Strictly No Elephants

CATEGORY: PICTURE BOOK

A young boy discovers that having a tiny pet elephant makes it hard to fit in since no one else has one. In fact, The Pet Club allows dogs, cats and fish, but the sign on the door is clear, “Strictly No Elephants.” Undaunted and loyal to his pet friend, the young boy finds other friends with different pets to form their own pet club. Celebrating diversity and inclusion, this lovely book captures the magic of all kinds of friendships.

WHY I’M A FAN?

I love a book that offers a teachable moment in a fun, relatable story for children. When a Pet Club doesn’t understand that pets come in all shapes and sizes, it’s a boy and his elephant that will capture the hearts of all readers with the sweet tale of how friendship includes everyone.

Landmarks

CATEGORY: BOARD BOOK

What better way to teach children about historically significant landmarks than with child-like drawings of some of the most famous ones? With camels roaming a desert below a blazing sun to highlight the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt to traditional Italian architecture as the setting for the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, each destination is a lovely glimpse into a important places around the world.

WHY I’M A FAN?

Learning while having fun reading with small children is a win-win. Landmarks hits the mark by offering not only one-of-a-kind drawings illustrating important monuments, but includes tactile features on the drawings to encourage interaction. Little fingers can easily trace the structure of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Russia or the Sydney Opera House in Australia, making the reading experience both fun and memorable.

Catching Kisses

CATEGORY: PICTURE BOOK

Get ready to have fun introducing or sharing personal memories of such famous destinations as New York City’s Time Square, the Washington Monument in D.C., and Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Kisses travel everywhere and this book showcases popular landmarks to explain just how far and how different they might be.

WHY I’M A FAN?

I love books that offer an opportunity to teach and interact with a young reader. Catching Kisses is the perfect book to introduce children to famous landmarks throughout the United States. The book lends itself to opening dialogues about travel, history and maybe even some family memories of past visits to some of these sites.

Fluff and Billy

CATEGORY: BOARD BOOK

Two penguin pals are constantly competing and challenging each other while enjoying icy playtime. Climbing, sliding, splashing and running in the snow and water make for happy penguins. But when one wants to roll a snowball and one wants to throw one, even penguins feelings can get hurt. Gorgeous modern and minimalistic illustrations lovingly convey how simple gestures of kindness and forgiveness are the keys to great friendships.

WHY I’M A FAN?

Who better to teach children about friends and forgiveness than two adorable penguins? And when it comes to misunderstandings during playtimes, it’s often a simple act of love that can bring buddies back together. Fluff and Billy is an easy to read book that gorgeously illustrates how simple kindness is often the truest form of friendship.

I Am the Mountain Mouse

CATEGORY: PICTURE BOOK

A great story about a brave and undaunted little mouse who loves to show-off his zest for adventure, little readers will be charmed by the crazy antics Mountain Mouse and his friends encounter. The book outlines each mouse escapade separately to especially highlight the humor. For example, when Mountain Mouse decides to bring bathing suits for all his mouse friends and convince them to swim in the ocean, it’s those same friends who point out the shark swimming nearby. Silly and full of warmth, I am the Mountain Mouse will entertain readers over and over.

WHY I’M A FAN?

The author, Gianna Marino, has written and illustrated a number of fantastic children’s books. All feature her inspiring and thoughtful writing, along with her always stunning artwork. I am the Mountain Mouse is an especially fun book to read aloud as the storyline is funny, silly and is perfect for readers who love to use voice inflections to make a book come alive.

Hopper and Wilson

CATEGORY: BOARD BOOK

Two lovable stuffed animals sit on a pier overlooking the ocean and muse about what it’s like at the end of the world. Fanciful ideas of endless lemonade and a staircase to the moon convince the two to embark on a boat to find out. Although a storm leaves Hopper alone in the boat, the little mouse is relentless in searching for his missing friend. Reunited, the two stuffed animals are overjoyed to find themselves back where they started and exactly where they wanted to be: home.

WHY I’M A FAN?

Who doesn’t love a children’s book that celebrates the joy of finding love, friendship and happiness right in your own backyard? A cuddly blue elephant and a petite yellow mouse make for not only perfect companions, but also perfect symbols to teach young readers about the importance of friends dreaming together and sticking together.