You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!

You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?! by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Andre Carrilho

In this picture book biography, an old-timer tells us what made Sandy Koufax so amazing. We learn that the beginning of his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers was rocky, that he was shy with his teammates, and experienced discrimination as one of the only Jews in the game. We hear that he actually quit, only to return the next season--different--firing one rocket after another over the plate. We watch him refuse to play in the 1965 World Series because it is a Jewish high holy day. And we see him in pain because of an overused left arm, eventually retiring at the peak of his career. Finally, we are told that people are still "scratchin' their heads over Sandy," who remains a modest hero and a mystery to this day.

A Friend

A Friend written and illustrated by Anette Bley
Examines traits of friends and how their acts make the world a better place in which to live.

Duck! Rabbit!

Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Tom Lichtenheld

Is it a duck or a rabbit? Depends on how you look at it! Readers will find more than just Amy Krouse Rosenthal's signature humor here, there's also a subtle lesson for kids who don't know when to let go of an argument. A smart, simple story that will make readers of all ages eager to take a side.

Mighty Casey

Mighty Casey by James Preller, Matthew Cordell (Illustrator)

The Delmar Dogs baseball team is terrible, especially Casey Jenkins, but with a little bit of faith in themselves, they finally manage to win a game.

The Vermeer Interviews: Conversations with Seven Works of Art

The Vermeer Interviews: Conversations with Seven Works of Art by Bob Raczka, Johannes Vermeer

In this look at seven paintings by Jan Vermeer, author Bob Raczka takes on the role of interviewer and the people in the paintings become his willing subjects. Find out more about the author, Bob Raczka, and his books on his website.

A Whiff of Pine, a Hint of Skunk: A Forest of Poems

A Whiff of Pine, a Hint of Skunk: A Forest of Poems by Deborah Ruddell, Joan Rankin (Illustrator)
Take a lighthearted romp through four seasons in the forest with these whimsical poems.
Woodchuck's Wake-Up Morning
She snoozed away the winter
in the darkness, all alone.
There's grumbling in her stomach
and she's chilly to the bone.
Her fur is flat and crusty.
Her swollen eyelids sting.
She's starving for a salad
and a heaping plate of spring.

Faith

Faith by Maya Ajmera, Cynthia Pon, Magda Nakassis

Faith explores through full-color photographs the many ways in which the world celebrates and practices religious belief, highlighting the common threads—praying and meditating, chants and songs, holy books, cleansing, holy places, holidays and festivals, important events, dress, food and drink, and helping others. Spare text accompanies the pictures of children and identifies the specific religion and practices. Concluding notes for adults to share with youngsters provide more information on each one.

Not All Animals Are Blue: A Big Book of Little Differences

Not All Animals Are Blue: A Big Book of Little Differences by Béatrice Boutignon

Pictures help children spot differences in colors, movement, attitude and even discoveries.

Her Mother's Face

Her Mother's Face by Roddy Doyle, Freya Blackwood (Illustrator)
Siobhan and her father continue to feel sad in the years following the death of Siobhan's mother, until Siobhan follows the advice of a mysterious woman. "At first , all she could see was her own face. But she stayed ther, looking. And, after a few minutes, she began to imagine another girl, very like herself, but not exactly the same. The hair a little different, the mouth a little smaller, the lips a little darker. And she could make her look a little older, and a little more, And Siobhan knew. She was able to imagine her mother's face...And Siobhan felt happy for the first time since her mother had died..."

The Composer Is Dead

The Composer Is Dead by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Carson Ellis, musical score by Nathaniel Stookey
An inspector seeks to solve a murder mystery at the symphony by questioning each of the musical instruments.

Darwin: With Glimpses into His Private Journal & Letters

Darwin: With Glimpses into His Private Journal & Letters by Alice B. McGinty, Mary Azarian (Illustrator)

Filled with the fascinating words of Charles Darwin—designed as handwritten entries—this picture book biography reveals the assembling of a profound idea: the survival of the fittest. Two hundred years after his birth, 150 years after the publication of his ORIGIN OF SPECIES, this thought-provoking, splendidly illustrated account invites us into the private thoughts, hopes and fears of a soul who forever changed the way we see the world.

"Whenever I have found out that I have blundered, or that my work has been imperfect, and when I have been contemptuously criticized, and even when I have been overpraised, so that I have felt mortified, it has been my greatest comfort to say hundreds of times to myself...I have worked as hard and as well as I could, and no man can do more than this...

Birds

Birds by Kevin Henkes, Laura Dronzek (Illustrator)
Fascinated by the colors, shapes, sounds, and movements of the many different birds she sees through her window, a little girl is happy to discover that she and they have something in common.

The Odd Egg

The Odd Egg written and illustrated by Emily Gravett

Each of the birds has an egg...except for Duck. So when Duck finds a beautiful egg of his own he's delighted — even though the other birds make fun of it. But everyone's in for a BIG surprise when his egg finally hatches!

Remember her work in Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears?

2030: A Day in the Life of Tomorrow's Kids

2030: A Day in the Life of Tomorrow's Kids by Amy Zuckerman, James Daly, John Manders (Illustrator)
Futurists Amy Zuckerman and James Daly examine what a kid's daily life might be like in the year 2030. Inspired and informed by trends and scientific and technological research, 2030 is not only a peek at some cool future gadgets (talking dog collars, cars that drive themselves), but also a thoughtful examination of how our lives might be impacted as we adjust to environmental change.

Hugging Hour!

Hugging Hour! by Aileen Leijten

Drew, who prefers to be called Drool, worries her parents are never coming back when she spends the night with her grandmother. Find out more about the author and her work here. "...She helped mix the batter, pour the dough and whip the icing. She sprinkled many sprinkles all over the cupcakes. She even licked the spoon when they were done..."

The One and Only Marigold

The One and Only Marigold by Florence Parry Heide, Jill McElmurry (Illustrator)
Relates the misadventures of Marigold, who does not agree with anyone, as she shops with her mother for a coat, becomes interested in a new hobby, finds a way to "bug" her best friend, Maxine, and imaginatively copes with finding the right outfit for the first day of school. Pictured here the author, Florence Parry Heide.

Steady Hands: Poems about Work

Steady Hands: Poems about Work by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer, Megan Halsey (Illustrator), Sean Addy (Illustrator)This collection of free-verse poems celebrates the doing of work in a wide variety of forms. It also celebrates workers, from the grocery store clerk to the welder to the librarian to the surgeon. The poems are short and direct, with strong fresh images. The illustrations are as original as their text- amazing multilayered collages made of paper, found objects, ephemera, photographs, archival images, and dried leaves and flowers.

TOW TRUCK DRIVER

The tow truck driver

fishes in the city:

a taxi

a sportscar

and a minivan --

three keepers

reeled in

before breakfast.

Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude

Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude by Jonah Winter, Calef Brown (Illustrator)
In a story inspired by the modern and groundbreaking writing of Gertrude Stein herself, not alot makes sense. Enter the whimsical world of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. Read this overview and comment from PlanetEsme Plan.

Coretta Scott

Coretta Scott by Ntozake Shange, Kadir Nelson (Illustrator)
This extraordinary union of poetic text by Ntozake Shange and monumental artwork by Kadir Nelson captures the movement for civil rights in the United States and honors its most elegant inspiration, Coretta Scott.

We're All in the Same Boat

We're All in the Same Boat by Zachary R. Shapiro, Jack E. Davis (Illustrator)
After being on the ark for months and months, the ants get antsy, the bees bored, and the llamas livid, and Noah must find a way to make everyone get along.