Crying is Like the Rain
by Heather Hawk Feinberg
JPIC Feinberg
Have you or your little person felt like, “You may want to shout like thunder or lash out like a lightning bolt,” this year? Crying Like the Rain, with a gentle font and engaging art, compares feelings to the weather. “They come and they go,” the book states and links our emotional storms with those in nature to normalize emotions big and small. A great beginning to positive conversations about how we’re feeling after almost of a year of living through a pandemic. Making a simple stress ball together may be the perfect activity after enjoying this book together.
Oliver the Curious Owl
by Chad Otis
JPIC Otis
Whooooo’s ready for a great new picture book with vibrant illustrations and an exciting adventure? Oliver, an inquisitive owl, teams up with an equally-curious lighting bug named Bug to explore beyond their home and inspire those around them to let their curiosity take flight! Check out Oliver the Curious Owl and then check out these adorable owl crafts or take a peek at the real thing with a Montana great horned owl live cam here.
The Big Book of Experiments
by Dr. Kate Biberdorf
J 507.8 Biberdorf
Ready to make fake tattoos, secret messages and “ghosts?” Check out these 25 science experiments you can do in your own kitchen with Kate the Chemist. The Big Book of Experiments shows just how fun and easy it is to be a scientist. Experiments include step-by-step instructions, an ingredients lists, full-color photographs and the ingenious messiness factor rating! You can check out sample experiments for Dancing Raisins and a Trapped Tornado, and if your family loves these at-home experiments, make sure to check out our Simple Science episodes from Family Fun Adventures.
This Old Dog
by Martha Brockenbrough
JPIC Brockenbrough
A sweet tale with full-page, delightful art sharing the story of an old dog finding a new friend as the baby of the house begins to walk, and they find a perfectly compatible shared pace of exploring the world around them. A love letter to the bond between young and old – canine or otherwise -- enjoy savoring this story together. If there isn’t “an old dog” in your home, try creating this sweet yarn version. If you need help creating a pom pom for this craft, check here.
If You Love Books, You Could Be…
JREAD Dennis
If You Love Books, You Could Be… would be a dream book for any librarian-wanna-be, but it also opens the doors to many other career possibilities for fellow bibliophiles. Kids can learn about agents, editors, graphic designer careers and more in this ready-to-read exploration of cool book careers. Inspire the youngest book lover in your home with this accessible dive into a world of possibility for those who find the greatest adventures in the pages of a book. Then check out these options for your young author to write their own story.
Feliz New Year Ava Gabriela!
By Alexandra Alessandri
JFIC Alessandri
“There’s nothing wrong with being shy. When you’re ready, your voice will come out and play,” young Ava Gabriela’s mother says to her when she’s feeling overwhelmed with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents as they enjoy the Columbian family’s New Year traditions. Ava enjoys her family’s preparations, even when she doesn’t feel ready to speak up. Filled with vibrant art, a joyful family, food and fun, this relatable tale will have you craving buñuelos and learning some Spanish through context along the way.
Every Night is Pizza Night
by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt
JFIC Lopez
Join pizza-obsessed Pipo as she finally decides to try some new foods with her friends Eugene, Farah, Dakota, and Ronnie and Donnie. Each eating experiment delights and stuns her taste buds. Warm and funny, with illustrations as energetic as Pipo, Every Night Is Pizza Night is a story about open-mindedness, community and family and includes a bonus pizza recipe. What’s not to love?
Odin Dog Hero of the Fires
by Emma Bland Smith
J636.708 Smith
Narrated by the heroic Odin, this book tells the incredible true story of the Great Pyrenees’ heroic feats during the 2017 Tubbs Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. Odin, Dog Hero of the Fires is a touching and inspirational true tale with some anxious moments but an incredible happy ending.
The Binder of Doom Hydrant-Hydra
by Troy Cummings
JFiction Cummings
The lastest book in the Binder of Doom series, Hydrant-Hydra is an illustrated chapter book featuring Alexander and the Super Secret Monster Patrol who work to keep their town safe from the monsters the adults can’t see. Great dialogue and large, frequent illustrations make this an enjoyable dive into chapter books for early elementary readers. Check out the Binder of Doom Monster Strike game (just scroll down to the bottom of the page).
Joy
by Yasmeen Ismail
JPIC ISMAIL
Impossible to read without a smile on your face, Joy, shares the delight of a kitten as she, “bounce, bounce, boing, boing, ding-a-ling, ring, rings” all across the vibrant pages until she encounters a mishap and needs her mom. Mom responds right away in just the right way – “I’m always here if you fall. All you have to do is call,” -- and sends Joy on her way again. A delightful celebration of an emotion we could all use more of this year. Enjoy this colorful reminder for your home.