The Best New Picture Books Of November 2017

Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth, by Oliver Jeffers
Written originally for his son, Jeffers’ manual for living a kind, tolerant life on our beautiful planet is a wonderful way to end your day with your little reader. Examine the earth’s surface, atmosphere, and all the people in it—everyone who pops in for your storytime is guaranteed some perspective.

Peppa’s Valentine’s Day, by Courtney Carbone and Eone
When Peppa gets a frilly card in the mail from Zoe Zebra, she immediately wonders what special occasion prompted it! The mystery of Valentine’s Day is unraveled in this sweet board book (with stickers), based on the now-cult classic cartoon on Nick Jr.!

Elvis Presley’s Love Me Tender, by Elvis Presley and Stephanie Graegin
Babies who love to rock will surely love this timeless slow-tempo classic from the King himself. Thoughtful illustrations feature families of all shapes, sizes, and colors, so it’s the perfect shower gift, or a just-right bedtime story for you and your littlest reader. Extra points go to the best Elvis impersonator!

Paddington 2: Dear Aunt Lucy, by Thomas Macri
We know your little readers can’t wait for Paddington 2 to hit theaters in early 2018, so, in the meantime, keep them busy with Paddington’s letter to Aunt Lucy, written by his own sticky paw. He loves London, and living with the Browns, and he can’t wait to share all the details about his exciting new life (that still includes plenty of marmalade, of course) with his last living relative in Darkest Peru.

How to Find an Elephant, by Kate Banks and Boris Kulikov
This handy guidebook will help your little reader turn an ordinary gray day into Elephant-Finding Day! Everything they’ll need is right here—a list of supplies, clues on how to distinguish an elephant from other large species, and, of course, vivid illustrations that will inspire many more curiosity-driven adventures.

Pillowland, by Laurie Berkner and Camille Garoche
This is the second time Laurie Berkner has taken one of her hit songs from the stage to the shelf, and we love Pillowland as much as we adored We are the Dinosaurs! Dreamy illustrations bring this song to life, and your little reader will love the nightly journey to the fluffy-soft land where magic abounds, and sweet dreams are the rule.

Elephant & Piggie Like Reading: It’s Shoe Time!, by Mo Willems and Bryan Collier
Elephant & Piggie have brought us another one-of-a-kind reader—and it’s a shoe-in for your next story time! A little girl takes her time to select the perfect footwear for her Daddy-and-me day, but all the pairs in her closet are dismayed to discover that she’s going with a MISMATCH! A flip-flop and a boot? NO WAY! This silly tale of individuality has a powerful underlying message, and your reader will love sharing it with you—or reading it on their own time!

Lion’s Lullaby, by Mij Kelly and Holly Clifton-Brown
Is there a better way to drift off to dreamland than with cuddles, rhymes, and stuffed animals? We think not. This padded board book tells a gentle story of a girl tucking in all her stuffed lovies in at night—and it’s guaranteed to become a bedtime favorite.

Playdates Rule, by Rob McClurkan
Ezra can’t wait for his pal Finley to arrive for their long-awaited playdate. They have bikes to ride, and plenty of dancing and bouncing to do. What Ezra’s parents don’t know, however, is that Finley is a rather large guest—he’s an ELEPHANT! When the plans—and the rules—change, will Ezra and Finley remain flexible?

I Wanna be a Cowgirl, by Angela DiTerlizzi and Elizabet Vukovic
If you have a budding cowgirl pining in your pasture, we reckon you’ll want to check out this wild west adventure. Featured in vivid reds and greens, this little girl tromps around in boots and rides off into the backyard sunset on a stick horse—before coming home for some vittles and shut-eye. Her story is one you definitely won’t want to miss.