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Children’s Picture Books: Any Child Category

Books featuring BIPOC in which race, ethnicity, tribal affiliation, culture, im/migration, and/or religious, sacred, or origin stories are not central to the storyline. These elements may be present, but they are not essential to the plot and could be changed without changing the story.

The Paper Kingdom

2020

by Helena Ku Rhee and Pascal Campion

"When the babysitter is unable to come, Daniel is woken out of bed and joins his parents as they head downtown for their jobs as nighttime office cleaners. But the story is about more than brooms, mops, and vacuums. Mama and Papa turn the deserted office building into a magnificent kingdom filled with paper. Then they weave a fantasy of dragons and kings to further engage their reluctant companion—and even encourage him to one day be the king of a paper kingdom." -- publisher

Any Child

The Perfect Shelter

2020

by Clare Helen Welsh and Asa Gilland

A story about sisters. A story about love. A story about how it feels when someone close to you is diagnosed with a serious illness. A book to help name and explore the complicated feelings borne of heartbreaking situations.

Any Child

The Power of One

2020

by Trudy Ludwig and Mike Curato

"One small act of kindness can change the world. From esteemed bullying expert and author of The Invisible Boy, Trudy Ludwig and Little Elliot illustrator Mike Curato comes a tale as simple—and simply inspiring—as the golden rule. When one child reaches out in friendship to a classmate who seems lonely, she begins a chain reaction of kindness that ripples throughout her school and her community. One kind act begets another, small good deeds make way for bigger ones, and eventually the whole neighborhood comes together to build something much greater than the sum of its parts. From acclaimed bullying expert Trudy Ludwig, The Power of One not only conveys a message of kindness, it offers concrete steps that kids can take to make a difference in their own communities. As Trudy says in the final line of the book: “Acts and words of kindness DO count, and it all starts with ONE.”" -- publisher

Any Child

The Runaway Belly Button

2020

by John Flannery and Mika Song

"Striking the perfect kid-friendly balance of funny and a teeny bit gross, this is a hilarious, cautionary tale about what happens when you don’t clean your belly button. Grace loved to get dirty. But she was also pretty good at getting clean—she took proper care of Hands, paid extra attention to Feet, and even remembered to scrub behind Ears. There was just one body part she tended to forget: Bellybutton. Day after day, Bellybutton got dirtier . . . and stinkier . . . and filthier. Until after one particularly neglectful bath, Bellybutton decides she’ll have to get outie there to look and smell great again. In this lighthearted and comically charming picture book, John Flannery and Mika Song bring to life the sweetly goofy Bellybutton as she teaches Grace (and all her friends) how nice it is to be sparkling clean." -- publisher

Any Child

The Shared Room

2020

by Kao Kalia Yang and Xee Reiter

"When someone you love dies, you know what doesn't die? Love. On the hot beach, among colorful umbrellas blooming beneath a bright sun, no one saw a little girl walk into the water. Now, many months later, her bedroom remains empty, her drawers hold her clothes, her pillows and sheets still have her scent, and her mother and father, brothers and sister carry her in their hearts, along with their grief, which takes up so much space. Then one snowy day, the mother and father ask the girl's older brother, "Would you like a room of your own?" He wants to know, "Whose?" They say, "Your sister's." Tenderly, and with refreshing authenticity, beloved Minnesota writer Kao Kalia Yang tells the story of a Hmong American family living with loss and tremendous love. Her direct and poignant words are accompanied by the evocative and expressive drawings of Hmong American artist Xee Reiter. The Shared Room brings a message of comfort and hope to readers young and old"--

Any Child

The Starkeeper

2020

by Faith Pray

"A fallen star and one child’s kindness lead to a chain of good works that change her town from a dreary, dark place to one of dazzling brightness. When a girl finds a fallen star, she decides to keep it hidden. But this star encourages kindness and needs to shine, so it comes out from the shadows. At first the glow from the star starts to fade, and the girl worries—maybe she’s not a very good starkeeper. Then a chance gesture of kindness seems to brighten the star, and soon this kindness leads to a chain of good works that light up the once-dreary town. The art of the book follows the star’s journey and lights up more and more with each act of kindness." -- publisher

Any Child

The Unicorn Came to Dinner

2020

by Lauren DeStefano and Gaia Cornwall

"A sweet and charming picture book about fear, anxiety, and unicorns. The unicorn smells nice, but she is very rude. She never waits for an invitation to come over—she walks right in and tracks heart-shaped hoof-prints across the carpet. She sits in Elizabeth’s chair and makes a complete mess of the house. She even sleeps in Elizabeth’s bed. Unicorns aren't scared of anything, but Elizabeth is scared of lots of things, especially starting school. In a surprise ending, Elizabeth confronts her first day jitters and embraces the things she's good at. A Unicorn Came to Dinner invites parents and their kids to talk about feelings worries and anxiety—and ultimately how to be yourself." -- publisher

Any Child

This Is A Book To Read with a Worm

2020

by Jodi Wheeler-Toppen and Margaret McCartney

"If you can find a worm, then you can be a biologist! Foster a love of animals and science with this charming activity guide for finding and observing earthworms. Hands-on experiments help young biologists answer questions like “Which end is which?” and “Do worms make noise?” Insider tips encourage readers to think like a scientist and handle living things with care. Equally entertaining with or without a worm friend." -- publisher

Any Child Informational

To Baby, From Daddy

2020

by Steve Nguyen

"Wanting to tell his young daughter everything, though knowing she’s not at an age to fully grasp the full love a father has, To Baby, From Daddy is a loving composition of paternal love and advice. Interwoven with eloquent rhyme, beautiful nighttime visuals, and personal insight, author and illustrator Steve Nguyen narrates a nocturnal hike for his daughter. A perfect book to read their children to sleep, and inspired by stories from Maurice Sendak and Margaret Wise Brown, Nguyen guides us through his imaginative forest and into the woods as he prepares for a wondrous journey into fatherhood. Though it will be some years before his daughter fully understands the deep love he has for her, To Baby, From Daddy is a beautiful love letter to daddy’s little girl; help building a bond that will last a lifetime." -- publisher

Any Child

Today Is A Beach Day!

2020

by Nancy Viau and Charlie Alder

"Hooray, it's a beach day! Come along as this family builds sandcastles, plays in the waves, and hunts for seashells. This lively rhyming read-aloud tale will have everyone clamoring for a day at the beach." -- publisher

Any Child

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