friday's five

Happy Friday! Week ten of Cybils-nominated picture books is upon us, and while I'm talking about three picture books for older children today over at 5 Minutes for Books, I'm skewing much younger for this week's friday's five. These five picture books released during the past year are cute and just right for the youngest of readers. Look for some familiar authors and characters, as well as some topics that have universal appeal for this age group.

1. Over in the Meadow illustrated by Jill McDonald and sung by Susan Reed -- You gotta already know this rhyme/song, right? Well, these patchwork-like illustrations are stinking adorable, and a multimedia experience comes with the book in the form of a CD for listening or watching on the computer. I love the colors, which would certainly make this a lovely book to sing to a baby perched on your lap. Oh, those days of reading to babies and toddlers are so much fun!

2. Love Waves by Rosemary Wells -- Earlier this fall, I had the pleasure of meeting Rosemary Wells when she visited my school, and it was a treat to hear about how she creates her immediately-recognizable illustrations. And with this release, I have a personal reason to enjoy the story, for the "mama goes to work" beginning hit close to home with our family's transition this year. It's a sweet story that young children and parents will enjoy along with a cuddle and a hug.

3. Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Sophie Blackall -- Okay, this one is probably better for preschoolers and up, but it's on that classic topic of welcoming a new baby into the family. For this child, it's been mama and her for a while, and the idea of a new "ding-dang baby" becomes just too much. I love the extended family feeling of this book, and the relationship between mom and Gia is lovely and real.

4. Road Work Ahead by Anastasia Suen and illustrated by Jannie Ho -- A trip to Grandma's involves maneuvering around a variety of different vehicles and their drivers at work on the road and around town. For a young child, the sight of a dump truck, cherry picker or mixer truck can often result in delighted squeals. I know, I've had two toddler boys! This book is colorful and cute, and the young boy on his way to Grandma's is someone little ones will surely identify with.

5. Llama Llama Home with Mama by Anna Dewdney -- Oh, little Llama and his drama... he's one book character that kids in my family can understand. This time, though, his drama's pretty justified, because he's having a sick day with mama. Yup, children can relate to that love that helps a sick day be a little more tolerable. But, parents will be feeling for Mama by the end of the story, that's for sure. It's a good thing that Llama starts feeling better quickly!

As always, all opinions expressed here are mine alone, and not representative of the other judges or the Cybils Awards. I hope you find some books here that will bring a smile to your kids' faces! I encourage you to check out all the other nominated titles over at the Cybils Awards, and I am having a ton of fun reading through all the books and sharing my opinions with you all!