As a published picture book author, I love going to the library and exploring picture books with my kids; at any given time we usually have a stack of 20 or so in our home. There are so many great stories to tell, and so many ways to say them. Here are some of my favourite books we have discovered recently:
So Many Sounds
written by Tim McCanna, ilustrated by Andy J. Miller
I’m a big fan of the illustrator, Andrew Miller (also known as Andy J Pizza), for his podcast, ‘Creative PepTalk’, so I came across this book in the library I couldn’t wait to read it - and it didn’t disappoint. Tim‘s text exploring the different sounds that a child might experience throughout a day is fun, lyrical, and allowed Andy plenty of room to play with the illustrations in his fun style.
This book also has the credit of being the first book that my daughter read by herself (with a little help here are there). She has been learning to read for some time, and lately all of the sounds and letters have started to really click with her. We had a pile of library books sitting on the counter, and to our pleasant surprise she picked this one up and started reading the words, ending the book to an enthusiastic round of applauses.
Story Boat
written by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh
I don’t always cry when I read picture books, but sometimes I do. ‘Story Boat’ is a story about two young refugees, a sister and brother, making their way to a new and unknown life. Through their exhausting journey, they find refuge in their imaginations and the few familiar things that they have in their possession. It is beautifully written, and the illustration style fits perfectly in the thin layer between the real and imaginative worlds created by the young characters.
The Yellow Kayak
written by Nina Laden, illustrated by Melissa Castrillon
When reading a book I sometimes try to decide which illustration is my favourite. With this book, every single page is an amazing work of art. The light, poetic text is fun to read, taking you on a lovely evening adventure.
Bug Club
written and illustrated by Elise Gravel
Elise Gravel is one of my favourite Illustrators. Her love of the world and every little thing in it is apparent in all of her work. In this book she uses her uniquely adorable illustrations to share her love of the tiny world of bugs. I happen to love bugs as well, and my 4 year old loves anything that moves, so this book was a big hit at our house.
The Weather Girls
written and illustrated by Aki
This is a cute book all about the different seasons. The illustrations are so simple, but they capture a lot of subtle details and are well composed. The text is fun to read, making for a playful little jaunt through the different seasons.
Sad Book
written by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Quentin Blake
As you can probably guess, this isn’t the most colourful or upbeat book on the shelf, but it is a gentle, poetic reflection about sadness. Quentin Blake’s illustrations are always perfectly beautiful.
