Monday, June 29, 2020

Imagine A Story: A Summer Reading Picture Book List

An imagination is a great thing!  These books all tells about characters with good imaginations.  Here are a few of my favorites . . .


For Just One Day by Laura Leuck
After guessing the identity of each animal before turning the page, the reader pretends to be a porcupine, bear, crocodile, and bumblebee.

My Garden by Kevin Henkes
After helping her mother weed, water, and chase the rabbits from their garden, a young girl imagines her dream garden complete with jellybean bushes, chocolate rabbits, and tomatoes the size of beach balls.

Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
To an imaginative little bunny, a box is not always just a box.

Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas
A ladybug invites the reader to play a game of "let's pretend."

Snowman All Year by Caralyn Buehner
A child imagines what it would be like if a snowman, made of magical snow, could be a companion throughout the year.


More Stories --
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat
The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli
Chicken in Space by Adam Lehrhaupt
Claymates by Dav Petty
Happy Dreamer by Peter H. Reynolds
If I Were a Jungle Animal by Amanda Ellery
If Waffles Were Boys by Charise Mericle Harper
The Imaginary Garden by Andrew Larsen
A Long Way by Katherine Ayres
Maybe a Bear Ate It by Robie H. Harris
Old Bear by Kevin Henkes
On My Way to the Bath by Sarah Maizes
Still a Gorilla by Kim Norman
That's How! by Christoph Niemann
Vroom! by Barbara McClintock
A Wild Cowboy by Danna Smith
You Are a Lion! and Other Fun Yoga Poses by Taeeun Yoo


Check out the Imagine a Story picture book display at the Arnold Branch through August 10, 2020.

Thursday, June 18, 2020

You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith

Emma has always felt like something is missing -- that she doesn't fit into her family.  Then she finds out she had a twin brother who died right after birth.

Peter has always wanted to travel the world -- see new places.  He's never gotten the chance as his father is determined to keep them both in their small town forever.

Now they're on a road trip together.  Emma wants to find the brother she never knew and convinces Peter to go with her to find his grave.



I really enjoyed this book.  I liked the relationships between the various characters and how they change throughout the story.  I would recommend this to fans of Sarah Dessen or Morgan Matson.

Thursday, June 4, 2020

I Want to Eat Your Pancreas by Yoru Sumino

An introverted high school boy discovers the secret of his popular classmate Sakura --  she is dying of pancreatic cancer.  He is the only one outside of her family who knows the truth.  The last thing he wants is to become her friend but Sakura's cheerful attitude draws him in . . .



This is a great manga series.  The relationship between the two friends is interesting.  The boy's character growth is believable.  I would recommend this to fans of realistic manga stories.