Picture Books that are Fun, Fun, Fun! (and maybe a little creepy)

In 2006, I helped make a shortlist of Fiction Picture Books

Winner: Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt

An anxious squirrel, who is most comfortable staying in his familiar surroundings and sticking to his rigid daily schedule, is surprised when the unexpected occurs. The illustrations and the text features add to the humor.



Emily’s Balloon by Komako Sakai

A bittersweet glimpse into the mind of a toddler who has befriended a yellow balloon.



Waiting for Gregory Written by Kimberly Willis Holt; illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska

A young girl, living in the whimsical, imaginative world that only Gabi Swiatkowska can create, anticipates with great excitement the birth of her cousin, only to grow increasingly confused by her family’s peculiar responses to her questions about exactly how and when the baby will arrive.



Wolves Written and illustrated by Emily Gravett
A clever book-within-a-book that uses expressive collage and mixed media to tell the tale of a curious rabbit who finds real-life adventure in addition to the information he expects when he checks out a library book about wolves. (This one is a little creepy for my taste but very well done!)