Dad's Bookshelf: March 2022
This month on Dad’s Bookshelf we have 3 wonderful new selections for you: Mina, The Fox and the Forest Fire, and A Pair of Pears and an Orange. All 3 of these picture books came out within the last year, and all 3 certainly deserve their introduction into that hallowed ground upon which Dad’s Bookshelf sits.
There’s certainly quite a bit of whimsy on display this month, particularly with Mina and A Pair of Pears and an Orange. But The Fox and the Forest Fire most certainly has a different, more somber atmosphere to it. But that’s the great thing about these roundups. We’re attracted to all sorts of books and I like to imagine there’s often something for everyone.
I think it’s safe to say that one thing you’ll notice is the high quality art all across the board. And I really love that the styles of illustrations on display here are all so unique but equally beautiful and endearing. And I think it’s no secret that the art is often a huge part of what gets a book to Dad’s Bookshelf in the first place.
I’m also very excited to point out that this month’s Dad’s Bookshelf includes a long-awaited picture book - the next project from Pokko and the Drum’s Matthew Forsythe. It’s called Mina, and it’s certainly one of those highly anticipated books that are no-brainers for Dad’s Bookshelf, and an instant write-in for our favorites of 2022. If whimsy and beauty and dry humor is your thing, you’re in for quite a treat.
Dad’s Bookshelf is a continuing, monthly series featuring the kids books we are most excited about each month. The series is named after the real life bookshelf we have in our home, where I keep all of my favorite picture books of all time. While the books we share on Dad’s Bookshelf are often new releases, it’s also not uncommon for us to be excited about an older book we just discovered.
Disclosure: Some of the books in this month’s Dad’s Bookshelf were provided to us by their publishers, with no expectation of inclusion on this monthly article of the books we’re most excited about. All thoughts and opinions are our own. Some of the links in this article are affiliate links that will lead you to view the books on Bookshop.org and Amazon.
Mina
Written and Illustrated by Matthew Forsythe
Pokko and the Drum is one of our favorite picture books ever written, and it instantly catapulted Matthew Forsythe into the realm of must-watch artists. So we were anticipating Mina from the moment it was announced and available to order. And I’m so very happy that it’s finally here and ready for us to enjoy like Pokko over and over again.
Mina is about a mouse whose father adopts a squirrel, but the squirrel is in fact a cat. The art is beautiful and in the same unique Forsythe style that brings a smile to our face. And there are really wonderful and memorable moments of humor that will leave a lasting impression on the kids. In many ways this is my very favorite kind of picture book, and it’s an absolute delight.
The Fox and the Forest Fire
Written and Illustrated by Danny Popovici
This picture book is a really beautiful story and it looks fantastic. It’s hard to tell the art style from the cover that features the forest on fire, but if you flip through the book you’ll see a gorgeous display of talent that captures the beauty of nature. It also features wonderful details and a unique design for the people that I really like a lot.
This is also a story about moving, and the boy in the book isn’t so sure he’s going to like his new home in the woods. But he quickly falls in love with it and is very distraught when a forest fire forces them to leave. He’s also worried about all of the animal friends he’s made - particularly a fox. I love the little details like who he’s drawing a picture of the fox in the hotel room. And the kids love pointing out the fox hiding on most pages in the story, as well as the quilt which plays a very sweet role as well.
I think the book brings to life a sad and very common occurrence with these forest fires that seem to only be getting worse. But the author also points out that some natural forest fires are actually surprisingly beneficial to the health of the forest, and it knows how to heal itself afterwards. So you can add a learning opportunity to the long list of things that makes this a special book.
A Pair of Pears and an Orange
Written and Illustrated by Anna McGregor
This new picture book comes from Scribble - one of our favorite publishers of kids books. We have a healthy list of authors and illustrators who are must-watch artists, but our list of must-watch, insta-buy publishers is significantly smaller - and Scribble is definitely on that list. A Pair of Pears and an Orange definitely fits in with the look and feel of a Scribble book, which is hard to put a finger on.
The art is whimsical and colorful, and it just makes you happy to look at. There’s also a lot of empathy at the heart of the story, as is so often the case with Scribble. In this case, the lesson is about friendship, and the difficulty of feeling like your losing your special bond with friends or turning into a third wheel. It’s hard not to love a handsome book like this.
What picture books have you been enjoying lately? Have you read any of these yet? Let us know in the comments!
