Big new titles perfect for the littles.
As much as the end of the year is about conclusions, it’s about the promise of new beginnings, too. Here are three recent or soon-to-be-released titles that celebrate the excitement of growth and change — and the sometimes-scary thrill of moving in unexpected directions!
Stacey’s Extraordinary Words by Stacey Abrams (author) and Kitt Thomas (illustrator) (Balzer + Bray). “Stacey loved words. She loved to read and write and say them. She adored fun words, long words, unusual words. Words with wonderful histories and weird combinations.” But when Stacey’s teacher taps her to participate in the spelling bee? Suddenly, the little girl’s confidence wavers. Is she really brave enough to stand up and share words in front of everyone?
Strut, Baby, Strut by Amika Kroll (author) and Ebony Glenn (illustrator) (Little Simon). “Shimmy baby/scoot baby/crawl baby/wobble. Stand, baby, stand, and lead toward tomorrow.” Infants, toddlers, and big girls twirl, spin, and stumble their way through this splashy, colorful board book whose simple structure and rhyming scheme belie its surprisingly empowering message.
Bei Bei Goes Home: A Panda Story by Cheryl Bardoe (Candlewick Entertainment). “Keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo are excited. It’s August 2015, in Washington, DC, and they see a tiny shadow on an ultrasound image.” That greyish blip is growing, and soon a rare giant panda is born! This photo- and fact-filled book chronicles how the nation’s capital fell in love with the adorable Bei Bei, and how bittersweet it was to say goodbye when he returned to his mother’s native China soon after his fourth birthday.
