Stand-Out Cybils Nominated Picture Books, #12

This is it folks, the final week of Cybils-nominated picture book round-ups from me. In two days, the shortlists will be announced on the Cybils site, and as they’re usually rolled out throughout the day, I cannot tell you exactly when the list for this category will be shared. But, I can tell you, that it’s a darn good list, if I do say so myself. I’ve got some favorites on it, but my lips are sealed, so no trying to get any info out of me! This week’s three selections feature characters that will undoubtedly elicit a smile or giggle from little ones, as they did for my own children.

How have I been unaware of the cool cat that is Pete until now? Eric Litwin’s Pete the Cat: Rocking in my School Shoes is the second picture book about this character, and a third title is scheduled to release in the spring. Music is an integral part of these books, and each book includes a link to listen to and download the story and the song. (Check out the site first before getting the book, and I’m willing to bet you’ll be searching for it on your next trip to the library or bookstore!) I love that this book is simply pure fun, and children will be singing the song again and again. My daughter’s kindergarten teacher is a huge fan of Pete’s, and now I am, too!

It’s not easy being the littlest one in the family, and many children will relate to the main character’s feelings on the matter in Little Pig Joins the Band by David Hyde Costello. When the whole family tries out a variety of instruments from Grandpa’s old marching band days, Little Pig (who really would prefer to be called Jacob, as that is his name after all!), is disappointed that he is simply too small to play any of them. Unfortunately, everyone is playing to their own beat, you could say, and Little Pig finds the perfect way to join in, since every good marching band needs a leader!

As I grew up in New England, my childhood was filled with snowy experiences, but my own Maryland-born-and-raised kids have had only a few significant snowfalls in their lives so far. Happily, we can always find snowy fun in Caralyn Beuhner’s picture books, and the latest one, Snowmen All Year, does just what the title promises– it imagines the fun snowmen could have if they were around for spring’s kite flying, summer fireworks and autumn’s trick-or-treating. With Mark Buehner’s familiar joyful illustrations, children will surely giggle at the sight of a smiling snowman in all the very un-snowy situations depicted.

Though I am a Round I panelist in this Fiction Picture Book category for the Cybils, my opinions are solely my own and are not meant to reflect the final outcome.

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Dawn juggles teaching, parenting, and reading on a daily basis, sometimes hopping back over to give her blog, my thoughts exactly, a bit of attention, too.