This book takes a more fantastical approach to the subject of gardening. Little Miss plants a kiss and waits for the magic to happen. Minimal text (“Doubt. Pout. Sprout! SHOUT!”) adds just enough to Peter Reynolds’ already-expressive characters. The glitter that sprouts throughout the interior when Little Miss’ kiss blooms is sure to be a hit with any young child.

This book takes a more fantastical approach to the subject of gardening. Little Miss plants a kiss and waits for the magic to happen. Minimal text (“Doubt. Pout. Sprout! SHOUT!”) adds just enough to Peter Reynolds’ already-expressive characters. The glitter that sprouts throughout the interior when Little Miss’ kiss blooms is sure to be a hit with any young child.

It’s sunny and warm outside… time to get excited for Spring! Two books out this season capture the anticipation of March and make a perfect pair for story-time. And Then It’s Spring, by Julie Fogliano, contains truly exceptional phrases like, “And it is still brown, but a very hopeful, very possible sort of brown.” Caldecott-medalist Erin Stead’s illustrations transport the small boy planting his garden from the neutral tones of winter to the vibrant greens of spring.

It’s sunny and warm outside… time to get excited for Spring! Two books out this season capture the anticipation of March and make a perfect pair for story-time. And Then It’s Spring, by Julie Fogliano, contains truly exceptional phrases like, “And it is still brown, but a very hopeful, very possible sort of brown.” Caldecott-medalist Erin Stead’s illustrations transport the small boy planting his garden from the neutral tones of winter to the vibrant greens of spring.

What if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us?

Well, in Meg Rosoff’s latest novel There is No Dog, he is. Well, the slob part at least. God, or ‘Bob,’ is a teenager living on Earth who has all the most unpleasant traits associated with the age. He is impetuous, sex-driven, selfish, flighty–and he’s in control. His mother gave him Earth after winning the planet in a poker game and he rushed through Creation. The natural disasters, rampant injustices, and general unrest in the world are all explained keeping in mind Bob’s self-absorbed nature. Readers follow Bob in his latest conquest of the mortal Lucy while his assistant Mr. B attempts to keep him in-check. The Earth and her many inhabitants are simply pawns in the greater scheming and tinkering of the gods and goddesses at play in Rosoff’s universe. It is at once shocking, unsettling, and incredibly eye-opening. And definitely a wonderful read.

What if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us?

Well, in Meg Rosoff’s latest novel There is No Dog, he is. Well, the slob part at least. God, or ‘Bob,’ is a teenager living on Earth who has all the most unpleasant traits associated with the age. He is impetuous, sex-driven, selfish, flighty–and he’s in control. His mother gave him Earth after winning the planet in a poker game and he rushed through Creation. The natural disasters, rampant injustices, and general unrest in the world are all explained keeping in mind Bob’s self-absorbed nature. Readers follow Bob in his latest conquest of the mortal Lucy while his assistant Mr. B attempts to keep him in-check. The Earth and her many inhabitants are simply pawns in the greater scheming and tinkering of the gods and goddesses at play in Rosoff’s universe. It is at once shocking, unsettling, and incredibly eye-opening. And definitely a wonderful read.

Debut novelist John Corey Whaley proves himself worthy of both this year’s Printz and Morris awards in his debut novel Where Things Come Back. The reading feels nearly effortless, and that’s due entirely to Whaley’s masterful storytelling. I could talk about the plot(s)—teen protagonist Cullen Witter’s small-town life, his brother’s mysterious disappearance, the possible rediscovery of the extinct Lazarus woodpecker, and the story of a missionary in Africa… but the magic of Where Things Come Back is in the way all these threads come together so cleanly. When there’s so much going on, you have to have trust in the author, and Whaley does not let us down. In the telling, Whaley explores ideas of loss, love, friendship, purpose, and hope. I truly can’t say any more—please go get two copies, one for you and one for a friend, because once you’ve read it, you’ll want to talk about it.

Debut novelist John Corey Whaley proves himself worthy of both this year’s Printz and Morris awards in his debut novel Where Things Come Back. The reading feels nearly effortless, and that’s due entirely to Whaley’s masterful storytelling. I could talk about the plot(s)—teen protagonist Cullen Witter’s small-town life, his brother’s mysterious disappearance, the possible rediscovery of the extinct Lazarus woodpecker, and the story of a missionary in Africa… but the magic of Where Things Come Back is in the way all these threads come together so cleanly. When there’s so much going on, you have to have trust in the author, and Whaley does not let us down. In the telling, Whaley explores ideas of loss, love, friendship, purpose, and hope. I truly can’t say any more—please go get two copies, one for you and one for a friend, because once you’ve read it, you’ll want to talk about it.

It was entirely by chance that I stumbled into the arms of my new favorite picture book, Fuddles, by Frans Vischer. I found it hidden in the middle of a big stack of books – and it seems to me that this is the most fulfilling way to discover a favorite book. Fuddles, a rotund, black and white cat, is burdened with an ennui rivaled only by that of Madame Bovary. He lives in the lap of upper middle-class pet luxury; he eats and he sleeps and he does it again. But one fateful day, Fuddles awakens from his tuna fish coma and decides he wants to see the world! He begins a rigorous exercise regimen (though not too rigorous) and a strict low-calorie diet (though not too strict). Of course, Fuddles’ eventual journey into the wild outdoors is full of disastrous unpleasantries, and our hero is forced to conclude that he is, after all, an indoor cat. (Tip: The author photo, in which Frans Vischer is holding a cat suspiciously reminiscent of Fuddles, is not to be missed.)

It was entirely by chance that I stumbled into the arms of my new favorite picture book, Fuddles, by Frans Vischer. I found it hidden in the middle of a big stack of books – and it seems to me that this is the most fulfilling way to discover a favorite book. Fuddles, a rotund, black and white cat, is burdened with an ennui rivaled only by that of Madame Bovary. He lives in the lap of upper middle-class pet luxury; he eats and he sleeps and he does it again. But one fateful day, Fuddles awakens from his tuna fish coma and decides he wants to see the world! He begins a rigorous exercise regimen (though not too rigorous) and a strict low-calorie diet (though not too strict). Of course, Fuddles’ eventual journey into the wild outdoors is full of disastrous unpleasantries, and our hero is forced to conclude that he is, after all, an indoor cat. (Tip: The author photo, in which Frans Vischer is holding a cat suspiciously reminiscent of Fuddles, is not to be missed.)