Chapin LibGuides: Summer Reading 2023: Lower School: picture books

Pigeon and Cat by Edward Hemingway
In an abandoned city lot, Cat lives alone in a cardboard box. He leaves only to find food. One day, Cat discovers an unbroken egg too beautiful to eat. Soon, out pecks Pigeon, and they become fast friends. Cat is happy to share his box with Pigeon. But when Pigeon flies far away from where they live, Cat must brave the city in order to rescue his friend. This journey will forever transform his understanding of home.
Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang and Hyewon Yum (Illustrator)
When five-year-old Luli joins her new English as a Second Language class, the playroom is quiet. Luli can't speak English, neither can anyone else. That's when she has a brilliant idea to host a tea party and bring them all together.
The Coquíes Still Sing by Karina Nicole Gonzalez and Krystal Quiles (Illustrator)
Co-quí, co-quí! The coquí frogs sing to Elena from her family's beloved mango tree--their calls so familiar that they might as well be singing, "You are home, you are safe." But home is suddenly not safe when a hurricane threatens to destroy everything that Elena knows. As time passes, Elena, alongside her community, begins to rebuild their home, planting seeds of hope along the way. When the sounds of the coquíes gradually return, they reflect the resilience and strength of Elena, her family, and her fellow Puerto Ricans.
Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
Winner of the 2023 Caldecott Award!

Since the day he hatched, Owl dreamed of becoming a real knight. He may not be the biggest or the strongest, but his sharp nocturnal instincts can help protect the castle, especially since many knights have recently gone missing. While holding guard during Knight Night Watch, Owl is faced with the ultimate trial--a frightening intruder. It's a daunting duel by any measure. But what Owl lacks in size, he makes up for in good ideas.
Berry Song by Michaela Goade
On an island at the edge of a wide, wild sea, a girl and her grandmother gather gifts from the earth. Salmon from the stream, herring, eggs from the ocean, and in the forest, a world of berries. Salmonberry, Cloudberry, Blueberry, Nagoonberry. Huckleberry, Snowberry, Strawberry, Crowberry. Through the seasons, they sing to the land as the land sings to them. Brimming with joy and gratitude, in every step of their journey, they forge a deeper kinship with both the earth and the generations that came before, joining in the song that connects us all.
I Cannot Draw a Horse by Charise Mericle Harper
Readers will delight as the simple "nothing shape" becomes a cat, a squirrel, a beaver, a bunny, a dog, a turtle, and a bear. But what about a horse? The cat really wants a horse. But . . . the book cannot draw a horse. Can the quick-draw book appease the horse-obsessed cat with an impressive collection of horse-y alternatives (all created from the same "nothing shape")? Or will the cat finally get a horse?
Anzu the Great Listener by Benson Shum
Anzu the kaiju loves to tend to his bonsai. Whenever he feels overwhelmed or unsettled, it helps him pause and reminds him to just . . . breathe. One day, when Anzu hears crying in the distance, he's eager to help! The flower-power that makes his bonsai bloom has a way of making others smile. But when Anzu's flowers seem to lose their power, hurting more than they help, he's not sure where to turn--until he remembers some valuable lessons he learned from his bonsai tree.
Big Dreams, Small Fish by Paula Cohen
In the new country, Shirley and her family all have big dreams. Take the family store: Shirley has great ideas about how to make it more modern! Prettier! More profitable! She even thinks she can sell the one specialty no one seems to want to try: Mama's homemade gefilte fish.
A Gift for Nana by Lane Smith
A thoughtful little Rabbit sets out to find the perfect gift for his Nana. He knows she will love anything he brings her but Rabbit wants this gift to be extra special. As he travels on his quest, Rabbit encounters an assortment of creatures-a crow, a smiling full moon, a stickler (whatever that is), a big fish, and a volcano. Each is certain they offer the best advice but nothing they suggest seems right for his Nana. It's not until Rabbit reaches the highest peak, that he finds exactly what he's been searching for.
Big Truck Little Island by Chris Van Dusen
That big truck is stuck! How will the island residents get where they're going? A tale of community and ingenuity from the celebrated Chris Van Dusen, inspired by a true story.
The Loud Librarian by Jenna Beatrice and Erika Lynne Jones (Illustrator)
A little librarian with a larger-than-life voice finds her place in this sweet and uproarious picture book about being true to yourself--no shushing required!
Love, Violet by Charlotte Sullivan Wild and Charlene Chua (Illustrator)
Of all the kids in Violet's class, only one leaves her speechless: Mira, the girl with the cheery laugh who races like the wind. If only they could adventure together! But every time Violet tries to tell Mira how she feels, Violet goes shy. As Valentine's Day approaches, Violet is determined to tell Mira just how special she is.
The World Belonged to Us by Jacqueline Woodson and Leo Espinosa (Illustrator)
It's getting hot outside, hot enough to turn on the hydrants and run through the water--and that means it's finally summer in the city! Released from school and reveling in their freedom, the kids on one Brooklyn block take advantage of everything summertime has to offer: Freedom from morning till night to go out to meet their friends and make the streets their playground--jumping double Dutch, playing tag and hide-and-seek, building forts, chasing ice cream trucks, and best of all, believing anything is possible. That is, till their moms call them home for dinner. But not to worry--they know there is always tomorrow to do it all over again--because the block belongs to them and they rule their world.
I Don't Care by Julie Fogliano, Molly Idle (Illustrator), and Juana Martinez-Neal (Illustrator)
In this bouncy, rhyming story, two best friends think about all the little things that don't matter- and the big things that really, really do.
Leila, the Perfect Witch by Flavia Z. Drago (Illustrator)
Leila Wayward is a little witch who excels at everything she does. She's the fastest flier, the most cunning conjuror, and the most superb shape-shifter. She has won trophies for potions, herbology, and alchemy--and now she dreams of winning the Magnificent Witchy Cake-off! As the youngest in a long line of masters of the Dark Arts of Patisserie, Leila wants her entry to be perfect. But even with the most bewitching of recipes, she realizes a terrible truth: she's a disaster in the kitchen. Luckily, Leila has three magical sisters who are happy to share their culinary secrets with her. What's more, Leila discovers that baking with them is fun!
Albie on His Way by Jutta Bauer
Albie is on a mission! The king has commanded him to deliver an important message to the neighboring castle. Dutifully he dashes away. But once on his way, something comes up . . . and then another thing, and then another! What is one to do when a squirrel, a tired mother and her many children, and an old animal need Albie's help, just has much as his king?
Loujain Dreams of Sunflowers by Uma Mishra-Newbery, Lina Lina Al-Hathloul, and Rebecca Green (Illustrator)
Loujain watches her beloved baba attach his feather wings and fly each morning, but her own dreams of flying face a big obstacle: only boys, not girls, are allowed to fly in her country. Yet despite the taunts of her classmates, she is determined to do it--especially because Loujain loves colors, and only by flying can she see the color-filled field of sunflowers her baba has told her about. Eventually, he agrees to teach her, and Loujain's impossible dream becomes reality--and soon other girls dare to learn to fly.

Me and the Boss by Michelle Edwards and April Harrison (Illustrator)
Meet Lee, a little boy who won't give up until he learns how to sew, and Zora, the sister who watches him try--and ultimately succeed!
Nana, Nenek and Nina by Liza Ferneyhough
Nina loves visiting her two faraway grandmas--one in Malaysia and one in England. Spot the similarities and differences between their homes in this cozy and beautifully illustrated picture book!
Every Dog in the Neighborhood by Philip C. Stead and Matthew Cordell (Illustrator)
How many dogs live in the neighborhood? Louis decides to find out--by meeting every single one. Louis really wants a dog, but his Grandma insists, "There are enough dogs in the neighborhood already." While Louis disagrees, he realizes he needs more information to support his argument: so he sets out to figure out how many dogs live in the neighborhood. While Grandma sets out on errands of her own, Louis starts knocking on doors. By the time he gets home Louis is ready to tell Grandma just how many dogs are in the neighborhood. . . But Grandma thinks he just might have missed one.
Chirri and Chirra, in the Night by Kaya Doi
With the light of their trusty bicycles and a glorious full moon illuminating the darkness, Chirri and Chirra go on a nighttime adventure, accompanied by their new cat friends.
Stella Keeps the Sun Up by Clothilde Ewing and Lynn Gaines (Illustrator)
In this incandescently fun, hijinks-filled picture book, a young girl schemes to keep the sun up in the sky so she never has to go to bed.
Hot Dog by Doug Salati
This hot dog has had enough of summer in the city! Enough of sizzling sidewalks, enough of wailing sirens, enough of people's feet right in his face. When he plops down in the middle of a crosswalk, his owner endeavors to get him the breath of fresh air he needs. She hails a taxi, hops a train, and ferries out to the beach. Here, a pup can run!
Magnolia Flower by Zora Neale Hurston, Ibram X. Kendi, and Loveis Wise (Illustrator)
Magnolia Flower, in this picture book for older readers, was born to parents who fled slavery and the Trail of Tears. Not to be deterred by rigid ways of the world, she longs to connect with others, who too long for freedom. She finds this in a young man of letters who her father disapproves of. In her quest to be free, Magnolia must make a choice and set off on a journey that will prove just how brave one can be when leading with one's heart.
Stillwater and Koo Save the World by Jon J. Muth
Today feels full of opportunities! "What would you like to do?" Stillwater asks Koo. "Something important! Fix all the things that are wrong! Let us save the world," says Koo (who always speaks in haiku). But this is a very big idea for a little panda. During the course of the day, Koo discovers that it's the little acts of kindness that all add up to help make the world a better place.
Watch Out for the Lion! by Brooke Hartman and Anna Süßbauer (Illustrator)
There's a ferocious lion in this book! The book warns that it has seen the lion already. First its bristly tail, then clashing claws, twitchy ears, fearsome fangs and it's lying in wait to turn any unsuspecting passerby into a child cheeseburger or rugrat ravioli. But does a brushy tail always belong to a lion? When you touch the curvy claws, will they be attached to a paw?
Like by Annie Barrows and Leo Espinosa (Illustrator)
This funny yet thought-provoking picture book offers a sequence of outlandishly fun compare-and-contrasts that show how humans are much more like each other than we are different.
The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen (Illustrator)
Once there was a bridge and a terrible and VERY hungry troll lived underneath it. When the three Billy Goats Gruff decide to clip-clop across the bridge to get to the grassy ridge, the troll is already imagining all the way to prepare a delicious goat dinner. But the troll underestimates those seemingly sweet but oh-so-savvy goats!
Ancient Night by David Alvarez and David Bowles
Ancient Night is a twist on two Nahuatl traditions: the rabbit which the Feathered Serpent placed on the moon, and Yaushu, the Lord Opossum who ruled the earth before humans came, and who stole fire from the gods to create the sun.
The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker
In an alternate past--or possible future--a mighty tree stands on the banks of a winding river, bearing silent witness to the flow of time and change. A family farms the fertile valley. Soon, a village sprouts, and not long after, a town. Residents learn to harness the water, the wind, and the animals in order to survive and thrive. The growing population becomes ever more industrious and clever, bending nature itself to their will and their ambition: redirecting rivers, harvesting lumber, reshaping the land, even extending daylight itself. . . .
My Baba's Garden by Jordan Scott and Sydney Smith (Illustrator)
A young boy spends his mornings with his beloved Baba, his grandmother. She doesn't speak much English, but they connect through gestures, gardening, eating, and walking to school together. Marked by memories of wartime scarcity, Baba cherishes food, and the boy learns to do the same. Eventually, Baba needs to move in with the boy and his parents, and he has the chance to care for her as she's always cared for him.
Endlessly Ever After by Laurel Snyder and Dan Santat (Illustrator)
This fun picture book of classic fairy tales offers young readers the chance to create their own narratives out of the decisions they make each step of the way, powerfully illustrating how a story is created and how it proceeds from beginning to middle to end.
We Don't Lose Our Class Goldfish by Ryan T. Higgins
Penelope Rex has one fear: Walter, the class goldfish. So when Mrs. Noodleman tells the kids that they'll be taking turns bringing Walter home, Penelope gets carried away by her anxious imagination. The weekend has a rocky start--from Walter ominously licking his lips to a sleepless night where the fish's bowl appears to move closer and closer to Penelope's bed. But then Walter goes missing! Penelope must face her fear to find him and realizes along the way that there's more to Walter than his chomping jaws.
My Powerful Hair by Carole Lindstrom and Steph Littlebird (Illustrator)
Our ancestors say our hair is our memories, our source of strength and power, a celebration of our lives. Mom never had long hair--she was told it was too wild. Grandma couldn't have long hair--hers was taken from her. But one young girl can't wait to grow her hair long: for herself, for her family, for her connection to her culture and the Earth, and to honor the strength and resilience of those who came before her.
How to Party Like a Snail by Naseem Hrab and Kelly Collier (Illustrator)
An introverted snail throws his own kind of party to celebrate all things quiet Snail is a party animal. Well...kind of. He loves the quiet things about parties: confetti, making new friends (using his indoor voice, of course), and the silence before everyone yells, "SURPRISE!" But when parties get loud, Snail retreats into his shell. He's still partying, but no one can tell he's having a good time while he's tucked inside. Snail decides to plan his own quietparty, complete with warm milk and lullaby lip-syncing. But something is missing--does Snail long for the "loud"after all? That's when Stump, a fellow introvert, chimes in with an idea. Maybe Snail isn't missing the "loud"...maybe he's just missing a friend to share the quiet. Together,