November Picture Book Month may be drawing to a close, but I look forward to reading many  more picture books through the coming months. These last books are a feast for the senses that open new vistas past and present.

Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Sophie Blackall (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2010) – If I liked pecans, I would be drooling for pecan pie by the end of this book. Gia is not too sure about the new baby brother or sister on the way. The more everyone else talks about it, the less sure she becomes. Fortunately, Mama knows how to hear and understand her fears. Life might still be as sweet as pecan pie in spite of that “ding dang baby.”

Song for the Whooping Crane by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Elsa Warnick (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2000) – I have been interested in cranes ever since I visited the International Crane Foundation in Wisconsin on vacation. These magnificent birds have an amazing comeback story. Spinelli’s poetry and Warnick’s watercolors celebrate the beauty and grace of these birds as they migrate throughout the year.

Elsie’s Bird by Jane Yolen, and David Small (Philomel Books, 2010) – This book is an explosion of sound, from the city streets of Boston to the whispering winds of the Nebraska prairie. Elsie loves the busy city streets, but when her mother dies, her father decides they should move to Nebraska. Now Elsie’s world falls silent except for her pet canary, Timmy. One day Timmy flies out the window and Elsie chases him into the tall grass. Finally, her ears open to the new sounds that surround her new home. After reading this, I want to listen and capture the sounds of my world, too.

Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Roaring Brook Press, 2012) – I remember seeing the book trailer and reading rave reviews when this book first came out. Neither the trailer nor the reviews do this gem justice. The vibrant illustrations show green in all its glory, from forest green and sea green to wacky green and not green. My favorite part, though, are the cut outs on each page that reveal new surprises every time I flip the page.

Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride by Pam Munoz Ryan, pictures by Brian Selznick (Scholastic Press, 1999) – Someone (I wish I could remember who) from the It’s Monday! What Are You Reading! meme shared this book last week, and I knew I wanted to read it. I have long admired both Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt. I can picture these two brave, strong women sneaking out for a late night flight and drive together. Both text and illustrations are captivating, and for the history buffs, the author’s note in the back explains the fact from fiction in the story. Yes, this picture book is inspired by a true story, but Ryan did take some liberties with the facts.

It’s still November so that means it’s still Picture Book Month! I made another trip to the library to find enough picture books to finish out the month. This time my husband went with me and complained that he couldn’t find me. I really wasn’t hiding. It’s just much easier to scoot along the floor while I pull picture books off the shelves to peruse before checking them out. Here are six of the treasures I brought home. The rest will be in a later post.

Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1981) – I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I had not read this one before now, nor seen the movie. As with other Van Allsburg books, the black and white drawings drew me in until I felt like I could step right into the story. Though I’m not sure I would want to fall into this story (or game) with roaring lions, stampeding rhinos, and lost guides. I do want to see how the movie captures the story on the big screen.

The Dark by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen (Little Brown and Company, 2013) – This one belongs on my shelf next to Mercer Mayer’s There’s a Nightmare in My Closet (except I have to return it to the library). Laszlo is afraid of the dark, especially when it’s at home in the basement. Then one night the dark invites Laszlo into its home and Laszlo is no longer afraid of the dark. The angles of dark shadows and light play throughout the illustrations.

The Little Red Pen by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel (Harcourt Children’s Books, 2011) – The Little Red Pen is determined to grade all the papers stacked on the desk, but the rest of the office supplies are too afraid to come out of the desk drawer. Only a catastrophe–Little Red Pen falls into the “Pit of No Return”–brings scissors, eraser, pencil, ruler, stapler, and the rest out of hiding to keep the sky from falling and the world from ending. If they can just quit arguing and work together, they might get those papers graded after all. Now why couldn’t my office supplies have been that helpful?

The Frog Prince Continued by Jon Scieszka, paintings by Steve Johnson (Viking, 1991) – As soon as I saw Jon Scieszka’s name on the cover, I knew I was in for a fun ride. Life is not happily ever after in the castle. The Frog Prince and his princess just can’t get along now that the royal wedding is over. The Frog Prince decides he was happier as a frog and sets off in the woods to find a witch to change him back. He meets witches aplenty, but none of them go with his story. After some close calls, he makes it back to the castle where another kiss gives a twisted ending.

The Three Litlte Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague (Orchard Books, 2013) – What happens when you mix three pigs (one hungry for potato chips, one hungry for sody-pop, one hungry for books) with one hungry (but really not so terrible) wolf? A delightful twist on the old fairy tale. I’m not sure which made me laugh more–the twists in the story or the illustrations that reveal some very unpig-like pigs.

Library Lil by Suzanne Williams, illustrated by Steven Kellogg (Dial Books for Young Readers, 1997) – This whopper of a tall tale starts with Lil’s origins (she was born with a book in her hands) and continues through her exploits as the librarian of Chesterville. She has her work cut out for her because the people of Chesterville much prefer television to books. Just when a thunderstorm knocks out all the power, Lil is ready to turn a town of couch potatoes into readers. Then Bust’em Up Bill zooms into town on his motorcycle. Will he be any match for our fearless librarian? This hilarious adventure is just the thing for all those super librarians I have known and worked with, who do indeed move mountains to get the right book into the right kid’s hands at the right time.

This week when I headed to the library to find more picture books to celebrate National Picture Book Month (this month!), I was much more excited than nervous like last week. I sat down on the other side of the row of shelves and began browsing. Once again I found some familiar authors among the mix as well as brand new titles and authors (at least new to me). Here are the treasures I discovered this trip in no particular order.

The Light of the World by Katherine Paterson, illustrated by Francois Roca (Arthur A Levine Books, 2008) – I fell in love with Katherin Paterson’s writing when I first read Jacob Have I Loved and The Same Stuff as Stars, so when I saw this picture book retelling the life of Jeus, I had to read it. The simple text is beautiful and graceful as it tells an old, old story with freshness. The full page pictures that complement the text are luminous. I wish I had had this book when my daughter was young.

Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully by Audrey Penn, illustrated by Barbara L. Gibson (Tanglewood Press, 2008) – Chester’s first story, The Kissing Hand, is one of the few picture books that my daughter has kept and still rereads. She was as excited as I was to see Chester’s new adventure. This time a bully is disrupting school. Following Mama Raccoon’s good advice, Chester and his friends take on the bully and find a new friend.

If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond (Laura Geringer Books, 2008) – If You Give a Mouse a Cookie was a perennial favorite in our house at one time. How could I resist reading another adventure that spirals out of control just to circle back to the beginning? The humor in this series is brilliant. I want to give it a try just for the fun of thinking up all the possible scenarios.

The Boy who was Raised by Librarians by Carla Morris, illustrated by Brad Sneed (Peachtree Publishers, 2007) – Okay, how could I resist the title? Melvin grows up spending lots and lots of time in the public library. The three librarians–Marge, Betty, and Leeola–are always there to help him with whatever problem he faces (whether organizing and cataloguing insects or researching the motivation of an eggplant) because that’s just what librarians do. I loved the ending, but I won’t give it away.

Pirate’s Guide to Recess by James Preller, illustrated by Greg Ruth (Feiwel and Friends, 2013) – When the recess bell rings, pirates take over the school yard. Soon the stormy seas are filled with the clashing of swords as Captain Red encounters fierce Molly and her crew. Clashing swords, walking planks, and mutinying crews fill recess with adventure. I love the action filled text and the imaginative drawings that emphasize creative play. A glossary of pirate terms on the end papers lead readers to their own pirate adventures.

The Case of the Incapacitated Capitals by Robin Pulver, illustrated by Lynn Rowe Reed (Holiday House, 2012) – If there’s a way to make grammar fun, this book might lead the way. Because the students in Mr. Wright’s class have been forgetting to use capital letters correctly, the capital letters are growing sickly. Will the emergency medical team arrive in time to make things right again? This humorous story would be a good introduciton to (or reminder of) the importance of capital letters (and a history of how they got their other name–upper case letters).

The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco (Philomel Books, 2000) – Polacco draws on her family history to tell the story of a courageous mother and daughter from the French Resistance in Nazi occupied France during World War II. Monique first shares a secret friendship with the ghostly girl who visits her room at night and lives secretly in the basement. When they are discovered, Monique and her mother must act quickly to save the family. This book would be a valuable addition to any study of the Holocaust for any age.

The Little Drummer Mouse by Mercer Mayer (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2006) – Really, I’m not trying to rush Christmas, but I love Mercer Mayer! This retelling of “The Little Drummer Boy” puts a tiny mouse in the starring role. I enjoyed the story, but it was the paintings that really drew me in. I could get lost in in picture, looking for more and more details to surprise and delight me.

Canoe Days by Gary Paulsen, illustrated by Ruth Wright Paulsen (Doubleday, 1999) – Did you know Gary Paulsen had written a picture book that his wife illustrated? I didn’t, but I’m glad I discovered it. The poetic text immerses you in the quiet stillness found floating in a canoe across the lake. The illustrations glow with a soft light that matches the peacefulness. Now I want to take my canoe and float down the river.

Jazz by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Christopher Myers (Holiday House, 2006) – This collection of poems echoes the rhythms of jazz as it explores the history of American’s homegrown music. I found it hard to read without tapping my feel along with the poems. The introduction sets the stage with an overview of jazz’s evolution. More information in the back defines jazz terms and gives a timeline of important musical events. The illustrations are filled with vibrant color and movement.

I can’t wait until my next trip to the library. What picture books should I look for?