They All Saw a Cat, by Brendan Wenzel

Book description (from publisher): "The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws . . . In this glorious celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination, Brendan Wenzel shows us the many lives of one cat, and how perspective shapes what we see. When you see a cat, what do you see?"

This is a fantastic book! The illustrations bring the idea of perspective (and perspective taking) visibly to life. A simple yet powerful concept. Use to provoke awareness of and discussion about how we each interpret the world based on our interests, fears and desires. Great for sharing with readers of all ages.






A 2017 Caldecott Honor Book 
A New York Times bestseller
★"An ingenious idea, gorgeously realized." —Shelf Awareness, starred review

"Both simple and ingenious in concept, Wenzel's book feels like a game changer." —The Huffington Post

Love, by Matt de la Pena

Book description (from the publisher):
"From Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Peña and bestselling illustrator Loren Long comes a story about the strongest bond there is and the diverse and powerful ways it connects us all.

“In the beginning there is light
and two wide-eyed figures standing near the foot of your bed
and the sound of their voices is love.
…
A cab driver plays love softly on his radio
while you bounce in back with the bumps of the city
and everything smells new, and it smells like life.”

In this heartfelt celebration of love, Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Peña and bestselling illustrator Loren Long depict the many ways we experience this universal bond, which carries us from the day we are born throughout the years of our childhood and beyond. With a lyrical text that’s soothing and inspiring, this tender tale is a needed comfort and a new classic that will resonate with readers of every age."

A beautiful book that has something to offer readers of all ages. The book can be enjoyed in its own right or used as a great jumping off point for other topics, including expansive definitions of "family" and "community." Clearly this book achieves its creators' goals of helping the show children the love that surrounds them (even in darker/sadder times) and to push them to share their love with the world. 

Watch Matt and Loren discuss their hopes and dreams for the book.
Read Matt's Time Magazine article on his intentional inclusion of "darker" themes of loss and sadness, and then read Kate DiCamillo's response to Matt's article -- beautiful reminders about the need to share books that reflect reality - not just the way that we want it to be, but the way it is and how children experience it. 

Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth, by Oliver Jeffers

A bit about the book (from Oliver Jeffers' website):

"Our world can be a bewildering place, especially if you’ve only just got here. Your head will be filled with questions, so let’s explore what makes our planet and how we live on it.

From land and sky, to people and time, these notes can be your guide and start you on your journey. And you’ll figure lots of things out for yourself. Just remember to leave notes for everyone else...

Some things about our planet are pretty complicated, but things can be simple, too: there are lots of us on here, so be kind."

A picture book gem. Use to celebrate our planet and nurture empathy for all that lives on it - both now and in the future.

Watch Oliver discuss his writing process here (very entertaining AND informative!).
GR Level: K