Hug Me: Little Bunny, Little Bear

These two little board book, finger puppets will illustrate a parent's love for their tot. Whether taking the wee one dancing, tickling a belly, or sharing a treat, love is shared with a hug at the conclusion of both books.

Digital art is enhanced with soft puppet arms that are easy to manipulate to illustrate the featured spread. The interactive book will offer snuggles to bear, rabbit, and totz alike. 

Hug Me, Finger Puppet Book, Little Bear
Hug Me, Finger Puppet Book, Little Bunny
design by Lydia Ortiz
Chronicle Books, 2019

Top Shelf, Poetry Friday: Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets

Happy Poetry Friday! Our Top Shelf pick today is Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets. Bringing both shapes and Muslim worship to the picture book page, this work is an enriching masterpiece. From the rectangular mosque door to the octagon fountain, acts of worship and their setting in various countries are illuminated.

"Arch is the mihrab
that guides our way.
We stand and face it
each time we pray.

Relish this celebration with your readertotz! Happy Poetry Friday!

Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets
A Muslim Book of Shapes
by Hena Khan
illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini
Chronicle Books, 2018

Read & Ride, Magical Horses: Liz Mytinger

Welcome, newborn totz, to 2019! The world is wide and wonderful and full of books. As author/illustrators, Joan Holub and I continue to share the best board books which cross our paths. May you find joy in them with your family.

First up this year is Read & Ride Magical Horses. Four shaped board books nest inside a flat book box. When opened, the horses, pegasus, and unicorn have three scenes to meander through. Each horse additionally opens to share his/her story. Chestnut is curious. Blizzard is brave. Flicker is graceful, and Cloud is kind. Active verbs such as soar, gallop, and trot, are illustrated as well as kindness to community.

This dual book and play set will entertain and certainly be beloved by little horse enthusiasts.

Read & Ride Magical Horses
Illustrated by Liz Mytinger
Chronicle Books, March 2019

Poetry Friday: Where Do Diggers Celebrate Christmas?

For your construction worker and transportation enthusiastic totz, there's Where Do Diggers Celebrate Christmas? for the season. Diggers, cherry pickers, tanker trucks and more get into their holiday spirit.

"Where do Zambonis spend Christmas
after all the ice is clear?
Do they skate across a frozen lake,
spreading Christmas cheer?"

A white mouse takes the reader through Brianna Caplan Sayres rocking rhyme and Christian Slade's cheerful illustrations. Happy Christmas Poetry Friday!

Where Do Diggers Celebrate Christmas?
by Brianna Caplan Sayres
illustrated by Christian Slade
Random House, 2018

Meet the Latkes: Alan Silberberg

Happy Hanukkah! You might celebrate the holiday with this humorous picture book from Alan Silberberg, Meet the Latkes. A family of potato pancakes listens to Grandpa Latke's story, which does include Mega-Bees and alien potatoes. Applesauce, the dog, will set the telling straight for your readertotz.

Humor for your holiday, as the menorah is lit and dreidels are spun.

Meet the Latkes
by Alan Silberberg
Viking, 2018

My Very First 100 Words: English, French, Spanish

Sculpted, crafted, or painted, 100 things are included in My Very First 100 Words in English, French, and Spanish. Each page offers a collection of adorable subjects like "my special things," "at home," or "under the sea."

Whether found objects, crafted content, felted creatures, crocheted or knit gems, each page offers the corresponding English words for the collection pictured, the French term, and then the Spanish. Accompanying, thick flash cards give the specific language words for the objects individually shown. A younger child might match the fox in the book to the el zorro and le renard card. The older child might memorize all three names.

What a fun beginning to learning words in other languages. It is a boost to seeing beyond your child's own spoken word.

My Very First 100 Words in English, French, and Spanish
Cico Kidz, 2018

Poetry Friday: Run Wild

Put down your devices and Run Wild with David Covell this Poetry Friday. The exuberant, free illustrations and his injunctions will scoot you right out the door. Even if there's rain and a fall. Get up and keep going.

"Hey, You.
Sky's blue!
(forget your shoes)
Open
that door
and...

Sprout, you're out!
Chase the wind...
Can you grab it?

Go ahead...
Race a rabbit!
Crunch. Crack. Twig. Snap!

Happy Poetry Friday to you and your totz! Come on and explore!

Run Wild
by David Covell
Viking, 2018

House: by Michael Slack

House, First Words Board Books is a collection of five books which slip into the house-shaped box with die-cut windows. Four little books illustrate objects from the rooms they represent, while the larger book covers the living room. The final double-spread in each book shows the assembled, featured room. A black cat creates continuity with it's appearance. The entire set reads retro and future, simultaneously. Design lovers will soak in the imagery.

Whether it's a locate-the-object book, imaginary play in the house, or simply identifying things in our home, this a beautiful collection.

House, First Word Board Books
by Michael Slack
Chronicle Books, 2018

Poetry Friday: Where Do Jet Planes Sleep at Night?

Happy Poetry Friday to you and your totz! Enjoy this singsong board board of air transport quieting down for the night.

Where do skywriting planes sleep
after writing way up high?
Do moms read them bedtime stories
that are written in the sky?

Where do hot-air balloons sleep
after flames have made them rise?
Do they float off into dreamland
as the sunset fills the skies?

Beautiful, yes?

Where Do Jet Planes Sleep at Night?
by Brianna Caplan Sayres
illustrated by Christian Slade
Random House, 2018

Dr. Seuss's You are Kind

Who better to affirm a child's personhood and one's kindness than Horton the Elephant? Random House has released a small book titled, Dr. Seuss's You are Kind. Horton exemplifies friendship through his previous illustrations in Dr. Seuss books. He listens, helps with problems, and stands up for what is right.

"You teach EVERYONE MATTERS."

This is the perfect nugget of truth for your readertotz in today's atmosphere. Show them Horton who never gives up.

Dr. Seuss's You are Kind
Random House, 2018
Seussville.com

Little Scientist: Emily Kleinman

Chunky truth is what you find in mudpuppy's Little Scientist series by Emily Kleinman. The four square books fit in the little square box, ready for little fingers. Each book features four scientists and one field of study, including: earth and life, chemists, physicists, and astronomers. Diverse, great women and men are showcased in this science introduction.

"Jane Goodall learned that chimpanzees can feel love--just like we do.
Jacques Cousteau revealed the mysteries of the great ocean blue." Earth & Life Scientists

Enjoy this colorful little series with your readertotz. Share sixteen heroes who have walked before us and loved our beautiful world and beyond.

Little Scientist, Boxed Set
by Emily Kleinman
illustrated by Lydia Ortiz and Patrick Rafanan
mudpuppy, 2018

Now You See Me, Now You Don't: Silvia Borando

Such a clever concept! Fourteen animals, each wearing a bit of a shocked expression, remain in the same position throughout this small scale picture book. The only thing that changes is the background color. As it does, the animal of the same color disappears, apart from the eyes. On the white background, they can all be seen, and one disappears on every page but the first. Hm...

This engaging wordless book will delight and amuse. Just the googly eyes alone make a reader smile.

Now You See Me, Now You Don't
A Minibombo Book
by Silvia Borando
Candlewick Press

Bathtime Mathtime: Danica McKellar

Get ready for bath time with a little counting. Add one and one more and one more in this enjoyable math book from Danica McKellar. Alicia Padron's soft-edged illustrations are full of joy and increase the fun. Puppies, bubbles, and ducks add up in the tub as extended tabs show the equations and counted objects.

There's much to learn and explore before your totz' own bath and counting. 1, 2, 3: splish splash!

Bathtime Mathtime
by Danica McKellar
illustrated by Alicia Padron
Crown

Around the Block with Sesame Street: Sharing Things

Looking forward to Season Three of Stranger Things! In the meantime...

Top Shelf: What Can a Citizen Do?

What Can a Citizen Do? is fantastic! Top shelf material you'll want to own.

"A citizen's not what you are--a citizen is what you do.
A citizen cannot forget the world is more than you."

Perfectly timed. Altruistic. Thank you for this book! Take a look:



Bravo!

What Can a Citizen Do?
by Dave Eggers
illustrated by Shawn Harris
Chronicle Books

Wiggles: Claire Zucchelli-Romer

TouchThinkLearn books released Wiggles from Claire Zucchelli-Romer. Your first reader with be introduced to following directions, left and right, colors, and shapes. Neon pink, green, and yellow recessed areas guide dancing fingers over the blue pages.

Sound prompts reinforce the action and heighten the fun. Whoosh! Swoosh! Clap! Together the reader and listener shout, "The end!" And the call will likely come to begin again. Enjoy this clever, interactive sturdy board book with your readertotz.

Wiggles
by Claire Zucchelli-Romer
A Handprint Book, 2018

More, more, more: What's the Difference?

It's those similar things which confuse us often. What is the difference between shorts and Bermuda shorts? A terrace and a balcony? How about noodles and pasta, or a camel and dromedary? Emma Strack offers comparisons of the similar and explains the differences in What's the Difference? 40+ Pairs of the Seemingly Similar. 

Larger text introduces the questions for the reader, followed by smaller font with facts and roundup lists which include class and order, diet and size. Illustrator Guillaume Plantevin's work keeps the material from being overbearing. The palette, font, and layout remain open and inviting as one reads about veins versus arteries and basilicas as opposed to cathedrals.

This is a beautiful compendium which will answer many questions for you and your readers.

What's the Difference? 40+ Pairs of the Seemingly Similar
by Emma Strack
illustrated by Guillaume Plantevin
Chronicle Books, 2018

Just a Duck? by Carin Bramsen

Now a rhyming board book Just a Duck? tackles acceptance of who we are with our own strengths and limits. Duck wants to be a cat, yet he isn't able to climb and keep up with his friend Cat. When the latter finds himself in deep water, Duck is able to help with duck abilities.

Illustrations include double and single spreads, along with comic frames on two pages to show passing time and movement. Both creatures emote through facial expressions and big gestures.

There is much to discuss with first readers from this cheerful, accepting work.

Just a Duck? Duck and Cat! Series
Carin Bramsen
Random House, 2018

Beep! Beep! by Sam Hearn

After a short break, we are back with a board book revving up for summer vacation. Beep! Beep! has graduating pages which bring vehicles of color out for a race. The work nests in a shallow box for added durability.

Male and female animals race out of the city in colorful cars, vans, and trucks. The surprise on the final page shows everyone was driving to a foot race.

Teaching on several topics, totz will enjoy choosing their own winners. Beep! Beep!

Beep! Beep!
by Sam Hearn
Cartwheel, 2016

Dr. Seuss's 100 First Words: Jan Gerardi

How does this book not exist already? Well, it does, but it is spread out through Dr. Seuss' collection of works. Here now are 100 words illustrated by Jan Gerardi in Dr. Seuss' style. Grouped in categories and introduced by cats in hats, A, B, and C, first readers may learn and be entertained, simultaneously.

There are Wild Animals and Farm Animals, Outside and Home, Clothes and Pets included. The board book is large, so the entries do not feel compressed. I find it particularly fun to recognize familiar characters: Red Fish, Blue Fish, Yertle, and more.

Blocks of color frame the featured illustrated words. White portions hold the iconic font. Enjoy this introduction to the Dr.!

Dr. Seuss's 100 First Words
illustrated by Jan Gerardi
Random House, 2018