Summer Newsletter 2022 Picture Books - Fiction

Lizzy and the Cloud is a lovely and whimsical new picture book that captures the simple beauty of loving something enough to set it free. Lizzy’s care for her beloved cloud is an apt metaphor for a child’s relationship with pets, friends, and wild things—as well as for a parent’s experience loving a child and letting them grow up and out. This new book from the always wonderful Fan Brothers will make your smile linger long after you’ve turned the last page.  —Jocelyn

While walking along the beach looking for shells with their grandparents, a child wonders about the creatures that once called the shells home and other mysteries of the ocean. Through prose infused with a quiet grace and winsome illustrations rendered in thick acrylic paints, Kevin Henkes’s latest offering captures the elusive magic of the seaside. An enchanting read for aspiring marine biologists and for families preparing for a day on the coast.  —Molly

As a worrier myself, I very much appreciate Murray’s unflinching look at what exactly he’s afraid of. Once he names his fears, he implements practical solutions to address each one, and even finds that he can handle the unexpected. Near this story’s end, the narrator exclaims “I’m proud of you…my brave dog.” But in Murray’s final dream bubble, we see that Murray is also proud of himself. The vibrant, expressive illustrations of David Ezra Stein (of Interrupting Chicken fame) do not disappoint.  —Michelle

The children in Luli’s ESL class speak nine different languages. Can they ever become friends and play together? Luli’s solution: A tea party! She brings a backpack full of cups, tea, hot water, and a teapot. When she calls “Cha!” the children recognize the familiarity of that word and come running, and we see how tea and cookies build a bridge to friendship. Written by Andrea Wang, winner of the 2022 Caldecott Award for Watercress. Sweetly illustrated.  —Noreen

Woodson’s newest picture book is a latchkey kid’s love letter to a Brooklyn of yore. She tells of summers in the ’70s when, with all the grownups working, the kids were “…free as air. Free as sun. Free as summer,” and the city streets belonged to them. With colorful, nostalgic illustrations, this groovy tale is a perfect introduction to daily life for kids of a past generation.  —Molly

Louis and his grandma live in a world, a community, where you take responsibility—Grandma for an abandoned lot and Louie for a survey of dogs. Louie gets to make his own rules on this self-assigned project, counting dogs in houses, on walks, and in hearts. Cordell teases out every frustrated, gleeful, drooling expression with his illustrations, while Stead’s words get to the heart of the matter. A new picture book about dogs? Count me in every time.  —Michelle

Noodle the Pug, the TikTok viral sensation, is here to tell you to wear your comfy pants, order extra guac, and be kind to yourself. Teaching emotional intelligence and self-care to young readers, Noodle faces his first “No Bones Day”—flopping into bed instead of feeling ready for the day. Noodle shows us that it’s okay to practice self-care and that feelings aren’t that scary! Join Noodle on his adventure of self-compassion, motivation, and embracing the day.  —Charlotte