By Jeannie in the Youth Services Office

If you’re looking for some fresh and fun picture books to share with your child, look no further than the Missouri Building Block Picture Book Awards (Building Blocks). This year’s list of nominees is a great place to start. You can also visit the Library’s Building Block Award webpage to find complete lists of past winners and nominees. Read at least five of this year’s nominees and then vote for your favorite here no later than January 15, 2021. We're exploring all of the nominees on this blog now through January.

We’ll begin our journey through this year’s nominees with Duck!

"It was a quiet afternoon on the farm, when suddenly...DUCK!"

 Adorable little Duck is running around the farm shouting “DUCK!” to all the other animals. Soon, the other animals grow exasperated of explaining that they're not all ducks. Perhaps DUCK! isn't the best warning that something is actually falling from the sky. Perhaps what Duck should have said is . . . “RUN!” 

Written by Meg McKinlay and illustrated by Nathaniel Eckstrom, Duck! is a humorous story with fun and colorful art. It easily lends itself to reading aloud and encourages your little one to yell “Duck!” right along with the story. Duck and his farmyard friends can even help you introduce topics such as emotions, friendship, diversity...even weather! 

Does your little one simply love farm animals...especially ducks? Check out these books:

 Take a wild ride with Duck on a Tractor by David Shannon

 Revisit the story of Chicken Little with The Sky is Falling! by Mark Teague

 Stay on the farm for a while with Dooby, Dooby Moo by Doreen Cronin

 Explore emotions and manners with Sorry (Really Sorry) by Joanna Cotler

 Explore weather with Nora’s Busy Year: A Book about the Four Seasons by Kerry Dinmont

You can also Visit the Duck! activity page to see more recommended books as well as rhymes, songs, and activities.

Keep checking the Racing to Read Blog for more great Building Block nominees!

The Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award is sponsored by the Missouri Library Association and administered by the Youth Services Community of Interest. To learn more about the award, please visit http://molib.org/awards/building-block-award/.  

Questions or want more ideas? Email racingtoread@thelibrary.org