A Big Guy Took My Ball
Mo Willems

The kiddo loves all things Mo Willems, but this book has been in higher rotation. Willems does a fantastic job of drawing emotions and showing size differences. I love that the kiddo can (mostly) read this one to me. The reading level is perfect for first grade.

Creepy Crayon!
Aaron Reynolds (author), Peter Brown  (illustrator)
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The kiddo does not like scary things, so I was surprised when she brought this book home from her school library. But we've read it several times now and she really enjoys the story. In fact, she laughs at the antics of the crayon. This story is about doing hard things yourself, even if cheating would be easier. The illustrations are emotional and give off horror film vibes. Together, it all works surprisingly well.

Just Add Glitter
Angela DiTerlizzi (author), Samantha Cotterill  (illustrator)

The day before the snow/sleet storm hit DC, I popped over to our local library to pick up a few books for the kiddo. I randomly browsed pulling things I thought looked interesting. One of those titles was this book. I grabbed it simply because my kid loves shiny things. Now, she loves this book. We've read it together, and she's read it alone to herself. The illustrations are amazing. They are made with different art media and then photographed. The "glitter" is printed so that it's raised on the page and touchable. It's pure magic. This one is so good that I might buy it.

Build It! Jump It!
and
Ride It! Patch It!
Larry Dane Brimner (author)
Kaylani Juanita  (illustrator)

These are two books in the same series about a skater girl named Ace. I'm not sure why the kiddo has been drawn to these books, but I'm fine with it. The stories are about being trying new things, being brave, and perseverance. There's also a heavy dose of friendship and problem-solving. 

Never Let a Unicorn Wear a Tutu
Diane Alber

Kiddo was gifted this book by my bestie. It is very "If you give a mouse a cookie..." and it is delightful. The story is darling and perfect for the unicorn/rainbow/glitter kids. Also, the illustrations are simple but full of movement and emotion.

The Word Collector
Peter H. Reynolds

A few weeks ago, the kiddo and I went through her Scholastic page to pick out some books for the October order. So far, this book is my favorite her her selections. Not only are the illustrations emotional and lively, but it speaks of language and learning in a new way. That might be going over the kiddo's head, but she still enjoys the book - mostly because it has been reading "funny" words out lout to her.

Spot, The Cat
Henry Cole

This is a wordless book. On each page, we follow a cat as it wanders out of an apartment to take a jaunt through the city. The little boy owner soon follows on a quest to find his kitty. The drawings are rich in detail with new things to find every time. The kiddo likes to find the cat on every page before we move on.

The Mermaid with No Tail
Jessica Long  (author), Airin O’Callaghan  (illustrator)

Kiddo brought this home from her school library and we've read it multiple times since. This book tells the story of a mermaid with no tail who wants to compete in the mermaid races. It showcases perseverance and how being different is not a bad thing. The illustrations are both beautiful and charming. They are also rich in detail so there's always something new to find. 

Charlie and Mouse Even Better
Laurel Snyder (author),  Emily Hughes (illustrator)

Kiddo enjoys this book because the kids actions are recognizable. They want smaller pancakes, they want to buy a gift for mom, they don't want to wash dishes, etc. I, however, would rather not read this book again. First, the text is repetitive. That's great for earlier readers, but quite a tongue twister for me to read aloud. Second, you say the words "Charlie" and "Mouse" about a million times. The story is cute, but this one is just a slog to read out loud.

Flubby Will Not Play With That
J.E. Morris

This book is adorable. I had cats growing up, and the story is 100% correct. Cats gonna cat. The illustrations are emotionally expressive. Even my kid recognized when the cat is scared. Also, the name Flubby is just too cute.