Picture Books

 Images and text by Carter.

When I moved across the country almost seven years ago, my younger sister travelled with me. And when I arrived on the west coast after a long week of driving, it was late and dark. I didn’t know my roommate, my neighborhood, or why one of the only possessions I stuffed into the back of my little car was a broken green lamp with a crumpled shade.

Morning shed some light on my unfamiliar street, and on my unfamiliar house, and my sister said simply, “Looks like Strega Nona’s.” This book was woven into our history. With one quiet observation, all of the unsettled grumbles that echo around a new place hushed, and it became a little more like home. This is why stories matter. 

Strega Nona, by Tomie dePaola, is timeless. It’s the story of a grandma with a magic touch and hungry Big Anthony, who doesn’t. This is a book with an overeager heart and an overflowing pasta pot. I love my cautionary tales with a side of spaghetti, don’t you? And ever astute, Strega Nona rests comfortably once she takes care of that pasta problem — in her house, the one etched in my heart. 

Do you have a book like this, one that stirs shared souls? Something wonderfully haunting and deeply comforting?

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Images and text by Carter.

One of my favorite things about picture books is how they capture raw emotion in the span of so few pages. And oh, how different the tones can be! Last week we saw the catastrophic and zany The Runaway Dinner, and today’s is tender, thoughtful, and still. Stars, by Mary Lynn Ray and Marla Frazee, lyrically celebrates that far away point of light. The evocative nighttime pictures are balanced by wiggly kids, taping stars on sticks to make magic wands. And the words! “But stars that come with night — for those you have to wait for night. You need some dark to see them.”

This is one to gaze at — much like the book’s subject itself. Do you have any other evocative, poem-like favorites?

P.S. – Gabrielle featured the author of another Marla Frazee book, All The World, here. And she’s the illustrator of the Clementine series – Do you know those? Fantastic chapter books for older readers! Clementine is a modern day version of the sparkling Ramona Quimby and Pippi Longstocking. 

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Images and text by Carter.

Sometimes in a picture book you just need some good old-fashioned chaos and mayhem, right? When a Design Mom reader (hi, Amy!) suggested The Runaway Dinner, I was immediately charmed. And also grateful. This book debuted in my last year as a school librarian, so I completely missed it! There’s definitely a black hole on my bookshelf from the late 2000s, because as it turned out, working in the movies is the wrong form of storytelling to me. Reading this one ripped me right back to my roots.

Banjo Cannon has an ordinary life and a cat named Mildred, and every day of his ordinary life he eats the same dinner – a sausage, three peas, four baby carrots, and a handful of fries. And then there was the day that the sausage up and left. He ran away. What follows is a hysterical romp through the park to get the dinner back to Banjo Cannon’s table.

Something I love about picture books is that what seems like a simple plot sometimes isn’t at all. The narrator drives the pace here, and does a brilliant job of creating drama and suspense. And yes, I promise – you will be on the edge of your seat, all for a handful of peas!

P.S. – I know it’s a specific request, but do you have any favorites from the late 2000s? I don’t want to miss something incredible!

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Images and text by Carter.

This gem by Florence Parry Heide and Lane Smith introduces us to Princess Hyacinth. She isn’t your ordinary little girl. And it isn’t just because she’s a princess. Her problem? Floating. Without golden weights sewn in the hems of her gowns, Princess Hyacinth would bob, drift, and hover — stopped only by her Royal Ceiling. The kingdom’s heaviest jewels sit right in her crown, and she fastens a rhinestone strap under her chin to keep everything in place.

A floating princess? Find out more. Click here!

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Images and text by Carter.

This imaginative retelling of The Steadfast Tin Soldier is an epic love story in thirty-two pages. Hans Christian Anderson’s timeless fairy tale has never looked more stunning than this! The illustrations by Jen Corace are striking and intricate, and they wrap around Cynthia Rylant’s lyrical text so beautifully.

A tin soldier, missing a leg. A dainty ballerina, balancing on one. Love at first sight. Endless stares! Just as in the original, a goblin has other plans for the pair — and tries his darndest to keep the tin solider down. But a steadfast tin soldier is not discouraged. Whether upside down in the garden, floating past a gruff giant rat, or swallowed whole by a fish, our hero’s heart only beats for that ballerina. What wins here, a mean old goblin or true love? I think you know. Perfect for kids, perhaps even more perfect for the rest of us. 

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Images and text by Carter.

I’m a big fan of Chris Haughton’s Little Owl Lost. It’s understated, adorable, and deeply moving all at once. You know this story: tiny thing lost, needs to find its mama. But this book revives a sleepy plot with a charming cast of woodland creatures and language that settles right into your bones.

One of the most magical qualities of a picture book is the page turn, that moment of suspense that lets you control the pace of the story. The very first page turn ingeniously gives you a sort of animated effect, with a half page dividing the spread. It throws you right into the action — an adorable, wobbly owlet falling right out of the nest. And that’s where the simplistic hilarity begins.

A well-intentioned squirrel offers his eager assistance, but owlet’s description of pointy ears and big eyes don’t quite find the right mommy. The colors are lush and deep — unusual for a picture book, but oh, so comforting. Much like the story itself.

P.S. – If you love this one, be sure to check out his more recent book, Oh No, George! Delightful doesn’t even begin to describe it!

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Images and text by Carter.

How about something bright and beautiful? The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen is a fast paced, rhyming tale of a shipwreck and the sharp witted animals who were on board. They swim to shore and cause a little chaos, but soon the village falls in love with the crew and the bravery of a tiger. Their clever camouflage tucks them into the town seamlessly, helping them avoid the wrath of a booming villain who wants them back. It’s an adventure! With lush illustrations and larger than life personalities – it’s truly an enchanting tale. Your littles will love studying the pictures, looking for the hidden alligators, monkeys, and ostriches.

And it’s an underdog tale that’s a twist on a real truth. In 1836, a steamer sank off the coast of Maine, and nearly all of the circus on board perished. It’s a tragic story, really, but legend persists that a lone elephant survived by swimming to shore. It’s that life and hint of hope that rings true in The Circus Ship.

P.S. – Remember how much Gabrielle loves elephants?

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By Carter.

Is it spring yet where you are? I’m hearing rumors of East Coast snow and lying groundhogs! Seasons don’t really exist here in southern California — the days just turn from warm to hot without much fanfare. Good thing I have this pile of books to remember the wonder of spring!

1) And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano and Erin Stead is a comforting reminder that the browns of winter will yield to the glorious greens of spring. Caldecott winner Erin Stead crafts a subtle color palette that balances the spare and lyrical words. And note the tiny house on a hill in the background — it’s my favorite part of the storytelling illustrations!

2) What spring assortment of books would be complete without Peter Rabbit? Beatrix Potter’s timeless classic, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, is truly a masterpiece. Did you know that in addition to being a writer and illustrator she was a naturalist and conservatist? The garden setting of Peter Rabbit rang true to her heart — but Peter’s rebellion and endearing mischief will also remain the hallmark of this cautionary tale. Won’t you join me in a warm mug of chamomile tea to welcome spring and all its life?

3) The Longest Night, by Laurel Snyder and Catia Chen, is an epic Passover story — a retelling of the Exodus, straight from the Old Testament. It brings to life the birth of today’s traditions, with beautiful illustrations that wash over the lyrical words. The child’s point of view is striking, raw, and so easy to settle into. That perspective, along with the tandem dance of words and pictures, make this an unusually evocative look at this time of year.

4) I have a thing for fascinating endpapers, those colorful pages at the beginning and end of a book that frame the pages of the main story. Before I even got to the first words of An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Ashton and Sylvia Long, I was in love with this factual and utterly gorgeous book. This duo doesn’t stop at the obvious bird or dinosaur eggs — how about the tiniest lobster egg, the banana-shaped field cricket egg, or the very weird dogfish egg?

5) In 1943, Clare Turlay Newberry earned a Caldecott Honor for this small story about a bunny named Marshmallow. If you are searching online for a copy, be sure to find one with its original cover and story in tact! This gentle tale holds up beautifully — just a teeny ball of fur, Marshmallow adopts a big cat named Oliver as his mama. Understated art leaves plenty of room to breathe your own awe into the pages.

Click here for 5 more books!

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By Carter.

Virginia Wolf, by Canada’s Kyo Maclear and Isabelle Arsenault, is like a beautiful dream, wrapped up and bound by a spine. Are you an artist? A writer? A squabbling sister? This story is very loosely based on Virginia Woolf and her older sister, the painter Vanessa Bell.

But it’s also a bit of a story on the severity of blue moods and bad days, as wolfish Virginia finds joy in nothing. When the house sinks and glad becomes gloom, Vanessa paints for Virginia. She paints a place with frosted cakes and fruit that squeaks, and calls this place Bloomsberry. It’s rich and colorful and squashes Virginia’s fierceness. Trees that look like lollipops and an elephantine shrub will do that, right? But so will love. And so will art. And this book is a gorgeous illustration of that from start to finish.

P.S — Do you have any favorite children’s books that are gentle with ambitious topics, like this tender glance into Virginia Woolf’s very real depression?

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By Carter.

I love that this little corner of the internet is like our local watering hole, where we swap stories and favorite things. But sometimes I love that you can’t hear me. Because if you had heard the shrieks and squeals that I let loose when I read Gabrielle’s interview with Oliver Jeffers, you might think twice about our friendship.

I adore Oliver Jeffers. He captures wonder and wit with a sharp imagination and spills it all out into his books. This Moose Belongs to Me starts like this: “Wilfred owned a moose. He hadn’t always owned a moose. The moose just came to him a while ago and he knew, just KNEW that it was meant to be his.”

Wilfred names him Marcel, and the two listen to records, pick apples, and gallivant over the countryside together. But when a teeny old lady thinks that she owns the moose – well, havok and hijinks take over the pages. And aren’t those pages beautiful? I love the sweeping landscapes, the spare and graphic characters, and the hand drawn type.

P.S. – Do you live in Brooklyn? If you are as crazy about Oliver Jeffers as I am, go check out this exhibit!

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By Carter.

Have you heard of the American poet William Carlos Williams? Truly, I hadn’t until I read this book, A River of Words – a masterpiece by author Jen Bryant and illustrator Melissa Sweet. And inside, I found a linguistic kindred and a fascinating story about a man who was both a poet and a pediatrician. Melissa Sweet’s Caldecott Honor-winning illustrations are spectacular collages made up of found book covers and their endpapers. It’s a gorgeous work celebrating the written word, created by those same bound treasures. Stunning, right?

P.S. — Melissa Sweet is my absolute favorite illustrator, and it took all the restraint in the world to not show you every single page! There’s one at the end that will make you gasp and pause and thank your stars that you are seeing such a breathtaking picture!

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By Carter.

Z is for Moose? That can’t be right. But this madcap romp through the alphabet isn’t your typical ABC book. Zebra, outfitted in hilarious referee attire, directs the usual suspects to their places in the lineup. Everything is normal, until we meet an eager Moose, who just can’t wait his turn. With zany twists turning the alphabet upside down and back again, this one will bring lots of giggles and laughs.

Do you ever notice the illustrations on the pages leading up to the beginning of the story? The ones in this book hint at all of the mayhem to come – like the calm before the storm. I love that!

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By Carter.

I’m still on a bit of a Caldecott buzz, so how about one from 1946? Anatole, by Eve Titus and Paul Galdone, is the happiest mouse in all of France.

A mouse named Anatole, his partner-in-scavenging Gaston, a misunderstanding, a briefcase, and a whole lot of cheese. So charming, so much to love! Anatole and Gaston hunt the streets of Paris at night for food for their little families. On bicycles! (This reminds me of the Tour de France – I can’t imagine any other mode of transportation a tiny French mouse would use, can you?) When Anatole overhears the humans’ true feelings for mice, he is determined to regain his honor and give them something in return for their scraps.

And what’s the one thing Anatole is an expert on? Cheese. The Manufacture de Fromage Duval will never be the same again thanks to the delicious spirit of a delightful little mouse.

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By Carter. Images via Caryn Schafer.

Hollywood is right in my backyard, and the buzz surrounding awards season is in the air. Billboards beg for your consideration, as if every passing driver is an Academy voter! But I have been blindsided by a different kind of buzz, for a different kind of award: The Caldecott Medal. This morning the American Library Association honored the illustrator of the most distinguished contribution to American children’s literature.

This year marks its 75^th anniversary! It is thrilling to think that art meant for children is so treasured and timeless. I gasped and cried and held my breath through most of the announcements, and am beyond happy that our kids have such great books.

Remember Jon Klassen? This year, he won the Caldecott Medal for This is Not My Hat. It’s a perfect marriage of art and text. And! He also won an Honor for Extra Yarn. I’m pretty sure that’s never happened before, so I’m pretty sure he’s having the best day ever.

Do you have a favorite Caldecott winner? Did you know one of Gabrielle’s very first posts was about how she collects Caldecott books?

P.S. —  For more history on the Caldecott Medal, I love this post. And this segment on NPR this morning made me grin. Happy reading!

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By Carter.

This book by David Mackintosh is an enchanting look at being the new kid. Or being the kid that is a bit wary of the new kid. It’s a gentle narrative, but full of quirks and grins. The pictures are loud, but very sweet.

Marshall Armstrong is unusual. He has spots on his nose, eats ‘space food’ for lunch, but is lovable from the start. As our narrator cautiously (and with a perfect deadpan voice!) makes room for him in his little world, we all embrace the wonder of being just a bit different.

Do you ever unwrap the dust jackets to catch a glimpse of what’s underneath? Be sure to peek if you get your hands on this one. There’s a delightful extra bit of art under an already dazzling cover!

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By Carter.

Petunia is fairly new to me, but it was love at first sight. I’ve never met a sweeter goose. It was originally published in 1950 by Roger Duvoisin, and has a timelessness that is so endearing.

She’s a bit sassy, a bit bossy, but has a lot of heart. She means well, but now that she has found A Book, she thinks she has all of the wisdom in the world. The farm explodes (quite literally) with mayhem and mishaps, and Petunia realizes that perhaps wisdom comes from reading the actual pages.

Do you have any other favorites that spread such classic charm?

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