It’s not often I discover a terrific new picture book.
This summer I hit the jackpot.
The Yellow Bus, by Loren Long
Loren Long is a great author and illustrator. His book, Otis, about a farm tractor and a cow is well known and one of my favorites. This new book is nothing at all like I expected. After reading the book, I had a strong sense of Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree and Virginia Lee Burton’s The Little House. I told Loren Long on FB, and he immediately came back to me and said, “That’s exactly how I felt. Those were the two books.” Wow!
Penelope Rex, by Ryan Higgins
Ryan Higgins is well known for his hilarious Mother Bruce books. His new character is Penelope. She’s a T-Rex, yet she is just like everyone else. This is the second book in the series, and it hits home with children. Penelope has a new pet, a saber-toothed cat. He’s a problem, a big problem. Penelope has to be brave, and figure out how to control her pet.
The Little Red Chair, by Cathy Stefanec Ogren
This is a timeless book, deemed to become a classic. Mia sees a red chair in a store window and knows it is the perfect chair for her. The first page of the book reads:
The little red chair tightened its buttons, fluffed its tufts, and straightened its tiny brass wheels. Squeakity-squeak! Maybe today, thought the little red chair.
The chair goes through life with Mia, the seasons, and the ensuing years. Throughout the story, the chair always has love and hope, and a squeakity-squeak. The big move comes, and the chair…. well, you’ll have to read the story.
Lost. Found., by Marsha Diane Arnold
Wordless books are powerful. When a book has only two words – Lost, Found – the power is intensified. A stiff wind blows away bear’s scarf. Lost. Beaver finds it and wraps it into a cap. Found. The scarf gets caught on a tree branch. Lost. And so the story of the scarf goes from animal to animal, each discovering a different use for the scarf, yet always ending in Lost and Found. When all the animals, together, find the lost scarf, their excitement tears the scarf into threads of yarn. Another Lost. Bear comes to the rescue. The Found is both knitting the scarf back together and the Found of new friends.
Sea Dog BOATS, an Alphabet Book,
by Astrid Sheckels
For boat lovers and dog lovers, this is THE book for you. Each letter in the alphabet depicts a boat, from Airboat to Zodiac. The illustrations bring every boat to life, along with its dog driver. Walter the sea dog is in the D boat, the Dory. I learned about N a narrowboat, and Q a q-ship. Can you guess what X is? This is a wonderful book. Boats and dogs make the alphabet come to life.
Jump for Joy, by Karen Gray Ruelle
Joy loved dogs. She had always loved dogs and wanted a dog. Big dogs, little dogs, it didn’t matter. She’d know her dog when she saw him. Jump loved kids. He’d loved kids for as long as he could remember. Jump wanted a kid, big kid, little kid, spotted kid, curly kid. It didn’t matter.
That sets the stage for Joy and Jump going through the seasons making something from nature. Joy made a dog out of flowers in the spring and called him Tulip. Jump made a kid out of sand in the summer and called her Sandy. Each structure, cleverly named, ends up ruined by the weather. The following spring their first creative structures begin to bloom, and the rest is history.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
They all look really good, but after my recent fiction serial, ‘The Chair’, I am obviously drawn to ‘The Little Red Chair’! I love that quote from the first page.
Best wishes, Pete.
You definitely picked the book that suits you, not just because of the serial, but because it is timeless. You would love it! Best to you, Pete.
I will get it for my granddaughter this Christmas, and read it myself too.
That makes my day! 😍
What a lovely collection of stories I’m sure kids will love them 🙂
Thank you, Carol!
These all look delightful! I especially love Jump for Joy!
Thank you, Darlene! You would love the names of all the structures Joy and Jump build as the seasons go along.
Strong group of books, Jennie. The Little Red Chairs also reminded me of Beetley Pete’s latest serial.
Thank you, Don. Yes, Pete was drawn to the book, too, after his chair serial.
what a lovely group of new books, I ‘m especially drawn to ‘the little red chair’ and ‘jump for joy’ as I love to make things from nature. how wonderful that you heard back from loren long in response to your spot on observations. I hope you have a wonderful class and wonderful year
They really are, Beth. You will love what Joy and Jump make from nature, plus their clever names for their ‘creations’. The Little Red Chair is such a classic story, very heartwarming. It’s the only book I know of from a debut author where the Amazon pre-order sold out! That says a lot. You can imagine how thrilled I was that Loren and I were on the same page! I hope you get to read these books, Beth. Many thanks!
Good reviews of all the books. The children will love them. Thanks Jennie 👍🙏👍
Thank you, Kamal! 😍
That’s a great sounding collection, Jennie. I’m keeping the list in mind for Christmas!
Hooray! 😀
Can’t wait to hear about what happens to the chair. 🙂
It’s the only book I know of from a debut author where the pre-orders on Amazon sold out. Wow! You will love this classic story, and what happens to the chair! 😀
It amazes me how great children’s literature is timeless. These bring back memories.
I’m so happy these books bring back memories. Yes, it’s wonderful how great literature is timeless.
Such a great summer for Jennie! Thanks for this post!
That’s so nice, Dan. Thank you!
All look great, Jennie. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure, John.
This makes me want to go back to teaching. Story time was always my favourite part of the day.
I’m so glad! It is always my favorite part of the day, too.
I can picture you in your easy chair enjoying each of these books and thinking how you’re going to introduce them to your students. Wonderful review, Jennie.
A great collection of books for children Jennie 😊
Thank you, Kamal.
❤️😊👍🙏
You are always welcome dear Jennie 🙏💝
these are wonderful!
Thank you.
I LOVE picture book recommendations! I have the first Penelope book, WE DON’T EAT OUR CLASSMATES, so thank you for the reminder of this sequel. (I saw another one listed as well.) The Little Red Chair looks very poignant.
This new Penelope book is far better than the first one (which I have, too.). Yes, The Little Red Chair is vert poignant. Thank you! 😍
These books makes me want to reverse age my granddaughter so I could read to her again LOL… 🙂 Thank you Jennie, for sharing more wonderful books… ❤ xx Hugs your way xx ❤
Yes!! I know how you feel. My grandkids are teenagers, and I miss those reading years. Thank goodness I have my class to read aloud to. Hugs to you, Sue.😍
Lucky for you and luckier still for your class 🙂 xx
Amen! Thank you, Sue. 💕
These look like wonderful selections!
They are really good. Thank you, Becky!
I love children’s books
They’re the best!
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Thank you.
A dog walk turns into a muddy adventure as the narrator’s pup gets stuck in a swollen stream, leading to a slippery rescue mission and a hilariously muddy ending.
What book is this?
Thanks for sharing another great collection of books, Jennie! Best wishes, Michael
My pleasure, Michael. Thank you!
I always enjoy your picture book recommendations. The Little Red Chair in particular speaks to me.
It is one of the best! The preorders on Amazon sold out, and she is a debut author.
Wow! Thank you, Liz. I’ll keep those recommendations coming. 🙂
You’re welcome, Jennie! That’s very impressive, particularly for a debut author. I just looked up her bio and confirmed she has a good background in children’s development and literature.
😀
I love the look and sound of all of these, Jennie. My DIL’s father recently passed away and he was a sailor. The kids all loved going on the boat with Nono. I will try and find Sea Dog Boats for a stocking stuffer for one of them.
They will love the book. Also, Sea Dog (the first book) I highly recommend. I’m using that as one of my two comps in my agent query letter.
I will check that one out as well, thanks, Jennie.
😍
Hope you read this 🙂
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I just came across this post. Thank you for your kind words about The Little Red Chair. ❤
Cathy!! I am thrilled that you found this post, and commented. Hearing from an author is quite wonderful. I should tell you I’m the book guru at school, and after 40 years of reading the best books to children, finding a new jewel like yours is thrilling. The best part is reading it aloud in my classroom and connecting the story with children. The day Jim Trelease (he’s the #1) came to my classroom to watch me read aloud was a great day.
I’m in Massachusetts. My favorite place besides the library is the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst. If you ever get here (I don’t know where you live), let me know and we can go together. They have the best guest authors, and I can tell them more about your book. Their library and bookstore are the best! Of course they carry your book.
Apologies for such a long reply. Thank you again, Cathy. I will follow your blog of course. My next book review will be Evergreen, by Matthew Cordell.
All the best
Jennie
It so nice to hear from you, Jennie! It’s great to know you’re the book guru at your school. There’s nothing better than a good book! It’s very impressive that Jim Trelease came to your classroom to hear you read to your students. Congratulations!
f you’re interested, my author website https://cathystefanecogren.com/ has information about my books. I’m thrilled to say that The Little Red Chair is a CYBILS finalist.
I live in New Hampshire. I haven’t been to the Eric Carle Museum yet, but it’s on my list to visit. As a former elementary school teacher and book lover, it’s wonderful to connect with you.
Best,
Cathy
Hi Cathy! Many thanks for your lovely words. Yes, nothing beats a good book. I’m so glad you know of Jim Trelease, as he was the founding father in reading aloud. I have written so many things about him on my blog. His book fluctuated between statistics and stories. I was the lover of his stories. Cuban cigars and the junior high school in Boston are my favorites.
Thank you for your author website, and a HUGE congratulations on being a CYBILS finalist! Well deserved is an understatement.
I live in Groton, on the New Hampshire border. I do hope you get to the Eric Carle Museum. Again, I’d be happy to meet you at the museum and tour, and I’d love to put in a word for you as a presenter, if you’re interested. They have the best of the best.
Best,
Jennie
Jennie, it’s a dream to present at the Eric Carle Museum!
I live about 19 miles from you. It would be nice to meet you for lunch some day.
You can contact me at: cogren (dot) ogren (at) gmail (dot) com
Cathy
Wonderful! I’ll email you. 😀