January is here! And that means we have a whole month of new picture books to come! These are my favorites – some are already out, and some are on their way soon. Come into BookKids and check them out!
The Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems
Willems’ latest is hysterically funny. We follow the plight of Wilbur the Naked Mole Rat who is reprimanded and ostracized by his fellow mole rats for – egad! – wearing clothes…in public! Wilbur doesn’t understand – he thinks clothes are a fun way to express himself. He can be a clown or an astronaut or a dapper young mole rat. Willems’ simplistic style and off-beat sense of humor carry this story perfectly, and it’s not long before we see Wilbur having his just desserts. Mark your calendars: Mo Willems will be here for a special event on Saturday, January 24!
I Want to be Free by Joseph Slate, illustrated by E.B. Lewis
This breathtaking tale of a young runaway slave is easily one of the most beautiful picture books to appear this year – it may only be January, but here at BookKids, we know a gem when we see one; I Want to be Free has Caldecott written all over it. Lewis’ watercolor paintings are rife with texture and accompany the narrative – based on writing from Buddha’s sacred literature – perfectly. I Want to be Free should find a place on every library’s shelves, in every classroom, and in the hearts of readers young and old.
The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes, illustrated by E.B. Lewis
Also from illustrator E.B. Lewis this month is this monumental interpretation of Langston Hughes’ classic poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” Several of us here in BookKids were moved nearly to tears by the beauty of the illustrations alone. Lewis’ watercolor style works so much into each page that one can’t help but be sucked into the world the artist has rendered. This book is as much a tribute to Langston Hughes as it is an expression of the artist’s own vision. The Negro Speaks of Rivers simply cannot be missed – come check it out today.
Madeline
Meghan
peterwesley