February's Picture Book Round-Up

I am still checking out a stack of picture books each month despite the fact that my girls are too old to want me to read to them and my students are in middle school.  I am the person in our district who purchases books for a couple of the elementary libraries (lucky me!)  and it's the perfect excuse for my continued interest in these books.  

I'm sharing six winners from February's stacks below.

Sleep Tight Farm by Eugenie Doyle, illustrated by Becca Stadtlander - this is a sweet look at one farm family's preparations for winter.  City kids may be surprised by all of the work that goes into the change of season on a farm.  I loved the illustrations in this book - the colors and details provide a realistic picture of the changes a farm goes through as cold weather approaches.

Lovely Beasts: The Surprising Truth by Kate Gardner, illustrated by Heidi Smith - I love how this book takes our preconceived ideas about an animal and shows a different side to them. For example, we learn that sharks who are considered sharp-toothed, we learn that they are also guardians.  This is a fun book for younger readers who will enjoy the charcoal illustrations, and for older readers who will appreciate that there is another perspective to be considered.

Otis and Will Discover The Deep: The Record Setting Dive of the Bathysphere by Barb Rosenstock and Katherine Roy - I love non-fiction picture books - especially those about a little known event or person. This book fits the bill on both counts.  I loved learning about Otis Barton and Will Beebe and their attempts - and success- at developing a bathysphere that allowed them to be the first people to see deep-ocean creatures in their natural habitat.  The illustrations are charming watercolor paintings, and I appreciated the photographs and additional notes at the book's end.

Elvis is King by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Red Nose Studio- this is such a unique picture book biography of Elvis Presley.  Each page is essentially its own chapter with an interesting title. The information shared covers the major events in Elvis' life while including little known facts. I appreciated the additional information included at the book's end, as well as the colorful illustrations.  

Chicken Talk by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Jarrett J. Krosoczka -this is a fun picture book about a group of chickens that don't like the names their family has given them.  They leave their family notes each night that are fun for them to read each morning when they discover them.  This is fun story that would be great for read-alouds or for a bedtime story.

Hawk Rising by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Brian Floca -this is a beautifully illustrated picture book about one day in the life of a hawk family.  We see the father and mother find food for their babies and provide protection for them.  A girl watches from her home nearby.  The illustrations are beautiful and young readers will enjoy this story and may discover some birds in their own neighborhood after hearing Hawk Rising.