Bug on the Rug
by Sophia Gholz
Illustrated by Susan Batori
Filled with a cast of -ug characters adorably brought to life by illustrator Batori, this phonics-full rhyme-fest is both hilarious and sweet. Young listeners and emerging readers will return again and again for the crazy antics, heartfelt friendship, and surprise ending, all while developing vocabulary and reading skills.
Marshmallow Clouds: Two Poets Play among Figures of Speech
by Ted Kooser and Connie Wanek
Illustrated by Richard Jones
Playful imagery, unexpected metaphor, whimsical wordplay…delightful language and gorgeous, digitally-edited paint illustrations fly together in this must-have collection of thirty poems framed by Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. Focusing on the everyday—July, sleep, marshmallows—and more, Kooser, Wanek, and Jones waken the senses, figuratively and literally.
Serengeti: Plains of Grass
by Leslie Bulion
Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander
During Serengeti monsoons, a great migration of zebras, wildebeest, and more begins. Using a traditional East African Swahili poetry form—the utendi—Bulion showcases the migration’s rhythms while highlighting the ecosystem’s complex web through interconnected verses. Stadtlander’s lush illustrations of gouache and pastels, and extensive back matter, also make this a standout.
Tanya Konerman, Author 