January 2025 Books of the Month
It all begins with an idea.
Picture Book of the Month
Synopsis: A little boy unknowingly drops his mitten in the snow and woodland animals discover its warmth and crawl into it, each animal bigger than the last. Readers will be laughing when the last animal squeezes in and sneezes. The illustrations of this book are not to be overlooked. On each page, the readers will find the little boy walking along without any idea what is happening inside his lost mitten. The Mitten is a Ukrainian Folktale retold and illustrated by Jan Brett and a must-read for the winter season.
Why We Love It: The Mitten is a cozy story with delightful characters and intricate illustrations.
Chapter Book(s) of the Month
Synopsis: This month we are recommending the entire Spy School series. Stuart Gibbs is a prolific children’s book author with a cache of various chapter book series that all children will love. The Spy School series contains ten tales of adventure that follow Ben Ripley, a middle school student with his eyes set on becoming a CIA agent. Ben is recruited to the CIA’s top-secret Academy of Espionage, where he learns the necessary skills needed to become a spy.
Why We Love It: These fast-paced and clever novels will keep both boys and girls engaged as well as have them laughing out loud. Once they finish they first book, they will be begging to read the rest!
December 2024 Books of the Month
It all begins with an idea.
Picture Book of the Month
Synopsis: Tacky is different from the rest of his penguin friends. He is loud, splashy, and wild. The other penguins are often annoyed by his “tacky” behavior. When poachers arrive at the iceberg hunting for penguins, it may be Tacky’s quirky ways that help save this colony of penguins.
Why We Love It: Tacky the Penguin is a funny, feel-good story that reminds readers the importance of staying true to yourself.
Chapter Book of the Month
Synopsis: The story is about six misfit children who join their town’s Sunday school Christmas pageant. They teach the town the real meaning of Christmas. The Herdman siblings, famous for their mischief, take charge of the pageant, bringing chaos but also a touching understanding of the holiday’s true importance.
Why We Love It: There are some good laughs, some tears, and a reminder of the reason for the season. It’s a shorter book, but its value is inversely related to its size.
November 2024 Books of the Month
It all begins with an idea.
Picture Book of the Month
Synopsis: What does Turkey do when it’s Thanksgiving and he’s the main course? Follow along with Turkey as he disguises himself as the other barnyard animals to hide from the farmer.
Why We Love It: The humor and repetitions of this book will keep kids laughing and engaged. Turkey Trouble is a must-read for little ones during the Thanksgiving season!
Chapter Book of the Month
Synopsis: The Wild Robot tells the tale of Roz, a robot who finds herself stranded on a deserted island after the cargo ship she was being transported on sinks in a hurricane. The rest of the robot cargo is lost, leaving Roz as the only survivor. Accidentally activated by inquisitive otters, Roz comes to life only to realize she has no assigned duties. With newfound freedom, she sets out to explore the island and learn the ways of survival.
Why We Love It: We loved reading this book as a family before bedtime. It’s an interesting juxtaposition of technology and nature that profoundly explores the concept of free will. Also, the chapters are short, and it has an endearing cast of characters with a beautiful lesson about the power of friendship.
October 2024 Books of the Month
It all begins with an idea.
Picture Book of the Month
Synopsis: A story of a young rabbit named Jasper who finds a purple crayon. When the purple crayon starts acting creepy, Jasper must find a way to get rid of it!
Why We Love It: The kid-friendly spookiness makes it a fun a read for Halloween. It also conveys the theme that making the right choice is not always the easy one.
Chapter Book of the Month
Synopsis: Ivan, a silverback gorilla, is the sole gorilla residing in a shopping mall. Fortunately, he has companions: an elephant, a dog, and a young girl. His pastimes include watching television and painting. However, it is the arrival of a baby elephant that propels Ivan into action, confronting his past.
Why We Love It: The fictional character of Ivan was inspired by an actual gorilla who experienced a comparable solitary existence in a circus-themed mall. It is Applegate’s creative rendition of Ivan’s backstory and his interactions with the animals he befriends that truly animate this story.