrens-and-picture-books

Juna's Jar


Jane Bahk - 2015
    Then one day, Hector unexpectedly moves away without having a chance to say good-bye. Juna is heartbroken and left to wonder who will on go on adventures with her. Determined to find Hector, Juna turns to her special kimchi jar for help each night. She plunges into the depths of the ocean, swings on vines through the jungle, and flies through the night sky in search of her friend. What Juna finds is that adventure--and new friends--can be found in the most unexpected places. Coupled with dreamy watercolor illustrations by Felicia Hoshino, Juna's Jar is a heartwarming and whimsical tale about the power of the imagination.

Drop It, Rocket!


Tad Hills - 2014
    Rocket is ready to find new words for his word tree with his teacher, the little yellow bird. He finds a leaf, a hat, and a star . . . but when he finds a red boot, he doesn’t want to let go. What will make Rocket drop it? With predictable patterns, simple words, lots of repetition, and bright, colorful illustrations, young readers will love this new Rocket book, which they can read all by themselves!

Lenny & Lucy


Philip C. Stead - 2015
    When they arrive at their new home, Peter wants to turn back. Fortunately, he has Harold for company, but Harold is just a dog and can't help Peter. Scared of the things hidden in the woods, Peter makes a tall pile of pillows. He stitches and sews. He pushes and pulls. And when he is done, he has Lenny, Guardian of the Bridge, to protect him and Harold.Lenny is a good guard but Peter worries that Lenny will get lonely out by the woods all by himself, so he makes Lucy, who is a good friend. Together, Lenny, Lucy, Peter, and Harold discover that this new place isn't so scary after all.

Alfie: (The Turtle That Disappeared)


Thyra Heder - 2017
    But he’s not very soft, he doesn’t do tricks, and he’s pretty quiet. Sometimes she forgets he’s even there! That is until the night before Nia’s seventh birthday, when Alfie disappears! Then, in an innovative switch in point of view, we hear Alfie’s side of the story. He didn’t leave Nia—he’s actually searching for the perfect birthday present for his dear friend. Can he find a gift and make it back in time for the big birthday party? From the author-illustrator of Fraidyzoo and The Bear Report comes a warm and funny ode to friendship—even when the friends see the relationship, and the world, very differently.

Lizard from the Park


Mark Pett - 2015
    Inside is...a lizard!Leonard soon has a problem, though, and it's bigger than you can imagine. Will Leonard be able to keep his lizard under wraps, or is it becoming too much trouble to handle?

Toasty


Sarah Hwang - 2021
    He knows there are some differences--most dogs have four legs, but Toasty has two arms and two legs. Some dogs sleep in dog houses, but Toasty sleeps in a toaster. All dogs have hair and fur, but Toasty has neither because he's made of bread. In spite of these differences, he decides to go to the park to play with the dogs but runs into trouble when they want to eat him. Lucky for Toasty, he is rescued by a little girl who has always wanted a dog but can't have one because she is allergic. Toasty is the perfect dog for her.

Boomer Goes to School


Constance W. McGeorge - 1996
    Now Boomer is going to school! Like many new students, Boomer finds that going to school can be a bit confusing...at first. But in the end, he discovers that school is a great place for friends, learning, and fun!

Thunder Pug


Kim Norman - 2019
    . . until Petunia wins a blue ribbon at the county fair. Suddenly, she has no time for hide-and-seek or lapping puddles, cheek-to-cheek. But when Percy finds a faded comic book in a puddle, the lonely pug dons a cape and takes on a new persona: THUNDER PUG! Even though being a superhero is exciting, Percy knows he’s missing something. Only when “Pink Lightning” (aka Petunia) joins him, and the two are “side by sidekick” again, are they truly living the heroic life!

Cat on the Bus


Aram Kim - 2016
    A bus approaches offering shelter, but the large-handed, scary-faced driver shouts SCRAM! When another bus approaches, the cat runs in with a WHOOSH and meets a grandfatherly gentleman who changes the cat s circumstances forever.

Mister and Lady Day: Billie Holiday and the Dog Who Loved Her


Amy Novesky - 2013
    She had a coat-pocket poodle, a beagle, Chihuahuas, a Great Dane, and more, but her favorite was a boxer named Mister. Mister was always there to bolster her courage through good times and bad, even before her legendary appearance at New York’s Carnegie Hall. Newton’s stylish illustrations keep the simply told story focused on the loving bond between Billie Holiday and her treasured boxer. An author’s note deals more directly with the singer’s troubled life, and includes a little-known photo of Mister and Lady Day!

Sally Goes to Heaven


Stephen Huneck - 2013
    In this book, Sally passes away and goes to heaven, where she lives happily and helps her family on Earth find a new pet. The book includes a removable magnetic photo frame that readers can use to hold a picture of their own beloved pet.  Praise for Sally Goes to Heaven “Any family who has ever loved and lost a dog will find comfort in Sally Goes to Heaven. Stephen Huneck’s beautiful illustrations and simple text evoke an afterlife that is everything we could hope for our dogs—and ourselves.” —Ken Foster, author of The Dogs Who Found Me and I’m a Good Dog"The final entry in the late Huneck’s series about Sally the black Labrador is a touching account of Sally’s death from old age and her joyous experiences in heaven."--Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW"Huneck’s instantly recognizable woodcuts make each scene feel iconic, and his plainspoken prose will provide grieving young pet-owners with a measure of relief."--Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW"This title can help children remember the good times in both Sally’s or their own pet’s life."--School Library Journal"The folk art–style woodblock illustrations, in their directness and simplicity, are as comforting as the text."--Booklist

Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family


Nelly Buchet - 2020
    Sure, they fight like.... well, cats and dogs, but they're used to one another. Dog-- a different dog-- lives a happy only child life in the city with his dad. He has the bed to himself, he never has to share his toys, and that's the way he likes it. So what happens when the Dog's dad and Cat and Dog's mom move in together? Well, it's chaotic. There's not enough room on the bed, for starters. But as the seasons pass, the three animals become a trio and learn to (mostly) love one another. Just as they're settling into a cozy life as a threesome, along comes..... a baby! This laugh-out-loud picture book, which cleverly uses two repeating words, is sure to strike a chord with kids dealing with the ups-and-downs of settling into a blended family of their own.

Bob, Not Bob!


Liz Garton Scanlon - 2017
    His nose is clogged, his ears are crackling, and his brain feels full. All he wants is his mom to take care of him, but whenever he calls out for her, his stuffed-up nose summons slobbery dog Bob instead! As Louie tries and tries to make himself understood in this funny picturebook, kids will love calling out with him, "Bob, not Bob!"

Negative Cat


Sophie Blackall - 2021
    But Max the cat isn't quite what the family expected. He shuns the toy mouse, couldn't care less about the hand-knitted sweater, and spends most of his time facing the wall. One by one, the family gives up on Max, but the boy loves his negative cat so much, he'll do anything to keep him. Even the thing he dreads most: practicing his reading. Which, as it turns out, makes everything positive!

The Stray Dog


Marc Simont - 2001
    Beautiful watercolors.