Picture books are a little longer this week because I included a couple that didn’t make it on last’week’s (HUGE) Spotlight.
Nothing really jumps out at me as a favorite picture book this week.
Links to the Google Slides presentation, printable list, and Ginormous are at the bottom of this post.
You will also find links to the YA and Middle Grade Spotlights for this week at the bottom of this post.
Author: Megan McDonald
Illustrator: Katherine Tillotson
Publication date: February 13, 2024
Genre: picture book
Setting: ocean/beach
Recommended for: PreS-Grade 3
Themes: animals, fish, marine life, habitats, life science, hermit crabs, zoology, searching for the perfect home, finding a new place to live, just right home, onomatopoeia, porcupine fish
Protagonist: male hermit crab that has outgrown his shell
Starred reviews: Kirkus and Booklist
Pages: 40
Notes: Republished from 1990; Illustrations updated in this version, plus hermit crab facts updated
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY
Hermit Crab has outgrown his shell, and it’s time for a new home to keep him safe from predators. The beach is strewn with possible choices, but none are quite right. A rock is too heavy; a tin can is too noisy; a fishing net has too many holes.
He stepped along the shore,
by the sea, in the sand . . .
scritch-scratch, scritch-scratch
When a giant wave sends Hermit Crab careening toward a hungry porcupine fish, will he find a hiding place in time?
Katherine Tillotson’s immersive artwork breathes new life into this classic text by Megan McDonald, beloved author of the Judy Moody series. Brand-new backmatter provides further learning about all things hermit crab.
Author: Greg Pizzoli
Illustrator: Greg Pizzoli
Publication date: February 6, 2024
Genre: animal stories, fable, humor
Recommended for: PreS-Grade 2
Themes: luck, wolves, ducks, animals, having a bad day, seeing setbacks from a new perspective
Protagonist: female duck named Susan
Starred reviews: no starred reviews
Pages: 224
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY
Susan the duck has the worst luck. Her rollerskates are two sizes too big. She’s lost her favorite marble. And she’s run out of pickles.
But with each unfortunate discovery, Wolf shows up with a gift she’s won. Her luck has turned around . . . hasn’t it? Come see just how lucky Susan is, in this slyly funny story about finding luck when you least expect it.
Geisel Award-winning creator Greg Pizzoli delivers another rib-tickling picturebook that will have kids howling with laughter.
Author: Christine Van Zandt
Illustrator: Alejandra Barajas
Publication date: February 6, 2024
Genre: informational picture book
Setting: outdoors, along monarch migration path
Recommended for: PreS-Grade 3
Themes: monarch butterflies, monarch migration, insects, milkweed, metamorphosis, monarch life cycle, caterpillars, pesticides, deforestation
Starred reviews: no starred reviews
Pages: 40
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY
Every year, monarch butterflies migrate to warmer climates for overwintering months. However, changing environments make it continually more difficult to find food and places to lay eggs. In this nonfiction picture book, the monarch’s life cycle is detailed in lyrical verse as stunning art accompanies each stage in the butterfly’s life.
The most recognizable butterfly, monarchs are classified as a vulnerable species by the IUCN, and face drastic challenges when it comes to locating food sources–milkweed. Milkweed for Monarchs is the perfect resource for young readers to learn more about these beautiful insects and how they can foster monarch-friendly environments in their own backyard. Backmatter includes actionable ways for readers to help this vulnerable species.
Author: Erin Frankel
Illustrator: Paola Escobar
Publication date: February 13, 2024
Genre: picture book biography
Setting: begins in Spain; goes worldwide including Haiti, Ukraine, New York City
Recommended for: PreS-Grade 3
Themes: cooking, chefs, community, food, humanitarianism, World Central Kitchen, hunger, natural disasters, Covid-19, serving the community, patriotism, Spanish food
Protagonist: Jose Andres, Spanish chef
Starred reviews: Kirkus
Pages: 48
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY
José Andrés’s love of cooking began as a young boy in Spain as he gathered the wood to make the fire that would cook the paella just right. José loved everything about it: the sizzling olive oil, the mounds of chopped vegetables, and the smell of saffron. When he left home, he realized he wanted to tell stories with food. And tell them he did, creating magic with the seeds of ripe tomatoes and pomegranates and cheese. His dreams grew until they were as big as the stars in the sky. He thought, No one should ever go hungry. I want to help feed the world— and World Central Kitchen was born.
From the earthquake in Haiti to the war in Ukraine and the Covid pandemic, José and his team at World Central Kitchen have been at the frontlines, serving more than 200 million meals and counting, and bringing comfort and hope in the darkest times.
With a lyrical text and stunning illustrations, here is a picture book biography about a world-renowned humanitarian and chef that’s sure to inspire a new generation of community helpers.
Author: Ruth Millington
Illustrator: Ellen Surrey
Publication date: February 6, 2024
Genre: informational picture book
Recommended for: Grades 2-7
Themes: art, cave paintings, worldwide art, artists, creativity
Starred reviews: no starred reviews
Pages: 64
Notes: profiles 20 artists including Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Leonardo DaVinci, Pablo Picasso, Esther Mahlangu (South African muralist), Emily Kame Kngwarreye (Aboriginal batik artist)
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY
Jam-packed with imaginative ideas for all kinds of creative crafts . . . this book will make YOU an artist!
Pick up your pencils, collect your collage materials, and take inspiration from 25 of the world’s best-known artists in this fact-filled book full of activities.
Discover famous masterpieces through the included photographs of real works of art — from ancient cave painting to contemporary performance — and lots more in between!
Author: Chris Raschka
Illustrator: Chris Raschka
Publication date: February 13, 2024
Genre: picture book
Setting: outdoors, where the lily blooms
Recommended for: PreS-Grade 3
Themes: social emotional learning, empathy, empathy, flowers, spring, lilies, daylilies, beauty, metaphor, rhyming books, rhyming couplets
Starred reviews: Publishers Weekly
Pages: 32
Notes: Daylilies are a short-lived flower; they only bloom for one day.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY
A daylily blooms for just one day, opening when the sun comes up and closing when it sets. In Chris Raschka’s extraordinary garden, seven daylilies bloom for others during the course of a sun-drenched week—for example, Monday’s lily blooms for the baby, and Saturday’s lily blooms for friends. The lovely and lyrical text underscores the value of living in the moment, caring for those around you, and being mindful of nature.
Two-time Caldecott Medal winner Chris Raschka introduces young readers to the concept of time—the days of the week, the span of a life—as well as to more spiritual and emotional concepts such as friendship, empathy, generosity, caring for others, and love. With a soothing text and stunning illustrations, this gentle, innovative, and educational picture book is an excellent choice for story-time sharing as well as gift giving.
Author: Gideon Sterer
Illustrator: Charlie Mylie
Publication date: February 13, 2024
Genre: picture book, poetry
Setting: magical treetop town devoted to children's play
Recommended for: PreS-3
Themes: play, detailed illustrations, treehouses, rhyme, animals
Protagonist: variety of children and animals playing
Starred reviews: Booklist
Pages: 40
Notes: The Booklist and Kirkus reviews both mention the read-aloud awkwardness of the rhyming couplets; Kirkus review is worth a look before purchase.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY
Wander through the Birch Bazaar, hitch a ride on the Tulip Train, explore the library in the hemlocks, or play birdball high in the sky. There’s something for everyone in Treehouse Town, a world built by children that’s as endless as their imaginations.
With playful verse by Gideon Sterer and intricately detailed illustrations by Charlie Mylie that offer something new to spot with every read, Treehouse Town celebrates teamwork, inclusion, and limitless possibility.
THE LINKS YOU’LL NEED FOR FEBRUARY
- February 2024 – Picture Books – Google Slides presentation – click “use template” to make a copy – share with students and teachers!
- Printable list of all February 2024 Spotlight titles – sorted by genre and grade level group; click “use template” to make a copy. This list is now complete for February 2024.
- The Ginormous Book List – this week’s Picture book Grade titles are #3865 – #3871 on The Ginormous.
MORE FEBRUARY 2024 NEW RELEASE SPOTLIGHTS
ABOUT THE SPOTLIGHT
The New Release Spotlight began in May 2016 as a way to help librarians keep up with the many new children’s and YA books that are released each week.
Each week, school librarian Leigh Collazo compiles the New Release Spotlight using a combination of Follett’s Titlewave, Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes and Noble. Recommended grade levels represent the range of grade levels recommended by professional book reviewers. See the full selection criteria here.
Inevitably, there are far more books that meet my criteria than can make it on the Spotlight. When I have to make the tough decisions on what to include, I just use my “librarian judgment.” Would I buy this book for my own library? Would my students want to read this book? Is the cover appealing? Does it fill a need?