Picture Books: Staff Picks

The Last Rainbow Bird By Nora Brech, Polly Lawson (Translator) Cover Image
By Nora Brech, Polly Lawson (Translator)
$17.95
ISBN: 9781782508007
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Floris Books - September 6th, 2022

This is one of my favorite picture books of 2022. I love how the story mixes realism with fantasy. Eco-conscious kids want to help a professor find the last rainbow bird, but the rainbow bird isn't the only magical creature they find. The illustrations are bright and fun, and the story has a great happy ending."

- Clare


Does a Bulldozer Have a Butt? By Derick Wilder, K-Fai Steele (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Derick Wilder, K-Fai Steele (Illustrator)
$16.99
ISBN: 9781452182124
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Chronicle Books - May 24th, 2022

Maybe it's the butts. Maybe it's the San Francisco setting. Maybe it's the way this sounds like the silly repetitive conversations of preschoolers everywhere. But this has been a Mr. Mopps' 2022 bestseller."

- Clare


On the Day the Horse Got Out By Audrey Helen Weber Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780316459846
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - June 1st, 2021

A bouncing rhyme scheme and a classic American folk art style make this book just perfect for younger picture book lovers. I especially like how we all get to shout 'Watch Out! Watch Out! The Horse is Out!'

- Clare


The Pocket Chaotic By Ziggy Hanaor, Daniel Gray-Barnett (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Ziggy Hanaor, Daniel Gray-Barnett (Illustrator)
$16.95
ISBN: 9781908714800
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Cicada Books - April 27th, 2021

The story of a little Roo named Alexander who lives in his Mom's pouch, which is very, very messy. I love the bright color palette and the idea that parents can be imperfect. I also love the way it ends with Roo asleep in his own bed and not in his Mom's messy pocket. A good one for kids who are adjusting to sleeping on their own.

- Clare


Oona By Kelly DiPucchio, Raissa Figueroa (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Kelly DiPucchio, Raissa Figueroa (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9780062982247
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Katherine Tegen Books - January 12th, 2021

Rapidly becoming a bestseller at Mopps', this mermaid story is both cute (I mean look at the cover!) and has some clever lessons about perseverance and making your own treasure. 

- Clare


It's Only Stanley By Jon Agee Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780803739079
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Rocky Pond Books - March 17th, 2015

The rhymes, the silliness, the dog who can make anything out of anything. A brilliantly fun and funny read-aloud. One of my top ten favorites of all time.

- Clare


Outside, Inside By LeUyen Pham, LeUyen Pham (Illustrator) Cover Image
By LeUyen Pham, LeUyen Pham (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9781250798350
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Roaring Brook Press - January 5th, 2021

I'm a huge fan of LeUyen Pham both as an illustrator and a storyteller. She often illustrates real people in her books, which makes her an ideal illustrator for a picture book about the Covid lockdown. This book is a hopeful and heartening reminder that we are going through this both apart and also together.

- Clare


Our Little Kitchen By Jillian Tamaki Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9781419746550
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Abrams Books for Young Readers - September 22nd, 2020

There is so much energy in this book about neighbors preparing a community meal. Pick, chop, splash, peel, slice and yell your way to a delicious dinner with friends.

- Clare


Duck on a Bike By David Shannon, David Shannon (Illustrator) Cover Image
By David Shannon, David Shannon (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9780439050234
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: The Blue Sky Press - April 1st, 2002

Everyone loves bicycles, even the animals in the barnyard. This is my favorite picture book of all time, because it's silly and funny and has bicycles. BUT, it's actually about how people don't always say what they're thinking. 

— Clare


Hike By Pete Oswald, Pete Oswald (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Pete Oswald, Pete Oswald (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9781536201574
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Candlewick - March 17th, 2020

A wordless picture book about going for a long hike. Beautiful illustration with plenty of gentle adventures in nature.

- Clare


Pokko and the Drum By Matthew Forsythe, Matthew Forsythe (Illustrator) Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9781481480390
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books - October 1st, 2019

Our best selling picture book of 2018 continues to be a big hit. We love this silly story about a young toad finding her inner-rhythm. Also it contains an important moral. Don't let a wolf join your band, unless he promises not to eat anyone.

- Mopps


Camp Tiger By Susan Choi, John Rocco (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Susan Choi, John Rocco (Illustrator)
$17.99
Currently Unavailable
ISBN: 9780399173295
Published: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers - May 21st, 2019

A very cool book about growing more independent with the help of a really impressive tiger.

- Clare


Hip-Hop Lollipop By Susan Montanari, Brian Pinkney (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Susan Montanari, Brian Pinkney (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9781101934821
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Schwartz & Wade - October 2nd, 2018

A book you can dance to! I love how much fun it is to groove through bedtime rituals with Lollie in this cool rhyming book. Great for kids who rarely stay still.

- Clare


Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots By Michael Rex, Michael Rex (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Michael Rex, Michael Rex (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9781984816269
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Nancy Paulsen Books - February 11th, 2020

A lesson in critical thinking for the under-fives. This book uses funny robots to explain that the number of arms a robot has is a fact, but whether that robot looks like fun, is a matter of opinion. I know some grown-ups who need this book. Maybe you do too?

- Clare


Emile: The Helpful Octopus By Tomi Ungerer Cover Image
$18.95
ISBN: 9780714849737
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Phaidon Press - February 11th, 2019

A much loved favorite at Mr. Mopps about an Octopus out of water who foils some bad guys. Wonderfully absurd and exciting.

- Mopps 


Rocket Says Look Up! (Rocket Says...) By Nathan Bryon, Dapo Adeola (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Nathan Bryon, Dapo Adeola (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9781984894427
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Random House Books for Young Readers - June 25th, 2019

Are you a grown-up? And are you looking at your phone right now? If the answer to both those questions is "yes" then Rocket would like you to look up. All the way up to the stars, which is where she's planning to go one day. I think this book will resonate with a lot of kids and hopefully their grown-ups too.

- Clare


The Rescuer of Tiny Creatures By Curtis Manley, Lucy Ruth Cummins (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Curtis Manley, Lucy Ruth Cummins (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9781250246714
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Roaring Brook Press - June 8th, 2021

A very charming book about an insect-loving child and her struggle to make herself and the bugs understood by her classmates. Sweetly funny with fantastic illustrations.

- Clare