Posts from category "Recommendations "

Here are some of our favorite picture books featuring diverse protagonists! All titles are available for checkout from the Cape May County Library.

 

The Very Last Castle by Travis Jonker: “Ibb, curious about the lone castle in her town, forms a long-distant friendship with the guard and, despite warnings there is something fearful inside, accepts his invitation to enter.” From the very first page, readers will support Ibb in her quest - and learn an important lesson about welcoming others in the process.

Tomorrow Most Likely by Dave Eggers: “Told in rhyme, a little boy, tucked into his bed, thinks of all the wonderful and ordinary things he will see and do tomorrow.” The narrator’s imagination is both beautifully written and illustrated - readers will quickly be dreaming of a day just like his!Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora: “When the aroma of Omu's homemade stew fills the air, her neighbors arrive, one by one, for a taste until all is gone except for her generous spirit.” This Caldecott-winning title will inspire readers of all ages to share and be their best selves.

How to Give Your Cat a Bath in Five Easy Steps by Nicola Winstanley: “A little girl and her cat make an escalating mess while respectively trying to follow and resist the cat-bathing instructions of a bossy narrator.” Trying to follow the five steps, readers will be howling with laughter!

Under My Hijab by Hena Khan: “As a young girl observes that each of six women in her life wears her hijab and hair in a different way, she considers how to express her own style one day.” A beautifully illustrated book, children of all belief systems will appreciate this celebration of differences and female empowerment.

Two Problems for Sophia by Jim Averbeck: “Sophia is happy to have Noodle, her One True Desire, yet her new pet comes with two giraffe-sized problems.” Readers will love helping Sophia find the solutions to her newest pet problems!

Hip-Hop Lollipop by Susan McElroy Montanari: “Follow a little girl as she moves, swings, and grooves her way through her bedtime routine, dancing all the while, until she finally closes her eyes and dances through her dreams." Move and groove all the way to bed with this fun title!

Lights, Camera, Carmen by Anika Denise: “In pursuit of a film career, Carmen enters a commercial contest and enlists her little brother, Eduardo, as her cinematographer, but her plan takes a surprising turn.” Kids with big dreams will be inspired by Carmen’s dedication and ambition as she marches to the beat of her own drum.

Off & Away by Cale Atkinson: “Jo fears what lives in the ocean but when her father is too ill to deliver messages in bottles, she courageously takes on the job, making new friends along the way.” After reading, kids will feel empowered and emboldened to face their own fears. Like Jo, they’ll learn that maybe they’re not so scary after all.

Kitten and the Night Watchman by John Sullivan: “As he makes his rounds, a night watchman hears birds calling, insects buzzing, and vehicles roaring by, while a stray kitten keeps him company.” This one checks all the boxes - construction site, nightly rounds, and an adorable furry companion.

Loretta’s Gift by Pat Zietlow Miller: “Loretta tries hard to come up with the perfect gift for her beloved baby cousin, Gabe, but on his first birthday she learns she has already given him something special.” Miller presents a lovely perspective on self-esteem and family in this relatable work.When the Cousins Came by Katie Yamasaki: “Even though Lila's cousins do some things differently, Lila loves when they come to visit.” A wonderful acknowledgement and celebration of differences, even between family members.

 

 

So many stories to devour in the library! Here are our favorite food-related picture books, with both old and new titles. All books are available for checkout from the Cape May County Library.

Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast by Josh Funk: “A wild chase ensues inside a well-stocked refrigerator when two friendly leftovers compete for the last drop of syrup, learning a valuable lesson about friendship along the way.” Funk’s breakfast duo is a huge patron favorite - be sure to check out the sequels The Case of the Stinky Stench and Mission Defrostable!

How to Eat Pizza by Jon Burgerman: “When a slice of pizza realizes it is about to get gobbled up, it quickly offers a few suggestions on what you can eat instead.” Readers everywhere will be hooked from the deliciously comical cover!

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff: “Relating the cycle of requests a mouse is likely to make after you give him a cookie takes the reader through a young child's day.” An incredible introduction to cause and effect, Numeroff’s If You Give series has been captivating readers since original publication in 1985!

How Many Jelly Beans? by Andrea Menotti: "How many jelly beans are enough? How many are too many? Aiden and Emma can't decide. Is ten enough? How about one thousand? That's a lot of jelly beans. But eaten over a whole year, it's only two or three a day. This giant picture book gives kids a fun and easy way to understand large numbers. Starting with ten, each page shows more and more colorful candies, leading up to a giant fold-out surprise--ONE MILLION JELLY BEANS!” This beautifully illustrated nonfiction selection is a scrumptious introduction to big numbers and counting skills!

Potato Pants by Laurie Keller: “Potato is very excited to buy a pair of pants on sale at Lance Vance's Fancy Pants Store, but when he sees Eggplant, who pushed him the day before, he is afraid to go in.” Not only will readers enjoy this knee-slapping work, they will learn important lessons about communication, forgiveness, and friendship.

Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora: “When the aroma of Omu's homemade stew fills the air, her neighbors arrive, one by one, for a taste until all is gone except for her generous spirit.” This award-winning picture book, filled with diverse characters, is a sure favorite not only for its beautiful illustrations, but also its themes of friendship, sharing, and generosity.

Kitchen Disco by Clare Foges: “At night when you are sleeping there's a party in your house. It's a pumping, jumping, funky bash when all the lights go out ... When the sun goes down, the Kitchen Disco starts up - and all the fruit in the fruit bowl come out to play!” Answering the age-old question of what our food does at night, Foges’ tale will crack readers up and be sure to inspire some late night visits to the kitchen!

The Good Egg by John Jory: “When the other eggs in his carton behave badly, the good egg feels like he needs to be perfect.” An absolutely fantastic look at self-esteem and the pressure for perfection, the creators of The Bad Seed have cooked up an incredibly approachable and impactful tale on treating one’s self with kindness.

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin: “Explores the love dragons have for tacos, and the dangers of feeding them them anything with spicy salsa.” Non-stop humor and delightful illustrations will have readers pining for their own mess of tacos!

Pancakes to Parathas: Breakfast around the World by Alice B. McGinty: “Breakfast varies from country to country, but it's how all children begin their day. Explore the meals of twelve countries in this playful approach to the world! From Australia to India to the USA, come travel around the world at dawn.” McGinty’s appetizing nonfiction work brings children all over the world together with the ultimate unifier: breakfast food!

Most Marshmallows by Rowboat Watkins: “Most marshmallows are born into marshmallow families, play with marshmallow friends, and go to marshmallow school where they learn to be squishy. Most marshmallows read a book before bed and then fall asleep to dream ordinary marshmallow dreams. Is this book about most marshmallows? It isn't.” This hysterical and relatable selection will not only have readers laughing, but will also emphasize the importance of being yourself.

Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z: “An alphabetical tour of the world of fruits and vegetables, from apricot and artichoke to yam and zucchini.” After completing this classic from Ehlert, kids will want to eat their way through the alphabet as well!

Check out our list of favorite beginner chapter books! Each of these titles are less than 120 pages, include large font and illustrations, as well as a simple sentence structure. These series are a great transition for those graduating from early readers.

Cam Jansen series by David Adler 

Cam uses her photographic memory to solve mysteries!

Danny's Doodles series by David Adler 

Danny and Calvin team up to save the baseball team and have other adventures.

Amazing Stardust Friends series by Heather Alexander

A group of girls are performers for the Stardust Circus, and must find their talents and stay friends no matter what!

Wallace & Grace by Heather Alexander

Wallace & Grace are owl detectives who help out around the forest.

Inspector Flytrap by Tom Angleberger

Hoping to become the greatest detective that ever grew, Inspector Flytrap and his assistant, Nina the Goat, investigate "big deal" mysteries at an art museum, a cookie shop, and a garden.

Anna Hibiscus series by Atinuke

Anna lives in amazing Africa and loves it. She has adventures with her brothers, loves her Aunties, and worries about visiting her Grandma in cold Canada!

Dear Molly, Dear Olive by Megan Atwood

Two pen pals, one from New York City and one from Iowa, write back and forth about their fun and foibles.

Dino-Mike series by Franco Aureliani

Michael is in Montana on a dinosaur dig with his father, but he certainly never expected to find a live Tyrannosaurus Rex plucked out of its own time and looking for dinner!

Ivy & Bean series by Annie Barrows

When Bean plays a mean trick on her sister she finds unexpected support for her antics from Ivy, the new neighbor, who is less boring than Bean first suspected.

Magic Bunny, Magic Kitten, and Magic Puppy series by Sue Bentley

Magic meets royalty in these stories about important animals that must live secrets lives as ordinary pets as they hide for the dark ones.

Dear Dumb Diary series by Jim Benton

Jamie keeps a diary, even if it is dumb, and shares her secrets.

Franny K. Stein series by Jim Benton

Franny K. Stein is a mad scientist who prefers all things spooky and creepy, but has trouble making friends.

Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel

Bad Kitty isn't SO bad, until something makes her WANT to be bad!

The Bad Guys series by Aaron Blabey

Tired of being the bad guys, our heroes plan to do missions to better the world…but they might make it hilariously worse.

The Haunted Library series by Dori Hillestad Butler

When ghost boy Kaz's haunt is torn down and he is separated from his ghost family, he meets a real girl named Claire, who lives above the town library, who can see ghosts!

Eerie Elementary series by Jack Chabert

Sam is ready to start school and is excited to be a hall monitor, but it turns out his school is ALIVE and he must constantly be saving his fellow students from sure destruction.

Zoey & Sassafras series by Asia Citro

A girl and her cat save the day with monsters, dragons, and more!

Dr. Kitty Cat series by Jane Clarke

Dr. Kitty Cat helps animals stay safe and healthy!

Beasts of Olympus series by Lucy Coats

Demon is the official Beast Keep of Olympus. How can he keep all the beasts tamed?!

Heidi Heckelbeck series by Wada Coven

Heidi is secretly a witch – can her magic help her find her secret admirer, disguise herself, and fix her mistakes?

The Chicken Squad series by Doreen Cronin

The Chicken Squad is on the case! From figuring out what happened to their favorite human to investigating a new, weird thing in the yard, they won’t stop until they have all the answers.

Notebook of Doom series by Troy Cummings

Alexander’s elementary school is being torn down and he now has class in the town morgue – where he finds The Notebook of Doom, which describes mega-worms, balloon goons, meat-eating vegetables and more.

Mermaid Tales series by Debbie Dadey

The mermaid at Trident Academy navigate the school year with projects, friends, and many surprises!

Professor Igor’s Lab of Fear series Michael Dahl

Professor Igor tells the tales of different kids who get into scrapes with growing extra bones, burying werewolf skins, and labyrinths.

Bink & Gollie series by Kate DiCamillo

Bink and Gollie seem totally different, but they still go on their adventures with roller skates, the state fair, and more!

Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo

Mercy is everyone’s favorite pig on the farm – because she’s always ready for adventure!

Tales from Deckawoo Drive series by Kate DiCamillo

Your favorite people from the Mercy Watson series continue their adventures!

Mouse Scouts series by Sarah Dillard

The Mouse Scouts earn their merit badges and make friends throughout this series.

Owl Diaries series by Rebecca Elliott

A group of adorable owls learn life’s basic lessons, like don’t focus so hard on competition you forget the main goal, it’s ok to ask for help, and more.

The Adventures of Sophie Mouse series by Poppy Green

Eight-year-old Sophie starts off the new school year with a new classmate – a snake! Should she be afraid or make a new friend?

My Weird/Weirder/Weirdest School series by Dan Gutman

The insanity of My Weird School continues with these hilarious collections of books where each teacher is sillier than the next.

Princess in Black series by Shannon Hale

Princess Magnolia can have hot chocolate with a duchess AND be a black clad hero to her kingdom.

Little Rhino series by Ryan Howard

Little Rhino LOVES baseball! He finishes his homework extra fast so he can play, and is the star hitter on his team.

Bunnicula series by Deborah and James Howe

When their family gets a new rabbit, Harold (a dog) and Chester (a cat) begin to suspect something is wrong – why are the vegetables all going white???

Superfairies series by Janey Jones

When woodland creatures get into trouble (falling into rivers, messing with poisonous plants, getting stuck on frozen lakes) the Superfairies are there to save them!

Princess Pink series by Noah Z. Jones

Princess Pink falls through the refrigerator into the Land of Fake Believe, where she meets people who are like fairy tale characters, but with a twist.

Nancy Drew & the Clue Crew series by Carolyn Keene

Nancy Drew and her crew are on the lookout for clues – there are so many mysteries to unravel!

Molly Mac series by Marty Kelley

Molly is ambitious and is always looking for a new way to make money or build a name for herself, with hilarious results!

Calpurnia Tate: Girl Vet series by Jacqueline Kelly

Calpurnia is a veterinarian in the early 1900s. She saves may animals and makes friends along the way!

Martin Bridge series by Jessica Scott Kerrin

Martin is a perfectly normal and very special boy who makes great plans that often go awry!

Super Turbo series by Lee Kirby

Super Turbo is a class’s pet hamster! After the last bell rings, he and other class pets work together to fight the evil Whiskerface.

Ready, Freddy! series by Abby Klein

Freddy has adventures through elementary school with bullies, show-and-tell, nightmares, stage fright, and more!

Dog Diaries series by Kate Klimo

Each book tells you the life story of a different dog. You’ll learn about the life of the first seeing eye dog, George Washington’s dog, a sled dog, and more.

Horrible Harry series by Suzy Kline

Harry experiences the fun and the trouble of elementary school along with his friends.

Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo! series by Nancy Krulik

Katie magically switches with others – her dad, a tour guide, and even a hamster!

The Infamous Ratsos series by Kara LaReau

Louie and Ralphie are tough rats! But they can’t help doing good things for others.

Super Chicken Nugget Boy series by Josh Lewis

Fern is a super hero kid whose turns into hero whenever he’s touched by a condiment. Can he save his school from the alien Pizza People, Massive Meatloaf Man, and more?

Alvin Ho series by Lenore Look

Alvin is afraid of everything, so he’s CONSTANTLY facing his fears!

Ruby Lu series by Lenore Look

Ruby lives through many new things, like her deaf cousin moving in, going to summer school, and learning magic.

Looniverse series by David Lubar

Ed finds a magic coin and strange things start to happen all around him!

Barkus series by Patricia MacLachlan

Barkus comes to live with Nicky when her Uncle goes on a long trip, and they quickly become the best of friends!

Sarah, Plain & Tall series by Patricia MacLachlan

In the late 1800s, Caleb and Anna’s father invites a mail-order bride to come live with the in their prairie home. They are captivated and hope she will choose to stay.

Jake Maddox Sports Stories by Jake Maddox

Power, pride, skill, and spirit - these sports stories will captivate everyone!

Xander & the Rainbow-Barfing Unicorns series by Matthew Manning

Xander meets a group of zombie unicorns who barf rainbows. How can he hide them? In plain sight, of course!

Kung Pow Chicken series by Cyndi Marko

Kung Pow Chicken and his sidekick Egg Drop have adventures fighting their ‘fowl’ enemies!

Lotus Lane series by Kyla May

The Lotus Lane Girls all live on Lotus Lane, and their group of friends each keep a diary of what happens at home and at school.

The Amazing Abby Hayes series by Anne Mazer

Abby does her best at everything she tries, sometimes running into problems!

Stink series by Megan McDonald

See the world through the eyes of Stink – Judy Moody’s problem prone brother.

Jim Nasium series by Marty McKnight

Jim isn’t very good at sports, but he keeps trying to find SOMEthing he can play without hilarious results!

Dragon Slayers’ Academy series by Kate McMullan

Wiglaf makes new friends at the Dragon Slayers’ Academy – a school for youth who will be battling dragons!

Magic Animal Friends series by Daisy Meadows

Animals talk and make friends – while living in tiny cottages in Friendship Forest!

Rainbow Magic series by Daisy Meadows

There are SO MANY different kinds of fairies – Color Fairies, Pet Fairies, Dance Fairies, and more! Each kind has 7 different fairies, and each fairy has their own book!

Stinky Spike series by Peter Meisel

Spike is adrift at sea, and soon is picked up by some pirates! Will they take him in or set him back out on his own?

Ranger in Time series by Kate Messner

Ranger is a time-traveling Golden Retriever who has search-and-rescue training. He hops around to different disasters in time, using his special skills to help out.

Puppy Place series by Ellen Miles

So many puppies come through Puppy Place, each with their own story. Can they all find a home?

Max Disaster series by Marissa Moss

Read Max’s secret collection of random thoughts about school, family breakups, and the power of Alien Eraser.

The Life of Ty series by Lauren Myracle

Ty has a big heart, and a lot of new things in his life.

Missy’s Super Duper Royal Deluxe series by Susan Nees

Missy is passionate, and always tries to make things work her way.

Nancy Clancy series by Jane O’Connor

Nancy Clancy, formerly known as Fancy Nancy, solves a new mystery every book!

Rumblewick’s Diary by Hiawyn Oram

Rumblewick, a Highly Qualified Witch's Cat, records in his diary all the problems he has with his young witch.

Galaxy Zack series by Ray O’Ryan

The year is 2120, and Zack is both excited and scared of moving to the new planet Nebulon.

Amelia Bedelia series by Herman Parish

The fun of the original series continues as you follow a young Amelia through things like summer camp, being a flower girl, and more!

Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park

Junie takes all grammar rules literally, and has many opinions on everything happening in her life.

Clementine series by Sara Pennypacker

Clementine is great at getting into trouble, but she’s always trying to do her best!

Kylie Jean series by Marci Peschke

Kylie tries her hand at many new things, including singing, gymnastics, soccer, and more!

Daisy series by Marci Peschke

Daisy has fun and adventures with the rest of her class in room 210!

Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot by Dav Pilkey

Ricky Ricotta, a small mouse, is being bullied at school, but when he rescues a powerful robot from its evil creator, he acquires a friend and protector - and saves the city from Dr. Stinky.

Piper Green series by Ellen Potter

Piper lives on an island off the coast of Maine, where kids ride a lobster boat to school!

Jigsaw Jones Mysteries by James Preller

Follow Jigsaw Jones as he solves mysteries throughout the school day and at home.

Scary Tales series by James Preller

Looking for creepy stories? Look no further! These stories will have you hiding under the covers at night.

Anna, Banana series by Anica Mrose Rissi

Anna and her dachshund Banana have adventures as Anna gets herself through elementary school.

The Kingdom of Wrenly series by Jordan Quinn

Lucas is the prince and Clara is the seamstress’s daughter – and together they go on many adventures!

Monkey Me series by Timothy Roland

When Clyde gets extra hyper, he turns into a monkey! Each book has a new monkey adventure in it.

 A to Z Mysteries series by Ron Roy

A different mystery for every letter of the alphabet – starting with The Absent Author!

 Calendar Mysteries by Ron Roy

A different mystery for each month of the year!

Capitol Mysteries by Ron Roy

Mysteries happen all around Washington, DC – spies in the White House, thieves in the National Zoo, a skeleton in the Smithsonian, and more!

Marvin Redpost series by Louis Sachar

Marvin is a kind third grader dealing with strange things like meeting the president and a classmate who may be an alien.

Time Warp Trio series by Jon Scieszka

A magic book transports 3 friends back in time!

Enchanted Pony Academy series by Lisa Ann Scott

Ponies attend the Enchanted Pony Academy, where they have to attend classes like How to Ride with Children.

Stella Batts series by Courtney Sheinmel

Stella is in third grade, and has to deal with things like finding a new friend, helping with a  wedding, and more.

Magic Pony Carousel by Poppy Shire

Pick your pony to ride on the carousel, and be transported to their own world for an adventure!

Horrid Henry series by Francesca Simon

Each book has four hilarious stories of the escapades of Henry, who acts horrid!

Claude series by Alex Smith

Claude the dog and his friend Mr. Bobblysock visit different places and have adventures.

Encyclopedia Brown series by Donald J. Sobol

Encyclopedia Brown is a 5th grader who solves mysteries!

Puppy Pirates series by Erin Soderberg

A ragtag group of puppies sail the seven seas!

Geronimo Stilton series by Geronimo Stilton

Geronimo Stilton is a newspaper-writing mouse who is always on an adventure! Includes the sub-series Spacemice, Cavemice, Creepella and Thea Stilton.

Goosebumps series by R. L. Stine- more high interest, low level

Each book has a new terrifying story for you to read!

I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis- more high interest, low level

See dangerous events in history through the eyes of a kid who survived!

Marty Frye Private Eye series by Janet Tashjian

Marty Frye likes to speak in rhymes, and solve mysteries!

Black Lagoon Adventures series by Mike Thaler

It’s just a normal day in elementary school – though you may end up having to jump over lions or avoid sleeping crocodiles!

Keena Ford series by Melissa Thomson

Keena ford gets into all kinds of mix-ups and writes about them in her journal.

Dragonbreath series by Ursula Vernon

Danny Dragonbreath (who is a dragon), visits his sea serpent cousin, saves his family, helps senior reptiles, and helps a friends conquer his nightmares.

Shai & Emmie series by Quvenzhane’ Wallis

Shai & Emmie LIVE to perform, whether it’s in a play, in the orchestra, or in a dance competition!

The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Four orphaned siblings make a home for themselves in a red boxcar in the woods, and solve mysteries!

 EllRay Jakes series by Sally Warner

EllRay may be small, and he may get picked on a lot, but he keeps working hard at school and at staying out of mischief!

Dragon Masters series by Tracey West

Each dragon has a destined dragon master, who takes care of it and is taken care of by it!

Frankie Pickle series by Eric Wight

Frankie’s big imagination can get him into trouble, and also save him from it!

Sports Illustrated Kids series by various authors

Kids take on sports their own way, working hard and playing harder.

Lego Chapter Book series by various authors

The world of Lego comes to life through many adventures!

DC Super Heroes series by various authors

Your favorite DC super heroes fight their foes!

 DC Super Pets series by various authors

These aren’t any ordinary pets, they’re SUPER PETS! They save other animals defeat supervillains.

Barbie series by various authors

Follow Barbie and her friends through many adventures!

Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures series by various authors

Flat Stanley travels the world having many adventures!

Disney Princess series by various authors

Your favorite Disney princesses have new adventures in this fun series!

Pokemon series by Various Authors

Follow the adventures of the Pokemon crew as they capture and battle their fantastic tiny monsters.

Disney Princess Beginnings series by Various Authors

Go on adventures with your favorite Disney princesses when they are young girls.

 

Although we are only a few months into 2019, there have been SO many amazing picture books! Check out some of our favorites, all available from the Cape May County Library system.

 

Love by Stacy McAnulty: “Love can be seen every day, everywhere, and everyone can show it.” A beautiful book celebrating love in every form - perfect for storytimes and one-on-one sharing!

 

The Babysitter from Another Planet by Stephen Savage: "The kids are in for a treat when their parents leave them with an extraterrestrial babysitter." Perfect for this year’s CSLP theme, patron favorite Stephen Savage delivers a comical and fun twist to the classic babysitter tale!

 

How to Give Your Cat a Bath in Five Easy Steps by Nicola Winstanley: “A little girl and her cat make an escalating mess while respectively trying to follow and resist the cat-bathing instructions of a bossy narrator.” This book is guaranteed to make readers of all ages laugh! Featuring a diverse protagonist, readers will adore the contrast between the narrator’s instructions and the comical illustrations.

 

Poop or Get Off the Potty! by Margaret McNamara: “Mason and Mia look ahead to official big-kid territory.” Hands down the best potty training book in years! McNamara’s latest book will encourage new potty-users in a fun and comforting way.

 

Princess Puffybottom and Daryl by Susin Nielsen: “Princess Puffybottom has the perfect life -- her subjects serve her delicious meals, clean up her "delicate matters" and wait on her hand and foot. Life is good ...until Darryl arrives. Princess Puffybottom thinks he's disgusting, horrid and a true animal. Though she tries everything in her power to banish him (including hypnosis, trickery and even sabotage), it looks like this puppy is here to stay. Can Princess P. and Darryl find a way to coexist?” There are so many amazing things about this book - adjusting to a new family member, humor, as well as an LGBT couple. Readers of all ages will be waiting for Princess P. and Darryl’s next team-up!

 

Owls are Good at Keeping Secrets: an Unusual Alphabet by Sara O’Leary: “A book of little-known animal 'facts' -- one for each letter of the alphabet.” This is an absolutely fantastic alphabet book - beautiful illustrations, short, alliterative sentences, filled with diverse personalities that will beg multiple rereads!

 

Found by Jeff Newman: “While Jenn is seeking Prudence, her big, sleek and shiny, black and white dog, she meets and falls in love with Roscoe, a scruffy little golden dog.” This beautiful, wordless tale illustrates the indescribable bond between humans and their pets.

 

Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish by Beth Ferry: “A child presents ten essential rules of birthday wishes, from planning the right party through having the right dessert--with a light to blow out--to keeping the wish secret.” You’ll want to have this book handy during the next birthday celebration - it certainly lists the best way to wish!

 

Wings by Cheryl B. Klein: “Follows a baby bird on its first flight, one that starts cautiously and ends with delight.” An adorable read just in time for spring, each page features one word related to a baby bird’s first flight.

 

Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman: “Tiny T. Rex wants to cheer up his friend, Pointy, with a hug, but he is frustrated because even as he gets bigger, his arms remain too small for proper hugging--but he is determined to practice, even when he gets into trouble.” A sweet story of friendship, readers will root for Tiny throughout his quest to support his best friend.

 

Just Read by Lori Degman: “Rhyming text celebrates reading in its many forms as it follows a diverse group of children who read wherever and whenever they can.” Whether you’ve been reading for a day, a year, or a hundred years, readers will celebrate the adventure that comes with each page of a book.

 

Because by Mo Willems: “A series of events, some seemingly very insignificant, lead to a young girl attending a life-changing concert.” A stunning new picture book from best-selling author Mo Willems, Because celebrates the entire culture of creativity, from the bus driver who transports the orchestra, to the ushers that seat attendees, to the composer, to the young audience member whose life was forever changed.

 

We hope you enjoy these books as much as we have!

Here are some of our favorite books, new and old, about celebrating differences! Each title acknowledges unique appearances, habits, hobbies, lifestyles, and beliefs amongst us. All of these books are available for checkout from the Cape May County Library system.

 

1) Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev

“A boy is excluded from joining his friends' pet club because of his unusual pet.”

 

2) The Barefoot Book of Children by Tessa Strickland

“Despite different clothes and homes and languages, we are all more alike than different.”

 

3) You are Stardust by Elin Kelsey

“Introduces readers to the extensive and surprising ways in which they are connected to the natural world around them.”

 

4) All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold

“Illustrations and simple, rhyming text introduce a school where diversity is celebrated and songs, stories, and talents are shared.”

 

5) Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

“While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he's seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes -- and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself?”

 

6) Princess Hair by Sharee Miller

“Little girls pretending to be princesses celebrate the different shapes, textures, and styles of their black hair.”

 

7) Adrian Simcox Does Not Have a Horse by Marcy Campbell

"Adrian Simcox brags about owning a horse, and Chloe just knows he's making stuff up...until she learns an important lesson in empathy."

 

8) Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

“Chrysanthemum loves her name, until she starts going to school and the other children make fun of it.”

 

9) The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

“Other students laugh when Rigoberto, an immigrant from Venezuela, introduces himself but later, he meets Angelina and discovers that he is not the only one who feels like an outsider.”

 

10) We All Look Different by Melissa Higgins

"Simple text and full-color photos celebrate differences in appearances."

 

11) Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung

“Each believing that their hue is the best, the three primary colors live in separate parts of the city until Yellow and Blue meet, fall in love, and decide to mix.”

 

12) Saffron Ice Cream by Rashin Kheiriyeh

“Rashin is an Iranian immigrant girl living in New York, excited by her first trip to Coney Island, and fascinated by the differences in the beach customs between her native Iran and her new home--but she misses the saffron flavored ice cream that she used to eat.”

 

 

 

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+)