Time for School Picture Books
Starting a new school year is very exciting for youngsters, but it can also be intimidating, frightening, and even lonely. I have compiled some great books that address learning, getting along with others, and dealing with feelings. The following books are all picture books and best for ages four through eight unless otherwise indicated.
100 Things I Love About School, by Amy Schwartz and brightly illustrated using graphite and watercolor with digital touch-ups by Dasha Tolstikova, is a rhyming, fun, and sometimes silly tribute to all that we enjoy about school. Rainy day, squishy clay, pots and pans, raising hands, hands in lap, afternoon naps. This book is geared toward ages three to five, as the subject matter deals with kindergarten and preschool.
Ruby’s Tools for Fixing Mistakes, by Apryl Stott, follows Ruby as she learns to overcome her anger using actual tools to calm herself down. She has a tape measure to count her breaths, safety goggles to help her see things differently, and pliers to help her be more flexible. But when her friends become bossy during a school project, she still loses her patience and causes a mess. She soon learns, with the help of her friends, how to make things right. The beautiful artwork was created using watercolor and digital ink.
Dragon Post, by Emma Yarlett, is the perfect little book to encourage writing. This clever book begins when Alex discovers a dragon under his bed. He first writes a letter to the fire department because of the fire-breathing dragon. Then he writes to the butcher to find out what to feed the dragon. More letters are written and received, and Alex receives actual letters that you can pull out and read. The reader will likely want to write their own letters after reading this book. The vibrant illustrations were created using mixed media.
Seahorse Is Furious and There Is Nothing You Can Do About It, by Morag Hood, demonstrates that it’s okay to have a bad day. We all have bad days, but this wonderfully bright and simply told story brings to light how, through a support system of love and care, your day can become much brighter. There is also a poster included, making this perfect for the youngest school-age readers, ages three to five.
Zebra and Yak: The Backwards Alphabet Book, by Paul Friedrich, cleverly begins with the letter Z instead of A! The cartoon illustrations, created using a ballpoint pen on notebook paper, a scanner, and an iPad, are hilarious, with the main characters filled with tongue-in-cheek humor. There will likely be plenty of giggles throughout, along with a great chance to learn the letters of the alphabet.
Where Do Possibilities Live?, by Kobi Yamada and gorgeously illustrated in open-page spreads by Juan Pablo Neira Zuniga, is an astonishing book rich with imagination. Here is a book that opens the mind to so many possibilities. The opening double-page scene showcases a possible homemade tent in a bedroom. But peek inside this tent and you see an outdoor scene at night. Here is a book waiting to be explored for all its possibilities. The inside flap perfectly sums up this book: Believe in your possibilities and they will believe in you.
The Umbrella, by Sylvia Walker, is a perfect book to demonstrate the importance of sharing. Zora is caught in the rain at the park when she discovers a small umbrella under her bench. She doesn’t hesitate when a boy asks if she can share the umbrella. More children come along, and each time, this magical umbrella expands just enough to reach over each child. Sharing and cooperation help these children become friends. The bright illustrations were created using watercolor and Procreate brushes.
I Told a Little Lie, by Judith Henderson, shows how a small lie, if the truth is not told initially, can morph into a much bigger lie. However, this adorable book doesn’t come across as preachy but instead delivers its moral in a lighthearted way. Henderson uses the cutest little critters to catch the girl in her lie, and the consequences of the lie soon become evident. The illustrations, especially the small ants, are adorable.
