The Children’s Book Review | April 2, 2014
Spring is here, the season of regeneration that brings plenty of flowers with nectar which worker bees gather and convert into honey. The Children’s Book Review’s best selling picture book for this month is full of information on the wonderful and very much under-appreciated honeybees, The Life and Times of the Honeybee by Charles Micucci. As per usual, we’ve also shared our hand selected list of the most popular picture books from the nationwide best selling picture books, as listed by The New York Times. This month there has been a little change up to include the Caldecott Medal Winner Locomotive, by Brian Floca. The list continues to include books by Tom Lichtenheld, Sherri Duskey Rinker, Eric Litwin, Oliver Jeffers, and Drew Daywalt—true favorites.
The Children’s Book Review’s Best Selling Picture Book
The Life and Times of the Honeybee
By Charles Micucci
Why do beekeepers use smoke machines when collecting honey? Can a bee really sting only once? Why do bees “dance”? In concise, detailed text and abundant illustrations that range from the humorous to the scientific, Charles Micucci offers a wide-ranging and spirited introduction to the life cycle, social organization, and history of one of the world’s most useful insects. He includes information on how bees make honey, what a beekeeper does, and products that contain beeswax–everything from lipstick to waxes for buffing surfboards. Micucci’s rare gift for making science enjoyable and accessible is again revealed in this remarkably witty, rich salute to the honeybee.
Ages 5-8 | Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers | Aug 25, 97 | ISBN-13: 978-0395861394
Nationwide Best Selling Picture Books
What Does the Fox Say?
By Ylvis, Christian Løchstøer; Illustrated by Svein Nyhus
Do you know what the fox says? Based on the hugely popular YouTube video with more than 200 million views, this picture book is packed full of foxy fun.
Dog goes woof. Cat goes meow. Bird goes tweet and mouse goes squeak…
But what does the fox say?
The lyrics of Ylvis’s YouTube sensation “The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)” meet Svein Nyhus’s playful illustrations in this irresistibly entertaining read-aloud picture book.
Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers | Dec. 10, 2013 | ISBN-13: 978-1481422239
The Day the Crayons Quit
By Drew Daywalt; Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Crayons have feelings, too, in this funny back-to-school story illustrated by the creator of Stuck and This Moose Belongs to Me — now a #1 New York Times bestseller!
Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! Beige Crayon is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. Blue needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun.What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?
Kids will be imagining their own humorous conversations with crayons and coloring a blue streak after sharing laughs with Drew Daywalt and New York Times bestseller Oliver Jeffers. This story is perfect as a back-to-school gift, for all budding artists, for fans of humorous books such as Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Sciezka and Lane Smith, and for fans of Oliver Jeffers’ Stuck, The Incredible Book Eating Boy, Lost and Found, and This Moose Belongs to Me.
Ages 3-7 | Publisher: Philome | June 27, 2013 | ISBN-13: 978-0399255373
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
By Eric Litwin
Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as he steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other big messes! But no matter what color his shoes are, Pete keeps movin’ and groovin’ and singing his song…because it’s all good. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes asks the reader questions about the colors of different foods and objects.
Don’t miss Pete’s other adventures, including Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, Pete the Cat Saves Christmas, and Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses.
Supports the Common Core State Standards
Ages 4-8 | Publisher: HarperCollins | Mar. 2, 2010 | ISBN-13: 978-0061906220
Locomotive
By Brian Floca
All aboard! From the creator of the “stunning” (Booklist) Moonshot, a rich and detailed sensory exploration of America’s early railroads.
It is the summer of 1869, and trains, crews, and family are traveling together, riding America’s brand-new transcontinental railroad. These pages come alive with the details of the trip and the sounds, speed, and strength of the mighty locomotives; the work that keeps them moving; and the thrill of travel from plains to mountain to ocean.
Come hear the hiss of the steam, feel the heat of the engine, watch the landscape race by. Come ride the rails, come cross the young country!
Ages 4-10 | Publisher: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books | Sept. 3, 2013 | ISBN-13: 978-1416994152
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
By Sherri Duskey Rinker (Author), Tom Lichtenheld (Illustrator)
As the sun sets behind the big construction site, all the hardworking trucks get ready to say goodnight. One by one, Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator finish their work and lie down to rest—so they’ll be ready for another day of rough and tough construction play! With irresistible artwork by best-selling illustrator Tom Lichtenheld and sweet, rhyming text, this book will have truck lovers of all ages begging for more.
Ages 3-7 | Publisher: Chronicle Books | May 4, 2011 | ISBN-13: 978-0811877824
The information for the best selling books was gathered from the New York Times Best Sellers list, which reflects the sales of books from books sold nationwide, including independent and chain stores. It is correct at the time of publication and presented in random order. Visit www.nytimes.com for their most current and up-to-date list.
There is no doubt that you’ll discover a great read-aloud picture book from this crop of best selling books by Tom Lichtenheld, Sherri Duskey Rinker, Eric Litwin, Oliver Jeffers, and Drew Daywalt. If you’re looking for more seasonal spring books, you can peruse these two lists: Spring Books and Seasonal Books. Now go outside and read some books among the flowers in your garden and watch for honeybees and butterflies.
What Does the Fox Say?But what does the fox say?
The Day the Crayons QuitPoor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! Beige Crayon is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. Blue needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun.What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?
Kids will be imagining their own humorous conversations with crayons and coloring a blue streak after sharing laughs with Drew Daywalt and New York Times bestseller Oliver Jeffers. This story is perfect as a back-to-school gift, for all budding artists, for fans of humorous books such as Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Sciezka and Lane Smith, and for fans of Oliver Jeffers’ Stuck, The Incredible Book Eating Boy, Lost and Found, and This Moose Belongs to Me.
Ages 3-7 | Publisher: Philome | June 27, 2013 | ISBN-13: 978-0399255373
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
By Eric Litwin
Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as he steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other big messes! But no matter what color his shoes are, Pete keeps movin’ and groovin’ and singing his song…because it’s all good. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes asks the reader questions about the colors of different foods and objects.
Don’t miss Pete’s other adventures, including Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, Pete the Cat Saves Christmas, and Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses.
Supports the Common Core State Standards
Ages 4-8 | Publisher: HarperCollins | Mar. 2, 2010 | ISBN-13: 978-0061906220
Locomotive
By Brian Floca
All aboard! From the creator of the “stunning” (Booklist) Moonshot, a rich and detailed sensory exploration of America’s early railroads.
It is the summer of 1869, and trains, crews, and family are traveling together, riding America’s brand-new transcontinental railroad. These pages come alive with the details of the trip and the sounds, speed, and strength of the mighty locomotives; the work that keeps them moving; and the thrill of travel from plains to mountain to ocean.
Come hear the hiss of the steam, feel the heat of the engine, watch the landscape race by. Come ride the rails, come cross the young country!
Ages 4-10 | Publisher: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books | Sept. 3, 2013 | ISBN-13: 978-1416994152
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
By Sherri Duskey Rinker (Author), Tom Lichtenheld (Illustrator)
As the sun sets behind the big construction site, all the hardworking trucks get ready to say goodnight. One by one, Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator finish their work and lie down to rest—so they’ll be ready for another day of rough and tough construction play! With irresistible artwork by best-selling illustrator Tom Lichtenheld and sweet, rhyming text, this book will have truck lovers of all ages begging for more.
Ages 3-7 | Publisher: Chronicle Books | May 4, 2011 | ISBN-13: 978-0811877824
The information for the best selling books was gathered from the New York Times Best Sellers list, which reflects the sales of books from books sold nationwide, including independent and chain stores. It is correct at the time of publication and presented in random order. Visit www.nytimes.com for their most current and up-to-date list.
There is no doubt that you’ll discover a great read-aloud picture book from this crop of best selling books by Tom Lichtenheld, Sherri Duskey Rinker, Eric Litwin, Oliver Jeffers, and Drew Daywalt. If you’re looking for more seasonal spring books, you can peruse these two lists: Spring Books and Seasonal Books. Now go outside and read some books among the flowers in your garden and watch for honeybees and butterflies.
