So Many Wonderful New Picture Books

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I know you loveĀ finding new, wonderful picture books to read with children just as much as me. Here you’ll discover funny, silly, thought-provoking, and fun new books to share with your kids.

I continue to wish that the human charactersĀ in picture booksĀ reflected the diversity that is in our communities. I don’t understand why that’s so hard!? So thank you,Ā Ada Twist, ScientistĀ andĀ One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus TreeĀ for having a main character of color.

Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016

The Forgetful Knight Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
The Forgetful Knight by Michelle Robinson and Fred Blunt
Kids will crack up as theyĀ try to guess what the Forgetful Knight tries to remember what he’s doing — oh, yeah, he’sĀ seeking the dragon who swallowed his best friend.Ā When he catches up with that mean dragon, the knight gives the dragon a good telling off for eating so many people’s pets. (That’ll teach him!)Ā (Added to Dragon Books for Kids.)

Go to Sleep, Monster Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
Go to Sleep, Monster
by Kevin Cornell
George can’t sleep because he’s scared of the monster under his bed. His sister, Anna, gives the monster a stern talking to and learns that gasp! the under-the-bed-monster is scared of the monster who lives under the floor who, in turn, is scared of the monster under the room who is scared of . . . well, you get the idea.Ā The monsters and human kids learn that they can all be friends and that helps everyone sleep.

Necks Out for Adventure! Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
Necks Out for Adventure! by Timothy Basil Ering
Edwin wonders about his life staying hidden inside his shell. His mom tells him, “Necks out for adventure” and before he knows it, he’s forced on an adventure that will show him the world and save his kidnapped family. I love the illustrations and the courage of the main character.

Me and Annie McPhee Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
Me and Annie McPhee by Olivier Dunrea, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
This is a fun add-on (cumulative) storyĀ about what’s on the small island — is not just the narrator and Annie McPhee on the island. NO, there are dogs, frogs, pigs in wigs. And it all adds up to oneĀ crowded place. Silly & fun.

The Bad Ideas Book Club How to Eat an Airplane Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
The Bad Ideas Book Club How to Eat an Airplane by Peter Pearson, illustrated by Mircea Catusanu
You’ll be as puzzled as me as you follow along at this strange dinner party where the kids eat the parts of the airplane. It’s a very strange and goofyĀ way to learn the parts of a plane, that’s for sure.

our Great Big Backyard
Our Great Big Backyard
by Laura Bush and Jenna Bush Hager
Jane’s family is on a road trip across the United States — and she’s not happy about it. At first. Then, she slowly warms up to the amazing vistas and experiencesĀ the national parks and nature have to offer. Realistic and charming, JaneĀ is such a relatable main character. This excellent picture book will get any child excited for their ownĀ grand tour of the U.S. from the Everglades to Old Faithful.

Little Wing Learns to Fly Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
Little Wing Learns to Fly
by Calista Brill, illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell
Little Wing knows that a dragon never gives up. So, heĀ keeps trying and trying to fly. When he finally succeeds, he flies away from his mama before hearing the rules for flying. When he lands in a scary forest, his mama finds him to tell him about the rules again. And dragons always follow the rules. CharmingĀ illustrations and life lesson.Ā (Added to Dragon Books for Kids.)

ABZZZ . . . a Bedtime Alphabet Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
ABZZZ . . . a Bedtime Alphabet by Isabel Minhos Martins, illustrated by Yara Kono
Little ones will enjoy this playful, interactive alphabet book where D is for Day and O is for Off-Switch. I love the questions that engage readers with the text such as “Quick, find your off-switch! Try pressing your nose. Did that work?” (Added to Alphabet Books for Kids)

I love cake Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
I Love Cake Starring Rabbit, Porcupine, and Moose
by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Angie Rozelaar
Three best friends are excited to celebrate Rabbit’s birthday. They jump on the tramp, play pin the tail on the chipmunk, and are about to eat cake but where is the cake? Moose!? Did moose eat all the cake on accident in one big bite? The friends are upset butĀ MooseĀ fixes things — with another cake and this time that he shares.

A Dark Dark Cave Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
A Dark, Dark Cave
by Eric Hoffman, illustrated by Corey R. Tabor
What aĀ wonderfulĀ celebration of pretend play and imagination! A brother and sister bravely explore the dark, dark cave where they see bats flying, and crawling things on the walls, until their dad lifts the blanket of their fort and tells them they are being too loud and will wake the baby. What will they do next? How about horses?

Can I Tell You a Secret? Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
Can I Tell You a Secret? by Anna Kang, illustrated by Chirstopher Weyant
Froggy talks to us the reader and shares his big secret — he can’t swim! ThenĀ we give him advice — tell your parents. Which Froggy does and guessĀ what? They already knew and are ready to help him learn to swim.

Teddy the Dog Be Your Own Dog Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
Teddy the Dog Be Your Own Dog by Keri Claiborne Boyle, illustrated by Jonathan Sneider
Teddy is a confident, easy-going dog. He’s very surprised when he gets a special delivery and it’s Ā . . . A CAT! First, he tries to teach the little Fishbreath creature how to be a dog like him. Then, he realizes that it’s best to just be true to yourself. Clever and charming.

Superhero Instruction Manual Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
Superhero Instruction Manual by Kristy Dempsey, illustrated byĀ Mark Fearing
This book is just what you need (and me, too) because it’s not easy becoming a superhero without some tips. Step 1 is my favorite — combine your favorite color and favorite animal to get your superhero name — the Pink Python, for example. From hideouts to sidekicks to saving the world, this book has it all for budding superheroes. (Added to Superhero Books for Kids.)

Prissy and Pop Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
Prissy & Pop Big Day Out by Melissa Nicholson
The author / photographer writes about anĀ adventure her micro-pigs take withĀ colorful photos showcasing lots ofĀ adorableness.

One Day in the Eucalyptus Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree by Daniel Bernstrom, illustrated by Brendan Wenzel
When a snake eats him, the boy (from inside the snake’s tummy) encourages the snake to eat more — which he does. From grapes to bears, to a cat, to a beehive, . . . the list goes on (think Old Lady Swallowing a Fly) until just a small fly makes the snake burp everythingĀ all out. Good thinking on the boy’s part, eh!?

Dirt + Water = MUD Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
Dirt + Water = MUD by Katherine Hannigan
Girl plus best friend dog plus imagination equals a delightful picture book of pretend play fun.

Flip & Fin Super Sharks to the Rescue! Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
Flip & Fin Super Sharks to the Rescue! by Timothy Gill illustrated by Neil Numberman
What aĀ funny and fun story about sharks who just want to help — but unknowingly scare the humans on the beach. It doesn’t occur to the sharks that it’s THEM that the humans are afraid of, which make it quite funny to the reader.

How to Be Famous Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
How to Be Famous
by Michael Shalev
It’s hard to be a top-model pigeon we learn. People come from all over to take photos of said pigeon, even when he’s resting. Or are they taking photos of something else? The reader is in on the joke… that what the pigeon doesn’t know that he is not theĀ famous one. In fact, the zoo animals are. Irony.

Ada Twist, Scientist Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts
Curious Ada loves questions and thinking just as much as she loves science experiments. Even when in time out, Ada is thinking and wondering . . . all over the wall.Ā I love this spunky science-loving character of color and know you will, too.

Silly Wonderful You Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
Silly Wonderful You by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Patrick McDonnell
What a heart-warming book. AĀ motherĀ tells her daughterĀ how she couldn’t have imagined all the giggly, crashy, grumpy – ness of childhood, the glitter and glue creations, the surprises, the fun, the love, and the dreams come true.

My Favorite Pets by Gus W. for Ms. Smolinski's Class Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
My Favorite Pets by Gus W. for Ms. Smolinski’s Class by Jeanne Birdsall, illustrated by Harry Bliss
Sheep are Gus’ favorite pets. Which is why he writes this hilarious report for his class. . . You’ll laugh as he explains the basics with a bit of elaboration. “A boy sheep is a ram. He has horns. They do not come off.” This text is paired with anĀ illustration of Gus trying to pull off the horns with a rope lasso. Super funny and even a little informational . . .

The Truth about
The Truth About My Unbelievable Summer
by Darrinda Cali, illustrated by Benjamin Chaud
A treasure map message in the bottle leads to a pirate ship, a giant squid, a visit to space, and more including a surprise ending! Silly & fun.

Chicken in Space
Chicken in Space by Adam Lehrhaupt, illustrated by Shahar Kober
I loved this story about Zoey, a big-dreaming chicken, who, with her pig friend, Sam, embarks on a dangerous space adventure. Where there is no pie. But there might be moon pie afterward. And lots of fun.

Ace Dragon Ltd. Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
Ace Dragon Ltd. by Russel Hoban, illustrated by Quentin Blake
One ordinary day, John meets a dragon — apparently, a limited dragon who can do many things but not everything. They have a wonderful day — fighting and flying and turning straw into gold. When it’s dinnertime, John tells Ace that he’s not so limited, and we know this is the start ofĀ a wonderfulĀ friendship.

 Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016 Woodpecker Wants a Waffle
Woodpecker Wants a Waffle by Steve Breen
Woodpecker doesn’t care how much he’s thwarted by the cafe or even what the other forest animals think — he WILLĀ eatĀ a waffle from the cafe, one way or theĀ other. He tells theĀ skeptical forest animalsĀ to watch when heĀ enacts his big waffle-stealing plan. Hilarious ending!

they all saw a cat breandan wenzel Wonderful New Picture Books, Summer 2016
They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel
Use this beautiful book to talk about perspective. The cat walks through the world. And is seen by different creatures, each seeing the cat differently. It’s SUCH a cool book on point of view that it’s a must-read, must-own book, especially for classrooms.

Also read: Funny Picture Books

Wonderful NEW Picture Books (summer 2016)

Also Read:

Yoga for Kids

Days of the Week

Halloween Pictures

Unicorn Pictures

Bedtime Stories for Kids

Pet Rock Writing Idea

Minecraft Book

Poems for Kids

Nonfiction Books

Toys for 6 year old boys

Gifts for 10 year old boys

Gifts for 10 year old girls

Toys for 8 year old girls

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3 Comments

  1. I am a lifelong reader, now a grandma. I often read and get books for my granddaughter who is 5. I am also a retired therapist, and think it is important what you put into your mind, so I am choosy about the books I get.

  2. Hi Melissa, I was really very much impressed while I was touring this wonderful article. Really very innovative and thrilling. Picture books are important because of how readers interact with them, especially the read-aloud experience. It actually introduces children to the concept of reading, even if they can’t read yet. It encourages conversations between young and older readers. Reading a picture book aloud prompts conversations about what’s happening in the story, what the characters are feeling, meanings of words, how what’s happening might relate to the child. Great reading.