25-26 Building Block Award Nominees

An American Library Association Geisel Honor book • An American Library Association Notable Children's Book

Hop on a tow-truck ride with Toad as he learns that everyone needs help sometimes, even the helpers! The first in a new series for fans of Frog and Toad and Little Blue Truck!

"No time, Pop! Can't stop!"

Toad and his tow truck are always on the move to lend a hand to anyone who needs help. Whether it's a flat tire or engine trouble, it's Toad to the rescue!

Pop does his best to try to get Toad to slow down and take care of himself, but there always seems to be someone else who needs to be towed by Toad. How can he say no?

Toad is so used to being the problem solver that when his tow truck breaks down, he does everything he can to fix it himself — and can't! What happens when the helper needs help?

Playful, funny and refreshingly sweet, Towed by Toad is a peppy read-aloud full of fascinating vehicles and endearing characters.

Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.

Come play with Ploof! Meet a friendly cloud full of feelings in this interactive picture book for fans of Hervé Tullet's Press Here, from the creator of Narwhal and Jelly and the co-creator of Science Explorers.

Ploof is a puffy cloud who's a little lonely — but now you're here, and the fun can begin! Can you help Ploof overcome their shyness? Play pretend? Make Ploof laugh with your funny faces, find their hiding spot, give them a high five! Full of imaginative and interactive fun, each page of this perfect book for preschoolers offers a chance to play. By following cues to say hello, clap, blow, shake, wave or make a funny face, young readers will be delighted to see the effects of their actions on Ploof. They'll learn social-emotional skills like empathy, encouragement and kindness through Ploof's emotional journey — and, along the way, they'll learn how to be a fantastic friend!

Join Ploof’s adventures in a brand-new series co-written and co-illustrated by Narwhal and Jelly creator Ben Clanton and up-and-coming picture book maker Andy Chou Musser.

Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.

The irresistible companion to I Was Born a Baby--a hilarious read-aloud with catchy rhymes and bold, silly art about animals and the places they call home!

I live in a tree trunk. I live in a barn. I live in a shoebox. I'm down on the farm...

Soon all the other animals can't help but share what their homes are called, too. Readers will learn about porcupines, salamanders, groundhogs, and more. But when the rabbit, platypus, and meerkat realize their homes share the same name, they can't believe it. "Are you for SURE? I had NO clue!" becomes a catchy, energetic refrain readers will love chanting.

The text invites readers to predict what the animal is by using context clues and checking the endpapers to see if they guessed right.

The strong rhythm and unexpected discoveries of the animal kingdom, plus deadpan humor and wonderfully expressive art, will spark a conversation about habitats and nature and leave readers wanting to read it aloud again and again.

Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.

Can they find something really big? Dig, dig, dig through die-cut pages to find all kinds of fossils, discover which dinosaur they came from, and then uncover a huge surprise with an amazing fold-out ending.

Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.

 Just One Flake is a hilarious celebration of wintertime, curiosity, and outdoor play in this author-illustrated picture book debut from acclaimed creator and elementary school librarian Travis Jonker.

It’s snowing outside! Liam rushes out into the squall, determined to catch one perfect snowflake. He tries any number of tricks to complete his mission, but each time he is thwarted.

He sticks out his tongue and looks up . . . nope. He builds a snowman, climbing up to get a little closer to the snow . . . still nope. He runs around the yard—tongue still out—because faster is better, right? Wrong! Nothing seems to work. Until, in a final leap of faith, he catches that one flake . . . in a way he never expected. And the snowflake itself is pretty unexpected too.

From librarian and picture book creator Travis Jonker comes a hilarious and satisfying story all about outdoor play and the natural world’s stunning surprises.

Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.

In a hilarious interactive picture book, the Geisel Award-winning creators of See the Cat challenge kids to answer every question with "NO"--even when their brain keeps insisting "YES."

Can you beat Mr. Fox at his Game of No? The rules are simple: every time he asks a question, you must respond with "NO." If you accidentally say "YES," then it's back to the beginning of the book for you, where you must start all over again. Are you ready? (Oops!) Do you live on planet Earth? Are you stronger than a baby? What does Y-E-S spell? (Argh!) Kids will giggle uncontrollably as they gamely aim to avoid Mr. Fox's clever traps--but just ask them if they'd like to read this book again, and they won't be able to resist: "YES!"

Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.

When a small action creates a snowball effect that disrupts the peace of the animals, the forest, and a bear cub restore order once more in this delightfully funny picture book.

A mischievous mouse wanders alone in a quiet, nothing-to-do forest. Until one small mishap snowballs into a chain of outrageous events, causing the whole forest full of animals to have a very loud day indeed. Can they find a way to bring calm and quiet back to their home?

Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.

Time to get crackin'!

Peg is perfectly content within the safe, contained shell of her egg. While her siblings hatch around her, she imagines all the scary things waiting in the outside world--things that make her happy to stay an egg.

But even Peg must hatch. She grows, and grows, and one day . . . CRACK! Peg takes her first hesitant steps into the big, frightening world and discovers . . . the world isn't so bad after all. In fact, it's actually pretty wonderful!

Bursting with spirit and humor, Peg Gets Crackin' is packed with entertaining illustrations and perfect for read-aloud storytime. Young readers will giggle at Peg's antics and resonate with her journey to conquer her fears. You never know what exciting adventures are waiting just outside of your shell!

Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.

Using the same innovative format as his Caldecott Honor winner, Mel Fell, Corey R. Tabor reimagines Aesop’s “The Dog and His Reflection” in a clever, charming tale of empathy and generosity. 

One day, down by the pond, Simon meets another dog just like him. 

And that dog has a bone just like his, only better! 

How will Simon ever get him to trade when the other pup knows all the same tricks…? 

--Publisher description retrieved from Harper Collins

Bear can't find his glasses. He must have left them at Giraffe's house.

On the way over, Bear sees all kinds of animals he didn't notice last time: an elephant, a crocodile, a flamingo, and a deer. And who's this long, spotty snake lying on Giraffe's deckchair?

The patient Giraffe finds Bear's glasses--right where glasses always get lost, perched on his head. Then Bear takes Giraffe to meet these wondrous animals that he found on the way.

Leo Timmers' details are full of expression and humor--the angle of Giraffe's neck and lift of his eyebrows, hiding his skepticism as he helps his friend, the dear, artless bear.

Through an ingenious telling of this classic comical situation, Leo Timmers shows us how to enjoy the world through different eyes.

Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.