100 Dogs: Playful Pups to Count by Michael Whaite

Companion to 100 Cats: Cute Kitties to Count

One hundred dogs in this book. Can you find them all? Which ones are your favorites?

Thoughts: Such a fun book! I love the rhythmic language and the colorful illustrations. You can't help but be happy when you read 100 Dogs. My favorite dogs are baggy dog, fluffy dog, cool dog, mop dog, scottie dog, hello dog, shy dog, and boot dog. As I decided with 100 Cats, if I use this book in storytime, I'd read it first and then we'd go back and count all the dogs. 

Themes: Dogs, Counting 

(Random House, 2018.)

One-Osaurus, Two-Osaurus by Kim Norman

The dinosaurs are playing hide-and-seek. Can they make it to ten? 

Thoughts: Lovely rhythmic text paired with colorful illustrations. I can't wait to read this book during storytime. Pair with The Elephants' Guide to Hide-and-Seek by Kjersten Hayes, Find Fergus by Mike Boldt, Everybunny Count! by Ellie Sandall, Peek-A-Boo Bunny by Holly Surplice, and Hide & Seek by Il Sung Na for a hide-and-seek themed storytime. 

Themes: Dinosaurs, Counting/Numbers, Hide-and-Seek 

(Illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby. Candlewick Press, 2021.)

Guess What!? by Mo Willems

Unlimited Squirrels are back! This time Zoom Squirrel is going to the beach. He's counting the days. 

Thoughts: Too fun! I love that Mo has a new easy reader series now that the Elephant & Piggie series is complete. I also like that Guess What!? is more than just a story. It's got jokes, research, and a guessing game. This will be a fun book to share with kids of all ages. The illustrations are vibrant and expressive.

Get some activity sheets for the series here. 

Don't miss the other Unlimited Squirrels Books! 

• I Lost My Tooth!
• Who Is the Mystery Reader? 
• I Want to Sleep Under the Stars! 

Themes: Squirrels, Beach

(Hyperion, 2021.)

Red by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Seeger's third color book explores emotions through various shades and hues of the color red. 

Thoughts: I love everything about this book. The brief text (just the names of the different reds) pairs well with Seeger's acrylic on canvas illustrations. I love the saturation she achieves in her painting. Red will be a good addition to a color, emotion, or fall themed storytime. Check out this blog post on Seeger's website about the making of Red. Her process is fascinating. 

Don't miss Seeger's other color books! 

• Green (2012)
• Blue (2018)

Themes: Red, Foxes, Almost Wordless 

(Neal Porter Books, 2021.)

The Story of a Story by Deborah Hopkinson

How do you write a story? Here's The Story of a Story. 

Thoughts: This book is a great introduction to the writing process for the youngest readers, but will also be appreciated by writers of all ages. The illustrations are colorful and detailed with good use of black outlines and white space. I love the information at the end of the story about writing your own story. This would be a great activity to do with elementary students. Pair The Story of a Story with How to Write a Story by Kate Messner and Write! Write! Write! by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater. 

Themes: Writing, Stories, Elementary

(Illustrated by Hadley Hooper. Neal Porter Books, 2021.)

A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice by Jasmine A. Stirling

This charming picture book biography focuses on Jane Austen's love of stories and words. The book follows her as she decides to write and perfects her craft over the years. 

Thoughts: I've been a fan of Jane Austen ever since I saw the 1996 adaptation of Emma on A&E when I was in high school. I didn't actually read her books until I was in graduate school. Her books offer so much enjoyment even more than a century after their publications. A Most Clever Girl is a great introduction to Jane and her love of writing. The illustrations are soft-colored and engaging. Notes from the author and illustrator are included as well as resources and a selected bibliography. I think anyone who reads this book will want to know more about Jane and eventually read her books. 

(Illustrated by Vesper Stamper. Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2021.)

One Sheep, Two Sheep by Tammi Sauer

It's bedtime on the farm and Rooster's ready to go to sleep. To go to sleep, he has to count sheep. Just sheep. No other animals. Are you ready? 

Thoughts: Too funny! I love Rooster's dramatic reactions to the not sheep animals. The story reads well and has a great rhythm. The digital illustrations are are colorful and engaging. This is will be a great addition to a bedtime or farm storytime. 

Themes: Bedtime, Farm, Counting, Sheep

(Illustrated by Troy Cummings. Abrams Appleseed, 2021.)