Here are 18 books that Butternut & the Flying Butter fans have personally recommended if you like
Butternut & the Flying Butter.
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As a children’s book author, a parent and a teacher for small children, one of the greatest things about children’s media is the friendships that develop among some of the most unusual characters. Like a sea sponge and a starfish in SpongeBob Squarepants, a mouse, and a dog with Mickey Mouse and Pluto. This of course extends into children’s books and it’s an extension of how young children don’t concern themselves with how different the other person is, they focus on what is the same. Something people should hold onto as they grow but often don’t.
Peanut Butter has just moved to town and is searching for a friend to play ball with. He talks about Hamburger, Soup, French Fries, and Cupcake, but they are all too busy. Finally, he meets Jelly, and of course, they click and play ball. Before long, all the others see them playing and want to join in. In no time, Peanut Butter has all the friends he could want.
The story is so charming, but what really makes this book shine is the art. Terry Border is an American artist known for his unique, funny, and really creative sculptures, often of food, using wire and other materials. The art creates such a wonderful and engaging book. My students absolutely loved this book.
For fans of The Day the Crayons Quit, Little Pea, or How Are You Peeling?
What’s a little piece of bread to do when he’s feeling lonely? Find a friend, of course!
And that’s exactly what Peanut Butter tries to do. But sometimes friends are hard to come by, especially when Hamburger has to walk his (hot) dogs, Cupcake is too busy building castles in her sprinkle box, and Egg laughs so hard he starts to crack up! Does Peanut Butter have a soulmate? Young readers will know the answer long before Peanut Butter does and laugh along with each…
As a children’s book author, a parent and a teacher for small children, one of the greatest things about children’s media is the friendships that develop among some of the most unusual characters. Like a sea sponge and a starfish in SpongeBob Squarepants, a mouse, and a dog with Mickey Mouse and Pluto. This of course extends into children’s books and it’s an extension of how young children don’t concern themselves with how different the other person is, they focus on what is the same. Something people should hold onto as they grow but often don’t.
A little blue jay named Simon is off to find the menacing dragon. The rhyming text is excellent in this story. I love how Simon donned a bottle cap on his head to wear as a helmet. He flies through the forest and asks the rabbit, the ladybug, and finally, the wise owl where to find this scary dragon.
Ultimately, Simon's search finds him a new friend, and he’s not at all what he expected. The underlying message is to not always believe what you hear. The art by Vitali Dudarenka is beautifully drawn and rendered in a classical style. A lovely gift for the child in your life.
Whispers around the treehouse have this birdy buggin’. Can he flap away the confusion and put an end to the mystery?
Simon is determined to find the facts for himself. Tired of hearing endless rumors about a dragon menacing the farm, the young bird munches some breakfast and sets out for answers. And with his trusty bottle-cap helmet keeping his head safe, nothing can stop him from finding the fire-breathing beastie.
Confused by his barnyard buddies’ claims that no one has ever seen such a mighty creature, Simon refuses to give up on his tireless search. But when the truth…
As a children’s book author, a parent and a teacher for small children, one of the greatest things about children’s media is the friendships that develop among some of the most unusual characters. Like a sea sponge and a starfish in SpongeBob Squarepants, a mouse, and a dog with Mickey Mouse and Pluto. This of course extends into children’s books and it’s an extension of how young children don’t concern themselves with how different the other person is, they focus on what is the same. Something people should hold onto as they grow but often don’t.
A charming book about a stick and stone who become friends. Told with very simple language we follow the story of Stone from when he was alone to being teased by Pinecone and having Stick stand up for him (because that’s what sticks do!). They play and go on adventures to the shore when a big hurricane sweeps them away, and Stone must save his best friend, Stick!
The illustrations are wonderfully crafted in colored pencil and watercolor. This is a beautifully done book that works extremely well in storytimes with small children. My class loves this one.
When Stick rescues Stone from a prickly situation with a Pine cone, the pair become fast friends. But when Stick gets stuck, can Stone return the favour? The author Beth Ferry writes warm, rhyming text that includes a subtle anti-bullying message even the youngest reader will understand. The New York Times best-selling illustratorTom Lichtenheld imbues Stick and Stone with energy, emotion, and personality to spare. In this fun board book about kindness and friendship, Stick and Stone join George and Martha, Frog and Toad, and Elephant and Piggie as some of the greatest friend duos in children's literature.
As a children’s book author, a parent and a teacher for small children, one of the greatest things about children’s media is the friendships that develop among some of the most unusual characters. Like a sea sponge and a starfish in SpongeBob Squarepants, a mouse, and a dog with Mickey Mouse and Pluto. This of course extends into children’s books and it’s an extension of how young children don’t concern themselves with how different the other person is, they focus on what is the same. Something people should hold onto as they grow but often don’t.
Betty and Maude are best friends, but their favorite toys, Duck and Penguin, are not. Together, they play but not so nicely. They destroy each other’s sand castles, paint each other when they are supposed to be painting pictures. Eventually they realize they have a lot more in common than they know and really do become good friends. What I really loved about this book is that sometimes friendship is complicated, and you don’t like each other right away.
The art is simple but expressive and fun to look at. Julia Woolf has the perfect style to bring these characters to life. This is just a cute and fun picture book, perfect for reading to a group at storytime.
Betty and Maud are the best of friends, and so surely their stuffed toys are too! But despite what Betty and Maud might think, Duck and Penguin are definitely NOT friends. They do not want to swing together, they do not want to cook together, and they certainly DO NOT want to play baby dolls together...
A side-splitting insight into the secret world of toys, from former Dreamworks animator and illustrator Julia Woolf.
I always felt like books were mysterious and elusive works of art. When creating them occurred to me, I started to think, “What is a book, really, and what does it mean to publish one?” This over-analysis of books makes me appreciate authors who are able to step back and see books for what they really are–pages and ink. Distilling it down to that makes writing and publishing a book feel more accessible to me.
This innovative and wildly funny read-aloud will be the Must Have book of the season. You might think a book with no pictures seems boring and serious. Except...here's how books work. Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud. Even if the words say...BLORK. Or BLUURF. Even if the words are a preposterous song about eating ants for breakfast, or just a list of astonishingly goofy sounds like BLAGGITY BLAGGITY and GLIBBITY GLOBBITY.
I believe laughing together is a big part of the glue that bonds people together. Humor has gotten me through my toughest times—and given me much joy in the good times. Laughing over my books with one or both of my toddler grandsons will always be cherished memories for me. Likewise, I love hearing about moments of connection for other readers bonding over Applesauce Is Fun to Wear, Baby’s Opposites, Baby’s Firsts, and Pirate Jack Gets Dressed.
Picture books should appeal to the ear as well as the eye. Coming from a family of musicians, I’m partial to rhyme, as you might guess from most of my picks here.
A lifelong cat person, I was drawn to Betsy Lewin’s light-hearted illustrations and lilting rhyme featuring an orange tabby.
It starts, “Everyone knows where Tippy Toes is/ when the sun is up and the day is his.” The next spread shows a mouse’s view of a paw through its hole followed by one from the cat’s viewpoint showing the mouse’s tail through its hole. More clever cutouts add to the fun as we follow Tippy Toe through an adventure with a garden hose, a nap in a drawer, and a dash through a blueberry pie.
The final text reads, “No, nobody knows where Tippy Toes creeps/ when darkness falls and the whole world sleeps…”. The last page turn reveals the cat curled up under his boy’s covers, finishing “…except me.”
Tippy Toes is a tricky cat-sneaking, hiding, creeping, slinking. Over here. Over there. His house is the perfect place to tiptoe the day away, lurking behind unsuspecting birds and mice, crouching behind garden posies, and surprising a little boy with his unusual hiding spots. Die-cut pages let readers discover where Tippy Toe goes as his day unfolds, and end up revealing the most satisfying hiding place of all-a warm cozy bed! Told with simple rhymes and mischievous illustrations by award-winning creator Betsy Lewin, this is a book to curl up with and enjoy-preferably in a nice sunny spot.
I never stopped reading children’s books and started writing my own when I hit the age of 40. I gravitate toward crisp drawing styles and illustrations that bring out the magic in the everyday. These books are a few of my favorites.
The fascinating thing about this book is the overall lack of a plot.
It pairs McCloskey’s crisp pen-and-ink drawings with simple prose to evoke the bucolic feeling of life on the coast of Maine. Although not as universally known as McCloskey’s Make Way for Ducklings or Blueberries for Sal, this entry can bring one to a calm place and let them breathe for a while.
Today is a specidal day for Sal because she gets to go to Buck's Harbour with her dad. But when she wakes up to brush her teeth with her baby sister, she discovers something shocking.... Her tooth is loose!
I am the Illustrator of 45 books for kids, 9 of which I authored as well. I have always been attracted to joyful nonsense. I am drawn to books and writings that turn norms on their heads. From the time I was super young, my favorite poem has been Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky” with its delightful slithy toves gyring and gimbling in the wabe. In fact, of the books I’ve written to date, every one has had some kind of nonsensical element to it.
The catchy sing-song rhyming text is a delight for both tongue and ear. Packed with alliteration, consonance, and nonsensical compound words, this book is a super fun read-aloud. The artwork is just as wild and surreal as the text, showcasing swaying toast trees, tumbling blueberry waterfalls, and bursting strawberry fireworks. Here are some of my favorite nonsense words found inside: Jamble, Canoeberry, Boomberry, Razzamatazzberry, Clickety-clackberry
This bestselling classic features a berry-loving boy and an endearing rhyme-spouting bear. The fun wordplay and bright paintings with lots of details for young readers to explore make Jamberry a perennial favorite, and this board book edition is a great stocking stuffer. A small boy and a big friendly bear embark on a berry-picking extravaganza, looking for blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries. Their fun adventure comes to a razzamatazz finale under a starberry sky. From author-illustrator Bruce Degen, Jamberry is perfect for sharing. "With delightful, rich illustrations and zany wordplay, Jamberry is a must have book for any family with young…
I was raised in a ‘hospitality forward’ household to say the least. My parents always had family and friends over the house eating and drinking and although no one was in the food and beverage industry, most of the folks all had something to say about food and beverage. It was a fundamental part of the conversation. It carried over to me and became something that I focused on even before I was ever in the service industry. With experience, I became more knowledgeable, and my tastes became wider and a bit more refined, but the seeds were planted long ago.
Recommending books with various recipes would be too easy (after all, that’s what my book is for). I think it would be an interesting leap for enthusiastic imbibers to explore what works and why. The Flavor Thesaurus will also carry over to the kitchen where everything ties together. I have used this reference book to the point of disintegration, especially when turning the calendar pages of seasonality as foods and ingredients disappear from the radar for months at a time. It has alternately saved and educated me through the years.
“A perfect reference for the aspiring foodie.” –Chicago Tribune
Winner of the André Simon Award * Observer Best Books of the Year * Guild of Food Writers Best First Book Award
A complete guide to the 99 most essential ingredients and their numerous flavor combinations, offering inspiration for the cook who has everything.
Whether a flavor is defined by a "grassy" ingredient like dill, cucumber, or peas, or a "floral fruity" food like figs, roses, or blueberries, flavors can be combined in wildly imaginative ways. In this lively and original book, Niki Segnit identifies the 99 fundamental ingredients of food…
I’ve loved children’s books for as long as I can remember. When I became a Kindergarten teacher, I often used children’s books to springboard lessons and activities with my class. Years later, when I became a mom, I wanted children’s books to be a special part of my children’s lives as well. Reading to my kids before bed became a nighttime ritual we all enjoyed. Another activity we regularly enjoyed was baking. As such, children’s books that have food at the forefront were a natural bridge to kitchen adventures with my children. Here are a few of our favorite books to help spark cooking and baking fun with your kids!
I love to begin baking activities with children with a good book to get them excited and thinking ahead about our fun in the kitchen. Blueberries for Sal does exactly that!
I used to read this book to my kids before heading to a local farm to go blueberry or strawberry-picking in the summer months. Once home, we gathered our delectable harvest and baked a delicious berry crumble or cobbler! Extend the learning to different seasons by going apple-picking in the fall and making homemade apple pie, preserves, and applesauce.
Blueberries for Sal is a great story for teaching the whole process of farm-to-table. This book is also good for: learning about the seasons and the seasonality of produce; animal hibernation in winter; where we get blueberries (wild vs. farmed); the process of canning fruit; and mothers and their young.
Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk! Sal and her mother a picking blueberries to can for the winter. But when Sal wanders to the other side of Blueberry Hill, she discovers a mother bear preparing for her own long winter. Meanwhile Sal's mother is being followed by a small bear with a big appetite for berries! Will each mother go home with the right little one? With its expressive line drawings and charming story, Blueberries for Sal has won readers' hearts since its first publication in 1948. "The adventures of a little girl and a baby bear while hunting for blueberries with their…
