Fall is the season for getting cozy with good reads. These children’s books will introduce young readers to themes of family, friendship and gratitude this autumn.
In Barkus: Dog Dreams, Patricia MacLachlan writes a sequel to Barkus, continuing the adventures of Barkus the dog and his best friend Baby cat. Through the five vignettes, this early reader presents Barkus taking the stage at the town’s birthday celebration, herding lost farm animals back home, braving thunderstorms and befriending Millie, a new canine neighbour and friend. MacLachlan’s warm-hearted chapters paired with Marc Boutavant’s bold, retro illustrations radiate the importance of friendships, old and new.
“Thank you isn’t just for learning manners. It’s also for when something wakes a little hum — a happy little hum — inside you and you want to answer back.” The Thank You Book, written by Mary Lyn Ray and illustrated by Stephanie Graegin, tenderly explores the experiences and things that we can be thankful for in our world, including: “Hats and mittens. It’s for hands to hold. Thank you is for family. Thank you is for home.” This whimsically illustrated book is a sweet read to share one on one with preschoolers to prompt discussions of thankfulness this harvest season. Reminiscent of Todd Parr’s The Thankful Book and Eileen Spinelli’s Thankful.
Claudia Rueda brings readers a delightful follow-up to one of my winter storytime favourites, Bunny Slopes. In the autumn-themed Hungry Bunny, Rueda’s Bunny is on a mission to pick delicious apples from the tree for his Mom. Bunny’s dilemma: the apples are too difficult to reach! Bunny invites readers to help with the challenge of apple picking. Readers help Bunny shake the book, blow the leaves and climb the tree in order to fill up the red wagon with red apples and bring them home to Mom for apple pie. A fun read-aloud to share with the family, and with a slice of pie!
“[Hippo] looked at the smiling faces of all his dear friends. He spread his arms wide and said ‘Welcome! And thank you for being who you are!’” In Duck and Hippo Give Thanks by Jonathan London, illustrated by Andrew Joyner, readers are invited to an old-fashioned Thanksgiving celebration. Duck and Hippo decide to have a Thanksgiving gathering and invite all of their friends to join the party — a feast complete with pumpkins, leaves, apples and acorn squashes. At first, Hippo is surprised when his friends come to the party with non-traditional holiday dinner offerings — cucumber sushi, pizza and peanut butter and jelly tacos — but Hippo is reminded of the meaning of their gathering and is appreciative of the diversity of their holiday feast. A celebration of friendship and gratitude.
Visit your local library to borrow these good reads and more.
A Good Read is a column by Tri-City librarians that is published on Wednesdays. Natalie Schembri works at Port Moody Public Library.
