With all the picture books that are released each year, it’s always nice to get recommendations from others. The Cybils Awards lists work that way- these are the new titles that have been nominated by individual readers who have enjoyed them. As a Round One Panelist, I have the honor, and great pleasure, to read through all the nominated books, and I want to share four particular titles that feature characters to make you smile and warm your heart.
Amos McGee is a loving caretaker for the animals at the zoo who lives a simple, routined life in Philip C. Stead’s A Sick Day for Amos McGee. Each day he gives individualized attention to the zoo animals, in ways that are amusingly surprising. When he finds himself unable to head off to work one morning, the animals decide to go to him in a warm reversal of care-giving roles. This depiction of love that goes both ways makes for a quiet and lovely reading experience with young children.
In A Bedtime for Bear by Bonny Becker, the title character is a very particular bear. When he’s ready to retire for the evening, things must be just so. When an unexpected friend comes to spend the night, Bear experiences some challenges to his regular routine, causing increasing levels of frustration that he attempts to express without hurting his friend’s feelings. In the end, Bear finds that having a kind and understanding friend like Mouse can be helpful when he gets a little scared in the night.
A little yellow bird changes the life of a dog by introducing the wonder of the written word in Tad Hills’ lovely new book How Rocket Learned to Read. When the bird begins to read aloud from a favorite story book, she convinces a nearby dog, Rocket, to join her in her “classroom” where she teaches him all about sounds and letters. Rocket takes to these lessons beautifully, and even the bird’s yearly migration doesn’t get in the way of his new-found love for books. This is one for book-lovers of all ages!
In Bridget’s Beret by Tom Lichtenheld, Bridget is a young artist who feels inspired by everything around her, and like many Great Artists of the past whom she greatly admires, she dons her big black beret when she gets to work. So what to do when a huge gust of wind carries away her beret? Her searching yields nothing, and her artistic abilities seem to have gone the way of her beret. Her resolution comes eventually, in happy ways, of course. Lichtenheld’s signature illustration style is as amusing and fun as always, and Bridget’s spirit appeals to readers who will be cheering her on.
If you’re looking for more picture books that have been nominated this year, please visit the Fiction Picture Book page and browse the titles. The finalists will be announced on January 1, and I hope to share more from my growing pile in the coming weeks.
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Dawn’s fascination with picture books is indulged each and every day with her kids. Their adventures, bookish and not, can be found at my thoughts exactly.
Jupiter says
Rocket is adorable. My 5 year old brought home a free copy recently after the author visited the school. Then my hubby got to meet the real Rocket completely by chance at his workplace.
Can’t wait to check out the other titles 🙂
Dawn says
Thanks, Jupiter, because I didn’t even realize that there WERE other books. My kids will love that- they’re enchanted with Rocket! 🙂
Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) says
I agree that it’s been my pleasure to participate in the Cybils as well. I’ve found so many great middle-grade titles.
I LOVE the long-lists, but I know that I’ll be making a point to work through the short lists as well.
Dawn says
Absolutely!!