Books You May Have Missed 2022: Picture Books and Early Readers

"Preschooler Ayana has thirteen adventures with her family and her friend Harris including a jelly bean hunt, working in a community garden, and giving her hamster, Stanley, a bath"-- Provided by publisher.

"In this poignant, empowering picture book debut, a girl and her beloved abuelita lean on each other as they contend with racism while running errands in the city. Spending time at home with Abuelita means pancakes, puddle-jumping, and nail-painting. But venturing out into the city is not always as fun. On the bus and at the grocery store, people are impatient and suspicious--sometimes they even yell. Sad, angry, and scared, the story's young narrator...

A raccoon and skunk pass other nocturnal animals as they head to a corn field to forage for food until a surprise causes them to scurry home.

Following a family tradition, Grandpa gives Emilia a walnut and together they plant and care for it, but as her little nut grows into a tree, Grandpa begins to slow down until one sad day Emilia has to say goodbye.

This moving story follows one family through generations of time spent together and shows readers that memories allow us to connect to the past, the present, and also to each other.

"All great kaiju are born with a super power to strike fear in the heart of the city. But Anzu is different. Instead of mayhem, he likes May flowers. Instead of striking fear, he prefers to be sincere. Can Anzu find a way to make his family proud and stay true to his kind self?"-- Provided by publisher.

Follow an adventurous armadillo through nighttime fun as dawn approaches.

"In this village by the sea, a young boy notes the roles that each person in town plays. Everyone is busy: the blacksmith, the boatbuilder, the baker. But most important of all, the boy thinks, are the fishermen who bring in the catch, braving the waves and windy weather to return with the finest, freshest fish. His father is a baker, but the boy wants to be a daring fisherman when he grows up, undaunted by the stormy seas. "Have you ever been to...

"Join a young child and their dog as they experience every minute of the day to its fullest from the second they wake up to the moment they fall asleep. Readers will love barking, wagging, and sniffing along with the gentle cues in the book."-- Publisher's webpage. Simply be like a dog with this irresistible picture book by beloved author Maria Gianferrari and illustrated by #1 New York Times bestselling artist Pete Oswald that introduces readers...

"Hedgehog has been busy making gifts for all of her friends. But what could possibly be grand enough for her dear friend Bear? Bear had shown Hedgehog the wonders of butterflies and taught her to ice-skate, after all. When Hedgehog finally finds her inspiration and delivers the gift, it doesn't quite turn out as she expected." -- Publisher marketing.