New Picture Books for December 2021: Home

From the mega-bestselling author of Dragons Love Tacos and the mega-bestselling illustrator of The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors, comes this hilarious new picture book about an irresistible chicken who unexpectedly finds herself on an epic journey during Ancient Times. Gladys the chicken must be magic. After all, for everyone who encounters her, a wish is granted. The Shepherd Boy wishes to be beautiful, the Brave Swordsman wishes to join the Royal Guard, the Purple Pooh-bah wishes for his only daughter to be happy, and the Learned Princess wishes to escape the palace. And one by one, each of these wishes comes true. But . . . is Gladys really magic? Or is everyone making their own fortune? Either way, it adds up to one heck of an adventure for a chicken named Gladys. Blending a classic storybook feel with a thoroughly modern sense of humor, this side-splitting read aloud is perfect for anyone who wishes to see magic in the world-even if they are only looking at a chicken.

Tie on your apron! Roll up your sleeves! Pans are out, oven is hot, the kitchen's all ready! Where do we start? In this lively, rousing picture book from Caldecott Honoree Jillian Tamaki, a crew of resourceful neighbors come together to prepare a meal for their community. With a garden full of produce, a joyfully chaotic kitchen, and a friendly meal shared at the table, Our Little Kitchen is a celebration of warm bodies, full bellies, and looking out for one another. Bonus materials include a recipe and an author's note about the volunteering experience that inspired the book.

Follow the trail of good deeds in this beautiful wordless picture book to learn how small acts of kindness can make all the difference! When one act of kindness sparks another, anything is possible! As a girl searches for her lost dog, a simple act of generosity ripples into a wave of good deeds. In the course of a single day, each considerate action weaves lives together and transforms a neighborhood for the better. This wordless story, told in beautiful illustrations reminiscent of a graphic novel, demonstrates how every little kindness, shared from person to person, can turn a collection of strangers into a community, and--even though we might not always see it--make the world a more vibrant and compassionate place to be.

Turtle walk. Nice and slow. Here we go! Explore all four seasons with this charming--and patient!--turtle family. Award-winning author-artist Matt Phelan guides the youngest readers from the first blooms of spring and the scorching sun of summer to the crisp leaves of fall and fat snowflakes of winter. Fans of Anna Dewdney and Tad Hills will want to go on this journey again and again. Spring blooms, and a turtle family is on the move. Slow and steady, they travel up, up, up, the gentle hill through all four seasons. Where are they going To the top of the sledding hill, of course! But how will they get back down the hill to a well-deserved winter's rest Matt Phelan's simple, rhythmic text is filled with repetition that shines in read-alouds, and his soft, colorful watercolor artwork bring the seasons to vivid life. The joyful journey and gentle, rewarding surprise make Turtle Walk a timeless choice for every home and classroom.

A heartwarming picture book following a group of boys from different backgrounds throughout the school year as they become the best of friends. Musa's feeling nervous about his first day of school. He's not used to being away from home and he doesn't know any of the other kids in his class. And when he meets classmates Moisés, Mo, and Kevin, Musa isn't sure they'll have much in common. But over the course of the year, the four boys learn more about each other, the holidays they celebrate, their favorite foods, and what they like about school. The more they share with each other, the closer they become, until Musa can't imagine any better friends. In this charming story of friendship and celebrating differences, young readers can discover how entering a new friendship with an open mind and sharing parts of yourself brings people together. And the calendar of holidays at the end of the book will delight children as they identify special events they can celebrate with friends throughout the year.

Bawka-bawka! Mr. Watson has 456 chickens in the sink, on the bed, in the bread box. When his partner, Mr. Nelson, threatens to leave, Mr. Watson takes his chickens to town to sell only for them to escape! Young readers will follow Mr. Watson all around town as he gathers up his chickens. But, when they're all rounded up, does he have the heart to sell them? Does a different fate await these chickens? This quirky, irresistible book is full of read-aloud fun with its onomatopoeia, rollicking rhythm, and familiar refrains and ends with a touch of sweetness. It has all the makings of a classic, with a farm theme, hilarious refrains, and a familiar narrative structure that unfolds in threes, librarians, teachers, and parents looking for a new book that feels traditional will love sharing this book with children.

What starts with just two kids quickly escalates into a rhyming, rollicking romp through the neighborhood, where all the kids are invited! Climb to Cal's Whirl to Will's Trampoline from Ted's to Jill's! Two sisters venture out of their house and pick up Cal, then all three head to Will's. Four become eight and then eight become twelve, and before you know it, there are twenty-two! Never touching the ground, the kids have no shortage of ways to get to their pal's place when there is a mission at hand! Trampolines and slides. Propellers and parachutes. Diving boards and swinging vines. Find your favorite mode and join the friends on the adventurous trip! A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A Junior Library Guild Selection "There is no safe or sound reasoning behind any of the journeys herein, but the joyful abandon is something any child will embrace."--School Library Journal, starred review

From the endlessly inventive Caldecott Honor author/illustrator of They All Saw a Cat comes a picture book that is playful, perceptive, and full of delights. Inside Cat is just that: an inside cat. But while the cat's life is bound by the walls of an unusual house, it's far from dull. As the cat wanders, wonders, stares, and snacks, roaming from room to room and place to place, cat and the reader discover worlds and sensations beyond what's right in front of them. And just when Inside Cat is sure it knows everything, another surprise awaits. Fresh, funny, and wise, Inside Cat is a feast for the eyes and the imagination.

A baby blanket is a very special gift, but what happens when you grow up and it comes undone? Is it time to let go, or to make something new? While Cole's mama waits for his arrival, she knits him a baby blanket. After he is born, the bond between baby and blanket is instant. So much so that as Cole grows older, the two are inseparable, until the day he notices the blanket is slowly coming unraveled. Cole tries playing with it the way he always had but it doesn't work and he decides to let go of what is now a bundle of yarn. But Mama isn't quite ready to let go and knits the yarn into something new--a sweater--delighting Cole. The bond is once again instant. Leanne Hatch brings this story of growing up and taking things with us in new ways to life with her warm text and richly textured art.

Here is the oh-so-hilarious and adorable story of a blended family-- using just a few words in various configurations-- from the pets' point-of-view! Cat and Dog live with their human in a suburban house with a big backyard. Sure, they fight like.... well, cats and dogs, but they're used to one another. Dog-- a different dog-- lives a happy only child life in the city with his dad. He has the bed to himself, he never has to share his toys, and that's the way he likes it. So what happens when the Dog's dad and Cat and Dog's mom move in together? Well, it's chaotic. There's not enough room on the bed, for starters. But as the seasons pass, the three animals become a trio and learn to (mostly) love one another. Just as they're settling into a cozy life as a threesome, along comes..... a baby! This laugh-out-loud picture book, which is the recipient of The Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, cleverly uses two repeating words and is sure to strike a chord with kids dealing with the ups-and-downs of settling into a blended family of their own.

Two children are running around the house, knocking over furniture and getting in their mother's way, so she tells them to go play outside. Beginning in the garden, their outdoor adventure takes them on a tour through breathtaking landscapes, crossing deserts, climbing mountains, sailing the seas, and exploring jungles. Along the way they encounter 250 different species of animals, from black bears and scorpions to barracudas and orangutans, and many of which are endangered or nearly extinct. Blending storytelling and adventure, Laurent Moreau's striking picture book celebrates human connection to the world around us. Play Outside! includes an index of the animals found within its pages, giving their level of vulnerability to extinction.

A moving bilingual ode to the unshakeable bond between a parent and child in the tradition of Runaway Bunny and The Wonderful Things You Will Be. If I were a sheep, you would be a lamb. If I were a bear, you would be a cub. As a mother holds her toddler, they muse over the way their love would translate if they were different animals. But no matter how they change, they will always be "us."

On the island of Koh Panyee, in a village built on stilts, there is no open space. How will a group of Thai boys play soccer? After watching the World Cup on television, a group of Thai boys is inspired to form their own team. But on the island of Koh Panyee, in a village built on stilts, there is no open space. The boys can play only twice a month on a sandbar when the tide is low enough. Everything changes when the teens join together to build their very own floating soccer field. This inspiring true story by debut author Scott Riley is gorgeously illustrated by Nguyen Quang and Kim Lien. Perfect for fans of stories about sports, beating seemingly impossible odds, and places and cultures not often shown in picture books. "A compelling book for football [soccer] fans and readers seeking examples of ingenuity."--starred, Publishers Weekly

A New York Times bestseller! Five starred reviews! Named Best Book of the Year by Barnes & Noble, The New York Times/New York Public Library, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal They All Saw a Cat meets The Important Book in this sensitive and impactful picture book about seeing the world from different points of view by Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Honoree Christian Robinson. In this full, bright, and beautiful picture book, many different perspectives around the world are deftly and empathetically explored--from a pair of bird-watchers to the pigeons they're feeding. Young readers will be drawn into the luminous illustrations inviting them to engage with the world in a new way and see how everyone is connected, and that everyone matters.

Author-illustrator C. G. Esperanza delivers a celebratory ode to graffiti and the Boogie Down Bronx through an infectious read-aloud beat and colorful illustrations that leap right off the page! Perfect for fans of Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut and Keith Haring. The city is alive with vibrant art in every corner of the parks, the shops, the trains. But most people are too busy to see it--or worse, choose to ignore it! When three children stop to marvel at the art around their community, they realize it's up to them to show everyone else how truly special it is when art and reality dance together so seamlessly. Boogie boogie, y'all. The city boogied all day. Busy, busy, busy, Till one kid stopped to say, Woah, woah, woah! Look at the art on the wall!

Follow a young boy's furry friend through the course of a day in an infectiously rhythmic read-aloud for cool cats of any species. Atticus Caticus, ears like a bat-tat-ticus! Snap your fingers to the beat as a boy introduces us to his beloved (and oh-so-recognizably feline) cat. Whether Atticus is lying in the sun or stealing a sip from a water glass, sharpening his nails on a favorite chair or settling in for the night on his boy's head, this cat will win your heart--and maybe inspire you to improvise a few riffs of poetry about your own animal friends.

Young Lester Smith is part of a fishing family on Lake Michigan. He loves playing on the beach with his little sister, helping Mama with chores, and watching the neighbor's big horse pull Papa's fishing boat onto shore. But Lester understands that the lake can be "soft as a kitten one day and terrible as a sea monster the next." On the autumn equinox of 1895, a wicked storm rolls into Port Washington, damaging a schooner on the lake and putting the lives of its two crewmen in danger. Will Lester, his family, and the horse save the day? This beautifully illustrated children's book based on a true story recounts a dramatic rescue on Lake Michigan and introduces young readers to Lester Smith and his family, who founded Port Washington's long-running and beloved Smith Bros. Fish Shanty. Educational materials including definitions, an illustrated map of Lake Michigan, and short biographies of the story's featured characters supplement this engaging story for elementary-age readers.