I delight in discovering new and wonderful picture books every summer.  Many I find at the Eric Carle Museum’s bookstore, as they’re often the one to have the best books.  Some I discovered through a fellow book lover.  We share our ‘finds’ every August.  We’re like two children on Christmas morning.

Return, by Aaron Becker

I’m a big fan of wordless books, as they spark more language and creativity than books with words.  Becker is a master at wordless books, and Return is the latest in his series which began with Journey.  His illustrations are glorious and very detailed.  They will take you to another world of magic.

The Monster in the Lake, by Leo Timmers

Three ducks do not believe their friend who insists there is a monster in the lake.  The book is full of whimsey, with readers rooting for the duck and discovering there actually is a monster, who is a party lover.

The Uncorker of Bottles, by Michelle Cuevas

I knew as soon as I saw the book that the soft illustrations reminded me of the Amos McGee books.  Yup, same illustrator.  The storyline is lovely.  His job was of the utmost importance, to find any bottles at sea and deliver the message.  He loved his job but wished there would one day be a message for him.  He finds a message in a bottle about a party, but cannot find the recipient, so he goes to the party.  The ending is warm and wonderful.

Little Witch Hazel, by Phoebe Wahl.

This delightful story begins with Spring, where Little Witch Hazel finds an orphaned egg.  When no one claims the egg, she rolls the egg home.  Hazel is very tiny, and when the egg hatches, out comes an owl.  As the chapters (seasons) continue, Hazel and the other little witches enjoy summer and fall, until the owl grows and eventually flies away.    On the coldest of winter nights, it returns!  The illustrations are rich in color and detail, including the endpapers map of the woods.

Goldfinches, by Mary Oliver

If you are a bird lover, this is the book for you.  Mary Oliver is a poet, and she won the Pulitzer Prize.  This book is her words for children.  Not only are the poetic words beautiful, the reader learns about the life of a Goldfinch with lovely illustrations depicting nature and science.

A Walk in the Words, by Hudson Talbott

This is the book for slow readers.  Talbott found it difficult to read, as many children do.  The story is about a boy who loves stories and loves to draw.  The many words in a book could be terrifying.  It started with the word ‘overwhelm’, which was exactly how he felt.  What if he took away ‘over’ and focused on ‘whelm?’  Yes, it’s a word.  Bit by bit, at a slow pace, he learned new words.  The illustrations of stepping stones are perfect.  And, the end of the book has famous people who were slow readers, like Shakespeare and Einstein.

Wonder Why, by Lisa Varchol Perron

I think I saved my favorite for last.  This is the story of a thunderstorm.  That alone will be exciting for any child.  Each beautifully illustrated page ends with, “How I wonder, wonder why.”  It begins with the sky, the sun, the wind, pressure – on and on to describe a growing thunderstorm. The text is rhyming, making the story even better.  The illustrations are fabulous, and the book encourages children to ask why.

Jennie