Animal picture book recommendations are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.
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Animal Picture Books
Too Many Rabbits
by Davide Calì (Author), Emanuele Benetti (Illustrator), Angus Yuen-Killick (Translator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Red Comet Press. 2023. PreK-2. Hardcover Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1636550541.
Brief summary: Owen and Zoey convince their father to buy two rabbits for the price of one. The family is suddenly overwhelmed with many new bunnies and decide they need to find homes for them all over town.
I especially enjoyed the sense of humor and orange rabbits in this book especially the counting from 1-20 of rehoming the pets.
For more details or to buy, click here.
Rating 3.5/5 đź“—đź“—đź“—1/2
Darwin’s Super-Pooping Worm Spectacular
by Polly Owen (Author), Gwen Millward (Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wide Eyed Editions. 2023. Grades 1-4. Hardcover Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0711275973.
Brief summary: Charles Darwin is known for traveling all over the world and studying animals. Worms interest him the most. He studies and observes them through simple experiments and learns that they do not have eyes or ears, but evidently, can sense light and vibrations. He continues to find what other sense they possess. By observing them in their natural habitat, dirt, he discovers how valuable their poo is to the environment.
The text is done in the traditional style and simultaneously, with speech bubbles. This is a light and funny book with Wormy Facts and Worm Futures sections in the back.
For more details or to buy, click here.
Rating: 4/5 đź“—đź“—đź“—đź“—
Sanctuary: A Home for Rescued Farm Animals
by Julia Denos (Author, Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Clarion Books. 2023. PreK-2. Hardcover Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0358205432
Brief summary: A young girl and friends heartfully welcome animals to a sanctuary farm where the creatures are respected for being themselves without expectations. They have a safe home and are undeniably cherished by the children.
Lovely illustrations in mixed mediums. A gentle book that does not go into the abuse the animals had before arriving.
For more details or to buy, click here.
Rating: 4/5 đź“—đź“—đź“—đź“—
This Little Kitty
by Karen Obuhanych (Author and Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Knopf Books for Young Readers. 2023. PreK-2. Hardcover Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593435144.
Brief summary: Young readers will enjoy a fun-filled feline day, starting with a houseful of kitties waking up. The rhyming and rhythmic words capture the true essence and antics of cats causing me to chuckle several times.
I’m certainly looking forward to reading more from Karen Obuhanych.
For more details or to buy, click here.
Rating: 4/5 đź“—đź“—đź“—đź“—
The Animal Song
by Jonty Howley (Author and Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House Studio. 2023. PreK-2. Hardcover Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593381465.
Brief summary: Crocodile, Brown Bear, and Weasel play the animal song all summer long to the delight of the forest animals. When winter arrives, they all want to sleep, so the band moves to the city, where they play night after night. The band becomes tired and wants to sleep, so they go back home. The forest animals wake in the spring and want to sing the animal song but find the three asleep.
The Animal Song Sheet Music is also in the back of the book.
For more details or to buy, click here.
Rating: 3.5/5 đź“—đź“—đź“—1/2
The selected children’s books are chosen by a highly qualified retired elementary school librarian, who passionately reads and recommends picture books to teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book enthusiasts.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris recommends are checked out from the public library. The only exception is for the complimentary copies that she receives for an honest review, which are duly noted.