Favorite October Reads Part 2

Birds of a Feather by Susan L. Roth (Easy Nonfiction)

Susan Roth is a brilliant collage artist who compares her artistic process to how bowerbirds create their nests in this lively read. I enjoyed the illustrations, language ("We each try hard to give our delicate compositions some solidity"), and information about bowerbirds at the end (including a bibliography listing David Attenborough as a source).

Eyes, Nose, Fingers, and Toes by Judy Hindley and Brita Granström (Picture Book)

Unlike a lot of other picture books that point out the different parts of the body and maybe list one thing you can do with that body part, Hindley's book lists multiple things we can do with each part of our bodies. There's are so many movements kids can do while listening to this book. I was nearly tuckered out after reading it through a couple times and trying out all the movements - singing, moving my shoulders, lifting my arms, and stretching my back. This is definitely a new storytime favorite! 

The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner (Juvenile Graphic)

This is really an adorable read. There's Laszlo, the talking cat who's looking out for Moth, Moth's mom, Calendula, who is a bit overprotective but also caring, sassy, and hilarious, Moth's new best friend, Charlie, who's a bit predictable, but likes Moth for who she is, and oh then there's Moth. Moth has always wanted to be a witch and is ecstatic when she discovers she is. She's awkward and disliked by her classmates but she's spunky and so full of life and reminiscent of a couple of my childhood friends. I was really impressed by the dialogue, how smoothly it flowed between the characters, but especially Moth and her mom. The illustrations are magical, dark and moody for the earth world and full of light and pastel colors for Hecate, the safe world Hush's grandma created for witches escaping persecution and death.

Come Next Season by Kim Norman and Daniel Miyares (Picture Book)

I really enjoyed the beautiful and concise language in Come Next Season. The different activities the family does each season - swimming and picking blueberries in the summer, being scolded by squirrels in the fall, sledding in the winter, and watching everything come to life again in the spring are all activities kids can easily relate to. The illustrations are also lovely. I enjoyed the fall leaves, the warmth of a winter night putting a puzzle together, and the puppy pages the best.