Luka, the Reluctant Llama Leader
Get ready for an exciting spitting challenge to choose the next llama leader! Unfortunately, Luka wins and must step up, even though he knows it won’t be easy. Luka jumps in, trying different llama leader styles and thinks he’s figured it out, until a moment of clarity hits him and everything changes. Luka, the Reluctant Llama Leader (585 words), is a picture book about community, caring, and listening. This tale of tenacity and leadership combines the sweet naivete and heart of What Do You Do with an Idea? (Yamada) with the team dynamics in The Sandcastle That Lola Built (Maynor).
Backmatter and discussion questions about llamas are included.
View from the High Jagged Mountain
As Gio gazes down from the mountain at the villages by the Bubbly River and the Great Forest below, he dreams of safety and finding a new home. Fleeing their war-torn village, his family is now met with warmth and welcome. However, they’re filled with fear and must decide whether to trust and stay or continue their journey. View from the High Jagged Mountain (760 words) is a heartfelt picture book that tells the immigrant story through the eyes of a child. This story combines the themes of What is a Refugee? (Gravel) with the belief that we’re all connected, shared in Under the Same Sky (Teckentrup).
This is a sequel to Tree House – Stone House, but it can also be read as a standalone story. Discussion questions are included.
Skipper Chip and Captain Jax
Fish guts and frosting cover the deck of The Matilda, the ship shared by best friends Skipper Chip and Captain Jax after their sailboat, The Angelina, sank. They devise clever and hilarious solutions to keep their fishing and sightseeing tours afloat, resulting in passengers jumping ship to escape the chaos! Over their nightly bowls of clam chowder, the two friends build a new idea that will keep their friendship strong, and their customers’ bellies satisfied. Skipper Chip and Captain Jax (515 words) is a captivating picture book that beautifully combines the coastal setting of Swashby and the Sea (Ferry) with the resilient spirit found in Dan Santat’s After the Fall (Santat). This delightful story will leave you longing to join the characters on the beach at sunset!
Dragon Wagon
Thump! Thump! Thump! Unable to fly, Megan Dragon runs everywhere in her red sneakers, leaving a trail of books, food, and soccer gear! She’s been coached by everyone (even her non-flying friends, Goat and Troll), but when she tries to fly, her knees wobble, her tummy grumbles, and she ends up in a tangled heap. Determined to live a normal life, Megan constructs a contraption that solves her problem. Dragon Wagon (520 words) is a picture book that is a tale of anxiety and tenacity. It combines the themes of If You Met a Dragon (Deerton) and the character growth of Jabari Jumps (Cornwall) and sets readers who deal with their own anxious hearts a-soaring!
The Rusty, Dusty Tractor
Oscar and Jack, 9-year-old friends, chose ‘Help Bernice’ as their summer service project, expecting to clean a farmhouse and enjoy homemade cookies. Surprised to find that she wasn’t an 87-year-old grandma, but a broken-down tractor, they rallied the community to repair her for the parade! As more and more people trek to the farm to help Bernice, Farmer Sam feels overjoyed at the new friends he’s forming and the sense of community they all share. The Rusty Dusty Tractor (670 words) is an engaging picture book that illustrates how a shared goal can bring people together. This heartwarming tale blends the engaging storytelling style of The Little Blue Truck (Schertle) with the beautiful themes of ‘more hands helping’ found in Thank You, Omu (Mora)!
Tree House, Stone House
The Tree-Dwellers and the River People keep their distance. Fearful of the spooky dark forest and the wild raging river, they learned to mistrust one another. When a fierce monsoon brings them together to survive, they realize what they have in common. What happens when a third group moves into their area? Tree House – Stone House (660-word) is a heartwarming, universal fable that illustrates the importance of overcoming our biases and learn to rely on each other. This story combines the strength of confronting your fears in A Little Bit Brave (Kinnear) with the broader message of The Garden of Us (Hurlock).
Every Kid’s Guide to Using a Magic Wand
Just in case you find a magic wand, you should read this book! Follow the narrator through five humorous and valuable tips, such as not pointing the wand at a frog, but at food (to lead to a special treat). Every Kid’s Guide to Using a Magic Wand (615 words) is a rhyming picture book that is a lighthearted, fun read for children with opportunities for classroom discussion and a creative art project. This story combines the magical dreams found in The Dream Painter (Campbell) with the lyrical fun of How to Catch a Yeti (Wallace).
The Last Turtle King
King Mateo is tired and must choose a new Sea Turtle King to take his place! Three quirky characters, Mo, Old Toby, and Matilda, step forward to claim the crown, each strong in their own way. If he makes the wrong choice, he’ll have to return to the throne as King. In The Last Turtle King (660 words), a rhyming picture book, Mateo explores their strengths and challenges while grappling with what defines a strong friend and community-builder. This story combines the leadership growth in How Beezy the Bee Discovered her Mission (Stetsyuk) with the leadership qualities found in The Forgotten King (Padgett). Backmatter on sea turtles and typhoons is included.
Hugo Bear’s Big Sleep
On the morning after hibernation, Hugo the bear cub wakes up! He spends his day eating and playing, then attempts to hibernate, but remains sleepless. As danger approaches, he learns to protect his family, transforming their cave into a safe and cozy home. Hugo Bear’s Big Sleep (620 words) is an engaging picture book that follows a courageous bear cub. This heartwarming tale of survival, protectiveness, and love combines the sweetness of Bear Snores On (Wilson) and the resourcefulness of A Story for Small Bear (McGinty).
Backmatter and discussion questions about hibernation and brown bears are included.
Venita Garrison 