A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead

Zookeeper Amos McGee takes care of the animals, but he's also their friend. He plays chess with the elephant, races the tortoise, sits with the penguin, makes sure the rhino has a hankie, and reads stories to the owl. When Amos catches a cold and has to stay home, his friends come to visit and entertain him.

What I thought: A charming story with equally lovely illustrations. When I first read the book (around November) it was already creating a lot of Caldecott buzz. Since then, it went on to receive the 2011 Caldecott Medal. I couldn't be more pleased. The illustrations are delightful. With their gray shading and touches of color, they remind me of picture books from the 1950s and 1960s. My favorite illustrations are the friends arriving and Amos and the animals at night. A Sick Day for Amos McGee was one of my favorite picture books of 2010. I can't wait to use it in my zoo story time.

Story Time Themes: Zoo, Friendship

(Illus. Erin E. Stead. Neal Porter, 2010)

Brontorina by James Howe

Brontorina wants to be a ballerina. There's just one problem...she's a dinosaur. The studio's too small, she doesn't have the proper shoes, but Brontorina does have determination. With a little thought, these problems are nothing when compared to her dream of being a ballerina.

What I thought: A gem of a book. I like the idea of using dinosaurs to show children how to dream. Brontorina is a truly unique character. The illustrations are good--no lines and bright colors. My favorite is Brontorina in arabesque position. Brontorina is an unusual, but delightful offering in dinosaur picture books.

Story Time Themes: Dinosaurs, Dancing (or Ballet)

(Illus. Randy Cecil. Candlewick, 2010)

The Sweetheart of Prosper County by Jill S. Alexander

Tired of being the butt of bully Dean Ottmer's jokes, Austin Gray has a goal. By next Christmas, she will be a hood ornament in the annual parade.. To achieve her goal, she joins the FFA and gets a chicken for Christmas (a Bantam rooster she names Charles Dickens). Austin makes new friends and finally comes to terms with herself.

What I thought: Sorry to be puny, but this is a sweetheart of a book. Austin is a great character that I think many readers will relate to. Her journey from almost social outcast to sweetheart of Prosper County was poignant and real. She was also a wonderful narrator. I liked seeing her grow. She doesn't just become the sweetheart of Prosper County but Austin Gray. Her aspirations ultimately lead her to her own identity. This book with its small town setting and believe able character is quite reminiscent of Joan Bauer and Heather Hepler. That's a good thing!

(Feiwel & Friends, 2009)

The Jellybeans & the Big Dance by Laura Numeroff & Nate Evans

Emily loves to dance and she's excited about her new class. Her fellow dancers are less enthused. Nicole would rather play soccer. Bitsy prefers painting. Anna likes to read. Only after their names (BEAN) unite them do the four girls become friends. They make a splash at their dance recital.

What I thought: A great book about friendship. I love that the girls are individuals. They each have their own likes and dislikes. However, that doesn't keep them from being friends. Munsinger's illustrations are lovely as always. I love that the girls are not only different animals, but they also have their own color schemes as well. My favorite illustrations are before the recital and after the recital. I can't wait to read their next adventure, The Jellybeans & the Big Book Bonanza.

(Illus. Lynn Munsinger. Scholastic, 2008)

Old Bear & His Cub by Olivier Dunrea

Old Bear and his cub love each other though they don't always agree. Old Bear thinks he knows best, but sometimes so does his cub.

What I thought: A lovely book. I love the relationship that Old Bear and his cub share. The layout is great--excellent use of white space. As an illustrated character, I much prefer Old Bear. His whiskery countenance is so appealing. The illustrations are nice--I like the use of red as an accent color. My favorite illustration is Old bear and his cub outside their house.

Story Time Themes: Valentine's Day, Love, Grandparents, Bears

(Philomel, 2010)

Dogs by Emily Gravett

You've heard that dogs are a man's best friend. Well, they can be a cat's best friend, too, as long as they don't chase him.

What I thought: I love dogs, too. I can relate to the cat's point of view. I love that the narrator is a cat, but we don't find out until the very end. The illustrations are nice. The colors are muted and the dogs are so realistic I almost petted them. My favorite illustration is the basset hound (slow dogs). I was disappointed that Gravett didn't include a Boston Terrier in her tribute to dogs. My mom loved the Great Dane. She owns two--a Blue one named Blue and a Fawn Merle named Ginger.

Story Time Theme: Dogs

(Simon & Schuster, 2010)

The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood

Do you know how many kinds of quiet there are? This book explores many of them including making a wish quiet and first snowfall quiet.

What I thought: What a cute book! The idea behind it is interesting. I'm an adult and I've never thought of all the different kinds of quiet moments we have in our lives. Underwood expertly captures the kinds of quiet that children can relate to. My favorite kind of quiet from the book is story time quiet. My personal favorite kinds of quiet are looking at the Christmas tree quiet and writing a poem quiet.

The illustrations are lovely. I like the muted color palette with only hints of brighter color. My favorite illustrations are the car ride and the roller coaster.

I'm pleased to know that Underwood and Liwska have another book coming out on April 4th, The Loud Book.

Story Time Theme: Time (because all the quiet moments could happen within the course of a day, week, etc.)

(Illus. Renata Liwska. Houghton Mifflin, 2010)