By Gwynne at the Schweitzer Brentwood 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.

Pokko And The Drum by Matthew Forsythe is a beautifully illustrated book about a young frog practicing her latest hobby: playing her drum. Her quiet parents have had about all they can take! They ask Pokko to please play her drum out in the forest and warn her not to draw too much attention to herself. Pokko listens and plays outside but the attention she attracts doing so is another matter! This book is a delightful story about a girl, her drum and the makeshift animal parade she forms by playing her music in the forest. 

If you loved reading this fantastic book, keep the fun going with this version of Old MacDonald written by Youth Services staffer Iggi at the Republic Branch!

Little Pokko led a Band

Brum bum-bum bum bum

And in that band, she played a drum

Brum bum-bum bum bum

With a bum-bum here 

And a bum-bum there

Here a bum, there a bum 

Everywhere a bum bum

Little Pokko led a Band

Brum bum-bum bum bum

And in that band, there was a banjo

Brum bum-bum bum bum

With a brangle-rangle here 

And a brangle-rangle there

Here a brangle, there a brangle

Everywhere a brangle-rangle

Little Pokko lead a Band

Brum bum-bum bum bum

And in that band, there was a trumpet

Brum bum-bum bum bum

With a brt brt here 

And a brt brt there

Here a brt, there a brt

Everywhere a brt brt

Little Pokko lead a Band

Brum bum-bum bum bum

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

 Duck!

Everybody Says Meow

I Can Only Draw Worms

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