NEW YORK TIMES CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOKS

Sam & Dave Dig a Hole

Barnett, M. (2013) Sam & Dave Dig a Hole. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Sam and Dave are on a mission to dig for something spectacular. They dig and dig and dig. Due to some bad luck they miss out on the opportunity to uncover some truly amazing finds, but they dig so deep that they make it back home, and find that digging was its own special reward.

The Baby Tree

Blackall, S. (2013) The Baby Tree. New York, NY: Nancy Paulsen Books.

A boy is about to become a big brother and he brings up the infamous question, Where do babies come from?. He sets out to ask his family and other adults in his life but ends up more confused than informed until his parents gently tell him about the origin of babies.

The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus

Bryant, J. (2014) The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B.

Eerdmans Publishing.

Dive into this visually stunning book about the beginnings of Peter Roget, the mild mannered man whose sometimes tragic life and love of word lead him to create the reference book that we know as a thesaurus. Beautifully illustrated, the the colorful art gives the book an uplifting feel. 

 

The Storm Whale

Davies, B. (2014) The Storm Whale. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Co.

Noi finds a small whale on the beach, and not knowing what to do with it Noi sneaks it into his house and keeps it in the tub. He is trying to keep the secret from his dad but he can’t hide the whale forever. With the help of his dad Noi takes the small what back into the ocean where it belongs.

 

The Day the Crayons Quit

Daywalt, D. (2014) The Day the Crayons Quit. New York, NY: Pholimel Books.

Duncan’s crayons have had enough! They each write him letters stating why they feel like they are being treated unfairly. Some are even unhappy with one another and are not on speaking terms (except green, who’s a delightful character). So each color takes his turn to express their grievances, and say they’re not working anymore. In the end all that Duncan wants to do is color, so he makes a bright picture in which he incorporates all the crayons.

The Farmer and the Clown

Frazee, M. (2013) The Farmer and the Clown. San Diego, CA: Beach Lane Books.

An old farmer and child clown form a bond when they meet each other out in the field. The clown has fallen out of a train and the farmer hesitantly decides to take him in. They share in daily routines and mimicked actions until the train comes back around and takes the clown, who is now sporting the farmer’s hat, while the farmer has the clown’s.

Hansel and Gretel

Gaiman, N. (2013) Hansel and Gretel. New York, NY: Toon Books.

Siblings Hansel and Gretel are living in extreme poverty with the parents. At the risk of starvation, their parents abandon them deep in the woods, hoping they might survive with less mouths to feed. In search of their way back home, Hansel and Gretel find a gingerbread house where an old woman is ready to make a meal out of them. Through Gretel’s quick thinking the children manage to make it out alive and with enough riches to life comfortable the rest of their lives. 

 

The Jacket

Hall, K. (2014) The Jacket. Brooklyn, NY: Enchanted Lion Books.

Book is a fun and exciting book, but his lack of flashy book cover gets him passed up often by readers. Finally a girl takes him home, where he is dirtied by the girl’s dog Egg Cream. The girl eventually decides to give book a jacket to protect him and make him more noticeable.

Baby Bear

Nelson, K. (2013) Baby Bear. New York, NY: Blazer & Bray.

Baby Bear is trying to find his way back home through the forest, and on his way there he receives advice from different animals. Ultimately Baby Bear learns to trust his instincts and learns how to find his home in his own heart as he makes his way back home. 

Hannah’s Night

Sakai,K. (2013) Hannah’s Night. Wellington, New Zealand: Gecko Press.

Hannah has woken up before dawn and she realizes that it’s her opportunity to explore the house freely. She peeks in on her parents, the eats cherries from the fridge and borrows her sister's music box, all without fear of getting in trouble. Hannah innocently explores like she likely wouldn't with her family around and gets sleepy and goes back to bed just as dawn is about to break.

CALDECOTT

Once a Mouse

Brown, M. (1961) Once a Mouse. New York, NY: Charles Scribner's Sons.

A mouse in danger of being eaten by crow is transformed into a cat, and eventually into a dog, and then a tiger by a hermit in order to save its life. But the mouse-turned-lion was too proud and walked around the forest with superior airs, and the hermit decided that it was time to put the animal back in its place and cast it away, turning him back into a tiny mouse.

Jambo Means Hello

Feelings, M. (1974) Jambo Means Hello. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Muriel Feelings introduces us to the Swahili alphabet one letter at a time with words that are significant to African culture. Each word is accompanied by an illustration that gives us a glimpse into the life of people on the other side of our world. The brief introduction by Mrs. Feelings provide us with enough information to take away more than just letters from this alphabet book.

A Story, a Story

Hailey, G.E. (1970) A Story, a Story. New York, NY: Anthenum Books.

This beautifully illustrated tale gives the origin of how stories of the world came to be. Ananse the Spider Man, completed three very difficult tasks in order to get the stories from the Sky God, Anyame. He cleverly goes around collecting three things to trade for the stories and in the end Anyame keeps his end of the the deal, proclaiming that the stories of the world now belong to Ananse.

Flora and the Flamingo

Idle, M. (2014) Molly and the Flamingo. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC.

Flora admires a tall and graceful flamingo as it poses and moves. Flora, in a pink bathing suit and black flippers, tries her best to imitate the bird. But when she has a misstep the flamingo helps Flora make all the right moves in this wordless picture book with interactive flaps. 

 

Baboushka and the Three Kings

Robbins, R. (1960) Baboushka and the Three Kings. New York NY: Houghton Mifflin.

The Three Kings are in search of the Child and have stopped at Baboushka’s home to ask for her help. Baboushka turns down their offer, and changes her mind too late. She sets out to find the Child with no luck, and it is said that every year at the season when the Child was born Baboushka comes bearing gifts for children as she continues her search.

Outside Over There

Sendak, M. (1981) Outside Over There. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.

As Ida plays the horn to rock her baby sister to sleep some goblins come into the room and take the baby to make her a bride. In her place they leave a baby made of ice, and when Ida realizes this she goes on a quest to get her sister back, charming the goblins and bringing her sister safely back home.

Puss in Boots

Perrault, C. (1998) Puss in Boots. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

A young man inherits a family cat but is making plans to eat it due to his lack of money and food. The cat however makes a deal with the man, cleverly gaining him favor with the king, setting him up with the princess and tricking an ogre in order to steal his castle. The puss in boots proved himself to be more valuable as a friend than as a meal.

The Lion and the Mouse

Pinkney, J. (2009) The Lion and the Mouse. Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.

In this classic tale a small field mouse runs into a lion as he is escaping from an owl. The little mouse convinces the lion to let him live and get back to his family, telling him that someday the mouse might save the lion’s life. Soon the lion finds himself trapped in the nets of hunters, and it’s the little mouse who comes to the lion’s rescue, proving that he made a wise choice by sparing the rodent’s life. 

 

Jumanji

Van Allsburg, C. (1981) Jumanji. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin.

One day in the park siblings Peter and Judy come across a board game called Jumanji. They take it home to play, only to discover that that game takes on a life of its own and brings out jungle plants and animals that bring chaos with them. Judy and Peter must play until the end, when the winner calls, JUMANJI!, sending everything back into the game board.

Rapunzel

Zelinsky, P.O. (1997) Rapunzel. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books.

Rapunzel is taken as a baby from her parents and raised by a sorceress who keeps her locked away in a high tower with no way in but through a high window. Rapunzel’s hair has grown over the years and on it the sorceress climbs to visit her. A prince notices that Rapunzel lives up there, and after secretly visiting her marries her on the spot. Unbeknownst to the sorceress, they marry and Rapunzel becomes pregnant with twins and is later cast away. Through trials and heartache Rapunzel and her husband reunite and lead a long and happy life.

PURA BELPRÉ

Frida ¡Viva la Vida!

Bernier-Grand, C.T. (2007) Frida ¡Viva la Vida! Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Corporation

Read through the poems that give a look into the life of Frida Kahlo from her childhood, through her crippling accident and the tumultuous relationship with her famous husband. Her portraits follow along with the poems and depict important life events of the tortures Mexican artists who

 

The Bossy Gallito

González, L. M. (1994) The Bossy Gallito. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

The Bossy Gallito is on his way to the wedding of Tío Perico, but after eating some corn he dirties his beak and is looking for a patch of grass to help clean it. The grass won’t help and so the Gallito goes on a quest to bully a goat, a stick, a fire and others to try to get his beak cleaned in time. Finally, it is his friend the Sun who helps Gallito with his dilemma.

Magic Windows

Lomas Garza, C. (1999) Magic Window. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press.

Author Carmen Lomas Garza takes us on a journey through Mexican folklore through her cut paper art, papel picado, that features depictions of her life growing up in South Texas. Read about traditions of Day of the Dead, traditional Mexican dancing and flora and fauna of Texas and Mexico as you look at her intricate designs cut out in paper. 

 

Mango, Abuela, and Me

Medina, M. (2015) Mango, Abuela, and Me.Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Mia’s grandmother has come to live with her and her parents, but her abuela does not speak English and Mia’s Spanish is rusty at best. Communication is difficult between the two but they bond over a pet parrot that Mia gets for her grandmother. Soon, Mia, abuela and Mango, the parrot, are bridging the language gap and becoming closer in this delightful story sprinkled with Spanish words.

Juan Bobo Goes To Work

Montes, M. (2000) Juan Bobo Goes To Work. New York, NY: Harper Collins Children’s Books.

Juan Bobo, the absent minded young boy lives in Puerto Rico with his mother. Juan always tries to do the right thing but he just can’t seem to get it right. Over the course of several days Juan works for the farmer and the grocer, but his day’s payment never makes it home due to Juan’s foolishness. But his antics don’t cost him a juicy ham; they made a sick girl better and her wealthy father makes sure that every Sunday Juan and his mother have a plump ham to feast on. 

Los Gatos Black on Halloween

Montes, M. (2006) Los Gatos Black on Halloween. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Co.

This delightful dance of Spanish and English create a melodic narration of Halloween with a touch of hispanic culture. Spanish words are part of the narration without a translation but it’s fun to guess the meaning, which is easy even for non-Spanish speakers. A fun rhyme takes you through a spooky and magical Halloween night.

Cuba 15

Osa, N. (2003) Cuba 15. New York, NY: Delacorte Press.

Violet Paz is on the eve of turning 15 years old and she is also becoming more curious about her Cuban heritage. Her Grandmother wants to have a quinceañero for her, celebrating her transition into womanhood. The upcoming celebration has stirred a greater interest in Violet’s Cuban heritage but speaking of it is not easy for her family. Read as Violet navigates her way through 10th grade as a Cuban-Polish girl living in Chicago, trying to understand a country that is near and far all at once.

Chato’s Kitchen

Soto, G. (1995) Chato’s Kitchen. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

New mice have moved into the neighborhood, and Chato the cat has some special plans to invite them over to become dinner. He slaves away in the kitchen, making the perfect meal to go with his new neighbors, but little does he know that the mice are bringing a special friend who will make Chato change his plans.

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras

Tonatiuh, D. (2015) Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras. New York, NY: Abrams Books For Young Readers.

Discover the story of the man behind the Day of the Dead calaveras that are now a part of the celebration of death and life. José Guadalupe Posada was a young man born in México who became a printer and illustrator due to the guidance and partnership of his mentor. What began as a career making political cartoons later developed into creating images of calaveras that today decorate a variety of Día de los Muertos items that are now a part of Mexican culture and enjoyed worldwide. 

 

Grandma’s Gift

Velásquez, E. (2010) Grandma’s Gift. New York, NY: Walker Publishing Company, Inc.

Eric Velásquez is a young boy growing up in New York and Christmas is approaching. His grandmother will be watching his during the holiday break and she takes Eric around the Puerto Rican side of town in search of ingredient for pasteles, taking in the language and the sights of the community. On a museum visit with his grandmother Eric comes face to face with a portrait that reaffirms his identity as an Afro American Hispanic and inspires his career as an artist.