For: The Budding Bibliophile

The Bookshop Girl
Written by Sylvia Bishop
Illustrated by Poly Bernatene

The Joneses have just won the Great Montgomery Book Emporium in a contest, and it’s every book lover’s dream! But the previous owner is hiding something that could destroy absolutely everything for the Joneses. Property Jones has a whopper of a secret too—and it might just be the key to saving her family and their bookshop from the clutches of a nasty villain.

Readers will fall in love with Property Jones and her cantankerous kitten side-kick as well as the beautiful descriptions throughout the story, and they will be in awe of how magical bookstores can be. Read an excerpt here.

Ebenezer Has a Word for Everything
Written by Chelsea H. Rowe
Illustrated by Frank Dormer

No one seems to understand Ebenezer’s work collections, but his efforts are finally appreciated when he meets Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald doesn’t have a word collection—but he does have lots of ideas. Together, they can make stories.

Ebenezer and Fitzgerald demonstrate the creative ways in which words, and language as a whole, can expand and evolve through collaboration with others. For the future storyteller or wordsmith in your life, show your budding bibliophile how fun words (and stories) can be when with a friend. Read an excerpt here.

Miguel’s Brave Knight:
Young Cervantes and His Dream of Don Quixote
Written by Margarita Engle
Illustrated by Raúl Colón

This fictionalized first-person biography in verse follows the early years of the child who grows up to pen Don Quixote, the first modern novel.

Available in both English and Spanish, this moving picture book shows young readers the importance of “never quitting their daydreams.” Miguel’s story is a reminder that passion and personal belief in oneself can go a long way, especially on the side of creativity and hard work. Read an excerpt here.

The Cheshire Cheese Cat:
A Dickens of a Tale
Written by Carmen Agra Deedy & Randall Wright
Illustrated by Barry Moser

In this playful homage to Charles Dickens, unlikely allies learn the lessons of a great friendship. Take a trip back to Victorian England with an alley cat named Skilley and an erudite mouse, Pip as they are drawn into a crisis of monumental proportions that threatens the peace not only of the Cheshire Cheese Inn but also the British Monarchy!

With its playful puns, entertaining and well-rounded characters, and delightful illustrations, The Cheshire Cheese Cat will make any young reader a lover of language and stories. Young readers will be flipping through the pages to learn the how Skilley and Pip’s conclusion unveils in the end. Read an excerpt here.

Find these titles and more at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble. Still looking for more great ideas? Our 2018 Holiday Gift Guide has even more gift recommendations for your little readers this holiday season!

Adventures with My Daddies
by Gareth Peter
illustrated by Garry Parsons

“Vivid, imaginative storytelling…a relatable tale for children of adopted, blended, and LGBTQ+ families…. Accompanied by Parsons’ bright, energetic illustrations, Peter’s rhyming text reminds young readers that all types of family structures are valid and that different kinds of families are capable of kindness, education, protection, and, most important, fun.” —Booklist

No! Said Rabbit
by Marjoke Henrichs

“Henrichs uses spare, repetitive language and perfectly coordinated, simply rendered cartoon illustrations to highlight Rabbit’s initial reluctance to comply followed by joy in the activities…. A thoroughly delightful, warmhearted bedtime story.”—Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

Arlo the Lion Who Couldn’t Sleep
by Catherine Rayner

“Spellbinding…alluringly tranquil… Gentle and gorgeous.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

The Snow Lion
by Jim Helmore
illustrated by Richard Jones

“Unfussy prose by Helmore (Letterbox Lil) makes for lovely, measured storytelling, and it’s a fine match for Jones’s generously scaled art… Visually and emotionally, there’s expansiveness, poignancy, and hope in these pages, the Snow Lion’s benevolent presence presiding over it all.”
—Publishers Weekly

One Fox
by Kate Read

“Lovely, potent, brightly colored illustrations in a combination of textured collage and paint against white space transition to a dark, moonlit backdrop. Little ones will eagerly count in subsequent readings as they also learn new descriptive vocabulary and cheer for the brave hens. A classic scenario flips the script in this engrossing adventure.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

Back to Bed, Ed!
by Sebastien Braun

“Reassuring and right up a toddler’s nighttime alley.” —Kirkus Reviews

Can You Growl Like a Bear?
by John Butler

“Large text curves gracefully through each image. Nature is depicted as ever-friendly, where frolicking, twinkly-eyed animals lope through soft grasses…This simple book will fit easily into any storytime or bedtime repertoire.” ―School Library Journal

One More Sheep
by Mij Kelly
illustrated by Russell Ayto

“Playful illustrations, colorful commentary by the sheep, and rhythm of the text will no doubt make this an excellent read aloud and bedtime staple. This is a must have for all picture book collections.”—Baker & Taylor CATS Meow

Nighty Night!
by Margaret Wild
illustrated by Kelly Argent

“Mischievous mix-ups rule in this fun-loving tale of barnyard babies who stave off the bedtime hour for as long as possible…. Wild and Argent depict these antics through simple, rhythmic sentences and muted watercolors that lend a cozy, snuggle-up feel to the story….Young readers won’t want these characters to say good night and will surely use this book to forestall their own imminent bedtimes.” —Publishers Weekly

Where is Baby?
by Kathryn O. Galbraith
illustrated by John Butler

“A heartwarming, read-aloud story perfect for sharing with the littlest of little ones, just before bedtime.” ―Midwest Book Review

Find these books on Amazon and Bookshop.org or at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble! For more read-aloud recommendations, check out our blog post: “Great Read Aloud Books for Storytime, Bedtime, and More.”