I'm a Unicorn by Helen Yoon

A bull born with only one horn is convinced he's a unicorn. That is, until he starts reading a book called Unicorns: Facts and Myths. Is he a bull or is he a unicorn? 

Thoughts: How funny! I love how the bull comes to the logical conclusion that he must be a unicorn because he only has one horn. The illustrations are soft colored and expressive. Pair with Itty-Bitty Kitty Corn by Shannon Hale and You Don't Want a Unicorn by Ame Dyckman. 

Themes: Unicorns, Cows, Mistaken Identity

(Candlewick Press, 2022.)

Too Many Pigs and One Big Bad Wolf by Davide Cali

I'm sure you know the story of the three little pigs. Three pigs against one big bad wolf. And the pigs win. Or do they? 

Thoughts: So much to love in this book! Twelve different versions of the original story of the three little pigs told by a hungry wolf and shot down by a dissatisfied reader. Too Many Pigs and One Big Bad Wolf will be fun to share with a variety of ages as just a story, but with older kids there's so much more you could do. Have them add details to their favorite retelling in the book to appease the reader with a longer story. Expand the story of one of the pigs (I'm sure there's more to know about a sudoku loving pig.) Find activity sheets from the publisher here (scroll down to the title of the book.) The illustrations are fun and perfectly suit the text. I love the use of an abacus and the limited color palette (blue, red, and yellow) with tiny additions of other colors. 

Themes: Fairy Tales, Pigs, Wolves, Fractured Fairy Tales, Three Little Pigs Variants

(Illustrated by Marianna Balducci. Tundra, 2023.)

I Am Hungry by Michael Rosen

How hungry is hungry? 

Thoughts: What a fun book! I love the absurd things that the squirrel eats. Parents, teachers, fellow librarians: be sure to read the author's "A Note to Grown-ups" on the copyright page. He shares a great activity idea. The text is simple and the illustrations are colorful and make good use of white space. I love that the squirrel is red. (Red squirrels are native to Europe and Asia. You won't find them in the US, but they always remind me of Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin.) I look forward to sharing this book in storytime. For a fun, food themed storytime, pair with other picture books with the word hungry in the title and maybe some food themed poetry like Crocodile Hungry by Eija Sumner, I'm Hungry! ¡Tengo Hambre! by Angela Dominguez, Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T. Smith, Hungry Bunny by Claudia Rueda, Ten Hungry Pigs by Derek Anderson, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Find some food themed poetry suggestions here. 

Themes: Squirrels, Food

(Illustrated by Robert Starling. Candlewick Press, 2023.)

Flat Cat by Tara Lazar

Flat Cat can go anywhere and get anything because he blends in. A trip through the washer and dryer results in a case of supreme fluffiness. What's a cat to do?

Thoughts: A fun book. I especially like the language used and the details of the story. The descriptions are great for those kids that are always asking why. I love that Flat Cat is purple. The illustrations are interesting and I love the use of a limited color palette. Find fun activities on the author's website here. 

Themes: Cats 

(Illustrated by Pete Oswald. Flamingo Books, 2023.)

Mine! by Candace Fleming

You know what they say about the best laid plans. Don't count your chicks before they hatch. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Mouse, Hare, Fox, Deer, and Bear all want the one apple in the tree. Who will end up with the apple? 

Thoughts: So much to love in this book! The language, the illustrations, the surprise ending... I can't wait to use this book in storytime. It reminds me a little of Lousy Rotten Stinkin' Grapes by Margie Palatini. I think it would pair well with The Bear Who Shared by Catherine Rayner.

Themes: Forest Animals, Apples, Fruit, Sharing 

(Illustrated by Eric Rohmann. Anne Schwartz Books, 2023.)