Little Lit Book Series: Favorite Books of 2018

We’ve seen so many wonderful books published this year and today for #littlelitbookseries we’re sharing some of our favorites of 2018.

Releasing today is a most unusual alphabet book by Sara O’Leary and Jacob Grant.  It teaches little ones the letters of the alphabet in a surprising way.  You might learn that “A” is for alligators who “think you’d like them if you got to know them.”  And that “D” is for dragons who “cry at happy endings.”  Which animal is “always the first to arrive for a party”?

Sara’s writing has just the right amount of clever humor, charm and heart to appeal to readers and their grown-ups.  This book is another reminder of why she’s one of our favorite authors of all time.  And whenever we hear that Jacob has just illustrated a new book, we’re always clamoring for it.  So this creature-centered collaboration has definitely made our day, nay, our week.  If you’ve got a few gifts to check off your list this month, we think little ones would love to unwrap this one for the holidays.

Owls Are Good at Keeping Secrets: An Unusual Alphabet was written by Sara O’Leary, illustrated by Jacob Grant and published by Random House Books for Young Readers.

Be sure to stop by @littlelitbookseries throughout the month for more favorite books of 2018 and check out the others being shared today with the hashtag #littlelitbookseries on Instagram.

Little Lit Book Series: Humor

Humor is the theme for #littlelitbookseries this month.

Agile tree-dwelling rodents are the stars in Mo Willems’ nutty new early reader series, Unlimited Squirrels.  In the inaugural book of the series, Zoom Squirrel loses a tooth, but not just any tooth…it’s a baby.  Hysteria ensues as a scurry of squirrels mounts a search for Zoom’s baby tooth.  At a substantial 96 pages, the fun doesn’t stop with a squirrelly adventure — there is more hilarity to be had in pages of acorn-y jokes, quirky quizzes and everything readers ever wanted to know about teeth.  Fur real!

Be sure to stop by @littlelitbookseries for more funny books throughout the month and check out the others being shared today with the hashtag #littlelitbookseries on Instagram.

Little Lit Book Series: Math

We’re all about math this month for #littlelitbookseries.

“Margaret Hamilton loved to solve problems.  She came up with ideas no one had ever thought of before.”

Margaret’s childhood affinity for math and her innovative and inquisitive nature led her to deeper studies in algebra, geometry and calculus as she got older.  She became involved in the nascent field of computer science, learned to code, coined the term “software engineering” and started working at NASA.  She eventually became the director of software programming for the Apollo project and perhaps one of her most well-known contributions was helping to land astronauts safely on the moon in Apollo 11.  Margaret Hamilton not only had a brilliant mind, but was a pioneer on so many levels.  Her story is told in the enjoyable, engaging and inspiring Margaret and the Moon.  We absolutely loved reading it and are great fans of Lucy Knisley’s art.

Margaret and the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Saved the First Lunar Landing was written by Dean Robbins, illustrated by Lucy Knisley and published by Knopf Books for Young Readers.

Be sure to stop by @littlelitbookseries for more mathy books throughout the month and check out the others being shared today by searching the hashtag #littlelitbookseries on Instagram.

Little Lit Book Series: Wordless Books

We’re sharing wordless picture books for this month’s #littlelitbookseries.  Wordless picture books are wonderful for so many reasons — they allow a reader to become an active participant in storytelling, to interact with the narrative and to interpret it in a multitude of ways.  Wordless books also provide opportunities for children to learn different lexicons depending on who’s telling the story, and to really understand the elements of story structure (characters, setting, problem, resolution, etc.).  When readers revisit wordless books, there are new nuances to discover and fresh takes to be had on the narrative.

When you open the door and your heart to something new and unfamiliar — and possibly strange — you just might find magic, mirth, beauty and friendship.  We love how the themes of curiosity and wonder unfold in DOOR, how JiHyeon Lee’s illustrations exude a soft, quiet exuberance and a subtle humor; and how her deft use of color plays an integral role in the narrative.

DOOR was written and illustrated by JiHyeon Lee and published by Chronicle Books.  It’ll be out on October 2.

Be sure to stop by @littlelitbookseries for more wordless books throughout the month and see what everyone’s sharing today by searching the hashtag #littlelitbookseries on Instagram.

Little Lit Book Series: Biographies

We’re sharing biographies for this month’s #littlelitbookseries.

Jacqueline Kennedy wore many hats in her life (as women usually do) as a journalist, photographer, mother, first lady, preservationist and editor.  She was known for her intelligence, independent spirit, style and elegance.  Margaret Cardillo and Julia Denos tell her story with grace and aplomb and exquisite illustrations.  Just Being Jackie was published by Balzer + Bray.

Be sure to stop by @littlelitbookseries for more picture book biographies throughout the month and see what everyone’s sharing today on Instagram for #littlelitbookseries.