"The Chickens Build a Wall" -Jean-Francois Dumont

Apart from crossing the road, why would chickens build a wall?

Turns out there's a hedgehog on the farm and no one knows what to do. In the spirit of fowl, the chickens panic and proceed to construct a fortress.

Read Also:

E.B. White's Charlotte's Web: farm animals who handle things in their own way.

Or a more adult look: George Orwell's Animal Farm with animals handling their own situation, such as fear.

"C is for Cowboy" -Eugene Gagliano

C is for Cowboy: a Wyoming alphabet is from a series of alphabet books about the states, holidays, and many other topics.

I read this book because I've been to some of these places now! Devil's Tower, Cody, Bighorn Mountains, but though I was promised a grizzly bear, I didn't see one.

Read Also:

Among others, Matt Weber's San Francisco: the alphabet book was fun.

Ann Heinrich's series "Welcome to the U.S.A." makes learning about the states entertaining.

"Why is the Snow White?" -Heinz Janisch

It sounded like a beautiful book (and had the "new book" smell) so I picked it up...

A father tells his daughter a fairy tale: Father Snow travels around to each plant and flower looking for something to donate it's colors to the snow. Each refuses until what becomes the snow drop, volunteers its white colors.

The art work has nature in painted colors and Father Snow as a jolly sketch amongst gorgeous, detailed flowers.

Read Also:

Betty Ann Schwartz's What Makes a Rainbow? chronicles the colors in nature.

Elsbeth Claus' "autobiography" Mrs Claus Explains It All tells of why Christmas is like it is.

"On the Map" -Simon Garfield

I love maps. A lot! They're what I collect when I travel; if I have a map of every place I went, it's almost better than a picture. I don't collect valuable maps, just the brochures that come free and have fun pictures on them.

In On the Map: a mind-expanding exploration of the way the world looks, Simon Garfield discusses the different maps from antique to collectors to board games (Risk! was a fascinating section!) and their place in society. Really cool!

Read Also:

I don't read a lot of books about geography, but I have quite a few atlases. Some different ones are Sherlock Holmes's London, Atlas of the Celtic World, The Ancient World, all good.

Matthew Battles Library: an unquiet history discusses the progression of libraries and books much as Garfield's book follows the changes in maps.

"Splat and the Cool School Trip" -Rob Scotton

Splat is awesome! Let me just lead with that. He's funny, fun, literally wide-eyed, and quite a darling. His mouse, Seymour, is just as awesome.

Splat's class is going to the zoo and he is looking forward to the penguins. Seymour too, except he's not allowed to go. But that doesn't stop Seymour from stowing away, showing up in style, scaring the elephant, causing chaos, and proving what a good friend he is to Splat.

Read Also:

Judy Schachner's Skippyjon Jones books follow an adventurous cat, who thinks he's a dog, through is imagined trips in his closet.

I've never read the Pete the Cat series by James Dean by Pete looks like he is just too cool for everything!

"Twelve Kinds of Ice" -Ellen Bryan Obed

Almost poetry, slightly biographical, Twelve Kinds of Ice presents winter in what may be the best possible light without referencing Christmas. Each ice is described in composition and uses.

Obed is so joyful and detailed in her text that the reader can feel, yet not despise, the biting cold. And still a hint of longing for the next winter.

Read Also:

Douglas Florian's Winter eyes, one of a set of seasonal poetry books.

Charlotte Otten's January Rides the Wind is another book of poems about the months and what a child looks forward to in each.

I've only just discovered Tasha Tudor! Her picture book Around the Year covers the joys of each month.

"Warning: Do Not Open This Book" -Adam Lehrhaupt

Any book that refers to itself is a MUST!

So what happens? First there's the... And then the... Followed by the ...! And then I had to shut the book to prevent them from all getting away! But that's what happens when you disregard a title like that.

Read Also:

Mo Willems' We're in a Book! really brings the act of reading to the forefront with Pig and Elephant. Funny!

Lane Smith's It's a Book shows the difference between a book and technology in a humorous banter of comparisons. Hilarious!

(I've read a lot of these) Michaela Muntean's Do Not Open This Book! has the reader interrupting Pig as he tries to write the book. Too good!