Hello, readers!
Welcome to the second installment of my Weekly Picks series!
I have 3 picture books to share with you all today. They are 3 books that are all very different from each other, but equally special in their own ways.
Flat Cat
Written by Tara Lazar, Illustrated by Pete Oswald
Flat Cat was born flat, and he liked it just like that! He could do many things that other cats couldn’t; Like sliding under a door or being able to hide anywhere. Until one day, Flat Cat accidentally gets put in the washing machine…then the dryer. Flat Cat was no longer flat, and he didn’t think he liked it like that…or did he?
Flat Cat is such a fun and silly book! This is another book one of my coworkers read aloud as a staff-storytime, and many giggles ensued. The illustrations are cute and cartoony, which adds to the books overall charm.
Aside from the goofiness of the story, it can also be interpreted with a deeper message. I learned from this book that being yourself can mean different things at different times! Some days you may want to be unseen and left alone, and other days you might want more attention, and both are okay!
Zoobilations
Written and Illustrated by Douglas Florian
A very fun collection of very rhyming poems about animals. Even though Poetry Month is over, it’s never a bad idea to read some poetry books to your kiddos! And if you do, I recommend this one.
Douglas Florian created paintings as illustrations for this poetry book. The images are almost childlike, which I think draws children in even more, because it feels relatable.
There’s actually a cute story of how this book came to be on this list.
I was sitting at the public desk at work, I had a big pile of books on the desk, and I was reading through each one to see if it would be fitting for a storytime I’m planning. A little girl walked up to the me, she was maybe 6 or 7 years old, pointed at my, admittedly alarming, massive book pile and, with wide eyes, said, “What are all those books for?”
So, I explained that I was planning a storytime, and I was trying to find the perfect book. To which she replied, “Ooh! I saw one over there that looked good!” and promptly ran to our Poetry Month book display. She was so happy and excited, I didn’t have it in me to use the usual children’s librarian phrase, “Walking feet, please!”
She plucked the book off of the display, skipped back to me, and said, “I think this one is perfect,” as she handed over the book.
It is indeed an adorable book, and though I won’t be using it in my storytime, I felt I would be doing an injustice to my new friend by not adding it to this week’s list.
Be a Tree
Written by Maria Gianferrari, Illustrated by Felicita Sala
Be a Tree shows the reader how we aren’t so different from trees in the nature surrounding us. Trees breathe like us, and they also have community like us and look after one another.
The story and illustrations are both incredibly soothing and peaceful.
I think this book would be really nice to read during a mindfulness storytime or read before doing some kid’s yoga. I think it would be best to read this outside, but it would be good indoors on a rainy day too.
Had I not read this book after writing my previous post, 10 of the Best Children’s Books to Read Outside, it definitely would have made that list as well.
Thank you for reading!
I hope you enjoyed my favorite reads this week! Let me know in the comments if you’ve read any good books this week too!
Have a great weekend!