It’s such and honor and a thrill to call into The Absolutely Mindy Show on Tuesdays to offer book recommendations to listeners. I love sharing books that my family loves reading, and I hope that you all enjoy reading these books too. Here is a collection of every book we talked about on air in 2015!

Happy reading! —Jarrett J. Krosoczka Picture Books

You Nest Here with Me is the perfect Counting Crows is not, in fact, a picture- picture book to share at bedtime. Sweet One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck book biography on the 90's band of the and Yasmeen Ismail is INCREDIBLE! Sophia rhyming text coupled with beautiful same name. This is a counting book illustrations teach the child about wants a giraffe more than anything. But told in rhyme, and the illustrations are Mom, Dad, Uncle Conrad and Grand-mama various bird habitats while reassuring beautiful. We learned about this book his or her place at home. It's the perfect aren't on board. Sophia begs, pleads and from storytime at the local public library. negotiates to the bestow her abilities. Flow length and tone when weary after a long It's a sweet book to share when day. We love connecting with our kids charts, graphs, her tactics are thorough. cuddled up and a great tool to teach But really, it only takes one (polite) word.. through this book! Great list of bird facts numbers. at the back of the book, too.

Ballet Cat the Totally Secret Secret is The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Draw! by Raúl Colón is a stunning the first title in what I hope is a very long Frazee. Man, this book is beautiful! A wordless picture book. Based on his series of early readers. Bob Shea is a wordless picture book about a very own childhood, Raúl gives us the story genius and this book is Bob Shea at his unlikely friendship. When a young clown of a kid who is confined to his bed, but best! Bizarre, funny and heartwarming. falls off the circus train, he finds himself fills his sketchbooks with wild animals. You have to see this book in person to on the farm... This is a very sweet tale. He's then transported to this wildly truly appreciate the sparkles on the front colorful safari. cover.

I Will Chomp You! by Jory John and Bob I love everything that Jared Chapman Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de Shea! This is a hysterical interactive does, especially his Instagram feed, la Peña and Christian Robinson— picture book that will leave your family but Vegetables in Underwear may be WOW! This book is just perfect. The in stitches. (In stitches because you'll his best thing yet. Is illustrations are as writing, the art—this book is just laugh, not because the monster will charming and smile-inducing as ever. perfect. An important addition to your actually bite you.) Pair this with There's And they're vegetables who wear home library! We love reading this book a Monster at the End of This Book, and underwear. What more do you need to to our kids, especially if they are feeling read between dinner and dessert! know? ungrateful.

As we shift seasons, you'll want to pick Bulldozer's Big Day by Candace Wish by Matthew Cordell is a beautiful up A Wonderful Year by Nick Bruel. In Fleming and Eric Rohmann! Absolutely book about the gift of a child. This is a this hysterical picture book, a girl and love this book! A little bulldozer is really beautiful book! Mr. Cordell wrote this her hippopotamus have four funny short excited about his birthday, but nobody about his own family's attempts at stories for each season. This is a picture seems to have remembered it. This growing his family. And as far as I can book, but definitely get this book into book would be the ultimate birthday see, they are not elephants as depicted the hands of your budding comic-book present for a truck-loving kid.... in the book. aficionado!

To the Sea by Cale Atkinson is a Rude Cakes by Rowboat Watkins is a Special Delivery by Phillip Stead and BEAUTIFUL book. Young Tim feels wonderfully bizarre primer on manners. Matthew Cordell—how would you invisible, until he finds a not-so invisible If the ill-mannered pastries aren't deliver an elephant to your dear whale on his street. They strike up a strange enough, wait until you meet the grannie? This book is hilarious and has friendship, and when the whale needs to polite cyclopses. This book had my kids everything you want, a plucky heroine, return to the sea, Tim hooks him up to laughing and using their pleases and biplanes and evil monkeys on trains. his bicycle! Will Tim succeed in thank-yous. returning the whale to the sea?

hello! hello! by Matthew Cordell is a For National Poetry Month check out Polar Bear's Underwear by Tupera must for this digital generation. When anything by Calef Brown! Especially his Tupera—Man, this book is fun! Polar everyone in Lydia's family is stuck on latest, Hypnotize a Tiger: Poems About Bear can't find his underwear, so he their screens, Lydia heads outside and Just About Everything. Calef's poems takes a look around and finds all of the lets her colorful imagination run wild! and illustrations are just whimsically other animals' underwear. I had a lot of beautiful. His work is always so much fun turning the pages with my kids, and fun! you will too.

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear — Wow! Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales—WON a This is a fantastic non-fiction picture Caldecott Honor! This is a very cool way Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova book. We loved learning about the of telling the story of artist Frida Kahlo, belongs on the bookshelf of anybody who origins of Winnie the Pooh. We knew it’s told with words that describe being loves ballet and dance! It's a compelling true there was a real Christopher Robin, but an artist accompanied by photo story written by Laurel Snyder and the story goes back so much further.... illustrations of sculptures. beautifully Illustrated by Julie Morstad. Seriously, you'll want to frame every page and display it on your wall. Anna Pavlova

Look for Whose Tools? by Toni Buzzeo and Jim Datz! We had a lot of fun Check out the Ordinary People reading this lift-a-flap board book—and Change the World Series by Brad we learned a lot about who uses which Meltzer and Chris Eliopoulos! These tool! Nail gun? Chisel? Jointer? My girls picture books are a great introduction to some trailblazers in especially loved learning what an There are several great picture books about American history. It's non-fiction with electrician does, as that is the vocation ninjas that have been published recently! On air, of their friend's mom! Super fun book, the appeal of Calvin and Hobbes! The latest title, I Am Helen Keller, I mentioned Samurai Santa and Ninja Baby. and there is a companion book Check out all of these fun ninja-themed books! publishing soon—Whose Truck?! features actual Braille. We love reading these books in our house!

Look for Lady Pancake & Sir French Read all of the Madeline books by Even if my daughter wasn't obsessed Toast by Josh Funk, illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans, and check out the with bacon, I know we would still love Brendan Kearney! Lady Pancake and Sir new Madeline adventures that are French Toast have had a long-lasting Everyone Loves Bacon by Kelly written by Mr. Bemelmans's grandson, friendship—until they learn there is only DiPucchio and Eric Wight. DiPucchio's John Bemelmans Marciano! one drop of maple syrup left. Then it is a story is so clever and endearing, and battle between the former friends as Wight's illustrations are as charming as they race across the refrigerator. ever.

As an Oak Tree Grows by G. Brian Karas is a rather profound picture book that follows Can you believe that Strega Nona by Waiting by Kevin Henkes is a beautiful, the life of a tree as it grows from a seed Tomie dePaola is celebrating forty years beautiful picture book. Reading this planted in 1775 to the center of a very in print?! Look for The Magical World of book is like a form of meditation. Five bustling community. The tree is always Strega Nona, this volume collects six friends (all toys) sit at the windowsill and positioned in the center of the book stories about that lovable grandma wait...and when you are patient, spread, allowing the young reader to really witch, along with loads of extras! wonderful things happen. see how the landscape changed with passing time and growing technology.

We discussed a writing prompt for the Mindy recommended the hilarious The young listeners—take a classic fairy Mindy recommended When Dinosaurs tales and give it a twist! Change the 39-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths! Came with Everything. I can't wait to perspective of the story, like Jon check it out! Scieszka did with The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs.

This is a book that can (and should) be BEEKLE! The winner of the 2015 enjoyed all year long, but is especially Zombie in Love By Kelly DiPucchio; Caldecott GOLD medal, my pal Dan sweet on Valentine's Day! Hug Machine Scott Campbell A wonderfully macabre Santat! So thrilled! This is such a by Scott Campbell! children's story about the undead wonderful book about dreams and finding true love! friendship. The Adventures of Beekle: the Unimaginary Friend is an instant classic and should be in everyone’s collection!

The crayons are BACK! This brilliant Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Wolfie the Bunny is the perfect picture sequel from Drew Daywalt and Oliver Underwood and Meg Hunt! A super fun book! Written by Ame Dyckman and Jeffers is HYSTERICAL! When crayons book that sets the story of Cinderella in illustrated by Zachariah OHara, this disappear, what have they been up to? spaaaaaaace! Check out this picture story follows the Bunny family, who has book whether you love the classic fairy adopted a baby wolf. tale or not! A great book!

Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina We absolutely love Leo: A Ghost Story If you're young reader isn't especially and the Spirit of New Orleans by Phil by Mac Barnett and Christian Robinson! psyched about Valentine's Day, check Bildner and John Parra a beautiful, When Leo the ghost is mistaken as an out A Crankenstein Valentine by powerful book! Cornelius was an imaginary friend, he eventually needs to Samantha Berger and Dan Santat! And ordinary man who brought magic to his build up the courage to be truthful about be sure to check out the first job every day, and helped clean up the his true identity. Frankenstein book too! streets of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The story is extraordinary, the art is gorgeous! Graphic Novels

Hilo: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth by Giants Beware! by Rafael Rosado and Check out these incredible graphic- Judd Winick is an action-packed, laugh- Jorge Aguirre is a superlative graphic novel editions of The Baby-Sitters Club out-loud graphic novel. It's the first in novel! This book is full of action and Books! Raina Telgemeier (Smile, Sisters) the series, and will leave you and your humor, and the sequel, Dragons brings her trademark awesomeness to kids wanting the next volume ASAP! Beware, just hit bookshelves! Ann M. Martin classics! Now in full color!

I thought El Deafo by Cece Bell was one of the Low Riders in Space! Do you really need Check out Roller Girl by Victoria best books of 2014, so it was no wonder that it anything more than the title of this book Jamieson! It's a great graphic novel took home a Newbery Honor in 2015! It's a to give you the incentive to run out and about following your passion and graphic memoir about Cece's experience pick up this book? Well it is every bit of navigating friendships! Also — growing up hearing impaired. and this book awesome you think it is. awesome roller derby action! beautifully and hilariously conveys the trials and tribulations of growing up and friendship. Imagine if Beverly Cleary wrote a superhero comic—that's what El Deafo is to me!

Check out the Mermin graphic novels Nick Bruel breaks down why and how comics work for those who love reading I'm not going to beat around the bush— by Joey Weiser! These books are filled Travis Nichols's Fowl Play is a laugh- with action and laughs, and it all starts and making comics. Like all the Bad Kitty books it is hysterical and out-loud graphic novel/picture book. It's with Mermin, Book One: Out of Water. educational! full of kid-friendly idioms!

I co-edit the Comics Squad anthologies with Matthew Holm and Jennifer Holm. Our hope for these books is that they will serve as rabbit holes for curious young readers who want to discover new authors. Comics Squad: Lunch! publishes at the end of January! Chapter Books & Early Readers

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson The Crossover written by Kwame Katherine Applegate returns with Crenshaw! A took home a ton of awards in 2015, including Alexander took home the Newbury Gold beautiful story that gives us insight on living the Coretta Scott King Award AND a Newbury Medal in 2015! A superb story told with hunger....and a giant, imaginary cat. Honor Award! So happy for Jackie! A memoir completely in verse! told beautifully in verse.

Check out this awesome series by Noah The Story of Diva and Flea, written by Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon! Oh Mo Willems and illustrated by Tony Jones! Princess Pink and the Land of man, we LOVED reading this chapter Fake Believe books will make milk come DiTerlizzi, is a beautiful love letter to book in my house. Be sure to get the Paris, France. Mo brings his trademark snorting out your nose. (Assuming you n e w l y p u b l i s h e d s e q u e l , D o r y are drinking milk while you read these.) whimsy and Tony brings his beautiful Fantasamagory and the Real True illustrations to this early chapter book. Friend! This is wonderful story about friendship and is a must-read!

Sprout Street Neighbors: Five Stories by Anna Alter! Imagine if the characters The Terrible Two by Jory John and Mac from Wind in the Willows lived in an Barnett is a laugh-out-loud middle apartment building. My kids loved grade novel that your kids will be unable following the tales of the different to put down. Who will reign supreme as tenants. With five stories and beautiful chief prankster in Yawnee Valley? This is illustrations, this book makes for the the first title in a series, and a movie is perfect family read! in the works, so check out this book now!

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Completely Clementine by Sarah Pennypacker is here! It's bittersweet for Adventures by Kate DiCamillo took Mindy because it's the last book in the home the big Newbery Medal in series. But it's the 7th which means if 2014.We just read Flora and Ulysses you're like my family and haven't read it aloud and man, what a fantastic book! yet, there is much to look forward to! In 2015 I published the third installment in the Platypus Police Squad series, a picture book about managing e x p e c t a t i o n s a n d I illustrated a book for the talented Erica S. Perl!

Jarrett J. Krosoczka has been passionate about storytelling through words and pictures since he was a kid. His first book, Good Night, Monkey Boy, was published on June 12, 2001, and Jarrett hasn’t stopped or slowed down since.

Jarrett is a two-time winner of the Children's Choice Book Award for the Third to Fourth Grade Book of the Year and is the author and/or illustrator of more than thirty books for young readers. His work includes several picture books, the Lunch Lady graphic novels and Platypus Police Squad middle- grade novel series. Jarrett has given two TED Talks, both of which have been curated to the main page of TED.com and have collectively acrued more than a million views online. He is also the host of The Book Report with JJK on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live, a weekly segment celebrating books, authors and reading. His work has been featured on the front page of The Globe and on NPR's All Things Considered. Jarrett's books have also been recommended by national publications such as Newsweek, and USA Today. His Punk Farm picture book and Lunch Lady series are both currently in development as feature films. Jarrett lives in Western Massachusetts with his wife and two daughters, and their pugs, Ralph and Frankie.