PYP SUMMER: Great Picture Books

Violet longs for the time when her family was connected: before life, distractions, and technology pulled them all away from each other. They used to gather at the table, with food and love, to make memories, share their lives, and revel in time spent together. But now her family has been drifting apart, and with nobody to gather around it, the table grows smaller and smaller. Can Violet remind her family of the warmth of time spent together, and gather around the table once more?

What child has not daydreamed about having wings like a butterfly? But secretly, the flashy butterfly yearns for a stick insect's privacy. And the stick insect wants to swim like a whirligig beetle. One after the other, the denizens of bestselling author-illustrator Mies van Hout's vibrant garden landscape wish to be like somebody else. From the glowing firefly to the capable spider to the adorable ladybugs, each one brings something to be admired. And when the dragonfly wishes to be like a child who can run, play, laugh, and build, a world of possibilities opens up.

After falling out of Farmer's truck, Chicken must find his own way home in this goofy, laugh-out-loud story about overcoming obstacles and believing in yourself. It has not been a good day for Chicken. He went to the fair with Farmer, but didn't win even one ribbon. And on the way home, the road is so bumpy that Farmer's truck knocks Chicken right out! He's been left behind! It's the end for Chicken. Surely, he can't walk all the way home. Or avoid the hungry fox along the way. Or maybe...he can?

A girl writes a poem to a tree, but then is surprised when the tree writes back in this wondrous and warm picture book about friendship, nature, and the power of poetry. A girl writes a poem to a tree, but then is surprised when the tree writes back in this wondrous and warm picture book about friendship, nature, and the power of poetry.

A captivating and utterly unique picture book with interactive, transparent pages about a girl who lives in a haunted house from world-renowned artist Oliver Jeffers. A young girl lives in a haunted house, but she has never seen a ghost. Are they white with holes for eyes? Are they hard to see? Step inside and help the girl as she searches under the stairs, behind the sofa, and in the attic for the ghost.

From the award-winning author of Little Pea, Little Hoot, and Little Oink comes a clever take on the age-old optical illusion: is it a duck or a rabbit? Depends on how you look at it! Readers will find more than just Amy Krouse Rosenthal's signature humor here; there's also a subtle lesson for kids who don't know when to let go of an argument.

National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson and two-time Pura Belpre Illustrator Award winner Rafael Lopez have teamed up to create a poignant, yet heartening book about finding courage to connect, even when you feel scared and alone.

The brilliantly interactive, bestselling picture book that tickles the funny bones of both children and adults. Elephant wants to play hide and seek. You can play too. But you'll need to try your best--he's VERY good! He can even hide behind a lamp, or a small tree...

When you're a bear who is easily scared, it's hard to have friends. Fortunately, Bear has one: Rabbit, who is very brave. One day, Rabbit urges Bear to face his fears and embark on an adventure together. However, things don't entirely go as planned, and the two friends learn the true meaning of bravery.

From the celebrated team behind Creepy Carrots!, Aaron Reynolds and Caldecott Honor winner Peter Brown, comes a hilarious (and just a little creepy) story of a brave rabbit and a very weird pair of underwear. Jasper Rabbit is NOT a little bunny anymore. He's not afraid of the dark, and he's definitely not afraid of something as silly as underwear. But when the lights go out, suddenly his new big rabbit underwear glows in the dark. A ghoulish, greenish glow. If Jasper didn't know any better he'd say his undies were a little, well, creepy. Jasper's not scared obviously, he's just done with creepy underwear. But after trying everything to get rid of them, they keep coming back!

All I want to do on a rainy day like today is play my game, but my mom says it's a waste of time. The game makes my mom crazy. Angry. She takes it away. I take it back. I wish Dad had come with us on this rainy, gray weekend. Without my game, nothing is fun. On the other hand, maybe I'm wrong about that. . . .