A couple more beautiful picture books I picked up at the recent Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference in Arizona. LOST IN THE LIBRARY tells the sweet story of the lions who sit guard in front of the main library in New York. In real life, of course, they are statues, but here they are given names – Patience and Fortitude – and they come to life, particularly at night. One morning Fortitude wakes up to see Patience is not there. He must explore the vast library searching for his friend so that they are both in place by the time guests begin arriving. Sweet story by Josh Funk and beautifully illustrated by Stevie Lewis. This is one of my favorite places in the world and made me miss New York badly!
LADYBUG GIRL AND THE RESCUE DOGS is a wonderful addition to the popular LADYBUG GIRL series by David Soman and Jacky Davis. This one focuses on rescue animals. Ladybug girl and her friends are in the park one day for a farmers market when she sees some tents off to the side bearing “adoption” signs and lots of fun-looking dogs. She wanders over to meet the dogs and rescue workers and wonders why no one else is coming over. Ladybug girl is clever and devises a way to get more people to see the animals, and even gets a few of them adopted! She and her friends, Bumblebee Boy and Grasshopper Girl determine to come back to the park every week to help with more adoptions. Love!
