Children's Books

When a blizzard hits the city, leaving trucks snowbound, a mild-mannered, bespectacled garbage truck transforms into Supertruck! He digs out the city and frees other trucks, allowing them to return to their duties before he returns to his. A 2016 (Theodor Seuss) Geisel Honor Book, Supertruck will satisfy children who love trucks and superheroes. The book’s crisp, child-friendly illustrations offer a unique view of a wintry day in the metropolis. The book honors a humble servant willing to brave any cleanup job, whether ordinary or extraordinary. (Ages 2-6)

A Pig, a Fox, and a Box

Similar to Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie tales, this easy reader includes humorous characters in three clever stories. The first tale begins with Fox hiding in a box and attempting to outsmart his friend Pig. Instead, Fox winds up flattened and bruised. By the third story, Fox has learned his lesson, but readers will enjoy seeing how the trickster gets fooled and characters reconcile. The simple language here is perfect for beginning readers, and black outlines give the pastel illustrations plenty of pop. A 2016 Geisel Honor Book. (Ages 4-7)

Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah

Born with only one complete leg—a potential death sentence in Ghana—Emmanuel defied the odds: He went to school, played soccer on crutches, and even learned to ride a bicycle. The book traces his 400-mile ride across Ghana, an inspiring tale of human perseverance against great odds that draws attention to his abilities despite his disability. Sean Qualls’ modern illustrations, reminiscent of Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day, add interest to the story and help young children glimpse a different culture. Emmanuel’s Dream won the 2016 Schneider Family Book Award for the artistic expression of a disability. (Ages 3-8)

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music

Lively text and colorful, swirling illustrations by Rafael López combine to great effect in this 2016 Pura Belpré Award winner (for illustration). A girl named Millo dreams of playing drums in a culture that frowns on female drummers. “Conga drums, bongo drums, sticks, and timbales: the drum dream girl dreams ‘drumbeat dreams.’” Alliteration, repetition, and rhythm will have young readers tapping along. Cheery illustrations move and dance to the rhythm as well, depicting the girl’s dreams mixed with her frustrations. Based on the true story of Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, Drum Dream Girl celebrates the pursuit of dreams and shows the importance of family support. (Ages 3-8)

Spotlight

This January, the 2016 Newbery Medal went to Last Stop on Market Street, written by Matt de la Peña and illustrated by Christian Robinson (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2015). The selection garnered more attention than usual because de la Peña is the first Hispanic author to win the award. The book also won a 2016 Caldecott honor, a double distinction that has only occurred once before.

Happily, the book lives up to the hype. The picture book (for ages 3-6) opens with a young boy named CJ and his Nana leaving church on Sunday morning to board a city bus. Along the way, CJ asks questions about those around them: Why are his friends riding in a car instead of a bus? Why doesn’t he have earbuds like the teenagers nearby? While lack of money sometimes makes their lives more difficult, Nana answers each question with grace, helping CJ to see the world around him with thankful eyes. —Megan Saben