This Librarian's Quick Picks: Mother Bruce

Mother Bruce
by Ryan T. Higgins
Disney-Hyperion (Nov. 24, 2015)
Picture Book

What It's About:

Bruce the bear likes to keep to himself. That, and eat eggs. But when his hard-boiled goose eggs turn out to be real, live goslings, he starts to lose his appetite. And even worse, the goslings are convinced he’s their mother. Bruce tries to get the geese to go south, but he can’t seem to rid himself of his new companions. What’s a bear to do?

Why You'll Love It:

• Ryan’s illustrations demonstrate a great range of movement and emotion, giving each page depth, with humorous details mixed in throughout.
• Curmudgeonly Bruce and his devoted goslings will win readers over, especially as Bruce grows to love the geese against his better judgment.  
• This book is laugh-out-loud funny, and its clever jokes will entertain adults and children alike. 
• Bonus for librarians: Ryan has visited nearly 100 elementary schools in the past year to promote his work. His genuine interest in engaging children in his books really shines through.

Who Should Read It:

Great for  PreK-1st grade.

What Else You Should Read:

• Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown
• Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
• Goodnight Already! by Jory John

This Librarian's Quick Picks: Egg -- Nature's Perfect Package

Egg: Nature's Perfect Package
by Steve Jenkins
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (March 3, 2015)
Nonfiction/Informational Picture Book

Summary:

Explore how a simple, often colorful, sometimes surprisingly shaped package, reveals nature's life cycle, unusual animal defensive strategies, parenting behavior, evolution, and more, in this illustrated non-fiction picture book.

Why You'll Love It:

•  Jenkins' signature torn paper and collage illustrations are featured against white backgrounds, really making the images pop. 
• Jenkins explores 54 creatures and why they lay eggs the way they do -- for example, the black-spotted sticky frog lays eggs in a carnivorous pitcher plant. Hello, booktalk hook!!!
• The final pages illustrate the cycles of a chicken and alligator as each creature develops over time, in five stages from embryo to hatchling, which lends itself nicely to compare and contrast lessons.

Who Should Read It:

Great for grades K-3...and here's the educator's guide (scroll down to p. 7)

What Else You Should Read:

•  Have You Heard the Nesting Bird? by Rita Gray
• Creature Features by Steve Jenkins
• The Beetle Book by Steve Jenkins