FROM SARAH:

I have a thing for storybook mice. (That's probably understating things a bit, ahem.) And these stories by Jill Barklem take the cake! Autumn Story is a lovely addition to your fall book basket.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Bad weather is on the way and the autumn crops are still not gathered in! Quickly, all the mice of Brambly Hedge set to work to finish the harvesting before the rain begins. Primrose, Lord Woodmouse's daughter, meant to help, but somehow she daydreamed her way over the cornfield and into the Chestnut Woods, and before she knew it, she was lost.

FROM SARAH:

I love the smallness of this book, from its square shape to its carefully crafted little drawings. Jonathan Bean is a favorite around here, and this book is not to be missed!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

On some nights, a snug bedroom is a hard place to fall asleep. On some nights, it's better to get away from slumbering, snoring family members and curl up alone with one's thoughts in the cool night air, under wide-open skies. In this charming bedtime fantasy, a sleepless city girl does just that, finding her surprising way to a serene rooftop version of a backyard campout. With captivating ink-and-watercolor illustrations and a simple, lyrical text, newcomer Jonathan Bean has created a soothing bedtime story that is sure to charm children and parents alike.

FROM SARAH:

When I think about books I loved most as a child, I think instantly of those by husband and wife team, Don and Audrey Wood. This is one of their silliest, and one of their best! (Also don't miss King Bidgood's in the Bathtub, which was my own all-time fav as a child.)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In the napping house is a cozy bed piled high with a snoring granny, a dreaming child, a dozing dog, a snoozing cat, and a slumbering mouse. What could be more comfy? All is at peace until a wakeful flea crawls into the mix. One beastly bite from him and the entire pyramid of sleepers might topple. Is he getting ready to nibble? Humorous and inviting, this story encourages young kids to read along—and make predictions.

*Rabbit Ears Audiobooks are Highly Recommended*

NARRATED BY: Max Von Sydow

BEST FOR AGES: 4+

LISTENING LENGTH: 28 min

FROM SARAH:

My favorite genre of all is picture book biography, and one of my all-time favorite pb biographers? Barb Rosenstock. I think you'll know why when you hear her on RAR episode #151: It's a Story... So What? This story is one of my favorites about Vincent Van Gogh. Gorgeously illustrated by the incomparable Mary GrandPré.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Vincent van Gogh often found himself unable to sleep and wandered under starlit skies. Those nighttime experiences provided the inspiration for many of his paintings, including his most famous, The Starry Night. Van Gogh sold only one painting in his lifetime--but he continued to pursue his unique vision, and ultimately became one of the most beloved artists of all time.

FROM SARAH:

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! These illustrations are precisely what we mean when we say the best books have pictures you want to look at a little longer than necessary. And Joyce Sidman is one of the best lyrical poets for children. Don't miss this one!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Welcome to the night, where mice stir and furry moths flutter. Where snails spiral into shells as orb spiders circle in silk. Where the roots of oak trees recover and repair from their time in the light. Where the porcupette eats delicacies—raspberry leaves!—and coos and sings.

Come out to the cool, night wood, and buzz and hoot and howl—but do beware of the great horned owl—for it’s wild and it’s windy way out in the woods!