Tried & True and New: Picture Books
Our storytime experts are bringing you reviews of the latest from our Easy collection (or picture books) as well as some of their favorites used during storytime. We have thousands of picture books at each library, so this is just a small introduction to the collection. See all of our Tried & True and New reviews here on the blog.
In the Night Garden by Carin Berger
Reviewed by Emma
Take a peaceful journey through the night garden as a little girl is lulled to sleep. This book is illustrated with detailed collages and uses poetic prose, perfect for a bedtime story. Try to find the mysterious cat on every page.
Read-alikes:
- All Through the Night: Important Jobs that Get Done at Night by Polly Faber
- Dark on Light by Dianne White
- Winter Lullaby by Dianne White
- Flashlight by Lizi Boyd
- Journey by Aaron Becker
Pumpkin Day at the Zoo by Susan Meissner
Recommended by Laura
All the animals at the zoo are excited-it is Pumpkin Day! Follow along as the zookeepers pass out pumpkins to all the animals in this vocabulary-rich story. Children will enjoy seeing how each animal eats their pumpkin – and the mess they make the in the process
Read-alikes:
- Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
- Construction Zoo by Jennifer Thorne
- Birthday Zoo by Deborah Lee Rose
- A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
- Turtle and Tortoise are Not Friends by Mike Reiss
Busy Feet by Marcia Berneger (Susanna Chapman)
Recommended by Emma
Busy Feet takes a walk in plenty of different shoes while exploring opposites. It’s a great book for fans of rhyming poetry, colorful illustrations, and those who need a short read.
Read-alikes:
- Sweet Baby Feet by Margaret O’Hair
- Best Bear by Emma Dodd
- Flying! by Kevin Luthardt
- Opposites by Sandra Boynton
- Contrary Creatures: Unique Animal Opposites by James Weinberg
Benita and the Night Creatures by Mariana Llanos
Recommended by Laura
Benita has a new book and all she wants to do is read it. But the Night Creatures from Peruvian folklore want to scare her! Will Benita get to finish her book? Children will enjoy the bright illustrations of the not-so-scary Night Creatures and relate to the power of a good book.
Read-alikes:
- Shhh! I’m Ready by John Kelly
- The Wonderful Book by Leonid Gore
- A Place to Read by Leigh Hodgkinson
- Looking for a Jumbie by Tracey Baptiste
- Monster Trouble by Lane Fredrickson