Super Summer Reads for the Young and Young at Heart

Webster Reads 2013: Primary Books

And Then It’s Spring. By Julie Fogliano. Illus. by Erin E. Stead. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter.

A spare, lyrical narrative and delicate woodblock print and pencil illustrations capture the anticipation of spring. Accompanied by a coterie of animals, a boy plants seeds and waits expectantly for them to sprout.

Bear Has a Story to Tell. By Philip C. Stead. Illus. by Erin E. Stead. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter.

Seasons change but friendship remains as Bear patiently awaits to tell his story in a world created through delicate illustrations and a strong message.

Black Dog. By Levi Pinfold. Illus. by the author. Candlewick/Templar.

Here’s a story that demonstrates that even the smallest family member has the courage to save everyone. Both the illustrations and the text move from scary to comforting with a satisfying ending.

Charley's First Night. By Amy Hest. Illus. by Helen Oxenbury. Candlewick.

An adorable puppy is comforted his first night in a new home by a young boy who cares for Charley throughout the long hours. Pastel watercolors infuse the story with warmth and intimacy.

Creepy Carrots! By Aaron Reynolds. Illus. by Peter Brown.  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Jasper Rabbit loves carrots until he notices they are everywhere and becomes convinced that they’re coming for him! (A 2013 Caldecott Honor Book)

Demolition. By Sally Sutton. Illus. by Brian  Lovelock.  Candlewick.

Through a mix of rhyming text, sounds, and onomatopoeia, and large gritty illustrations, children are introduced to what machines do at a construction site.

Dogs on Duty. By Dorothy Hinshaw Patent. Walker.

Brave, loyal dogs are hard to resist, especially those trained to serve on difficult military missions. Easy-to-read blocks of text are paired with photos to walk readers through the history of these hero hounds.

Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building. By Christy Hale. Illus. by the author. Lee & Low.

Poetry combined with images illustrates how children’s play influences the creative process as it pertains to the buildings we inhabit and will inspire readers to dream big.

Extra Yarn. By Mac Barnett . Illus. by Jon Klassen. HarperCollins/Balzer and Bray.

A selfish archduke threatens to halt a little girl's transformation of a colorless town and steal her box of magical yarn.  (A 2013 Caldecott Honor Book)

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors. By Hena Khan. Illus. by Mehrdokht Amini. Chronicle.

A look at Muslim life through the eyes of a child, sharing family experiences; the warm illustrations and cultural details remind us how similar we are.

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs. By Mo Willems. Illus. by the author.  HarperCollins/Balzer and Bray.

A humorously fractured fairy tale tells the story of Goldilocks. Sly humor underlies significant changes to the expected script and setting.

Green. By Laura Vaccaro Seeger. Illus. by the author. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter.

Seeger engages all the senses with her fresh approach to the multiple meanings of “green” in this highly original concept book.  (A 2013 Caldecott Honor Book)

Hippopposites. By Janik Coat. Appleseed.

A hippo demonstrates a clever variety of opposites in this oversized board book designed to amuse and instruct the youngest readers.

Infinity and Me. By Kate Hosford. Illus. by Gabi Swiatkowska. Lerner/Carolrhoda.

Children will relate to Uma's experience of feeling small as she considers the universe and her place in it. Idiosyncratic illustrations contrast with the warm relationship between Uma and her grandmother. Finally, infinity in terms Uma can understand.

Just Ducks. By Nicola Davies. Illus. by Salvatore  Rubbino. Candlewick.

A young girl observes mallard ducks as they eat, swim, and dive. Appealing watercolors draw readers into the informative but gentle narrative.

Let's Go for a Drive!  By Mo Willems. Illus. by the author. Hyperion.

Good friends Elephant and Piggie’s best plans in preparing to take a drive go awry when they realize they have no car. (A 2013 Geisel Honor Book)

Machines Go to Work in the City. By William Low. Illus. by the author. Holt.

Elegant illustrations portray a variety of gritty, urban machines in all their burly glory as they work under, through, and above the city.

Magritte’s Marvelous Hat : A Picture Book. By D. B. (Donald B.) Johnson. Illus. by the author. Houghton.

An imaginatively-constructed picture book captures the essence of creativity and play while also introducing the paintings of the unique artist, René Magritte

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Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert.  By Gary D. Schmidt, Illus. by David Diaz. Clarion/Houghton.

This illustrated biography of the first African-heritage saint of the Américas captures both historical fact and legend. (The 2013 Belpre Illustrator Medal Book)

More. By I. C. Springman. Illus. by Brian Lies. Houghton.

Illustrations stunningly juxtaposed against a simple story show what happens when Magpie’s greed leads to trouble. 

Nighttime Ninja. By Barbara DaCosta. Illus. by Ed Young. Little, Brown.

A ninja stealthily goes about his mission until his mother catches him and puts him to bed. A dark palette of cut paper and mixed-media illustrations intensify the story's intrigue.

Oh, No! By Candace Fleming. Illus. by Eric Rohmann. Random/Schwartz & Wade.

With exuberant rhythmic phrases and jungle colored illustrations, five animals are disturbed by a grinning tiger and fall into a hole, one by one. This suspenseful cumulative tale is an engaging read-aloud.

One Cool Friend. By Toni Buzzeo. Illus. by David Small. Dial/Penguin.

Energetic line and dizzying perspective combine for a rollicking tale of Father, Elliot, and a highly improbable pet (or two).  (A 2013 Caldecott Honor Book)

One Special Day: A Story for Big Brothers and Sisters. By Lola M. Schaefer. Illus. by Jessica Meserve. Disney/Hyperion.

Spencer undergoes a remarkable transformation from a wild and raucous boy to a gentle big brother in a joyful, tender story sweetly illustrated for “big brothers and sisters.”

Penny and Her Doll. By Kevin Henkes. Illus. by the author. Greenwillow.

Softly rendered illustrations in this beginning reader reveal Penny's determination to find the perfect name for her doll.

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons. By Eric Litwin. Illus. by James Dean. HarperCollins.

A blue mellow-eyed feline keeps losing his groovy buttons. But does he cry? Goodness no! For after all, it’s all good! (A 2013 Geisel Honor Book)

Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover. By Cece Bell. Illus. by the author. Candlewick.

Rabbit and Robot disagree about everything on Rabbit’s “To Do” list at their sleepover, including Robot’s insistence for pizza toppings of nuts, bolts, and screws. And everything comes to a halt when Robot’s batteries run low. (A 2013 Geisel Honor Book)

Sleep Like a Tiger. By Mary Logue. Illus. by Pamela Zagarenski. Houghton.

Parents coax their young child to bed in a whimsical bedtime story with universal appeal.  (A 2013 Caldecott Honor Book)

This Is Not My Hat. By Jon Klassen. Illus. by the author. Candlewick.

In this darkly humorous tale, a tiny fish knows it’s wrong to steal a hat, but it fits him just right. And the big fish wants his hat back. (The 2013 Caldecott Medal Book)

This Moose Belongs to Me. By Oliver Jeffers. Illus. by the author. Philomel/Penguin.

Wilfred thinks he owns a moose, but the moose has other ideas. This offbeat tale is humorously illustrated using an incongruous mix of stick figures and painterly landscapes.

Up, Tall, and High! By Ethan Long. Illus. by the author. Putnam/Penguin.

A bevy of birds performs a play in three acts, while teaching the concepts of up, tall, and high. Children will delight in reading additional words hidden beneath thick flaps. (The 2013 Geisel Medal Book)

Z Is for Moose. By Kelly Bingham. Illus. by Paul O. Zelinsky. Greenwillow.

An unconventional alphabet book features best friends, Moose and Zebra, wreaking A-Z laugh-out-loud havock. Their zany actions are highlighted in cartoon mixed-media illustrations.