Back to the 2020 Holiday Gift Guide
Derrick Barnes and and Gordon C. James have created yet another beautiful book. If you loved Crown, don't miss their newest collaboration! -Jen
Hands down one of my favorite picture books of the year. The colors simply leap off the page. Alternating between wordless pages and text, Little Fox tells the story of a playful fox who has gotten himself into a pickle (more than once, really) and relies on the help of a little boy for rescue. All turns out well in the end. What a joy to read. --Elese
What a quirky picture book! The members of this unusual household stay awake all night in increasingly absurd ways. Had us all laughing out loud. --Elese
Jillian Tamaki's text & illustrations offer a joyful peek inside the controlled chaos of an inclusive community food kitchen. Pair it with Harlem Grown by Tony Hillery, and you've got a powerful duo of food justice picture books. --Elese
A heartwarming and gorgeously illustrated book about the stories behind tattoos and realizing you can be whatever you decide to be. HOW TO BE A PIRATE will make your day. It will have readers young and old laughing and smiling from ear to ear. --Zach
Young Dayeon wonders if she's brave enough to be a haenyeo - a free-diver - like her Grandma. As she works up her courage to try, the reader is treated to gorgeous illustrations awash in lush purples and vibrant oranges. Complete with beautiful messages about working in partnership with other women and in harmony with the sea, this grandmother-granddaughter story is a delight to read aloud and a welcome addition to the picture book world. --Elese
As always, Blackall's beautiful illustrations matched with the sweet text (explaining Earth to a visitor from outer space) makes for an endearing, heartwarming, and important book for anyone--child or adult. --Jen
The duo behind the marvelous Giant Squid is back. Written with the pacing of a picture book but chock-full of scientific facts, Honeybee is an excellent read-aloud for curious preschoolers through early elementary grades. So many “Whoa! I didn’t know that!” moments to be had throughout along with absolutely gorgeous illustrations. Long live Apis mellifera! --Elese
A story about art, family, love and perspective. -Elese
By day Elevator Bird cheerfully tends to the myriad animal guests at the hotel — shepherding them up and down the elevator, offering advice on the sights and doling out kindness all around — but by night he “longs for dark nights filled with city lights.” So his coworkers come together to help Bird’s fresh air dreams come true. The story is lovely but it's the illustrations that really make it into something special. The colorful and adorably drawn critters will elicit squees of delight. (Rainbow porcupine is my personal favorite.) --Elese
A joyous riot of color with a pair of ridiculously cute bunnies ... Llewellyn and Evelyn are the best of friends, collecting memories of the wonders of their world. When the day comes that Evelyn's family has to move to a new town, the two bunny friends endeavor to find a new way to share their experiences with each other across the distance. --Elese
A sweet, slightly quirky picture book reminscent of Kevin Henkes's beloved Kitten's First Full Moon. Perfect for the youngest of readers. --Elese