Is there any better way to introduce the new Board Book/Fiction Picture Book Chair than with a list of her favorite books? We think not.
Meet Sam Richardson, Board Book / Fiction Picture Book Chair
Sam may be a new category chair, but she has been emersed in this category for several years. She brings with her the diverse experiences of being a Kindergarten teacher, fitness instructor, group counselor for children of domestic abuse, and adaptability! As an Air Force spouse, Sam has moved around a lot and taught at many schools. At every stop, Sam brings with her a love of reading and a passion for connecting kids and families with great books.
Sam’s Picks
This category has two divisions: Board Books and Fiction Picture Books. And Sam has recommendations for each!
Board Books
Every Body: A First Conversation About Bodies
by Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli, Tequitia Andrews (Illustrator)
Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism against injustice, this topic-driven picture book offers clear, concrete language and beautiful imagery to introduce the concept of BODY LIBERATION. This book serves to celebrate the uniqueness of your body and all bodies, and addresses the unfair rules and ideas that currently exist about bodies.
Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism against injustice, this topic-driven picture book offers clear, concrete language and beautiful imagery to introduce the concept of BODY LIBERATION. This book serves to celebrate the uniqueness of your body and all bodies, and addresses the unfair rules and ideas that currently exist about bodies.
Fuzzy Furry Ouch
by Amanda Jane Jones, Cree Lane Jones
From a fuzzy peach, to a furry caterpillar, to—ouch!—a prickly cactus, young readers will love feeling the textures in this book as they learn about what’s okay to touch and what’s not.
From a fuzzy peach, to a furry caterpillar, to—ouch!—a prickly cactus, young readers will love feeling the textures in this book as they learn about what’s okay to touch and what’s not.
Spaghetti!: An Interactive Recipe Book
by Lotta Nieminen
Cook pasta from scratch inside this interactive recipe book – fry, simmer, boil, drain, grate and more! A simple but accurate recipe takes young readers through the steps of cooking spaghetti, from chopping onions to serving up a plate of steaming hot pasta with tomato sauce, while the interactive novelty features invite them to participate in the process
Cook pasta from scratch inside this interactive recipe book – fry, simmer, boil, drain, grate and more! A simple but accurate recipe takes young readers through the steps of cooking spaghetti, from chopping onions to serving up a plate of steaming hot pasta with tomato sauce, while the interactive novelty features invite them to participate in the process
Fiction Picture Books
A Family Like Ours
by Frank Murphy, Alice Lee, Kayla Harren (Illustrator)
Everyone's family is unique--and good! From sprawling extended families and close-knit units to adopted and chosen families, A Family Like Ours celebrates all those important connections we build over the years.
Everyone's family is unique--and good! From sprawling extended families and close-knit units to adopted and chosen families, A Family Like Ours celebrates all those important connections we build over the years.
I Am a Tornado
by Drew Beckmeyer
Tornado is on a rampage. It tosses cars and knocks over barns. Tornado is also angry, only it doesn’t know that or want to admit it. Then Tornado picks up Cow. Oh, no! Cow would like to be put down. Fortunately, Cow is a good listener. And sometimes Tornado just needs to be heard.
Tornado is on a rampage. It tosses cars and knocks over barns. Tornado is also angry, only it doesn’t know that or want to admit it. Then Tornado picks up Cow. Oh, no! Cow would like to be put down. Fortunately, Cow is a good listener. And sometimes Tornado just needs to be heard.
In Every Life
by Marla Frazee
In every life, there is love and loss, hope and joy, wonder and mystery. With glowing art and spare, powerful text, Caldecott Honor–winning creator Marla Frazee celebrates the moments, feelings, and experiences, both big and small, that make up a life.
In every life, there is love and loss, hope and joy, wonder and mystery. With glowing art and spare, powerful text, Caldecott Honor–winning creator Marla Frazee celebrates the moments, feelings, and experiences, both big and small, that make up a life.
Invisible Things
by Andy J Pizza, Sophie Miller
If we could put on a pair of magical invisible glasses and see all the feelings, ideas, and other invisible things that populate our world, what would they look like? Could you see an itch? Could you describe hope? From the sound of a dog barking to the rainbow-MAGIC taste of a lollipop, from gratitude to grit, this book will help you meet the many interesting sensations that follow you every day, even if you can't see them.
If we could put on a pair of magical invisible glasses and see all the feelings, ideas, and other invisible things that populate our world, what would they look like? Could you see an itch? Could you describe hope? From the sound of a dog barking to the rainbow-MAGIC taste of a lollipop, from gratitude to grit, this book will help you meet the many interesting sensations that follow you every day, even if you can't see them.
Milo's Monster
by Tom Percival
Milo loves spending time with his best friend, Jay. But when a new girl named Suzi moves in next door, Milo starts to feel left out. The jealous feeling gets stronger and stronger--until suddenly, a GREEN-EYED MONSTER pops up beside him! Soon, the monster is twisting up all of Milo's thoughts and making him sad. It won't leave him alone!
Milo loves spending time with his best friend, Jay. But when a new girl named Suzi moves in next door, Milo starts to feel left out. The jealous feeling gets stronger and stronger--until suddenly, a GREEN-EYED MONSTER pops up beside him! Soon, the monster is twisting up all of Milo's thoughts and making him sad. It won't leave him alone!
Our Pool
by Lucy Ruth Cummins
Today is a pool day in the city! The sun is shining, so what are you waiting for? Friends and family. Kids and grandparents. Big bodies and small bodies. Everybody is welcome at our pool! Get ready for swimming and splashing, zigzagging and dunking, and racing and laughing.
Today is a pool day in the city! The sun is shining, so what are you waiting for? Friends and family. Kids and grandparents. Big bodies and small bodies. Everybody is welcome at our pool! Get ready for swimming and splashing, zigzagging and dunking, and racing and laughing.
Weather Together
by Jessie Sima
Nimbus and Kelp fill their days with games, sunshine, and a whole lot of rainbows. Only, Nimbus can’t stay sunny all the time; in fact, some days she’s downright cloudy. Nimbus hides her cloud from Kelp and tries to make it go away, but it doesn't work, and when cloudy becomes stormy, she can't hide it anymore. Maybe getting to know her cloud could make it a little less scary…and maybe friends like Kelp are there to share the weather together.
Nimbus and Kelp fill their days with games, sunshine, and a whole lot of rainbows. Only, Nimbus can’t stay sunny all the time; in fact, some days she’s downright cloudy. Nimbus hides her cloud from Kelp and tries to make it go away, but it doesn't work, and when cloudy becomes stormy, she can't hide it anymore. Maybe getting to know her cloud could make it a little less scary…and maybe friends like Kelp are there to share the weather together.
Sam’s Other Nomination Nods
All of Sam’s recommendations are in the picture book family. This group includes the nonfiction picture books she hopes get nominated in October.
Digestion! The Musical
by Adam Rex, Laura Park (Illustrator)
Candy's made it. She's finally the human body! This intrepid sweet treat meets each of the human body's organs as she approaches her "big break": being successfully digested! Here is the scientific process of digestion as you've never seen it before—told through a musical, with Candy in the role of the small-town kid who wants to make it big, the baby carrots as the Greek chorus narrating all the action, and cameos from every body part that plays an important role in transforming food from ingredients to nutrition.
Candy's made it. She's finally the human body! This intrepid sweet treat meets each of the human body's organs as she approaches her "big break": being successfully digested! Here is the scientific process of digestion as you've never seen it before—told through a musical, with Candy in the role of the small-town kid who wants to make it big, the baby carrots as the Greek chorus narrating all the action, and cameos from every body part that plays an important role in transforming food from ingredients to nutrition.
Honeybee Rescue: A Backyard Drama
Loree Griffin Burns, Ellen Harasimowicz
(Photographer)
Follow honeybee rescuer Mr. Nelson as he expertly removes a colony of bees from Mr. Connery's barn (with a vacuum!) and helps it relocate back to a hive. Photographs of Mr.Nelson’s relocation of the colony help bring the honeybee rescue to life.
(Photographer)
Follow honeybee rescuer Mr. Nelson as he expertly removes a colony of bees from Mr. Connery's barn (with a vacuum!) and helps it relocate back to a hive. Photographs of Mr.Nelson’s relocation of the colony help bring the honeybee rescue to life.
Over and Under the Waves
by Kate Messner, Christopher Neal (Illustrator)
Over the waves, the sea lions bark and seagulls wheel and call. The bay is smooth and bright in the sun. But under the waves, there's a whole hidden forest, full of whales and wolf eels, sardines and sea bass, leopard sharks and luminous jellies, as well as the waving kelp that shelters them all. Discover the magical depths of the kelp forest, and all the fascinating creatures living just a paddle's length away—over and under the waves.
Over the waves, the sea lions bark and seagulls wheel and call. The bay is smooth and bright in the sun. But under the waves, there's a whole hidden forest, full of whales and wolf eels, sardines and sea bass, leopard sharks and luminous jellies, as well as the waving kelp that shelters them all. Discover the magical depths of the kelp forest, and all the fascinating creatures living just a paddle's length away—over and under the waves.
The Secret Life of Bugs and Other Little Critters
Emmanuelle Figueras, Alexander Vidal
(IIllustrator)
Bees, spiders, butterflies, ants and more are meticulously illustrated in this informative compendium of little critters that’s written for young animal fans. With laser-cut pages throughout, the familiar insects come alive to showcase the beauty of each creature.
(IIllustrator)
Bees, spiders, butterflies, ants and more are meticulously illustrated in this informative compendium of little critters that’s written for young animal fans. With laser-cut pages throughout, the familiar insects come alive to showcase the beauty of each creature.
When the Sky Glows
by Nell Cross Beckerman, David Litchfield (Illustrator)
Sunrises and lightning storms, rainbows and volcanoes, meteors and eclipses—these beautiful, awe-inspiring events that light up the sky might seem like magic. But there is a fascinating scientific explanation for each.
Sunrises and lightning storms, rainbows and volcanoes, meteors and eclipses—these beautiful, awe-inspiring events that light up the sky might seem like magic. But there is a fascinating scientific explanation for each.
Whose Egg Is That? (Whose Is THAT?)
by Darrin P Lunde, Kelsey Oseid (Illustrator)
A nonfiction guessing game that explores the connections between an animal, its eggs, and its habitat. Seven animal eggs are paired with information about its survival mechanisms, asking kids to guess which animal laid which egg.
A nonfiction guessing game that explores the connections between an animal, its eggs, and its habitat. Seven animal eggs are paired with information about its survival mechanisms, asking kids to guess which animal laid which egg.