How to use this Page

Ooh, the weather outside is ... perfect for snuggling inside with one of these best selling picture books. Snow, by Cynthia Rylant, is this month's best selling picture book from our affiliate store—it's a beautiful book.

THE NOT VERY MERRY POUT-POUT FISH VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish Written by Deborah Diesen Illustrations by Dan Hanna Farrar Straus Giroux BYR    9/08/2015 978-0-374-35549-4 32 pages     Ages 2—6 “A gift should be BIG, And a gift should be BRIGHT, And a gift should be PERFECT— Guaranteed to …

Our list of the best new kids books for September highlights some amazing books from many different genres: non-fiction, reality fiction, fantasy, and even a beautiful picture book that addresses gender identity. Take a gander and let us know which titles and covers catch your eye ... Read the rest of this post

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: July 26, 2011

Whether you’re heading to the beach, park, lake, or hanging-out at home, we have some great summer-themed books picked out for kids of all ages—including a couple of Young Adult titles.

Picture Books

When a Dragon Moves In

By Jodi Moore (Author), Howard McWilliam (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Flashlight Press (May 1, 2011)

Source: Publisher

Publisher’s synopsis: On a beautiful day at the beach, a young boy brings his bucket, shovel, and imagination, and builds a perfect sand castle. Right away, a dragon moves in. The boy decides to befriend his dragon and they spend time roaming the shore, flying a kite, braving the waves, defying bullies, and roasting marshmallows all while Dad is busy sunbathing and Mom is engrossed in her book. Unfortunately, no one believes the boy when he tries to share the news of this magnificent creature. That’s when the mischief begins, and the dragon becomes a force to be reckoned with. While adults will recognize the naughty antics as a ploy for attention, children will dissolve into giggles as the dragon devours every last sandwich, blows bubbles in the lemonade, and leaves claw prints in the brownies. Maybe the dragon really is running amok on the beach, or maybe it’s a little boy’s imagination that is running wild.

Add this book to your collection: When a Dragon Moves In

____________________________________________________________

Seaside Dream

By Janet Costa Bates (Author), Lambert Davis (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 6-10

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Lee & Low Books (September 30, 2010)

Source: Publisher

Publisher’s synopsis: As family and friends arrive from near and far for Grandma’s seventieth birthday, Cora is surrounded by excited shouts and laughter and the smells of favorite Cape Verdean dishes cooking. Everyone’s getting ready for the big beach party tomorrow, but Cora still doesn’t know what to give Grandma as a present. It has to be something special.

Grandma is overjoyed to see so many of the people she loves, but Cora knows she still misses family in Cape Verde whom she hasn’t seen in decades. Could Cora convince her to make the trip overseas for a visit? After a nighttime walk on the beach with Grandma, Cora has a dream that gives her an idea for the perfect birthday gift.

In her picture book debut, Janet Costa Bates invites readers into to a celebration of the s

The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark by Deborah Diesen (Illustrated by Dan Hanna)

Reviewed by: Chris Singer

About the author:

Deborah Diesen currently works for a small nonprofit organization and has also worked as a reference librarian and a bookseller. Although she enjoys her work tremendously, her true joy comes from writing for children. She lives in Grand Ledge, Michigan with her husband, two sons and two cats.

About the illustrator:

Dan Hanna has over ten years’ experience in the animation industry, and his work has appeared on BBC America and the Cartoon Network. He lives in Santa Barbara, California. This book marks the debut of both author and illustrator.

About the book:

The Pout-Pout Fish In The Big-Big Dark is a follow-up to the popular The Pout-Pout Fish. Illustrated by Dan Hanna and published by Farrar Straus Giroux, this new tale follows Mr. Fish’s adventure into the deepest part of the ocean.

Mr. Fish wants to help his friend Ms. Clam when she loses her pearl, but though he’s fast as a sailfish, as smart as dolphin, and as strong as a shark, Mr. Fish has a secret: he’s scared of the dark!

My take on the book:

This is the follow-up to Deborah Diesen’s The Pout-Pout Fish (reviewed here on Book Dads) and features the same characters as well. This time Mr. Fish has to conquer his fear of the dark so he can help his friend Ms. Clam find her lost pearl.

Once again, Diesen brings us an entertaining read aloud accompanied by Dan Hanna’s fabulous illustrations. It has a great message about friends helping others and also a light-hearted look at one of childhood’s biggest fears: the dark. The book does an excellent job of showing that despite Mr. Fish’s fear of the dark, he still has many strengths and positives which can help him overcome his fear. I loved the “little voice” (the shimmer fish from the first book) which kept telling Mr. Fish to swim on even though he was starting to get worried about the water getting darker. It’s a great message for kids to do a little self-talk and trust that “little voice” which can give themselves the strength and extra encouragement to be brave and tackle their fears.

This is another winner from Deborah Diesen and would make an excellent addition to your home library!

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: November 2, 2010

So much fun! 1 signed copy of The Barefooted, Bad-Tempered, Baby Brigade by Deborah Diesen is going to be given away to one lucky reader. It’s a thoroughly entertaining reminder for parents to savor every moment with their youngsters—babies don’t stay babies forever. Giveaway begins November 2, 2010, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends November 30, 2010, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

Reading level: Ages 0-5

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Tricycle Press; 1 edition (March 23, 2010)

Book overview: Their demands are loud and clear—but are their moms and dads ready to listen?

Join a crowd of cranky babies as they take to the streets!

The babies turned east at the corner of Main saying, “goo-goo” and “ga-ga” and “Out of our way!”

These babies have had it!

No more mashed peas!

No more bibs!

No more frilly clothes!

About the author: DEBORAH DIESEN’s first picture book, The Pout-Pout Fish, was a New York Times best seller and one of Time magazine’s Top Ten Children’s Books of 2008. A former reference librarian and bookseller, Deborah enjoys doing school and library visits and writing on her blog, Jumping The Candlestick (www.jumpingthecandlestick.blogspot.com). She lives in Michigan with her husband and two sons.

Visit: http://www.deborahdiesen.com/ and http://jumpingthecandlestick.blogspot.com/

How to enter:

• Leave a comment in the comments field below.

• An extra entry will be given for each time you twitter about the giveaway and/or blog about it. You will need to paste the link in a separate comment to make this entry valid. Click here to follow us on Twitter.

• Maximum entries: Three (3)

Giveaway Rules:

• Shipping Guidelines: This book giveaway is open to participants with a United States address.

• Giveaway begins November 2, 2010, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends November 30, 2010, at 11:59 P.M. PST, when all entries must be received. No purchase necessary. See
  Add a Comment