5183 Fall 2025 Information Resources and Services for Children discussion
Reading Responses 2 (Wk5: 9/16-22): Picture books
1. Citation (APA 7th edition):Shaw, N. (1986). Sheep in a shop. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
2. Annotation:
This concept book uses playful rhymes and silly sheep to introduce shopping vocabulary and sequencing. Its humor and rhythm make it especially appealing for young readers.
3. Commentary (~100 words):
Nancy Shaw's Sheep in a Shop is a fun and interesting concept book that mixes silly rhymes with bright, cartoon-like pictures. The art of Margot Apple is fun and shows the sheep packing up their cart, making choices, and finally surprise a buddy with gifts. This singsong rhythm is great for reading aloud and early language development due to its simple text and repetition. The pictures add to the humor by showing kids funny things they can see even if they can't read yet. The graphics and text work well together to make the story interesting and teach sequencing, vocabulary, and working together.
1. Wiesner, D. (1991). Tuesday. Clarion Books. 2. Tuesday is a wordless Caldecott picture book that uses vivid illustrations to tell the story of a peculiar Tuesday night involving floating frogs, flying lily pads, and a very confused city. This book stretches the imagination and is intriguing for a young audience.
3. Tuesday is a hilarious and imaginative wordless picture book that uses impressive illustrations to capture the attention of young readers. This book also won the Caldecott Medal in 1992 for its wonderful artwork and simple yet effective storytelling. The artwork was originally done in watercolor, which exemplifies such mastery of light and dark and mysterious atmosphere, which prompts curiosity and conversation, allowing readers to discuss the story and its mysterious events. Although this book has minimal words, it provides such fun and detailed imagery of amphibians, animals, and nature, which sparks the imagination and encourages children to make their own narrative based on these enchanting illustrations.
1. Wade, S. (2021). Q and U call it quits. (Illustrated by J. Martin). Quill Tree Books.2. Q and U Call It Quits is a fun concept book that teaches the relationship of the letters Q and U in an engaging, colorful format. The alphabet lessons are accompanied by themes of friendship and teamwork as the letters learn the value of appreciating each other after a brief breakup.
3. I chose this concept book because while I was researching, the colorful illustrations grabbed my attention immediately. I found the childlike illustrations to be such a unique and engaging way to teach the relationship between the letters Q and U to younger children. The story also reinforces themes like friendship and teamwork while teaching letters. The book would not be nearly as entertaining and effective without the illustrations, in my opinion. They contribute to the overall spirit of the book with bright colors and cute alphabet characters. The colors are bright without being overly aggressive, and the artwork has a cartoonish quality to it that creates a fun partner to accompany this heartwarming story. The facial expressions were just so incredibly fun and really supported the overall emotion of the book. I really enjoyed this one!
1. Raschka, C. (2011). A ball for daisy. Schwartz & Wade Books.
2. Daisy the dog and her favorite red ball are inseparable, until tragedy strikes at the park! The beautifully soft illustrations in this wordless book take the reader through Daisy's emotional journey from sadness and loss to joy renewed.
3. The illustrations in this book are soft and organic, with no hard edges or borders, which convey the movement of this excited dog and her playtime with the big red ball. The short lines next to Daisy’s tail and trailing behind the ball show the reader the action without needing to use words. The objects and characters in the books are well-defined, even in this loose illustration style, but the background is a soft blend of colors that convey the mood of the story rather than the specific setting. The book begins happily in bright blue and green shades, fades to sorrowful purple-gray as Daisy mourns her lost ball, then brightens again when Daisy runs with her new friend and ball.
Van Allsburg, C. (1985). The polar express. Houghton Mifflin.
The Polar Express is a Caldecott picture book about a boy who is struggling to believe in Santa. On Christmas Eve he is taken on a magical train ride that reminds him to always believe in the magic of Christmas.
The Polar Express is a children's picture book with a simple message. It is told in the first person context. Each page spread includes a muted picture that is mostly captured in the words of the story. The pictures help provide a clear visual of what is happening in the story, while still allowing the reader to use their own imagination even further. The book uses a mixture of pictures that match the story completely such as when they travel through the woods where the wolves roam and depicting Santa flying away to deliver presents.
1. Matheson, A. (2025). I will love you till the cows come home (K. Crumrine, Illus). Flowerpot Press.
2. In this board book, a mother sheep tells her child that she will love them forever by using farm idioms.
3. This board book contains a beautiful and sweet story that captures its audience with engaging illustrations and a rhyming scheme. The colorful illustrations back up the idioms the mother sheep uses by showing the amusing ideas the idioms portray, such as cows traveling-- luggage and all, to pigs taping cardboard wings to themselves in an effort to fly. The gentle rhyming scheme is perfect for little kids, as it makes them want to keep reading to finish the rhyme. Together, they tell the story of a mother’s unending love endearingly and engagingly, with pleasing images and a serene story.
Board Book
1. Citation
Patricelli, L. (2002). Yummy Yucky. Candlewick Press.
2. Annotation
This humorous board book contrasts foods that are tasty with those that are not, using bold, simple illustrations. Its sturdy pages and repetitive pattern make it ideal for toddlers learning opposites.
3. Commentary
Patricelli’s Yummy Yucky is highly effective in introducing the concept of opposites to very young children. The artwork features thick black outlines and bright colors that immediately capture attention, while the repetitive “yummy/yucky” pattern reinforces the concept through contrast. For instance, “Spaghetti is yummy. Worms are yucky” uses humor to make the lesson memorable and engaging. The sturdy board book format ensures durability for toddler hands, and the simplicity of both text and images makes it useful in early literacy routines. Its playfulness supports learning while encouraging laughter and participation during shared reading.
Wordless Book1. Archer, M. (2014). Daniel Finds a Poem. Penguin.
2. This nearly wordless book follows Daniel as he explores a park, discovering poetry in nature. The minimal text and expressive artwork encourage readers to narrate the story themselves.
3. Daniel Finds a Poem uses expressive illustrations to highlight the natural world as a source of beauty and inspiration. Each spread guides the reader’s eye toward details like the shimmer of a spider web or the shapes of leaves, encouraging interpretation and imagination. The limited text allows children to create their own dialogue and narration, making it an excellent tool for developing storytelling skills. The art is both soft and textured, capturing subtle emotions as Daniel interacts with animals in the park. This book is particularly useful in teaching observation and creative expression, linking visual cues to the idea of poetry.
Eating the Alphabet
Alphabet Book
1. Ehlert, L. (1989). Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z. Harcourt.
2. This alphabet book presents fruits and vegetables for each letter, accompanied by vibrant collage illustrations. It promotes both letter recognition and healthy eating.
3. Ehlert’s Eating the Alphabet is a visually dynamic introduction to letters and food. The bold collage illustrations create a textured, almost tactile feel that keeps readers engaged as they explore familiar and unusual produce. The balance of common items like apples and bananas with lesser-known foods such as jicama and kumquats broadens children’s vocabulary while reinforcing alphabet knowledge. The book also provides opportunities for discussions about nutrition and cultural food diversity. Its bright, uncluttered design makes each page easy to navigate, ensuring that the focus remains on letter recognition while also sparking curiosity about the natural world of food.
Berry Song1. Goade, M. (2022). Berry Song. Little, Brown books for Young Readers..
2. This Caldecott honor book takes the reader on a journey through the seasons narrated by a girl who picks berries with her grandmother and honors the land through songs of thankfulness. It inspires readers to connect with nature and celebrates bonds between family members.
3. The main message seemed to be about nature and how we’re connected to it. The girl and grandmother, our main characters in the story, sing songs to the earth as they harvest berries in every season. This message is conveyed through gorgeous and emotionally provoking images. There’s one illustration in particular of the girl holding a bowl of berries. Her body has merged with the nature around her, conveying that her connection to the world is solid and beautiful. The images have a watercolor feel to them and have this fluid and moving quality that invites the reader to explore their natural world.
1. Walsh, E. S. (1989). Mouse paint. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
2. Mouse Paint is a concept picture book that introduces color mixing through three white mice who fall into jars of paint. It is a simple and engaging book for preschoolers learning about colors.
3. The illustrations in Mouse Paint are cut-paper collage. They are bold and simple, making the book a great tool for teaching young children color concepts. Walsh uses large swaths of bright primary colors against a white background to draw the eyes of children toward the changes of colors as the mice mix red, yellow, and blue into secondary colors. The mice help visually demonstrate the concept of blending and mixing colors. The simplicity of the illustrations and pages themselves help show how color mixing works making it easier to understand than if the author had described it with text alone.
1. Blackall, S. (2020). If you come to Earth.
2. In the form of a letter written to a visitor from outer space, protagonist Quinn creates a guide for all things Earth, from where we live to what we eat and even the fish in the sea. She encourages us to take care of both the Earth and each other.
3. If You Come to Earth is a well done picture book that features brightly colored artwork in a realistic style that represents the attributes of Earth. Each of the added illustrations throughout the book depict parts of our world which lends to further understanding of the story’s concepts and themes such as illustrations of different types of homes when the text is explaining how humans live in different style houses or illustrations of different weather types which add further context to when the author is describing Earth’s weather patterns. The pictures also add further context such as thought bubbles which illustrate different experiences such as the loss of a house or even a figure with an accurate ASL alphabet. Each of these elements add to the overall success of the story in describing the complexities of our world and the reader’s experience.
CitationHenkes, K. (2015). Waiting. Greenwillow Books.
Annotation
This wordless book follows a group of toys sitting on a windowsill as they patiently wait for different events such as the moon rising, rain falling, and fireworks lighting the sky. The gentle narrative invites children to notice the beauty of small changes over time.
Commentary on Art and Message
The soft, muted illustrations use careful lines and calming pastel colors to create a sense of quiet anticipation. Henkes captures shifts in light and weather, allowing readers to sense the passage of time without any text. The uncluttered images help young children focus on observation and emotions, reinforcing the theme of patience and mindfulness. The art communicates the story clearly, making it easy for children to interpret the characters’ feelings and the gentle surprises of everyday life.
1. Gág, W., & Gág, H. (2004). The ABC bunny. University of Minnesota Press.
2. This alphabet book reads through the letters of the alphabet with a word that begins with each letter. The letters of the corresponding pages rhyme with each other, promoting letter recognition and rhyme.
3. Gág chose to hand draw the pictures throughout this book, making for beautiful sketches to follow Bunny as they journey too Elsewhere. Though simplistic, "jaunty air" is wonderfully shown through dandelion seeds flying and the strokes of the pencil allowing the reader to follow them through the air. The illustrator drew signage on several of the pages telling the reader where Bunny was on his journey. Though we assume the reader themself cannot read the sign, as this is an alphabet book, an adult could easily show the reader where Bunny is. I believe children would be drawn into the images as they are learning the alphabet.
1. Robinson, C. (2019). Another (C. Robinson, Illus.). Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
2. This wordless picture book features a young child and cats as they wander into a different universe. The illustrations provide a whimsical world that will have you turning the book upside down to see where the characters are going.
3. The art style is rendered in paint and collage with digital editing. It's a whimsical style that enhances the story of discovery and wonder. The background colors are white or black, with the rest of the colors being toned. There are multiple sections where you have to turn the book upside down to see what the main character is doing. I particularly enjoy the illustration we see of the girl hanging upside down with her beaded hairstyle dangling down on a stark white page. It catches your attention immediately. The lack of words opens up an opportunity for multiple discussions, but I think none are stronger than the message of wonder and possibilities.
Henkes, K. (2004). Kitten’s first full moon. HarperCollins.
Kitten just wants a bowl of milk, and so many obstacles are in the way. Poor Kitten.
This is a truly adorable book. The art is entirely in black and white, highlighting the big bowl of milk in the sky, but it is so endearing with the kitten's little paw licks and the reference to a butt wiggle before a jump. Some lines are repeated throughout the book, such as “Still, there was a little bowl of milk, just waiting,” which provides new readers with the repetition they need to learn. The concept of the little kitten mistaking the full moon for a bowl of milk is silly and allows kids to laugh at it.
1. Briggs, R. (1978). The snowman. Hamish Hamilton.
2. The Snowman is a wordless picture book that tells the story of a boy who builds a snowman that magically comes to life. The book’s sequential sketches emphasize nostalgia and childhood imagination.
3. The Snowman draws its readers to the young boy’s story through its delicate sketches. The sequentially framed style of the book helps guide the reader through the story as though they are experiencing the dreamy events alongside the characters. This is best seen through the scene in which the little boy and his snowman soar across the world together. This scene spans several pages, with the image frames widening as the adventure unfolds and the pair moves farther from home. When they return, the frames decrease to match the boy’s rapid enthusiasm to see his friend in the morning. The story ends in a solitary, small frame that reflects the book’s entire reminder of the magic of childhood.
1. CitationThong, R. (2000). Round Is a Mooncake: A Book of Shapes (Illustrated by G. Lin). Chronicle Books.
2. Annotation
A concept book that teaches shapes through everyday objects in a Chinese American neighborhood. The patterned text and vibrant illustrations make abstract concepts concrete and culturally rich.
3. Commentary
I really enjoyed Round Is a Mooncake because it takes something as simple as learning shapes and ties it into everyday life. The book shows how circles, squares, and rectangles can be found in food, toys, and household objects, all through the lens of a Chinese American neighborhood. The pictures are colorful and inviting, and they highlight the shapes clearly without feeling too “educational.” I especially liked the cultural details, like lanterns and rice bowls, which give the book a sense of family and community. It teaches shapes, but it also celebrates traditions in a way that feels warm and relatable.
1. Citation
Anno, M. (1977). Anno’s Counting House. Collins.
2. Annotation
This counting book depicts two houses with shifting groups of people and objects. Readers practice counting while following subtle visual storytelling.
3. Commentary
What I like about Anno’s Counting House is that it makes counting feel like part of a story instead of just numbers on a page. Each spread shows people and objects moving between two houses, so you really have to pay attention to notice the changes. It turns counting into a kind of puzzle, which makes it fun and interactive. The soft watercolor illustrations give the book a calm, almost quiet feeling, but there’s still so much detail to look at. It’s a great way to help kids practice counting while also teaching them to slow down and really observe.
1. Fallon, J. (2022). Nana loves you more. Macmillan
2. This board book tells all about how much our nanas love us.
3. This board book is great for kids to read. It talks about how we may love our nana, but nana loves us more. It has a sort of a rhyme scheme to it "More than the moon? More than the stars? More than all of the planets by far!" It has cute illustrations of panda bears as the kid and the nana and uses other animals as well to illustrate other characters "cats with super cat powers!" It is like a love letter to nanas. I happen to have a very close relationship with my nana and even though it's a kid book she loves me more just like in this story.
1. Klassen, J. (2012). This is not my hat. Candlewick Press.
2. This humorous picture book is about a fish who stole a hat and is certain that he will not be found out. He swims through the ocean assuring himself that he is in the clear, but little does he know that he may not be as sly as he thinks he is.
3. In This Is Not My Hat, the sentence structure in the text is very simple, and the muted, monochromatic color palette of the illustrations match the simplicity of the text. Though the illustrations appear simple and basic at first glance, the reader quickly realizes that the illustrations tell a story all their own. For example, on one spread, a big fish is illustrated with a circular eye. On the next page, the same fish is drawn, and the only change is the eye now drawn to a slit. Even this slight change clearly portrays the fish’s emotional shift from indifference to annoyance at his hat being stolen. Additionally, the last three spreads of pages do not have text, but the illustrations expertly deliver a humorous ending to the story that get young readers giggling at the outcome.
The Stray DogSimont, M., & Sassa, R. (2003). The stray dog. Harpertrophy.
The Stray Dog is a Caldecott-winning novel that tells the story of a family that finds and falls in love with Willy the dog, whom they believe may be a stray. What begins as the family innocently feeding a dog who looks to be hungry ends with a family that cannot stop thinking about Willy.
The Stray Dog’s illustrations are completed with stunning watercolor-like images and soft colors. The soft images of each page allow them to be easily viewed while reading the story. The saturated colors set the mood of the story and cause the reader to join the family in their desire to bring Willy home. When the illustrator chose to show the faces of the characters, they added to the mood and tone of the story. At times, the size of the dog was larger than some of the people, allowing him, as the main character, to stand out on the page. As the story draws to the falling action and resolution, the color hues begin to change, showing brighter colors and happier times.
Me... JaneMcDonnell, P. (2011). Me ... Jane. Little, Brown.
Me…Jane is a Caldecott-winning novel which tells the story of a little girl named Jane and her love for plants, animals, and all things nature. Jane spends her time as a little girl studying nature and dreaming of living in Africa one day with the animals.
Simplistic, watercolor images with soft lines and soft colors were the focus for the illustrations of Me…Jane. The images were cute and told the story as it is read, making it easy for the reader to follow along. On almost every page that a reader reads, there are more realistic images or sketches of the words on that particular page. I found this interesting and appropriate with the topic being about a girl who was researching animals and nature. The end of the book ends with photographs and sketches of and from Jane Goodall. I believe children will enjoy finding out this is a true story at the end of the book
Moo, Baa, La La La!Boynton, S. (1995). Moo, baa, la la la! Little Simon.
This quick and rhythmic board book allows the reader to discover several different animals and the sounds they make. Engaging the reader with animals a younger child would know and some silly jokes pages throughout.
Moo Baa, La La La's illustrations are cartoon like with bright colored pages. The animals' colors are simplistic with small pops of color. I would imagine this is to allow the child to focus on the animal more. Each animal is drawn to take up most of the page, allowing the reader to once again focus on which animal sound is being featured. This book would be educational yet engaging for children. After learning several different animal sounds, the author asks the reader at the end about the sound they make.
The Snowy Day1. Keats, E. J. (1962). The Snowy Day. The Viking Press.
2. The Snowy Day is a classic Caldecott winner about the adventures of a boy named Peter, whose day includes playing in the first snowfall of the season. This book features amazing artwork and embodies the spirit of imaginative play, intended to be cherished after sunset.
3. The Snowy Day is a captivating and outstanding work of art that won the Caldecott winner in 1962. This trailblazer book was considered groundbreaking because it was the first full-color picture book to present a small black hero. Peter takes readers along a journey of beautiful scenes depicted in colorful collage illustrations in the first snowfall of the season. This is captured throughout unique scenes such as Peter making footprints, tracks, and snow angels in the snow. The story also takes readers on a journey inside the mind of a little boy who tried to capture his day of fun forever, which is depicted at the end of the story with Peter checking his coat. With each new colorful scene, the book brings art and imagination together so wonderfully that it makes it a favorite.
Falwell, C. (2001). Turtle splash!: Countdown at the pond. Greenwillow Books.
This counting book tells the story of a day with ten turtles out on a pond. As various happenings come upon them the turtle begin to leave a log allowing the reader to practice counting down from 10 to 1.
Turtle Splash! is a fun and quick story that allows the reader to learn the math skill of counting down while reading. The pictures are done with soft lines, cool colors, and leaf print paint images. Each page adds to the story as the numbers decrease, and another turtle has left the log for one reason or another. Each of these reasons has allowed for more illustrations of other animals in nature to appear in the story. The last page of the book tells the reader how to make their own leaf prints which are illustrated on several pages throughout the story allowing the reader a chance to create art themselves.
Bang, M. (1999). When Sophie gets angry--really, really angry...... Blue Sky Press.
When Sophie Gets Angry-Really, Really, Angry... is a concept book that addresses Sophie and her anger. The book shows that Sophie got angry, but what she chose to do with her anger, and how she is received when she is with her family.
When Sophie Gets Angry addresses when Sophie is upset because her sister takes a turn with a toy. All children have to learn to share, but because Sophie was not wanting to share, she got hurt which made her even more angry. The book addresses that Sophie is angry, but also what Sophie does with the anger. She goes outside for a run, explores nature until she is calm, and then walks back home. Giving children the tool they need to deal with their own anger. The illustrations cover the entire page with bright and vibrant colors. What I noticed were how the colors were symbolic to Sophie's mood. When she was angry, the colors were red and purple and explosive. As she began to calm down the cooler colors began to take over the page.
Wiesner, D. (2013). Mr. Wuffles! Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Mr. Wuffles is a wordless picture book that tells the tale of a cat that likes just one of his toys. The toys and bugs of the house, work together to get away from Mr. Wuffles.
This wordless book was a somewhat confusing. Some of the pages had classic cute illustrations and others the pictures were in comic strip form, with a few to a page. The story was telling the reader of a cat that only likes one toy, and the toy wants away from the cat. This particular toy is a spaceship with aliens, and something goes wrong with their ship. The aliens and bugs of the house, work to fix the ship in order to get away from the cat. Though I was able to depict what story the illustrations were telling, I felt like the comic strip format, and artwork on those pages did not add to the book.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick:The Invention of Hugo Cabret
1. Selznick, B. (2007). The invention of Hugo Cabret. Scholastic Press.
2. The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a Caldecott Medal picture‐book/novel hybrid: it combines text with many full‐page illustrations (nearly 300 picture pages) to tell a story as much through images as through words.
3. Brian Selznick’s art in The Invention of Hugo Cabret is immersive and cinematic, with charcoal sketches that evoke the dim corridors, clocks, and hidden spaces of a 1930s Paris train station. The interplay between pictures and text slows down some moments and accelerates others—chase scenes, for example, are visually paced like film frames, tension building through a sequence of images. This style not only heightens the mystery of the automaton and the secrets Hugo is trying to unlock, but also reinforces the themes of time, machinery, and memory. The visual detail gives readers clues (in drawings of doors, notebooks, the automaton itself) that deepen understanding beyond what the words alone could accomplish. Overall, the art is not decorative but essential to delivering the novel’s emotional and thematic weight.
Big Feelings1. Kaufman, S. & Penfold, A. (2021). Big feelings. (S. Kaufman, Illus.). Knopf Books for Young Readers.
2. In this fun, colorful board book readers explore different emotions like sadness, anger and happiness. Showing readers how everyone can have big feelings and how they can be expressed in a healthy way.
3. Big Feelings is a bold, brightly illustrated board book that explores the wide range of human emotions. It's cartoon-like style, bold colorful art, and simple text allows readers to experience the exaggerated expressions and lively scenes throughout the story. The language is playful and humorous, balancing the more serious theme of managing one's emotions. This balance offers a relatable and engaging approach to emotional expression for young readers. The final page invites parent-led discussions about different emotions, and the diverse characters expressing varied emotions help readers begin to recognize their own big feelings.
Citation: Cordell, M. (2017). Wolf in the Snow. Feiwel and Friends.
Annotation:
This wordless picture book tells the parallel stories of a young girl and a lost pup who each find themselves separated from their families. Through expressive illustrations, the book conveys themes if empathy, bravery, and the power of helping others.
Commentary:
Matthew Cordell's Wolf in the Snow relies on expressive watercolor and pen and ink illustrations to communicate emotion and narrative without using words. The snowy landscapes are rendered with broad, textured strokes that create both atmosphere and tension, while the characters' faces and body language carry the emotional weight if the story. Cordell effectively uses color contrast, the girl's bright red coat against the stark white snow, this draws the reader's focus and heightens the sense of isolation. The wordless format invites children to interpret and narrate the story themselves, fostering language development, empathy, and critical thinking as they piece together the visual clues.
1. Roy, M. (2024) Can you do this? An imagination play book. Blue Star Press.
2. This concept book introduces imaginative movement as a way to play and engage with a book. Readers are encouraged to move and play in various ways to match the text and illustrations.
3. I think this book is a fun way for kids to actively engage in the act of reading or being read to. The actions and reactions move through the book with colorful, eye-catching illustrations with minimal background that allow the reader to get drawn into the actions the kids on page are participating in. A lot of times, the actions are instructional, like “take 3 steps forward”, but there are many opportunities for kids to imaging how their limbs and movement can be something else. One of my favorite actions in the book is “Can you spin around like a ceiling fan?” and on the next page “Uh-oh, the fan broke off the ceiling! Now, spin around like a tornado”. The book closes with a few pages of grounding, calming movements that can help regulate kids and help them calm their bodies after the excitement of the book.
Logue, M., & Zagarenski, P. (2012). Sleep like a Tiger. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Children.
This Caldecott-winning novel follows a little girl that insists she is not tired and not ready to go to sleep. Her parents help her get ready for bed and explain to her how all the animals of the world sleep.
Sleep Like a Tiger uses large pale colors and bold lines to depict a little girl who does not want to go to sleep, and her parents who are allowing her to explore what staying up would be like. As her parents are helping her get ready for bed, they are also explaining to her how several different animals sleep. The illustrations are large and fill the entire page with details to discover in every corner. As the little girl's parents describe how each animal sleeps and that animal is illustrated, it is made to take up almost an entire page. The illustrations add to the story, and if the reader is looking, add hidden details. For example, the beginning of the book states that the "sun went away," and on the edge of the page a toy tiger is carrying the sun away.
Sidman, J., & Zagarenski, P. (2009). Red sings from treetops by Joyce Sidman. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.
This Caldecott-winner illustrates and describes how colors change throughout the different seasons.
As seasons change, the way we see colors, and what colors we see often change as well. This book illustrates and eloquently describes several different colors and how they change and work together throughout the four seasons. As the Sidman describes the colors and what they do during the seasons, Zagarenski's illustrations match her descriptions. As a reader, if you look a bit closer on several of the pages, there are soft sketches of other images in the background that add to the overall illustration. I enjoyed how the reader can see how you do not lose a color in any season, just some become more prominent, and others begin to work together in nature. The personification of the colors added to the book and what the illustrator could do with the pictures to make the come to life for the reader.
Reagan, J. (2018). How to babysit a grandpa. Alfred A. Knopf.
How to Babysit a Grandpa is a board book in which a little boy's parents go out, and his grandpa comes over. He describes what to do if you are babysitting your grandpa.
How to Babysit a Grandpa is full of cute and colorful illustrations which speak to the directions the little boy is giving. On each page, the reader is being given a new list on what to do during different parts of his time with his grandpa. The illustrations are bright, but with soft colors and strokes, and cartoonish. The pictures are well done in depicting that list, and make it seem that both characters are enjoying their time together. I believe this is such a cute and clever way to address grandparents watching the grandchildren and allowing the grandkids to think they are watching the grandparent. In the end, the little boy gives the grandpa the picture he drew for the grandpa during naptime and wants to know when he can watch him again.
Garton Scanton, L. (2009). All the world. Beach Lane Books.
This Caldecott-winning book depicts how all the world works together, and it is all about the people that are in it.
The illustrations in the book were beautiful. The stroke-lines on each page caught my eye. I found myself immediately drawn to the illustrations even before the words on the page. Visible stroke lines and what looks to be colored pencils to create the illustrations helped portray the story well. The story connects nature and the everyday life of people to each other. The book promotes how, in this world everything and everyone belongs and has to work together. I spent a lot of time looking at two pages in particular. The first was of different individuals or pairs planting different parts of a garden; then as you turn the page a full spread illustration of a farmers market shows all of the same people coming together to help each other with the things they grew. The pictures in this book were remarkable and truly told the story on their own.
Jeffers, O. (2014). Once upon an alphabet: short stories for all the letters. Philomel Books.
An alphabet book where each letter is paired not just with an alliterative phrase, but with a charming short story as well.
Jeffers continues with his traditional illustrative style in this unique picture book that celebrates the alphabet and the magic woven through alliteration. Rather than the expected examples like “D is for dog,” Jeffers uses “Danger Delilah” and tells a short story about the little daredevil who “laughs in the face of death and dances at the doorstep of disaster” (Jeffers, 2014). The illustrations vividly showcase these daring acts, as well as other death-defying stunts like juggling knives and riding a donkey through a ring of fire. Her fearlessness knows no bounds—until we see her dad hollering from the door to come to dinner, threatening to withhold dessert if she’s not prompt. Each story is unique and offers different takeaways for the reader. I believe the quality of the artwork enhances the storytelling and increases the overall entertainment value of the book. Each letter features different color tones, all rendered in Jeffers’ signature style. The only drawback is that Jeffers’ handwriting can sometimes be hard for younger children, who are just beginning to read independently, to decipher.
Blackout
Dr. Buffy wrote: "Part 1: Add ALL the required children's books that you read for this week to the Goodreads group bookshelf. The children's books that you read each week must meet certain criteria--see the Weekly..."
1. Citation
Rocco, J. (2011). Blackout. Disney-Hyperion.
2. Annotation
This Caldecott Honor book tells the story of a citywide blackout that brings a family and community together. The illustrations shift from dark blues to warm, glowing scenes as neighbors share the night.
3. Commentary
I found Blackout especially fun because it takes something that could feel scary and turns it into a celebration. The illustrations capture the hustle and bustle of city life, then contrast it with the peaceful glow of flashlights and stars once the power goes out. I liked how the family goes from being disconnected and busy to actually enjoying time together. The city scenes lit by candles and the night sky feel warm and full of connection. The book shows kids that sometimes unexpected changes can bring joy and togetherness, which is a great message.
1. Hest, A. (2024). Bunny should be sleeping. Random House Studio.
2. This concept book is a wonderful source for children learning or struggling to sleep alone. Bunny has gone through his entire bedtime routine but is only missing being tucked in my his Dad, and learns the most important step of bedtime.
3. "Bunny Should be Sleeping" is an adorable book that uses a small bunny to teach children that sleeping alone can sometimes be scary, but we can also be brave. The art is done in a very soft and an under-stimulating style that makes this book perfect for reading at bedtime. The narrative follows bunny through his bed-time routine and is told in an easy to understand language for children. It repeats words and reinforces their meanings, for example, "The bed is high, and he looks up high, at Dad sleeping. 'You forgot to check on me,' Bunny whispers." The illustration shows a small bunny trying to reach up to his Dad who is sleeping in bed, corresponding with the text, but also giving the reader new information, such as Bunny being too short to reach Dad on his own. Overall, "Bunny Should be Sleeping" is an adorable concept book that helps parents teach their kids that sleeping alone is sometimes hard, but the parent's love is always with them.
1. Citation
Maclear, K., & Zhang, G. (2024). Noodles on a Bicycle. Random House Studio.
2. Annotation
This Caldecott Honor book follows a noodle delivery man zipping through Tokyo with a towering stack of bowls. The story captures the energy of city life with a playful twist.
3. Commentary
Noodles on a Bicycle feels fast, fun, and full of life. The art makes you almost hear the clatter of bowls and the rush of traffic as the delivery man weaves his way through the streets. What I liked is how the pace shifts, and sometimes it’s all speed and motion, and then there are quieter moments where you can slow down and notice the details of the city. The combination of watercolor and ink gives the illustrations a lively, spontaneous feel. Overall, it’s a joyful celebration of movement, food, and the rhythms of everyday life.
1. Citation
Krauss, R. (1953). A Very Special House (M. Sendak, Illus.). Harper & Row.
2. Annotation
This Caldecott Honor book is about a child imagining a “special house” filled with unusual creatures and objects. The whimsical text pairs with Sendak’s playful illustrations to bring the fantasy alive.
3. Commentary
What I like about A Very Special House is how it captures the way kids can dream up entire worlds out of nothing. The child’s “special house” is filled with lions, monkeys, chairs, and even a turtle, and Sendak’s drawings make it all feel real and magical at the same time. The story doesn’t follow strict rules, and it just lets imagination run wild. The illustrations reflect that looseness with a fun, almost carefree energy. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to imagine your own “special house” and fill it with whatever makes you smile.
Outside In
1. Citation
Underwood, D. (2020). Outside In (C. Derby, Illus.). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
2. Annotation
This Caldecott Honor book reflects on the quiet presence of nature in our daily lives, reminding readers how the outside world connects to us even when we’re indoors. The watercolor and mixed-media illustrations add texture and movement.
3. Commentary
I loved how Outside In quietly reminds us that nature is always there, even when we forget to notice it. The book doesn’t feel preachy; it feels like a gentle nudge to look up from our busy routines and pay attention. Cindy Derby’s illustrations are soft and fluid, almost like they’re breathing across the page, which fits perfectly with the theme of connection. My favorite spreads were the ones where light and shadow spilled into the house, blurring the line between inside and out. It’s a calming, reflective story that makes you want to step outside and breathe a little deeper.
1. Citation
Frazee, M. (2023). In Every Life. Beach Lane Books.
2. Annotation
This Caldecott Honor book uses poetic text and gentle illustrations to reflect on life’s important moments—birth, joy, loss, and love. The story captures both the everyday and the extraordinary in simple, powerful ways.
3. Commentary
What I love about In Every Life is how it manages to be so simple and yet so moving. The words are simple, but they feel almost like blessings or reminders, when paired with illustrations that invite you to pause and think. Marla Frazee’s artwork captures small but powerful moments, hands being held, quiet reflections, laughter, grief, and it shows how they all weave together into the story of a life. The pacing is slow, giving the reader space to breathe with each page. It’s the kind of book that makes you stop and reflect, no matter your age.
1. Lies, B. (2018). The rough patch (B. Lies, Illus.). Greenwillow Books.2. The Rough Patch is a Caldecott Honor picture book about a fox who tends a beautiful garden with his dog until loss transforms it into a place of grief and, ultimately, renewal. With tender text and evocative art, the story gently addresses themes of sorrow, healing, and hope.
3. Brian Lies’ illustrations are richly detailed and emotionally powerful, using color and imagery to reflect the fox’s journey through grief. Early pages contain lush greens and warm tones as the fox and his dog tend the thriving garden. After the dog’s death, dark shadows and sharp, tangled plants convey devastation and despair. Lies then uses light and color symbolically—the discovery of a pumpkin seed and its growth bring brightness back into the fox’s world, visually signaling healing and renewal. The art is integral to the narrative, deepening the emotional resonance and making the story accessible to children who may be navigating complex feelings.
1. Mo, C. (2024). Home in a Lunchbox. Penguin Workshop.
2. In this Caldecott picture book, Jun and her family recently moved to America where she has trouble fitting into her new life. Through the love of food, Jun finds a community of new friends that help her feel accepted into her new school.
3. Home in a Lunchbox is an illustrations book with minimal words. Jun and her family move from Hong Kong to America, and she cannot speak English. The illustrations throughout the book are beautifully done to represent the emotions of loneliness, confusion, and struggle to fit into her new school. Times that Jun is feeling more alone, the images are more gray-toned and when she is happier, the images are more colorful and bright. The illustrations highlight how food brings together friends and family, and how that joined Jun to her friends in Hong Kong. Throughout the story, we see through the pictures that Jun is struggling each day but has her food to comfort her during this transition. Eventually, a diverse group of classmates befriend her during lunch. Jun can share her love of food with her new friends and begins to feel a sense of belonging.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?1. Martin, B., Jr., & Carle, E. (1967). Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Henry Holt and Co.
2. With repetitive, sing-song language and bold, colorful animal illustrations, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" is a board book designed for the youngest of readers to participate in color recognition and meanings to various animals.
3. "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" teaches color recognition by pairing each animal with bold, vivid collages made from hand-painted papers, which are then layered to create distinctive textures and shapes and naming the color within repeated, predictable text structures. Toddlers hear examples like "I see a red bird looking at me," prompting them to associate the color word with Carle's vivid collage artwork. By sequencing animals and colors for example, brown bear, red bird, yellow duck, blue horse, green frog, purple cat. The rhythmic, repetitive phrasing helps reinforce memory and makes distinguishing colors both interactive and memorable for young learners. I hold this to be true. My daughter, a 4 year old in Pre-K was introduced to this book in daycare and came to me at age 3 saying she could read. She memorized the book due to the ease, repetition style, and colors being associated with specific animals. This helped her feel confident that she could one day read other books. I like this book because it encourages reading, learning and engagement for our smallest of readers.
1. Walsh, E. S. (2007). Mouse Shapes. Harcourt Inc. 2. In Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh, a group of clever mice work together to build different shapes to protect themselves from a hungry cat. This concept book about shapes combines creativity and problem-solving with simple, engaging illustrations perfect for young readers
3 The art in Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh is clear and colorful, which helps keep kids engaged. The illustrations show the mice building things from different shapes like triangles and squares, which helps children understand shapes better. For example, the mice make a triangle fort to hide from the cat, showing how shapes can be useful. Simple drawings make the story easy to follow and help kids learn about shapes and working together in a fun way.
Flora and the Flamingo
1. Idle, M.S. (2013). Flora and the Flamingo. Chronicle Books.
2. In Flora and the Flamingo, two friends work together to learn to dance in harmony. With engaging pictures and lift the flap features this book appeals to an elementary audience.
3. This beautiful story of friendship is told with illustrations. It is a wordless book that tells the story of a girl and a dancing flamingo. Starting slowly, she starts to imitate the flamingo's movements and at one point depends greatly on the encouragement of this new found friend. By the end, they are leaping and moving in unison with joy! The pages are illustrated with detail and emotion with each move and prove that words aren't necessary to tell a great story. One of the most engaging features of Flora and the Flamingo is that the pages include fold down flaps that readers can peek and see the dancers interactions and responses. With such amazing illustrations and the delightful story that unfolds, it is no surprise that this book was also honored as a Caldecott Award winner. If I were reading this to my class, I would actually play classical music in the background and pause for each of the pages! Students will love it!
1. Leung, J. (2021). The truth about dragons (H. Cha, Illus.). Henry Holt & Company.
2. The Truth About Dragons is a beautifully illustrated Caldecott honour book that takes the protagonist on two very different but very beautiful journeys to discover two different dragons, or two different sides of their identity. This book utilizes vivid and lyrical imagery in the text and stunning paintings to explore the beauty of mixed heritage.
3. The illustrations in The Truth About Dragons are the key to understanding this book. The illustrator uses the typical components of European fairy tales, such as will-o’-the-wisps and scary monsters, to represent the European half of this child’s heritage. She uses bold shades of orange and red throughout these pages as well. Then she wraps us in the warmth and magic of Eastern legends in a land where mighty dragons are revered as good luck. Soft blues and greens and pops of other colours help to differentiate the Eastern tales from the Western ones with bright shades of orange, yellow, and red. Without these illustrations, it would be very difficult to understand that this child has two distinct cultural backgrounds. The text and the images work together to create a story that highlights both cultures as unique and meaningful all on their own. When they are combined, though, it can help a child realize the beauty of their own individuality and cause them to develop a love for themselves.
5183 Fall 2025 Information Resources and...
Books mentioned in this topic
Good Dog, Carl (other topics)The Undefeated (other topics)
Where the Wild Things Are (other topics)
Dog's Colorful Day: A Messy Story About Colors and Counting (other topics)
Watercress (other topics)
More...
The children's books that you read each week must meet certain criteria--see the Weekly Activities document for each week that a Reading Response is due in order to learn how many and what types of books you need to read.
This week you read Last Stop on Market Street, 1 board book, 1 wordless book, 1 alphabet book, 1 counting book, 1 concept book, and 5 Caldecott books (winners and/or honor books). You do not need to add Last Stop on Market Street; it’s already in the bookshelf.
Note: You may not be able to add a book, if the book has already been added to the group bookshelf by another student.
Part 2: Answer to the following questions in the comment area. Your response this week should focus on ONE book that you chose to read. Do not choose Last Stop on Market Street or the Caldecott book you shared with your group members for Group Activity 4.
1. A citation for the book, formatted in APA style. (Add a book cover/link to the book in the comment area, if possible. When you click on the link “add book/author,” a pop-up “add a reference” will appear where you can search for a book and add a link or book
cover.)
2. A brief annotation for the book, no more than two sentences. Be sure to identify what kind of book this is: board book, wordless book, alphabet book, counting book, concept book, or Caldecott picture book.
3. Provide a brief commentary on the book for the style and quality of the art and its usefulness in delivering the message. Include specific references to the book to back up your judgment. Your answers to #3 should be about 100 words.