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Egg by Kevin Henkes

Rivers of Sunlight: How the Sun Moves Water Around the Earth by Molly Bang

Antoinette written by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by Christian Robinson

Little Fox in the Forest by Stephanie Graegin

What did you think of them?

Egg is exquisite! I've used it one-on-one (preschooler) and for large storytimes (toddlers) and it's been a huge hit. I've read it aloud at least a dozen times and haven't gotten tired of it yet. I don't know how it will hold up against the rest of this year's books, but it's definitely an early favorite of mine.

Egg is another glorious offering by Kevin Henkes. Everyone loves this title. I think it will prove to be a Caldecott winner. Christian Robinson is a marvel. I love everything he does. Kelly DiPucchio is amazingly prolific and funny as can be. Antoinette is as awesome as their similar collaboration Gaston. Little Fox is wonderful. Maybe a bit too much going on, however. I haven't seen the Molly Bang book yet.

Egg by Kevin Henkes (I LOVE THIS BOOK!)

Rivers of Sunlight: How the Sun Moves Water Around the Earth by Molly Bang (Unfortunately, I found this book, as well as the illustrations boring.)

Antoinette by Kelly DiPucchio Antoinette written by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by Christian Robinson (I was so excited to read this book, but in the end was disappointed. I liked Gaston much better.)

Little Fox in the Forest by Stephanie Graegin (I LOVE THIS BOOK. Beautiful; wonderful story!)

Egg
I'm afraid that I am going to have to agree with everyone else--this is a wonderful picture book! It almost doesn't need the words. I haven't used it in a group situation, so I am glad Jess was able to test drive it with a group; I look forward to using it in a future story time.

I observed a story hour at the Eric Carle Museum and Egg by Kevin Henkes was one of the books that was read. The kids loved it and the book created so much conversation among the kids. The director told me that Egg is considered an Early Childhood graphic novel. The illustrations are perfect, kids knew what was happening before a single word was read! I love it

Rivers of Sunlight
Told from the viewpoint of the sun, this was a very informative book, and the illustrations helped to make the information clear. There was much use of thick yellow outlines, and lots of blues and greens. To sum up, I liked the illustrations and thought that they very much enhanced the information.

Antoinette
I am a huge fan of the author and illustrator. I read Gaston, which is like the first book in this "series" and I love the illustrations. I think Christian Robinson creates so much detail but still finds a way to pull our eyes to these cute little fury dogs. I also knew the setting was in Paris based on the illustrations. I am not sure this book will stay memorable as the year progresses on. It's just too soon to call it!

What a great book, Egg! This book is sure to delight readers of all ages! Colors in this lovely book tell the story! It is a story of wondering, wishing, feeling, and hoping! Stay positive little fellows...the orange egg will delight! So just what is the orange egg? This book is open-ended! The reader gets to finish the story! Kevin Henkes really pulled at my heartstrings with this one!

I recently added Rivers of Sunlight to our Earth Day book list. The illustrations are illuminating and beautiful. I am not a fan of the page texture. It just screams cheap. However, the pictures are extremely captivating.
P.S I just checked SLJ's spring predictions and Wolf In Snow was on there!

Egg
A very cute offering from Henkes. I like that he played with panels in this one. The emotions on the animals were cute too.

Rivers of Sunlight: How the Sun Moves Water Around the Earth
I really liked the illustrations in this one. They're bright and vibrant, and they aid the text. I agree with what some previous posters have said, that they could have been more varied.

Antoinette
I wasn't super impressed by this one. The story seemed less original, and the illustrations didn't seem as polished.

Little Fox in the Forest
Interesting use of black and white and color.

Little Fox in the Forest... This book highlights how admirable it is to share with others. Illustrations are spectacular and almost breathtaking in the fairy-tale-ish forest. The endpages promote reading and hold a hint to what will happen in the story - as readers view the little girl's bedroom book shelf. Possible Caldecott shortlist - hope so!

Carol wrote: "Little Fox in the Forest... This book highlights how admirable it is to share with others. Illustrations are spectacular and almost breathtaking in the fairy-tale-ish forest. The endpages promote r..."

I totally agree. This book is gorgeous and I can't wait to share with my students.

Egg: Perfect for the preschool crowd, and maybe as an emergent reader. The illustrations are beautiful. Maybe not Caldecott-worthy, but I am sure this book will do very well.

Rivers of Sunlight: I couldn't get my hands on a copy

Antoinette: I thought it was cute, the illustrations are adorable. Not sure about a Caldecott, though.

Little Fox in the Forest: Contender, for sure. The illustrations are gorgeous and tell the story beautifully.

I read Little Fox to all my K's a few weeks ago. They were enraptured by the storyline and the details. Several students pointed out the b/w and color juxtaposition, with one student declaring, "The color means it's magic, so she got to take home a magic thing for herself but she didn't stay magic." We all agreed to try using color in our paintings to indicate when things were important. Another child noticed the "anger storm" above the girl's head, shouting, "It's just like the pigeon!" This was a winner with every child.

Little Fox in the Forest
I just re-read the comments above about this book, and not one of them mentioned that it is a wordless book in a graphic novel format. From the comments, I was expecting a book with words. However, I do agree that it is a wonderful story, and I loved the illustrations, which were rendered in pencil, watercolor and ink. The "black and white" parts of the book were more "blue and black," with various shades of blues, grays, and black. I also liked the way that the "real" world was depicted in the muted blues, but when the girl and boy entered the enchanted forest, everything became full color. The ending was very sweet.

Little Fox in the Forest
A wordless picture book about compromise and finding peace with your animal neighbors beautifully illustrated. Exceptionally end papers and spectacular yellow boards with a loveable drawing of a Fox. Remarkably the Dust Jacket has a different image of the Forest that tells more of the story. The girl gives a Fox her favorite toy, because the Fox has come to love it also, and in return the Fox gives his plush toy unicorn to the girl. (I always railed at the word “stuffed��) This large format 10�� x 11 ½�� picture book takes on topic friendship in a new way.

Egg
The paintings/illustrations are exquisite; Henkes uses lovely spring colors and watercolor paint with a delightful woody, as in trees, brown ink trim. I like especially the notion of referencing gestation periods, ie a bird is 12-14 days, and alligator (you can tell by the curved snout, unlike the pointy one of a crocodile) hatches in 65 days. I like this because as a child, around 8, I was very curious about when babies, cats, and the birds in nests in our trees would be born. This book is remarkable especially since it gets so much information out there in a "musical" way. The pecking and baby birds flying seem to jump off the page as sounds to me, for example I hear the flapping of wings and chirping. No complete sentences, so not an easy reader, just a delightful book to make sounds with and look at pictures with a child maybe even up to 8 because of the science. I find the pecking enthusiasm of the birds a bit aggressive, but perhaps they are just so looking forward to the next baby's birth, whatever it is, their curiosity has no bounds.

Antoinette
Every page is a visual treat and I like this book more than the earlier book Gaston, because of the many visual levels and meanings.

For example, a “close up�� of Ooh-La-La about to fall, is made clearer on “closer up,�� and we learn how the fall is prevented.

Antoinette
I also really liked Antoinette; I loved the dog families where the bulldog family has a poodle girl and the poodle family has a bulldog boy. I also liked the "close up" or "instant replay" of Antoinette rescuing Ooh-La-La. I also liked that Antoinette discovered what she is good at doing. The illustrations are so cute and expressive.