Here is a short list of books published in 2024 that would make great gifts this holiday season. Stop by ICPL for more gift book ideas!
Who laid these eggs?
Gehl, Laura, author.
jBOARD BOOK Gehl
"Robins lay bright blue eggs, and salmon lay tiny orange eggs. But can you guess which other creatures laid the eggs in this book? Lift the flaps to find out!"--Back cover.
Where's the panda?
Arrhenius, Ingela P., 1967- illustrator.
jBOARD BOOK Arrheniu
An elephant, a yak, a leopard, and a panda hide behind bright felt flaps, and a mirror at the end reveals the reader.
First words with cute embroidered friends
Moore, Libby, author, artist.
jBOARD BOOK Moore
"Exposing your child to the arts at a young age can help inspire creativity and boost cognitive development. That's why modern embroiderer Libby Moore stitched these adorable animals, toys, fruits, and other embroidered friends for the one-of-a-kind words book -- the third in the Crafty First Words series!"--Back cover.
I Hear a Búho
RAQUEL MACKAY
jE/MacKay
Kids, Picture Books
As a child and adult caregiver snuggle together in a hammock at night, it’s a chance to share various animal sounds, introduced throughout MacKay’s effectively rhyming bilingual phrases. In English and Spanish, a repeated pattern of exchange unfolds between the companions: “Meow/ meow/ meow/ I hear a gato/ Could it be?// Sí, mamita/ That gato is me.” Fonseca’s mixed-media art employs contrasting colors, and incorporates textures of stamping and etching. Minimally detailed figures, cast in black and white, are captured busily engaging in creaturely pursuits until the call and response game, which has ranged from ducks to frogs and beyond, gives way to the actual sound of an animal that “is NOT me!” The result is a vibrantly artsy wind-down book. A pronunciation guide and glossary conclude. Ages 5–7. Publishers Weekly
Birthday soup
Grace Seo Chang
jE Chang
Picture Books
Korean American Maia learns the importance of a mother's love while making a traditional birthday soup.
I learned this tradition from my mom. She always did and/or said something special to honor her mom on her own birthday, from when she was still young to the age of being a grandma. Not sure from which year during my childhood I started to repeat the same thing to her. And magically as the years go by, my own children started to understand how struggling moms can be when they give birth to a baby. Yes baby’s birthday is also mom’s suffering day. It’s the time to celebrate, and to appreciate as well. I’m very delighted to read about the similar Korean tradition of “miyeok guk” (birthday soup) in this heartwarming story book. Don’t forget to try that soup recipe after reading! It’s yummy!
- Fang
The café at the edge of the woods
Mikey Please
jE Please
Fantasy, Humor, Kids, Picture Books
"Rene and Glumfoot are ready to serve very fine cuisine at the café at the edge of the woods. But when their first customer, an ogre, demands pickled bats and battered mice, Rene is ready to give up! She can't possibly serve such rubbish. Or can she? With a little bit of compromise, perhaps she can satisfy her customer and still serve the most delicious grub"--Provided by publisher.
What a debut! This one had me in stitches. With perfectly paced rhythm and rhyme, and hilarious illustrations, Mikey Please's first solo book will be a read-aloud favorite, especially for littles who enjoy icky humor.
- Casey
¡Vamos! let's celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos
1976- author Raúl the Third
j394.2646 Raul
Diverse Characters, Picture Books
"Little Lobo is celebrating two big holidays this fall! On Halloween, he and his friends dress up in costumes, trick-or-treat for candy, and share spooky stories. Then, everyone in the town prepares food, drinks, and other gifts and decorates the cemetery with ofrendas so they can enjoy Día de los Muertos with the spirits of the people they love. Join Little Lobo and his friends as they celebrate, and learn some Spanish and traditions along the way!"--Back cover.
I love, love, love Raul's illustrations, and this is a great way to combine and explain the two holidays in both English and Spanish!
- Mari
Mr. S
Monica Arnaldo
jE Arnaldo
Humor, Kids, Picture Books
When a kindergarten class arrives for the first day at school, they are greeted only by the words "Mr. S" on the chalkboard and a delicious-looking sandwich, resulting in merry mayhem as the kids wonder if the sandwich is their teacher.
I missed this hilarious picture book when it came out last year! Perfect for back to school or anytime of the year, it will have kids and their adult laughing out loud with all of the antis. Make sure to pay attention to the pictures in the background- they are telling a story as well!
- Angie
Lone Wolf gets a pet
Kiah Thomas
jREADER Thomas Kiah
Early Readers
Grumpy Wolf wants jellybeans, and it seems that the only way he can get some is to win the local Best Pet Competition, but first he has to find a pet who will cooperate.
The store is out of jellybeans, so Wolf embarks on an elaborate scheme to win jellybeans in a local contest. Find out what happens in this hilarious and entertaining book! (The only thing I didn't like about it was having to read the word "wolf" over and over, a word that doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, especially because I tend to incorrectly pronounce it as "woof." Yes, I also say "pellow" instead of "pillow" - it's the way I was raised, sorrrryyyyyy!)
- Anne W
Sweet and silly
Lubner, Susan, author.
jREADER Lubner Susan
"A dragon and a T. rex share some of the sweet adventures of being friends, from Valentine's Day to cooking dinner together"--
Little Shrew
Akiko Miyakoshi
jREADER Miyakoshi Akiko
Picture Books
"This collection of three interconnected stories follows the life of Little Shrew as he goes about his everyday activities of commuting to work to reflecting on his hopes and dreams to welcoming his friends for a visit."--
What an absolutely beautiful read! It's Lagom (the Swedish concept of living a balanced life,) meets Frog and Toad. Illustrations are steeped in nostalgia and the story captures what it means to live a simple but very good life; to enjoy and savor moments. Adults will enjoy this book perhaps even more than children.
- Victoria
Welcome to scare school
Jarrett Lerner
jFICTION Lerner Jarrett
Early Chapter Books
Bash is a young ghost who has never been good at scaring people is nervous about his first day at scare school, where he will learn to master the necessary skills to become a successful ghost.
A great transitional chapter book - for kids just beginning to read chapter books on their own! Absolutely adorable illustrations, funny stories, with large text, plenty of white space, and picture support.
- Anne W
The house with a dragon in it
Lake, Nick, author.
jFICTION Lake Nick
When a mysterious hole opens up in her new foster family's living room, Summer encounters a dragon who offers her three wishes, but as she uses the wishes, the magic takes a dark turn and jeopardizes Summer's deepest desire for a home.
Marvelously revolting recipes
j641.5 Dahl
From Willy Wonka's scrumptious candy to Matilda's chocolate cake, Roald Dahl has been creating mouth-watering food in his books for decades. Now there is a brand-new cookbook featuring fifty recipes, all referenced in the beloved works of Dahl--from James and the Giant Peach to The Twits.
Pokémon timelines : a journey through the animated series.
Andreou, Katherine, author.
j793.93 Pokemon
This is the ultimate visual guide to the Poǩmon animated series' history, shown through detailed timelines. Packed with fascinating facts, images, and essential details, fans can chart Ash's journey, revisit exciting storylines, and explore familiar regions in fantastic detail.
The wolf effect : a wilderness revival story
Parry, Rosanne, author.
j599.773 Parry
"An exploration of the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone Park, and the positive cascade effect they caused on its environment and surroundings"--
The animal body book : an insider's guide to the world of animal anatomy
French, Jess, author.
j571.31 French
This fascinating animal anatomy book for kids offers detailed but child-friendly illustrations of animal biology on every page; information by animal expert and children's TV presenter Jess French; first of its kind material focusing on animal biology for children aged 5-9; 9 chapters which break down different anatomy, covering: skeletons, muscles, circulation, breathing, digestion, the senses, reproduction, skin, and invertebrates. From a whale's enormous heart and an owl's sensitive ears, to a tortoise's tough shell and an insect's unusual eyes, explore more than 40 animal adaptations in close detail. Vivid photography combined with annotated illustrations reveal what each species looks like inside, and colorful diagrams help support children's understanding of animal anatomy. --
Great photos and digestible information make this a wonderful gift option for early elementary-aged kids interested in animals or veterinary science.
- Casey
Arborama : the marvelous world of trees
Voisard, Lisa, 1992- author, illustrator.
j582.16 Voisard
Nonfiction, Picture Books, Nature
"Learn how to identify the most important North American trees. Along the way, you'll explore how trees reproduce and grow into the largest plants on earth, how they make our life possible, and what we can do to save them. Be astounded by the marvelous world of trees all around you!"--
This book would be a wonderful gift!
- Casey
Fluffle bunnies
Humphrey, Anna, author.
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Humphrey Fluffle
"Three bunnies are left without their mother when she goes off to Brazil to learn jujitsu. With quick thinking, ingenuity and maybe a little bit of raccoon manipulation, these three buns will take on all comers to be the rulers of the park. Will they win?"--
Viewfinder
Christine D. U. Chung
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Chung
Graphic Novels, Picture Books, Science Fiction, Adventure
"Arriving on an Earth devoid of people, a young space traveler discovers a viewfinder that reveals how the planet used to be, in this wordless, adventure-filled graphic novel about resilience and the extraordinary place we call home"--
This debut wordless graphic novel from Christine D.U. Chung and Salwa Majoka is a stunner! It has just the right amount of suspense and world-building to keep younger readers turning pages quickly. Keen-eyed and repeat readers will notice ample opportunities for a sequel as well. Fans of The Wild Robot and adult viewers of Scavengers Reign will feel right at home.
- Casey
Haru
Joe Latham
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Latham Haru
"In The Valley, best friends Haru and Yama both dream of leaving as they're bullied at school, frustrated at home, and struggling to figure out who they are. One day, a powerful artifact connects itself to Yama, and they discover that they'll have to journey to The Beacon in search of answers. Created by artist Joe Latham, this beautifully illustrated graphic novel series is a coming-of-age tale that spans the changing of seasons. Beginning in spring and ending in spring--the cycle complete. A story of heart, growing up, and the sacrifices we make for those we love, Haru is perfect for middle-grade readers."--Amazon.
This was a beautiful read for reluctant readers, as well of those of us who just love a little adventure. A Goodreads review describes this graphic novel as reading "like Sam and Frodo on a Studio Ghibli adventure," and after just re-watching the Fellowship of the Ring, I can't help but agree. I absolutely love the illustrations in this book, as well as the message. It's funny, tender and themes are sure to resonate with both middle and high school readers.
- Victoria
Winnie-the-Pooh
Dandro, Travis, 1974- adapter, artist.
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Milne
"Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize winner Travis Dandro expands the world of Winnie-the-Pooh's Hundred Acre Wood in all directions, creating stunning full-page tableaus where Pooh and everybody's favorite characters - Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, and of course, Christopher Robin - romp, argue, fail, and love. Indebted but not beholden to the unforgettable pen-and-ink drawings of E. H. Shepard, this addition to the canon of timeless literature for all ages encompasses all of the adventures from that classic first Winnie-the-Pooh volume" -- back cover.
Wagnificent
Murguia, Bethanie Deeney, author, illustrator. https://id.oclc.org/worldcat/entity/E39PCjvdvGrqGYGxDXMmJCtKcX
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Murguia Wagnificent
"Thunder wants to be a good dog, but she's having a ruff time. She loves to bark and dig and chase furballs -- even if it gets her in trouble with her favorite human, Sage. Will Thunder's inner Wolf push her to pick the bark side, or will Thunder choose to be a loyal pet instead? Anything is paws-ible in Wagnificent: The Adventures of Thunder and Sage, a fur-ociously fun friendship story."--Back cover.
Forecast from Stonehenge
Phillips, Stephanie, 1991- author.
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Choose
Presents a graphic novelization of R.A. Montgomery's " Forecast from Stonehenge" which asks the reader to choose the path of the plot in a story about crop circles around Stonehenge which may reveal the causes of extreme weather around the world.
Lion dancers
Tse, Cai, author, illustrator.
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Tse
"A boy feels his passion for lion dancing re-igniting after the death of his father, and so he decides to join the local junior team, where his ex-best friend becomes his new rival"--
This book is perfect for storytime with your little one! The rhyme, rhythm, and flow of the story are crafted by an author who knows what they are doing when it comes to storytelling. Raquel was a children's librarian at ICPL, leading our weekly Spanish Bilingual Storytime and now teaches ELL classes here in Iowa City. The story also mixes in a perfect amount of Spanish and includes a pronunciation guide in the back. Illustrations are engaging and striking, sure to keep everyone's attention!
- Angie