Y’all, the August ’22 picture books being published by Simon Kids are sooooo good! When I received this bookmail last week, I couldn’t believe how amazing each book was. I can’t wait to share them with y’all today.
I’ve included links to add each book to your Goodreads (a great way to keep track of books you want to use in your classroom) as well as links to purchase on Amazon.
Rick the Rock of Room 214
Written by Julie Falatko; Illustrated by Ruth Chan
Add to Goodreads/Purchase on Amazon
Even rocks have big dreams in this sweet and wacky picture book for fans of Aaron Reynolds and Mac Barnett about a display rock who longs to explore the great outdoors!
Rick is a rock. For as long as he can remember, he’s lived on the Nature Finds shelf in Room 214 alongside an acorn, some moss, and a piece of bark. One day, the teacher shows the class what rocks do outdoors, and Rick is captivated. Exploding out of volcanos? Plunging off cliffs? Now Rick’s determined to get outside—after all, he’s a rock, and rocks are made for adventure.
But when Rick does make his way into the great outdoors, he finds it’s not quite what he imagined—and that sometimes the greatest adventure of all is being a friend.
Holding On
Written by Sophia N. Lee; Illustrated by Isabel Roxas
Add to Goodreads/Purchase on Amazon
A young girl in the Philippines uses music to connect with her grandmother as her memory fades in this warm and moving picture book perfect for fans of Pixar’s Coco.
There is always singing in Lola’s house. Sammy Davis Jr. in the morning, Dean Martin in the afternoon, and all throughout the evening, old Tagalog love songs from Nora Aunor, Basil Valdez, and more. Lola always says: “If you want to hold on, you gotta sing your songs.”
Her granddaughter tucks these sounds and Lola’s wisdom deep within her heart. And when Lola starts slipping into silence and stillness, she helps Lola hold on, piece by piece, with the joy and music that Lola taught her.
Action! How Movies Began
Written and Illustrated by Meghan McCarthy
Add to Goodreads/Purchase on Amazon
Award-winning nonfiction picture book creator Meghan McCarthy tells the story of how motion pictures came to be invented and the story of the many people who helped create them.
Movies take us on adventures, introduce us to new worlds, and make us feel, but how did they start?
In her trademark easy-to-follow narrative voice, this fact-filled picture book tells the story of the evolution of movies and the people who worked hard to create them—both on-screen and behind the scenes. In fascinating detail, she shows how early photography capturing motion became silent films, which led to the first color films (like the beloved Wizard of Oz), and how those building blocks allowed for the inspiring movies of today.
King Kong’s Cousin
Written and Illustrated by Mark Teague
Add to Goodreads/Purchase on Amazon
From bestselling author-illustrator Mark Teague comes a laugh-out-loud, black-and-white picture book introducing Junior, King Kong’s cousin!
Junior wants to be as big and as strong and as special as his cousin, Kong, but he always seems to come up short. Kong climbs skyscrapers; Junior is afraid of heights. Kong does whatever he wants; Junior does chores. When Junior’s beloved cat gets stuck in a tree, will this be his chance to save the day?
Becoming Blue
Written by Ellen Tarlow; Illustrated by Julien Chung
Add to Goodreads/Purchase on Goodreads
A clever and moving picture book about finding out what it means to be yourself—in this case, what it means to be Blue!
Blue wants to be Red. Red is exciting and funny and fascinating. She gets to fight fires and swing from trees and tell cars to STOP. But it turns out trying to be Red isn’t as fun, or as easy, as Blue thought it would be. What might happen if instead of trying to be like Red, Blue tried to just be Blue? Come along with Blue on his journey to self-discovery, self-acceptance, and self-love.
A Little Ferry Tale
Written and Illustrated by Chad Otis
Add to Goodreads/Purchase on Amazon
In the spirit of The Little Engine That Could, this sweet picture book introduces Little Ferry, who yearns to be more like the faster or stronger boats in the harbor only to find out her uniqueness can be her strength.
Little Ferry feels like no one notices her. She isn’t strong like Tugboat or fast like Speedboat or graceful like Sailboat, the boats everyone loves to watch. But Little Ferry is special, too! She’s patient and careful and always on time. And when disaster flares on Wildlife Island, Little Ferry finds that her quiet traits are the very ones that will help her finally stand out and save the day.
My Pet Feet
Written by Josh Funk; Illustrated by Billy Young
Add to Goodreads/Purchase on Amazon
When the letter R suddenly vanishes, a whole town goes upside-down in this side-splitting picture book of alphabet chaos that’s Can I Be Your Dog? meets P Is for Pterodactyl.
A little girl wakes up one day to find that R, a vital piece of the alphabet, has vanished! Suddenly, she has pet feet instead of a ferret. Flocks of cows replace crows flying in the sky. Giant shoes (not shores!) live on the sandy beaches of her town.
What could have happened to the eighteenth letter of the alphabet? Did it get lost—or stolen? One way or another, the town needs to be saved!
Thanks so much for Simon kids for sending me these ARCs
