Ambrea: Picture Book Favorites

 

Recently, I took a class on children’s picture books.  It was a delightful class and I learned so much about children’s literature, picture books, popular illustrators, important literary awards, and more.  I enjoyed it immensely!  However, over the course of 10 weeks I was tasked with reading over 240 children’s books.

Yep, you read correctly:  I read 240 children’s books in just under two months.

Which means I have a lot of books to share.

I’ve mentioned several award-winning books, but what about the books that haven’t won any awards?  Trust me, I found plenty of books to adore!  Here are some of my favorite picture books that didn’t manage to win an award, but definitely won my admiration:

 

Bunny’s Book Club by Annie Silvestro and Tatjana Mai-Wyss

Bunny loves to sit outside the library and listen to their outdoor story time.  Bunny, however, knows it won’t last forever and he desperately wants to keep reading.  Soon, he devises a plan to sneak into the library through the library’s book drop!  Bunny’s passion for books and reading spoke to my little librarian heart—how could I not fall in love?  Not only did I enjoy the silly antics of Bunny and his friends, I adored the colorful illustrations and bouncy, joyful narrative.  It’s a true gem of a book.

 

Once Upon a Book by Grace Lin and Kate Messner 

On a boring winter day, Alice wishes she could find something to do.  Much to her surprise, she embarks on a wondrous adventure in the pages of her favorite book.  I have loved Grace Lin’s work ever since I read Big Mooncake for Little Star.  Her latest picture book does not disappoint!  The illustrations are bright and brilliant, and the narrative is lovely and imaginative.  It’s a sweet, whimsical story with lots of little details to enjoy.  (My favorite part was picking out the little white rabbit on every page.  I loved the homage to Alice in Wonderland.)

 

Out of a Jar by Deborah Marcero

Llewellyn doesn’t like his big, messy feelings.  So, he comes up with a plan:  he’ll tuck each of his feelings into a jar and hide them away.  But what happens when his emotions decide it’s time to get out?  This is lovely book about feelings and how it’s actually okay to feel those big feelings.  I love the imagery that accompanies the narrative—the colorful jars, the brilliant backgrounds, the funny antics of one lovable little bunny.  It’s a delightfully funny book that makes emotions not so big and scary.

 

In Our Mothers' House by Patricia Polacco

Marmee, Meema, and their kids are just like every other family on the block.  They cook together, they laugh together, they dance together, and they host tea parties together—but not everyone can appreciate the Marmee and Meema and their big hearts.  Polacco is a fantastic artist, no doubt about that:  she creates magnificent sketches and drawings that are full of life, detail, and depth.  But there’s something special about Marmee and Meema’s story.  It tugged on my heartstrings from the first page.  I quickly fell in love with this little family and I adored hearing their story as they laughed, grew, and loved.

 

Wolfboy by Andy Harkness

Wolfboy is hungry—and drooly and growly and fussy.  And he thinks the rabbits will help!  This book is a joy to read.  It’s humorous, it’s colorful, and it’s unexpectedly suspenseful.  Will Wolfboy catch the rabbits?  And, if he does, what will he do with them?  It’s scintillating.  In particular, I loved artwork in this book.  Harkness uses a nontraditional medium for his work:  clay and photography.  Every page is a lovingly handcrafted, which charmed and delighted me from beginning to end.