Every Color

Every Color by Erin Eitter Kono (2016)

A polar bear longs for color in his snowy world, so his seagull friends enlist the help of a girl who mails bear a beautiful rainbow picture. While he loves the gift, it doesn’t quite solve his problem. So the girl spirits him away in her boat, and takes him adventuring all over the world. They paint pictures of all they see and send them home, so when bear returns he realizes that the whole world is reflected in his white home—and always had been. With a strong girl saving the day, bold colors, and a gorgeous painting of the Northern Lights, this is a great story for sophisticated storytime groups.

Themes/topics: colors, snow, arctic animals, boats, adventure

Sample text from two spreads:

It was the most amazing thing Bear had ever received. But the gift didn’t take away his discontent.

When Bear’s thank you note arrived—Seagull Express—the girl realized that she needed to go to him. She understood that he looked for color, but could not see it. She rigged her skiff and sailed across the ocean. “Come with me,” said the girl when she finally reached Bear. “I know where to find what you need.”

What’s a Banana? & What’s an Apple?

What’s a Banana? and What’s an Apple? by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli  (2016)

Who doesn’t love a good food themed storytime? These are  very silly rhyming odes to specific fruits—either apples or bananas per the title. Both titles are as much fun to read out loud Sayre’s “Rah Rah Radishes” but a little shorter (smaller trim size too). Both titles present real and imagined uses for each fruit, and will fit right into storytime.

Themes/topics: Fruit, food, eating, health, imagination, funny

Sample text from two spreads:

You can tote it. You can float it. Dress like one for Halloween.

You can grow it. Try to blow it—just pretend that it’s a flute. 

Cat Knit by Jacob Grant

Cat Knit by Jacob Grant (2016)

An adorably expressive cat forms a complicated friendship with a ball of yarn. When Cat’s transforms Yarn by knitting it into a cat sweater, Cat feels betrayed by his friend. Since snow/cold features predominately in this title, it will work with those themes as well. With large, clear illustrations and just a few words on a page, this title should fit well into most storytimes. Note: Jacob Grant is also the author of Scaredy Kate, another Everyday Diversity favorite of mine.

Themes/topics: cats, clothing, yarn/knitting, friendship, funny, mix-ups, snow

Sample text from first two spreads:

Cat and Girl had always been good friends.

One day, Girl brought home a colorfull new guest. His name was Yarn. 

Max Speed

Max Speed by Stephen Shaskan (2016)

One of the cutest little daredevils you’ve ever seen, Max Speed gets his room clean just in time for adventure. Hopping into his zippy red roadsters, he zooms along facing various road blocks with ingenuity and aplomb. With tons of action words, and repeating phrases like, “Had Max met his match?” and “Just in time,” this one is a storytime win. Great fun-Highly recommended!

Themes/topics: Superheros, problem solving, adventure, sharks, imagination, mothers

Sample text from four spreads,

Max feel gently down into…/

SHARK-INFESTED WATERS!

[speech bubble] ‘GREAT GADZOOKS!’

Had Max met his match? /

Just in time, Max spoke his super-secret shark language, “Sharky-shark-shark. Shark, shark-shark, sharky-shark. Shark, shark?” /

The sharks showed Max the way to the super-secret underground cave. 

Henry Wants More

Henry Wants More by Linda Ashman illustrated by Brooke Boynton Hughes (2016) #ownvoices?

A loving, multigenerational multi-racial family tries to keep Henry, the youngest, entertained throughout the day as his insatiable desire for repetition exhausts them all. There’s no shortage of love in the family however, and this title is sure to charm young and old—a perfect choice for storytime. I’ve also used it in my lapsit storytime by shortening it and sharing just a few spreads.

Themes/topics: family, love, having fun, siblings, grandparents, behavior

Sample text from two spreads:

 Papa’s lifting Henry high above his head. Henry’s face is joyful. Papa’s face is red. UP and UP and UP again. His arms are getting sore. Papa stops to catch his breath, but Henry hollers: [page turn]

MORE!

Grandma Play piano—it’s Henry’s favorite song. Henry, on her lap, claps and sings along. She plays it once. She plays it twice. She loses count at then. Our ears are getting weary, but Henry cheers: [page turn]

AGAIN!

Twenty Yawns

Twenty Yawns by Jane Smiley and Lauren Castillo (2016)

After a long day at the beach, everyone is sleepy. After mom falls asleep reading to her, Lucy finds herself wide awake in a sleeping house. She tiptoes around in the mysterious moonlight to retrieve her lovey, Molasses. Of course, she can’t leave the other toys behind, so tucks them all into the moonlit bed with her before they all—YAWN!—fall asleep. Castillo’s gorgeous large, clear illustrations paired with Smiley’s evocative prose make this a great fit for storytime.

Themes/topics: bedtime, beach, stuffed animals, being awake

Sample text:

The moon shone through the window, a silver veil that fell across the floor. Everything looked mysterious, even Lucy’s own hands on the bedspread. Suddenly, Lucy was wide awake.

She looked around. Everyone in the pictures seemed to be watching her—Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Elizabeth, Mom, and Dad. Even Fred, in the book that Mom had dropped on the floor.

Lucy slipped out of bed and padded to the door. Her dad was snoring in the living room. The house was verrrrrry quiet. Lucy needed Molasses, her bear. 

Let Me Finish!

 

Let Me Finish! by Minh Lê illustrated by Isabel Roxas (2016) #ownvoices

I’ll be honest, I’m not sure this one would work for storytime, but I know full well that what works for me is different than what works for you, so I try and give you enough information to make your own decisions. It might work great for those of you who do voices! This title has really grown on me with multiple readings. All the kid wants to do is finish a book in peace, but is constantly beset by animals just *dying* to deliver spoilers. With a giggle-worthy twist—or two—at the end, this title will resonate with book-lovers of all ages.

Themes/topics: reading, funny, dinosaurs, books

Sample text from three spreads, which switch between text and dialogue bubbles.

[kid] Here we go. I can’t wait to dive in.

[giraffe] “Ooh, I’m in the middle of that book too! That’s my favorite part”

[birds, bear and giraffe] “Don’t you love it when he reaches the top of the mountain—“

[kid  ]No! Not this time! This time I’m making it to the end! JUST LET ME FINISH!