Well. I was rather mistaken in thinking I had posted a picture books roundup not that long ago!! Whoops!! It’s definitely time to play catch up over the course of a few posts. So, without further preamble, welcome to another round-up of recently read and recommended picture books! In no particular order, here are the titles: Truman by Jean Reidy and illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins is a marvelous, deeply felt and satisfying story featuring an unforgettable little turtle named Truman who very bravely takes to action when his beloved girl Sarah boards the bus one day; Tina Kügler‘s Snail & Worm Again, this perfect-for-reading-aloud picture book carries on the giggly and perfectly oddball humour from the first Snail & Worm (this series should hold definite appeal for Elephant & Piggie and Charlie & Mouse fans!); the fantastic- I repeat, fantastic–  Just a Minute!: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Pura Belpré winner Yuyi Morales (with trans. by Ana Maria Machado), a wonder of a counting tale featuring an unwanted visitor, suspense, and a delightful ending; author Mike Brownlow and Simon Rickerty bring readers Ten Little Pirates, a countdown-from-ten story that is as visually bright and appealing as it clever and fun (the duo’s series of “Ten Little…” stories are pretty great and fun read aloud stories!); Ooko author-illustrator Esmé Shapiro returns with another wonderfully peculiar up-is-down, down-is-up story called Alma and the Beast, about friendship and delighting in differences; the fable-like and ruminative King Mouse, written by award-winning Canadian author Cary Fagan, gloriously illustrated by Dena Seiferling (in a debut!), tells the tale of a small circle of animals and problems that arise with the discovery of crowns and multiple proclamations of royalty; How to Read a Book by Kwame Alexander with art by Melissa Sweet, is a marvel of a picture book that speaks to the kaleidoscopic experience of reading and asks readers to pay attention and play along (I pored over this one multiple times in just the first sitting); I Am the Boss of This Chair by Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by Marisa Morea, is a sweet gem of a read for cat-loving little ones (and not so little ones!) that pairs feline fun with a look at making space for new friends; and last but not least, the laugh out loud and zany I Am a Tiger written by Karl Newson and illustrated by Ross Collins, in which a little mouse- uh, sorry, no, a tiger– manages to convince a slew of bigger animal just who is who and who is what (a great pick for storytime or read aloud!). Happy picture book reading!