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There are so many cultural trends, reoccurring themes, and common ideologies that we see in our contemporary society. Similarly, we recognize those same trends and themes in literature. It makes sense that authors want to write what we can all relate to- evoking feelings and emotions that we all know well, allowing readers to explore themselves and others through the written word. What you may not consider is that these trends transcend age and we see them reflected all over literature- even in children's picture books! Let's explore some of the best selling children's picture books of 2017 and how we can see the trends of our contemporary society reflected in these best sellers.

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Girl power is such an important part of our contemporary culture today! Gender equality is all over our political climate, and the push to teach our young girls that the sky is the limit is becoming more prominent than ever. Andrea Beaty has two best-sellers that perfectly represent this trend in ADA TWIST, SCIENTIST and ROSIE REVERE, ENGINEER. A great representation of diversity and girl power, both main characters prove that girls truly do rule, even in environments where the road has not been paved for them.

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A love for FOOD is a huge part of our culture today, and in a different way than it has been in the past. We don't just appreciate a nice, home-cooked meal, we take pictures of our dishes, we appreciate an artsy plate, and we as a culture have even coined the term "foodie." From #TacoTuesday, to taco trucks, we've seen social media and young adults make it cool to love this classic Latin dish. It's easy to see how good food has made it's way into books, among other things (take a look at my padlet wallpaper!).  DRAGONS LOVE TACOS is a perfect example of tasty treats in literature: a humorous, silly, and downright unforgettable picture book, it's known world wide that dragons with large appetites just want TACOS! With 168 weeks on the NY Times Best Sellers list, it's no surprise that the sequel joined it on the list as quickly as it hit the shelves. DRAGONS LOVE TACOS 2 explores the horror that ensues when there are no more tacos left in the world! But, what will the dragons eat?!?! UH OH!

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So often in our world we see inspiring stories of hope and perseverance where people with nearly nothing at all, through hardwork and dedication, find triumph. Videos go viral, articles are shared on social media, and if we get lucky, news outlets report on stories of hope, a welcomed break from the negative news that bombards us daily. Still, we see a culture of encouragement for our youth to reach for the stars, be anything they want to be, and have high hopes for the future ahead of them. I WISH YOU MORE is a touching book about all the things parents pray and hope for their children... "more treasures than pockets," "more pause than fast forward".. it's a picturesque novel with an impactful message for the future. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH AN IDEA? also fits into this trend of persevering through the doubt of others, and trusting in your unique ideas despite what others say. It's a story to inspire young readers to nourish and embrace their ideas no matter what! Another best seller that gives its readers high hopes for the future is one that I have on the shelves of my son's nursery. THE WONDERFUL THINGS YOU WILL BE is a thoughtful, tender story where the narrator imagines all of the things their child will grow up to be: creative, clever, brave and bold.

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With the rise of social media, I've noticed that it truly has become "cool" to celebrate your parents. It's as if we as a society hold each other accountable at times through pictures, mother's and father's day messages, and keeping in touch when maybe you wouldn't have otherwise. I've also seen this trend of "celebrating parenthood" appear in children's literature. I LOVE YOU MOM AND THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR is a fun twist on an old classic that celebrates mom and would make an excellent Mother's Day gift. The bright colors and few, simple words will make it perfect for story time with mom and babe.

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THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers is the longest a book has been on the list as of the list I pulled on May 21, 2017. A reoccurring trend in literature is personification- especially making inanimate objects have personalities and even talk to the reader themselves. Since beginning courses in pursuit of my MLS degree, I've noticed how many books have toys, objects, and animals talking, with human qualities, sometimes even talking to the reader directly through the pages. This book was also awarded the Goodreads Choice Awards- Best Picture Books. THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT is a funny, creative, colorful book where the crayons go on strike because they refuse to be used for the same reasons they always have been, leading their owner Duncan to color one of his most creative pictures yet!

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Everybody loves a dynamic duo... and while this continues to trend today in our contemporary society, it is a classic that has entertained humanity for decades. Lucy and Ethel, Mario and Luigi, and Elephant and Piggie are all dynamic duos that remind us of the power of funny dialogue, speech-bubble banter, team-work, and life lessons learned. Mo Willems camps out on the best seller list with one of the most memorable dynamic duos of children's literature in Elephant & Piggie, an award winning series that is trendy in itself.