Picture Books                                                                                                                                                               Click on any book cover for more information at Amazon.

The Odd Egg by Emily Gravett

Simon &  Schuster, 2009

Duck is the only bird around with an egg; he even lifts his leg to check if something is coming out. He finds a large, green-spotted egg and tends to it. All the other birds’ eggs start cracking. In a series of cascading pages, the eggs hatch one by one, except for Duck’s egg. He waits patiently and finally, “Creak Crack,” the egg starts to crack open. A BIG surprise is on the next page, where you get to see what is hatched.

The soft illustrations and light colors are subtle, but the expressions on the birds are priceless. There are few words and little conversation, but Gravett proves once again that she can create a memorable story with a big ending with just that. The story doesn’t end on the last page; be sure to turn to the end pages to find a happy ending.

The Imaginary Garden by Andrew Larson, illustrated by Irene Luxbacher
Kids Can Press, 2009

Theo loved the garden at Poppa’s old house, and when he moves to an apartment with no garden, she comes up with a brilliant idea: They will create an imaginary garden. Theo and Poppa work side by side in a heartrending way, which is perhaps why the garden turns out so well.

So, the book cover seems plain enough, and the title page is quite simple; nothing prepares you for the explosion of color and rich, gorgeous flowers on the next page. Pen and ink and multimedia collage are the medium, but this illustrator does something extraordinary with them.

A wonderful story, superbly illustrated from a Canadian author/illustrator team that is relatively new to children’s books; I can’t wait to see what is coming next!

Beautiful Babies:A Touch-and-Feel Book by Karma Wilson

Little Simon, 2009

Every once in awhile, a fresh, wonderful board book comes along, and this is one of those times:  photographs of baby chicks, bunnies, a puppy, a kitty, and more, all with a touch-and-feel spot inserted in the photo. The materials used for the textures are great; for example, the feathers of the ducking are very soft and blend perfectly.

This is a winner, a step above the usual, and so wonderfully sweet, you can help but ooh and aah at the adorable babies.

Cat by Matthew Van Fleet, photographs by Brian Stanton
Simon & Schuster, 2009

The companion to Dog, Cat is equally delightful. From the cover to the end, there are things to touch and feel, pull, push, squeek and more. My favorite thing to do is to make the cats swat; on the cover, you push a lever in and the cats paw tries to catch the goldfish in the bowl, but the fish is too fast for him.

Bald cats, silky cat, aristocrat, and many more kinds of cats are presented in gorgeous photographs, several cats to a page. There is only one photo in the entire book that is not of a cat, and it’s a fun surprise when you find it. Be sure to look at the back cover, where cats are reading Dog.

I loved Dog and wasn’t so sure that I would like Cat as much, but I have to admit, that even a dog-lover like me was impressed with how much fun Cat is, as well.

Pajama Mamas by Kate Spohn
Random House, 2009

Each double page shows a pleasing mama with simple words, like “Kiss kiss Mama.” When you open the flap, that is nearly as large as a page, a beautiful baby is revealed with rhyming words, “Bliss bliss baby.”

The mamas are all different, but colorful and loving with their babies. The cause and effect of a loving mama on a sweet baby is wonderfully illustrated here, accompanied by the tactile experience that reinforces the concept for the littlest readers. Nicely done.