If you’ve ever walking into the children’s section of your local library and felt overwhelmed by the seemingly endless shelves of options, I’m here to help. As a children’s author and father of young kids, I spend a lot time looking through the books at the library, and every month or so I like to share some of my favourite finds, including what I liked bout them, why I chose them, and a little bit about the book itself.
The Circus Ship
written & illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Chris Van Dusen is one the most talented picture book illustrators out there. I picked this book because I selfishly love seeing his illustrations, but also because I know that pretty much any book with animals in it are going to be a hit with my 5 year old. ‘The Circus Ship’ did not disappoint. It’s a cute story about a group of circus animals who get marooned in a friendly community on a small island. When the circus’ mean ring leader come searching for his lost animals, the residents of the island help the animals blend into the surroundings, and they all live happily ever after. It’s a feel good story, and of course the illustrations did not disappoint.
Have You Seen Gordon
written by Adam Jay Epstein, illustrated by Ruth Chan
At a glance this may seem like your typical ‘find Waldo’ type of book, and although it starts off that way, it eventually evolves into a story. My kids and I both had a lot of fun reading this book, as there is a lot to look at, a lot to find, and it’s just plain fun. In the background there are a couple of side stories taking place, including an axolotl trying to steal the spotlight, and a horse that seems to have lost his pants. This is kind of book that you can easily flip through more than once.
What Sound is Morning
by Grant Snider
The subtle illustration on the cover of this book was enough to draw me in, and with a quick flip I could tell that it would be a nice calming poem with beautifully soft illustrations to match; perfect as a second bedtime story before I turn off the light. It would be great wake up early in the morning and take in the sights and sounds as the community wakes up, but life is busy and we don’t always get to see and appreciate these quiet moments. I love books like these take us to these places and moments and remind us to see the beauty around us.
What Do You Do With an Idea
written by Kobi Yamada, illustrated by Mae Besom
Picture books have the ability to express so many different ideas in so many different ways, and I love that coming home with a stack of books that cover a spectrum of the human experience. ‘What Do You Do With an Idea’ is a visually stunning book about a young boy who is unsure about a little awkward idea he has, but learns to embrace it’s weirdness. Younger readers might not feel as engaged with the text, but it’s worth checking out.
Socks
written by Elizabeth Lindsay, illustrated by Nick Sharratt
This book is from our personal collection, and it’s one of my favourite books to read. In this story we join two kids as they explore a world of socks, filled with an easy to follow rhyming scheme and lot’s of kid friendly puns. It’s short, cute, and fun, and it’s also a great example of how illustrations don’t have to be overly elaborate to be effective.
