A Couch-Sitting Llama, a Crime-Fighting Sibling Duo, and the Perfect Pillow: 8 Rousing New Picture Books

The Amazing Collection of Joey Cornell, by Candace Fleming and Gérard Dubois
Jane Goodall’s mom didn’t think she was crazy when she stayed out in the hen house all day to observe the chickens, and apparently Joseph Cornell’s mom didn’t think he was a wacky hoarder when he started collecting odds and ends, even when his collection grew so large that he had to move it to the barn. Cornell grew up to be a famous artist known for his shadow box assemblages, but in Candace Fleming’s telling, when Joey was a boy, all he did was collect anything “that sparked his imagination or delighted his eye.” It isn’t until he suffers a heartbreaking loss, and wants to cheer his family up, that he first arranges his objects artfully, to inspire and amaze his mother and sisters.

Teddy’s Favorite Toy, by Christian Trimmer and Madeline Valentine
Another kid with a flair for imagination stars in Teddy’s Favorite Toy. In a story inspired by the author’s boyhood love of his Lynda Carter Wonder Woman doll, Teddy has a lot of toys, but cherishes one above all: “Bren-Da, Warrior Queen of Pacifica.” He plays with her so much that one day her leg pops off. His mom, thinking the doll is trash, throws her away. But when Mom realizes her mistake, she engages in some super hero behavior to get Bren-Da back.

Jinx and the Doom Fight Crime, by Lisa Mantchev and Samantha Cotterill
Not only can a mom and a fabulous doll become superheroes, but so can formerly squabbling siblings, like those that star in Jinx and the Doom Fight Crime! Jinx is the bespectacled big sister, and The Doom is her little brother, complete with cape and mask. Samantha Cotterill illustrates their capers with verve, cleverly showing the difference between objects in their imagination and in real life. They engage in all sorts of colorful adventures that result in more messes for their mom to clean up. But who said fighting crime was clean?

A Couch for Llama, by Leah Gilbert
When the Lago family’s couch wears out, they set out across the countryside to buy a new one. But when they strap it to the top of their car to bring it home, the ropes break and it lands in a field with an inquisitive llama. Llama first tries to eat the couch, but then discovers how nice it is to lie on. When the family comes back to sort out their couch mishap, they realize they just can’t deprive llama of his new seat, so they work out an arrangement.

Did You Hear What I Heard? Poems About School, by Kay Winters and Patrice Barton
Kay Winters’ poems capture the fun, bustle, and occasional disappointment of elementary school, from the rush to the bus stop in the morning to the joys of math, art, and music. She explores the mystery of what goes on in the teacher’s lounge and the surprise of seeing a teacher at the grocery store—like a regular person! No matter how fun school is, every kid wishes for a snow day now and then, which Winters captures in her poem “Hoping.”

Baby Bear’s Book of Tiny Tales, by David McPhail
Prolific author and illustrator David McPhail’s latest is a sweet collection of stories about Baby Bear. With simple language and charming illustrations, McPhail portrays Baby Bear as a curious cub, who can’t rest until he finds the owner of a red boot he hooked while fishing. In another tale, Baby Bear proves he knows how to please his Mama by leading her to a rare flower which he refrained from picking.

The Perfect Pillow, by Eric Pinder and Chris Sheban
Brody has just moved to a new house and is having trouble falling asleep. Luckily his stuffed dragon Horst is willing to come along with him on his quest outdoors to find the perfect sleeping arrangement. They try nesting in the tree like squirrels, and then decide to climb all the way up into the sky to reach the clouds, which look like the perfect pillow.

Nature’s Lullaby Fills the Night by Dee Leone and Bali Engel
Dee Leone’s lulling rhymes and Bali Engel’s gorgeous, cool-toned illustrations of moths, flowers, birds, and dandelions gone to seed cast a relaxing bedtime spell. “Tucked inside a tiny nest, little hatchlings try to rest./ A jewel-toned mother softly hums, soothing them as darkness comes,” Leone writes on a page with graceful cranes soaring across the moonlight sky, and a mother hummingbird hovering attentively over her babies. This one is sure to bring on the ZZZ’s.