Here is a wide variety of picture books for creative, inquisitive kids of all ages. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
Melody
The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster: A Tale of Picky Eating by A. W. Flaherty
"Once upon a time, a little girl named Katerina-Elizabeth took an ocean liner to visit her grandmother in Scotland." And so begins this funny story. Katerina-Elizabeth does not like oatmeal, and throws it out the porthole. A sea worm eats the oatmeal, and gets bigger and bigger, following the ship all the way to Scotland.
The author includes fabulous information about the science of supertasters, and how to tell if you or your child happen to be one.
Kids Like Us by Carole Lexa Schaefer
Spend a day with this preschool class, as they use their imagination and play, play, play. If you like this, get the other books by this author and also illustrated by Pierr Morgan.
I'm Bad! by Kate McMullan
This T. Rex is bad, bad, bad. He chases and hunts and terrorizes everthing. But he just cannot seem to catch anything to eat. Finally, his mommy brings him some food. And be forewarned, mommy does not bring him a salad. She has a dead dinosaur for him to eat. Which, of course, is what T. Rexes eat. You will want to read the others by this author,
I'm Dirty! and
I Stink!
Americana Adventure by Michael Garland
This is a great example of a picture book for older elementary age kids. You are going to meet all of the presidents on this adventure, read quotes from famous Americans and maybe even solve the mysteries posed at the beginning of the book.
Thankfully, the answers are given at the end of the book.
sisters & brothers - sibling relationships in the animal world by Steve Jenkins
Steve Jenkins just keeps on delivering great books about animals with beautiful cut paper illustrations, and this one is no exception. Learn a lot about animals as you read through this longer picture book.
My Chincoteague Pony by Susan Jeffers
If you have read Marguerite Henry's "Misty of Chincoteague" you will know all about pony penning day. Every year, the horses are rounded up and some are sold at an auction. Susan Jeffers gives us a lovely picture book about the Assateague ponies.
I always wanted to go to the pony penning day and buy an Assateague pony of my own, so this story brought tears to my eyes, as I read about the kindness of strangers who sometimes help children buy their own pony.
And if you have a pony lover in your house, get Susan Jeffers' other horse stories.
Where's My Mom? by Julia Donaldson
Monkey lost his mom. Where is she? Butterfly know just where she is and is determined to help. Unfortunately, Butterfly does not wait for Monkey to finish describing his mother before they are off to find his mother.
Read
Is Your Mama a Llama? for a similar story. Both are funny, joyful stories with happy endings.
Ookpik: The Travels of a Snowy Owl by Bruce Hiscock
Read this wonderful natural history story of snowy owls. This is a longer story, perfect for school age children. The author includes a page of additional notes.
Astronaut Handbook by Meghan McCarthy
The quirky charactors in this book will help us learn what we need to know to become astronauts. It is easy to read, simple pictures and text, yet the information given is right on target. There is an additional page of 'fascinating facts' at the back of the book.
Minji's Salon by Eun-hee Choung
This little girl uses her imagination to create her own styling salon at home. Her 'customer' is the family dog, and she uses paint, ice cream and crayons to make a stylish dog, and a big mess. Her mother, at first shocked by the mess, looks again, and sees her daughter as a salon owner, and plays along.
This creative and intriguing story has brief text. The pictures mirror the mother's experience at the salon on the left hand page and the daughter and dog goings on at home on the right hand side.
Duck Soup by Jackie Urbanovic
Hogwood Steps Out by Howard Mansfield
