I'd like to welcome Jamie Michalak, author of Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter, to Randomly Reading today. Jamie has kindly written a guest post in which she shares some of her favorite picture books about tiny things to celebrate the publication of Dakota Crumb, a tiny mouse with a unique museum.
7 Picture Books About Cute Tiny Things
written by Jamie Michalak
Ever since I was a kid, I've had a thing for cute little objects. I can't resist a dollhouse shop, small collectible toys, or those cooking videos with itty bitty food. So it's no wonder that my latest picture book, Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter, illustrated by Kelly Murphy, is about a mouse who collects tiny treasures for her Mousehole Museum.
written by Jamie Michalak, illustrated by Kelly Murphy
Candlewick Press, July 6, 2021, 32 pages, ages 3-7
In a clever take on the "night at the museum" theme, a little mouse with a genius for collecting leads picture book readers - and seek-and-find fans on a thrilling nocturnal adventure that is both a rollicking story with a dash of danger and, in its final eye-popping spreads, a seek-and-find challenge. As the clock in the great museum tick-tocks past midnight, a little mouse with a sack and a treasure map scurries past the guards. By night, plucky Dakota Crumb scours the great, big museum for the famous Purple Jewel of Cairo (a gumdrop stashed in a exhibit).
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DAKOTA CRUMB: TINY TREASURE HUNTER. Text copyright © 2021 by Jamie Michalak. Illustrations copyright © 2021 by Kelly Murphy. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA. |
By day, the little mouse shares her curated miniature finds with fellow tiny creatures that flock to Miss Crumb's Mousehole Museum. A feast for sharp-eyed readers, this seek-and-find picture book will send readers off in search of the many more tiny treasures that are hidden in the art. What will you discover?
Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter is a gently suspenseful tale, splashed with soft, dusky hues, that evokes a world of wonder after dark.
DAKOTA CRUMB: TINY TREASURE HUNTER. Text copyright © 2021 by Jamie Michalak. Illustrations copyright © 2021 by Kelly Murphy. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA.
Be sure to download the free Activity Kit available from Candlewick Press HERE
Do you know a little one who loves cute tiny things, too? Then let me help you gather some more picture books for them! Here are some of my favorites about small wonders...
Written by Maggie Rudy and Pam Abrams,
Photographs by Bruce Wolf
Kids who like miniatures will fall in love with Maggie Rudy's art. Any Maggie Rudy book will do. She creates wee creatures and their tiny worlds out of felt and small objects. The House That Mouse Built is a lyrical love story, set in a mouse house that's full of unexpected details. Kids will enjoy pointing out familiar objects that have been repurposed, like an acorn cap used as a bowl.
Itty Bitty written and illustrated by
Cece Bell
Itty Bitty is a very, very tiny dog. When she finds an enormous bone, she decides to make it her home. But where will she find very, very tiny furniture? In this quirky picture book by the delightful Cece Bell, readers can follow Itty Bitty's quest (via her trike with a Walnut seat) to make her bone a home.
The Tiny Baker written by Hayley Barrett,
illustrated by Alison Jay
The tiny baker (a bumblebee runs a bustling bakery full of teeny treats. But when her staff of ladybugs unexpectedly flies away, how will the tiny baker manage? Told in rhyme, this enchanting story about helping a friend in need will stir the imagination. Plus, Hayley Barrett's poetic lines beg to be read aloud" "The ice cream maker has exploded. / As some might say...it a-la-moded."
The Secret Life of Squirrels
written and illustrated by Nancy Rose
Take a peek into the secret life of a squirrel named Mr. Peanut. You might think squirrels climb trees all day, but Mr. Peanut would rather cook on his tiny grill or play his little piano. Photographer Nancy Rose creates miniature settings full of clever details, and then snaps photos as real squirrels interact with them. The results are endearing, humorous, and absolutely adorable.
Tiny Perfect Things written by M. H. Clark,
illustrated by Madeline Kloepper
In this rhyming story, a child and a grandfather walk around the neighborhood and discover all sorts of tiny perfect things together. This book encouraged children to appreciate all of nature's small gifts that surround us every day.
Grover and the Everything in the Whole Wide World Museum
written by Norman Stiles, illustrated by Daniel Wilcox
In this classic picture book starring your lovable, furry old pal Grover, our favorite monster visits the Everything in the Whole Wide World Museum. It's full of wacky exhibits that will tickle kids' funny bones. But the best exhibit of all is The Small Hall, a room devoted to cute little things. Swoon!Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter is a Junior Library Guild Selection
Here's what the critics are saying about Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter -
"A delightful, entertaining romp with lots of surprises! - Kirkus
"Dakota Crumb is a delight that readers will return to again and again. In that way, it's a bit like a favorite, fabulous museum." - BookPage
"The writing draws listeners into the story with hints of daring escapades, and its tone sets the stage for adventure. The inviting artwork...enhances that atmosphere with shadowy scenes of the exhibit halls at night. Fun for reading aloud!" - Booklist
Jamie Michalak is the author of many children's books, including Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter, illustrated by Kelly Murphy; Frank and Bean, illustrated by Bob Kolar; the highly praised Joe and Sparky early readers series, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz; as well as the forthcoming picture book Niki Nakayama: A Chef's Tale in 13 Bites, co-written with Debbi Michiko Florence and illustrated by Yuko Jones and many more.
When not writing, Jamie can often be found singing off-key, drinking too much coffee, or hanging out with her two sons. Jamie lives with her family in Barrington, Rhode Island. for more info, visit her at her Website www.jamiemichalak.com
Instagram: @jamiemichalakbooks
Twitter: @jamie_Michalak
Be sure to visit the other stops on the Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter Blog Tour:
6/18 - Watch. Connect. Read
7/6 - Imagination Soup
7/7 - Storymamas
7/8 - Good Reads with Ronna
7/9 - Nerdy Book Blog
7/14 - Randomly Reading
8/3 - Celebrate Picture Books
What a clever post for the blog tour! I've actually heard about Dakota Crumb, Tiny Treasure Hunter, and it sounds like so much fun! All these recommendations are great as well—The Tiny Baker and Tiny, Perfect Things both look wonderful! (And the last book reminded me that I used to have a Sesame Street book as a kid that I loved, and I was never able to figure out which one it was, since I don't have my copy anymore. Aargh!) Thanks so much for the great guest post!
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