All the World. By Liz Garton Scanlon. Illustrated by Marla Frazee. Beach Lane Book, 2009 (hardback). Frazee is well known for her detailed, humanistic paintings (Hush Little Baby and Everyday Babies are two other favorites), and with this wonderful offering, she won a Caldecott honor. The rhyming text is poetic and stirring, and the words and illustrations work together perfectly to bring to life a lovely seaside setting, where a group of family and friends do their own things all day before gathering in the evening for dinner and music. Children will enjoy the wide, vast pictures, and tracking the different people who appear and reappear throughout. Adults will appreciate the greater themes of tolerance, community, sustainability, and togetherness, and might gently point them out to older children. Age range: 3-8. Fosters: Phonological awareness. Other categories: Rhyming, Environment, Multiculturalism, Outstanding art.
A is for Salad. By Mike Lester. Puffin, 2000 (hardback). Who says alphabet books have to be boring, or even straightforward? Here, Lester switched things around to make kids sit up straight and participate on a level not usually available for concept books. For A, Lester shows an alligator eating salad, and the text reads, "A is for salad." At this point, the adult will want to say something along the lines of, "Wait, A isn't for salad! What starts with A on this page?" And the kids will shout out, "Alligator!" You can take it even further, asking what salad does start with. For X and Y, Lester writes, "X and Y are not important letters. Never use them." And the illustrations are very funny, too (what kid won't laugh at a tiger in underpants?). An alphabet book for the three-and-up crowd. Age range: 3-6. Fosters: Letter knowledge. Other categories: Animals, Concept.
The Apple Pie that Papa Baked. By Lauren Thompson. Illustrated by Jonathan Bean. Simon & Schuster, 2007 (hardback). This cumulative book is a spin on "the house that Jack built," following a country papa as he picks the apples to make an apple pie for his daughter. The remarkable illustrations are the real draw, featuring stylized pictures in sepia-esque browns and yellows, with red for the apples. The result is an atmospheric tale that will evoke nostalgia in adults and will encourage children to chant along. I actually find the story itself rather lacking (not much happens, and the author has to throw in passive elements like the water feeding the roots that are attached to the trees that provide the apples), the but the illustrations make up for a great deal. Age range: 3-6. Fosters: Narrative skills, memory. Other categories: Environment.
Bear in the Air. Breezy, skilled watercolors depict a teddy bear's adventure after he falls from his boy's stroller on what appears to be a typical East Coast boardwalk circa 1920. The rhymes text is measured and never misses a beat, and on one side of each spread, the illustrator has provided charming martitime details(a mess of nettin or shells, for example). As is appropriate, the heartbroken mom and child, still on their seaside walk, recover the bear after his wild beach-water-sky shenanignans. Other categories: Rhyming, Animals.
The Biggest Snowball Ever. By John Rogan. Scholastic, 1988 (paperback). A wonderful holiday title, with long, complex rhyming verses and a funny story with an element of danger followed by resolution. There's no particular reason this story needed to be told in rhyme, but happily, the rhymes are fun and well-done, with just one or two uneven notes that don't quite jibe. The line drawings are spare but filled with drama, and the story has so much going on that kids will enjoy every action-packed moment. Since it can hold kids' interest and will enhance their phonological awareness, it's no surprise this was picked up by the school market. Age range: 3-8. Fosters: Narrative skills, phonological awareness. Other categories: Holidays, Rhyming.
Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem. By Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Adam Rex. Hyperion, 2009 (hardback). While younger children may be interested in the idea of a boy with a whale for a pet, there are sophisticated concepts, jokes, and issues galore here to engage kids much older. Billy is a regular kid with a messy room and a crush on the pretty girl at school. The deadpan, tongue-in-cheek tone, when his mother gives him a whale to teach him responsibility, will be grasped by kids five and up. There is a lot of feeling here, and kids will feel both sympathy and empathy. Age range: 3-10. Fosters: Vocabulary, narrative skills, humor. Other categories: Animals.
Carl's Summer Vacation. By Alexandra Day. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2008 (hardcover). The Carl books are mostly wordless, allowing for child to take the role of storyteller, at least once he/she is familiar with the book. In this particular volume, the family is taking a vacation in the woods, and Carl and Madeleine have some wholesome outdoor adventures while the parents think they're napping. The depictions of the adults are far less grating than in earlier Carl books: Here the parents look like a couple you'd want to be friends with, not a relic from the 1950s. Age range: 1-5. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other categories: Holidays (fourth of July), Animals, Wordless books.
Counting Crocodiles. By Judy Sierra. Illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. Harcourt, 1997 (hardback). A counting book that reads more like a narrative, this is a devilishly funny story about a monkey who wants to get across the sea to a banana tree, and cleverly tricks the hungry crocodiles into letting him jump across them. The rollicking rhyming text is rich, allowing for multiple readings to let the child glean all meanings. This might be too long and flowery for storytime, best enjoyed one-on-one. Age range: 3-8. Fosters: Phonological awareness, narrative skills, counting. Other categories: Rhyming, Concept.
Dinosaur vs. Bedtime. By Bob Shea. Hyperion, 2008 (hardcover). Expect lots of giggles as a big bold cartoonish dinosaur wins every battle life throws at him (a slide, a bowl of spaghetti, grown-ups talking), but finally meets his match with bedtime. The deadpan style is truly funny, and it ends on a sweet note, with dino snoozing in pajamas. Because it has so few words per page, it will please all ages. This would be an excellent toddler storytime choice. Age range: 2-6. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other categories: Bedtime, dinosaurs.
Down by the Station. By Will Hillenbrand. Sandpiper, 2002 (hardcover). Like all of Hillenbrand's works, this one is a keeper. The author-illustrator takes the classic nursery rhyme song and puts a zoo train spin on it. The little train progresses through the zoo before opening hours, picking up baby animals and bringing them to the children's zoo, where, on the last page, a bus-load of kids unloads and begins to play happily wiht the little critters. The animal sounds, cumulative text (on each page, the text repeats all the animal sounds to date and adds one more on), and very funny illustrations (including a mishap involving a crocodile pit--horrors!) make this a super fun book for storytimes or one-on-ones. Age range: 1-5. Fosters: Phonological awareness. Other categories: Songs, Animals, Trains and vehicles.
Engine, Engine, Number Nine. By Stephanie Calemenson. Illustrated by Paul Meisel. Hyperion, 1996 (hardback). Where is Engine Number Nine Going? As it chugs along, picking up human and animal passengers, we finally deduce that the train is heading to the state fair. The pictures are silly, and the text is musical enough to captivate quite young readers. A great summertime choice. Age range: 2-6. Fosters: Narrative skills, phonological awareness. Other categories: Rhyming, holidays (fourth of July), Trains and vehicles, Animals.
Freight Train. By Donald Crews. Greenwillow, 1978 (hardback). With big blocks of brilliant primary colors, Crews illustrates four cars of a train, and talks about them in concise language. A Caldecott honor book, this is a great way to hook young kids, especially boys, on books. Parents report that toddlers read this book hundreds of times, teaching them print awareness and print motivation. Fabulous choice for a baby storytime. Age range: 0-3. Fosters: Print awareness, print motivation, vocabulary. Other categories: Trains and vehicles, Outstanding art, Award winner.
Froggy's Baby Sister. By Jonathan London. Illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz. Viking, 2003 (hardback). The Froggy series is immensely popular, and all of them are big hits with the preschool crowd. Kids like the sound effects ("flop flop flop") and the recurring calls back and forth between parents and child ("Frrrrooggyy! Wha-a-at?"). Parents may become weary of the garish cartoony illustrations and one-note plots, but the laughs from the kids are worth it. These are good fun with lots to look at on each page. Age range: 3-6. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other categories: Animals, Issues.
Have You Seen My Duckling? By Nancy Tafuri. Greenwillow, 1991 (hardback). A Caldecott honoree, this beautiful, simple look-and-find book shines with its Japanese-influenced pictures in a lovely palette of browns and yellows, and its basic text, perfect for young toddlers. Ducks are always a popular book subject, and this would make a great one to center a duck storytime around. Age range: 0-3. Fosters: Narrative skills, print awareness, print motivation. Other categories: Animals, Award Winner, Outstanding art.
How Do Dinosaurs Clean Their Rooms? By Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Mark Teague. Blue Sky Press, 2004 (hardback). Hilarious. If you want to engage children in reading/listening while entertaining them to high heaven, the How Do Dinosaurs...? books are a sure bet. Yolen's rhyming, with its sing-song cadence, is pitch perfect, and you will want to pause at the right moment (halfway through) to let children call out joyfully, "NO!" in answer to all the silly questions. The illustrations, showing enormous dinosaurs doing things like folding underpants, are ridiculously funny, just right in tone for kids just beginning to understand irony and tongue-in-cheek humor. (And for the dino nuts, each big guy is labeled.) Age range: 3-7. Fosters: Phonological awareness. Other categories: Dinosaurs, Issues, Rhyming.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. By Laura Numeroff. Illustrated by Felicia Bond. HarperCollins, 1985 (hardcover). The circular "If You Give a..." series is a huge hit, and deservedly so. While the illustrations are not remarkable from an artistic standpoint, they do the job at illustrating the clever, groundbreaking concept. The mouse is so realistic yet silly in this book, that kids are really tickled watching his shenanigans and the mess he makes as the poor boy gets dragged along for the ride, a la Cat in the Hat. A wonderful craft to accompany this book, more appropriate for doing at home (because too involved for a library storytime), is to cut out a circle, cut it into wedges, then illustrate one action for each wedge, to show how the story is a cycle that returns to the beginning and starts again. I would suggest putting this on a handout for parents to take home. Age range: 3-6. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other catgories: Animals.
Interrupting Chicken. By David Ezra Stein. Candlewick, 2010 (hardback). A 2010 Caldecott honor recipient, this is a breath of fresh air: a truly hilarious, unpatronizing picture book that will make kids laugh out loud. So unused are we to this sort of humor in books that children may need abit of explaining the first time: "So look, the little chicken jumps into the book and takes over!" Good voices will help, too. Also essential is a familiarity with classic fairy tales, so if a child is not yet familiar with them, this could provide an impetut to grab a fairy tale book as well and use it as a lead-in. Children oiunger than four will enjoy the book for its rich, action-packed illustrations and fast dialogue, but may not entirely grasp the joke. Age range: 4-8. Fosters: Narrative skills, humor, familiarity with fairy tales. Categories: Fairy tales, animals.
Katy and the Big Snow. By Virgina Lee Burton Houghton Mifflin, 1973 (hardcover; first published published 1943). Unlike Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Katy is not too wordy for two-year-olds. That, combined with the truck factor, make this a surefire hit for toddlers and preschoolers. Katy is likeable and hardworking, the drawings of the town are cunning, and following Katy's progress with one's finger is almost like playing a video game! A classic forever, but better for one-on-one readings because of the details of the illustrations. Age range: 2-5. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other categories: Outstanding Art, Trains and vehicles.
Kitten's First Full Moon. By Kevin Henkes. Greenwillow/HarperCollins, 2004 (hardcover). Despite its Caldecott medal, I find this less compelling than other Henkes creations. Still, with its thick black-outlined illustrations and cute story of a kitten who chases the moon, thinking it is a bowl of milk, it will appeal to young children. The basic drama (Kitten pounces. She gets all wet!) and spare language are ideal for a toddler storytime. Age range: 2-5. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other categories: Animals, Award Winner.
Knufflebunny. By Mo Willems. Hyperion, 2004 (hardback). Willems created a classic with this hugely-popular book, now with two sequels. His style, which won him the Caldecott, is photographs of backgrounds with cartoon people superimposed. In the first book, a little girl loses her stuffed bunny at the laundrymat. When dad finds it, she calls the bunny's name--and speaks her first word. Kids loves the sound effects Willems uses for Trixie's babble. With just a sentence or two per page, are large, rounded depictions of the characters, this is a perfect storytime choice. Age range: 3-6. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other categories: Award-winners, Outstanding Art
Library Lion. By Michelle Knudsen. Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. Candlewick, YEAR (paperback). The cover shouts that this was a New York Times bestseller, and one read makes it clear why. When a lion wanders into the public library one day and decides to stay for storytime, the patrons barely bat an eye. Instead, they fall in love with him. Here, you have a nemesis, Mr. XXX the librarian, who lurks around corners, jealous of the attention the children shower on the big lug; a heroine, the formidable but ultimately warm-hearted head librarian, Miss Merriweather; and a darling, loveable hero, the lion who lets children lean on his furry back and dusts the encyclopedias with his tail. You've also got a heartbreaking plot twist (the lion roars and gets evicted for breaking the no-noise rule), and big-time character development. Few books pack as much good stuff into as few pages, and air it with such lovely illustrations. We should all have such a cozy library to visit. Age range: 3-8. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other categories: Animals, Favorites.
The Little House. By Virginia Lee Burton. Houghton Mifflin, 1978 (originally published in 1943) (hardcover; also available in paperback). Some might find the anti-urban, pro-country feeling here overly sentimental (more so than in Katy and the Big Snow or Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel), but other issues still ring true after 70 years, and this is still a good read, as well as a Caldecott winner. The house is anthropomorphic, and as her doorstop/smile slowly staightens out, and her shutters become broken and her pink color darkened by soot, children will worry and feel for her. The resolution is just brilliant, a wonderful ending to a story for the ages. I will never tire of pouring over the pictures of the country and examining the change in the seasons. Burton deservedly won the Caldecott for this one. Age range: 3-6. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other categories: Outstanding art, Award winners.
LMNO Peas. By Keith Baker. Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, 2010 (hardback). Although there are just a few words per page in this delightful alphabet book, it is best suited to one-on-one reading, as children will want to bend close and take their time checking out the little critters doing lots of funny stuff. The rhyming is so enchanting that parents will enjoy reading it aloud. Age range: 3-6. Fosters: Vocabulary, letter knowledge, phonolgical awareness. Other categories: Rhyming, Concept.
Look Whoooo's Counting. By Sue MacDonald. Scholastic, 2000 (hardcover). This counting book could not be more clever, and stands up to multiple reads, as you notice something new each time. "When Owl was young," it begins, "She could not read. Flying through the sky one night, she learned." She then proceeds to count animals from one to ten. The remarkable thing about this book, though, is the way MacDonald repeats the numbers throughout the pages, in the illustrations. For example, the three flying ducks look just like the letter three, and the numbers 1, 2, and 3 are hidden in the owl's wings. Children will delight in finding all incarnations of the number on each page, as they enjoy the glowing watercolors and depictions of nocturnal animal life. Age range: 1-5. Fosters: Counting. Other categories: Animals, Concept.
Madeline. By Ludwig Bemelmans. Viking, 1976 (paperback; first published 1939). This is the girl who set the stage for Olivia, Lilly, and other sassy picture book heroines of our day. An oldie, this is definitely a goodie, and one that every child should know, if only for the cultural references. The interesting rhyming, however, is another good reason to read Madeline, and will jog children's phonological awareness. Each illustration is a work of art, perfectly suggesting the mood of the moment (usually excitement and alarm, but sometimes care and love). This would work well for a preschool storytime, but may be most fun one-on-one, with time to digest the pictures. Age range: 3-8. Fosters: Phonological awareness, narrative skills, vocabulary. Categories: Award winners, Rhyming, Outstanding art, Favorites.
Mary Wore Her Red Dress and Henry Wore His Green Sneakers. By Merle Peek. Clarion/Houghton Mifflin, 1985 (hardback). Many readers may not be familiar with the simple, charming folk tune this book should be sung to, but even if simply read, it is a winner. "Mary wore her red dress, red dress, red dress, Mary wore her red dress all day long," begins the book, before moving on to Henry and his green sneakers, Katy and her yellow sweater, and so on. Delightfully, the charcoal illustrations of animal friends going to Katy's birthday party start in black and white, and add a color on each page (librarians might suggest it for parents working on colors with toddlers, in fact). If a parent does learn the song, they will find it is perfect for singing in the car and anywhere, as it can be adapted to any situation or story. A must-have in one's box of tools. Age range: 1-4. Fosters: Narrative skills, vocabulary (colors). Other categories: Animals, Concept, Outstanding Art, Songs, Favorites.
Max & Ruby's Bedtime Book. By Rosemary Wells. Viking, 2010 (hardback). Even the cover of this oversized book (actually three stories within a story) is irresistible, with a royal blue background and Wells' beloved bunnies jumping on the bed. Max and Ruby ask Grandma for a bedtime story, and the gamely tells them three, featuring, of course, her grandchildren themselves. There are two or more illustrations per page (something I also like about Wells and Iona Opie's Mother Goose book), so young children have plenty to look at. These stories are good any time of day, but the conceit of bedtime stories within a story is a pleasing and comforting one for nighttime. Age range: 3-6. Fosters: Narrative skills. Categories: Animals, Bedtime.
Mr. Gumpy's Outing. By John Burningham. Henry Holt, 1970 (paperback; also available in hardcover). Mr. Gumpy kindly invites one animal after another onto his boat, until the inevitable happens, and they all tumble into the water. After swimming to the side of the river, he invited them all back home for tea. The cumulative effect keeps children counting and on their toes. A delightful crowd-pleaser with soft, sketchy drawings that won the book the Kate Greenaway medal (the British version of the Caldecott). Age range: 1-5. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other categories: Animals, Award Winners, Outstanding art.
Mr. Cookie Baker. By Monica Wellington. Penguin, 1997 (first published in 1992) (paperback). The most fun in this book is gazing hungrily at the dozens of cookie shapes Mr. Baker makes, and playing games deciding which one you'll have first. The ultra-simple gouache and colored pencil illustrations, with one sentence per page, show a baker happily mixing his dough, rolling it out, cutting out the shapes, and then selling them to the hungry children. This is a must-read before a holiday baking project (and it even comes with a sugar cookie recipe!). Age range: 1-4. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other categories:
Holidays.
No, David! By David Shannon. Blue Sky Press, 1998 (paperback; also available in hardcover). David just can't be good. On each page, we see the rambunctious tot reaching for the cookie jar, jumping on his bed, or running down the street naked. Kids will howl with laughter, then smile happily when the mother, after one scolding too many, softens with, "Davey, come here. I love you." The fantastic illustrations are very memorable. A perfect toddler storytime choice. Age range: 1-5. Fosters: Narrative skills, empathy. Other categories: Outstanding art, Award winners.
Noisy Nora. By Rosemary Wells. Viking, 1999 (first published 1973) (hardback). Wells has dozens of books to pick from; this early choice is noteworthy for its spare, perfectly cadenced rhyming text and spirited, naught heroine, faithfully brought to life in Wells's trademark drawing style. Nora is jealous, as the reader soon recognizes. When mom and dad seem to have time only for her older sister and baby brother, well, she acts out: "Jack had dinner early. Father played with Kate. Jack needed burping, no Nora had to wait. First she banged the window, then she slammed the door, then she dropped her sister's marbles on the kitchen floor." Children will smile in amazed delight at Nora's antics. Most refreshing is the lack of pat resolution at the end. Wells's promise shines brightly through. Age range: 2-6. Fosters: Phonological awareness, narrative skills. Categories: Rhyming,
Old Black Fly. By Jim Aylesworth. Illustrated by Stephen Gammell. Henry Holt, 1992 (hardback). This riotous, rollicking alphabet book following a fly as he gets into heaps of trouble (and ends up dead--sensitive kids may be alarmed) begs to be read aloud, loudly and with lots of sound effects. The Shel Silverstein-like illustrations (Gammell also illustrated Cynthia Rylant's The Relatives Came) are funny, detailed, and somewhat dark (metaphorically). An excellent storytime choice, if a little on the long side. Age range: 2-6. Fosters: Phonological awareness, letter knowledge, vocabulary. Other categories: Animals, Concept, Rhyming.
The Old Spooky Tree. By Stan and Jan Berenstain. Beginner Books/Random House, 1978 (hardcover). A beginning reader that will also delight much younger children. When three little bears head out to explore the spooky old tree, they run into deliciously scary situations but make it home unscathed, to Mama's relief. The story is rhyming, rhythmic, and repetitive and occasionally sums up everything that has come before. Adults will wants to let kids chime in with the repeating theme: "Three little bears... / without a light, / without a stick, / without a rope. / And all with the shivers!" Berenstain Bears don't receive much credit in the preliteracy world, but this reader is both entertaining and educational. Age range: 2-6. Fosters: Narrative skills, phonological awareness. Other categories: Animals, Rhyming, Early reader.
Olivia. By Ian Falconer. Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, 2000 (hardcover). The original tale of the spunky little pig who is "very good at wearing people out" has spawned many sequels and concept books (counting, alphabet), and is a Caldecott honoree--and for good reason: The text is simple, the character is endearing, and the pen-and-ink drawings (all black, with some red thrown in) are easy on the eyes. The theme the the little girl who challenges her parents with her energy and wit, has been done quite a lot (think Ramona, Madeline, Little Sal, and D.W.), but somehow, it never gets old. With lots to point out and look at, this is best enjoyed one-on-one. Age range: 1-4. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other categories: Animals, Outstanding art, Award winners.
Otis. By Loren Long. Philomel, 2009 (hardback). For Otis, the author cites as inspirations the illustrator of The Story of Ferdinand, as well as the author of classics such as Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. The story has a pleasant arc, first making us fall in love with the “friendly little tractor” who befriends a mama-sick calf. We then feel outraged when Otis is ousted from the barn by a brand new big yellow tractor. Finally, we worry when the calf falls into the mud pond, and cheer victoriously when only Otis can rescue her. The gouache and pencil illustrations are lovely, with an almost sepia-toned quality that brings Ferdinand to mind again (and the shots of Otis and his calf under the apple tree are an unmistakable homage). This book will capture the hearts of preschoolers, and play to our never-ending love affair with vintage American farm life. A good storytime choice. Age range: 2-6. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other categories: Trains and vehicles, Outstanding art, Animals
Pirates Don't Change Diapers. By Melinda Long. Illustrated by David Shannon. Harcourt, 2007. This is the sequel to the popular How I Became a Pirate, and just as hysterically funny to preschoolers. Many will recognize Shannon's signature characters from the No, David! books, and the art is a lot of the book's charm. This is one of the books where things happen that wouldn't quite occur in the real world, and as an adult, it is interesting to observe when a child notices. Mostly, though, it's just great fun to laugh along with the kids when the pirates practice putting diapers on each other and the dog, and when the baby sneezes strained spinach all over them. There's also enough pirate talk to satisfy the most ardent pirate enthusiasts. Age range: 3-6. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other categories: Pirates.
Puff, the Magic Dragon. By Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton/ Illustrated by Eric Puybaret. Sterling, 2007 (hardback). Everyone knows the lyrics, and here the classic folk song is put to oversized paintings whose soft, fuzzy quality capture the mystical, magical feel of the words. This book has some other things going for it besides the illustrations. It comes with a CD (which also includes two other folk classics), and the authors have tweaked the ending. Anyone who has ever cried at the end, when Jackie Paper grows up and Puff is left bereft, will appreciate the addendum here: On the last page, we see that Jackie Paper is a dad now, and his daughter is meeting the dragon for the first time. Puff's apparent joy at having a new playmate is a delight. I also like the bigger-than-usual size of the book, good for sharing and hiding behind. Age range: 1-6. Fosters: Phonological awareness, narrative skills. Other categories: Animals, Songs.
The Quiet Book. By Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by Renata Liwska. Houghton Mifflin, 2010. This is a cozy book best read with one-on-one, but which would also work for a not-too-big storytime. On each page, the author names a different sort of quiet, such as "don't scare the robin quiet," "others telling secrets quiet," and "swimming underwater quiet." Some of the analogies are subtle and require explaining, or some pondering on the child's part, making this a thorughtful, challenging book. The illustrations feature sweet animal characters in a soft, dreamy palette. Age range: 2-6. Fosters: Vocabulary. Other categories: Bedtime.
The Red Book. By Barbara Lehman. Houghton Mifflin, 2004 (hardcover). The wordless cover sets the tone: There are no words in this Caldecott honor book, allowing the parent and child to figure out the illustrations and tell the story together. The concept is quite sophisticated, involving a girl who loses herself in a book and travels to the world she sees in the pictures. Many thoughtful conversations between parent and child will result. One big pro is that a child can read this book at all different ages, and get new things out of it each time. Not appropriate for storytime; best enjoyed one-on-one. Age range: 3-8. Fosters: Narrative skills, logic. Other categories: Wordless books, Award-winners.
Red Sled. By Patricia Thomas. Illustrated by Chris L. Demarest. Boyds Mill Press, 2008 (hardcover). This book tells the story of a dad and boy who have a sledding adevnture before bed, in only two to four rhyming words per page ("Nighttime climb. Steep leap. Slide ride"). The drawing are bold and cartoonish, perfect for very little people. Since the text is is simple, this is appropriate both for young toddlers to listen to, and for K and up kids to practice reading. In any case, adults and children of all ages will get a cozy glow from the fun-filled wintertime tale. Age range: 1-6. Fosters: Narrative skills, phonological awareness. Other categories: Rhyming, Holiday, Bedtime.
The Runaway Bunny. By Margaret Wise Brown. Illustrated by Clement Hurd. HarperCollins, 2005 (first published 1942). This is a testament to a mother's love for her child, but it's also just a very entertaining, clever book to read to preschoolers. Children will be fascinated to see the baby bunny transform himself into a trout, flower, rock, boat and more, and then to watch him mother figure out a way to catch up with him. On some pages, the bunny is hard to find and children will enjoy searching for him. The story is repetitive, using the same formula in each scenario, making it easy to grasp for young children. Like Mama, Do You Love Me?, the book ends on a sweet, reassuring note, after the fun and goofiness of the previous pages. There has been some controversy here, with people bashing the theme as stalking, or having problems with the metamorphosis theme, but I don't see any merit in those arguments. Age range: 2-5. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other categories: Animals.
Sam and the Firefly. By P.D. Eastman. Beginner Books/Random House, 1958 (hardcover). A classic "I can read it book," Sam and the Firefly is notable for its palette of lovely deep nightime colors, and the engaging story of a naughty firefly who write words with his light to tease and confuse others. There's great drama here, when the firefly's antics almost cause a tragic train accident, although all ends well. The book is written with a controlled vocabulary for beginning readers, but because there are pictures on every page, and the story is simply told, this is also appropriate for younger children. Age range: 3-8. Fosters: Narrative skills, letter knowledge, Early reader. Other categories: Early reader, Animals.
Scranimals. By Jack Prelutsky. Illustrated by Peter Sis. Greenwillow, 2006 (paperback; first published 2002). As always, Prelutsky's rhymes are totally irresistible and simply roll off the tongue. Those used to his delightful holiday poems will find this book an incredibly creative departure. On each spread, Prelutsky has fused one animal with one fruit or vegetable to create a scrambled animal--a scranimal--and then crafted a funny poem about it. So we've got the Mangorilla, the Radishark, and the Potatoad. Children will quickly develop favorites, and have fun anticipating which is coming next (there is always a clue on the preceding page). This is wonderful silliness, and the complicated rhymes will challenge kids to listen hard. One of these would be a good addition to a storytime. Age range: 4-8. Fosters: Phonological awareness, vocabulary. Other categories: Animals, Poetry, Rhyming, Outstanding art.
A Sick Day for Amos McGee. By Philip C. Stead. Illustrated by Erin Stead. Roaring Brook, 2010(hardback). Winner of the 2010 Caldecott for its elegant, ethereal drawings. Amos is a beloved zookeeper, and when he doesn't come in to work one day, his favorite animals dutifully troop out of the zoo to his house to take care of him the way he usually takes care of them. The story shares much with Goodnight, Gorilla, but the overall feel is less goofy, more peaceful. Still, kids will smile to see the animals waiting for the bus and having tea with Amos, and the message is one of devoted friendship. The line drawings are simple, with almost nothing in the background (keeping them un-busy), yet each character is detailed. (The style reminds me a bit of a lower-octane Stephen Gammell.) The text is spare, and in the middle, there are several pages with no words at all, allowing the reader and listener to take the mic. Age range: 3-8. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other categories: Animals, Award Winners, Outstanding art.
Thelonious Monster's Sky-High Fly Pie: A Revolting Rhyme. By Judy Sierra. Illustrated by Edward Koren. Knopf, 2006 (hardback). Older preschoolers will appreciate, and be challenged by, the sophisticated rhyming and clever text ("Thelonius urgently e-mailed a spider. He wanted advice from a savvy insider"). The detailed illustrations and funny plot, featuring a monster's humorous attempt to make a fly pie, will not fly for large storytimes of younger kids, however, as they require careful listening and looking and some explaining. Age range: 3-8. Fosters: Vocabulary, phonological awareness, narrative skills. Other categories: Rhyming, Animals.
The Village Garage. By G. Brian Karas. Christy Ottaviano Book/Henry Holt, 2010 (hardback). In a small Eastern village, when the seasons change, the trucks change with them. Although the true-to-life trucks lack the faces of the vehicles in Virginia Lee Burton’s classics Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and Katy and the Big Snow, the text fosters the same fondness for the big lugs. Truck-crazed toddlers and preschoolers will want to read it over and over. Happily, because of the winsome, realistic depictions of life is a small
Waddle, Waddle, Quack, Quack, Quack. By Barbara Anne Akalak. Illustrated by Sylvia Long. Chronicle Books, 2005 (hardcover). In charming verse, set to Long's famously adorable illustrations, a just-hatched duckling wanders away from his mama and causes the whole family to go on a duck hunt. The pictures will charm toddlers and the rollicking rhyming text will draw them in. Though it is too wordy for storytimes, it is a lovely one-on-one choice. Age range: 2-5. Fosters: Narrative skills, phonological awareness. Other categories: Rhyming, animals.
You and Me, Little Bear. By Martin Waddell. Illustrated by Barbara Firth. Candlewick, 1996 (hardcover). "Once there were two bears, Big Bear and Little Bear. Big Bear is the big bear, and Little Bear is the little bear." Thus begin each book in this series, and despite the preponderance of speaking bear books out there today, this one is still a stand-out. Both the text and the soft watercolors are superb, making the reader connect strongly to the bear dad and bear son. Kids will appreciate the child-sized dilemmas Little Bear finds himself in: wanting to play, not clean up; being afraid to go to sleep; creating a fort in his yard but then getting lonely when he attempts to sleep there. Waddell, author of Owl Babies, has created another masterful depiction of parent-child devotion. Age range: 2-5. Fosters: Narrative skills. Other categories: Animals, Outstanding art, Favorites.
