There’s an argument to be made that animals are more common main characters than humans in children’s books. Think of your favorite book from when you were a kid. Is the main character an animal? A lot of mine happen to be mice… Wemberly, Lily, Angelina Ballerina. It’s always fun to see how the behaviors an animal has in nature inform their traits as a children’s book character. Cats are one of my favorite examples of this phenomenon: they’re usually aloof and anxious, yet they can be sweet and warm at their own discretion. These are a few books about animals and other creatures that are new to our collection in the Young Readers’ Room here at A.K. Smiley Library.
Accompany an earthling hedgehog named Re on his journey to a place where he can enjoy solitude in harmony in The Coziest Place on the Moon by Maria Popova. Re loves solitude, but the Earth can be a lonely place. Everything about this book is just so beautiful: the language, the themes, the illustrations, the connection between the characters. December is the perfect month to read this book: in the chaos of the holidays, the peaceful tranquility of the moon feels so welcome and necessary.
Lap Cat by Joren Cull is about a cat’s quest to find the warmest, most perfect lap in the land. Lap Cat will stop at nothing to reach this goal: Lap Cat will destroy; Lap Cat will become a menace to the town… Lap Cat will eventually learn his lesson and remedy his mistakes. Each character in this book has so much personality and the dialogue is so funny; it’s perfect to read aloud together with family. Cull’s illustrations are so much fun too, neon comics infused with medieval influences, and you’ll notice something new each time you flip through the book.
The story of a lighthouse keeper bear and a fish brought together by a colorful sail… Don’t Eat Eustace by Lian Cho follows these two characters as they become friends. The question looming throughout the story: will Bear or won’t Bear make Eustace into stew? It’s funny; it’s delightful; it’s heartwarming; and it’s strange.
Papilio follows its titular character through her stages of transformation from a caterpillar to a chrysalis to a butterfly. It’s written and illustrated by Ben Clanton (caterpillar), Corey R. Tabor (chrysalis), and Andy Chou Musser (butterfly). It’s such a sweet story, and Papilio is such an inspiration — she rolls with the punches of each new and unfamiliar stage of life, even in the face of danger. She learns that there is a solution to every problem as she finds her place in the world. But she’s also just happy to be alive, eat treats, and make friends.
I love nonfiction children’s books that are told as stories. In the World of Whales by Michelle Cusolito is a true story about a diver who was one of the first humans to witness a sperm whale birth. The diver shows the whales he isn’t a threat by mimicking their movements, and the result is an experience of mutual respect and curiosity. If you’re not already drawn in by this plot, just take a look at the cover. I’ve never not been blown away by the illustrations in a book about whales, and the beautiful blue textures and depth here are no exception.
Shibu’s Tail by Tess Thomas is about a shy cat with a very expressive tail. This tail is huge, poofy, and capable of morphing into Shibu’s big emotions. Embarrassed at just how expressive he is, Shibu tries suppressing his emotional expression, but this only causes his already big emotions to grow and grow. I read this book recently at Toddler Storytime, and if I’m being honest, the adults seemed more into it than the kids. Its main theme is fairly mature, a good reminder that will resonate with adults as well as children: your vulnerability can and will benefit you and those around you.
Come visit us in the Young Readers’ Room throughout this holiday season and look for a book or two on your favorite creature, or an animal you’re interested in learning about! We’re always happy to help you find what you’re looking for.