Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills (Schwartz & Wade, $17.99). If you've ever read How Rocket Learned to Read, you know that Tad Hills's main dog is a fast learner, and kids learn well alongside him. The new Rocket Writes a Story manages to be both creatively inspiring and cuter than the first.
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Dog Loves a Drawing by Louise Tates (Knopf, $16.99). We get a lot of books in at the office, and most of them are not kid-approved. But this book, a highly imaginative book about the power of storytelling and the joy of drawing, hooked our whole family.
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The Cloud Spinner by Michael Catchpool, illustrated by Alison Jay (Knopf, $16.99). This beautiful illustrated book tells the story of a boy who can weave cloth from clouds, golden in the morning, white in the afternoon, and crimson in the evening. His work becomes the object of the king's greed, and this story of conservation, with lovely illustrations by Jay, finds a sweet ending.
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Randy Riley's Really Big Hit by Chris van Dusen (Candlewick, $15.99). Chris van Dusen is quickly becoming a favorite, thanks in large part to his great 2009 book, The Circus Ship. Earlier this year, though, he published a new book, RandyRiley's Really Big Hit, which tells the story of a strikeout-prone genius who builds a massive robot to slug an incoming meteorite out of the stratosphere. So yep, it's awesome.
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Darth Vader and Son, Jeffrey Brown (Chronicle, $14.95). Chicago comics artist Jeffrey Brown's picture book imagines Vader as a suburban dad. Each page depicts some slice of Darth's typical fatherhood, from heartwarming bike rides and shared ice cream cones to young Luke’s awkward questions (“Dad, why is it called a Death Star?”).
Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills (Schwartz & Wade, $17.99). If you've ever read How Rocket Learned to Read, you know that Tad Hills's main dog is a fast learner, and kids learn well alongside him. The new Rocket Writes a Story manages to be both creatively inspiring and cuter than the first.
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