When I am stressed or frustrated, I find sitting down with a pile of picture books to be therapeutic. I will wander over to Vroman's Bookstore, and settle in with a pile of new picture books. Quickly, I find my mood lifting. Granted, I usually can't leave the store without purchasing a few books, but I suspect that it isn't any more expensive than if I had gone to a counselor. And at least, I can share the books over and over again with others.
Here is what stood out from the pile this week....
If You Were A Panda Bear by Florence Minor; Illustrated by Wendell Minor (Katherine Tegen Books, June25, 2013) - A look at characteristics related to specific types of bears. Bear lovers will enjoy this one.
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson; Illustrated by Tara Calahan king (Chronicle Books, September 1, 2000) - I saw this on several posts recently and wanted to read it. Such a great book for talking to kids about friends and enemies.
Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson (Greenwillow Books, August 27, 2013) - An interactive book that looks at the growing cycle of a tree through the seasons.
Sophie's Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller (Schwartz & Wade, August 6, 2013) - I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. A story about a little girl who becomes attached to a butternut squash. Could be odd, but turns out to be a really cute story.
Me, Hungry! by Jeremy Tankard (Candlewick, April 22, 2008) - Another book that I saw recently on another blog post, and new I had to find it. This one is a lot of fun.
Stick! by Andy Pritchett (Candlewick Press, August 6, 2013) - This simple story, with very few words would make a fun read aloud for toddlers and preschoolers.
The Three Musicians: A Children's Book Inspired by Pablo Picasso by Veronique Massenot; Illustrated by Vanessa Hié (Prestel Publishing, June 27, 2013) - I had my doubts about this one when I saw the cover and style of the book. Yes, I judged a book by it's cover. *sigh* But when I read it, I really liked it. Based on Picasso's painting The Three Musicians, the book lends itself to art discussions as well as potentially great conversations about how our perceptions of life can impact our behaviors.
Here are two that I picked up and started but haven't quite finished yet...
The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett by Tom Angleberger (Amulet Books, August 6, 2013)
Bluffton: My Summers With Buster Keaton by Matt Phelan (Candlewick Press, July 23, 2013)
So, what are you reading?
