You might not know it, but the children’s cataloging office is a very busy place to be. It can also be quite a bit of fun! The number of fantastic picturebooks that cross our desks is absolutely astounding.  Sometimes we are so impressed by a book, or so entertained by it, that a staff storytime must be held and some of the new favorites shared. Here are some of the favorites from recent staff storytimes.

 Skippyjon Jones Cirque de Olé  is one of many books we have enjoyed from Judith Byron Schachner. In this book about everyone’s favorite Siamese cat that pretends to be a Chihuahua, we see him wanting to perform his high-wire act in the circus. If you get your hands on a copy of this, or any Skippyjon book, with the CD of the author reading the story to you I highly recommend it!

Swim, Swim by Lerch (also known as James Proimos) is a picturebook about a fish named Lerch. He is very lonely and in search of a friend. After trying to befriend some unreceptive, inanimate, and unusual creatures he finally finds a friend.

Then there is The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School by Laurie Halse Anderson. The hair of this young girl reminds me of my daughter’s – thick and unruly. This young girl’s talented, but mostly untamed, tresses do not impress her strict first-grade teacher, who has rules for everything, including hair.

One of our most recent favorites is Otis and the Tornado by Loren Long about Otis the tractor. When a tornado threatens the farm, Otis tries to save all of the animals, including the unfriendly bull.

Some other authors that frequent our storytimes are Bob Shea, Mo Willems, and Amy Krouse Rosenthal.  Do you have a favorite picturebook or picturebook author?