Books like Jennie's Hat
By Ezra Jack Keats
For the kid who has a very specific picture in their head of how something should look — and won't settle for less — Jennie's disappointment and determination will feel completely familiar. Gentle, wistful, and quietly whimsical, with a soft sense of wonder.
A little rabbit named Llewellyn collects ordinary treasures in jars until his friend Evelyn joins him, gathering wonders like rainbows and ocean sounds — then she must move away.
A small owl who has always dreamed of knighthood gets his chance during Knight Night Watch, when a huge, frightening intruder appears at the castle he's sworn to protect.
A small boy is invited to tea at the palace and always asks the same question — may he bring a friend? — and each time, a surprising animal guest shows up beautifully behaved.
A girl in a swimsuit and flippers copies a graceful flamingo's every move, and through twists, turns, and one big flop, the two find their way to a dance in perfect harmony.
A millionaire dog-poet arrives in Paris and is swept up by dazzling characters like Fritz from the Ritz and Pierre Potpurri, but something — namely love — still eludes him.
A determined girl chases every trick her neighbors suggest to try to capture Brother Wind himself as her partner for the junior cakewalk jubilee, certain nothing else will do.
A fish and his best friend, a tadpole, grow up together in a pond until the tadpole becomes a frog and hops off to explore dry land, leaving the fish desperate to follow.
A boy strolls down Market Street from A to Z, buying a gift from each shopkeeper — who are dressed head-to-toe in exactly what they sell, from gloves to oranges to wigs.
A young hero condemned by a jealous king must earn the trust of the legendary winged horse Pegasus, then ride him into battle against the fire-breathing Chimera.
A sturdy farm girl named Fanny Agnes waits in her garden for a fairy godmother to whisk her off to the mayor's grand ball and her destined prince — but who actually shows up changes everything.
While the other field mice work all autumn gathering corn and nuts for winter, a quiet mouse gathers sun rays, colors, and words instead — and when the food runs low, his stories are what feed everyone.
A girl who left her homeland as a baby must draw it for a school assignment, so she gathers memories from family and neighbors to imagine her way back to The Island.
