Friday, August 28, 2015

Huff Post Lists 50 Great Picture Books of 2015



Looking for a few new picture books to pick up? Huff Post has you covered! Huff Post has recently shared it's list of 50 More Pictures Books From A Stellar 2015. If you're a picture book fan, than you definitely need to check out this list. Be warned, you may wish you could go get all the books, and spend the day reading them all. I for one would volunteer to do this! This is a stellar list. 

Here are just a few of the book listed. Two of which I have read and loved, which are:



Float by Daniel Miyares (Simon & Schuster): Following the rainy day adventures of a boy and his newspaper boat, every square inch of this book is a treat. The drama and disappointment hit when the boat floats away, but an uplifting twist leaves readers with their spirits soaring. And though it's a minor detail, I appreciated how, while racing down the street after his escaped boat, the boy still takes the time to look both ways before crossing the street. Safety first, people!



Lizard from the Park by Mark Pett (Simon & Schuster): Pett is a master of quiet illustrations that subtly pack an emotional punch. It may seem odd to use the word subtle about a book featuring a boy, his dinosaur, and a daring escape during a New York City parade, but trust me, it's fitting. It's in each of the tiny gestures, perfectly-angled head tilts, and touching in-between moments that the full extent of Pett's skill shines through. That being said, the daring escape is pretty awesome too.

Other books on the list:


Bernice Gets Carried Away by Hannah E. Harrison (Penguin): Compared to the limited emotional range of media-darling Grumpy Cat, Bernice is the Meryl Streep of the feline world. Harrison's vibrant art and clever (but not too clever) play on words makes Bernice the perfect companion for any mood.
Boats for Papa by Jessixa Bagley (Macmillan): A touching book about love and loss, sponsored by Kleenex (or at least it should be). If this debut is any indication, the prodigiously talented Bagley will have reduced us all to helpless puddles of tears before we know it.
The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt, ill. Oliver Jeffers (Penguin): The team behind the runaway bestseller The Day the Crayons Quit is back, this time following the harrowing adventures of lost and forgotten crayons. Like The Godfather II, it's a sequel that not only stands on its own merit, but may be even more colorful than the original.

The Dog that Nino Didn't Have by Edward van de Vendel, ill. Anton Van Hertbruggen (Eerdmans): A story about an imaginary friend that is interwoven with fraying threads of realism, Nino is a refreshing change of pace in the expansive imaginary friend genre. Rendered in scorching earth tones, this Dutch import might be the most visually jaw-dropping book of the year. 
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, ill. Sophie Blackall (Little Brown): Long before the Hundred Acre Wood, there was a Canadian soldier (the author's great grandfather) and his rescued pet bear. And by the way, did you know that Winnie the Pooh was Canadian? Maybe that explains his mild temperament and excellent manners.

Sonya's Chickens by Phoebe Wahl (Tundra): Sonya raises chickens on her home farm, but following a deadly fox attack, she must learn to cope with loss. And with the help of her father's timely storytelling (way to use that teachable moment, pop), she receives a valuable lesson about empathy. A warm hug on a crisp morning, Sonya's Chickens is The Lion King's Circle of Life... minus the soaring orchestral arrangement.

The Specific Ocean by Kyo Maclear, ill. Katty Maurey (Kids Can Press): Like the ocean itself, this book shimmers quietly on the surface but contains an unexpected depth. A valuable reminder that just because you can't take something with you, doesn't mean you have to leave it behind. 

To the Sea by Cale Atkinson (Disney*Hyperion): A story about the importance of being seen, Atkinson illustrates his story about friendship with a bold palette (mostly richly dark blues and radiant oranges), adding a level of high drama to this heartwarming book.
What a great list. I could sit and read picture books all day long. I'm definitely adding many of these to my TBR list. Check out the full list of 2015 picture books here. *Images and book content are credited to Huff Post's list here.
I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~ Anna Quindlen

Good children's literature appeals not only to
the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.
~ Anonymous ~