The World Champion of Staying Awake, by Sean Taylor, and painted with vivid beautiful water-colors by Jimmy Liao, is wonderfully executed in using many tactics to get children to sleep. Stella is a youngster who is not about to go to sleep until she can get her three cherished toys to bed who tell her each is the world champion of staying awake.  She proceeds to tell the most creative stories to settle each down.  Each rhythmic tale is surrounded by colorful creations made up by Stella.  By the end, there’s only one left awake: Stella.  And remember to check out the clever front and back end pages.

Farmyard Beat, by Lindsey Craig, and ingeniously illustrated by Marc Brown, is a most clever story in both rhyme and pictures. “Chicks can’t sleep. / Chicks can’t sleep. / Chicks can’t sleep  ‘cause they got that beat!” And they begin to peep peep and peep. All that peeping wakes up: Sheep. It becomes quite a ruckus with all these animals feeling the beat.  However, “they all fall in a heap! Asleep!”, until morning when a rooster wakes them with “that beat!” The illustrations are all hand-painted into basic geometric shapes and there is texture and color from top to bottom on every page!

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, by Jerry Pinkney, is a most creative venture for this renowned artist / author.  He takes this simple nursery song and magically recreates a wondrous adventure that a forest chipmunk takes in search for that special star.  Many of these gorgeous full-spread pictures evoke the forest habitats of life where Pinkney lives.  Many of these water colored paintings of the little chipmunk’s adventures are wordless, which invites the listener to participate. Be sure to read the inspiration of the story in the Author’s Note found at the back.

Good Night, World, by Willa Perlman, and illustrated with colors that fill both pages by Carolyn Fisher, is a gracious reflection of a child’s appreciation of all the earth’s gifts as he gets ready for sleep. The swirls of waves, the patterns of leaves and fluctuations of color and rhyme create an appraisal of all God has given us. Check out the many ways to say good night in different languages found at the back of the book.

Your Moon, My Moon, by Patricia Maclachlan, and illustrated with a wonderful combination of watercolor and collage by Bryan Collier, celebrates the bond between grandparent and child even though both are far apart.  The story is based on the author’s grandchild who lives in Africa and the lyrical words express the great love of her absent grandchild. The collage, combined with watercolor, gives texture and life to each full page spread.

Moo, Moo, Brown Cow, Have You Any Milk?, by Phillis Gershator, and painted with a folk-art rendition by Giselle Potter, takes the first two lines of the classic nursery rhyme, Baa Baa Black Sheep, and continues this rhythmic pattern by having a youngster asking “Does wool make a blanket for my bed?” All of the animals rhymed here help the young boy get ready for bed. And then, so do they. This delightful story would actually be a perfect emergent reader with the predictable text repeating throughout. The colorful pictures fill the open-spread pages.

Dream Away, by Julia Durango and Katie Belle Trupiano, and painted on cloth with brilliant quixotic oil by Robert Goldstrom, takes a boy and his dad on a dream voyage as the boy falls asleep while being read to by his father. The ship, portrayed as a folded paper soldier hat, glides into the cloudy moonlit night where animals become constellations and the moon is attached to a string and guides father and son on their rhyming adventure. This story should set sail into a dreamland of delight as the boy and the moon both show sleep at the end.

Charlotte Jane Battles Bedtime, by Myra Wolfe, and painted with watercolor and digitally enhanced with texture by Maria Monescillo, showcases a young girl who refuses to go to sleep. She just has too many adventures to experience and likes “to get all the juice out of my days!” As the day gets later and later, she ends up not going to sleep and discovers how tired she is the next day.  Her attitude changes and she decides her dreams can continue her adventures through the night. The pictures showcase Charlotte Jane as a pirate and many of the pictures have strategic small colorful illustrations on a white background. But the full-spread pictures reflect her adventures the best. This kid-pleasing adventure just might convince your youngster that bedtime is actually a continuum of their day’s activities!

Chilly Milly Moo, by Fiona Ross, is a clever bovine story about a cow, Milly, who can’t give her farmer any milk.  She complains that it’s too hot. The other cows have no problem producing milk and they make fun of her incapability.  But there’s a surprise waiting when the season changes and the weather becomes cold.  Now, Milly makes more than just milk and all now celebrate her uniqueness. The pictures are rendered digitally but with a woodcut effect with much texture and lines. This is a great celebration of all our unique gifts.

Snow Angels, by Angel Randall, and beautifully painted by Brandon Dorman, is the perfect book to uplift the soul and put good works into action. When two young girls suddenly get stuck in the snow, one of them decides to call on “Snow Angels”.  When these heavenly beings show up and help, they tell the girls, “We are glad you asked for help. Not many people ask these days.” That’s when the girls decide to make a difference and be “snow angels”.  And that’s just what they do as they help uplift an elderly woman, a young boy and a group of volunteers.  There’s even a yummy Soft Snow-Angel Sugar Cookie recipe found at the back.

The Big Snuggle-Up, by Brian Patten, and beautifully painted by Nicola Bayley, is a cumulative tale about a young boy who invites a scarecrow into his warm, cozy house. The scarecrow happily agrees and asks if he might also bring a small mouse who lives in the straw of his arm. And on it goes as more and more animals from the surrounding snowy hillside come in from the cold.  The story is filled with easy, rhyming alliteration making this a delightful read.  It’s interest-ing to note that the boy, who is telling the story, is only shown at the very end.

I Am Small, by Emma Dodd, has a young penguin chick wondering about the world all around him and how small he is in contrast. His emperor mom, with her yellow markings around her neck, comforts him when he realizes “the biggest thing to you…is me!” The colors of white, blue, silver and black surround the book from the beginning (the story begins and ends on the end pages) to the end.  This would be a perfect beginning read with its simple text.

The Sniffles for Bear, by Bonny Becker, and painted with watercolor, ink and gauche by Kady MacDonald Denton, is a story of friendship and sympathy. When Bear catches a cold, he thinks he is at death’s door. His little friend, Mouse, helps with everything he can think of: reading, singing, cooking and more. When Bear finally sleeps, he wakes feeling much better.  But guess who’s sick now?  The watercolor is deftly painted which helps you enter the story as the observer. There is much to learn from this book.

Acorns and Stew, Too, by Ruth Orbach, is a simple story about young Lenore and how she likes everything about her life including the ducks who live in the park.  But Lenore is sad because the ducks will soon be leaving as the weather is getting colder.  She then decides to try to get them to stay.  Her simple solution takes creativity and time on her part, but she’s able to achieve her goal. Orbach uses line drawings, along with touches of color, to catch your eye.

Daisy Dawson and the Big Freeze, by Steve Voake, and illustrated by Jessica Meserve, is another installment in the Daisy Dawson series for early chapter readers.  Daisy can talk to animals and after a giant snowstorm, Daisy needs to rescue a small lamb who is stuck on the other side of the river.  She’s able to get through this storm and aid her friend with the help and guidance of other wild animals along the way. The pictures, all line drawings, are sprinkled throughout.

The final two books are non-fiction and are good for all ages. North: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration, by Nick Dowson, and intricately painted with watercolor by Patrick Benson, is as beautifully written as it is visually.  The text is sparse but impacted with information about the many different species who migrate after the first breakup of ice flow in early spring.  Whales, birds and fish make their way north. Other animals can survive the freezing temperatures year round:  foxes, musk ox and polar bears are just a few.

The Polar Bear Scientists, by Peter Lourie, explores these giant, strong and unique animals for six weeks each summer by using helicopters and then injecting them with dart guns in order to tag them and follow their behavior in the lower regions of Alaska. The photos found on every page are captivating and the information to read and the resources found at the back might just make a polar bear scientist out of you as well.

Let’s begin with pop-up and interactive books. Super Science:  Feel the Force!  Full of Pop-up Physics Fun!, by Tom Adams, and ingeniously illustrated by Thomas Flintham, is packed with inventive and interesting facts that are sure to spark even the most reluctant scientist in your family. Learn about basic science elements and principles which include electricity, gravity and friction. There are also pull-tabs, small booklets and open flaps included.

Amazing Pop-Up Trucks, by Robert Crowther, is an over-sized book with five fascinating trucks that seem to explode off the page as you open each double page. Each truck includes interesting facts and a photograph of the vehicle.

The Great Global Puzzle Challenge with Google Earth, by Clive Gifford, and packed with in-credible detailed illustrations by William Ings, teaches you how to navigate through google to find coordinates on maps by combining both book and google to locate destinations. These destinations are somehow connected to the next search and each page is also filled with details of that city/area which the reader needs to discover to continue the search. This book is great fun through the various discoveries!

Puppies and Kittens and Other Pop-Up Pets, by one of my favorite paper engineers: Matthew Reinhart, is one in a series of pop-up books that are finally constructed for tiny hands. The pop ups are made of thicker and simpler construction enabling young children to enjoy them.

Razzle-Dazzle Ruby, by Masha Dyans, is an interactive story full of wheels to turn, tabs to pull or open and pop-ups.  Also, Ruby is surrounded with glistening snow that turns her day into magic.

Now for some classic reissues, and featured compilations, check out these outstanding books. The Chronicles of Harris Burdick (14 Amazing Authors Tell the Tale) based on the story by Chris Van Allsburg, has some of the best children’s authors incorporating Allsburg’s wordless and mysterious story into their own tales. Some of these renowned authors include Lois Lowry and Jon Scieszka. This book just may spark the author in you.

The Family Storybook Treasury:  Tales of Laughter, Curiosity and Fun, compiled by Hough-ton Mifflin Harcourt, is a compilation of beloved classic children’s stories and poems. This over-sized and colorful picture book includes stories from “Curious George”, “Martha Speaks” and “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel”.

The Giver:  The Gift Edition, by Lois Lowry, has been reissued and packaged into this special edition along with thirteen new extraordinary illustrations by famed Bagram Ibatoulline.  Also in-cluded in this Newbery winner is an introduction and her 1994 acceptance speech for this coveted award.

The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth and The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster, and illustrated by Jules Feiffer, are two books celebrating the 50th-anniversary of this classic story. The annotated version has notes and an introduction by Leonard S. Marcus and brilliantly expresses a commentary alongside the story.  Both books are perfect gifts for an avid reader this Christmas.

The rest of the books are activity books that involve arts and crafts and are great fun to make and create. The following books are published by Klutz.

The Marvelous Book of Magical Horses, by Eva Steele-Saccio, includes six paper horses that you can decorate with colorful wings, stickers and more.

Brilliant Bead Rings, by Anne Avers Johnson, has simple instructions, beads of many colors and sizes and flexible wire to make easy, pretty rings.

Pom-Pom Monster Salon, by April Chorba, includes bright yarn, easy to follow instructions and decorations to make fun and funny pom-pom monsters.

Friendship Pixies, by Karen Phillips, includes bendable wire, colorful raffia for clothing and sparkly yarn hair to make your magical pixies.

Ribbon Bangles, by Eva Steele-Saccio, includes plain plastic bracelets along with bright ribbon and beads to make pretty bangles.

Kids Cooking is a perfect introduction of simple recipes for the youngest kitchen helper. In-cluded are colorful plastic measuring spoons.

Twisted Critters: The Pipe Cleaner Book shows fast and easy twisting and curling to make all kinds of animals, bracelets and more. There are dozens of brilliant pipe cleaners included.

The last two books are published by Simon & Schuster:  Green & Groovy Crafts: Fairy Crafts, by Pam Abrams and Jenny Wilson, has everything you need to make a fairy life. “Fairy Fashion”, “Fairy Furniture” and “Crowns & Headdresses” are just a few chapters. Included are ribbon, glitter, felt and more.

Pink Princess Party Cookbook, by Barbara Beery, includes six different types of princess parties along with recipes that go right along with the themes which are : “Snowflake”, “Spa”, “Garden”, “Mermaid”, “Enchanted Pony” and “Pink Princess” parties.

The Mansion, 100th Anniversary Edition, by Henry Van Dyke, and gorgeously painted by Dan Burr, is an abridged picture book with the unabridged version found at the back of the book. This story, that was referred to by the Prophet during his Christmas address, is about an older man who has accumulated his wealth and shares it by carefully using his name in order to receive credit. His son wants to utilize his business sense by working for the poor with which his dad doesn’t agree. One night he dreams he has died and gone to a beautiful place where travelers are heading to a city of mansions where they are entrusted to live by how they lived their lives. But he finds his mansion is but a hut. The lessons learned here are a strong reminder about what is truly important and how Christ desires us to live in the service of our fellowman!

Walk With Me, by Greg Olsen, is a compilation of the most beautiful paintings of Christ and landscapes epitomizing all the wondrous blessings we have in this life. There are uplifting quotes, scriptural references and inspirational text all by Olsen. Here is one exquisite and illuminated picture book that should be on every family room table for all to see and read. There will be a better appreciation of all that we have by turning more to our Lord and Savior.

If I Listen With My Heart I Hear The Savior’s Voice, by Sally DeFord, and gloriously painted by Greg Olsen and Liz Swindle, is a picture book based on DeFord’s wonderful song found at the back of the book. The pictures go right along with the text and almost jump off the pages in song. This book is an inspiration for Primary children of all ages.

My First Book of Mormon Stories, retold by Deanna Draper Buck, and colorfully painted by Jerry Harston, is the perfect companion for little ones to learn about the Book of Mormon while parents study this book during next year. Each of the 19 stories in this board book is simple and easy to understand. It begins with “Lehi Was a Prophet” and ends with “Joseph Smith” receiving the golden plates from the Angel Moroni.

My First Book of the Latter-day Prophets, also by Deanna Draper Buck, and brightly illustrated by Casey Nelson, has a similar format at the previously mentioned board book but with concise and inspirational background of each of our modern-day prophets. This book is also good for ages four to ten.

Illustrated Book of Mormon Stories, retold by Karmel H. Newell, and beautifully illustrated by Brian Call, is another perfect companion for children to learn about the Book of Mormon as their parents study it. This book is geared for older children, ages eight to twelve, as the stories are in much more detail and the text is smaller. However, the book would be a wonderful read-aloud for all ages. The stories are many of the highlights from the book, but as indicated from the front passage, “How to Use This Book”, this book is for supplemental scripture study and is not intended to replace the scriptures.

Libby Boom: I Want to Be Baptized, by Catherine Rae Purves, and illustrated by Tuesday Mourning, is a picture book about a girl who is about to be baptized.  She wonders if God knows who she is and through a dream she travels to several parts of the world where she discovers that God does, in fact, know her. This book might be hard to find so here’s the contact information: wonderbookpressd.com.

Who’s Your Hero? Book of Mormon Stories Applied to Children Volume 2, by David Bowman, are stories about Helaman’s Warriors (respecting their parents), Enos (praying sincerely), and Alma The Younger (apologizing). The stories are easy and enjoyable to read as the illustrations alone will draw children, ages four to eight, into the stories. There are also helpful FHE activities outlined at the end of each story. Who’s Your Hero? Book of Mormon Stories Applied to Children Volume 3 , by the same author/illustrator, has the same format but features Captain Moroni (finding protection in righteousness), Nephi and Lehi (following the spirit) and The Brother of Jared (showing great faith).

Pillage, by Obert Skye, is the first in a 3 book series, with the second book, Choke, recently published. Both books are based on the adventures of Beck Phillips who lives in the village of Kingsplot. He has a unique gift of hatching dragon eggs. In the first book, these dragons were destroyed. But in the second book, there is a soft dragon’s egg and Beck must locate and hatch this egg which turns out to be a most ferocious dragon of all. The first book takes a little perseverance to get into the excitement of Beck’s adventures, but stay with it because it will pay off by becoming a page-turner. Both books are good for ages eight to twelve.

Jacob T. Marley, by R. William Bennett, is the perfect book to read to the entire family this Christmas season! The story is based on what possibly led Jacob Marley, Ebenezer Scrooge’s business partner, to come back to warn Scrooge to change his life. The story begins with Marley’s life growing up with his parents and siblings and how he began to become hardened as a young adult and desiring money above all else. This insightful and well-written book will be an inspiration to change your life for the better. It’s never too late!

Life’s Lessons Learned: Personal Reflections, by Dallin H. Oaks, is an inspirational book about what our beloved apostle has learned over the years. It’s broken into 3 parts of his life: Part I to 1971, Part II Brigham Young University and the Utah Supreme Court, 1971 to 1984, and ending with Part III General Authority, 1984 to Present. The book is written with helpful topics that he learned along the way such as “Adversity”, “Goal Setting” and “Tithing Blessings”. There is an encouraging synopsis at the end of each chapter.

LDS Beliefs: A Doctrinal Reference, by Robert L. Millet, Camille Fronk Olson, Andrew C. Skinner and Brent L. Top, is a book full of our Mormon beliefs with references from all the important doctrines, scriptural references and quotes from our apostles. This book is much like Bruce R. McConkie’s “Mormon Doctrine” with headings of topics organized in an alphabetical order. These last two books are good for teens to adults.

Charles Dickens: England’s Most Captivating Storyteller, by Catherine Wells-Cole, and beautifully illustrated and packed with fold-outs, envelopes, flaps and more by an assortment of illustrators, is a most interesting biography that will surely pull ages ten through adult into Dickens’ life.  This over-sized book has double folded pages and a visual display of information that begs to be read. The life and accomplishments of the author who wrote the famous “A Christmas Carol”, along with many other well-known works, is written about in a most interesting way. Kids who are assigned to read and report on a biography, or adults interested in the life of Dickens, will thoroughly enjoy this book!

Franklin and Winston:  A Christmas That Changed the World, by Douglas Wood, and painted in watercolors by Barry Moser, is a look into Churchill’s historic visit to the White House during the Christmas of 1941 just after Pear Harbor was attacked. The author writes about their quickly formed friendship and there are many famous quotes and references, referenced here during this critical time of history.  These two great men embarked upon one of the most important alliances in American history, as America joined the Allied Forces.  Many of Moser’s resplendent paintings are based on actual photographs from this historic event. Be sure to check out the Afterward and the Author’s Note found at the back of this picture book.

Jake, by Audrey Couloumbis, is the perfect read-aloud for this Christmas season!  Ten-year-old Jake is having the worst Christmas holiday ever. His widowed mom has fallen and has to be in the hospital for a few days with a broken leg.  Now his grandfather that he’s never known except through sparse phone calls comes to take care of him. This ex-military man (who was his father’s dad) doesn’t know how to relate to Jake and neither does Jake know how to reciprocate. But through the kindness of a neighbor, this relationship begins to grow. The story is well written with much heart, but is never too sappy. And the joys and love of family abound. The entire family will gather around to hear this novel!

The Carpenter’s Gift : A Christmas Tale About The Rockefeller Center Tree, by David Ruble, and beautifully painted by Jim LaMarche, is an interesting account of how the first Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center came to be. It’s 1931 and young Henry lives in the country where he helps his father cut down trees to sell in the city. After their long work day, they end up giving their last tree to the construction workers and together they turn it into a decorated Christmas tree. On Christmas morning, the workers bring Henry and his family building materials to build a new home. The owners of Rockefeller continue this tradition today. More information can be found at the back of this picture book.

Christmas in the Mouse House, by Maggie Kneen, is a delightful book full of flaps that lift and pop-ups throughout. Papa mouse tells his children to look for the hidden star ornaments that he and Mama mouse have hidden around the house. The last scene will bring smiles to all who read this cozy little book. The warm scenes are painted with watercolors that make this house a happy domain.

Can You See What I See? Toyland Express, by Walter Wick, is much like Wick’s successful other books that exemplify an “I Spy” type of display where you search for particular objects. But this story is a bit different in that it’s a story centered around a train. The rich, colorful photographs are on full pages and help make a fun experience on every page.

The Twelve Days of Christmas, by Jane Ray, is a beautiful rendition from the classic song. The setting is a large house in a busy city in the 1920’s as a young woman begins to receive gifts on a daily basis. The final spread has her true love bringing her a single rose. The colorful mixed media used on the paintings is found on each two-page spread. This book can be read or sung and is good for all ages.

Little Bunny and the Magic Christmas Tree, by David Martin, and painted with ink and water-colors by Valeri Gorbachev, celebrates the magic of Christmas Eve. Little Bunny is upset when he feels so small next to the rest of his family. But when he falls asleep under the tree, he finds that he’s the same size as the ornaments that have magically come alive. Be sure to check out the end pages that begins and ends the tale.

Santa Claus:  The World’s Number One Toy Expert, by Marla Frazee  and Clement C. Moore’s T’ was The Night Before Christmas, illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith, are two books that have been made into a small size and packaged ready to mail. Both books come with addressable flaps and seals.

Oh, What A Christmas!, by Michael Garland, is about an adventure Santa’s never had during his flights on Christmas Eve.  His reindeer head upward but his sleigh crashes into a barn and so he decides to use the barnyard critters to pull his sleigh. He is reunited with his reindeer after his work is done, but he has some special gifts for his newly acquired animals. The digitally made pictures are vibrant and rich.

When I Love You at Christmas, by David Bedford, and nicely and sparsely painted in ink and watercolors by Tamsin Ainslie, is a smallish size picture book that tells the culmination of what Christmas time is all about: love. It’s about a little girl preparing for Christmas as she wraps presents, decorates and bakes – and it’s all done in love.

I Want My Hat Back, by Jon Klassen, is a cleverly drawn story with minimal executed illustrations and dialogue exchange, separated with colors.  A large brown bear has lost his much adored hat and he proceeds to ask forest animals if they’ve seen it. He even asks Rabbit (who is wearing the self-described lost article) who proclaims innocence. The sparsity of picture and dialogue makes this story strong and ingenious – which would bring about much conversation after reading it.

Neville, by Norton Juster, and painted with mixed-media by G. Brian Karas, has a sad little boy moving to a new home and a new neighborhood.  After his mother suggests that he take a little walk around the block, he walks forlornly away.  Then he stops and yells out the name “Neville” and other children hear and join in the call. He explicitly feels better about the place by the amount of kids he sees and the colors (that began with muted grays and blues) that are becoming much more vibrant and vivid.  And who is Neville?  You discover that clever clue on the last page.

Scrawny Cat, by Phyllis Root, and beautifully painted in gouache by Alison Friend, is a story of hopelessness and loss.  A sad scrawny cat is now homeless when he once was loved and had a home.  He finds himself on a dinghy which is swept out to sea by a storm and he eventually lands on an island where a woman who also feels lonely and lost finds the cat – and a friend.

A Ball For Daisy, by Chris Raschka, is a wordless book (which I love, as it invites much conversation) about an adorable playful dog who goes to the park with her owner and her bright red ball.  When she meets a brown dog and owner and whom ultimately breaks the ball, her frisky behavior is also broken.  However, at the next meeting with the brown dog, who now has a blue ball, she happily takes this new ball home. The splash of colors spread throughout the pages typify Raschka.

Coral Reefs, by Jason Chin, is an inviting adventure into the deep blue sea when a young girl’s world is transformed while reading about the ocean at the library.  There is so much to learn here as the author / artist paints full page spreads of accurate sea life and describes it vividly and interestingly.  The end pages are full of accurately labeled sea life, as well as more information found at the back of the book.

Mouse & Lion, by Rand Burkert, and perfectly drawn and painted with fine accuracy by Nancy Ekholm Burkert, is a wonderful retelling of Aesop’s fable.  This mother and son team has endeavored to recreate a story with a bit of a unique flair by making the delivery sparse in both picture and story.  But don’t be mislead, as this is exactly what makes the story so powerful with its eloquent language and authentic African drawings.  Be sure to read the back pages of the Burkert’s inspirations.

Say What?, by Angela DiTerlizzi, and illustrated digitally by Joey Chou, is a clever look into what exactly an animal is actually saying. The rhyming pattern of each animal has a simple beat making it great fun to read-out-loud. “When a duck says quack, / does he really mean snack?” and “When a snake says hiss, / does she really mean kiss?” are a few snatches of the text.

Drawing From Memory, by Allen Say, is an evocative account of this famous illustrator’s beginning as a young middle-schooler.  Say relates how his desire was so great to become a good painter that he actually went to the door of a famous cartoonist and asked if he could learn from him. There is a Japanese determination with Say and he’s become one of today’s leading illustrators and authors. There are many of Say’s artwork from when he was young and as he grew in experience. This book is an inspiration.

Edwin Speaks Up, by April Stevens, and painted with ink, watercolor and gouache by Sophie Blackall, is a delightfully funny story about an unabashed and unflustered mother who takes her four whiny, bothersome children, as well as baby Edwin, grocery shopping.  Edwin yells out each time mother forgets something or has a problem.  His baby babble is recognizable to the reader but not to mom as he attempts to warn her.  Kids will have much fun with this story.

Mirror, by Jeannie Baker, is a most amazing picture book both in the way it’s packaged and the message it delivers.  It opens to a two-sided story.  On the left side is a story about family life in Australia and is written in English. On the right side is a story about a similar family in Morocco and is written in Arabic.  This multi-layered book displays the commonality of family life around the world with children doing chores, eating at mealtime and caring for their pets.  The pictures are made with intricate collages.

I Spy With My Little Eye, by Edward Gibbs, begins with a die-cut on the cover depicting a large eye on what appears to be an alligator (but you must open both front and back to reveal what this animal actually is). From there, the book asks the reader to participate in guessing what the next eye could belong to stating that the animal is blue and is the biggest animal in the world. There are more die-cuts throughout, ending with the back cover and asking the reader to peer out with their own eyes to see what they can see.

That Pup!, by Lindsay Barrett George, is a simple picture book painted with full color gouache that has a small pup locating, and then counting, acorns behind a wheelbarrow full of leaves, in a pumpkin patch and so on. This book would be a good beginning reader and is good for ages four to six.

The next six picture books are good for ages four to nine. The Leaves on the Trees, by Thom Wiley, and illustrated by Andrew Day, is a paperback picture book that can be read or sung to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus”.  But what I like best about this inexpensive book is the easy way it shows of how to identify the type of a tree by the distinctive shape of the leaves.

What if Everything had Legs?, by Scott Menchin, is a clever picture book that explores the many unique possibilities when a young girl is walking home with her mother. As she tires, she wishes her house had legs and could walk to them. And so begins the game of imagining the possibilities of many items with legs such as leaves, cars, rocks and more.  The ending opens up a new discussion when the girl asks her mom, “What if everything has arms?” The mixed media pictures on a one-color scheme page makes the images pop out.

Apples and Pumpkins, by Anne Rockwell, and illustrated with bright watercolors by Lizzy Rockwell, is the perfect story about what happens in the fall.  A young girl and her parents head to an orchard where they pick the reddest apples. From there, they head to the pumpkin patch where they find the perfect pumpkin they carve for the holiday.  It ends with trick-or-treating.

Tucker’s Spooky Halloween, by Leslie McGuirk, has this little dog attempting to be scary this year since he wasn’t last year as a pumpkin. After many attempts to find the right costume, he finally finds the perfect scary costume. The pictures are done in a gouache.

And Then Comes Halloween, by Tom Brenner, and illustrated in watercolor and collage by Holly Meade, is the perfect picture book for ages four to nine that culminates the month of October.  Children are enjoying the last days of cool outside play before the blustery chilly days set in. Then as the days progress, they begin preparations for Halloween and making costumes and ending with the last day of the month by pouring their collected candy onto the floor to categorize and enjoy them.

The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot, by Margaret McNamara, and illustrated with images drawn by hand and gendered digitally using collage techniques by Mark Fearing, is a space-age rendition of “The Three Little Pigs”. These three little aliens are sent on their way out in space to find their own home, but mama reminds them to beware of the “Big Bad Robot”.  Each alien locates a planet in our solar system but one builds a much safer home. The story is great fun to read-aloud and the inside pages have the solar system along with more facts found in the author’s notes.

The next two picture books are good for ages seven to twelve. Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, by Adam Rex, is a hilarious collection of poems about a collection of monsters that will tickle your funny bone and make you think twice about your perception of each. Some of the poems include “The Lunchsack of Notre Dame”, “The Creature from the Black Lagoon Doesn’t Wait an Hour Before Swimming” and “Count Dracula Doesn’t Know He’s Been Walking Around All Night With Spinach in His Teeth”. The oil paintings are as hilarious as the poems! This book can be enjoyed by all ages.

The Hungry Ghost of Rue Orleans, by Mary Quattlebaum, and beautifully painted with a flair of Louisiana by Patricia Castelao, is a ghostly story with a friendly twist. Fred, the ghost, is quite upset when a father and daughter show up to clean up his dusty old house and turn it into a restaurant. He is about to vacate the place when he is quite surprised that the owners want him to stay. This would be a fun read-aloud and don’t forget to check out the author’s note found at the back about her choice of foods served in this bayou city.

The last three books are non-fiction thrillers good for ages seven and up. Monster Hunt:  Exploring Mysterious Creatures, by Jim Arnosky, investigates six unknown creatures and explores the many possibilities. These include Big Foot, The Loch Ness Monster and the Giant Shark. By reading and seeing the somewhat frightening paintings by the author, this fascinating book may just spark the beginnings of a cryptozoologist.

Here There Might Be Monsters: The Legendary Kraken and the Giant Squid, by H. P. Newquist, takes the mythical belief by early settlers and using scientific data, leads the readers to what is believed to be the giant squid.  Actual photos and maps found throughout make this a very interesting read.

In Search of Sasquatch, by Kelly Milner Halls, has the author compiling all of the information and blending the legends with what she calls facts. This book is a fascinating read and demonstrates how science has to be backed with facts, even though her facts are a bit of a stretch.  There are photos, drawings, charts and maps found throughout.

Mouse and Mole:  A Perfect Halloween, by Wong Herbert Yee, is a new story for ages six to eight to add to the “Mouse and Mole” series. This early reader has all of the elements to keep new readers engaged: an interesting story line with 4 chapters dealing with this holiday, wonderfully colorful pictures that move the story along and effective language with lots of fun onomatopoeias throughout.

Half-Minute Horrors, edited by Susan Rich, is a compilation of quick stories from celebrated kid’s authors that will surprise and possibly scare ages nine through teens.  Some tales are only a few sentences while more are about a page and a half long.

The Thirteen Ghosts, (Creepella Von Cacklefur series #1) by Geronimo Stilton, will pull in readers ages six to nine with a mystery that involves Booey the Poltergeist, Grandma Crypt and Chompers the meat-eating plant. Creepella is hunting for thirteen ghosts and readers will smile and enjoy all of her predicaments that she becomes entangled in. Number 2 in this new series has just been published: “Meet Me in Horrorwood”.

Scary Science: 24 Creepy Experiments, by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone, with hilarious illustrations by Ashley Spires, is packed with fun and enlivening experiments that will teach your young scientist, ages nine through teens, the foundations of basic science. Some experiments include making rubber bones, bouncing eyes, a goblin lamp and spooky writing. Facts about the basis of the experiments are found throughout, as well as easy step-by-step instructions. But beware: you might turn your youngster into a mad scientist.

A Zombie’s Guide to the Human Body: Tasty Tidbits From Head to Toe, by Paul Beck, is filled with all kinds of information about our human body and how it works. The format is extremely kid-friendly with the zombie theme and pictures, and the lay-out will entice kids, ages eight through adult, to want to pick this book up and completely read it from cover to cover!

Some Things are Scary, by Florence Parry Heide, and illustrated by renowned Jules Feiffer, is an updated picture book good for ages four to ten. The book was first published back in 1969 but Feiffer has made this a gem. What scares kids the most is the theme of the book and includes some humorous fears such as “Being with your mother when she can’t remember where she parked the car.” And some scary moments like “being on a swing when someone is pushing you too high.”

Pumpkin Trouble, by Jan Thomas, is a hilarious picture book that begs to be read aloud. Duck decides to cut out a jack-o-lantern with his pumpkin but falls inside and can’t get out. With the jack-o-lantern on his head, he wanders over to his friends, mouse and pig who immediately get scared thinking it’s a pumpkin monster. The story gets funnier on every page, making this book, for ages four to eight, a great read-aloud.

The Haunted Hamburger and Other Ghostly Stories, by David LaRochelle, and painted by Paul Meisel, is actually a very clever and funny picture book that all ages will enjoy. A ghostly father tells his two ghostly children three bedtime stories to help them go to sleep. Where the stories scare his children, to human ears they are just plain funny! The book title is one of the stories and scares cousin Nell beyond words but will have youngsters laughing out loud.

For the last two books, how about some laugh out loud books of jokes. Halloween Howlers: Frightfully Funny Knock-Knock Jokes, by Michale Teitelbaum, and illustrated by Jannie Ho, features lift-the-flaps giving punny and funny answers that kids of all ages will love to tell or guess. “Knock, knock! Who’s there? Witch! Witch who? Witch costume should I wear this Halloween?”

Sidesplitters: Boo!, by the Kingfisher editors, is packed with jokes with a Halloween theme. Some include: “Why did the vampires cancel their baseball game? They couldn’t find their bats.” “What dies a skeleton order in a restaurant? Spareribs.” And “What does a ghost get when he falls and scrapes his Knee? A boo-boo”. These are just a few of these fun jokes. Try them at your next Halloween party.

43 Old Cemetery Road: Over My Dead Body, by Kate Klise, and cleverly illustrated by M. Sarah Klise, is Book Two in the Cemetery Road Series, but there’s no need to read the first book to enjoy this delightful and clever story.  An agency has just removed eleven-year-old Seymour from the Spence Mansion at Old Cemetery Road and puts him in the Ghastly Orphanage.  He has to wait there until his parents return from Europe, but meanwhile he meets a most unusual friend: a ghost.  And the story goes from interesting to exhilarating and page-turning as you can hardly wait to see what will happen at this unusual orphanage and surrounding town.  The entire story is told through newspaper clippings, letters and much more.  This is a very ingenious and enjoyable read!

The Joy of Spooking:  Unearthly Asylum, by P. J. Bracegirdle, is the second book in a series with number three and the final book, “Sinister Scenes”, synonymously published. Joy Wells is curious about unusual sounds coming from an old asylum. She’s heard many strange tales and legends concerning this old building.  But she doesn’t realize that she’s about to discover more about it when she loses her pet frog, Fizz. As she explores the sewers in search of Fizz, she comes up from underneath right inside the gates of this haunted building. And so begins her adventures of fright and discovery about what holds this place together. The final book, “Sinister Scenes”, recreates a movie as the residents of this small town help by becoming part of the extras. But Joy becomes involved in helping solve the mystery when the lead actress suddenly vanishes.

School of Fear Series, by Gitty Daneshvari, has just published the last of the planned trilogy and it won’t disappoint. But I recommend starting with the first book and then following with book two, “Class is not Dismissed” and ending with “The Final Exam”.  The premise is about twelve and thirteen year old kids who suffer greatly from fears that terrify them.  Madeline is frightfully scared of bugs and sprays herself incessantly with bug spray. And then there’s Garrison, who’s frightened beyond belief of water. So parents send their phobic children to the School of Fear. There is much humor found throughout each book, along with each child learning to overcome their various fears.

The Mysterious Four, by Dan Poblocki, is a series of three mystery paperbacks with more planned in the future. In the first book, “Hauntings and Heists”, you meet the four friends who organize a mystery-solving club called The Question Marks and they meet at the four corners where their yards meet. Viola has just discovered a tunnel leading to a haunted house across the street. In the second book, “Clocks and Robbers”, the four friends solve a mystery concerning three broken clocks. But in solving this mystery, they bring attention to themselves and some other devious characters who are looking for a forgotten treasure that The Question Marks may have just discovered. In book three, “Monsters and Mischief”, the four friends have seen something very peculiar skulking in the woods. Could it be some kind of a monster? In all three of the mysteries, the reader is invited to help solve each case.

Ghost Hunt 2:  More Chilling Tales of the Unknown, by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, with Cameron Dokey, is a collection of stories that contain mysteries of possible ghost sightings and other mysterious occurrences observed at various locations throughout the country.  Each tale is told with gripping anticipation so readers beware.

Witch Catcher, by Mary Downing Hahn, has an exciting adventure and mystery waiting for Jen when she and her widowed father move to a recently acquired castle.  What she finds in a remote tower is so extraordinary and magical, others come to attempt to retrieve it. The story starts out slow, but don’t let this stop you from reading further because patience will pay off.  By one quarter of the way into the story, you’ll be hooked. (And if you’re not familiar with this author, she is one of the best at spinning shivery mysteries!)

3:15:  Things That Go Bump In the Night, by Patrick Carman, encompasses ten tales that you can easily read in 15 minutes or less. Each story contains a chilling ending but also features a video introduction that sets the stage. The time in the title of the book deals with the possible time in the night when things might “go bump in the night”. The author also wrote the popular “The Skeleton Creek”.

100 Scariest Things on the Planet, by Anna Claybourne, features real creatures and events that will surprise you. Some included are UFO’s, the Loch Ness Monster, sharks, spiders, black holes and giant wave surfing. Each colorful subject is photographed and described on one page making this a quick, interesting and kid-friendly read.

The first three books are geared more for teens and adults – but be warned:  they are so good that you’d better make time because you won’t want to stop reading them! The Miracle of Freedom: 7 Tipping Points that Saved the World, by Chris and Ted Stewart, is another inspiring book that recounts the “string that runs through history, a common thread that ties it all together.” But unlike their best selling “Seven Miracles That Saved America”, this book goes back in time to other great historical events that led up to the making of America and the freedoms that have prevailed since then. This thread becomes the amazing 7 points that changed the world when America developed its constitution and kept it intact during World War II. The exhausting research that the Stewarts obtained for the accuracy of the history is found in the notes at the back of each chapter. “The Roman Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity” and “The discovery of the New World” are two of the tipping points.

The Original Argument: The Federalists’ Case for the Constitution, Adapted for the 21st Century, by Glenn Beck and Joshua Charles, along with Kevin Bale, Wynton Hall, David Harsanyi and Peter Schweizer, is a most insightful look into “The Federalist Papers” that were originally written as correspondence between Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay. These papers were written in the late 1780’s and laid the groundwork for our Constitutional law and rights. However, they are very difficult to understand and that’s where this book becomes extremely valuable!  Mr. Beck and Mr. Charles have outlined many of the papers and what the message is, the original quote, and the relevance of it today. This message is clear, easy to understand and employs a greater reverence and respect for what our Founding Fathers intended.

Father Abraham:  Lincoln and His Sons, by Harold Holzer, is an enriching account of Lincoln’s love of his family. You’ll read about Lincoln’s career in his law practice and in politics, but the real emphasis is his great love of his wife and 4 sons. There is tragedy in his life as his two youngest sons, Eddie and Willie, died as young children and Tad died at age 18. Only the oldest, Robert, survived. He went on to serve on Grant’s staff at the end of the Civil War and became a successful lawyer in Chicago.  Robert had one son whom he named after his father but he died as well, sadly leaving no descendants. But the book tells many heart-warming and humorous stories about Lincoln and his sons.

The Capital Kids series has three new books that are part of the Kennedy Center: Chasing George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major and The Lives of White House Pets Unleashed. All three books are adapted from plays by Ronald Kidd, and are illustrated by Ard Hoyt. This is an excellent series, geared for ages seven to ten, which brings history to life by using modern day kids and applying historical figures to their everyday lives. These books are great fun to read as well as informative! And pencil etchings are sprinkled throughout.

The Dear America series are always excellent with keeping kids, ages eight to twelve, engaged as well as informed. The newest editions include: Standing in the Light, Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania, 1763, Cannons at Dawn, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1779, A Picture of Freedom, Belmont Plantation, Virginia, 1859, A Light in the Storm, Fenwick Island, Delaware, 1861, When Will This Cruel War Be Over?, Gordonsville, Virginia, 1864 and I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly, Mars Bluff, South Carolina, 1865. These books are all written in a diary format but are very rich in story form.

The Slightly Odd United States of America: Wacky Facts Great Country, by the editors of Klutz, is full of interesting facts about each state. The design is definitely kid-friendly as each page has one state and the artwork and layout is fun and easy to read. There are also games, puzzles and more to enjoy! This book is perfect for a summer trip for ages seven and up.

Paul Revere’s Ride, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and illustrated by Monica Vachula, is a revitalization of the classic poem by the renowned poet in this beautifully painted picture book. Vachula has tirelessly researched this subject to enlighten and bring this poem to life. You’ll find her details intriguing and edifying. If Longfellow hadn’t written this poem, Paul Revere might have remained unknown.

All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel, by Dan Yaccarino, is a wonderful celebration of the immigrants that made up America. This picture book shows the personal history of the author and is rich in hues of greens and oranges throughout. The gauge used to show the passage of time is a shovel used differently by each generation. Check out the inside covers!

What Does the President Look Like?, by Jane Hampton Cook, and illustrated by Adam Ziskie, is a fascinating picture book that looks back in history and how Americans “knew” what their president looked like. Before there was the invention of photography they depended on portraitures and political cartoons from newspapers There are interesting facts, found on each president, highlighted as well.

Lady Liberty:  A Biography, by Doreen Rappaport, and illustrated by Matt Tavares, is a picture book that tells the story about the statue’s beginnings and its construction. Told entirely through voices of imagined people, the history is valid and strong as is the remarkable full page watercolor pictures. Check out the historical notes found at the back of the book.