Pied Piper Pics

This story has a dramatic beginning as little Chico hatches into his
Peruvian world and discovers it’s a scary place. His dad tries to make things better for little Chico as dads often do and so the story begins. Chico goes on a quest to learn the secret to courage. He is helped and hindered by three llamas that he meets while climbing a tall mountain.
This a witty story with a surprise ending involving a superhero who saves the day. The large acrylic and black pencil illustrations are excellent for group sharing. The bright colors spice up the cartoon animal characters. In all this is an enjoyable read as we follow Chico in his adventures.

Check the WRL catalog for Chico the Brave.

What could be more perfect than a snowy day, a sled, a young boy who is a reader, a dog, warm drinks and crunchies, and a book? The boy has a brown suitcase and a long red sled. Together the boy and the dog head for the snow-covered hill. The dog runs ahead to the top of the hill to wait. The boy moves more slowly because pulling the sled is hard work. The hill is high and the dog waits patiently as the boy climbs up and up. And at last they are both at the top of the hill. They make snow angels, snowballs and a snow dog. It is cold at the top of the world, so the boy has warm drinks and crunchy toast for both of them. Snow keeps falling. They cuddle and the reader opens the suitcase and takes out the book, their special book, Two Good Friends. The only sound is the reader reading to the very last word. Then the best friends pack up the suitcase, the reader wraps his arms round his dog, and down the hill they go on the sled, faster and faster until they are home.
The story is simple but told with a definite sense of rhythm. Lauren Castillo’s art is simple and matches the lyrical quality of the story. It is one of those amazing blends of art and story that makes a perfect picture book to enjoy and share. The love and company shared by boy and dog are beautifully portrayed in words and pictures. This book needs to be shared with children and their special pets on a snowy day. It’s a book children will want to see and hear over and over.

Check the WRL catalog for The Reader.

If you are like me and come from a moose-loving family, you will enjoy Moose on the Loose. The author’s writing style in using questions to create her story is so stimulating. It begins: “What/would you do/with a moose/on the loose?/Would you chase him,/or race him,/or stand up to face him?” I loved that the reader has many choices to make as they read about this little boy’s dilemma.
This book has action and plenty of it. The reader will not be disappointed as the illustrations are comical and full of fun. Parents will like the sweetness of the story line and especially the ending.

Check the WRL catalog for Moose on the Loose.

This nighttime adventure book leads the reader on an action packed voyage. The reader travels with pirates through the sky to do battle with swords and cannons. The writer’s use of rhyming and word family words makes this a great book to read again and again.

Children ages 5-8 will enjoy the fast pace and awesome pirate pictures in this story. This is perfect if you are looking for a gentle pirate tale.

Check the WRL catalog for Pajama Pirates.

Read this delightful story to see how Hal and his little dog Billy save the day when a dinosaur shows up looking for food. This is a creative story that gives every boy and girl the power to control any situation. The illustrations in shades of green and brown are childlike in appearance and add dimension to the text. Dinosaur or Super Hero lovers will find Hal and Billy super awesome.

This book can be used with a group, one-on-one, or as the springboard to storytelling.

Check the WRL catalog for Super Hungry Dinosaur.

If you have a new baby in your house, this book is for you. It tells a sweet story of the care and love that baby Sadie is given by mom, dad and big brother Cameron. It is a gentle reminder of what every family experiences when a new bundle of joy comes into their lives. The artists frame the action with bright backgrounds that suggest quilts with scattered footprints and random letters. The mixed media collage illustrations are striking.
This book is best shared one-on-one with a new big brother or sister.

Check the WRL catalog for What a Good Big Brother.

Dazzle the Dinosaur has been a favorite among children for many years, and it still continues to be popular to this day. The story starts with a strange, shining egg being dropped into a Maiasaura nest. When the egg hatches, an unknown species of dinosaur hatches, a beautiful blue dino with a gleaming set of spines on its back. The mother Maiasaura raises the little one as her own and names him Dazzle. He grows up alongside one of the other hatchlings, Maia. Being curious young dinos, they go on many adventures together, meeting other dinosaurs, including some big, ferocious ones. When Maia shows him the cave where her herd used to live, now being inhabited by the terrifying Dragonsaur, Dazzle decides that he and Maia are going to reclaim their old home.
The lovely artwork in this book is enhanced by the shiny addition made to each page, whether it is in the form of Dazzle’s egg or his back spines. Children absolutely love the way his gleaming features stand out, which, aside from the story itself, is a big part of this book’s appeal. This story is great for sharing, and is guaranteed to dazzle both children and parents alike.

Check the WRL catalog for Dazzle the Dinosaur.

Laura Joy Rennert’s first ever picture book should not be missed. She creates a catalogue advertising dinosaurs as pets for children. She provides a cute and silly way of learning about dinos. First she dedicates whole pages to categories of the pets such as “horned,” “ginormous,” “winged,” “spiny,” and “sharp-toothed.” She uses humor to make even the fearsome T. Rex sound like an appealing pet, at least for someone willing to take on a big challenge.
Then the book lists the materials one needs to properly care for a pet dinosaur, such as food and a nice place to sleep. Rennert goes on to teach us how to train our dinos to perform fun tricks, just like a dog. She also covers topics such as feeding, bathing, vet visits, and much, much more.
To match the fun and quirky style of Rennert’s writing, beloved artist and creator of “Arthur,” Marc Brown, lends his exquisite illustrations to the book. Using a technique known as monoprinting, along with gouache, his paintings stand out and give every page larger than life coloring. Scientists say that dinosaurs used to be colorful creatures, and Marc Brown certainly must have had this in mind, because his paintings are as vibrant as can be. This beautifully illustrated and well-written story is great for sharing. It is easy for young readers, but is also good for reading to a smaller child. If you like Marc Brown’s style, then you absolutely must read this delightful book.

Check the WRL catalog for Buying, Training, & Caring for your Dinosaur.

For dinosaur-loving families, this book contains the story of a mother Maiasaura and her children. The growing process of these dinosaurs is explored in depth as we follow the babies from their first meal, walk with them as they take their first, wobbly steps, and watch as they learn how to gather their own meals of berries and leaves. We get to see first-hand what sort of dangers threaten the nest. But mother is always there to protect her young from enemies like meaner dinosaurs.
This cute story is both fun and educational. Not only does it provide a description of a Maiasaura’s life cycle, but it also shows how big these dinosaurs grow at the different stages of their lives in both metric and standard measurements. Another great aspect of this book is that it is very accessible for young readers. The dinosaurs have long, complicated names but children are able to read them aloud because pronunciations are given in parentheses. Another great educational aspect of this book is the brief entry on how paleontologists discovered the Maiasauras. It encourages young ones to pursue science in the future.
To match an excellent story, the art in this book is beautiful. Peter Barrett transports us back in time millions of years ago with his lush, green landscapes. One could almost smell the dusty dirt of the masterfully colored nesting grounds. The dinosaurs themselves look amazing, as if just by looking at these drawings, one could know what it would feel like to reach out and touch the tough hide of these giant reptiles. This book is truly a hidden treasure. Dinosaur fans will surely love it.

Check the WRL catalog for A Day in the Life of a Baby Dinosaur.