The Digger and the Flower

While hard at work constructing buildings with his crew, a digger finds something in the rubble that gives him pause.  A tiny and beautiful flower.  He starts to care for it every day, and sings it a bedtime song just before switching off for the night.  One day, an abrupt event changes the digger’s life and when the sadness clears, he takes meaningful action.  Joseph Kuefler’s simple forms, patterns and minimal use of color create a poignant and impactful setting for this beautiful narrative and message.

The Digger and the Flower was written and illustrated by Joseph Kuefler and published by Balzer + Bray.

Irelandopedia

It all started 20 years ago when John Burke would take cycling trips through Ireland and discover its many curiosities, beauties and oddities.  Many years and trips with his children later, Irelandopedia was born—a visual encyclopedia about the 32 counties of Ireland and their geography, history, culture, famous personalities, landmarks, plants and animals, illustrated by his daughter Fatti Burke.  We loved learning words in Foclóir, reading about the ten wonders of Ireland, Irish gastronomy, pastimes, holidays and traditions such as madcap swims and drinking flat 7 up.  So much to learn and appreciate on this special journey around the little green island of Ireland.

Irelandopedia: A Compendium of Maps, Facts and Knowledge was written by John Burke, illustrated by Fatti Burke and published by Gill & Macmillan.

Snow Sisters

It’s been unseasonably hot here—80 and 90 degree heat in the last couple of days—which inspired us to read Snow Sisters today.  Its simple text and sweet illustrations tell the story of a pair of sisters who have two very different ideas about how to spend a frigid snow day.  Its warmth and coziness have us pining for colder weather.

Snow Sisters was written by Kerri Kokias, Illustrated by Teagan White and published by Knopf Books for Young Readers.

In the Darkness of the Night

A book about the noises one hears at night, lying in bed, on the cusp of falling asleep—clattering and clinking of dirty plates and dishes in the sink, the jangling of keys, the stillness of the road, the low rumbles of a passing train.  And then come the sounds that signal the slow waking of the morning.  Emily Rand captures the cold blue tones of inky night, with its darkness made comforting by its familiar sounds and with them, the promise of a new day.  A lovely read to usher in bedtime.

In the Darkness of the Night was written and illustrated by Emily Rand and published by Tate.  Out now in the UK and publishes on March 20th in the US.

Yellow Kayak

Nina Laden’s lyrical narrative—consisting mostly of swift, succinct two-word phrases—reads like a dream.  A sea dream.  You’ve never seen skies these colors, lines so emotional and scenes so otherworldly.  Melissa Castrillon’s palette is mythical and so strangely fantastic but at the same time it exudes a certain warmth and familiarity.

In this story, a boy and his giraffe best friend sail off on an adventure which takes them through a pounding squall which they bravely face, and later has them exploring life in the deep of the sea before they reach the rosy-skied docks of home.  Actually if this book is a dream, we’re not sure we want it to end.  Probably one of the best books we’ll read this year.

Yellow Kayak was written by Nina Laden, illustrated by Melissa Castrillon and published by Paula Wiseman Books.