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From Story Time: Summer Week 4

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Stories in the Park
By Ben Clanton and Andy Chou Musser
Toronto: Tundra Books, 2024. Picture Book.

Have you met Ploof? The friendly cloud full of feelings returns in an all new interactive picture book for fans of Herv̌ Tullet's Mix It Up! Ploof is a puffy cloud who's ready for their big moment -- their first rainbow! But how? With your help, of course! Can you help Ploof gather enough colors to make their rainbow? How about keeping them steady while they paint? Cheer Ploof on through the ups and downs of trying something new, follow along with some calming breathing exercises and find a new perspective! --Publisher

Stories in the Park
Written by Loretta Garbutt
Illustrated by Lily Snowden-Fine
Berkeley, CA; Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2023. Picture Book.

Jeffrey is very attached to the colour blue. He wears blue socks, blue underwear, a blue hat, and -- of course! -- blue jeans. At painting class, he paints only in blue. But when his classmate, Keiko, wants to use the blue paint, Jeffery will have to try a different colour. With some gentle coaxing, the narrator helps him to navigate his emotions, encouraging him to consider Keiko's feelings and to find the courage to try something new while also doing something nice for a friend. Sometimes, Jeffrey fixates on certain likes and dislikes. This story points out that something that's seems simple for some people can be very complicated for others, and Jeffrey's caregiver provides choice and time and space to help Jeffrey process his emotions. The focus of the story is not about getting rid of Jeffrey's fixation -- it's about widening his perspective in order to help a friend, and thus encouraging empathy. --Editor

Canopy Capers and Summer Story Time
Written by Stephen W. Martin
Illustrated by Brian Biggs
New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2022. Picture Book.

Max recruits his friend Eugene to teach him how to improve his drawing, but none of Eugene's helpful tips fit Max's style. --Editor

Canopy Capers and Summer Story Time
The Boy and the Mountain
Written by Mario Bellini
Illustrated by Marianna Coppo
New York: Tundra Books, 2022. Picture Book.

A little boy, who is a keen artist, becomes obsessed with a mountain he can see from his house. One day, he tries to draw the mountain, but his drawing doesn't look anything like it, so he decides that he has to take a closer look. He sets off with his dog, drawing what he sees along the way, and making a growing collection of animal companions during his hike. But when he finally reaches the mountain, the boy makes a discovery about the importance of perspective and friendship which changes how he views the world around him. Both a powerful exploration of art and a sweet ode to hiking, this picture book from acclaimed author-illustrator Marianna Coppo and her partner, Mario Bellini, will inspire readers young and old to stop and take the time to appreciate both the world around them and others who inhabit it. --Publisher
 
Book Babies
By Nancy Tafuri
New York: Little Simon, 2013. Board Book.

Ten animals find shelter in a hill hollow one by one, but when the storm is over, a rumbling tells them there is still danger afoot. --Editor



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