Children's Department Blog

The checkouts are in! Here are the most popular children's books from 2018:

Picture Books

1. Clifford Goes to Hollywood by Norman Bridwell

2. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

3. Let’s Go for a Drive! by Mo Willems

4. The Pigeon finds a Hot Dog! by Mo Willems

5. Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin

6. Little Dog Lost: the true story of a drave dog named Baltic by Monica Carnesi

7. The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! by Mo Willems

8. Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! by Mo Willems

9. Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney

10. Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

11. The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt

12. The Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems

13. Coco by Malin Alegria

14. Creepy Pair of Underwear! by Aaron Reynolds

15. Disney Frozen. 5 Minute Stories

Juvenile Books

1. The Storybook of Legends by Shannon Hale

2. The Unfairest of Them All by Shannon Hale

3. Fairy Tail Ending by Suzanne Selfors

4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway by Jeff Kinney

5. Next Top Villain by Suzanne Selfors

6. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

7. Truth or Hair: a School Story by Suzanne Selfors

8. The BFG by Roald Dahl

9. Kiss and Spell by Suzanne Selfors

10. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down by Jeff Kinney

11. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

12. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney

13. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

14. Tales from a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe by Rachel Russell

15. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal by Jeff Kinney

Easy-to-Read

1. Licensed to Drive: a Comic Reader by Mary Tillworth

2. Fly Guy and the Frankenfly by Tedd Arnold

3. I Really Like Slop! by Mo Willems

4. Fly Guy Meets Fly Girl! by Tedd Arnold

5. My New Friend is so Fun! by Mo Willems

6. Race for the Stars by Jennifer Liberts

7. The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

8. Waiting is Not Easy! by Mo Willems

9. Watch Me Throw the Ball! by Mo Willems

10. I Broke My Trunk! by Mo Willems

11. There is a Bird on Your Head! by Mo Willems

12. A Big Guy Took My Ball! by Mo WIllems

13. I’m a Frog! by Mo Willems

14. Pete the Cat and the Lost Tooth by James Dean

15. Today I Will Fly! by Mo Willems

Nonfiction:

1. Minecraft: Redstone Handbook by Nick Farwell

2. Minecraft: Essential Handbook by Stephanie Milton

3. Minecraft: Construction Handbook by Matthew Needler

4. Minecraft: Combat Handbook by Stephanie Milton

5. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz

6. Coco: the Essential Guide by Glenn Dakin

7. The Disney Princess Cookbook by Cindy Littlefield

8. Great LEGO Sets: a Visual History by Daniel Lipkowitz

9. Animal Atlas by James Buckley Jr.

10. Frozen: the Essential Guide

11. Minecraft: the Survivors’ Book of Secrets by Stephanie Milton

12. Star Wars. The Last Jedi: Incredible Cross-Sections by Jason Fry

13. Guinness World Records 2018

14. LEGO: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know by Simon Hugo

15. Look and Find: Paw Patrol

Board Books:

1. Little Blue Truck’s Springtime: a lift-the-flap book by Alice Schertle

2. Little Dinos Don’t Push by Michael Dahl

3. Paw Patrol

4. Little Blue Truck’s Christmas by Alice Schertle

5. Meet Pete by James Dean

6. Pony Brushes His Teeth by Michael Dahl

7. Shake It Up, Baby! by Karen Katz

8. Cars Go by Steve Light

9. Curious George’s Day at the Farm

10. Let’s Find Momo!: a hide-and-seek board book by Andrew Knapp

11. One Lonely Fish by Thomas Flintham

12. Penguin Says “Please” by Michael Dahl

13. Barbie by Kathy Broderick

14. Hippo Says “Excuse Me” by Michael Dahl

15. Mouse says “Sorry” by Michael Dahl

November is Native American Heritage Month, and the Cape May County Library would like to invite you to read these excellent books by Native American authors and illustrators

Bowwow Powwow by Brenda J. Child is about an Obijwe girl named Windy Girl, who is attending a powwow with Uncle and Itchy Boy.  She listens to Uncle’s stories, watches the dancing, and admires the outfits, and soon she falls asleep under the stars and dreams of all that she has seen. Author Brenda Child and illustrator Jonathan Thunder are both members of the Red Lake Obijwe tribe, making this an #OwnVoices picture book about Obijwe culture.  It is highly recommended by the founder of American Indians in Children’s Literature, Debbie Reese.  (Recommended for ages 4+)

In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph M. Marshall III is a chapter book about a boy named Jimmy McClean, who is half Lakota.  Through his grandfather, Nyles High Eagle, Jimmy begins to learn more about his Lakota heritage, including the famous Lakota warrior Crazy Horse.  Author Joseph M. Marshall III is a member of the Sicangu Lakota tribe, and the illustrator, Jim Yellowhawk, is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux.  This book also comes highly recommend by the AICL founder, Debbie Reese.  (Recommended for ages 9+)

Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Jake Swamp is a children’s version of Iroquois Thanksgiving Address.  It’s a beautiful, simple picture book about giving thanks to the earth around us, and should be a part of any Thanksgiving story time.  The late author Jake Swamp was a member of the Mohawk tribe. This book is available through the library’s BookFlix database. (Recommended for ages 3+)

Are you or your child in the mood for a spooky story?  The Cape May County Library has three new scary chapter books that are sure to deliver the spine tingles.

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden is about a girl named Ollie, who one day saves a book from being thrown in a river, and begins to read about mysterious disappearances, bargains with an entity known as the Smiling Man, and a warning to keep to the small spaces after dark.  On a school field trip to a local farm that is said to be haunted, Ollie discovers that the farm is the same one from the book she grabbed at the river.  Her surprise turns to horror as the school bus breaks down on the way back to the school, and her digital wristwatch flashes one word:  RUN!  Small Spaces is equal parts ghost story and mystery, and it’s a guarantee that you will never again look at a scarecrow without feeling a bit creeped out. (Recommended for ages 10+)

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab is about a girl named Cassidy who is able to see and communicate with ghosts.  When her parents are invited to film a paranormal television show in Edinburgh, Scotland, she’s hauled overseas to one of the most haunted places on the planet.  Her ability attracts the unwanted attention of a particular nasty character.  City of Ghosts is a fun, spooky story, and you’ll want to have an Edinburgh guidebook beside you to help visualize the twisty streets and the gloom of the Greyfriar Kirk.  (Recommended for ages 10+)

Ghoulia by Barbara Cantini is about a young zombie who wants to make new friends.  However, she’s very obviously undead, which scares everyone she meets.  It seems hopeless, until Halloween rolls around, and she fits right in!  This book has a great bit of dark humor that’s perfect for fans of Nightmare Before Christmas! (Recommended for ages 8+)

A fan favorite! Try using it with a long piece of hose or rope. Have one child hold on to the other and pretend to explore space while you recite the rhyme. When you finish the first verse, have a second child join the first. Continue with additional verses until all children are holding on to the rope! 

The Itsy Bitsy Monkey is one of our favorite action rhymes! Using the tune of the Itsy Bitsy Spider, you can incorporate similar or completely different motions as well. 

Tiny Tim is one of our favorite storytime rhymes! You can easily add motions to create a fun action rhyme for babies and toddlers through preschool!