Illustrated books | Page 3 of 3

Pangolina, realistic animal fiction that educates and entertains

Pangolina is my favorite Disney Princess. No, actually Pangolin is the commonly referred to name of Pholidota, the scaley-backed creature that looks like a small dinosaur with a really long tongue. When they get scared they curl up into a ball, resembling a massive Roly-Poly, rather than the world’s most trafficked animal. Pangolina, in this case, is also an illustrated book that manages to introduce young readers to this erstwhile mammal. What kids, as well as adults, will enjoy about the book is that it tells a story, has beautiful art, and the stamp of approval from Jane Goodall.

An illustrated book that excells on every level

Thanks A Ton!, teaches ‘thanks’ as only Hello!Lucky can

When we last saw the Hello!Lucky team, they were up and at ‘em with Go Get ‘Em Tiger. In Thanks A Ton! their bright, maniacally happy presentation is back with a cadre of animals and the goal of getting kids to laugh and say ‘thank you. If you haven’t seen a Hello!Lucky book or any of their graphic artwork it’s unmistakable.

It’s a book for children, keep telling yourself that

Busy Spring, Nature Wakes Up is soft edutainment for 3-7 YO

Educational and entertaining illustrated books have a sweet spot in our hearts. Elementary school children want to be entertained, and they don’t mind learning. While parents or educators would prefer that the verbs in that previous sentence were flipped and that learning came first in the equation, it’s not. Busy Spring, Nature Wakes Up by Sean Taylor, Alex Morss with illustrations by Cinyee Chiu is an illustrated book that softly tells a story about a dad and his two daughters on an early spring day.

Fun, educational illustrated books for early elementary are possible

Saving Stella, current event canine non-fiction with a war backdrop

There are books that kids want to read, books that parents/educators want them to read, and those books that sometimes straddle both camps. Saving Stella is one of those books that will keep a foot in each of those categories to some extent, due to its true story, soft visuals, and the always appealing element of a lovable dog.

A book for people that love dogs and hope

Send A Girl!, non-fiction for agenda girls that wants to be loved

As a rule, I recommend children’s non-fiction books to young readers. I work in elementary schools, know the librarians who run their libraries and try to weave in real stories whenever possible. Based on that criteria, Send A Girl! by Jessica M. Rinker, with illustrations by Med Hunt is an illustrated book that will be reading candy for some niche audiences, but that’s it. Send A Girl! The True Story of How Women Joined the FDNY is about the first crew of firefighters, which included Brenda Berkman, who became the first women to join the FDNY.

It means well, but comes off as stale and preachy

Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon slays the sophomore slump

In a literary corner in the elementary book wing of life, Lola Dutch and Amy Wu are best friends, hang out together and do crafts. Lola Dutch is a ridiculously cute rhyming illustrated book about a young girl and the power of imagination. Amy Wu is the titular character in the series from Kat Zhang and Charlene Chua that is just as entertaining. However, Wu demos a little bit higher and shows aspects of Asian, specifically Chinese heritage in a way that’s fun, relatable, and educational for elementary-aged readers. Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon is the second book in the series and continues its broad appeal to young readers aged four and up.

We love a sophomoe book series that surpasses its first release

Jules Vs. The Ocean, summertime tale on trying and not giving up

It’s the giant toilet flushing. It’s out to get me. Either one of those, or some other thought that just happened due to the weather, tide or my mood was what I thought about the ocean when I was a kid. Tide pools were a different story, my relationship with them has always been pleasant, but that ocean. That’s the subject of Jules Vs. The Ocean, an illustrated book by Jessie Sima.

The ocean’s call can be cruel, this book nails how a 5 YO sees it

Lola Dutch! I Love You So Much, #3 in a must-read series for 3-7

Oh, Lola Dutch, you are too much. If you’ve got a kid who is between three and seven this series of books needs to be on your radar. Lola Dutch!, I Love You So Much is the third book in this series by Kenneth and Sarah Jane Wright. These books will skew a little more for girls than boys, but that’s only because Lola is a girl who wears a tutu. When our son was six he laughed along with us as we read Lola Dutch, the first book in series to him. He’s old enough to where he can read them by himself, laughing as he looks at the art.

Lola Dutch I Love You So Much is the third book in this imaginative and art heavy series about a young girl and the power of pretend play.

This book series is imaginative play and rhyming at it’s cutest