Tried & True and New: Picture Books

The World and Everything In It by Kevin Henkes 

Recommended by: Laura Hargrove 

The World is a big place. There are big things in it and there are small things in it, and there are things in-between. This sweet picture book looks at things of all sizes and how the reader fits into the world too.  

Where in the World are You? by Marie G. Rohde 

Recommended by: Sarah Deay  

This brilliant yet simple book begins by introducing a cat sitting under a wobbly table, then keeps zooming further and further out to the apartment, city, country, planet, and beyond. This book presents very simple concepts such as colors and prepositions right alongside very complicated concepts such as the vastness of the Milky Way galaxy and the expanding universe. It reminds children and adults alike that we are a part of a bigger picture, and that we are all sharing the same world. The author’s note on the last page and her son’s inspiration for the story ads a very sweet personal touch. 

what’s sweeter by June Tate 

Recommended by: Sarah Deay 

This is a wonderful book for little ones who are falling in love with life. The narrator takes such unselfconscious delight in things that may appear ordinary at first, but which seem to sparkle with magic from their point of view. This book is an invitation to take joy in the beautiful and amazing things that make up our everyday lives, and children and adults who read it may find themselves becoming enchanted (or re-enchanted) by the world. 

Is That Wise, Pig? by Jan Thomas 

Recommended by: Laura Hargrove 

Mouse, Pig, and Cow are making soup! First they put in an onion, then some cabbage, but once Pig gets involved, the ingredients start to look a little odd. Then some unexpected guests show up and maybe-just maybe-Pig’s choice of ingredients aren’t so unwise after all. Young readers will delight in this book’s vibrant illustrations and the silly antics of Pig.