*How to get through 20 minutes of reading a day without really reading.

By Arthur and Henry Bacon, Illustrated by Johanna Hantel

Haha made you read!

OK. You have to read for 20 minutes.

But you don’t want to.

Maybe your mom even has a timer.

Yikes!

Here’s the best book for you.

This one. Right here.

And so begins this irreverent, hilarious guide to avoiding the mandated 20 minutes of reading per day, as conceived by a pair of clever young brothers. But guess who has the last laugh? When the brothers taunt, “Ha! Caught you reading!” on the final page, your reluctant and struggling readers will indeed have finished a book without even thinking about it.

It isn’t a problem getting my children to read. In fact, twenty minutes a day would require me to take their books and other reading materials away! Twenty minutes isn’t nearly enough reading time for anyone in our household. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a non-reader to enjoy this delightful book by two young brothers who were simply discussing ways to avoid reading. Lucky for us that discussion turned into a wonderfully funny book to read with your children, reader and non-reader alike.

I know some people were bothered by the repeated use of the word butt in the book. Honestly, other than Maegan giggling almost every time we read it, I don’t see what the problem is. Everybody has one and it is just a word after all.

I can see where reading it to 20 little kids could lead to uncontrolled laughter and a little chaos. But is that really such a bad thing?

Childhood seems to be getting shorter with each generation, can’t we just let them be kids and laugh while they can?

By Lynne Rae Perkins

When a dog gets loose from the house on a snowy day, his owner searches for him and experiences the sounds of various animals and things in the snow.

What does it take to make snow music?

A boy and a girl.

Neighbors.

A squirrel, rabbit, deer, and bird.

Also neighbors.

A dog.

Lost and then found.

And snow falling. Peth.

And melting. Drip.

And falling again.

Peth.

Peth.

Peth.

You can listen.

You can also sing along.

Using subtle patterns of shapes, color and onomatopoeic sounds, Perkins (The Broken Cat) invokes multiple experiences and layers of meaning in this complex, imaginative picture book. A scene depicted inside a snow globe on the jacket appears to become the story’s setting; in the final illustration, the globe sits on a shelf between a toy car and squirrel (both of which play a role in the story). Waking up after a snowfall, a boy accidentally lets his dog out of the house, then spends the day searching for him. Into this arc Perkins weaves separate, complete moments. For example, one spread shows a gray squirrel and its criss-crossing pawprints on the right, while on the left, lines of type mimic the haphazard pattern of the creature’s path: “I think-/ I think/ I left it-/ I think/ I left it/ here-/ somewhere… / I think.” Elsewhere Perkins spectacularly recreates the music of a winter’s day: the dog, against a solid white background, runs off to the right; on the left, the canine’s tags (and his exhalations) are pictured as notes on a musical staff, “jingle huff jingle huff.” A car drives by (”poot poot poot poot poot…”); a leaf hits the pavement (”K-tk”); snow falls (the repeated word “peth” cascades down the page, contained in dozens of multihued blue circles). Although the intricate structure (abrupt transitions and multiple shifts in perspective) may make this story challenging for youngest readers, the sophistication of Perkins’s melodic, rhythmic and visual orchestration merits attention from older readers.

By Keith Graves

Barcelona Smith is too cautious to even smile for fear of getting a bug in his teeth, until the day his usually perfectly coiffed locks rebel and teach him to let his hair down.

Barcelona Smith has never been one to take risks. He keeps himself at a safe distance from life’s dangers—flowers and cuddly pets included.

But one humid day—BOING!—his hair goes bonkers! Strands uncoil, curls unkink, and follicles foop. But that’s not all. His wild hair skates down sidewalks, climbs trees, and stomps in mud puddles—all the fun Barcelona’s never thought to have. And by the time his wacky new ‘do is done romping through the day, Barcelona decides that when fun is at stake, risks can sometimes be, well … worth the risk.

The undeniable wit and whimsy of Keith Graves are in full force with this kooky book that children will love.

Barcelona Smith avoids anything that could be dangerous. Roses, playgrounds, pets, and smiling are all things that could result in injury. He avoids roses for fear of thorns, playgrounds for fear of injury, animals for fear of germs, and smiling for fear of flying bugs. The colorful and wacky illustrations depict a severe boy in outlandish attire complete with safety goggles, a life jacket, an umbrella, and a protective helmet resting atop about four feet of thick locks of blue hair that are trained to stand straight up. Until, that is, one day when they explode into a wild mass that dances outside, stomps through a puddle, climbs a tree, pets a dog and performs other such imprudent stunts as Barcelona, willy-nilly, tags along. A rainstorm finally washes off whatever it was that touched off the spree, but the damage is done, and off goes the boy, upright again and grinning despite the danger of bugs.

By Amy Hest, and Illustrated by Any Bates

Once there was a small dog with crooked ears. He belonged to no one.

And once there was a wisp of a girl named Lia.

The dog who belonged to no one spent his days quite alone. He longed for a friend.

With lyrical text by New York Times best-selling author Amy Hest and tender watercolors by illustrator Amy Bates, The Dog Who Belonged to No One introduces readers to two timeless characters who will touch hearts as they reveal how they belong to each other.

In this old-fashioned, heart-warming story, the lives of a dog that belongs to no one and a little girl named Lia intersect.

A chipper little dog who is “a perfectly nice fellow,” travels from town to town looking for “a porch with a soft light” and hoping one day to belong to someone. But no one takes notice of a small dog with crooked ears who doesn’t have a home. He explores the narrow streets and wide boulevards every day.

Lia, whose parents are bakers, helps in her own way by delivering the baked goods on her bicycle. She pedals up high hills past other children playing outside and tells herself stories to offset her sense of isolation. “The stories were like friends on her long ride to town.” Lia pedals on her bicycle alone, delivering breads and cakes on Sundays.

Both dream of finding a friend, until fate brings them together.

On a stormy day, both Lia and the dog are caught in a drenching rain. The pup runs and runs while the girl pedals and pedals through the bad weather, each racing toward the edge of town where Lia’s parents wait on their softly lit porch. Lia and the little dog rush inside where they find bread and cake and warm towels. Each has found a friend…”and they belonged to each other…” The sentimental journey is begun on the front of the cover, with the pencil and watercolor portrait of the appealing pup and on the back cover with the new friends on the bicycle.

By Katharine Kenah, and Illustrated by Abby Carter

Luna has the best teacher in second grade. Mr. Hopper loves the midnight sky almost as much as she does. Everyone else stares at Luna like she’s the new kid from outer space. They won’t even listen to her ideas for the Family Night program – until something goes unexpectedly wrong! With a nudge from Mr. Hopper, Luna shares her plan to save the show and turn the class into second-grade stars.

Come and watch the lively characters from The Best Seat in Second Grade shine in another tale of classroom fun.

Luna has transferred into a new school in the middle of the year. She was concerned, but happily, her teacher Mr. Hopper was wonderful. The two share a common interest—the sky. Luna (great name choice) writes poems, decorates her room, and is just fascinated with anything that has to do with the stars and planets. When the class learns that they are supposed to put on a program for parent’s night, Luna suggests a show about the night sky, but the idea gets twisted and it ends up that the kids will put on a circus. All of the ideas that Luna has relate to the sun, stars, and constellations are ignored or laughed at until Luna decides she hates the sky, until Monday.

At lunchtime on Monday, the students learn that another class is also doing a circus. At last Luna’s ideas are given a chance, and the class decides to become The Midnight Circus, where they all become second grade stars.

“Late at night, when you are fast asleep, the midnight circus begins.

The man in the moon leads the way as the star performers move in.”

By Jean Van Leeuwen, and Illustrated by Ann Schweninger

KA-BOOM! KA-BOOM!

KA-BOOM! KA-BOOM!

That’s not the sound of awful, scary monster feet. It’s the thumping of Amanda Pig’s heart!

Every night before she goes to bed, Amanda is sure that a monster is in her room. Maybe it’s hiding in the closet. Or behind the curtains. Or even under her bed!

Or perhaps her brother Oliver is right, and there is no such things as monsters after all.

In four easy-to-read chapters Amanda tries everything from reciting poetry to building monster traps, until she finds the perfect way to conquer her fears.

A delightful addition to the Amanda and Oliver Pig series, Jean Van Leeuwen and Ann Schweninger offer another exciting yet reassuring tale about being brave and growing up.

Amanda suffers from a common problem faced by many young children. When the lights go out at night she is convinced that there are monsters just waiting to grab her. She tries to tell herself that there are no monsters just like her Dad and Mom and brother have told her, but it does not work. Once the lights are out her hear starts to race and beat like a loud drum. She calls for her parents help and they check everything out and reassure Amanda and mother waits until she drops off to sleep. On another night she races out of her room and falls asleep at the door to her parents’ room. Oliver comes up with a great idea to build a monster trap, but that backfires. Finally it is Amanda herself who bravely faces her monsters and finally falls asleep. With the patient encouragement of her parents and a bit of help from her big brother, Amanda overcomes her fear of the dark.

The realistic treatment of nighttime fears may be of some assistance to kids who may find that emulating Amanda’s behavior will also solve their problem. Bright illustrations capture the pig’s familiar anxiety and her family’s affectionate warmth.

By Pamela Dell

Horses are fascinating! These animals’ beauty, strength, and close relationship to people make them a perennial favorite for young readers. Majestic Horses introduces children to some of the most famous horse breeds, both domestic and wild, and invites readers to learn about each breed’s history, appearance, and personality. Clearly explained terms and plenty of information will make readers feel a sense of kinship with these magnificent creatures and the people who work with them.

The Appaloosa is one of Americas most recognizable and best-known breeds. They come in many colors, but all have spots. Even their skin is spotted; you can see it around their eyes, noses, and mouths. The spots may be big or small, in just one place or all over, but they must have spots if they are to be called Appaloosas.

Appaloosas are about the same size as Arabians and share many of that breed’s personality traits. Many people think they came from horses that escaped from Spanish explorers. The Nez Perce tribe living near the Palouse (pah-LOOS) River bred and traded them. People called a Nez Perce horse, “a palouse horse” which eventually became “Appaloosa”. Appaloosas once carried Native Americans on buffalo hunts, and in 1877, they carried the Nez Perce away from their homeland. The US Army chased them 1,300 miles to Canada, where the horses were taken, given away, or left behind. The breed almost perished.

In the 1930s some people became interested in the breed and worked to resurrect the Appaloosa. Today the breed is well known and well loved.

By Pamela Dell

Horses are fascinating! These animals’ beauty, strength, and close relationship to people make them a perennial favorite for young readers. Majestic Horses introduces children to some of the most famous horse breeds, both domestic and wild, and invites readers to learn about each breed’s history, appearance, and personality. Clearly explained terms and plenty of information will make readers feel a sense of kinship with these magnificent creatures and the people who work with them.

Arabians are one of the oldest breeds of horse known to man. Once they were found only in the Middle East, now they are found throughout the world. Arabians are a proud, spirited, beautiful breed much loved for their intelligence. Their long association with people has made them sweet natured and easy to work with for most people. This small breed of horse is known for their speed, agility, and endurance. Historical figures like Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Alexander The Great and George Washington rode Arabians.

Arabian bloodlines have been recorded and maintained for centuries. Many of today’s most well known breeds, like Thoroughbreds (all Thoroughbreds can trace their genetic bloodline to three Arabians: The Godolphin Arabian [sometimes called "Barb"] imported to England in 1730 as well as The Byerley Turk [1683] and the Darley Arabian [1703]), owe much of their success to the addition of Arabian blood to their breed. Most European horses were larger, slower “cold-blooded” breeds. The crossbreeding of Arabians to these European horses much improved the bloodlines. Today many horse breeders still use Arabians to improve their own horses, while other breeders work hard to maintain a “pure” breed of Arabians.

A North American Indian Folk Tale

Retold and Illustrated by Joanna Troughton

This story of the crafty Rabbit and his trickery was told by the Creek, Hitchiti, and Koasati Indians in the southeastern USA to explain the origin of fire on Earth.

As they told it, the Earth was cold and only the Sky People, high in the mountains, had fire, which they would not share with the animals on Earth. Despite their original distrust of him, Rabbit soon charms the Sky People into allowing him to dance near their precious fire.

Before they know it, he has completed his clever plan and snatched some of their fire! His many animal friends help him take the fire far away, and at last the wood hides the fire within itself for use by the animals on Earth forever. Each of the animals is changed by carrying the fire for rabbit; squirrel’s tale becomes curled, crow’s feathers turn black, raccoon has rings burned around her tail and face, turkey has the feathers burned off his head and neck, and deer has her long tail burned off before passing the fire to the trees to be hidden from the Sky People. Each of the animals is forever changed, and fire stays hidden in the wood of the trees. Rabbit teaches the other animals how to draw the fire out of the wood by rubbing two sticks together. Now the animals never have to suffer from the cold or the dark again.

Stories of Rabbit as wonderworker are found in all the areas east of the Mississippi from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico.

By David McPhail

It’s Big Brown Bear’s birthday!

To celebrate, his friend Rat has prepared a lovely picnic on the riverbank. But when Big Bear is suddenly distracted by a boat floating, Rat’s plans for the afternoon take a watery turn.

Boating is so much fun … right?

David McPhail throws Big Brown Bear a birthday party like no other in this warmhearted picture book that serves up action, excitement, and a generous portion of true good-natured friendship.

Lovable Big Brown Bear is back in a series of simply told, lively chapters. At a picnic with his friend Rat, Bear is reminded that it is his birthday. When Rat goes to retrieve his present, which he says has four letters and begins with B, Big Brown Bear spots a boat and thinks that is his present. Although told it is not, Bear decides to take Rat with him for a ride before they return it to the owner. The two manage to pick up a hat and a fishing pole from the water before they encounter and rescue the boat’s owner, unfortunately also sinking the boat. Finally, Rat delivers the present, and the friends enjoy a birthday cake as well. Bear carries his pink blanket on the half-title page, unfurling it across the title page spread, while Rat totes the relatively enormous picnic basket on the dedication page. McPhail’s pen deftly depicts this unlikely anthropomorphic friendship, setting the watercolor scene in a bucolic park with leafy greenery and a smoothly flowing river. It’s a charmingly peaceful adventure.

Retold and Illustrated by Ruth Sanderson

Brave deeds and wondrous magic come together in this tale based on classic Russian folklore.

Back in the time when magical beasts still roamed the earth, a young huntsman named Alexi leaves home seeking adventure and fortune. Instead, he finds the Golden Mare, who pledges eternal loyalty in exchange for sparing her life. With the mare’s help, Alexi becomes the Tsar’s best huntsman, but then the jealous Tsar presents him with several impossible tasks, threatening to have him killed if he fails. Each time, Alexi secretly enlists the help of the Golden Mare – and succeeds.

But his final task is to win Yelena the Fair, a lovely young maiden whom the old Tsar wants as his bride. Will Alexi be able to use his own powers to save himself and Yelena?

Sanderson draws from Russian fairy tales to fashion a beautiful story about a well-intentioned young huntsman, his magical mare and a greedy Tsar. The sumptuous oil paintings take immediate command of the double-page spreads, the breathtaking scenes distinguished by lustrous hues and intricate particulars. The narrative has a lush, lyrical quality, and her lush renderings of lavish architectural detail, elaborate period dress and an unblemished natural world will bring young readers back for repeat readings. Her dramatically lit firebird is nothing short of glorious.

This handsome addition to fairy-tale shelves could be used as an introduction to classic Russian folktales, as well as to Imperial Russian culture. The illustrations are quality Sanderson, as always very factual and detailed and in the end there is a lovely twist in revenge for the Tsar.

By Hilary Horder Hippely, and Illustrated by Barbara Upton

There’s a big storm raging

…and the poor animals on Klickitat Island are left standing out in the open, a sad and bedraggled bunch. But help is on the way from a little boy and his teddy bear, who brave the high waves to see what’s the matter.

Under the boy’s direction, all the animals help in a communal effort—building a fort that will keep them all snug and dry. Although boy and bear have to return home, they know where to go the next stormy night—Klickitat Island, of course!

Readers will want to return with them. This is a tale of adventure, but also a gentle lesson about the importance of teamwork and sharing.

Told in charming verse, this gently humorous story tells of bravery, the power of teamwork, and the importance of sharing. Under a little boy’s direction, animals on Klickitat Island have a role to play in the rescue, after a storm leaves them stranded.

Upton’s pictures set against a dark blue background and border display exquisitely detailed emotions, from the looks of consternation and amazement on the boy’s face to the fear and dawning triumph in the eyes of the animals as the boy narrator stands on a tree stump waving his blankie like an aegis and encourages them as they erect a shelter. The blue-bordered watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations of winsome animals, a brave boy, and the blue-and-white quilt are dark enough to portray the fearsomeness of the storm without being truly frightening to a young reader.

By Jan Peck, and Illustrated by Valeria Petrone

Grab your binoculars and follow me.

Let’s travel far away on a wild safari.

There are lots of fun trails! Many sights to see!

As we hike, hike, hike, on this wild safari.

An inquisitive little boy bravely takes a safari trip in search of a wild lion for his grandmother and himself. He spies a spraying elephant, tall giraffe, slushing hippopotamus, zigzagging zebra, charging rhinoceros, spying gorilla, snorting wildebeest, laughing hyena and dancing ostrich, all with similar round eyes and friendly faces. Petrone has developed some very charming animals and gorgeous scenes from the African landscape. Each spread focuses on one animal with six rhythmic, patterned lines of text featuring an action the creature is taking (sloshing, spying, roaring, zigzagging, etc).

Our brave main character, a pith-helmeted little boy, greets each animal, shares a few sing-song words, and is soon hiking away to continue his quest. When an amicable, yet roaring lion, appears on his final encounter, it is time to say good-bye to his previous sightings and return to the safety of grandma’s kitchen and her freshly baked animal cookies.

Large cartoon-style paintings in bold, bright colors against dark green and mustard yellow backgrounds reflect the playful imaginative scenario described in the repetitive patterned text, which will help a reader to memorize the lines and read along. Readers looking for books with a safari theme or for African animals will find adventure enough in the cozy cadences of these vignettes. Preschoolers and emerging readers will enjoy picking up their binoculars for a far away wild safari search.

By Anna McQuinn, Illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw

Lola has her library card. She has her backpack full of borrowed books. And most important of all, she has a big smile on her face. Why? Because it is Lola’s favorite day: Tuesday! —and on Tuesdays Lola and her mommy go to the library.

Before her mother is even out of bed, this toddler has packed her backpack with her library books and card, eager for their walk to the library through their multiethnic neighborhood. Once there, she returns her books, reads, sometimes sings or enjoys a story time, and borrows more books to take home. On the way home she and her mother share a special snack (at an unnamed coffee shop) and of course end the day with a bedtime reading of one of her new library books. The bright acrylics and lyrical text make this perfect for sharing with youngsters. This is one that children will want read again and again, as they relive their own visits to the library.

Join Lola in this cozy celebration of books and the people who love them. This eager, happy toddler gives readers a complete tour of a conventional weekly visit to the library. Beardshaw’s vividly colored acrylic paintings of a mother and child’s morning outing in their racially mixed neighborhood complements the classic library scenes charged with a child’s vibrant enthusiasm. The simple, significant message will ring true with every librarian, teacher, caregiver and parent as the day concludes with Lola’s nightly bedtime story. Everyone should begin and end the day with a good book.