Brightly’s Book Pick of the Week
by the Brightly Editors
Need some help finding your child’s next great read? You’ve come to the right place! Each week, the team here at Brightly will bring you a new book recommendation. Check back weekly to see the very latest. Now, on to the books!
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This Week's Pick
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Little Owl’s Day
Available from:Why It’s Our Pick: For parents looking to delight in a book as much as their baby or toddler, Little Owl’s Day is a favorite. When Little Owl wakes up early, he sees the forest like he’s never seen it before. In the bright sun of morning, the squirrels are chittering, the wrens are trilling, and the ground is covered in beautiful flowers. There are butterflies and dragonflies, wolf pups, a bear, and a beautiful rainbow. Over the course of the day, the world Little Owl has known is transformed, made bigger by all the new things he's seen and experienced. With enchanting artwork that gracefully progresses from day to night, and writing that’s just perfect for reading aloud, author and illustrator Divya Srinivasan beautifully captures the joy of discovery and wonder of the natural world. Fans can also check out the companion board book, Little Owl's Night.
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Previous Picks
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The Bear and the Piano
Why It’s Our Pick: This wonderful picture book is a tale for all ages. When a woodland bear discovers a piano in the woods, he teaches himself to play. With patience and practice, he learns to play beautiful music. When a young girl and her father hear his playing, they ask him to go to New York City with them where the bear plays to sell-out crowds. Who wouldn't love a piano-playing bear?! But, as much as he enjoys the city, the forest and the other bears still have a place in his heart. Beautifully detailed illustrations will draw you in while bear's story of following one's dreams and remembering where you came from will melt your heart.
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Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth
Available from:Why It’s Our Pick: Fans of Zita the Space Girl will also love Hilo, a Children's Choice Award winning book by Judd Winick. In this graphic novel, D.J. and his friend Gina are totally normal kids. But that was before a mysterious boy came crashing down from the sky! Hilo doesn’t know where he came from, or what he’s doing on Earth, but together the trio will figure it out — and maybe even save the world. Kids and adults will pick up the book for the laughs, but its messages on the importance of friendship and appreciating what makes each of us special will keep readers coming back for more. The only downside is we all have to wait for the next book in the series!
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Red Truck
Available from:Why It’s Our Pick: For toddlers obsessed with trucks, this board book will soon become a favorite in your household! Red Truck features a tow truck that saves the day by rescuing a school bus filled with kids caught in a snow storm. Bright vehicles against stark backgrounds make it easy for babies to focus on the main characters. Rhythmic text makes this board book great for kids who are developing their language skills. You'll love hearing your little ones mimic the sounds that the tow truck makes – Zooom! and Vrooom!
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OMG Shakespeare series
Why It’s Our Pick: April 23rd marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, and we can't help but wonder how his plays might have been different if he'd written them today. That's exactly what you get with the OMG Shakespeare series! Told through its characters texting with emojis, checking in at certain locations, and updating their relationship statuses, consider these the abridged, tell-it-like-it-is adaptations of everyone's favorite stories by the Bard. The books strip down the plays to the bare bones of various degrees of ridiculousness and allows you to laugh your pants off.
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Henry Hubble's Book of Troubles
Why It’s Our Pick: Henry Hubble has a lot of troubles. Bringing a live squirrel to school for a science project isn't the best idea. And throwing up in the hotel pool during a class trip won't help his social status either. Henry chronicles his many antics in a journal, but when that journal is found and published online, Henry's troubles start to double. Funny and reassuring at the same time, Henry Hubble's Book of Troubles is a great pick for readers who are advanced enough to move beyond early chapter books, but enjoy the style and humor of books like Wimpy Kids, Timmy Failure, and Big Nate.
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The Book with No Pictures
Available from:Why It’s Our Pick: Silly jokes, pranks and laughter are the order of the day when April 1st comes around. We're getting in on the fun with some bookish mischief courtesy of The Book with No Pictures! As the warning on the back of the book reads: "This book looks serious but it is actually COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS!" An ingeniously simple, whoopingly good read full of silliness, this book pranks grown-up readers while illiciting endless bouts of laughter from young listeners. Might we suggest passing it off to your unsuspecting spouse to read on April Fool's Day?
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The War that Saved My Life
Available from:Why It’s Our Pick: This week's pick is a middle grade read all about not giving up in the face of hardship. Since nine-year-old Ada was born with a club foot, her ashamed and abusive mother has never let her leave their one-room apartment in London. When her little brother is shipped off to the countryside to escape the bomb threats of WWII, Ada runs away to join him and start anew. With the help of Susan Smith, the grouchy hermit forced to care for them, Ada learns to read, to ride a pony, and — most of all — to trust. But will this be enough to get them through the war? Rich in historical details and filled with moments of touching sweetness, laugh-out-loud wit, and heartbreaking sorrow, this book is so good you'll be begging for a sequel!
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Dylan the Villain
Why It’s Our Pick: Dylan the Villain is a beautifully illustrated and delightful twist on classic superhero narratives. When super-villain Dylan is born, it seems that his parents might be in over their heads. Exactly how does one properly raise a super-villain child? Mr. and Mrs. Snivels do their best — they support his high jinks with smiles on their faces and eventually enroll him at Astrid Rancid’s Academy for the Villainous and Vile. When Dylan meets his new peers, he quickly discovers that he’s not the only kid capable of creating a scary costume, a crazy laugh, and diabolical inventions. With comical moments to be found throughout both the text and images, this book about the pitfalls of getting too competitive is a ton of fun for kids and parents alike. (We also chatted with the super-talented and funny K. G. Campbell about his illustrations — check it out here!)
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The 50 States: Explore the USA with 50 Fact-Filled Maps
Why It’s Our Pick: Did you know that New York was America's capital before it was a nation? How about that banana splits were first made in Pennsylvania? The 50 States: Explore the USA with 50 Fact-Filled Maps is a boldly illustrated atlas that offers a plethora of historical, geographical, and pop culture information that goes beyond the usual state capitals and birds. Kids can peruse the bits of interesting trivia at random or study up on a particular state before a visit. Either way, your child will be sure to learn something new every time they dip in. And if a cross-country roadtrip is in your future, be sure to get the companion activity book!
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Lenny and Lucy
Why It’s Our Pick: Lenny & Lucy is a very sweet story about how difficult it can be to move to a new place. Brightly team member Esther praises: "What’s nice about this read is that is has something for me and something for my 4-year-old. I love the detailed, melancholy illustrations that amplify the scariness of a new environment. My 4-year-old loves the creative solution the main character (and his dog) invent to cope with the big change. I think this title would be great for older kids too."
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Hug Machine
Why It’s Our Pick: Hugs are one of the best things about a special holiday—or, really, any day. That’s part of what makes Scott Campbell’s Hug Machine the perfect book for kids of every age (and parents, too). Your whole family will enjoy the adorable tale of a little boy addicted to hugging. There’s no hug recipient too challenging for him to tackle! A mailbox? Whale? Porcupine? All are deemed huggable by the Hug Machine. This is a new modern classic—definitely a book to hug! (Plus, you may end up walking around singing “I’m Just a Hug Machine” to tune of The Miracles classic hit.)
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Strange Country Day
Why It’s Our Pick: Whether you're an athlete or math-lete, every kid can relate to the athletically challenged, young hero of Strange Country Day by sports journalist Charles Curtis. Alexander Graham Ptuiac is just starting seventh grade at a new school and things are already going wrong. From battling off an "elephant-sized bully" to meeting the prettiest girl he’s ever seen, Alex has had a lot to deal with. When he suddenly develops strange new superhuman powers, which enable him to throw a football like his hero Peyton Manning, Alex must work to hide his abilities before others take notice. Well-drawn characters and action-packed adventures will entertain and delight tweens and young teens (no matter their athletic abilities). Let's play ball!
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Cook School
Why It’s Our Pick: Here's a riddle: How do you keep the kids entertained when it’s cold and windy outside and get dinner on the table? Try getting the kids cooking inside! Cook School by Amanda Grant will empower your littles to take some more initiative when it comes to making dinner. And it may help turn them into the next Master Chef Junior. (You never know.) Designed specifically for kids, Cook School has simple and delicious recipes grouped by age and skill level: 3-5, 5-7, and 7-11 years old. Beautiful step-by-step photographs to help guide your future Julia or Emeril in their culinary pursuits. Bon Appetit!
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Mouseton Abbey: The Cheesy Treasure Hunt
Why It’s Our Pick: We’re doing our level best to keep a stiff upper lip about this being the final season of Downton Abbey, and the tiny creatures at Mouseton Abbey are making it a lot easier in Mouseton Abbey: The Cheesy Treasure Hunt. Fan or no fan, no one can resist the adorable hand knit characters in action as they try and solve the mystery of Lady Brie’s missing birthday cheesecake. It’s a truly clever pop-up book with more than 60 flaps for soon-to-be fans of Lady Ricotta, Lady Fontina, and Lady Mozzarella. Fun for reading together or alone, no one will be able to resist the deliciously cheesy puns and the adorable mice of Mouseton. Well, almost no one.
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Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy
Available from:Why It’s Our Pick: Enchanting, well-written, and action-packed, Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is a beautiful tribute to the Snow Queen fairy tale and the perfect book for middle grade readers to curl up with on a cold day. The heroine, Ophelia, is a curious and logical young girl who doesn't believe in magic. That is, until she meets the Marvelous Boy, who happens to have a magical spell upon him, and he asks her to help him save the world. We loved Ophelia's imaginative setting, suspenseful plot, and heartfelt characters so much we made it our Brightly Family Book Club pick of the month!
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I Am Albert Einstein
Available from:Why It’s Our Pick: Think kids won’t enjoy a biography of Albert Einstein? Think again. I Am Albert Einstein is a fun, clever, and accessible picture book biography that reads like an adventure-packed comic book. This portrait of the genius as a young man is highly entertaining — great for little kids, thanks to the dynamic illustrations, and perfect for the middle grade graphic novel reader, as the material is rich and meaty for older kids too. This and the other books in the Ordinary People Change the World series created by bestselling author Brad Meltzer remind everyone that we can all be heroes. Check out the other great bios in the series, including Abraham Lincoln and Lucille Ball.
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The Composer Is Dead
Why It’s Our Pick: Sneakily educational about the joys of classical music, The Composer Is Dead provides a musical murder mystery the whole family can enjoy. As you might guess, we open and the Composer is dead. An investigation of every member of the orchestra helps identify the sounds and personalities of each instrument and section. A whimsical stand-alone picture book from the bestselling author of the Series of Unfortunate Events books, Composer is filled with Lemony Snicket’s (a.k.a. Daniel Handler's) signature wit and is beautifully illustrated by Carson Ellis. Definitely get the edition with the accompanying CD to enjoy the full experience. (Note: It’s a gateway book! Next, hook your kids on Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf).
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Little Humans
Why It’s Our Pick: A delicious slice of Brandon Stanton’s popular Humans of New York blog and bestseller, Little Humans pulls his favorite child portraits together in a vivid photographic picture book for kids. A hip yet heartwarming ode to the small set, it’s a wonderful peek at children of all sizes and shapes. If there were coffee tables in well-appointed playrooms, this book would be on them. Great for gifting and read-alouds alike.
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Meet the Austins
Why It’s Our Pick: If you love books about big families like The Saturdays, The Penderwicks, and The Moffats, you must Meet the Austins. Brightly Contributor Liz Lesnick rediscovered this childhood favorite when she was looking for a new book for her Penderwicks-obsessed, 13-year-old daughter. Liz says, "While the Austin clan shares many of the loveable characteristics of these other classic families, they are complicated and far-from-perfect. My daughter and I had long discussions about jealousy, death, and how hard it can be to do the right thing — not easy conversations, but important and meaningful. Thank you, Madeline L’Engle."
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A Gold Star for Zog
Why It’s Our Pick: We love this fun-to-read-aloud rhyming tale for its not-so-ordinary characters and girl power message. Parents and children will enjoy reading about Zog’s mishaps in dragon training school and the spirited Princess Pearl, who helps Zog find his way, refuses to be rescued by a knight, and follows her dream to become a doctor. Brightly team member Milena says this book is a favorite bedtime read for her 4-year-old daughter, Penny, who "wants to be a princess veterinarian when she grows up."
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Thanksgiving Activity Book
Why It's Our Pick: We're thankful for anything that makes our jobs, and our Thanksgiving prep, a little easier. Packed with mazes, stickers, recipes, and crafts, Thanksgiving Activity Book has plenty of hands-on activities to keep grade school readers happily occupied on, or leading up to, Turkey Day.
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This is Paris
Why It's Our Pick: This week we’ve got Paris on our minds and in our hearts. This is Paris is the beloved first title in the classic This is series from Czech artist, illustrator, and author Miroslav Sasek. Readers of any age will enjoy the bright and whimsical illustrations of everyday life against the backdrop of Paris’ famous landmarks. It’s a love letter to the city of lights that belongs in every library.
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Dewey Bob
Available from:Why It's Our Pick: Our colleague Esther has been reading Dewey Bob by Judy Schachner to her 4-year-old daughter Talia almost every night this month and highly recommends it. Why she's loving it? "The book has a great message and is so visually engaging for Talia, holding her attention night after night. We find a new object in the collage-like layouts each time we read it. And, at its core, the story is about building friendships and caring for someone who needs some extra love."
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