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Footprints in the Snow by Mei Matsuoka.

Wolf knows that most books portray wolves to be evil, greedy and cruel. So he sets out to write his own book about a nice wolf.  The book starts with footprints in the freshly-fallen snow that may lead him to a new friend.  Following the trail of footprints, Mr. Nice Wolf discovers that no one trusts him to be a friend, thinking he is tracking breakfast or lunch instead.  When Mr. Nice Wolf reaches the duck who made the tracks he has been following, his natural instincts get the best of him and the duck looks so delicious!  Wolf is torn out of his story as he falls into the bathtub where a rubber ducky is bobbing.  After drying off, Wolf hears a knock on the door and when answering it finds a trail of footprints leading away in the fresh snow.

This book is just as nicely designed as it is written.  Matsuoka has created a book with perfect action and style for children.  His text is light and inviting, though the story is deeply layered, making the book very approachable.  The parts of the book that are Wolf's story have illustrations that are bordered in wood and often have Wolf's hand drawing in them.  A delightful and subtle way to keep children understanding that this is a story within a story. 

Matsuoka's illustrations are filled with small details.  The warmth of Wolf's house in the beginning of the book is brought to life with the tiny touches of munched cookies, books strewn across the floor, and a roaring fire.  Her illustrations tell the story almost as much as the text does.  The two are inseparable and unite to become a very special picture book.

Capturing the power of imagination, the joy of a hunt across a snowy landscape, the fun of creating your own story, this beautifully designed book is perfect for wolf story times.  Appropriate for ages 3-6.

Chester's Back by Melanie Watt.

I was a big fan of the first Chester book.  This sequel keeps the merriment and fun of the first book, and again showcases Chester defying his owner and trying to create HIS book.  In this book, Chester refuses to allow Melanie to write a book putting him in a jester costume in the Middle Ages.  He uses a variety of tactics to ruin her efforts, including wearing the wrong costumes and scribbling all over the pages with his red marker.  But Melanie may just find a clever replacement for Chester and not allow him to gain the upper hand.  Maybe.

What a delight to have a second book that lives up to the first.  Just as she did in her Scaredy Squirrel series, Watt has created a successful sequel to a wonderful book.  Watt has kept the same feel as the first book and the tone is just right.  Children will once again revel in Chester refusing to cooperate with plans.

A great book to share with a group of children.  Make sure you have your Chester voice set to go, full of cat outrage.  Ideal for ages 5-7.

The Blue Stone: a journey through life by Jimmy Liao.

A blue stone is resting for thousands of years in a forest, until humans come and split it in two.  The half that is carried out of the forest longs for its other half.  The stone is made into one sculpture after another.  Each time deep emotion is felt around the stone, it breaks a little, remembering what it has lost.  With every breakage, it becomes smaller and smaller, going from huge sculptures to a small piece of jewelry.  Eventually, the stone becomes small enough to lift into the air and float back to its beloved forest and its other half.

Liao's illustrations are glowingly colored and deeply felt.  The use of blue for the stone is perfect, especially when it hides below other colors in the sculpture, non the match for the intensity and beauty of the stone itself.  The text is rhythmic and repeating the refrain of breaking and changing and continuing.  The tie to life's passage and loss is inherent to the book.  Children will understand it immediately even though nothing is firmly stated except in the subtitle.

This is a gentle winner, not to be shared with a rowdy group.  Rather, it is the perfect book for introspective moments.  Appropriate for ages 6-9.

In the Night Garden by Barbara Joosse, illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles.

Three girls play in the night garden.  One is a bear, who eats berries from the branches.  Another is a whale cruising slowly through the sea.  The last is a sled dog who howls to the wintry sky.  Until bedtime arrives.  The bear pulls on her fuzzy pajamas, the whale spouts water in the bath and the sled dog pulls her covers up tight.  Their adventures are not finished, continuing in their dreams.

The art and poetry here dance together, as imagery comes to life on the page.  Sayles' illustrations are deep colored and blissful as the girls play together, fading to an ethereal dreaminess by the end of the book.  Joosse's poetry is accessible for young readers, but not childlike.  Her words are strong and evocative.

A great introduction to poetry for children, this book captures vivid imagination and the joy of play directly onto the page.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman

In the 18th year following Enclosure, everything in people's lives is regulated.  Honor and her parents move to live on Island 365, where they are kept safe by a Watcher's tower, curfew is strictly set for everyone, and behavior is expected to conform to the norm.  But Honor's parents don't conform.  They leave in the middle of the night, take her to the edge of the ocean to feel the forbidden dangerous water, and most public of all, have a second child!  Honor knows that because of these behaviors, her family is in danger.  She does her best to conform herself, doing her school work perfectly, acting the same as other people, but it may not be enough to keep her family intact.

I have a mixed reaction to the cover of this book.  I love the girl, the clouds, the motion of it.  However, it really doesn't read as dystopian science fiction and I worry that fans of that sort of novel will miss it.  This book is a gripping look at the future after climate change has melted the polar icecaps.  The world is now islands which are Enclosed with domes from the dangerous weather patterns.  Everything is about being safe, and that is achieved through uniformity and unity.  But at great cost.

The characters are well done, especially Honor who is very human, while being trapped in a society she doesn't understand.  Her reactions drive the book, moving the story forward as she discovers the truth about her world.  The setting is equally well depicted, helping to show rather than tell the truth about the world to the reader. 

Highly recommended for fans of dystopian fiction. 

Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea

Shea of the charming New Socks returns with another winning picture book for toddlers and preschoolers.  Dinosaur meets each challenge in his day with a huge ROAR!  He wins again and again against dire threats such as leaf piles, the big slide, spaghetti and even talking grownups!  But there is one thing he has trouble defeating: bedtime.  Will Dinosaur be able to overcome it this time?

Shea manages to translate the toddler experience directly to the page.  With few words, a bright red dinosaur with a mouth full of pointy teeth, and rhythm and repetition, he has created a perfect story to share with toddler groups.  Getting the children to join in the ROAR-ing will be no trouble.  Getting them to stop may be! 

Highly recommended for children ages 2-4.  Share this title when they are headed outside and let the ROAR-ing commence!