Too many Carrots by Katy Hudson

Rabbit loves carrots. He loves them so much that his whole burrow is full of carrots, and there's no room for him to sleep there anymore. What will he do? Rabbit has lots of friends, and they keep offering him a place to stay - but every time, Rabbit brings his carrots with him. Now there's no room at anyone's house! Finally, Rabbit finds the solution and realises that sharing with friends is more important than hoarding things. Book Trust

Two of my favourite things to do are 1. Visit a Lifeline Bookfair and 2. Visit with my friend from Kinderbookswitheverything.  She spied this book and knew I was making a collection of picture books for a country Preschool.

I hope the preschool staff linger over the title page double spread - it is filled with fun - Keep Calm and Carrot On; To do eat carrots, plant carrots, collect carrots, eat carrots; and on the bookshelf Carrot Poetry, Carrot Desserts, Carrot Diaries and 'An ode to the Carrot'. And on a different shelf I spied the classic story 'War and Carrot'. 

The story here is a familiar one. Rabbit's house is too crowded - it is filled with carrots. His friends offer to share their homes but each one of these ends in disaster. Rabbit needs to 'learn a lesson' about sharing and friendship. There would be plenty to talk about at the end of this book and then everyone could munch on a carrot!

Truman by Jean Reidy illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins

pensive

Truman is a small tortoise who lives with his friend Sarah. The city is filled with busy people and loud noises but Truman is peaceful and pensive and so is Sarah until the day something strange happens. Truman watches Sarah start her day in a different way - eating a huge banana, putting on a new sweater, strapping on an enormous backpack.  It was so big "thirty-two small tortoises could ride along in it - but zero tortoises did." Sarah gives Truman extra green beans - this is very puzzling and then:

"she kissed her finger and touched it to his shell and whispered 'Be Brave.' Then she left."

She left!! Truman is filled with worry. Will Sarah come back? Why did she take that big pack? And what's going on with those extra beans?

"Truman waited for Sarah to return. He waited. And waited. He waited a thousand hours - tortoise hours, that is - until he could wait no longer."

Truman knows he must catch the number 11 bus heading south. He finds a way (1,2,3) to climb out of his tank. The world outside (in Sarah's room) is huge and filled with danger but Truman keeps going. As he reaches the closed bedroom door he hears a noise. It's Sarah returning from school! Their reunion is so joyous.

You can see some of the illustrations from Truman here at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

The word pensive appears in this story four times. What a glorious way to acquire a new word. I think Truman is an essential purchase for every school library. It is a perfect picture book.

I won't say why but this flower is especially important in the story:

The emotions of Truman are clearly conveyed and his worry is tangible … Waking Brain Cells

TRUMAN is simply a beautiful book that I recommend to teachers,parents, writers, and readers. Basically, everyone. Nerdy Book Club

This little creature has big courage, something to which small humans can relate. Horn Book

Peaceful and pensive like Truman himself, this book charms;there’s just something uplifting and wonderful about the whole package. Kirkus Star

Here are the author and illustrator web sites.  I would pair this book with Felix and Alexander:

You might also revisit the classic story - Corduroy.