Tell Me a Dragon

Written by: Jackie Morris

First line: My dragon is made from the sun and the stars

Why you should read this book: It's simply gorgeous. Every page showcases a different dragon and its human companion, along with a simple sentence describing that dragon. Very magical and lovely.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You don't want a dragon.

Zoozical

Written by: Judy Sierra

First line: One blustery morning when frosty winds blew, When families stayed home, and when field trips were few, The midwinter doldrums arrives at the zoo.

Why you should read this book: It's a book of upbeat silliness about cabin fever and the restorative power of music. The old trope of "Let's put on a show!" gets revived by a bunch of talented zoo creatures who realized that their seasonal affective depression can be cured by intensively rehearsing for a musical, which they perform before the human audience that had abandoned them when the weather became inclement. With bouncing rhymes and whimsical Marc Brown illustrations, it's a good read-aloud selection for little people.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You believe that zoos are immoral holding pens for helpless animals who should run free.

The Favorite Daughter

Written by: Allen Say

First line: Yuriko came to stay with her father on Thursday that week.

Why you should read this book: It's a wonderful examination of identity in young children, with intersecting themes of divorce, race, culture, and artistic integrity. When a blonde Japanese-American girl brings her baby picture into school, her peers' reactions force her to confront the binary aspects of her heritage. A seemingly unimaginative art assignment provides the catalyst for her father to help her figure out how to reconcile who she is with who the world asks her to be.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You rub your chopsticks.

Identity Crisis

Written by: Brad Melzer

First line: "Any idea what's in it?"

Why you should read this book: It's generally considered a game-changing comic, a murder mystery that recasts familiar characters in new roles and exposes the secret realities of public images. I picked it up because a lot of people seemed to be referencing it and I felt that I ought to know what revelations it contained, only to realize two-thirds of the way through that I had already read it, but that it hadn't made enough impact on me that I recalled any part of the story. It seems like a reader would have to be fairly well-versed in the nuances of the DC universe to take full advantage of this book.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You don't follow Justice League in any way.

Beautiful Darkness

Written by: Fabien Vehlmann and Kerascoet

First line: He's coming! He's coming!

Why you should read this book: I am obsessed with this anti-fairy tale about innocent little fairies whose world is turned upside down when they realize they have been living their lives inside a little girl, and that their host has died and is no longer conducive to housing fairies. Thrown out into the wilderness, Princess Aurora does her best to normalize the transition for her subjects, most of whom turn out to be far less altruistic than she. This book offers constant surprises, and while some have criticized the depiction of the fairies as too adorable, their actions and attitudes take the story far from the realm of fairy tale and into the brutish lair of horror. (I have a lot more to say about this book, and my article on the subject is forthcoming at Panels.net.)

Why you shouldn't read this book: You collect Precious Moments figurines or enjoy the comic "Love Is...."

Age of Reptile Omnibus Volume 1

Written by: Ricardo Delgado

First line: [This is a "silent comic" and the story contains no text.]

Why you should read this book: If you like dinosaurs, drama, and vast, sweeping splash pages, you'll love this meaty volume comprising 3 miniseries. The dinosaurs, while mute, exhibit recognizable expressions, motivations, and actions, creating 3 compelling story lines. I discuss this comic, and the strengths of silent comics in general, in more detail in this article.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Can't deal with common carnivorous behaviors like killing and eating your enemies, or just random other creatures that happen to be passing by.

Ira Sleeps Over

Written by: Bernard Waber

First line: I was invited to sleep at Reggie's house!

Why you should read this book: A boy's anticipation of his first sleepover is marred by the question of whether or not his friend will laugh at him for still sleeping with a teddy bear. His parents insist he won't; he sister claims he will. In the end, Ira sees that he and Reggie see eye to eye on the teddy bear question.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You don't allow your children the comfort of a primary love object; they must face the dark on their own.

Curious George Rides a Bike

Written by: H. A. Rey

First line: This is George.

Why you should read this book: Who doesn't love the story of the curious monkey who is given way too much freedom for a human being, let along a mute creature born in the jungle? I loved this book as a child because it offers step by step instructions for turning a newspaper into a boat. Kids also enjoy the fancy bike-riding, the animals, and, of course, George's unerring ability to get into trouble.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You believe monkeys should not be raised in homes or allowed to play outside unsupervised, and you definitely don't think they're qualified to deliver newspapers or follow directions.

Each Kindness

Written by: Jacqueline Woodson

First line: That winter snow fell on everything, turning the world a brilliant white.

Why you should read this book: There's a sense of bittersweet nostalgia on every page, words and images, in the story of a little girl who rejects, out of hand, the new kid in school because her clothes are secondhand. Gradually, as the new girl, Maya, continues to make friendly overtures and the teacher speaks of kind acts, Chloe comes to regret her behavior, but by then it is too late. Maya has left the school, Chloe can never make up for her cruelness, and she must live with the consequences of her childish decisions.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You like being a snob and it never makes you feel bad about yourself.

Findrella

Written by: Calle Claus

(This book doesn't have any words in it.)

Why you should read this book: A precious story about an outcast teenage mermaid, it's told entirely in images. Findrella and her BFF are more interested in mer-boys than in school, but when the friend is more successful in love, Findrella tries to transform herself into a more alluring creature. It's a much nicer version of "The Little Mermaid" than either Hans Christian Anderson or Disney ever told.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Well, you can't exactly read something without words.