Jill Lorenzini

Little sister Lola is desperate for a dog. Tailed by a hot-pink imaginary furry friend, Lola and her brother Charlie spend their days daydreaming about the perfect pet. Their parents are anti-dog, but when it’s time to go to the pet store, Lola knows exactly what she wants: a quiet dog with nice ears . . . that hops? A Dog with Nice Ears, written and illustrated by Lauren Child, is a bit like watching kids play with puppies—entertaining and often producing extreme giggles.

Cheerful and funny, Child’s beloved characters have charmed picture book readers for nearly two decades. The award-winning Child has a deft and magical hand with her children’s literature. Her signature style is exuberant and playful, and Charlie and Lola’s world is rendered as both vibrant and cozy. Using a combination of watercolor and collage, Child perfectly captures the imagination and creativity of childhood. The text itself seems to skip across the page, a reflection of Lola’s own hoppy personality.

However, the most charming part of A Dog with Nice Ears is Lola herself. Lola’s inventive language, pluck, imagination and irrefutable (if unusual) logic will entertain young readers and amuse those of us who have little Lolas of our own underfoot. Ever-patient big brother Charlie is the perfect counterpart, kind and sensible. Both siblings are loveable and loving, and they serve as the ideal storybook chums for young readers. Dog envy can hit hard; luckily A Dog with Nice Ears has already found you.

Counting sheep may be an old insomnia standby, but Sheep 101 is not your typical fleecy ritual. Inventive and hilarious, Richard T. Morris’ Sheep 101, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, is guaranteed to end any day with a laugh.

When the book opens, we’re tucked in and the sleep-sheep are jumping—all’s well. That is until Sheep number 101—a little less athletic and a little more stuffed animal-like than his previous counterparts—apprehensively makes his leap. And misses. With Sheep 101 firmly wedged on the fence, Sheep 102 takes charge and calls in the moon-jumping Cow.

Pham’s bold illustrations provide hilarious detail: Sheep 102’s bossy, I-mean-business expressions will have readers rolling off the bed, as will Cow’s attempt to steal the spotlight and document the occasion. Each nursery-rhyme character pops off the page, bringing more comedy and personality to this tale. Morris provides added humor with his narration’s mild exasperation, which mixes with dialogue for delightfully chaotic results. This is an exciting read-aloud, and little listeners will not be disappointed as the story resolves—eventually—with sleep.

This article was originally published in the March 2018 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

A beautiful collaboration between author Julia Denos and illustrator E.B. Goodale, Windows quietly illuminates the places we call home and the connections we have to those around us.

Windows begins at the end of the day, under a warm, yellow-orange sky. Night classes and yoga are wrapping up, porches are being swept, dinner is on the stove. As the story unfolds in second person, a child in a hooded sweatshirt becomes all of us, and the town and street are our own for the night. As we walk, the dusky sky gives way to the glow of the windows, shining brightly against the muted outdoor colors.

Goodale’s subdued colors and fine detail capture scenes that are calm and familiar as well as eye-catching. Readers will be drawn from window to window, where bonsai grow, fish idle in their tanks and sewing machines wait. Denos keeps her words minimal, relying on creative descriptions to tell a story that leaves plenty of space for the reader’s imagination. But most compelling are the moments of human connection seen on the street as well as through the windows. Parents watch for their children, streamers dot the walls of a birthday party, partners dance, neighbors wave in passing, and kids chat via tin-can telephone.

A gentle, simple story with thoughtful undertones, Windows has the makings of a modern bedtime classic. As the town of Windows makes its way toward bedtime, so do we, surrounded by the objects, the loved ones and the books that we call home.

One tiny mouse, clutching a crumb, takes off across the world. Big-eyed and resolved, despite its small stature, it heads out over a landscape enormously larger than itself. Where is it going? More importantly, why? Great Big Things is a powerful tale about courage, determination and the wisdom to recognize the truly big things in life.

What lucky readers we are, when two perfectly matched artists collaborate in a picture book. Kate Hoefler and Noah Klocek tell a story that is both unassuming and fathoms deep. Hoefler, author of the poignant Real Cowboys, creates exquisite poetry; brief sentences make the grandest gestures against Klocek’s bold backdrop. Like a hiker conserving energy on a long journey, Hoefler doesn’t waste a word, as description and alliteration tell a tight, compact tale.

Klocek (who also works for Pixar) illustrates with a bold, passionate hand. His deep colors and soft-edged images are both imposing and still slightly fanciful. The sharp grass, strong winds, the chill of the sea—they all seem tangible and full of movement, while every landscape has myriad stories of its own. Without dialogue, the vastness of the world—dotted with the smallness of the mouse—gives us the sense of struggle and determination. We know there must be something larger, vaster, more eternal pulling it forward. And somehow, we know that the mouse will get there.

Both a grand journey and an effective metaphor, Great Big Things is a stunning, multilayered story with a very simple message. Keep moving forward; there are even grander things ahead.

Right off the shelf, Bob Staake’s The Book of Gold shimmers with promise; the lions of the New York Public Library beckon, and you just know something fantastic awaits.

In muted sepia tones of a vaguely bygone era (trolleys, bowler hats), we first meet Isaac. Everything bores Isaac, despite living in one of the most exciting cities in the world with parents who try desperately to pique his interest. When a shopkeeper sets him on a mission to find The Book of Gold, Isaac starts in Brooklyn, determined to be the book’s discoverer. At the onset, he is merely interested in the promised riches, but the book proves enigmatic and well hidden, and it’s only a matter of time before Isaac begins to actually read the books he examines. We leave the sepia tones behind as Isaac ages and his quest takes him around the world. Will he discover the truth that all readers know?

Renowned author/illustrator Bob Staake writes with the heart of a true book lover, but illustrates with an equally strong and passionate eye. Staake’s round, expressive characters feel slightly old-fashioned—you might just as easily find them in a picture book from the ’50s—but not at all outdated. Brooklyn and Manhattan bustle and burst with detail, interesting sights and people in every direction.

Readers of all ages and backgrounds will love every inch of The Book of Gold. You might be tempted to turn over the bookshelves and find that mysterious book. But then again, maybe you’ve already found it.

Lulu is friends with all the trees in the neighborhood. Even the trickiest, gnarliest trees can’t stop this intrepid climber. Unable to resist the pull of a good branch, she rescues kittens and kites while the neighborhood kids watch in awe. But when forced by illness to stay inside, Lulu discovers a tree’s shadow on her wall and suddenly her imagination (and the tree) burst into enormous being.

There is a special bond between kids and trees. Another Way to Climb a Tree beautifully depicts that friendship and the creativity that blossoms when kids roam outside. Liz Garton Scanlon narrates with unpretentious language, throwing in repetition and alliteration for good storytelling measure. With a retro feel, Hadley Hooper’s illustrations are cheerful and reminiscent of simpler times. Hooper fills each page and background with gentle, subdued color, which adds to the story’s warmth. Hooper skillfully personifies the trees; their colors become subdued, hazy and less distinct with Lulu’s absence. Tiny details like nature-themed book titles, branch-patterned pajamas and leaves taped to the wall give Lulu’s world a lived-in feeling.

Admittedly, many of us are beyond our climbing years, but this book provides the perfect encouragement to grab a hammock or pull up a lawn chair while kids find their way into the leaves.

This article was originally published in the August 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

In her raincoat and boots, an eager girl and her puppy are ready to follow the breezes in their backyard. After rain sends her scampering for shelter, leftover puddles are just the beginning of an adventure. Following her imagination and unfazed by the changing weather, she hosts a seashell tea party, sends her toys on a mini nautical adventure and eventually recruits a friend for one final quest.

Told in first person with simple words, Secrets I Know lets imaginations flourish. Kallie George makes good use of personification and metaphors, lending an extra bit of poetic enchantment. Paola Zakimi illustrates with a zoomed-in intensity, drawing readers deep within the tale through scenes that are as lush and soft as the best-kept gardens. Varying shades of green recall our own childhood memories, when everything was bigger and more wondrous. Each page is worth exploring, with wild animals, toys and tucked-away bicycles.

Secrets I Know feels both timeless and fresh, like an old classic that has faded just enough without losing its sense of wonder.

This article was originally published in the June 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.