By Amanda at the Republic Branch

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

Everybody Says Meow by Constance Lombardo is a silly book that stars a take-charge cat who is trying to get everyone to say “meow” together. However, much to the cat’s frustration and the reader’s delight, some of her friends just will not cooperate! This highly interactive book will have your kids meowing (and maybe barking and quacking!) along with these adorable characters. It also features a surprise ending that your kids will love! 

Extend your fun with this story by retelling with a puppet show! Using crafting materials you have on hand (small paper bags work great!), work together to create a cat (or two), a dog, a frog, a duck and a lion puppet together. Then retell the story using the puppets. What other kinds of animals would be fun to add to the story? You can create puppets for some new characters too! Is there another story you can tell using your puppets? Try putting on a puppet show telling a story you made up together. 

For more activities, as well as book recommendations, and songs and rhymes, please visit the Everybody Says Meow activity page. 

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

 Duck!

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