I Want to Be a Witch by Ian Cunliffe

When and where I grew up, we learned that witches were wise and powerful women who were persecuted for it. We sang this song:

So, imagine my delight when we pulled this book off the shelf. It's about a little girl who wants to be a good witch. My kid and I both highly recommend it.

Princess Grace by Mary Hoffman

Is your daughter horrifying you with her obsession with pink floaty princesses? If yes, then this might be just the book your family needs. The main character, Grace, is like your daughter (and mine): she loves princesses. But because of an upcoming parade, conscientious caregivers, and a teacher who is paying attention, she learns a more inclusive, multicultural, and adventurous perspective on what a princess can be.

Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads by Bob Shea

A small western town has the usual problems with local outlaws. But in this case, the new sheriff comes with an expertise in dinosaurs. This story is clever and laugh out loud funny. The artwork is also particularly wonderful.

Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz

This book tells the classic three little pigs story, but in this case they defend themselves with martial arts. Unlike the original, where using good building materials is critical, this tale rewards training and hard work.

Princess Cupcake Jones and the Missing Tutu by Ylleya Fields

A royal princes loses her favorite tutu the morning of her family's formal portrait painting. It's a crisis! The Queen reminds her daughter that cleaning up may help find her tutu. First, cupcake finds many favorite toys that she thought had been lost. ...Do I give away the end? I bet you can guess how it ends.

The About the Author indicates that Fields writes children's books in response to the lack of titles featuring African American characters. Our library is good about carrying books with an assortment of character types. Cupcake is a special favorite because she is a princess, because the books are pink, and, while this is the only in the series we have read, because it has a message parents want conveyed to their kids (clean your room!).

I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go to Bed by Lauren Child

This is another super creative one, and it has great collage artwork. My daughter loves it. Our bedtime rituals don't involve quite as many wild animals as this book, but otherwise the resemblance is remarkable.

One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck

A little girl wants a giraffe for her birthday. Her family members belong to various professions, and she tries the methods of those professions to request the giraffe. The books includes some fun vocabulary. But ultimately, all she had to say was "please". So, it's totally unrealistic.

I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont

The title of this one is pretty self-explanatory. The book continues to outline everything the little girl likes about herself, and in my opinion, that's always a place for that sort of thing. I also like that she has crazy hair.

Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman

This books is a celebration of how families come in all forms. The cover of the copy we got from the library calls it a "Modern Classic", and I see it first came out in 1989. I guess I just sort of wish there were also books called "Heather has a mom and a dad" or "Heather has a grandma" -- but that's just the contrarian in me. I like the honesty in this book -- one kid has a dad, a step father, and shared custody, another has two dads. What matters in a family is that people love each other.

Little Night by Yuyi Morales

You know how you wish you could write a book that was just simply beautiful? Well,  Yuyi Morales wrote that book! It's a simple bedtime ritual with a touch of magic between the mom and her girl.

Little Owl's Night by Divya Srinivasan

Children's book about the love of night time, as, sadly, many of our children do. Little owl visits some friends and tries to visit others, and then finally falls asleep just before dawn with his mom.

I Love Mommy by Lizi Boyd

Cute book about a nice day with a child and mom. The drawings are so sweet, and my daughter seems so compelled that she wants to read the words.

Benny's Brigade by Arthur Bradford

This magical story tells about the adventures of two little girls, their classmates, a very small walrus who got stuck in a nut, and three slugs. It captures to essence of childhood.

Elephantantrum by Gillian Shields

A spoiled little girls learns a lesson when her dad gives her the elephant she demands. The elephant is very special and teaches her to say "please" and "thank you" and to share her toys... and her elephant. I also like that this child appears to have just the one parent.

Little Tree by Loren Long

Little tree is reluctant to give up his leaves and doesn't grow as a result. All the other trees grow up and shadow him out until he comes willing to drop his leaves one fall. My daughter loves this tale, but the allegory is lost on her. This is a good one if you're working on giving up a pacifier or similar.

Once a Mouse by Marcia Brown

This Indian fable is retold in beautiful woodcuts. A magic hermit transforms a mouse to keep him safe, and then transforms him back to teach the mouse a lesson about humility. We are all large and small depending on your perspective.

The Princess and the Giant by Caryl Hart and Sarah Warburton

This is another one about kindness. The Princess can't sleep because a giant up a beanstalk is making too much noise. The towns people want to fight with him. She finds a way to sooth him.  It's cool in some other ways (mom, the queen, chops wood, for example). I'm not crazy about it bring written in verse, but others probably love that.

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown

Cool artwork illustrates a familiar story (to many of us) of a tiger who feels like himself being wild in the wilderness but at home with his friends in the city. Fortunately in the story and real life, the city develops a balance between people expressing their true selves and conforming to social norms.

Foxy and Egg by Alex T. Smith

This hilarious Noir-style story is cute and surprising. I really loved the artwork, especially the repetition of chicken images. The end is a surprise, and I don't want to give it away. But I really think you'll like it. The main message is don't trust appearances or your assumptions about people and situations -- a pretty good message really.

The Christmas Giant by Steve Light

A giant and an elf make wrapping paper. Then Santa gives them a new assignment: the christmas tree for christmas town. I particularly love the artwork in this book. It's also about bringing your own special skills to the tasks you are assigned. I hope that doesn't give away the ending.