Miss Carol's Best Book Finds of 2018 -- Picture Books

Every year I spend the last few weeks of the year compiling my favorite book finds of the year.  They are not always new books.  Just books I discovered for the first time and really, really liked.

PICTURE BOOK DISCOVERIES FOR 2018:

  

Abigail by Catherine Rayner

Abigail the giraffe wants to count the spots on her animal friends, Ladybug, Zebra, and Cheetah, but when they move too fast for counting, Abigail comes up with a new plan.

Bird Builds a Nest by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Richard Jones

It's time for Bird to build her nest! Follow her as she pulls a worm out of the ground, lifts some twigs that are just the right size, and pushes the twigs into place. After a day of hard work, Bird's nest is ready and waiting.

Charlotte theScientist is Squished by Camille Andros, illustrated by Brianne Farley

Charlotte, a serious scientist bunny, uses the scientific method to solve her problem: being squished by her many brothers and sisters.

  

I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoёt

An elementary school girl witnesses the bullying of another girl, but she is not sure how to help.

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He's finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he's a great jumper, so he's not scared at all. A sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears.

Julia’s House for Lost Creatures by Ben Hatke

Julie welcomes all lost and homeless creatures into her house, whether they be cats or trolls, ghosts or dragons, but soon realizes that each must have a chore in order for the arrangement to work.

 

Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stacia Burrington

Mae wanted to be an astronaut. She dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering. Her parents encouraged her, saying, "If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible." This encouragement, along with Mae's own curiosity, intelligence, and determination, paved the way for her to become the first African American woman to travel in space.

Stack the Cats by Susie Ghahremani

Cats of all shapes and sizes scamper, yawn, and stretch across the pages of this playful counting book. And every now and then, some of them pile into the purrfect cat stack!

Miss Carol's Favorite Book Finds of 2018 -- Middle Grade Books

Miss Carol's Favorite Book Finds of 2018 - Non-fiction Children's Books