The Gold Leaf by Kirsten Hall & Illus by Matthew Forsythe

This book was one I have been wanting to look at for a year or so now, but haven't got my hands on it until I was up in Alaska this summer. 

Interestingly, I always assumed this was a fall book because that is when leaves are gold. BUT it isn't! I am still going to pretend it is a fall book because it is about leaves. 

Winter

Spring! 

Jungle green, laurel green, moss green, mint green, pine green, avocado green, and, of course, sap green. 

So much green! 

A squirrel saw something non-green

A golden leaf. Which does not look golden in this picture. But it is. 

Suddenly everyone wanted the golden leaf.

A bird got to it first.

Then a chipmunk stole it away. 

Then a mousie caught it up...

(Don't you just love the colored backgrounds here?)

Finally, the leaf was in tatters on the ground. 

Finally, the golden bits of leaf floated away on the wind. 

Lost because of greed

I love this fall picture!

Winter wonderland

When spring came around again, the golden leaf was there again. 

But this time, they understood how to leave it alone and so everyone could enjoy it.

Ernest and Celestine by Gabrielle Vincent

This is SUCH A CUTE BOOK. A bear and a mouse, best friends. It seems like Ernest, the bear, is also older and wiser than Celestine, so a sort of father figure dynamic going on. 

But whatever they are, they are perfectly adorable. 

Celestine brings Gideon, her green beaked duck on a walk with Ernest. 

Gideon has a mishap.

Sadness and sorrow

Finger of blame

Gideon met an unfortunate end. 

Ernest tries to figure out how to compensate for this tragedy. 

He compensates lavishly

But... They aren't Gideon.

So Ernest asks Celestine to draw Gideon just so. 

He then works away at his project.

All that work is well rewarded!

All that joy needs an outlet--a party is planned!

Chaos and joy and tears.

A giant sleepover

Is all forgiven? 

I think so. 

The Wolf, the Duck & the Mouse by Mac Barnett & Illus by Jon Klassen

This book is SO AWESOME. I love it, my kids love it, my school kids love it. You WILL love it too. (That's a command.)

One day, a mouse met a wolf and the inevitable happened--he was swallowed up.

In the wolf's tummy, the mouse sets up a ruckus "Oh woe is me!" only to be told to be quiet. 

Apparently there was a duck living in the wolf's stomach as well. 

"I may have been swallowed, but I have no intention of being eaten." 

They have a lovely breakfast. 

Mouse questions duck about where she got jam and a tablecloth. 

"You'd be surprised what you find inside of a wolf."

 They take their soup seriously. 

Duck has such indomitable spirit, you can't help but love her. (or him. It never really says.)

After duck explains how and why she lives in the wolf's stomach--

"Out there I was always worried about being gobbled up by wolves. In here, I don't have to worry about it." 

--mouse decides he would like to stay. So they have a celebration. 

Which makes the wolf feel wozzily, The goose tells him a good hunk of cheese, wine, and beeswax candles would cure him. 

That night they feast--involving wine and beeswax candles. 

All is delightful in their little home! 

Until that home is threatened. 

"Tonight, we ride to defend our home!"

Not surprisingly, the hunter is a little nonplussed to have this apparition come charging out of a wolf's mouth. He takes off. 

The wolf tells them he will honor whatever wish they have.

SERIOUSLY though, the saucepan and sieve hats--the tablecloth cape--the hockey stick.... I really, really love these characters. 

And I will leave it for you to figure out what they asked for. 

GO READ THIS BOOK.

Bunny's Book Club by Annie Silvestro & Illus by Tatjana Mai-Wyss

This is such a darling little book. 

The endpapers. A pretend library card pocket! Could it get any cuter? 

This is bunny. Bunny is a big fan of books and stories. 

When stories are read, he lurks in the background so he can hear. 

Summertime story hour at the library is held outside, delighting our story hungry bunny. 

When fall comes, his story hours disappear....

Back into the library. 

A librarian with red cat eye glasses! A library with a gigantic window seat! Cushy seats for the library users! (That last is the school librarian in my coming out.)

Of course, bunny couldn't hear stories being read inside. This worried him. How could he find a way to hear stories again?

He went to the library at night and tried to find a way to break in. 

Unfortunately, it seemed impossible. 

Until he found the book drop. Wiggling through the book drop was nothing to a wee little bunny. 

He was in the kingdom! 

He reversed the usual use of the book drop and took home a large stack. 

Do you SEE how delighted his little face is while shoving books out the book drop?! I love this bunny. 

He goes home and reads. And reads. 

He repeats the take out procedure several times. 

His friends begin to wonder why bunny isn't hanging out with them anymore. 

They come to inquire and bunny takes them to the library. 

 "Whoa," said Porcupine.

"I know," said Bunny.

 "Do you think there is a story about balloons? I have always wondered about balloons."

"Most definitely," said Bunny. 

Porcupine finds his book about balloons. 

I literally can't even with how cute this book is. A porcupine hugging a book about balloons with a rapturous look on his face! 

The two friends went home to carrot cupcakes, tea, and companionable reading. 

I need more carrot cupcakes, tea, and companionable reading in my life.  

Soon other friends became curious. Bunny invited them all in to his book filled house. 

You do have to feel a little bad for the librarian in cat eye glasses who was clearly missing a lot of books by this point. 

All the animals have to go see the library for themselves. Bear going through the book drop was not easy.

Since they were all so excited about the library, they stayed a little too long and were... 

...caught!

Instead of being angry, the librarian (who now has adorable shoes and a spiffy retro dress. Can I be this librarian? She clearly has style.) tells them about library cards. 

And now the friends have unlimited access to the library and the story treasures contained there in. 

Bunny's Book Club is born. 

With plenty of carrot cupcakes .

I know I just gave you the whole story, but this book is so cute that you simply must go look at it. Now!