Happy Monday, friends! It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date, and adapted by Kellee at Unleashing Readers and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts with a children’s/YA focus. The Sunday Post is hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. These weekly roundups are a great way to discover new blogs and bloggers, share some of the titles you’ve been enjoying, and add to your ever-growing to-read list.
A big, big thank you to all the incredible publishers who so kindly send me copies of their books to read and share – I’m currently drowning in picture books at the moment, which is a very lovely state to be in! Here are a few titles I’ve read this week.
This collection of three short, or rather small stories, is utterly and completely enchanting, just what you would expect from Philip C. Stead. The stories follow the titular Vernon, a gentle frog, and his friends through three small, sweet adventures. The illustrations are soft, gentle and downright luminous, and the entire collection is reminiscent of such vintage friendship favourites as The Wind in the Willows and Frog and Toad are Friends. Vernon is on his way is a lovely, lovely book, and highly, highly recommended.
Source: Raincoast Books
It Was So Quiet, I Could Hear a Pin Drop
If you love clean, minimalist design inspired by retro imagery, this simple picture book might be right up your alley. A child on a swing recounts all the things they could hear on a quiet day. But perhaps some of the sounds she hears are only in her imagination! In a clever use of typography, the size of the text increases throughout the book to illustrate the increasing noise level around the little girl. While the book is very stylish, with intriguing, vintage illustrations, It was so quiet I could hear a pin drop didn’t quite resonate with me. It feels more like a collection of images than a cohesive picture book, and I found some of the spreads a bit confusing. Still, this might be an ideal gift for any stylish, modern design-loving parents in your life!
Source: Raincoast Books
The Truth About my Unbelievable School
Henry is asked to show a new classmate around his school. “…there really isn’t much to see…”, Henry says casually, before leading the girl around what is truly an unbelievable school! Dragons in the basement, a sea monster for a swimming instructor, a brilliant tree house, and more weird and wondrous things abound at this incredible school. There’s a wonderfully dry sense of humour at play here, as the wacky illustrations play nicely off the understated text. The end of the story offers its own delightful twist, too, which I won’t spoil for you here! This is a charming, vintage-inspired romp that’s definitely worth checking out.
Source: Raincoast Books
Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32
Two children check into a strange and wondrous hotel filled with all sorts of mythical and magical creatures. Their welcoming host takes them on a tour of all the different rooms in the hotel and invites them to make themselves at home, with one important caveat – don’t ever look behind door 32! What could possibly be hiding behind that forbidden door?? I won’t spoil the ending, but it’s a pretty sweet surprise. This book is loads of fun, especially for kids who like things a little spooky, but not too spooky. The colourful cast of creepy characters is pretty adorable, thanks to Lenny Wen’s delightfully cartoony illustrations. Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32! is perfect for fans of the Hotel Transylvania series, or books like Zombelina or Zombie in Love.
Source: TaleWind (publisher)
Have a great week, everyone!
So glad Cali has a new book out. My students have all loved I Didn’t Do My Homework Because and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to School. I am also so pleased to learn about this new Philip Stead book! It looks wonderful.
Vernon Is On His Way sounds sweet. I’ll also have to check out The Truth About My Unbelievable School. I’ve enjoyed one of the author’s other books, I Didn’t Do My Homework Because.
It took me a long time to read your post, Jane, because I kept putting each book on a list, then seeing if my library had it yet. The new book by Philip Stead sounds awesome, and my library will have it! Thanks for every one!
That’s exactly what I end up doing every Monday, too! My library requests list is sooooo long!
Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32 sounds like a book that will fly off the classroom shelves – can’t wait to read it!
It’s a great balance of spooky and fun!
What fun reads you had this week! Definitely adding The Truth About my Unbelievable School to my TBR list. And Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32 looks like something my kiddos would enjoy, too! Thanks for sharing, Jane.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
The last, two books look cute. How neat you get sent great books like these; what a collection you must have.
I am very lucky! I have started donating my picture books to local schools and charities, otherwise I think my poor little apartment would burst at the seams!
Drowning in picture books sounds nice to me. These ones look really good. Have a great week!
Having too many books is a wonderful problem to have!
That cover is gorgeous for It was so quiet I could hear a pin drop. But I’d rather have Henry show me around the school I think.
Anne – Books of My Heart
Yes, Henry’s school looks like a real blast!
All the books look good but it’s the last two that are going onto my wishlist. My weekly update
Glad to hear it! I always end up adding so many books to my list every Monday.
Happy Monday! Love the books you shared this week, especially Vernon Is On His Way.
It’s super sweet, I really liked it.
Vernon is on his Way looks delightful! Love the idea of any book that gets mentioned with Frog and Toad!
Yes, me too!
These sound delightful…!!!!
Thank you!!!!
A ‘Nana’
You’re very welcome, I’m always happy to share great new books!
Great list of books this week! I’ve put in requests for several of them. I can’t wait to read the new Philip Stead book. Have a great week!
Hurray!
Vernon is On His Way looks like a must own. So darling. Thanks for sharing!
It’s so very sweet!
What a fun grouping of picture books.
Thank goodness for picture books, otherwise I probably wouldn’t get any reading done at this crazy time of year!
What a fabulous collection of picture books you have this week Jane. I really don’t know which one I am more eager to read first. I love the look of Vernon Is On His Way and The Truth About my Unbelievable School sounds like a lot of fun. I bet Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32 will be a hit with children!
I often have the same problem – there are so many books that look so good that I don’t even know where to start!