Jill Lorenzini

Like an insect flying around your living room, Bug in a Vacuum by Mélanie Watts grabs your attention. A vacuum may seem an easy way to get rid of pests, but to one fly, this undignified “end” is actually a beginning. Snatched from his life mid-journey, the fly is initially in awe of the wondrous, nebulous world in which he has landed. Flying among the myriad items also caught in the vacuum’s voracious belly, the fly eventually realizes he’s trapped. Now his real journey begins, through the Kübler-Ross stages of grief (as advertised and summarized by household cleaners, a microwave dinner and a box of tissues).

Attempting to escape, the fly tries everything—including arming the dust bunnies—before he settles into his new (permanent?) home among the dice, broken crayons and paperclips. Echoing his grief is the family dog, Napoleon, who tries to rescue his similarly trapped chew toy. Is this really the end of our spunky friend?

Watts (Scaredy Squirrel) has created an irresistible tale that will have readers rooting for her buggy-eyed hero and eager to know what’s next. Watts cleverly keeps the narrating text to a minimum, so her fascinatingly detailed illustrations move the plot and tell the story. Watts’ art perfectly captures the vacuum’s vast collection; one might suspect she spent significant time poring over an open vacuum bag. Adding to the hilarity is the fly’s nonstop chatter, in familiar idioms and exclamations, directed toward the vacuum’s inanimate residents.

While significantly longer than most picture books, the story moves quickly with its vibrant pictures and our hero’s fidgety determination. Bursting with witty, all-ages-friendly quips, Bug in a Vacuum will pull you in, happy ending guaranteed.

Along the busy sidewalk of the bustling world, behind hurrying grown-up legs, stoplights and storefronts, the little girl in the red jacket discovers a treasure: flowers. There are dandelions in the concrete crevice of a pole, purple blooms in the sidewalk cracks, blossoms against the brick buildings. As she gathers her overlooked treasures, hints of color begin to pop from the black-and-white illustrations: the colored pattern of a woman’s dress; glass bottles in a storefront window; yellow taxicabs; and little brown sparrows. The little girl shares her bouquet, laying flowers on the breast of a dead bird, tucking them into the collar of a dog and weaving them into her mother’s hair. As the girl and her father travel from the city to the park and home, the world blossoms into full color.

With Sidewalk Flowers, poet JonArno Lawson and illustrator Sydney Smith prove themselves masters of a beautiful, unique art: the wordless picture book. Lawson and Smith—both with multiple awards to their names—are an inspirational team, telling a story so compelling and complete, the reader forgets they are “reading” in silence. Without words to weigh it down, Sidewalk Flowers unfolds naturally and gracefully, letting the reader’s imagination take over; car engines and cell phone chatter fade out of focus as we begin to observe from the child’s perspective. With a gentle, deft hand, Lawson and Smith strike the perfect balance of thoughtful message and childlike wonder.

Like wildflowers in a freeway ditch, Sidewalk Flowers stands out on the bookshelf with its simple message and gorgeous illustration. But perhaps the most special thing about this book is what happens in your world after it leaves your hands.

Tad the tadpole’s dad is a phenomenal frog. With large, noisy Dad as inspiration, Tad learns to sing loudly (especially early in the morning), swim fast and snap up flies with his sticky tongue. Tad follows Dad everywhere, preferring Dad’s lily pad to his own cozy pondweeds. But as Tad grows from happy tadpole to spirited frog, Dad’s lily pad gets smaller, as does Dad’s patience for sleepless nights.

It’s clear why David Ezra Stein has won so many awards for his children’s books. Every page of Tad and Dad swims with bold, colorful illustrations. Tad’s big-eyed, exuberant expressions convey his adoration and pride, while Dad’s sleep-deprived eyes will entertain any grown-up who has been woken by flailing toddler limbs. Stein easily and expertly captures the excitement of a growing child and knows how to make readers smile.

Whether it’s bedtime or storytime, Tad and Dad is meant to be shared by big and small, so gather your tadpoles, no matter how jam-packed your lily pad.

This article was originally published in the May 2015 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Have you ever bemoaned the price of stamps as you hauled a large package to the post office? Maybe it’s time to consider alternative methods of conveyance. Special Delivery has some exciting—if slightly unusual—suggestions.

A hefty mailing fee launches spirited Sadie on an adventure to surprise her lonely Great-Aunt Josephine with an elephant. Luckily, Sadie has an aviator’s helmet full of courage and creativity, and her elephant is equally bold. They hastily hop an ill-equipped airplane and follow an alligator tour guide. They tempt fate on a monkey-bandit-infested train, and an ice cream truck takes them the last leg of their journey.

Written by Caldecott-winning Philip C. Stead, Special Delivery will win the approval of little readers who wish for an outlandish story. Sadie’s voice provides most of the dialogue, and young adventurers will identify with her unruffled single-mindedness. Energetic illustrations by Matthew Cordell fill in the rest of the story and take the lead for a few full-color spreads.

With animal antics and lighthearted danger, Special Delivery is almost as much fun as, say, getting an elephant in the mail.

RELATED CONTENT: Stead and Cordell go Behind the Book for Special Delivery.

This article was originally published in the March 2015 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Stuffed pink rabbit in hand, Bear is completely and utterly ready for bed. But his coffee-fueled neighbor, Duck, is ready to play. He rings the doorbells, climbs a ladder to Bear’s window, even breaks out the emergency key—all the while ignoring Bear’s increasingly grumpy, terse protestations. Will Duck get his way, or will Bear lose his temper?

Author Jory John (All My Friends Are Dead) easily handles the dry humor that has taken over children’s literature in recent years. Duck’s energetic appeals will have even the littlest pajama-clad readers laughing, as he jumps from smoothie-machine mess to rock-and-roll attire. Illustrator Benji Davies perfectly captures bleary-eyed Bear’s frustration. His bold images stand out against calm, simple backgrounds, focusing attention on Bear and Duck’s expressions and personalities.

While bedtime-procrastination stories abound, John’s tale offers plenty for readers of all ages. Kids will laugh at large, grumpy Bear’s pink-flowered bathrobe. Parents (who have seen these delay tactics in action) will commiserate with Bear’s lack of sleep and under-eye circles. Both young and old will anticipate—and appreciate—the ending’s twist. The story is just long enough to fill the “just one more book!” request, but not so overly involved that it disrupts the bedtime flow. The pages are colorful and interesting, but not so chaotic that it couldn’t be a last story before lights out.

Most kids go through a favorite-book phase; break the boredom with Bear and Duck. From kid-friendly dialogue to sleepy-time-friendly illustrations, Goodnight Already! will be an oft-requested book. P.S.: Tell little readers to keep an eye on Bear’s rabbit.