A Little Book Series from Compendium + Giveaway

Out today is a new series of board books for our littlest readers and their families.  They offer bright, playful illustrations and contain key words that focus on three different areas of vocabulary: feelings, opposites and actions.  The simple layouts help children engage in joint attention as parents read the books aloud.  While reading, there are also opportunities to connect the words in the books with concrete examples from children’s own lives.  And wait — just wait! — until you get turn the pages of these books.  The texture of the covers and pages are sublime and are an experience in and of themselves.  This series was written by Ruth Austin, illustrated by Kanae Sato and published by Compendium.

We’re giving away a set of all three board books:

Happy Grumpy Loved: A Little Book of Feelings

Hide Seek, Stinky Sweet: A Little Book of Opposites

Wiggle Jump Tickle: A Little Book of Actions

This giveaway is open to US residents and ends Tuesday, June 5, at 11:59 PM PDT.  To enter, head over to this Instagram post.  While you're there, scroll right to see a preview of the interior. 

Bear's Scare

Jacob Grant’s latest book Bear’s Scare is priceless.  It’s quietly quirky, humorous and heartfelt and it’s a story about the unlikeliest of friendships.  Oh, and we love Jacob’s palette and all of the mid-century modern details of Bear’s home.

Bear’s Scare was written and illustrated by Jacob Grant and published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books.  It’ll be out soon on June 12.

Finding Colors + These Colors Are Bananas Giveaway

Perhaps you’ve seen Tamara Shopsin and Jason Fulford’s incredibly clever new board book about color, THESE COLORS ARE BANANAS.  They have another equally brilliant book due out on June 11 — FIND COLORS.  It’s a color book with no colors—instead, there’s a die-cut opening on each page that allows the reader to look for the color named.  Their novel approach creates an experience that’s fresh, interactive and engaging.  Click over to this Instagram post and scroll right to see a video of the book in action, a collaboration by @readingisourthing and myself.

We’re partnering with Phaidon to give away two sets of FIND COLORS and THESE COLORS ARE BANANAS.  This giveaway is open internationally and it ends Monday, June 4, at 11:59 PM PDT.  Head over to this Instagram post to enter.

A House That Once Was

“Deep in the woods

is a house

just a house

that once was

but now isn’t

a home.”

Wandering through an abandoned house, a pair of siblings wonder about the life that once inhabited it.  The House That Once Was is a quiet, reflective story with poetic and evocative words and art, perfect for a grayish afternoon.

A House that Once Was was written by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Lane Smith and published by Roaring Brook Press.

The Big Book of the Blue

Yuval Zommer dives down into the deep blue in his latest book.  Readers are given a beautifully illustrated introduction to the ocean’s habitats and its many underwater animals—from the huge to the tiny.  They’re also invited on a search for a little sardine that appears throughout the book.  We liked reading about the different depths of the ocean including (cue music) the twilight zone. 

The Big Book of the Blue was written and illustrated by Yuval Zommer in collaboration with sea life expert Barbara Taylor.  It’ll be out on June 5 from Thames & Hudson just in time for World Oceans Day on June 9.