Favored Children's Books of 2015

 

Looking back over year 205, this small stack of children's books were not just my own favorites of that year, but also my students'.

• What Do You Do with an Idea? by Kobi Yamada - I read this story at the beginning of the school year to my students in conjunction with a couple of different activities on what creativity is and how it would look for each individual student in the upcoming school year. The story follows a little boy who has an idea (which is depicted as an egg), which grows and grows... until it explodes into being. The book starts out in black and white and slowly grows more colorful to show the children visually the growth that's taking place in the idea "egg."
• The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton - All Princess Pinecone wants for her birthday is a mighty steed to show off her warrior side. But what does she actually get? A very pudgy, stout, crazy-eyed pony... that farts. A hilarious tale to read and laugh at over and over again. Maybe I can relate to this story more than I should be able to and I love Beaton's work too much, but this was by far my personal favorite book of the entire year.
• Home by Carson Ellis - A beautiful picture book that celebrates all the different types of houses found around the world... and in myths and tales known by children alike. My students loved pouring over the pages of this inspiring book during the beginning of the year when they had to design their own house. 
• The Tea Party in the Woods by Akiko Miyakoshi - Kikko runs after her father, who forgot grandma's pie, one snowy day, and along the way she comes to a strange house in the woods. When she peeks into one of the windows she sees several woodland animals sipping on tea. They warmly welcome her in to join them in their tea party. The illustrations are absolutely charming with the primarily black and white pages with the happy pops of color in between.  
• Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast by Josh Funk - GAH!!! There's only one drop of maple syrup left in the refrigerator! And what ensues next, is the most epic breakfast food race yet between Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast. This book will get your children giggling right from the start. 
• Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh by Sally M. Walker - I picked up this book to read to my students for our upcoming unit on A.A. Milne who wrote the well known children's stories Winnie-the Pooh. It shares the true inspiring tales of the bear that eventually becomes personified in Milne's tales of Christopher Robin, Pooh, and Piglet too! A charming non-fiction story told in wonderful narrative tone. 
• Atlas of Adventure by Rachel Williams - Unlike your average atlas that shows the locations of countries and rivers and geographical landmarks alike, this atlas highlights the adventures to be had in all of these wonderful far off places (or maybe even your own backyard). From snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef to exploring the pyramids in Egypt, this is sure to be a book children and adults alike will want to steal away with to a hidden corner or nook and escape to wonderful places.