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Best Children's Books of 2012: Picture Books (page 6)

Cover art for MOM, IT'S MY FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!
CHILDREN'S
Released: July 3, 2012
Kirkus Star MOM, IT'S MY FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!
by Hyewon Yum, illustrated by Hyewon Yum
"Yum has perfectly captured the emotional ups and downs of both parent and child in a visually expressive work that will shore up adults as they send their children off on that momentous day. (Picture book. 4-7, adult)"
Yum, known for using text and artwork to explore emotions (There Are No Scary Wolves, 2010, etc.), looks at the first day of school from two points of view--that of a little boy who is more than ready and a nervous mother not quite prepared to let him go. Read full book review >
Cover art for A HOME FOR BIRD
CHILDREN'S
Released: June 5, 2012
Kirkus Star A HOME FOR BIRD
by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Philip C. Stead

Vernon is both a toad and a forager for found objects. Ambling along with his latest haul, he chances upon a creature he seeks to know and then to help. Read full book review >
Cover art for BEACH FEET
CHILDREN'S
Released: June 1, 2012
Kirkus Star BEACH FEET
by Kiyomi Konagaya, illustrated by Masamitsu Saito, translated by Yuki Kaneko
"A quietly sublime depiction of a child at play by the sea. (Picture book. 2-6)"
In this newest installment in the Being in the World series, Japanese collaborators Konagaya and Saito offer a lovely account of a day in the life of a child at the beach. Read full book review >
Cover art for HOMER
CHILDREN'S
Released: June 1, 2012
Kirkus Star HOMER
by Elisha Cooper, illustrated by Elisha Cooper
"Soothing and satisfying; perfect for reading on the porch on a summer evening, preferably next to a dog. (Picture book. 3-7)"
Stories of patiently waiting dogs have been around for just about forever, or at least since Homer wrote about faithful Argos recognizing Odysseus after a 20-year absence. In Cooper's touching story, the patient pup is an aging yellow Lab named Homer, whose love for his family is as deep and wide as the ocean outside their cottage. Read full book review >
Cover art for JIMMY THE GREATEST!
CHILDREN'S
Released: May 15, 2012
Kirkus Star JIMMY THE GREATEST!
by Jairo Buitrago, illustrated by Rafael Yockteng, translated by Elisa Amado
"Eye-opening inspiration in this unassuming import from Colombia. (Picture book. 6-8)"
In a thought-provoking twist on the usual immigrant story, a village lad elects to stay put. Read full book review >
Cover art for I SAW A PEACOCK WITH A FIERY TAIL
CHILDREN'S
Released: May 15, 2012
Kirkus Star I SAW A PEACOCK WITH A FIERY TAIL
illustrated by Ramsingh Urveti, Jonathan Yamakami
"Indian folk art triumphantly meets 17th-century English trick verse in this sophisticated graphic venture fit for middle graders on up. (Picture book/poetry. 10 & up)"
Creative worlds collude and collide in this contemporary rendering of a well-known 17th-century English poem. Read full book review >