 Why
Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears
illustrations by Leo & Diane Dillon,
text by Verna Aardema
Caldecott Medal 1976
Ages 5–8
This retelling of a traditional West
African tale reveals how the mosquito developed its annoying
habit of buzzing in people’s ears. The wax-resist style illustrations
are incredible. |
|
 Song
and Dance Man
by Karen Ackerman
Caldecott Medal 1989
Ages 3–7
One afternoon a visit to the attic convinces
Grandpa to recreate his vaudeville song and dance act for his
three delighted grandchildren. The colorful illustrations capture
the children’s viewpoint of this delightful event. |
|
 Roots
and Blues: A Celebration
by Arnold Adoff, R. Gregory Christie
Ages 8–12
Poems, poetic prose, and vibrant
paintings honor the legacy of blues music, from the slave
ships, to plantation fields, to chain gang labor, to
the energy of the juke joints. Words and illustrations
work together to portray the pain and misery and memories
and hope that was transformed by rhythm and harmony into
the music called the blues. |
|
 The
Retired Kid
by Jon Agee
Ages 4–8
Eight-year old Brian, exhausted
by school, soccer, and eating his vegetables, decides
to retire and heads for Florida. At the Sunset Retirement
Center, Brian at first enjoys the leisurely pace, but
finally decides to come out of retirement and return
to his job. |
|
 The
Pencil
by Allan Ahlberg, Bruce Ingman
Ages 4–8
This clever book tells the story of
a pencil whose creations come to life. Young readers will love
watching the pencil draw his way out of one predicament and
straight into another. |
|
 Itsy
Mitsy Runs Away
by Elanna Allen
Ages 3–7
Itsy Mitsy has had it with
bedtime, and sets off in her footed pajamas in search
of the perfect place where there are no bedtimes ever.
Dad helps out by suggesting things that Mitsy can’t
do without, beginning with her stuffed dinosaur and
the contents of the refrigerator until she has packed
her entire house, yard and all. This very funny book
will become a bedtime favorite. |
|
 There’s
a Princess in the Palace
by Zoe Alley, R.W. Alley
Ages 4–8
The tongue-in-cheek retellings
of five fairy tales emphasize clever dialog over beauty
and romance. The characters in the tales are connected — Cinderella’s
daughter becomes Sleeping Beauty who is not quite ready
for marriage and runs off to live with the dwarves
as Snow White. Her daughter in turn falls for The Frog
Prince, and her granddaughter is the Princess who tries
to sleep on the uncomfortable pea buried under layers
of mattresses. Two mice provide running commentary
in this lavishly illustrated oversized graphic novel,
sure to become a bedtime favorite. |
|
 Slog’s
Dad
by David Almond, Dave McKean
Ages 7–up
This eerie graphic novel, narrated
by Slog’s friend Davie, tells the story of a grieving
boy who believes that his father has kept his promise
to come back and visit him after his death. Slog is
positive that the scruffy man outside the butcher’s
shop is his dad, but Davie isn’t convinced. Hauntingly
beautiful images accompany this vision of the hopeful
fantasy world Slog lives in as he mourns the loss of
his father. |
|
 The
Nutcracker
adapted by AnnMarie Anderson,
illustrated by Alison Jay
Ages 4–8
On Christmas Eve, Clara and her
enchanted toys enjoy themselves in a dreamland full of
sweets. Based on the Balanchine staging of the ballet,
this retelling of the classic tale features an abbreviated
storyline and delicate crackle-varnish oil paintings.
Perfect for reading aloud, children will enjoy the tiny
details featured in each scene. |
|
 Manners
Mash-Up: A Goofy Guide to Good Behavior
by Tedd Arnold, et al.
Ages 5–8
Fourteen gifted illustrators
are given a spread to present their individual take on
etiquette: Tedd Arnold, Joe Berger, Sophie Blackall,
Henry Cole, Frank Morrison, Lynn Munsinger, Tao Nyeu,
Le Uyen Pham, Adam Rex, Peter Reynolds, Dan Santat, Judy
Schachner, Bob Shea, and Kevin Sherry. Advice ranges
from “don’t stare” to
“don’t X-ray your little brother” and includes
tips on how to behave in a wide variety of environments
from the school bus to the middle of the woods. |
|
 M
Is for Mischief: An A to Z of Naughty Children
by Linda Ashman & Nancy Carpenter
Ages 6–10
Packed with assonance and alliteration,
twenty-six naughty children romp through this book, illustrated
by Carpenter’s energetic digital collages. |
|
 A
Butterfly Is Patient
by Dianna Hutts Aston, Sylvia
Long
Ages 5–8
This beautiful and informative
book celebrates the world of butterflies. Arranged
under simple headings (A butterfly is helpful. A butterfly
is poisonous.) the development, habits, migration,
and unique features of butterflies are presented in
a manner that is both scientific and artistic. |
|
 Dream
Something Big: The Story of the Watts Towers
by Dianna Hutts Aston, Susan L.
Roth
Ages 5–8
The 34 year construction
of Watts Towers is told from the viewpoint of a small
girl who grows up and has a child of her own. Beginning
in 1921, Italian immigrant Simon Rodia constructed
towering spires from found objects in his property
in Watts, California. The stunning collage illustrations
mimic the mosaic decorations of the towers, finished
in 1955. This beautiful book pays tribute to imagination
and perseverance, and includes a “build your
own tower” activity. |
|
 The
Moon Over Star
by Dianna Hutts Aston
Ages 6–8
It's July 1969 and eight-year-old
May and her community spend the day watching and thinking
about the historic moon landing. Beautiful watercolor
illustrations capture the wonder and awe of this inspiring
event. |
|
 In
a Blue Room
by Jim Averbeck
Ages 3–7
Alice begs for everything blue
as her mother tries to put her to bed in a room full
of other colors. Turning out the light bathes Alice’s
room in the pale blue light of the moon and Alice’s wishes
all come true. |
|
 The
Mitten
by Jim Aylesworth, Barbara McClintock
Ages 3–8
In this retelling of a folk tale,
a young boy loses his red mitten while sledding. The
mitten is found by a delighted squirrel who enjoys its
cosiness until a first a rabbit, then a fox, and finally
a bear beg to join in the warmth. McClintock’s pen-and-ink
illustrations illustrate the silliness in a wonderfully
naturalistic way. |
|
 Our
Abe Lincoln
by Jim Aylesworth
Ages 4–8
The simple text of this biography
is adapted by a popular song during Lincoln’s presidential
campaigns, and can be sung to the tune of “The
Old Grey Mare.” The charming and detailed illustrations
will enchant children as they sing along. |
|
 Pomelo
Begins to Grow
by Ramonoa Badescu, Benjamin Chaud
Ages 4–7
As this endearing young elephant
begins to grow, he worries that he won’t grow equally
all over and wonders what is happening to his insides.
Pomelo expresses all the frets and fears that young
children have yet rarely speak aloud. This reassuring
book explores questions about growth with playful humor. |
|
 LMNO
Peas
by Keith Baker
Ages 3–8
A hilarious group of alphabet
peas romp through the alphabet, appropriated garbed
to illustrate various jobs and occupations for each
letter. Bouncy rhyming text accompanies each letter,
presented as a large colorful shape surrounded by cheerful
busy pea creatures. The book is a fun read-aloud, and
young readers will want to spend time examining each
page closely. |
|
 Potato
Joe
by Keith Baker
Ages 4–8
If it can rhyme with potato, Potato
Joe and his nine potato friends have thought of it. The simple
illustrations complement the rhymes in this counting book,
and kids will be eager to turn the page to see what the silly
spuds are up to next. |
|
 Max’s
Castle
by Kate Banks, Boris Kulikov
Ages 4–8
The imaginative Max uses a
wooden letter blocks to build an enormous castle. Later
Max and his two brothers play a three-dimensional word
game. King Max is a bit of a pacifist and transforms sword into words, spear into pears,
and pirates into rat pies. This creative
celebration of word play follows Max’s
Words and Max’s
Dragon. |
|
 What’s
Coming for Christmas?
by Kate Banks, Georg Hallensleben
Ages 3–6
The tranquil text and soft
acrylic illustrations perfectly capture the anticipation
that fills a snowy day as Christmas approaches. This
bedtime book which includes both the Santa and Nativity
aspects of the holiday will happily sooth young children
to sleep. |
|
 Extra
Yarn
by Mac Barnett, Jon Klassen
Ages 4–8
Annabelle, who lives in a world
of white snow and black soot, longs for color. When
she finds a box full of bright yarn, she sets out to
knit colorful sweaters for everyone she knows. No matter
how much she knits, the box always seems to hold more
yarn. A greedy archduke tries to buy the yarn box,
but Annabelle refuses. When he steals the box, he finds
that it is empty, though it magically refills when
returned to Annabelle. |
|
 Oh
No!: Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World
by Mac Barnett, Dan Santat
Ages 4–8
When an overly ambitious girl
builds a robot for her science project, things get
hilariously out of hand very quickly. Speech bubbles
tell the tale in this nearly-wordless book as our heroine
tries unsuccessfully to control her prize-winning entry
in this action-packed kids-eye account of girl versus
machine. |
|
 Shark
vs. Train
by Chris Barton, Tom Lichtenheld
Ages 4–8
Who is better, Shark or Train?
This cleverly funny book proves that it all depends
upon the circumstances. When trick-or-treating, Shark’s
toothy grin fills the bag first, but Train’s coal burning
engine has the advantage when roasting marshmallows.
As the stakes grow more absurd and funnier neither
comes out on top — the lack of thumbs make both
pathetic at video games. The hilarious expressions
in the watercolor cartoon illustrations are the perfect
match for the snappy dialog of the text. |
|
 The
Day-Glo Brothers
by Chris Barton, Tony Persiani
Ages 4–8
Brothers Joe and Bob Switzer
were very different. Bob was serious and wanted to
be a doctor. Joe was an amateur magician and wanted
to make a name for himself in show business. When Bob
had a serious accident and was confined to a dark basement
for recovery, the two brothers began experimenting
with ultraviolet light and fluorescent paints, and
invented a new kind of intense color they called Day-Glo.
Joe used the Day-Glo paint in his magic act, and later
Day-Glo paint was used to guide planes to safe landings
on aircraft carriers during WWII. The illustrations
for this accessible biography are created with three
Day-Glo colors: Saturn Yellow, Fire Orange, and Signal
Green. |
|
 Enigma
by Graeme Base
Ages 5–10
Bertie Badger arrives at his grandfather’s
house expecting a magic show, but the magic props have all
disappeared. Readers are encouraged to crack codes and find
hidden pictures to solve the mystery, told in rhyming quatrains.
A set of bonus challenges will keep kids, and their relatives,
glued to the pages for weeks. |
|
 The
Jewel Fish of Karnak
by Graeme Base
Ages 5–8
Jackal and Ibis are two wily
thieves living in ancient Egypt. The Car Pharaoh offers
them a pardon if they will steal back only a jeweled
fish sculpture from the Crocodile Prince. But the two
can’t restrain themselves and steal gold and other
treasures. Condemned to a lifetime of angling for the
Jewel Fish, readers can release the endearing thieves
from their endless punishment by solving puzzles. |
|
 The
Legend of the Golden Snail
by Graeme Base
Ages 4–10
William’ favorite storybook
tells of a giant snail which was transformed into a
golden galleon, a Snailing Ship, and banished to the
ends of the Earth, awaiting rescue by a brave master.
Determined to find and rescue the Golden Snail, William
and his trusty cat set sail. Along the way he befriends
strange creatures in need, who in turn help him along
the way. Richly detailed paintings conceal a golden
snail and pirate crossbones on each page. |
|
 ABC3D
by Marion Bataille
Ages 4–up
In this amazing pop-up book, the 26
letters of the alphabet not only pop up, they also move and
transform. This clever French book will enchant readers and
art lovers of all ages. |
|
 A
Bedtime for Bear
by Bonny Becker, Kady MacDonald
Denton
Ages 4–8
When Bear’s exuberant friend
Mouse comes to spend the night, Bear finds being a
host difficult to say the least. Bear needs absolute
quiet in order to fall to sleep, and Mouse is anything
but quiet. But when scary sounds are heard in the middle
of the night, Bear realizes that having a friend is
more important than having things exactly his own way.
Charming watercolor illustrations highlight the dry
humor of the text and characterizations. |
|
 Madeline’s
Rescue
by Ludwig Bemelmans
Caldecott Medal
1954
Ages 4–8
One day on a walk through Paris Madeline
slips and falls off a bridge right into the Seine and is rescued
by a brave dog. The girls take the dog home, but she is banned
from the house, so the girls must search all of Paris to find
her again. Incredible illustrations complement the rhyming text.
(sequel to Madeline) |
|
 The
Unforgettable Season: Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams and the
Record-Setting Summer of 1941
by Phil Bildner, S.D. Schindler
Ages 6–9
In 1941, neither Joe DiMaggio
of the New York Yankees nor Ted Williams of the Boston
Red Sox were big stars. This book is the story of the
season that changed all that, telling of DiMaggio’s
56-game hitting streak and Williams’s season batting
average of .406, amazing records that still stand today.
Bright illustrations featuring period details capture
the energy and excitement of this amazing baseball
season. |
|
 A
Pig Parade Is a Terrible Idea
by Michael Ian Black, Kevin Hawkes
Ages 4–8
A pig parade may sound like
a great idea, but this funny book with hilarious illustrations
proves that it is not. Pigs don’t like to march, they
won’t wear uniforms, and their hooves are not designed
to hold onto balloons. They really don’t care about
floats, and prefer country ballads to military tunes.
This laugh out loud book makes a wonderful read-aloud. |
|
 Ivy
Loves To Give
by Freya Blackwood
Ages 4–8
A small girl named Ivy loves
to give presents, though the things she gives away
aren’t always hers to dispose of, and she hasn’t a
good sense of what the recipient would like to receive.
But her family doesn’t mind passing the gifts on to
a more appropriate receiver and all comes out right
in the end. Delicately funny watercolors illustrate
the minimal text in this quiet tale of giving and receiving. |
|
 Seasons
by Blexbolex
Ages 4–up
This stunning picture book explores
the cyclical nature of life by examining the seasons. Beautiful
prints present simple yet detailed views of landscapes, objects,
and people during different times of the year, encouraging
readers to notice subtle details. As time passes and the seasons
rotate, a sense of the permanence of the cycle of change is
revealed. |
|
 The
Steel Pan Man of Harlem
by Colin Bootman
Ages 5–9
In this retelling of the Pied
Piper of Hamelin folk tale, a steel pan playing man
appears and offers to rid Harlem of a plague of rats.
Set during the Harlem Renaissance and featuring a mysterious
magician from the Caribbean, this spell-binding tale
is illustrated with beautifully detailed oil paintings. |
|
 An
Annoying ABC
by Barbara Bottner, Michael Emberley
Ages 4–8
This clever alphabet books
describes, in alphabetical order, a chain of annoying
and unpleasant behavior. “Dexter drooled on Eloise.
Eloise elbowed Flora.” Eventually, the clever
and supportive Miss Mabel engineers a chain of apologies
that restore a tranquil peace to the class just in
time for story hour, in this hilarious portrayal of
the chaos that can erupt in a Kindergarten class. |
|
 Amazing
Cows: Udder Absurdity for Children
by Sandra Boynton
Ages 5–8
If you are looking for true
facts about cows, this is not the book for you. But
if you just want to have fun with cows, dive in! Hilarious
drawings illustrate a cow myth from ancient Athens,
cow poems, an udderly silly cow fashion show, a cow
comic featuring Amazing Cow, and much more. |
|
 Why
Do I Have to Make My Bed?
by Wade Bradford, Johnanna van
der Sterre
Ages 4–8
This engaging picture book
moves backwards in time, with generation after generation
of children asking the same question, “Why
do I have to make my bed?” The text and pictures
work together to present a humorous look at typical
chores in a familiar domestic setting in this clever
introduction to history. |
|
 Pete & Pickles
by Berkeley Breathed
Ages 4–8
Pete the sensible pig leads a predictable
life until Pickles, a runaway circus elephant enthusiastically
turns it upside down. Breathed’s evocative digital illustrations
bring this funny and exciting story to life. |
|
 Dirtball
Pete
by Eileen Brennan
Ages 4–8
Pete’s mother tries to scrub him
clean before the class presentation — Fifty States and
Why They’re Great — but Pete’s notes blow away and his
chase to catch his speech turns him back into Dirtball
Pete. But Pete’s charisma triumphs over his appearance
and his Pennsylvania presentation makes his mother proud.
This hilarious book begs to be read aloud. |
|
 Keep
Your Eye on the Kid:
The
Early Years of Buster Keaton
by Catherine Brighton
Ages 5–8
This picture biography follows Buster
Keaton from his birth to vaudeville parents to his early 30s. |
|
 Masterpiece
by Elise Broach, Kelly Murphy
Ages 8–12
Two very different families share a
Manhattan apartment. Marvin the beetle follows his family’s
rules about staying hidden from the humans, though he worries
that the human family does not appreciate their 11-year-old
son James. Tempted by the pen and ink set James receives for
his birthday, Martin draws an intricate picture for James and
then reveals himself as the artist. Before James can hide the
drawing, his parents have discovered it and proclaim him a
talented artist. Soon a museum curator is asking James to forge
a Dürer miniature to catch a thief. The fast moving story
and wonderfully detailed drawings will captivate young readers. |
|
 Missing
on Superstition Mountain
by Elise Broach, Antonio Javier
Caparo
Ages 8–12
Simon, Henry, and Jack Barker
have just moved from Illinois to Arizona, and their
parents have warned them that Superstition Mountain
is totally off limits. But when their cat goes missing,
the three brothers chase after her and discover three
human skulls. Joining up with their neighbor Delilah,
the children research local history and folklore,
preparing for a secret return to Superstition Mountain
to solve the mystery of the skulls. This exciting
novel is the first in a new series. |
|
 Let
It Begin Here!
April
19, 1775: The Day the American Revolution Began
by Don Brown
Ages 6–10
This book begins as King George
III wins the Seven Years’ War and realizes his country
needs money. The taxes imposed on the American colonies
eventually lead to the Revolutionary War. Told in a clear
and interesting style, young readers will enjoy reading
about this time in history. (12/08) |
|
 All
Stations! Distress!
April
15, 1912: The Day the Titanic Sank
by Don Brown
Ages 6–10
This gripping account captures
the grandeur of the Titanic, the terror of the disaster,
and the rescue the survivors. The watercolor and pencil
illustrations capture telling details of of actions and
facial expressions. The causes of the disaster are clearly
explained and gripping first-hand accounts are included.
(12/08) |
|
 Vampire
Boy’s Good Night
by Lisa Brown
Ages 4–8
Bela, a young vampire, and
his witch friend Morgan head out on Halloween night
to discover for themselves if human children really
exist. At a party they are surprised to find out that
the others are really humans disguised in costumes.
Speech balloons add to the fun in this look at Halloween
from an outsider’s perspective. |
|
 Cinderella,
or the Little Glass Slipper
by Marcia Brown
Caldecott Medal
1955
Ages 4–8
This retelling of the classic tale by
Charles Perrault is a skillful version that is both simple and
romantic. The pen and watercolor illustrations complement the
story beautifully. |
|
 Once
a Mouse…
by Marcia Brown
Caldecott Medal
1962
Ages 4–8
The mighty tiger challenges anyone to
say he was once a mouse, but the hermit knows it to be true,
since he himself used magic to transform the mouse into a cat
and then a dog and finally a tiger. And unfortunately for the
too proud tiger, those changes can be reversed. Beautiful woodcuts
illustrate this Indian fable. |
|
 Shadow
by Marcia Brown
Caldecott Medal 1983
Ages 5–8
Marcia Brown's stunning African-inspired
collage illustrations evoke the atmosphere and drama of a life
now haunted, now enchanted by Shadow. (translated by Marcia Brown
from the French poetry of Blaise Cendrars) |
|
 The
Little Island
text by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrations
by Leonard Weisgard
Caldecott Medal 1947
Ages 4–9
The little island is rich with plant
and animal life despite its remote location. The illustrations
beautifully document the seasonal changes. |
|
 The
Curious Garden
by Peter Brown
Ages 3–6
While exploring his city neighborhood,
Liam notices some flowering plants by an old railway
track. He teaches himself to care for the plants, and
the energetic plants respond by spreading though the
formerly bleak neighborhood. Increasingly vibrant illustrations
capture the transformation of Liam’s world. |
|
 Soar,
Elinor!
by Tami Lewis Brown, Francois Roca
Ages 4–8
Elinor Smith was only six
when she went up in her first airplane, and only
sixteen when she earned her pilot’s license, the
youngest pilot in the USA. But most people didn’t
think women should be pilots, and newspapers belittled
her accomplishment. So Elinor took a dare to fly
under one of New York City’s bridges, and then
flew under four of them. Details of Elinor studying
each bridge and plotting her route builds the suspense
in this exciting story of determination and daring. |
|
 Me
and You
by Anthony Browne
Ages 4–8
Two parallel storylines tell
the story of a lost little girl and a contented bear
family. While the little blond girl becomes separated
from her mother on a busy city street, the small bear
and his parents visit a neighborhood park while waiting
for their porridge to cool. The lost girl enters their
cozy house, but flees when the bears return. Luckily
her mother is right outside, and both families end up
safe and sound and together. |
|
 Big
Wolf and Little Wolf, Such a Beautiful Orange!
by Nadine Brun-Cosme, Olivier
Tallec
Ages 4–8
Little Wolf heads off after
an orange that Big Wolf tosses over his head, and doesn’t
return. Worried, Big Wolf begins to search for his
friend, but can’t find him anywhere. Beautiful illustrations
capture his lonely search and his joy when the two
friends are finally reunited. This is the third and
final book in the trilogy that includes Big
Wolf and Little Wolf and Big
Wolf and Little Wolf, The Little Leaf That Wouldn’t
Fall. |
|
 Ashley
Bryan: Words to My Life’s Song
by Ashley Bryan
All Ages
This powerful autobiography
tells a story of a creative life. Illustrations and
memories show a boy finding art materials during the
Depression, storing art supplies in his gas mask during
WWII, losing an art scholarship because of his race,
and an award-winning art career. A book for parents
and children to enjoy together, this book will inspire
artists of all ages. |
|
 Smoky
Night
text by Eve Bunting, illustrations by
David Diaz
Caldecott Medal 1995
Ages 5–10
Daniel’s cat doesn’t get along with Mrs.
Kim’s cat and Daniel’s mother doesn’t shop at Mrs. Kim’s store,
preferring to patronize African-American stores. But when Daniel’s
apartment building goes up in flames, all the neighbors, including
the cats, learn the importance of working together and accepting
differences. Inspired by the Los Angeles riots, this book delivers
a message about racism with a light touch supported by dazzling
mixed-media collage illustrations. |
|
 Mouse & Lion
by Rand Burkert, Nancy Ekholm Burkert
All ages
This beautiful book is a retelling
of Aesop’s fable of the mouse who stumbles into a lion and
pleads for his freedom, promising to help the lion if he is
ever in need. Burkert’s illustrations celebrate the beauty
of the African savannah, often from a mouse point of view. |
|
 The
Adventures of Mark Twain by Huckleberry Finn
by Robert Burleigh, Barry Blitt
Ages 7–10
This clever biography of Mark
Twain is narrated by Huckleberry Finn in a folksy style
that begs to be read aloud. Cartoon-like pen and ink
illustrations and a variety of typefaces add to the
exaggerated tall tale style of this delightful book. |
|
 Night
Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic
by Robert Burleigh, Wendell Minor
Ages 4–8
This exciting book tells the
story of Amelia Earhart’s historical solo flight across
the Atlantic in 1932. The storm and mechanical difficulties
that endangered the plane and Amelia’s life are portrayed
in both the stunning illustrations and text that build
tension to the climax of the iced wings that caused Amelia
to lose control of the plane. Notes on Amelia’s life
are included in the afterward. |
|
 There’s
Going to Be a Baby
by John Burningham, Helen Oxenbury
Ages 2–6
When his mother tells a young
boy that there will be a new baby in the family, he is
consumed with curiosity. As the seasons change and his
mother expands, they wonder together what the baby will
do in each new scenario. Excitement and a bit of anxiety
are perfectly presented in this gentle exploration of
a firstborn’s feelings. |
|
 The
Little House
by Virginia Lee Burton
Caldecott Medal 1943
Ages 3–6
The little house in the country was happy
until the city grew large enough to surround her. Finally a woman
rescues the house by moving it back to the country. The whimsical
drawings are delightful. |
|
 One
Cool Friend
by Toni Buzzeo, David Small
Ages 5–8
Elliot is a very proper child.
He prefers to dress in tuxedos, unlike his absentminded
and slightly messy father. On a visit to the aquarium,
Elliot finally discovers the perfect pet—a Magellanic
penguin. His father agrees, assuming Elliot is asking
about a stuffed toy, and Elliot brings the penguin
home, where he constructs the perfect penguin environment
while his father doesn’t even notice. This clever and
silly book has a delightful surprise ending. |
|
 The
Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse
by Eric Carle
Ages 4–8
The artist in this book paints
the world as he sees it: a blue horse, a red crocodile.
As the book progresses, the animals move further away
from reality: a polka-dot donkey. This homage to Franz
Marc, whose work was banned by the Nazis, celebrates
the joy of using one’s creative powers. A short afterward
includes details about Franz Marc’s life. |
|
 Yellow
Square:
A
Pop-up Book for Children of All Ages
by David A. Carter
Ages 3–up
A yellow square hides in plain
sight, or within the paper engineering on each page,
encouraging readers of all ages to explore the modern
art inspired pages. |
|
 Discovering
Nature’s Alphabet
by Krystina Castella, Brian Boyl
Ages 6–12
Created by a husband and wife team, this unique
book presents letters of the alphabet found in the natural world. The
92 color photographs are neither staged nor retouched, and are spectacular
examples of the wonders of nature waiting for the careful observer. Not
intended for those just learning the alphabet, this beautiful book may
inspire older children to search out letters in their own natural surroundings. |
|
 Christmas
Is Here
adapted from the King James Bible
and illustrated by Lauren Castillo
Ages 4–8
As a young family watches a live
nativity scene in their snowy city neighborhood, the
story shifts to a field with shepherds watching a brilliant
star in the night sky. Text from the King James Bible
accompanies the cheerful illustrations connecting the
traditional account of the birth of Jesus with a modern,
and non-commercial, celebration of Christmas. |
|
 Redwoods
by Jason Chin
Ages 4–8
A young boy finds a book titled Redwoods on
a subway bench and is amazed to find his own picture on the
cover. As he reads, he is immersed in the history of the redwoods.
When he leaves the train, the boy finds himself in the middle
of a redwood forest in California. Beautiful and realistic
watercolors accompany the interesting and accurate information. |
|
 The
Big Book for Little Hands
by Marie-Pascale Cocagne
Ages 3–6
This engaging activity book reinforces
educational concepts as young artists color and complete
the illustrations. |
|
 Crouching
Tiger
by Ying Chang Compestine, Yan
Nascimbene
Ages 6–10
Vinson considers himself completely
American, and is uncomfortable when his grandfather
comes to visit from China, speaking to him in Chinese
and calling him Ming Da, his Chinese name. When his
grandfather practices tai chi in the garden, Ming Da
is at first fascinated, hoping to learn kung fu kicks
and punches, and then bored by tai chi’s slow pace.
Reluctantly donning a Chinese jacket for the Chinese
New Year parade, Ming Da notices the respect given
to his grandfather and the lion dancers he trained.
As Ming Da allows himself to enter his grandfather’s
world, their friendship deepens and he realizes it’s
pretty cool to be Chinese after all. |
|
 The
Runaway Wok: A Chinese New Year Tale
by Ying Chang Compestine, Sebastia
Serra
Ages 5–8
Long ago in Beijing, a poor
couple send their son Ming to trade some eggs for
rice so that they can make a Chinese New Year meal
for their neighbors. But Ming trades the eggs for
a singing wok who promises exciting things. Ming
chases the wok to a rich family’s kitchen, where
it is filled with delicious food soon delivered to
the Ming’s poor family’s table. The clever wok also
transports toys from the greedy rich child, and treasures
from the dishonest rich father. Based on a Danish
folktale, this jaunty tale will enchant young listeners. |
|
 Job
Site
by Nathan Clement
Ages 2–6
During a day on a construction
site, the Boss orders the many vehicles, including
a bulldozer, excavator, dump truck, crane, and loader,
to perform the tasks needed to construct a community
park. Bold and bright illustrations convey the size
and power of the machines. |
|
 Words
Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass
by Lesa Cline-Ransome, James E.
Ransome
Ages 5–9
Powerful first person narration
tells the story of Frederick Douglass’s early life
as a plantation slave. Learning to read was the
catalyst for Frederick’s determination to escape
from slavery. “I bought my first newspaper
and learned new words—liberty, justice, and
freedom.” Eventually Frederick uses his writing
skills to forge a letter from his master releasing
him. Though not avoiding the cruel realities of
slavery, this accessible biography celebrates determination
and hope. |
|
 Our
Children Can Soar:
A
Celebration of Rosa, Barack, and the Pioneers of Change
by Michelle Cook
Ages 4–8
This beautiful book pays tribute
to 10 African Americans from the Civil Rights movement
to the present. The powerful illustrations by many different
artists complement the text, presenting African-American
history as the story of hope. |
|
 Hans
My Hedgehog: A Tale from the Brothers Grimm
by Kate Coombs, John Nickle
Ages 5–8
Hans is not a normal boy. Born
a hedgehog from the waist up, Hans becomes an accomplished
fiddle player and loves riding his rooster through
the woods with his faithful hogs. After rescuing two
kings and visiting their castles, Hans finally meets
a princess who loves him as he is. This adaptation
is a much happier version of the original fairy tale. |
|
 Chanticleer
and the Fox
by Barbara Cooney
Caldecott Medal 1959
Ages 4–8
Chanticleer the rooster falls for the
flattery of the fox and is caught. Luckily Chanticleer is clever
enough to think himself out of danger in this retelling of the
“Nun’s Priest’s Tale” from Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury
Tales. Beautiful pen and ink drawings illustrate the fable. |
|
 Farm
by Elisha Cooper
Ages 4–8
This beautifully illustrated book is
a tribute to family farms. Beginning in March and ending in
November, the quietly poetic text follows a family of four
through their daily life, introducing the land, buildings,
and animals that fill this family’s modern rural life. |
|
 Jake’s
Best Thumb
by Ilene Cooper & Claudio
Muñoz
Ages 4–8
Jake is so adept at one-handed
life that he sees no reason to stop sucking his thumb
until a Kindergarten bully begins to mock him. Quirky
illustrations and a charming story will have readers
cheering for Jake as he struggles to balance habit
and acceptance. |
|
 The
Black Book of Colors
by Menena Cottin & Rosana Faria
Ages 5–10
This book attempts to convey the experience
of blindness. White text on black pages, with braille above,
explain how Thomas tastes, feels, and hears about color words.
Raised black lines on black paper, decodable by touch alone,
illustrate Thomas’s color images. This amazing book allows
young readers to experience the world in a new way. |
|
 Yummy:
Eight Favorite Fairy Tales
by Lucy Cousins
Ages 4–10
In the retelling of these fairy
tales, the villains are scary and eager to eat their
tasty prey. Bold and vibrant illustrations complement
the slyly humorous text. |
|
 Click,
Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin
Ages 4–8
Farmer Brown is amazed when his
cows discover an old typewriter in the barn and soon learn
to use it to air their grievances.
When Farmer Brown denies their requests, the cows go
on strike in this hilarious example of the power of the
protest. |
|
 Giggle,
Giggle, Quack
by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin
Ages 4–8
When Farmer Brown goes on vacation,
he leaves his brother Bob in charge of the animals. Duck
finds the written directions, and amends them to add more
interesting food, bubble baths, and movie nights to the
amusement of all. |
|
 Duck
for President
by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin
Ages 4–8
Duck is tired of doing his chores
and decides to hold an election to replace Farmer Brown
with himself. Quickly discovering that running a farm is
way too much work, Duck moves on to governor and then president.
A hilarious look at the electoral process. |
|
 Doobie,
Doobie, Moo
by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin
Ages 4–8
When Duck reads about the upcoming
talent show at the county fair, he organizes the animals
into nightly rehearsals. This funny book makes a wonderful
read-and-sing-aloud! |
|
 Thump,
Quack, Moo
by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin
Ages 4–8
Farmer Brown is trying to build
a fabulous Statue of Liberty corn maze, but the subversive
duck has other ideas in this hilarious read-aloud winner. |
|
 Cool
Daddy Rat
by Kristyn Crow
Ages 3–up
Bass player Cool Daddy Rat heads
out to perfrom in the big city and his son Ace comes
along in this tribute to jazz. Scat lines are delicious
to read aloud. |
|
 Chirchir
Is Singing
by Kelly Cunnane, Jude Daly
Ages 4–8
Little Chirchir wants to be
useful like the rest of her family in Kenya, but she
is too small to do the chores. She drops the water
bucket, spills the tea, and sends the potatoes tumbling
down the hill. But when she finds her baby brother
Kiprop crying, Chirchir finds a job that suits her
perfectly. Information about the life of the Kalenjin
tribe and the Kenyan environment are included naturally
in this reassuring tale of African life. |
|
 The
Voyage of Turtle Rex
by Kurt Cyrus
Ages 4–8
On a primeval beach, a prehistoric
turtle hatches and heads off to sea, eventually growing
into a two-ton archelon. The majestic sea turtle then
returns to the beach to lay her eggs, beginning the
cycle again. This moving story of the oceanic world
of dinosaurs is a companion volume to Tadpole
Rex. |
|
 Prudence
Wants a Pet
by Cathleen Daly, Stephen Michael
King
Ages 4–8
Prudence really wants a pet,
but her father thinks they cost too much and her mother
thinks they are too noisy. So Prudence adopts a series
of inanimate objects: a tree limb dubbed Branch that
her father keeps tripping over, a shoe she names Formal
Footware, a tire named Mr. Round. Prudence never resorts
to whining or complaining, but her misplaced affections
finally wear her parents down. Charming pen and ink
drawings illustrate this humorous tale of gentle persistence. |
|
 The
Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm
edited by Noel Daniel
All ages
This collection includes new
translations of 27 of Grimm brothers’ fairy tales with
vintage illustrations from the 1920s to 1950s. Classic
tales like Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping
Beauty, and Hansel and Gretel, have a
more modern feel while brief introductions describe
the themes, symbolism, and contemporary relevance of
the stories. This beautiful book will appeal to readers
of all ages. |
|
 A
Place to Call Home
by Alexis Deacon, Viviane Schwarz
Ages 3–8
A band of hamster-like brothers
outgrow their birthplace and head off on a grand adventure
to find a place to call home. Timid and frightened
at first, they don a variety of outrageous headgear
and bravely blunder through a variety of obstacles,
never losing sight of their goal. Hilarious physical
comedy will have young readers clamoring for a another
reading. |
|
 A
Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis
by Matt de la Peña, Kadir Nelson
Ages 6–8
Beautifully realistic oil paintings
illustrate this tribute to Joe Lewis. Focusing on Lewis’s
1938 rematch against German boxer Max Schmeling, this
accessible biography shows how the match unified, for
one evening, a racially divided country, as black and
white fans joined together to cheer the son of a black
sharecropper as he took on the white symbol of Hitler’s “master
race.” |
|
 May
I Bring a Friend?
text by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers,
illustrations by Beni Montresor
Caldecott Medal 1965
Ages 3–8
The King and Queen are always gracious,
even when their guest brings along a wild animal or several.
The richly colored illustrations show the well-behaved animals
causing unintentional havoc in the palace. |
|
 Hattie
the Bad
by Jane Devlin
Ages 4–8
Hattie loves being bad because
it is so much fun. She tries to sell her little brother
at a garage sale and ties her father’s keys to a helium
balloon. Her friends love playing with her, but eventually
their parents decide she is too bad to be a friend.
So Hattie decides to become the best behaved child
ever, with hilarious results. Hattie’s spirited first
person narration is cleverly matched with sly illustrations. |
|
 Bink
and Gollie
by Kate Dicamillo and Alison Mcghee,
Tony Fucile
Ages 6–9
Bink is tall, thin, self-confident,
strong-willed, and a bit judgmental. Gollie is small,
rumpled, strong-willed, and down-to-earth. Like many
best friends, the two squabble about just about anything
in this early readers series debut. Three connected stories
present conflicts about appearance (wild socks), personal
boundaries (a trek to the Andes), and pets (jealousy).
Friendship triumphs in all three adventures, highlighted
by sparkling dialog and supported by Tony Fucile’s humorous
illustrations. |
|
 Louise,
The Adventures of a Chicken
by Kate Dicamillo, Harry Bliss
Ages 4–8
Louise is an adventurous chicken
who longs for excitement, so she leaves the farm and
meets pirates on the high seas and lions under the big
top. The comic narration makes for a perfect read-aloud. |
|
 Clink
by Kelly DiPucchio, Matthew Myers
Ages 4–7
At one time Clink was the most advanced
robot available with his ability to make toast and play music
at the same time. But the newer robots in the toy store have
more advanced talents, like helping with homework and making
cookies. No one wants to buy poor Clink until Milton appears,
a boy who loves toast and dancing. The charming Clink will
appeal to boys and girls alike. |
|
 Stick
Man
by Julia Donaldson
Ages 4–8
In this bouncy story in verse,
Stick Man unwillingly joins a dog’s game of fetch and
is sent away from his family far downstream. As the
seasons change, he becomes part of a swan’s nest and
finally, almost kindling. Saved by Santa’s arrival
down the chimney, this book is a perfect winter story. |
|
 What
the Ladybug Heard
by Julia Donaldson, Lydia Monks
Ages 2–6
All the animals in this colorful
barnyard have plenty to say, except the silent ladybug,
until she overhears a plot to steal the prize cow.
The clever ladybug comes up with a plan to foil the
robbers and save the cow, instructing each animal to
mimic the sound of another animal. The lilting rhyming
text and exuberant illustrations invite young listeners
to join in the chorus. |
|
 Her
Mother’s Face
by Roddy Doyle, Freya Blackwood
Ages 4–8
When Siobhán was three
her mother died. Now 10 years old, she cannot remember
her mother’s face. Then a strange woman in the park tells
her to search her own reflection in the mirror. As time
passes, Siobhán realizes the woman was her mother.
Blackwood’s illustrations mirror Doyle’s optimism that
time heals grief. |
|
 A
Christmas Tree for Pyn
by Olivier Dunrea
Ages 3–8
With quiet persistence, young
Pyn convinces her mountain man father that they really
do need a real Christmas tree. The rustic details of
tree stump beds and a stone hearth suggest a historical
story land, while the celebration of the warm relationship
between father and daughter is timeless. |
|
 Dessert
First
by Hallie Durand, Christine Davenier
Ages 7–10
When 3rd grader Dessert’s teacher
tells her class to march to their own drummers, Dessert
decides that means eating dessert before the meal.
But eating all the chocolate in the refrigerator gets
Dessert into trouble at home. Her teacher encourages
Dessert to find her own way to make amends. The humorous
black and white illustrations add to the fun of this
book. |
|
 Under
the Mambo Moon
by Julia Durango, Fabricio Vanden
Broeck
Ages 8–11
Marisol explores the role
music plays in her Latino community by introducing
the people who visit her father’s music store.
Beautiful melding of poetry, narration, and art
bring the love of music to life. |
|
 Mary
Mae and the Gospel Truth
by Sandra Dutton
Ages 8–12
Mary Mae (10) loves to sing
hymns, go to church, and learn about trilobites in
school. Her 5th grade teacher encourages Mary Mae’s
inquiring mind, but her mother, who believes in the
Bible version of creation, is horrified by Mary Mae’s
questions about how the earth looked millions of years
ago. Mary Mae’s mother threatens home schooling and
Mary Mae has to decide if she will side with science
and her teacher, with God and her mother, or somewhere
in between. All the caring adults in Mary Mae’s life
try to provide truthful guidance in this book that
respects both viewpoints as well as those in the middle. |
|
 Captain
Sky Blue
by Richard Egielski
Ages 4–8
On Christmas morning Jack receives
a toy pilot, Captain Sky Blue. With Sky’s help, Jack
builds a model plane. When Jack’s hat blows away, Sky
heads off in pursuit, facing lightning and a humpback
whale before ending up in Santa’s underwater workshop,
ending with wild ride on Santa’s sleigh a year later.
Bright and energetic illustrations accompany this old-fashioned
adventure. |
|
 The
Girl Who Wanted to Dance
by Amy Ehrlich
Ages 6–10
Clara, who longs to dance,
lives with her sad father and loving grandmother who
tells her that her absent mother also loved music and
dance. When a traveling dance troupe visits the village,
Clara’s father recognizes Clara’s mother, and forgives
her for leaving the family. This haunting fairy tale
compassionately addresses the irresistible artistic
urge and the pain of those left behind.
|
|
 Drummer
Hoff
illustrations by Ed Emberley, text by
Barbara Emberley
Caldecott Medal 1968
Ages 3–8
Seven soldiers build an incredible cannon
which Drummer Hoff sets off. The cumulative rhymes and repetition
in the text encourage young children to “read along” while
admiring the brightly-colored woodcut illustrations. |
|
 The
Princess and the Pig
by Jonathan Emmett, Poly Bernatene
Ages 4–8
Because of a mix-up in the
royal nursery, Priscilla the princess has accidentally
switched places with Pigmella the piglet. The king
and queen are sure that their daughter’s appearance
and personality are the result of a bad witch, while
the farmer and his wife are convinced that a good witch
has given them the daughter they always wanted. Priscilla
grows up poor but happy on the farm, but things don’t
go quite so well for poor Pigmella. This hilarious
fractured fairy tale will delight young readers. |
|
 To
the Big Top
by Jill Esbaum
Ages 5–8
Benny and his friend Sam land
jobs helping with the elephants when the circus comes
to town. As the boys move from backstage to choice seats
in the Big Top, this book captures the excitement of
the circus arriving in small town America in the late
1800s. |
|
 Underground
by Shane W. Evans
Ages 4–8
Minimal text and haunting illustrations
tell the story of a slave family creeping away from a plantation
on a dark night lit only by the moon. Moving along the underground
railroad, the family travels throughout the night until the
dawn breaks, illuminating their passage into freedom. |
|
 Olivia
Goes to Venice
by Ian Falconer
Ages 3–8
The irrepressible piglet is
back, this time on a family vacation in Venice. Against
a background of beautiful photographs, Olivia survives
an attack of pigeons at the Piazza San Marco, barely
stays afloat on a gondola, and eats many servings of
gelato. A favorite since her first appearance in Olivia,
this hilarious entry in the series is sure to delight
both children and adults. |
|
 My
Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life
by Kate Feiffer, Diane Goode
Ages 4–8
Our young narrator’s mother
seems perfect to others, but she insists on embarrassing
her daughter in public by kissing her and telling loud
jokes. The watercolor illustrations perfectly complement
the text. |
|
 My
Side of the Car
by Kate Feiffer, Jules Feiffer
Ages 4–8
Sadie longs to go to the zoo,
but family mishaps keep preventing the trip. Finally
Sadie and her father head off in the car, and her father
tries to convince Sadie that it’s not a good day for
the zoo because of the rain. But Sadie insists that
it’s not raining on her side of the car, imagining
sunny day explanations, like lawn sprinklers, for the
wet car windows. Sadie’s wonderful imagination, and
her father’s enjoyment of her imaginings are beautifully
portrayed in Jules Feiffer’s watercolor illustrations. |
|
 There
by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
Ages 4–8
A small girl wonders what it means
to grow up, questioning who she will be, what she will know,
and what she must leave behind. This simple and beautiful book
leaves the questions unanswered as she decides not to go There
yet. |
|
 The
Dunderheads
by Paul Fleischman, David Roberts
Ages 6–10
Miss Breakbone hates kids and is convinced
that her class are all dunderheads. She insults them until
they have no choice but to fight back, despite the fact that
she owns her own electric chair and subscribes to Guard
Dog Lovers Monthly. The class full of underdogs unites
under the leadership of Einstein, the class genius, who brings
out the hidden talents of each student. The vivid narration
is brought to life by Robert’s quirky and hilarious illustrations. |
|
 Clever
Jack Takes the Cake
by Candace Fleming, G. Brian Karas
Ages 4–8
Jack receives in invitation
to the Princess’s 10th birthday party by mistake. Too
poor to buy her a present, Jack cleverly decides to
bake her a cake, trading for the ingredients. But on
the way to the party the cake is slowly demolished
by a variety of creatures and disasters, so Jack arrives
at the party empty-handed. When Jack tells the bored
Princess the tale of the cake, she is enchanted and
exclaims that his adventure story is the finest gift
she ever received. Slyly humorous illustrations featuring
expressive faces highlight this modern fairy tale that
will appeal to both girls and boys. |
|
 French
Ducks in Venice
by Garret Freymann-Weyr, Erin
McGuire
Ages 5–10
Polina Panova, a dressmaker
in Venice, California, is heart-broken when her boyfriend
leaves her. Georges and Cécile, the two French ducks
who live in the canal behind her house, are determined
to cheer her up. Luminous digital illustrations accompany
this tale of grief, friendship, and the healing power
of time. |
|
 Dinothesaurus:
Prehistoric Poems and Paintings
by Douglas Florian
Ages 6–up
These humorous and witty poems
and illustrations will appeal to dinosaur and word
lovers alike. The facts are accurate, and the combination
of poem and collage make them unforgettable. |
|
 Willoughby & the
Lion
by Greg Foley
Ages 4–8
When Willoughby Smith moves
to a new home, it feels small and lonely. Then he finds
a golden lion perched on a boulder who offers him 10
wishes, with the warning that unless Willoughby wishes
the most wonderful thing of all that the lion will
be stuck on the rock forever. As Willoughby makes each
wish, the illustrations move from black and gray to
include more and more gold until he finally does wish
for the most wonderful thing of all. |
|
 Bees,
Snails, & Peacock Tails: Patterns & Shapes… Naturally
by Betsy Franco, Steve Jenkins
Ages 4–8
This inviting book explores geometry
in the natural world. The layout of the rhymes often
echoes the shapes pictured in the stunning cut-paper
collages. |
|
 The
Boss Baby
by Marla Frazee
Ages 4–8
From the moment of his arrival
(by taxi clad in a suit-and-tie onesie and carrying
a briefcase) the Boss Baby takes command of his new
family. Hilarious 1950s style illustrations present
the increasingly exhausted parents as they strive to
cater to the Boss Baby’s demands. This clever and empathetic
book will appeal to parents and older siblings dealing
with an infant takeover of their own family. |
|
 A
Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever
by Marla Frazee
Ages 6–9
Frazee’s hilarious cartoon drawings
illustrate this delightful celebration of summer, best friends,
and grandparents. |
|
 Stanley
Goes for a Drive
by Craig Frazier
Ages 4–8
Stanley goes for a drive in his pickup
on a hot dry day. He sees a black and white cow in the middle
of a herd of solid black cows. As he milks it, the white spots
disappear. Stanley throws the milk into the sky. White clouds
appear and then rain turns the earth green as Stanley drives
home. Incredible illustrations, which move from a orange pallate
into greens, support this magical tale of transformation. |
|
 Stanley
Mows the Lawn
by Craig Frazier
Ages 4–8
Stanley heads out to mow the
lawn: up and back, up and back. Or is that the only
way to do it? This beautifully illustrated book celebrates
the imagination and the art of looking at the world
in your own way. |
|
 Stanley
Goes Fishing
by Craig Frazier
Ages 4–8
After Stanley pulls a boat out of the
water instead of a fish, he casts his line into the sky and
hauls in a boatload of golden fish. The story is intriguing,
but it is the illustrations that shine in this beautiful picture
book which encourages kids to look at the world in a different
way. |
|
 Hank
Finds Inspiration
by Craig Frazier
Ages 4–8
Stanley and his snake friend Hank head
off to the city in search of inspiration. As Hank travels from
one destination to another, he is sent on somewhere new in
this beautifully illustrated tale of discovery. Echoes of Stanley’s
previous adventures appear in the text and illustrations. |
|
 Hide-and-Squeak
by Heather Vogel Frederick, C.F. Payne
Ages 3–6
A mouse baby starts a wild game of
hide-and-squeak with his father in order to put off bedtime
as long as possible. His willing father eventually manages
to curb his son’s rollicking energy and sweeps him off to bed.
Warm and detailed drawings complement the rhyming text. |
|
 Planting
the Wild Garden
by Kathryn O. Galbraith, Wendy
Halperin
Ages 4–8
This lighthearted book explains
how the seeds of wild plants are spread by wind, rain,
birds, and animals. Delicate pencil and watercolor
illustrations capture the large scale forces of nature
as well as close ups of tiny seeds and plants. |
|
 Dinotrux
by Chris Gall
Ages 3–8
Millions of years ago giant part truck,
part dinosaur creatures like the Craneosauraus ruled the Earth.
Their descendents are the trucks and construction vehicles
we see today. The illustrations, text, and the typography all
pitch in to bring these fearsome and hilarious Dinotrux to
life. |
|
 The
Nine Lives of Rotten Ralph
by Jack Gantos, Nicole Rubel
Ages 4–8
After a rough night of carousing
with his friends, Ralph and his owner Sarah get some
bad news from the vet—Ralph has used up eight of
his allotted nine lives. Sarah is determined to protect
Ralph and coddles him like a helpless baby. Flashbacks
to the earlier Ralph books remind Sarah how rotten her
beloved cat really is. |
|
 Country
Road ABC
An
Illustrated Journey Through America’s Farmland
by Arthur Geisert
Ages 5–8
This ABC book memorializes a way
of life in the shrinking Midwest farming community where
the author lives. Modern vocabulary (A is for ammonia fertilizer,
I is for inoculate) joins the traditional (B is for barn
cat) to paint a portrait of the farmland from spring through
winter snow. Along the bottom of each page is a continuous
panorama that totals nearly 40 feet of art. |
|
 Hogwash
by Arthur Geisert
Ages 4–8
After the village piglets play in mud
and paint they are scrubbed down in a gigantic machine designed
by the clever pigs themselves. Hand-colored copperplate etchings
illustrate the remarkable technology. |
|
 Ice
by Arthur Geisert
Ages 4–7
This resourceful pig family lives in
wooden shelters on a desert island. When their water supply
runs low, they consult the globe and then launch their balloon-powered
air schooner to the seas east of Greenland. The iceberg they
tow home provides not only the water they need, but air conditioning
to make their wooden shelters more comfortable. Incredible
illustrations narrate this detailed and wordless story. |
|
 Emma
Dilemma: Big Sister Poems
by Kristine O’Connell George,
Nancy Carpenter
Ages 6–9
Jess, a 4th grader, is often
frustrated by her pre-school aged sister Emma, who
copies everything Jess does and embarrasses her in
front of her friends. Jess has trouble accepting
that she is always expected to be a good big sister,
while Emma runs rampant over her life and privacy.
Vivid and frank poems present the pains and joys
of having a little sister. |
|
 The
Man Who Walked Between the Towers
by Mordicai Gerstein
Caldecott Medal 2004
Ages 5–8
In August 1974, Philippe Petit and a
friend carry a 440-pound reel of cable and other equipment to
the top of the Twin Towers in New York City so that Petit can
walk a tight rope between the towers. Beautifully detailed paintings
illustrate the beauty and danger of this event. |
|
 The
Grasshopper’s Song:
An
Aesop’s Fable Revisited
by Nikki Giovanni
Ages 4–up
The grasshoppers sing while the ants
work in rhythm. When the ants refuse to share the harvest,
the grasshoppers take them to court. This amusing retelling
will appeal to all ages. |
|
 Clancy & Millie
and the Very Fine House
by Libby Gleeson, Freya Blackwood
Ages 3–8
Clancy has just moved, and
his new house is much too big and far too lonely. He
misses his old home terribly. With the help of his
new friend Millie and a stack of moving boxes, Clancy
builds towers, and trains, and Clancy finally feels
at home. |
|
 The
Girl Who Loved Wild Horses
by Paul Goble
Caldecott Medal 1980
Ages 5–8
The girl in this Native American tale
loves horses so much that eventually she leaves her people to
live with the herd. The bold illustrations beautifully complement
this story of a girl who followed her heart with the support
of her village. |
|
 Tillie
Lays An Egg
by Terry Golson, Ben Fink
Ages 4–8
The other hens are content
to use the henhouse, but Tillie searches for perfect
places in the house and Massachusetts farm. Fink’s
charming photographs with funny close ups of chicken
faces beautifully complement the text. |
|
 The
Storyteller’s Candle/La velita de los cuentos
by Lucia González, Lulu Delacre
Ages 4–9
This bilingual book set in 1929
tells the story of Pura Belpré, the first Puerto
Rican librarian hired by the New York Public Library,
through the eyes of two children who are inspired by
her to enter the Library for the first time. |
|
 Bring
Me Some Apples and I'll Make You a Pie
by Robbin Gourley
Ages 4–8
This book follows Edna Lewis
during her childhood in a Virginia farming community.
From early spring until first snow, Edna appreciates
each crop as it ripens and is ready to be incorporated
into a delicious dish. Folk rhymes and sayings are
sprinkled throughout the text. A short biography of
this famous African-American chef and five kid-friendly
recipes are included. |
|
 Little
Mouse’s Big Book of Fears
by Emily Gravett
Ages 4–8
Little Mouse uses a scrapbook diary
to confront her fears, and she is afraid of just about
everything. Expansive collages with interactive elements
illustrate all sorts of esoteric fears, like sciaphobia:
the fear of shadows. |
|
 The
Rabbit Problem
by Emily Gravett
Ages 4–8
This whimsical book addresses
Fibonacci’s question: “If a pair of baby rabbits
are put in a field, how many pairs will there be at
the end of each month? After each year?” Opening
like a calendar, the 12 pages record a full year of
the rabbit experiment, beginning with Lonely and Chalk,
and including a Baby Book for their first born, a ration
book from the carrot shortage, and hilarious documentation
of the growing rabbit population. The beautifully detailed
illustrations build to a surprising pop-up ending. |
|
 The
Dinosaur Tamer
by Carol Greathouse, John Shroades
Ages 4–8
This humorous tall tale is
set in the old West, when cowboys like young Rocky
tamed dinosaurs of all kinds. Narrated in classic tall
tale prose, the dinosaur names and characteristics
are authentic. Rocky’s battle to tame T. Rex is a classic
humorous epic that creates several American landmarks
along the way. |
|
 Ballet
for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring
by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan,
Brian Floca
Ages 6–10
This inspired book manages
to capture the excitement of dance, music, and stage
design while celebrating the collaboration between
dancer Martha Graham, composer Aaron Cop,and, and
set designer Isamu Noguchi. The book follows the
creation of a ballet from Martha’s original idea
to the opening night, highlighting the vital contributions
from each of the artists. |
|
 The
Ride: The Legend of Betsy Dowdy
by Kitty Griffin, Marjorie Priceman
Ages 4–8
It’s 1775 and teenaged Betsy
Dowdy secretly sets off on an all-night ride to tell
Colonial troops about the British advance on her North
Carolina island home. With her red cape swirling behind,
Betsy tears through the pages on her trusty black pony,
narrowly escaping dangers in order to save her home.
The author’s note at the end reminds readers that Betsy’s
ride is only a legend, but the story of this courageous
girl seems very real. |
|
 The
Big Snow
by Berta & Elmer Hader
Caldecott Medal 1949
Ages 4–8
Simple text and beautiful illustrations
tell the story of how the woodland creatures prepare for winter.
In the winter of the big snow, the people who live in the little
stone house help the animals by putting food out for them. |
|
 A
Story, A Story
by Gail E. Haley
Caldecott Medal 1971
Ages 4–8
In the beginning there were no stories
for children to hear, so Ananse the Spider went to bargain with
Nyame, the Sky God, to bring the stories down to Earth. Wonderful
woodcut illustrations support the clever text in this retelling
of an African folktale. |
|
 Ox-Cart
Man
text by Donald Hall, illustrations
by Barbara Cooney
Caldecott Medal 1980
Ages 4–8
The stunning combination of text and
illustrations recreates the mood of 19-century rural New England. |
|
 Perfect
Square
by Michael Hall
Ages 4–8
The perfect square forming
the pages of this book, is cut or torn into pieces
that reform into a new collage image. simple white
text stands out on the boldly colored backgrounds as
the square is transformed over and over in this celebration
of creativity. |
|
 The
Day Leo Said I Hate You!
by Robie Harris, Molly Bang
Ages 3–8
Leo is sulking after misbehaving
and his mother’s disciplining sparks words that Leo wishes
he could take back as soon as they leave his mouth. Leo
worries he has endangered his mother’s love, but she
manages to heal the breach in a reassuring and sensible
manner. |
|
 Mail
Harry to the Moon!
by Robie H. Harris
Ages 3–8
The narrator is less than thrilled
with his annoying, attention-hogging new baby brother
and has numerous creative suggestions for solving the
problem until he is convinced that his parents are ready
to act on his moon idea. Fresh and funny look at a classic
situation. |
|
 Twenty
Heartbeats
by Dennis Haseley, Ed Young
Ages 5–9
Set in the Far East long ago,
a rich man hires an artist to paint his beloved horse.
After years of waiting, the artists paints the horse
in little more than 20 heartbeats. The rich man is furious
until he sees thousands of drawings of his horse in the
artist’s studio. Ed Young’s incredible illustrations
bring the story to life. |
|
 Benny
and Penny: Just Pretend
by Geoffrey Hayes
Ages 4–8
Mouse siblings Benny (the pirate)
and Penny (the princess) squabble and play together.
Skillful drawings help beginning readers make sense of
the text. This Toon Book series (by various authors)
is designed for beginning readers. |
|
 Princess
Hyacinth
by Florence Parry Heide, Lane
Smith
Ages 4–8
Princess Hyacinth is lighter
than air, so her concerned parents weigh her down with
diamond pebbles in her socks and a crown decorated
with the heaviest jewels in the kingdom. She yearns
for freedom as she drags her heavy clothing around
the castle. One day she floats free with the help of
a balloon and Boy, who lends a hand in her escape from
her parents’ restrictive rules. |
|
 The
Shrinking of Treehorn
by Florence Parry Heide, Edward Gorey
Ages 4–8
Treehorn is shrinking, but no one seems
to care. His mother is obsessed with her baking, his father
refuses to believe him, his teacher and principal think he
is behaving badly and seeking attention. Gorey’s drawings perfectly
complement the story that captures the feeling of any child
who has ever been ignored by the adults in his or her life. |
|
 Most
Loved in All the World
by Tonya Hegamin, Cozbi A. Cabrera
Ages 4–8
When our heroine is sent north
on the Underground Railroad, her mother stays behind
to help others make the journey. She sends a beautiful
quilt with her daughter to help her find her way, and
to remind her that she is the most loved in all the world.
This beautiful book uses a child’s voice to talk about
difficult concepts of slavery, courage, and sacrifice.
(12/08) |
|
 Bedtime
for Bear
by Brett Helquist
Ages 2–6
Just as Bear is settling in
for a long winter nap, two rowdy raccoon friends beg
him to come out and play. Bear tries to put them off,
but eventually gives in and the three have a marvelous
time playing in the snow. Finally even the rambunctious
raccoons are ready for sleep. The humor and details
in this winter romp make it a perfect read-aloud any
time of the year. |
|
 My
Garden
by Kevin Henkes
Ages 2–7
A young girl helping her
mother with their garden dreams of an imaginary
garden as she weeds and waters. In her fantasy garden,
she would harvest seashells and jelly beans, some vegetables
would become invisible, and the rabbits that nibble
on the plants would be made of chocolate so that she
could also nibble on them. Both the real and fanciful
gardens in this book will enchant young readers. |
|
 Old
Bear
by Kevin Henkes
Ages 3–8
A hibernating bear dreams of
a spring when he was a cub, followed by dreams of summer,
fall, and winter in this beautifully illustrated book
about the annual cycle of seasons. |
|
 Spuds
by Karen Hesse
Ages 4–8
When their mother leaves to work the
night shift, the three fatherless children sneak out in the
middle of the night to glean potatoes from a neighbor’s field.
Evocative language and subtle illustrations transform the poverty
of the children into an exciting adventure. |
|
 Little
Chick
by Amy Hest, Anita Jeram
Ages 2–up
Old-Auntie helps Little Chick
deal with frustration in three stories: waiting for
carrots to grow, learning to fly a kite, understanding
that the star she wants is better off staying in the
sky. The charming illustrations are a perfect match
for the light humor of the text. |
|
 Chickens
to the Rescue
by John Himmelman
Ages 4–8
No problem is too small for
the intrepid chickens on the Greenstalk farm. Lost
sheep? A watch dropped down the well? The cow is stuck
in the tree? You can count on this energetic flock
to come up with a zany solution. Simple text is paired
with detailed and hilarious illustrations that will
be appreciated over and over and over again. |
|
 Pigs
to the Rescue
by John Himmelman
Ages 4–8
Eight excitable pigs throw
themselves into solving minor problems at the Greenstalk
farm with over-the-top rescue missions. Hilarious illustrations
bring the funny situations to life in this silly book
that begs to be read aloud. (follow-up to Chickens
to the Rescue) |
|
 Peaceful
Pieces: Poems and Quilts About Peace
by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Ages 4–8
Poems are paired with images
of hand-made quilts in this beautiful exploration of
peace. Ranging from individual relationships between
two feuding sisters to soldiers trying to recover from
war experiences, each poem/quilt combination is a reflection
on the theme of peace. |
|
 Everything
but the Horse
by Holly Hobbie
Ages 4–8
When young Holly moves to a
farm in the country, she is a bit afraid at first,
but soon falls in love with her new environment and
especially with the farm animals. In fact, Holly thinks
it is just about perfect, except she doesn’t have a
horse. While drawing pictures of horses, Holly hints
to her parents that a horse is the one and only thing
she wants more than anything else in the world. Beautifully
realistic watercolors in 1950s style illustrate this
charming memoir. |
|
 Saint
George and the Dragon
text by Margaret Hodges, illustrations
by Trina Schart Hyman
Caldecott Medal 1985
Ages 4–8
George, the Red Cross Knight, slays the
dreadful dragon that has been terrorizing the countryside for
years and brings peace and joy to the land. The illustrations
for the retelling of this segment from Spenser’s The Faerie
Queene are rich in detail and sparkle with gold highlights. |
|
 One
Fine Day
by Nonny Hogrogian
Caldecott Medal
1972
Ages 4–8
In this humorous retelling of an Armenian
folktale, a fox steals some milk from an old farm woman. She
cuts off his tail, and the fox spends the rest of the day bargaining
to get it back. The vividly beautiful illustrations bring this
tale to life. |
|
 Grump
Groan Growl
by Bell Hooks
Ages 3–8
A child and his inner monster
illustrate this effective portrayal of a bad mood on
the prowl. |
|
 Amazing
Faces
poems selected by Lee Bennett
Hopkins, illustrated by Chris Soentpiet
Ages 6–up
This collection of poems includes
character sketches and descriptions of multi-cultural
people from all over the United States. Soentpiet’s beautifully
lifelike and detailed watercolor illustrations zoom in
on the faces of the wide variety of people and scenes
depicted in the poems. |
|
 City
I Love
by Lee Bennett Hopkins, Marcellus
Hall
Ages 4–8
This poetry collection follows
a dog and bluebird who travel to famous cities around
the world. The reflective and humorous poems by Lee
Bennett Hopkins are illustrated with Marcellus Hall’s
lively watercolors. |
|
 Home
on the Range:
John
A. Lomax and His Cowboy Songs
by Deborah Hopkinson, S.D. Schindler
Ages 6–8
This colorful biography tells about
the early life of John Avery Lomax, an early folk musicologist
who got his start collecting the cowboy songs he had loved
as a child on his Ediphone recording device. The realistic
illustrations bring the old west to life. |
|
 Stagecoach
Sal
by Deborah Hopkinson, Carson Ellis
Ages 4–8
Sal can catch a fish with her
bare hands, ride a bronco, and drive a stagecoach.
When her Pa falls sick, it’s up to young Sal to drive
the stagecoach alone to deliver the mail. When Poetic
Pete, the most polite bandit in all of California,
boards the coach, Sal sings him to sleep. She continues
her all-night singing marathon until they arrive in
town where Sal delivers the bandit to jail. Delicate
watercolor illustrations provide the perfect counterpoint
for the rambunctious text. |
|
 Princess
Says Goodnight
by Naomi Howland, David Small
Ages 4–8
In this joyful bedtime story,
a small girl imagines herself a princess and transforms
her ordinary modern family life into royalty living
in a castle. Rhyming text and enchanting watercolor
illustrations add to the fun as the nighttime routine
ends with the one thing every little girl, whether
princess or not, needs before sleep—a kiss good-night. |
|
 Welcome
To My Neighborhood! A Barrio ABC
by Quiara Alegría Hudes,
Shino Arihara
Ages 3–7
In this unique ABC book,
Cici takes her friend Chien on a tour of her inner-city
neighborhood, pointing out all the details that make
her neighborhood home unique. The rhyming text celebrates
the wide variety found in a city neighborhood while
the gouache illustrations portray a vibrant multicultural,
urban community that is both full of life and slightly
dilapidated. Spanish version: Bienvenidos
a mi barrio! Mi mundo de la A a la Z |
|
 How
to Clean Your Room in 10 Easy Steps
by Jennifer Larue Huget, Edward
Koren
Ages 4–8
When your mother uses all
three of your names, you know it really is time to
clean your room, advises this hilarious book. Koren’s
scratchy ink drawings are the perfect match for the
funny directives in the text. A perfect read-aloud,
this book will appeal to messy kids and those who
live with them. |
|
 My
People
by Langston Hughes, Charles R. Smith
Jr.
Ages 4–8
Poetry
Smith’s sepia-toned photographs of African-Americans
illustrate Langston Hughes’s eloquent tribute to his people.
This beautiful book will be enjoyed over and over. |
|
 The
Negro Speaks of Rivers
by Langston Hughes, E.B. Lewis
Ages 4–8
Poetry
Luminous watercolors by E.B. Hughes of
rivers all over the world accompany the poem by Langston Hughes.
Together they portray the experiences of black people throughout
history. |
|
 Dust
Devil
by Anne Isaacs, Paul Zelinsky
Ages 5–9
Angelica Longrider (introduced
in Swamp
Angel) was the greatest woodsman and wildest wildcat
in the state of Tennessee. Grown too large for her
home state, Angel moves to the great state of Montana,
and wrestles a tornado to the ground, earning herself
a giant horse named Dust Devil. The two are soon at
work battling a gang of cowboy outlaws riding giant
mosquitoes. The outrageous exaggerations of Angel’s
narration are perfectly matched by the stunning paintings
framed by the wood they are painted on. Both boys and
girls will identify with this courageous yet kind folk
hero. |
|
 When
Royals Wore Ruffles:
A
Funny and Fashionable Alphabet!
by Pamela Jaber, Chesley Mclaren
Ages 5–9
This A–Z of fashion history
uses witty text and charming illustrations to demonstrate
that the desire to look fabulous can push humans to often
hilarious extremes. |
|
 The
Heart and the Bottle
by Oliver Jeffers
Ages 4–up
When a small girl loses her father,
her only parent, she decides that the best thing is to
put her heart in a bottle and hang it around her neck.
All the wonder, curiosity, and delight in the world they
shared together vanishes, but the girl believes her heart
at least is safe from further pain. When the girl is
older, her heart is restored when she meets someone smaller
who still delights in the world. This gentle book is
a quietly moving portrait of grief. |
|
 My
Chincoteague Pony
by Susan Jeffers
Ages 5–9
Julie works hard all year, but still
doesn’t have enough money to buy a pony at the yearly auction.
When the townspeople chip in to help her out, Julie vows to
work just as hard next year so that she can help another girl
buy a pony of her own. |
|
 Skunkdog
by Emily Jenkins
Ages 4–9
Dumpling the dog has no sense of smell
and so no dog friends. Pierre Pratt’s amusing illustrations
help to bring this tale of a dog forced to choose between obedience
and companionship to life. |
|
 Can
We Save the Tiger?
by Martin Jenkins, Vicky White
Ages 5–8
Incredible artwork and a good
balance between good and bad news about the tiger and
other endangered species make this book an enjoyable
and excellent resource. Other species featured are
the partula snail, white-rumped vulture, and American
bison. |
|
 Just
a Second
by Steve Jenkins
Ages 4–8
This thought-provoking book examines
diverse events that occur in the space of a second, a
minute, an hour, etc. In one second, a black mamba snake
can slither 24 feet while a cheetah can sprint 100 feet.
In one week a ladybug will eat more than 500 aphids.
Fascinating observations like these will inspire readers
to think about time and the world in new ways. |
|
 Levi
Strauss Gets a Bright Idea: A Fairly Fabricated Story of
a Pair of Pants
by Tony Johnston, Stacy Innerst
Ages 4–8
The story of how Levi Strauss
came to invent the sturdy pants that bear his name
is told in tall tale fashion in this amusing picture
book. When Levi arrived in California in 1853, he noticed
that the hard-working miners wore through their pants
quickly, and created sturdy canvas jeans designed to
last longer. Illustrations painted with acrylics on
old jeans accompany this exaggerated tale of the Wild
West. |
|
 Sarah
Emma Edmonds Was a Great Pretender: The True Story of a Civil
War Spy
by Carrie Jones, Mark Oldroyd
Ages 7–12
Sarah Emma Edmonds began pretending
at a young age. Her father wanted a son, so Sarah pretended
to be a boy. When she was a teenager, Sarah realized
she would never be the son her father wanted, so she
ran away from Canada to America, where she assumed
the identity of Frank Thompson. In 1861 she joined
the Union Army as a male nurse. When the Union Army
needed a spy, she volunteered, pretending to be a male
African American slave, a female Irish peddler, and
a female African American laundress in order to slip
behind enemy lines and gather information. Sly illustrations
capture Sarah’s joy in her successful deceptions. |
|
 The
Man in the Moon
by William Joyce
Ages 4–8
MiM (Man in the Moon) grows
up in a derelict ship orbiting the Earth. When he becomes
aware of the hopes and dreams of the children on the
planet below him. MiM gathers a team of fellow guardians
to protect and console them. This steampunk fairyland
fantasy is the first in the Guardians of Childhood
series. |
|
 Red
Sled
by Lita Judge
Ages 2–5
This nearly wordless picture
book takes a child’s red sled on a nighttime joy ride.
A bear liberates the sled he finds leaning against
the house, and picks up passengers as the sled speeds
down the hill. Perfectly imagined sound effects accompany
the wild ride. |
|
 The
Hello, Goodbye Window
text by
Norton Juster, illustrations by
Chris Raschka
Caldecott Medal 2006
Ages 4–7
A girl visits her grandparents, enjoying
the house and garden and the surprises through the window. This
child-centered view of everyday activities is just right for
reading aloud. The bright illustrations are perfect for portraying
this happy multi-racial family. |
|
 Sourpuss
And Sweetie Pie
by Norton Juster
Ages 4–8
Our multiracial heroine admits
that she has conflicting personalities, sometimes she
is Sourpuss, sometimes Sweetie Pie. Her grandparents
accept her dual natures, reflected in the different color
palettes illustrating her happy moments and her tantrums. |
|
 Tsunami!
by Kimiko Kajikawa, Ed Young
Ages 4–8
Ojiisan, a wealthy rice farmer, sees
a tsunami threatening the village and sacrifices his own rice
fields in order to save the villagers. Ed Young’s stunning
collage illustrations vividly portray the power of the tsunami. |
|
 Looking
at Lincoln
by Maira Kalman
Ages 5–8
The little girl in this book
wants to see beyond the picture on the penny and discover
who Lincoln really was. She discovers that Lincoln
believed in freedom for everyone, had a dog named Fido,
kept his notes in his hat, and loved Mozart and his
wife’ s vanilla cake. This fresh look at our 16th president
will captivate young readers. |
|
 Betty
Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake
by Michael Kaplan, Stephane Jorisch
Ages 3–7
Betty Bunny adores chocolate
cake from the first bite, so much that she declares
she will marry it. She refuses to eat anything else,
but her mother insists that she eat healthy food first.
Betty throws a tantrum—she doesn’t want to be patient,
she wants chocolate cake! This hilarious book will
be a hit with all picky eaters and lovers of chocolate. |
|
 The
Snowy Day
by Ezra Jack Keats
Caldecott Medal 1963
Ages 4–8
A small boy wakes up to discover that
snow has fallen overnight. The beautiful illustrations of watercolor
and collage show the magic of simple experiences in the snow. |
|
 The
Scrambled States of America Talent Show
by Laurie Keller
Ages 5–10
The 50 states are gathered for
a talent show, and what a bunch of hams! Snappy dialog
and energetic illustrations help kids absorb the state
and geographic information. |
|
 The
Extraordinary Mark Twain
by Barbara Kerley, Edwin Fotheringham
Ages 7–11
Thirteen-year-old Susy is determined
to set the record straight about her famous father,
and spends a year writing her own observations. This
accessible biography, which includes clever illustrations
as well as excerpts from Susy’s actual diary, presents
an intimate portrait of the real man behind the famous
one. Author notes include a timeline of Twain’s life
as well as tips for writing an extraordinary biography
of your own. |
|
 One
World, One Day
by Barbara Kerley
Ages 4–up
Sixty beautiful photographs
follow children all around the world as they eat breakfast,
go to school, and live a normal day. The global perspectives
of the numerous photographers echo the theme of one
global family. |
|
 Those
Rebels, John and Tom
by Barbara Kerley, Edwin Fotheringham
Ages 7–11
Clever verse and humorous illustrations
portray the different personalities of two founding fathers
and early presidents: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.
Lively typography and a bold color palette complement
this story of strength coming from difference. |
|
 What
To Do About Alice?
How
Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove
Her Father Teddy Crazy!
by Barbara Kerley
Ages 4–8
This high energy picture book
celebrates a young spirited American heroine who livened
up the White House. |
|
 Big
Red Lollipop
by Rukhsana Khan, Sophie Blackall
Ages 4–8
Rubina is mortified when her
East Indian mother, who doesn’t understand the American
custom of celebrating birthdays, insists that Rubina
take her demanding little sister Sana to a birthday
party. Sana’s presence at the party turns out as badly
as Rubina fears, and Sana makes things worse by stealing
Rubina’s favorite party favor, a big red lollipop.
Eventually Sana herself is invited to a party and the
littlest sister demands to go with Sana. Though tempted
to let Sana suffer as she did, Rubina uses her experience
to counsel her mother about cultural differences. This
empathetic story of sibling rivalry is simply told
and beautifully illustrated. |
|
 Everybody
Bonjours!
by Leslie Kimmelman
Ages 5–8
On vacation with her family in
Paris, a girl visits famous places and enjoys saying “bonjour.” Sarah
McMenemy’s lively mixed-media illustrations support the
bouncy text. |
|
 The
Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah
by Leslie Kimmelman, Paul Meisel
Ages 4–8
This Jewish Little Red Hen
asks her friends for help making the traditional Passover
matzah. Unfortunately her friends aren’t too eager
to help. Couldn’t they at least help schlep the wheat
to the mill? In this hilarious version of the traditional
tale, a hard-working hen finds the true meaning of
Passover. |
|
 The
Gingerbread Pirates
by Kristin Kladstrup, Matt Tavares
Ages 4–10
Jim and his mother make gingerbread
pirate cookies on Christmas Eve, and Jim likes his
Captain Cookie with a gingerbread cutlass and toothpick
peg leg too much to leave him on the plate for Santa.
In the middle of the night, the brave Captain Cookie
dashes down the stairs to save his crew from the mysterious
cannibal named Santa. Luckily Santa ends up not being
as terrifying as the cookies feared. |
|
 I
Want My Hat Back
by Jon Klassen
Ages 4–8
Bear’s hat is missing and he
wants it back. Patiently and politely he asks the animals
he meets if they have seen his hat. Some don’t even
know what a hat is, but the rabbit swears he would
never steal a hat. Later the bear says he would never
eat a rabbit, yet the hat is back on his own head where
it belongs. Beautifully simple illustrations mirror
the sparse text, yet each animal is a fully realized
character. |
|
 Argus
by Michelle Knudsen, Andrea Wesson
Ages 4–8
When Sally’s teacher passes out eggs
for each child to hatch as part of a science project, Sally
worries that her egg looks different than the others. Fuzzy
little yellow chicks emerge from all the other eggs, but something
green and scaly comes out of Sally’s egg, which she names Argus.
Watching her classmates play with their identical chicks, Sally
wonders if she wouldn’t be happier if her hatchling were just
like all the others. But then Argus disappears and Sally realizes
that no matter how different Argus is, she loves him more than
all the others. Wonderfully goofy pictures illustrate this
humorous look at an elementary school classroom. |
|
 AlphaOops:
The Day Z Went First
by Alethea Kontis, Bob Kolar
Ages 4–8
Just as A is preparing to introduce
itself, Z interrupts, demanding fair turns at going first.
Other letters at the end of the alphabet jostle to the
front of the line, some letters insist on second turns,
and others vanish to take bathroom breaks in this wild
Alphabet book, sure to be an instant favorite with all
children, especially those whose names fall at the end
of the line! |
|
 AlphaOops:
H is for Halloween
by Alethea Kontis, Bob Kolar
Ages 4–8
The alphabet is putting on
a show for Halloween, and chaos erupts. Z insists that
the show must start with H because Halloween can’t
start with any other letter, and the rest of the alphabet
appears out of order, dressed in Halloween costumes
to suit their letters. Along the bottom of the pages,
tiny pumpkins arrange the letters in their proper order. |
|
 Pajama
Pirates
by Andrew Kramer, Leslie Lammle
Ages 5–8
Three children and their dog
create a nightly adventure for themselves, turning
their bed into a boat and their bedroom into the sea.
Detailed watercolor illustrations and rhyming text
tell the tale of attacking pirates, sword fights, and
a storm full of lightning. |
|
 Play
Ball, Jackie!
by Stephen Krensky, Joe Morse
Ages 7–10
It’s 1947, and 10-year-old
Matty Romano is going to his first baseball game with
his father to see the Brooklyn Dodgers, his favorite
team. It’s also the first day for Jackie Robinson,
the first Black baseball player in the major leagues.
The crowd is divided between those who are outraged
and those who just want to see good baseball players,
no matter what their color. Matty’s conversations with
his father provide an intimate look at this historic
baseball game. |
|
 Fartiste
by Kathleen Krull, Paul Brewer, Boris
Kulikov
Ages 4–9
Joseph Pujol learns to control
his intestines and performs at the legendary Moulin Rouge
in this mostly true story. Kulikov’s explosive illustrations
are sure to amuse the small boy in all of us. |
|
 Lincoln
Tells a Joke
How
Laughter Saved the President (and the Country)
by Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer,
Stacy Innerst
Ages 5–8
This accessible biography begins
by describing all the reasons Lincoln had to be depressed,
including his harsh childhood and homely appearance. Then
Lincoln’s story is told in chronological order while highlighting
his use of humor to deal with disappointment, grief, worry,
and pain. The humorous illustrations add to the upbeat
portrait of a man who coped with life by staying positive
and looking for the lighter side throughout serious events. |
|
 Frog
Went A-Courtin’
text by John Langstaff, illustrations
by Feodor Rojankovsky
Caldecott Medal 1956
Ages 4–8
In this version of the old song, Froggy
puts on his shiny black boots and goes out to court Miss Mousy.
The colorful illustrations bring this book to life. Included
are the words and music to the song. |
|
 Imaginary
Menagerie
A
Book of Curious Creatures
by Julie Larios
Ages 4–9
Poetry
Julie Paschkis’s incredible gouache paintings
illustrate poems about creatures from mythology and folklore. |
|
 Oscar
and Arabella
by Neal Layton
Ages 4–8
Oscar and Arabella, a wooly
mammoth and a mastodon, have to think fast to outwit
the scary creature in the cave. The simple language
and lively illustrations will captivate youngsters. |
|
 Hot,
Hot, Hot
by Neal Layton
Ages 4–8
Wooly mammoth Oscar and mastodon Arabella
love playing in the ice and snow, but a sudden heat wave makes
them uncomfortable. Luckily Oscar has an idea to help them
survive the hot weather. This wonderfully silly picture book
will charm young readers. (follows Oscar
and Arabella) |
|
 Oscar
and Arabella and Ormsby
by Neal Layton
Ages 4–8
When wooly rhino Ormsby arrives,
woolly mammoth Oscar fears he has a rival for mastodon
Arabella. But every time Oscar performs a show-off
trick, Ormsby thinks of something even better. When
they fear Arabella is in danger, the two finally join
forces for a hilarious ending. (follows Oscar
and Arabella and Hot,
Hot, Hot) (9/08) |
|
 Shadow
by Suzy Lee
Ages 4–8
the young girl in this nearly wordless
book finds a secret world in the shadows cast by the light
bulb in a storage room. The pages turn from the top binding,
and when held at a 90° angle form the wall and floor of
the room. The girl begins with simple shadows, but soon lets
her imagination loose and creates an incredible shadow world. |
|
 Wave
by Suzy Lee
Ages 4–8
Wordless two-color picture book follows
a small girl’s interaction with the waves. The vibrant watercolor
illustrations capture the joy and laughter of a day at the
beach. |
|
 The
Secret Box
by Barbara Lehman
Ages 4–8
Three boys discover a box hidden
in their urban boarding school. The box contains old
photographs, a postcard, and a map that leads them
to a boardwalk amusement park. Later, another pair
of children discover the box and make the same journey,
continuing the cycle of mystery and the discovery of
an older city hidden beneath the modern one. |
|
 Trainstop
by Barbara Lehman
Ages 4–8
This wordless fantasy takes a young
urban girl on a subway train to an idyllic Lilliputian world. |
|
 Always
Room for One More
text by Sorche Nic Leodhas, illustrations
by Nonny Hogrogian
Caldecott Medal 1966
Ages 4–8
Travelers in a storm are glad to hear
Lachie MacLachlan generously call out that there is always room
for one more. Narrated in a lilting, rhyming brogue, the Scottish
travelers fill the little house until it explodes. |
|
 Wild
Wings
by Gill Lewis, Yuta Onoda
Ages 4–8
Iona (11) moves in with her
grandmother, who is considered crazy by the children
in the small village in Scotland. Most other children
avoid Iona, but her discovery of an osprey nest on
her classmate Callum’s farm sparks a friendship. The
two name the endangered bird Iris, and keep the nest
a secret until Iris becomes entangled in a fishing
line. A naturalist saves Iris and tags her, allowing
the two children to track the osprey’s migration from
Scotland to Africa online. |
|
 E-mergency!
by Tom Lichtenheld
Ages 4–8
When the letter E breaks her leg falling
down the stairs, she ends up in the hospital and ordered to
rest. The only way to give her time to heal is for another
letter to substitute for her. Puns and jokes ensue as the rest
of the alphabet decide which letter is up for the job. |
|
 Bats
at the Beach
by Brian Lies
Ages 4–8
The bats apply their moon-tan lotion
and head out for an incredible night at the beach. The dark
yet luminous art and rhyming text are the perfect foil for
these furry and friendly creatures. |
|
 Bats
at the Library
by Brian Lies
Ages 4–8
Thanks to an open window, the bats
have a wonderful time exploring the books and the library after
dark. |
|
 Bats
at the Ballgame
by Brian Lies
Ages 4–8
The bats are back for an epic
night at the ball park, complete with beenuts, mothdogs,
Cricket Jacks and an upside-down group of attentive
fans. The graceful rhyming text and magical illustrations
illustrate a secret world where the charming bats enjoy
America’s national pastime as much as their human counterparts. |
|
 The
Christmas Giant
by Steve Light
Ages 3–8
Humphrey, the giant, and Leetree,
the elf, create the Christmas wrapping paper used by
the North Pole toy makers. They love their job, but
are sad when it is done for the year. Santa asks them
to grow a special Christmas tree, and the two use their
unique talents, like moving big boulders and pulling
tiny weeds, and their cleverness when the tree meets
with an accident. This sweet story of friendship, persistence,
and resourcefulness demonstrates that everyone, big
or small, has gifts to offer all through the year. |
|
 Canadian
Railroad Trilogy
by Gordon Lightfoot, Ian Wallace
Ages 4–up
The lyrics of Lightfoot’s 1967
song describe the construction of the transcontinental
Canadian Pacific Railway, commissioned to mark Canada’s
Centennial. Wallace’s beautiful paintings celebrate
the Canada’s natural beauty while also illustrating
the damage to First Nation people and the hardships
of those who toiled to build the railroad. Many paintings
show the railway in detail, while others focus on the
history and settlement of Canada. |
|
 Finders
Keepers
text by William Lipkind, illustrations
by Nicolas Mordvinoff
Caldecott Medal 1952
Ages 4–8
Nap and Winkle dig up a bone together
in the yard and can’t decide who it belongs to since Nap saw
it first and Winkle touched it first. People passing by can’t
help them solve their disagreement until another dogs offers
a solution both can agree to. The humorous illustrations fit
the story perfectly. |
|
 Applesauce
Season
by Eden Ross Lipson, Mordicai Gerstein
Ages 4–8
This delightful picture book
tells the story of an urban family who comes together
every fall to make homemade applesauce. Every step of
the process is celebrated: buying, peeling, cooking,
stirring, and tasting. The recipe on the last page encourages
families to start their own fall cooking tradition. |
|
 Immi’s
Gift
by Karin Littlewood
Ages 4–8
Immi, an Inuit girl, goes ice
fishing in a world of white. As she fishes, she pulls
a brightly colored wooden bird from under the ice.
She adds the bird to her necklace, next to her carved
white bear. Over the next few days, Immi pulls other
colorful surprises from under the ice — an orange starfish,
a green leaf, a purple feather — which she uses to
decorate her igloo. When the snow begins to melt, Immi
drops her white bear into her ice fishing hole, to
be found later by a boy on a tropical beach. |
|
 Fables
by Arnold Lobel
Caldecott Medal 1981
Ages 6–10
These short original fables have unexpected
morals. The humorous illustrations add to the fun. |
|
 Alvin
Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things
by Lenore Look, Leuyen Pham
Ages 6–10
Alvin Ho, a Chinese-American
2nd grader, is afraid of just about everything: elevators,
tunnels, girls, wasabi, and speaking out in school most
of all. The comic exaggeration of a small boy’s emotions
will appeal to young readers facing many of the same
fears. |
|
 Crow Call
by Lois Lowry
Ages 6–12
Lizzie’s father has been away in WWII
for longer than she can remember, so the fall hunting trip
the two take together after his return is awkward. But her
father respects her wishes, even when they are fanciful, and
gives her the crow call to summon the birds. To Lizzie’s relief,
her father never fires his gun on the magical day. Based on
Lowry’s own childhood, this picture book is a loving look at
the relationship between parent and child. Though set in the
past, it is fully relevant to today’s military families. |
|
 Monsters
on Machines
by Deb Lund, Robert Neubecker
Ages 4–8
In this rhyming story a crew of monsters
builds a custom (Pre haunted) house and then clean up. Muck
and mud, screams and shouts, monsters and machines—what
more could you want? |
| |
|
 Black
and White
by David Macaulay
Caldecott Medal
1991
Ages 4–10
Four stories, that at first seem unrelated,
each occupy a fourth of each two-page spread. The interactions
between the four stories creates a fifth. There is no resolution,
challenging readers to discover new meaning with each reading. |
|
 Marshall
Armstrong Is New to Our School
by David Mackintosh
Ages 4–8
Marshall Armstrong, the new
kid in school, is very weird. His skin is very pale,
he eats strange space food lunches in silver wrappers,
he doesn’t play games at recess, avoids the sun, and
never watches television. So when Marshall invites
everyone over for his birthday party, our narrator
is sure it will be the worst party ever. This slyly
illustrated book is a fresh and funny look at the perils
of being the new kid and the difficulty of making friends. |
|
 Before
You Came
by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily
MacLachlan Charest, David Diaz
Ages 4–8
Against the background of luminous
art, a mother tells her child about her life before she
was a mother. She shares her love for nature, reading,
and listening to the child’s father play his guitar.
Ending with a promise that all of these pleasures will
now be shared together, this beautiful book celebrates
the before of parents lives that children are so curious
about, while reassuring that the new shared life is even
better. |
|
 Ten
Little Caterpillars
by Bill Martin Jr., Lois Ehlert
Ages 2–6
This reissue with new illustrations
provides a vibrant setting for the caterpillar counting
rhyme, perfect for reading aloud. Each of the ten caterpillars
is modeled on a different species, and a visual glossary
describes their individual feeding habits and displays
the butterflies they will become. |
|
 Snowflake
Bentley
text by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrations
by Mary Azarian
Caldecott Medal 1999
Ages 4–8
This biography of Wilson A. Bentley tells
the story of a rural Vermont farmboy in the mid-19th century
who became fascinated by snowflakes. Bentley developed a system
of microphotography that allowed him to capture images of snowflakes
and prove that no two snowflakes are identical. Azarian’s woodcuts
are perfect. |
|
 Henry
In Love
by Peter McCarty
Ages 4–8
Henry, an open-hearted cat,
is totally smitten with Chloe, a flirtatious rabbit.
Pitch perfect observations of grade school romance
are complemented by the beautiful illustrations. |
|
 The
Monster Returns
by Peter McCarty
Ages 3–6
Jeremy is sure that the blue
spiky monster he sent away with a one-way bus ticket
is gone for good, but he receives a telephone call
warning him that the monster is retiurning. Carrying
a brown suitcase and wearing a pink hat, the monster
approaches Jeremy’s door. But Jeremy arms his friends
and neighbors with fancy pens, and they create a horde
of colorful monsters. (sequel to Jeremy
Draws a Monster) |
|
 Adèle & Simon
by Barbara McClintock
Ages 4–8
Walking home from school in early 20th
century Paris, Adèle’s little brother Simon leaves something
at every stop, encouraging the reader to search carefully through
every beautifully detailed ink and watercolor illustration.
A 1907 map of Paris on the endpapers traces the children’s
route. |
|
 Adèle & Simon
in America
by Barbara McClintock
Ages 4–8
Visiting from Paris, Adèle
and Simon take a train journey across early 20th century
United States with their Aunt Cécile. The forgetful
Simon loses one of his belongings at each stop prompting
a visual hide-and-seek through the illustrations, which
include historical figures. Sepia endpapers trace their
route on an old railway map. |
|
 Make
Way for Ducklings
by Robert McCloskey
Caldecott Medal 1942
Ages 3–8
Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are having trouble
finding the perfect nest site until they reach Boston’s Public
Garden. Safe from foxes and turtles, and plenty of peanuts, this
must be the perfect spot. The lovely humorous illustrations beautifully
support the gentle minimal text. |
|
 Time
of Wonder
by Robert McCloskey
Caldecott Medal 1958
Ages 4–8
Two sisters spend a glorious summer in
Maine on Penobscot Bay, swimming, sailing, and experiencing a
storm. The poetic language and beautiful illustrations capture
this magical time. |
|
 Mirette
on the High Wire
by Emily Arnold McCully
Caldecott Medal 1993
Ages 4–8
Mirette helps “The Great Bellini” regain
his confidence while he stays at her mother’s boarding house
and eventually the two are walking the high wire above the rooftops
of the city. Rich illustrations capture 19th-century Paris. |
|
 Arrow
to the Sun:
A
Pueblo Indian Tale
by Gerald McDermott
Caldecott Medal 1975
Ages 4–8
A young boy searches for his father and
must prove he is worthy by passing through four ceremonial chambers
in this retelling of the Pueblo Native American legend. The bold
and colorful geometric illustrations echo Pueblo designs. |
|
 The
Hinky-Pink
by Megan McDonald, Brian Floca
Ages 4–8
In this retelling of a story from 1940,
the humble seamstress Anabel is about to realize her dream
of sewing a ball gown for a princess when a Hinky-Pink appears
to rob her of sleep so that she is too tired to sew. Floca’s
active and detailed watercolors bring long-ago Florence to
life. |
|
 South
by Patrick McDonnell
Ages 3–7
In this nearly wordless book, Mooch
the cat helps a small bird whose flock has flown south without
him. This humorous and moving story explores crossing boundaries
and saying goodbye. |
|
 Even
Monsters Need Haircuts
by Matthew McElligott
Ages 4–8
Just before midnight on the
night of the full moon, our young hero sneaks out to
his father’s barbershop to give haircuts to his monster
customers. The wide variety of monsters patiently wait
their turns as the young barber deals with each monster’s
individual hair requirements. This delightful book
is sure to become a bedtime favorite. |
|
 Never
Forgotten
by Patricia C. McKissack, Leo
Dillon, Diane Dillon
All Ages
This powerful book tells the
story of Mustafa, a small boy from Mali who is abducted
and sold into slavery. The free verse narration follows
Mustafa across the ocean to South Carolina, where he
becomes a gifted blacksmith like his father. Dramatic
paintings by Leo and Diane Dillon intensify the grief
and longing for freedom, reminding children of the importance
of family and remembering the past. |
|
 I’m
Big!
by Kate & Jim McMullan
Ages 4–8
The big purple sauropod sets
out to find his herd when he discovers he’s been left
behind. Along the way he meets other dinosaurs of all
shapes and sizes armed with dangerous claws, fangs,
and spikes. Realizing that his size is also a weapon,
the sauropod uses it to scare his enemies away. The
colorful illustrations and rhyming slangy text make
this story of discovering your own strengths a fun
adventure. |
|
 The
Whistle on the Train
by Margaret Mcnamara, Richard Egielski
Ages 2–6
In this colorful pop-up book, the song “Wheels
on a Bus” is adapted for a train journey. The lyrics
are easy to learn, so young children can “read” this
book over to themselves as they enjoy the sturdy pop-up features. |
|
 What
the World Eats
by Peter Menzel, Faith D’Aluisio
All Ages
Twenty-five families in 21 countries
around the world are photographed surrounded by a week’s worth
of food. The multi-generational portraits provide an avenue
for exploring each family’s hopes and struggles while gently
raising issues about global food supplies. Family recipes,
maps, and county information reveal provocative statistics.
(adapted from Hungry
Planet) |
|
 Waiting
for Winter
by Sebastian Meschenmoser
Ages 5–8
Squirrel, Hedgehog, and Bear
scurry around searching for the first snowflake of
winter, which they are told will be white and wet and
soft and cold. They each find a candidate for the snowflake:
a toothbrush, a tin can, and an old white sock. The
wonderfully detailed and silly illustrations are sure
to enchant readers. |
|
 Over
and Under the Snow
by Kate Messner, Christopher Silas
Neal
Ages 4–8
A small girl and her father
cross-country ski through a snowy forest, spotting
the occasional animal. Cutaway illustrations reveal
other creatures sheltered under the snow in this evocative
and elegant book. |
|
 Color
Magic Sticker Play Book
by Metropolitan Museum of Art
Ages 4–8
More than 2000 red, blue, and
yellow translucent stickers in various geometric shapes
encourage children to experiment with color and the shapes
that make up the world around us. The reusable stickers
easily peel away from the laminated pages, making it
simple to create new masterpieces. |
|
 Bear
in the Air
by Susan Meyers, Amy Bates
Ages 4–8
When a beloved teddy bear is
lost by the child who loves him, the stuffed animal
takes an amazing journey to get back home again. The
bear is transported by fish, gulls, sailors, and the
wind until he eventually reaches home again. Beautiful
illustrations of a pre-WWII seaside resort town accompany
the rhythmic verse documenting the journey. |
|
 Santa
Duck
by David Milgrim
Ages 4–8
On Christmas Eve Nicholas Duck
rushes outside to find Santa and tell him what he wants
for Christmas. He is surprised to find a red coat and
official Santa hat on his doorstep. Delighted with his
new outfit, Nicholas is soon overwhelmed by the crowds
of animals who ask him to deliver their wish lists to
Santa. When Nicholas flees from the crowd, he runs into
Santa and delivers all the messages, but forgets to relay
his own desires. At first frustrated, Nicholas soon realizes
that helping others has made him happier that any gift
possibly could. The bright illustrations, funny character,
and simple message will charm young readers. |
|
 Santa
Duck and His Merry Helpers
by David Milgrim
Ages 4–8
Nicholas Duck is overjoyed
that it is again time to help collect wish lists for
Santa. Unfortunately his three younger siblings pester
him to let them help, trying to bribe him with fantastic
presents. When he reminds them that Christmas is about
love and goodwill, not just presents, the little ducks
convince him that means he must let them help after
all. The goofy humor and cartoon-like illustrations
will appeal to both younger and older siblings. (follow-up
to Santa
Duck) |
|
 The
Egg Tree
by Katherine Milhous
Caldecott Medal 1951
Ages 5–8
Katy discovers her grandmother’s old
hand-painted eggs while on a family Easter egg hunt. Grandmom
had painted the eggs when she was a little girl, and shows Katy
how to hang them on the special egg tree. The beautiful Pennsylvania-Dutch
inspired illustrations will inspire readers to paint eggs of
their own. |
|
 Sneaky
Sheep
by Chris Monroe
Ages 4–8
Rocky and Blossom are sheep
troublemakers with poor decision making skills. They
skateboard without helmets, sunbathe on the train tracks,
and run with the bulls. Murphy the sheepdog doesn't
trust them a bit, and watches extra carefully when
he overhears them planning to visit the forbidden high
meadow where a wolf is known to visit. But the sneaky
sheep escape and soon find themselves facing a hungry
wolf. Both the text and the illustrations celebrate
the disobedience of these two endearing rebels. |
|
 The
Night Before Christmas
by Clement C. Moore, Eric Puybaret
Ages 5–8
The classic poem is illustrated
with brilliantly colored and lavishly detailed paintings,
so rich that the appear almost 3-D. The bundled CD
includes the tale set to music by Noel Paul Stookey,
a reading of the poem by Mary Travis with a special
score composed by Peter Yarrow, plus the classic song “A’
Soalin” performed by Peter, Paul, and Mary. |
|
 Come
See the Earth Turn
by Lori Mortensen, Raul Allen
Ages 6–10
Léon Foucault was a sickly
child, a poor student, and a drop-out from medical
school—not a natural candidate for fame. Drawn to science
as an adult, Foucault began to perform experiments.
Though scientists at the time were certain that the
Earth did spin around an axis, no one could prove it
until Foucault made an incredible discovery that demonstrated
the Earth’s rotation—Foucault’s Pendulum. This accessible
account of Foucault’s discovery is beautifully illustrated
with Raul Allen’s dramatic paintings. |
|
 The
Funny Little Woman
text by Arlene Mosel, illustrations
by Blair Lent
Caldecott Medal 1973
Ages 3–8
Long ago in old Japan a funny little
woman with a silly little laugh chases a runaway dumpling and
soon finds herself cooking dumplings for a band of demons. Her
infectious laugh helps her charm the demons into releasing her. |
|
 Ashanti
to Zulu:
African
Traditions
text by Margaret Musgrove, illustrations
by Leo & Diane Dillon
Caldecott Medal 1978
Ages 6–12
Incredible pictures illustrate the traditions
and customs of 26 African tribes beginning with letters from
A to Z. Most paintings include a man, woman, child, artifact,
living quarters, and a local animal. |
|
 Zen
Ghosts
by Jon J. Muth
Ages 4–8
Stillwater the panda dresses
as a ghost to join Addy, Michael, and Karl for Halloween.
After trick-or-treating they travel to Stillwater’s
house where another panda joins them and shares a ghost
story based on a Zen koan that questions the nature
of identity. Beautiful watercolors illustrate this
haunting and magical tale. |
|
 Mama
Miti
by Donna Jo Napoli, Kadir Nelson
Ages 4–8
This story of Wangari Maathai’s
mission to plant trees in Kenya is told more as a folk
tale than a biography. Wangari Wangari becomes known
as Mama Miti (Mother of Trees) because she knows her
trees, and recommends the perfect one to plant to meet
the needs of those she meets. Some trees produce edible
berries, some make good firewood, some have roots that
purify the water. Beautiful and colorful illustrations
bring Mama Miti and her community to life. |
|
 Snook
Alone
by Marilyn Nelson, Timothy Basil
Ering
Ages 4–8
Snook, a rat terrier, is the
beloved companion of Abba Jacob, a monk who lives alone
in a hermitage on a far away island. When the two are
separated by a storm, Snook must fend for himself,
waiting faithfully for his master to return. Poet Marilyn
Nelson’s graceful text and Timothy Basil Ering’s realistic
illustrations beautifully support this simple story
of friendship lost and found again. |
|
 Sam,
Bangs & Moonshine
by Evaline Ness
Caldecott Medal
1967
Ages 4–8
Samantha is a fisherman’s daughter who
lives in her imagination. Everyone calls her fantasies moonshine.
One day she sends her friend Thomas and her cat Bangs out to
sea to look for her escaped pet kangaroo. A sudden storm makes
Sam rethink the line between moonshine and reality. |
|
 Wow!
Ocean!
by Robert Neubecker
Ages 3–8
In this exuberant book, Izzy
and her family visit the beach. Izzy and her sister
explore tide pools, scuba dive among rays, whales,
and sharks, and have a tea party on the ocean floor
next to a sunken pirate ship in a perfect blend of
fact and fancy. Izzy’s previous adventures include Wow!
City!, Wow!
America!, and Wow!
School!. |
|
 That’s
How!
by Christoph Niemann
Ages 4–7
Two children ponder the mysterious
workings of machines in this hilarious parody of books
explaining how things work. Cutaway cartoon illustrations
reveal that a steamroller is powered by two bears that
roll over as they are tickled by a parrot, and that
an ocean freighter is powered by an octopus twirling
a whale by the tail. Young readers will delight in
this tongue-in-cheek picture book. |
|
 The
Pet Dragon:
A
Story about Adventure, Friendship, and Chinese Characters
by Christoph Niemann
Ages 4–8
As the spunky Lin searches for
her runaway pet dragon, young readers are introduced
to 33 Chinese characters. The bold black characters are
ingeniously integrated into Niemann’s vivid computer
graphics. |
|
 Orani:
My Father’s Village
by Claire A. Nivola
Ages 4–8
The author looks back with
loving memory to her summers spent in Orani, the small
Sardinian village her father grew up in. In Orani,
Claire runs freely through the cobblestone streets
with her cousins, later feasting in the homes of her
aunts and uncles. Her cousins quiz her about life in
America, while Claire revels in the simple and unexpected
pleasures of village daily life. |
|
 Planting
the Trees of Kenya
by Claire A. Nivola
Ages 5–9
This biography of Wangari Maathai,
winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, encourages the belief
that anyone can change the course of history. |
|
 Sea
of Dreams
by Dennis Nolan
Ages 3–7
This wordless book begins with
a young girl building a sand castle at the beach. As
the girl leaves and the waves threaten the castle,
a light comes in one of the small windows. The tiny
family escapes in a boat where they are rescued by
tiny mermaids and delicate seahorses. The next day
the young girl returns to the beach and builds a new
sand castle, beginning the cycle all over again. |
|
 Christmas
in the Time of Billy Lee
by Jerdine Nolen, Barry Moser
Ages 4–8
Ellie makes three Christmas
wishes: that her parents will believe her friend Billy
Lee is real and not imaginary, that it will snow again
in Septon’s Creek, and that her worried parents will
be happy again. Her Grandma encourages Ellie to believe
in the magic of Christmas and wonderful things begin
to happen: broken tree lights begin to work, it snows
for the first time in 50 years, and Mama and Daddy
are all smiles with some happy news. Ellie is sure
it all has something to do with Billy Lee. |
|
 Swing
Café
by Carl Norac, Rebecca Dautremer
Ages 4–8
A Brazilian cricket named Zaz
dreams of singing in New York City. She rides a woman’s
fruit decorated hat from Brazil to Manhattan, where
she meets a local fly named Buster who takes Zaz to
the Swing Café on East 54th Street where they dance
to glorious swing music. The accompanying CD includes
a narration of the book with snippets of 1930s jazz
songs, plus seven complete classic swing songs by Ella
Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller,
and more. |
|
 Do
Not Build a Frankenstein!
by Neil Numberman
Ages 4–8
The new boy in town tells his
new peers that though it may sound like great fun,
having a monster of your very own is really a lot of
trouble. The colorful watercolor illustrations deliver
the visual punch line to the funny text. (Numberman
did the illustrations for the graphic novel Joey
Fly, Private Eye.) |
|
 Bunny
Days
by Tao Nyeu
Ages 3–6
The six adorable bunnies in
this hilarious picture book are unintended victims
of their busy but unobservant neighbors, Mr. and Mrs.
Goat. Luckily the Bear is always there to put things
right, though sometimes the cure is as bad as the accident.
The charming illustrations and prim narration are perfect
foils for the silly stories that will keep the audience
giggling throughout. |
|
 Fancy
Nancy’s Favorite Fancy Words: From Accessories to Zany
by Jane O’Connor
Ages 4–9
Fancy Nancy makes vocabulary
glamorous in this A-Z list of useful words used and illustrated
in classic Fancy Nancy style. |
|
 Little
Treasures: Endearments from Around the World
by Jacqueline Ogburn, Chris Raschka
Ages 4–8
This joyful book celebrates
family love with endearments from all over the world.
Children will enjoy learning the different expressions — ducky,
little mischievous pea, nugget of gold — presented
both in English and the original language (with phonetic
pronunciations). |
|
 Skit-Scat
Raggedy Cat: Ella Fitzgerald
by Roxane Orgill, Sean Qualls
Ages 5–up
This stylish biography begins
with the child Ella dancing to her mother’s records,
and ends with her first big job with the Chick Webb
Band in Harlem in 1921. Orphaned at 14, Ella lived
for a time in an abusive orphanage and then on the
streets, singing and dancing for money. Judged not
pretty enough to be a singer, the determined Ella believed
in her own talent and refused to be discouraged. Richly
colored illustrations capture the spirit a poor young
girl chasing her dream of becoming a jazz singer in
this frank, yet not frightening, biography. |
|
 Lazy
Little Loafers
by Susan Orlean, G. Brian Karas
Ages 5–8
In this witty new-baby book, our heroine
trudges off to school with her enormous backpack to take tests
while her little brother lounges around nearly naked in the
park. |
|
 The
Third Gift
by Linda Sue Park, Bagram Ibatoulline
Ages 6–9
Somewhere in an Arab desert,
a young boy learns from his father the art of gathering
a fragrant and valuable sap that seeps from small thorny
trees. The two sell it to three strangers in rich robes
who add it to their previously collected gifts of gold
and frankincense that they are taking as a birth gift
to a special baby. An author’s note includes additional
background on myrrh. |
|
 Cooking
with Henry and Elliebelly
by Carolyn Parkhurst, Dan Yaccarino
Ages 2–6
Henry’s pretend cooking show
takes an unexpected turn when his stubborn little sister
Eleanor, known as Elliebelly, insists they wear pirate
hats and change the name of the show to “Pirate
Cooking.” The joys and irritations of being a
sibling are beautifully portrayed in this exuberant
celebration of creative play. |
|
 The
Flint Heart
by Katherine Paterson, John Paterson,
John Rocco
Ages 7–12
This retelling of Eden Phillpotts’s
1910 fairy tale is both true to the original and adapted
for the modern reader. In the Stone Age, an ambitious
man demands a talisman that will harden his heart and
give him total power over his tribe. The Flint Heart
does exactly that, giving the bearer a lust for power
and a tolerance for cruelty. After being buried for thousands
of years, the Flint Heart is unearthed by a kind-hearted
farmer, and wreaks havoc upon the lives of humans, fairy
creatures, and animals. This humorous fairy tale is perfectly
designed to be shared as a family, one chapter each night. |
|
 Questions,
Questions
by Marcus Pfister
Ages 4–8
The 13 short couplets in this
boldly illustrated book demonstrate that questioning
is a creative act, a way of becoming engaged in the
world around us. The painted paper illustrations provide
a dramatic view of each question. |
|
 The
Junkyard Wonders
by Patricia Polacco
Ages 4–8
When Tricia enters a new school,
she hopes her troubles learning to read won’t mean
she is placed in a special class. On her first day,
she is informed by other children that her room is
known as “The Junkyard” since they don’t
fit in to the regular classrooms. Luckily her new teacher,
Mrs. Parkinson, views all her students as treasures,
and takes the class to a real junkyard where they discover
all sorts of wonderful objects they collect for a class
project. They decide to restore a model plane for the
school science fair in memory of a classmate whose
rapid growth is too much for his heart. Based on her
own childhood, this inspiring and complex book with
touch all who read it. An endnote tells of the successful
lives of the real students in “The Junkyard.” |
|
 A
Paddling of Ducks
Animals
in Groups from A to Z
by Marjorie Blain Parker, Joseph Kelly
Ages 4–8
This delightful ABC book
presents groups of animals from an army of ants to
a herd of zebras. Each group of animals is described
with the proper collective noun (a skulk of foxes,
a nest of vipers, a labor of moles) and shown in
a detailed illustration depicting fantastic yet animal
appropriate play. |
|
 If
Animals Kissed Good Night
by Ann Whitford Paul
Ages 3–6
Wonderfully silly presentation
of animal parents and children kissing good night complete
with nonsense sounds is sure to become a bedtime ritual. |
|
 The
Cardboard Piano
by Lynne Rae Perkins
Ages 4–8
Debbie and Tina share everything,
except piano lessons since Tina doesn’t have a piano.
Debbie constructs a beautiful cardboard piano for her
friend, but Tina soon loses interest. The dialog and
watercolor illustrations subtly explore what is most
important in friendship. |
|
 The
Rooster Crows:
A
Book of American Rhymes and Jingles
by Maud & Miska Petersham
Caldecott Medal 1946
Ages 3–8
This book is full of nursery rhymes,
counting-out games, skipping-rope songs, finger games, and other
jingles. |
|
 Mr.
Elephanter
by Lark Pien
Ages 5–8
Each morning the cheerful Mr.
Elephanter goes to work at the Elephantery where is
cares for three tiny elephanties. Mr. Elephanter’s
love for his small charges is evident in every gentle
watercolor illustration, presenting a quietly humorous
story of loving attention, perfect for soothing youngsters
off to sleep. |
|
 Sojourner
Truth’s Step-Stomp Stride
by Andrea Davis Pinkney, Brian Pinkney
Ages 5–9
Belle was born into slavery, and
when her master fails to honor his promise to free her,
Belle runs away. But she knows that she will never be truly
free when others live in slavery, so Belle changes her
name to Sojourner and begins to travel across the country,
demanding equal rights for black people and for women.
Pinkney’s glowing illustrations capture the charisma and
courage of this larger-than-life heroine. |
|
 The
Lion & the Mouse
by Jerry Pinkney
Caldecott Medal
2002
Ages 3–6
This adaptation of Aesop’s fable is nearly
wordless, but Pinkney’s gorgeous illustrations tell the tale
in stunning detail. |
|
 Out
of Sight
by Pittau & Gervais
Ages 4–8
More than 50 animals hide in
this oversized guess the animal book. Large flaps offer
visual clues about the animals concealed underneath,
and cutouts reveal hints of the snouts and limbs of
the hidden animals. Fascinating details about the animals
accompany this beautiful book that challenges the reader
to see animals in new ways. |
|
 January’s
Sparrow
by Patricia Polacco
Ages 8–12
The Crosswhite family witness
the brutal whipping of January, a slave caught while
trying to escape, and flee the Kentucky plantation
in the middle of the night. Young Sadie is heartbroken
when she realizes she has left the wooden sparrow January
carved for her, her only memento of her dead friend.
The Crosswhites travel through the Underground Railroad
to Marshall, Michigan, where they finally live in freedom.
Then January’s sparrow appears on their doorstep. Based
on a true story, this book is both horrifying and empowering. |
|
 A
Pirate’s Guide to First Grade
by James Preller, Greg Ruth
Ages 4–8
Narrated completely in pirate
lingo, our young pirate leads an imaginary crew through
the perils of the first day of first grade, ending
in the library where treasure abounds. Old-fashioned
illustrations add to the fun, and luckily there is
a glossary for those not quite fluent in pirate speak. |
|
 The
Carnival of the Animals
by Jack Prelutsky, Mary GrandPré
Ages 6–12
The animals are having a carnival,
and each arriving guest is celebrated with both music
and words in this book designed to introduce children
to classical music. New poems by Jack Prelutsky can
be enjoyed both by reading the book with exuberant
illustrations by Mary GrandPré, and by listening to
the accompanying CD, featuring the Württemberg
Chamber Orchestra performing the suite by Camille Saint-Saens
as Prelutsky reads the poems, which perfectly capture
the essence of each animal featured in the movements
of the music. |
|
 Bird,
Butterfly, Eel
by James Prosek
Ages 6–10
A barn swallow, monarch, and
American eel spend their summer at the same coastal
farm in New England. In the fall, they migrate to three
distant and different places. The beautifully detailed
watercolors complement the simple text. |
|
 The
Glorious Flight:
Across
the Channel with Louis Blériot
by Alice & Martin Provensen
Caldecott Medal 1984
Ages 4–8
This book shows the persistence of Louis
Blériot, a Frenchman, who was determined to to build a
flying machine to cross the English Channel. His glorious flight
occurred on July 25, 1909. |
|
 The
Song of the Swallows
by Leo Politi
Caldecott Medal 1950
Ages 4–8
Julian, the gardener and bell-ringer
at Mission San Juan Capistrano, shares his love of the swallows
that return every year with his young friend Juan. This year
Juan plants his own garden and hopes that the swallows will build
a nest there. Beautiful watercolor illustrations capture the
magic of the migrating birds. |
|
 A
Ball for Daisy
by Chris Raschka
Caldecott Medal
2012
Ages 3–up
This nearly wordless book tells the story
of love and loss. Daisy adores her bright red ball and is heartbroken
when it is accidentally destroyed while playing with a bigger
dog. Daisy’s feelings of both joy and sadness are brilliantly
illustrated in watercolor, gouache and ink. This simple story
of the pain of loss with a happy ending is sure to appeal to
any child who has mourned the loss of a favorite toy. |
|
 I
Am So Strong
by Mario Ramos
Ages 4–8
This self-centered wolf strolls
through the woods, demanding reassurance from the fairy
tale characters he meets that he is indeed the strongest
creature in the woods. A small “toad of some
sort” finally breaks the pattern by declaring
that its mother the dragon is far stronger. Expressive
illustrations enhance this satisfying tale. |
|
 Seven
Fathers
by Ashley Ramsden, Ed Young
Ages 4–8
In this retelling of a Scandinavian
folktale, a traveler in a blizzard seeks shelter from
the storm. When the traveler stumbles upon a house,
he asks for the head of the household to request a
night’s lodging. But the old man at the door says he
is not the father of the house, and sends the traveler
on a search for his father. Each old man is smaller
and more wizened than the one before, until finally
the traveler’s request to the seventh father breaks
the spell and the traveler is fed a feast and given
a luxurious bed. The strange collage illustrations
complement the suspenseful humor of the prose. |
|
 The
Fool of the World and the Flying Ship
text by Arthur Ransome, illustrations
by Uri Shulevitz
Caldecott Medal
1969
Ages 4–8
In this retelling of a Russian folktale,
the simple third son is helped by those with magical powers to
perform the impossible tasks set by the Czar and wins the princess.
The colorful illustrations have a wonderful Russian folk-art
look. |
|
 Eleanor,
Quiet No More
by Doreen Rappaport, Gary Kelley
Ages 6–10
Written in short, accessible
paragraphs, this biography honestly presents Eleanor’s
unhappy childhood. Each page spread includes a quote
from Eleanor that expresses her growing sense of confidence
and moral conviction. The beautiful paintings capture
Eleanor’s intelligence and compassionate heart. |
|
 Officer
Buckle and Gloria
by Peggy Rathmann
Caldecott Medal
1996
Ages 4–8
Officer Buckle’s school safety assemblies
are so boring that his audience falls asleep. Then police dog
Gloria joins the act and pantomimes each safety tip behind the
unsuspecting Officer Buckle who is amazed that his audience suddenly
finds him funny. The hilarious illustrations make this book something
special. |
|
 The
Secret River
by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Leo
and Diane Dillon
Ages 4–8
Calpurnia’s father is a fisherman,
but fish have been scarce, so Calpurnia goes to Madame
Albirtha, the wisest person in the forest, for advice.
Madame Albirtha tells Calpurnia how to find the secret
river, which is teaming with catfish. Calpurnia loads
her boat with fish, but then has to elude the Florida
predators to bring back enough fish to feed the whole
town. Dreamy illustrations accompany this magical tale. |
|
 Fletcher
and the Falling Leaves
by Julia Rawlinson, Tiphanie Beeke
Ages 3–8
The young fox Fletcher is concerned
when leaves begin to fall from his favorite tree. His
mother assures him that it is only autumn, but to Fletcher
the tree does not seem at all well. He tries to capture
the leaves and stick them back on, but eventually the
twig breaks off. The next day a beautiful sight reassures
him that the tree is fine. The beautiful illustrations
echo the magical transformation of the seasons. |
|
 Fletcher
and the Springtime Blossoms
by Julia Rawlinson, Tiphanie Beeke
Ages 3–8
When Fletcher the young fox sees
the first spring blossoms flying through the air, he
is sure that the snow has returned. At first annoyed
by the false alarm, Fletcher’s friends soon join him
in romping through the petals. Tiphanie Beeke’s beautiful
illustrations celebrate the season and give each animal
a distinctive personality. (follows Fletcher
and the Falling Leaves) |
|
 Wanda
Gág: The Girl Who Lived to Draw
by Deborah Kogan Ray
Ages 6–9
Best known for her classic picture
book Millions
of Cats, Wanda Gág loved to draw. This well-researched
biography incorporates entries from Wanda’s childhood
diaries into a compelling picture book format. |
|
 Stars
by Mary Lyn Ray, Marla Frazee
Ages 2–6
This celebration of the many different
ways of viewing and thinking about stars perfectly pairs Ray’s
musings and Frazee’s beautiful illustrations. |
|
 Encyclopedia
Mythologica: Dragons and Monsters Pop-Up
by Matthew Reinhart and Robert
Sabuda
Ages 5–12
Stunning creatures from both
Eastern and Western traditions pop up dramatically
from the pages of this incredibly detailed book. A
Chinese dragon’s body unfolds, Medusa’s snaky locks
unfurl, and Dracula’s coffin lid lifts as he awakens.
Lesser known creatures such as the lycanthrope, golem,
and wendigo are profiled with details of the cultures
that imagined them. The final book in the Encyclopedia
Mythologica trilogy that includes Gods
and Heroes and Fairies
and Magical Creatures. |
|
 Encyclopedia
Mythologica: Gods and Heroes Pop-Up
by Matthew Reinhart, Robert Sabuda
Ages 6–12
This well crafted pop-up book
presents a global tour of gods and heroes, including
classical mythology, as well as Egyptian, Norse, Eastern,
and New World legends. The pop-ups are intricately
detailed, exquisitely designed, and sturdier than they
look. The stunning art and interesting text will inspire
older readers to find out more about these fascinating
Gods and Heroes. |
|
 A
Pop-Up Book of Nursery Rhymes
by Matthew Reinhart
Ages 3–8
Matthew Reinhart’s phenomenal
paper engineering illustrates these classic nursery rhymes.
Ingenious details make this book a family keepsake. |
|
 Frankenstein
Makes a Sandwich
by Adam Rex
Ages 5–10
This hilarious collection of
illustrated poems describes the lives of famous monsters.
Kids will love the effortless rhymes and the different
art styles, individually tailored for each creature.
Great read-aloud. |
|
 Frankenstein
Takes the Cake
by Adam Rex
Ages 5–10
Frankenstein and his bride are
planning the wedding, but his best man, Dracula, is worried
about the garlic bread, and other B-movie monsters have
similar woes in this hilarious book of poems. |
|
 Back
of the Bus
by Aaron Reynolds, Floyd Cooper
Ages 6–8
One winter day in Montgomery
Alabama, a young boy and his mother are riding where
they are supposed to—in the back of the bus.
The boy passes the time rolling his marble in the aisle,
and Rosa Parks, sitting up in the front of the bus
where she isn’t supposed to, rolls it back to him.
See through the eyes of a child, who begins to wonder
if maybe Rosa does belong up there after all, brings
Rosa Park’ s defiance to vivid life. Beautifully lifelike
oil paintings convey the emotional tension of that
famous bus ride. |
|
 Baboushka
and the Three Kings
text by Ruth Robbins, illustrations
by Nicolas Sidjakov
Caldecott Medal
1961
Ages 4–8
The Three Kings coming from the East
to bring gifts to a new-born child lose their way in the snow
in Russia and knock on Baboushka’s door. She is too busy with
her chores to join them. The next morning she is sorry she refused
and tries to follow with her own gifts but the trail is covered
by new snow. Baboushka gives her gifts to other children instead.
The strong primary colors and bold outlines emphasize the Russian
theme of the story. |
|
 Blackout
by John Rocco
Ages 4–8
A small boy tries to convince his family
to play a board game on a hot summer night, but they’re all
too busy cooking dinner, on the phone, and on the computer.
Then the power goes out, and the family heads to the roof to
escape the heat, and find neighbors they haven’t seen for ages
and a sky full of amazing stars. The family enjoys their time
together so much that when the power comes back on and they
return to their apartment, no one complains when the boy turns
off the light switch and brings out the board game to enjoy
as a family by candlelight. Stunning illustrations complement
this story of the importance of taking time to enjoy the simple
joy of being together as a family. |
|
 The
Chicken Thief
by Béatrice Rodriguez
Ages 4–8
This wordless book begins with
a bear and a rabbit enjoying a picnic lunch. The a
fox steals a chicken from her home. The rooster, bear,
and rabbit give chase though forests and across the
ocean. The shape of the book adds to the excitement,
as the fox stays just ahead of his pursuers. The distinct
personalities of each character are masterfully portrayed
through the body language of the illustrations, and
the loving way the fox cradles the hen makes it clear
early in the story that all may not be what the reader
expects. |
|
 Fox
and Hen Together
by Beatrice Rodriguez
Ages 4–8
Fox and Hen are now happily
married. Unfortunately, their cupboard is bare, so
Hen entrusts her egg to Fox to care for and sets out
with the intrepid Crab in search of dinner. Hen catches
an enormous fish, but has to defend her prize from
a vicious bird and then a sea monster. This wordless
book continues the strange and wonderful story that
began in The
Chicken Thief. |
|
 Rooster’s
Revenge
by Béatrice Rodriguez
Ages 4–8
Leaving the happy Chicken and
Fox together in their little house, Rooster is making
his way home with Bear and Rabbit in a little boat.
A storm strands the three on a mysterious island, where
Rooster spots a glowing green ball and takes off with
it. Bear and Rabbit pursue Rooster through a series
of strange landscapes until they find themselves back
at their cozy farm. Rooster gets a big surprise when
he drops the ball, a fitting conclusion to the delightful
wordless trilogy that began in The
Chicken Thief and continued in Fox
and Hen Together. |
|
 Sergio
Makes a Splash
by Edel Rodriguez
Ages 3–8
Sergio the penguin loves water,
as long as it’s not very deep since he can’t swim. Poster-like
expressive illustrations present Sergio’s plunge into
the water, armed with floaties, snorkel, and a life preserver. |
|
 Bone
Dog
by Eric Rohmann
Ages 4–8
Gus doesn’t feel like doing
much of anything after his old dog Ella dies, not even
dressing up for Halloween. But remembering her promise
to be with him always, Gus puts on his skeleton costume
and sets out on Halloween night. When Gus is threatened
by a bunch of graveyard skeletons, Ella, his very own
Bone Dog, comes to his rescue, banishing the skeletons
along with Gus’s grief . Though some may find the bone
dog unsettling, the comforting message that a dog’s
loyalty transcends death is presented with gentle humor. |
|
 My
Friend Rabbit
by Eric Rohmann
Caldecott Medal 2003
Ages 4–8
Mouse narrates this story of his friend
Rabbit who has just as much fun getting Mouse out of trouble
as he does getting him into it. Incredible and hilarious illustrations
support the simple story. |
|
 The
Cuckoo’s Haiku:
and
Other Birding Poems
by Michael J. Rosen, Stan Fellows
Ages 6–10
Poet and birder Rosen captures
the essence of more than 20 common North American birds.
Designed like a birding notebook, each haiku is accompanied
by Fellows’s beautiful watercolors of the birds in their
habitats plus notes about their behavior and traits. |
|
 Silly
Lilly and the Four Seasons
by Agnes Rosenstiehl
Ages 4–8
In this Toon Book (comic easy
reader), the curious and observant Lilly enjoys the four
seasons in five short scenes. |
|
 Fearless:
The Story of Racing Legend Louise Smith
by Barb Rosenstock, Scott Dawson
Ages 5–up
From the moment Louise Smith
got behind the wheel of her father’s car at age seven,
she loved driving cars. Years later, when a race promoter
was looking for a woman to drive in a race as a joke,
Louise volunteered, and came in third. Paving the way
for women in racing, Louise eventually become a NASCAR
legend, leaving a pile of wrecks and 38 wins behind.
Upbeat illustrations capture the breezy spirit of this
self-assured woman living the life she loved. |
|
 Meet
Wild Boars
by Meg Rosoff, Sophie Blackall
Ages 4–8
Wild boars Morris, Boris, Horace,
and Doris are dirty, smelly, bad-tempered, and rude.
This silly cautionary book is sure to delight young readers. |
|
 Wild
Boars Cook
by Meg Rosoff, Sophie Blackall
Ages 4–8
The bossy, selfish, stinky, and hilarious
boars are back to create the messiest, stickiest, gooiest pudding
in the world. This sequel to Meet
Wild Boars is sure to delight every child. |
|
 Jumpy
Jack & Googily
by Meg Rosoff & Sophie Blackall
Ages 3–8
Jumpy Jack the snail is worried
he will meet a monster and describes the dreaded beast
to his friend Googily. The comically understated text
provides a foil for the vivid visual punch lines. |
|
 The
Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees to Feed Families
by Susan L. Roth, Cindy Trumbore
Ages 6–11
This moving book tells the
story of a project spearheaded by Dr. Gordon Sato to
plant mangrove trees, which thrive in salty water,
to provide food for the village of Hargigo in the impoverished
African nation of Eritrea. Lively prose, rhyming text,
and beautiful mixed media collage illustrations tell
this hopeful story. |
|
 Those
Darn Squirrels and the Cat Next Door
by Adam Rubin, Daniel Salmieri
Ages 5–8
Mr. Fookwire and his beloved
backyard birds have established a truce with the relentless
squirrels and calm reigns until Little Old Lady Hu
and her evil cat, Muffins, move in next door. Muffins
delights in tormenting the squirrels and eyeing the
birds, but the clever squirrels concoct a scheme to
convince Muffins that the indoor life is far preferable
to Mr. Fookwire’s backyard. This hilarious book is
the sequel to Those
Darn Squirrels. |
|
 Silent
Music
by James Rumford
Ages 4–9
Like his hero Yakut, who wrote about
the destruction of Baghdad in 1258, Ali turns to calligraphy
during the bombing of Baghdad in 2003. |
|
 For
the Love of Music: The Remarkable Story of Maria Anna Mozart
by Elizabeth Rusch, Lou Fancher,
Steve Johnson
Ages 4–8
Maria Anna Mozart, Wolfgang’s
older sister, was also a musical prodigy and one
of the most accomplished pianists of her time. As
children, Maria and Wolfgang played recitals all
over Europe, but as they grew older Maria was told
she must marry and have a family while Wolfgang was
encouraged to pursue his musical gifts. This biography
is organized into the structure of a piano sonata,
from First Movement to Finale underscoring the love
of music that bound these two siblings together. |
|
 Moon
Rabbit
by Natalie Russell
Ages 3–8
Moon Rabbit loves the city
but she is lonely by herself. She meets Brown Rabbit
in the park and loves playing with him, but misses
her home. Beautiful prints illustrate this tale of
balancing friendship and independence. |
|
 I
Will Come Back for You: A Family in Hiding During World War
II
by Marisabina Russo
Ages 5–9
A small girl wonders why her
grandmother always wears a bracelet with curious charms
on it, and eventually Nonna tells the story of her
childhood in Rome during World War II. When the Nazis
threatened the Jews, Nonna was separated from her father
and sent to hide in the mountains with her mother and
brother. Each of the seven charms represents one of
the months the family was separated, and there is a
story of fear, ingenuity, and compassion to go with
each one. Based on her own family history, Russo tells
the tale of this terrifying time in a reassuring way
that is appropriate for young children. |
|
 Tony
Baloney
by Pam Muñoz Ryan, Edwin Fotheringham
Ages 3–5
Tony is a macaroni penguin
caught between his bossy Big Sister Baloney and his
smaller twin Bothersome Babies Baloney. His big sister
always makes him play the minor role of kitty in their
games, and the baby twins often drive him crazy. And
then Tony and his stuffed toy Dandelion sometimes act
out and are sent to time-out until they apologize.
Bold illustrations complement this slyly humorous take
on sibling rivalry and the frustrations of being a
boy surrounded by girls. |
|
 Peter
Pan:
A
Classic Collectible Pop-Up
by Robert Sabuda
Ages 4–10
Amazing pop-up illustrations
bring characters from J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter
Pan to 3-D life. |
|
 A
Perfect Season for Dreaming
Una temporada perfecta para soñar
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Esau Andrade Valencia
Ages 7–12
In this bilingual book 92-year
old Octavio Rivera shares his beautiful and fantastic dreams
with his young granddaughter. The combination of Sáenz’s
lyrical prose and Valencia’s incredible illustrations
is mesmerizing. |
|
 Mad
at Mommy
by Komako Sakai
Ages 3–8
The small rabbit wakes his
mother one morning with a long list of grievances about
being hurried, ignored, not allowed to watch his favorite
TV shows, ending with a final emotional gasp, “And
you say you can’t marry me, not even when I get bigger.” Beautiful
pastel artwork illustrates this honest portrayal of
the rapidly changing emotions of a small child. |
|
 The
Snow Day
by Komako Sakai
Ages 3–5
A small rabbit wakes up to
discover that snow has been falling all night. School
is closed and the father rabbit’s flight home has been
cancelled. The rabbit and his mother are safe and warm
inside the apartment, but feel all alone in the world.
The small rabbit enjoys the magic of the snow, waiting
for the news that his father will return tomorrow. |
|
 The
Boy in the Garden
by Allen Say
Ages 5–8
When Jiro’s father visits his
wealthy friend Mr. Ozu, Jiro wanders through the vast
garden. Near the teahouse he meets a beautiful woman
who offers to weave something for him, just like the
sad crane woman in the fairy tale his mother reads
to him. Moving back and forth between the dream fairytale
world and the real garden, Jiro wonders what is real
and what is a dream. |
|
 Erika-san
by Allen Say
Ages 6–10
Erika always loved her Grandmother’s
print of a small Japanese teahouse with lighted windows, and
dreamed of traveling to Japan one day. After college she travels
to Japan to teach and finally finds exactly the right spot.
The beautiful watercolors are the perfect match for the tranquil
text. |
|
 Grandfather’s
Journey
by Allen Say
Caldecott Medal
1994
Ages 4–8
This book tells the story of Say’s grandfather
who sailed from Japan to North America, ending up in California.
He returned to Japan to marry his sweetheart, bringing her back
to California. When his daughter is nearly grown, he takes his
family back to Japan. In Japan they miss California and return
to America. The beautiful illustrations perfectly capture the
feeling of always being homesick for one country or the other. |
|
 All
the World
by Liz Garton Scanlon, Marla Frazee
Ages 4–8
Following an interracial family
from morning until night, this book shows the world’s
connectivity by affirming the importance of all things,
from the tiniest grain of sand on the beach to the
huge sky at sunset. Frazee’s beautiful watercolor and
pencil illustrations complement the lively verse of
the text. |
|
 Kids
Like Us
by Carole Schaefer & Pierr Morgan
Ages 3–6
Enthusiastic language and appropriate
text capture the exuberant yet serious spirit of small multiracial
children absorbed in creative play. |
|
 Little
Blue Truck
by Alice Schertle
Ages 3–7
All the animals love to see Little
Blue Truck coming down the road, but not the obnoxious
Dump Truck. Rhyming stanzas encourage joining in on the
animal and vehicle noises in this nostalgic homage to
friendship and the rewards of helping others. |
|
 There
are Cats in this Book
by Viviane Schwarz
Ages 3–8
Three playful cats romp through
this interactive book that encourages the reader to join
in the fun. |
|
 Splat
the Cat
by Rob Scotton
Ages 4–8
Splat the Cat has a severe case
of first-day-of-school anxiety, so he secretly brings
his pet mouse for comfort. Splat is astounded when he
learns that cats are supposed to chase mice in a hilarious
chase sequence. |
|
 Gallop!
by Rufus Butler Seder
Ages 4–8
Inventor, artist, and filmmaker Seder
has created Scanimation, a new animation technique.
A hidden tab in each page slides an acetate layer over an animal
image, creating the illusion of motion reminicent of Eadweard
Muybridge’s motion photography. Rhyming text accompanies each
animated image on this fascinating picture book. |
|
 Swing!
by Rufus Butler Seder
Ages 4–8
Seder’s amazing Scanimation technology
animates various activities: hitting a baseball, riding a bike,
spinning on the ice. Rhyming text captures in words the energy
of the moving images. |
|
 One
Boy
by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Ages 2–6
This clever peek-a-boo book counts
from one to ten and also reveals words within words.
Young children will enjoy discovering the hidden words—when
the boy is alone, the word one is
revealed within alone. |
|
 What
If?
by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Ages 3–7
In this unique book about friendship,
a young boy kicks a beach ball into the water where
it is found by three seals. The reader is invited to
explore the possibilities of what might happen next
in three separate stories, told with minimal text and
richly textured illustrations. |
|
 Where
the Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak
Caldecott Medal 1964
Ages 4–8
Max puts on his wolf suit and gets sent
to bed without supper. Luckily a forest grows in his room and
he can rampage with the other wild things. The hilarious wild
things, scary-looking without actually being scary, and the wonderful
run-on sentences of the simple text combine to create an incredible
view inside a child’s imagination. |
|
 The
Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories
by Dr. Seuss
Ages 5–8
The seven delightful stories
collected in this book were published in Redbook magazine
in 1950-1951 but never appeared in book form. The rhyme
and rhythm are full of trademark Dr. Seuss exaggeration
and whimsy, though not as lavishly illustrated as later
books. |
|
 Dark
Emperor and Other Poems of the Night
by Joyce Sidman, Rick Allen
Ages 6–10
This collection of poems celebrates
nocturnal life in the forest from various point of
view including the prey of a horned owl, a baby porcupine,
a night spider, the moon. Each poem is illustrated
with a detailed print and accompanied by a short factual
note about the subject, beautifully blending poetry,
science, and art. |
|
 Coretta
Scott
by Ntozake Shange, Kadir Nelson
Ages 4–9
This picture biography shows
important events in Coretta’s life from her childhood
through her marriage to Martin Luther King. The rhythmic
text and powerful illustrations captures the intensity
of the Civil Rights Movement. |
|
 The
Goat-Faced Girl
by Leah Marinsky Sharpe, Jane
Marinsky
Ages 6–up
A lizard who is really a witch
trips over an abandoned baby and adopts her. Raised
by her lizard-mother, Isabella grows up beautiful but
lazy. When she becomes engaged to Prince Rupert, her
mother gives her the head of a goat in order to spur
her into action. Rupert is repulsed by her goat head,
and gives her three impossible tasks to complete before
he will marry her. Beautifully detailed paintings illustrate
the retelling of this classic Italian folktale. |
|
 Sneaky
Weasel
by Hannah Shaw
Ages 4–8
The sneaky weasel narrating
this book finds that his tricks have brought him desirable
possessions, power over others, and no friends at all.
So he tries to become a better weasel, with very mixed
results, in this hilarious picture book. |
|
 Dinosaur
vs. Bedtime
by Bob Shea
Ages 2–6
The little red dinosaur is fearless
and invincible in his bouts against everyday obstacles like
a bowl or spaghetti or talking grown-ups until he meets his
nemesis—bedtime. |
|
 Dinosaur
vs. the Potty
by Bob Shea
Ages 2–6
The irrepressible Dinosaur
is back, this time battling lemonade stands, sprinklers,
puddles, pools, and other liquids. Dinosaur’s stubborn
insistence that he “still doesn’t need to use
the potty!” will stimulate laughter, and empathy,
from young readers. |
|
 How
I Learned Geography
by Uri Shulevitz
Ages 4–8
Uri’s boyhood memories of WWII: using
geography and imagination to combat fear and rage while fleeing
Warsaw for Kazakhstan. |
|
 Red
Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors
by Joyce Sidman, Pamela Zagarenski
Ages 4–8
Stylized figures move through colorful
illustrations celebrating the four seasons. The unrhymed
poems are filled with imaginative uses of color words to
highlight each season. (2010 Caldecott Honor Book) |
|
 Ubiquitous:
Celebrating Nature’s Survivors
by Joyce Sidman, Beckie Prange
Ages 6–10
This book of poems pays tribute
to biologically successful life forms from lichens
to mollusks to ants to coyotes. Arranged in order of
each survivor’s first appearance, each spread features
fascinating facts, beautifully colored linocuts, and
a poem which echoes a trait of the subject. The melding
of art, science, and poetry stimulates the eye, ear,
and mind. |
|
 Moving
House
by Mark Siegel
Ages 3–6
Foggytown used to be beautiful,
but the smog from the factory fills the air and is
so thick that people bump into streetlights and each
other. Chloe and Joey’s parents decide to move away,
but the children love their house and wish it could
go with them. In the middle of the night, the house
takes the children up through the fog to see the stars,
a victory of children’s dreams over parents’ sensible
plans. |
|
 ZooZical
by Judy Sierra, Marc Brown
Ages 4–8
Winter weather is keeping children
from visiting the zoo, and the animals are bored and grumpy.
Then a small hippo and a baby kangaroo have the brilliant idea
and entice their friends into putting on a ZooZical, a zoo
animal musical. The humorous rhyming text and exuberant illustrations
encourage audience participation. |
|
 Mirror
Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse
by Marilyn Singer, Josee Massee
Ages 7–up
This clever book of poems that
can be read forward and backwards, shows that there
can be more than one point of view in a fairy tale. “Mirror
Mirror” is narrated by Snow White in one direction,
and by the wicked queen in the other. “In the
Hood” features the wolf anticipating his next
meal one way, and Little Red Riding Hood reminding
herself not to dawdle on the way to Grandma’s. The
rich illustrations reflect the dual images of the poems.
Singer explains how to create a “reverso” poem
in an afterward that encourages readers to try their
own. |
|
 Black
Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson
by Charles R. Smith Jr., Shane
W. Evans
Ages 5–8
Jack Johnson was the first
black fighter to win a heavyweight championship. The
reigning champion, Jim Jeffries, retired in order to
avoid being beaten by Black Jack. When Jack won against
Jeffries’s successor, Jeffries was goaded into returning
to the ring for a match against Black Jack, who defeated
him. Told in verse, Jack is presented first as simply
a shy and fearful young man inspired by books to fight
back and make a name for himself. This accessible biography
celebrates Jack’s dignity, determination, and pride,
as well as his success as a boxer. |
|
 Grandpa
Green
by Lane Smith
Ages 5–9
A small boy tells the story
of his great-grandfather’s life, who was born before
computers and television. As the boy waters plants
and tends a magnificent topiary garden, he tells a
story to accompany each creation. Eventually the boy
catches up with his forgetful and much loved great-grandfather
in this beautiful book celebrating creativity and family
history. |
|
 It’s
a Book
by Lane Smith
Ages 4–up
While the donkey uses a laptop,
the monkey quietly reads a book. The donkey is skeptical
and asks what the book does: tweet? text? wi-fi? The
monkey eventually hands over Treasure Island,
and the donkey complains about the number of words
before finally becoming entranced by the story. The
tongue-in-cheek message of this picture book may appeal
more to parents than children, but the kid-friendly
humor will reach the target audience as well. |
|
 Madam
President
by Lane Smith
Ages 4–8
Katy is an small girl determined to
be president. In fact, she behaves as if she has been elected
already, fulfilling presidential duties at home and at school—attending
a pet frog’s “state funeral” and giving a press
conference instead of an oral report. |
|
 The
Composer Is Dead
by Lemony Snicket, Carson Ellis
Ages 5–up
This introduction to the instruments
of the orchestra is cloaked in a murder investigation.
When the composer is found dead (“This is called
decomposing.”), the Inspector begins interrogating
the sections of the orchestra. The accompanying CD features
Snicket (Daniel Handler) narrating the performance with
the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra of Nathaniel Stookey’s
original score. |
|
 Baxter,
the Pig Who Wanted to Be Kosher
by Laurel Snyder, David Goldin
Ages 4–8
While waiting for a bus, an
old man tells Baxter of the wonders of Shabbat dinner.
The man boards the bus before Baxter gets all the details,
but he knows being Kosher has something to do with
it. The cartoon style illustrations and funny text
follow Baxter’s misguided attempts to become kosher
by eating kosher pickles and challah bread, and even
trying to transform himself into a cow. Finally a sympathetic
rabbi welcomes Baxter at his Shabbat table, emphasizing
the book’s message of the importance of community. |
|
 Ladder
to the Moon
by Maya Soetoro-Ng, Yuyi Morales
Ages 4–8
Little Suhaila wishes she could
have met her grandmother, especially since Mama tells
her that Grandma Annie was so loving that she would
wrap her arms around the world if she could. One night
a golden ladder appears outside Suhaila’ s bedroom
window, and Grandma Annie takes her up to the moon,
where they invite all those suffering grief or pain
to join them in the sky for healing and rest. Lush
and dreamlike illustrations illustrate this magical
tale written by President Obama’s half-sister, who
wished her own daughter could have known her grandmother. |
|
 Born
Yesterday
by James Solheim, Simon James
Ages 3–8
This funny diary written from
a newborn’s point of view documents his attempts to
understand and conquer the world around him. Our narrator
quickly figures out who is the power in his household—his
kindergarten-age sister, who is “some kind of
monkey-bar superstar,” and decides to grow up
just like her. This amusing slant on sibling relationships
will go a long way toward easing the inevitable jealousy
of the older sibling. |
|
 Nothing
Like a Puffin
by Sue Soltis, Bob Kolar
Ages 4–6
This amusing book begins by
stating that a puffin is completely unique, but then
begins to question that assumption. Aren’t newspapers
black and white like puffins? And a puffin can swim
like a goldfish. Young children will enjoy exploring
differences and similarities with this mischievous
puffin. |
|
 Ladybug
Girl
by David Soman and Jacky Davis
Ages 3–5
Lulu’s older brother says she is too
little to play with him, and her parents are busy, so Lulu
invents Ladybug Girl and happily makes her own fun in an imaginative
world where she is definitely not too little. |
|
 Ladybug
Girl and Bumblebee Boy
by David Soman and Jacky Davis
Ages 3–5
Lulu meets her friend Sam at
the playground, but they have trouble deciding what
to play together. Sam is finally intrigued by Lulu’s
superhero idea and transforms himself into Bumblebee
Boy to accompany her Ladybug Girl. Together they battle
the Mean Robot, which looks a lot like a tire swing
to the uninitiated. (followup to Ladybug
Girl) |
|
 Jack
and the Box
by Art Spiegelman
Ages 4–8
Jack the bunny receives a talking
jack-in-the-box that is both funny and scary. Beginning
readers will love this clever Toon Book with plenty of
repeated vocabulary and age-appropriate humor. |
|
 I
Can Be Anything!
by Jerry Spinelli, Jimmy Liao
Ages 3–6
Spinelli’s exuberant rhymes
and Liao’s energetic illustrations combine to take
the reader on a playful journey through all the wonderful
possibilities life has to offer. This imaginative book
is sure to please both young readers and the adults
that share the pleasure of reading with them. |
|
 Look!
A Book!
by Bob Staake
Ages 3–6
Each themed spread in this
seek-and-find book presents a a challenge to find something
hidden in the illustrations crammed full of intricate
die-cut details. Young children will love exploring
these pages over and over again. |
|
 Julian
Rodriguez #1: Trash Crisis on Earth
by Alexander Stadler
Ages 7–10
Julian complains to the Mothership
that he has endured eight years of mistreatment in an
Earthling home in this hilarious hybrid of fiction and
graphic novel. |
|
 Wilson
and Miss Lovely:
A
Back-to-School Mystery
by John Stadler
Ages 4–8
After his first week of school, Wilson
is enthusiastic about his new teacher. But something is wrong.
The school bus never arrives, and the school is empty. Wilson
goes through his normal school routine, completing his math and
science lessons alone, sending himself to the principal’s office
when he misbehaves, but he grows more and more worried. Fold-out
flaps reveal a first green foot with claws, and then more details
until the surprise conclusion. A bit scary, but funny and sweet. |
|
 All
God’s Critters
by Bill Staines, Kadir Nelson
Ages 5–8
Kadir Nelson’s playful illustrations
enliven this energetic spiritual. The song’s message
of tolerance encourages everyone to sing along—and
everyone can thanks to the sheet music included at
the end of the book. |
|
 Tillie
the Terrible Swede: How One Woman, a Sewing Needle, and a
Bicycle Changed History
by Sue Stauffacher, Sarah McMenemy
Ages 5–8
When Tillie arrived in America
from Sweden all she had was a needle. So she got a
job at a tailor shop and waited for something exciting
to happen. Then she saw her first bicycle and knew
what she wanted to do, even though everyone told her
women couldn’t ride bicycles. With her trusty needle,
Tillie created an aerodynamic cycling costume and broke
all the 1890s records for speed and endurance. |
|
 Jonathan
and the Big Blue Boat
by Philip C. Stead
Ages 4–8
Jonathan’s parents decide that
he is too old for a stuffed animal and trade his beloved
bear for a toaster. So Jonathan sets out in a Big Blue
Boat to travel the world in search of his bear. Animal
friends join the voyage when there is trouble with
pirates, who aren’t too scary in this gentle adventure
with a happy ending. |
|
 A
Sick Day for Amos McGee
by Philip Christian Stead, Erin
Stead
Caldecott Medal
2011
Ages 2–6
Elderly zookeeper Amos McGee
always makes time in his busy day to spend time with
the animals. He plays chess with the elephant, reads
to the owl, and sits quietly with the penguin. When
Amos catches a cold and can’t come to work, the animals
miss him and pile onto the bus to pay him a visit,
each offering a small kindness in return. Erin Stead’s
delicate woodblock prints perfectly complement this
gentle story of quiet affection. |
|
 Sylvester
and the Magic Pebble
by William Steig
Caldecott Medal
1970
Ages 4–8
Sylvester the donkey finds a magic pebble
that will grant his every wish. Unfortunately Sylvester is startled
by a lion and wishes he were a rock and then cannot hold the
magic pebble to wish himself back to normal again. The glorious
watercolor illustrations convey the nuances of this touching
story. |
|
 Interrupting
Chicken
by David Ezra Stein
Ages 4–8
Though constantly reminded
by her father not to interrupt the bedtime story, the
irrepressible little chicken can’t help interrupting
the stories in order to save the characters from certain
doom. After derailing three of her father’s stories,
the little chicken takes over the story telling herself,
only to be interrupted in his own way by her very sleepy
father. The funny illustrations vary in style to suit
the story in this hilarious book. |
|
 So
You Want to Be President?
text by Judith St. George, illustrations
by David Small
Caldecott Medal 2001
Ages 8–12
This lighthearted book uses anecdotes
and trivia to convey the message that anyone can be president.
The humorous caricatures highlight each president’s best known
qualities. |
|
 The
Loopy Coop Hens Try to Fly
by Janet Morgan Stoeke
Ages 3–6
Pip, Dot, and Midge are three
silly hens who adore Rooster Sam. Determined to attract
his attention by learning to fly, the three hens try
and try, failing hilariously each time. Arranged in
chapters to mimic an early reader, this picture book
is a perfect first lesson in reading independently. |
|
 The
House in the Night
by Susan Marie Swanson, Beth
Krommes
Ages 3–6
Caldecott Medal
2009
Beth Krommes’s magical illustrations
amplify the minimal text to highlight the things in a
house that really matter: books, art, music, and love.
This bedtime book will be treasured by children and adults
alike. |
|
 Balloons
over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s
Parade
by Melissa Sweet
Ages 4–8
This accessible biography tells
the story of Tony Sarg, the man who invented the giant
balloons of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Tony
Sarg, a self-taught immigrant, was fascinated by puppets
and marionettes as a child. His first big break came
with a job of designing window displays for Macy’s.
Next came earthbound creations that were steered down
the street, and finally the balloon puppets controlled
from below. |
|
 Joseph
Had a Little Overcoat
by Simms Taback
Caldecott Medal 2000
Ages 4–8
When Joseph’s overcoat starts falling
apart he turns it into a jacket, then a vest, then a scaft, and
so on in this adaptation of a Yiddish folksong. The illustrations
are incredibly detailed and full of funny details. |
|
 River
of Dreams:
The
Story of the Hudson River
by Hudson Talbott
Ages 6–8
The series of watercolor spreads
traces the role of the Hudson River through the colonization
of New York, the era of steamboats, the building of the
Erie Canal, and environmental degradation. Packed with
facts, maps, and timelines, this amazing book manages
to present an astounding among of information without
overwhelming young readers. |
|
 United
Tweets of America
by Hudson Talbott
Ages 6–8
In the United Tweets pageant,
state birds show off their home states. The state trivia
is delivered in a delightful tongue-in-cheek fashion
sure to spark interest in geography and history in young
readers. |
|
 The
Christmas Magic
by Lauren Thompson, Jon J Muth
Ages 4–8
In the far far north where
the nights are longest and the stars shine brightest,
Santa begins to prepare for his long night of toy-giving.
This particular Santa is a bunny-slipper-wearing character
who feels the approaching holiday through the tingling
of his whiskers. The luminous watercolor illustrations
add to the reassuring magic of this Christmas story. |
|
 Leap
Back Home to Me
by Lauren Thompson, Matthew Cordell
Ages 2–6
This wise mother frog in this
delightful book encourages her baby to take small leaps
into the big scary world, and then leap back into the
safety of her arms. The small frog’s increasing confidence
and joy in exploring further and further from home
is balanced by the mother frog’s calm welcomes back.
This lively book provides reassurance that no matter
how far the journey, the love and safety of home is
always waiting. |
|
 Many
Moons
by James Thurber, illustrations
by Louis Slobodkin
Caldecott Medal 1944
Ages 4–8
Once there was a little princess who
wanted the moon, but no one could get it for her—not her
father, the king, his wise men, or the jester. Finally the little
princess solves the problem herself. The beautiful watercolors
portray the magical quality of this tale. |
|
 The
Last Train
by Gordon M. Titcomb, Wendell
Minor
Ages 3–8
Based on Gordon Titcomb’s
2005 song, this book celebrates the golden age
of railway travel. Wendell Minor’s glowing and
detailed paintings show the narrator as a young
boy, walking along the tracks in a misty haze.
The lyrics of the text evoke the sounds and tempos
of trains traveling the rails: “If you close
your eyes and listen, you can almost hear the sound,
of those big iron horses, rolling into town.” |
|
 White
Snow, Bright Snow
by Alvin Tresselt, illustrations
by Roger Duvoisin
Caldecott Medal 1948
Ages 4–8
When the snow begins to fall, the adults
rush around doing important chores, but the children dance and
try to catch snowflakes on their tongues. The bright illustrations
capture a child’s delight in the first snow of the season. |
|
 Press
Here
by Herve Tullet
Ages 4–8
Pressing the yellow dot on
the first page causes a second yellow dot to appear
on the second page. Each page contains a new instruction
which brings a new on the following page. This clever
book is great fun to read aloud. |
|
 A
Tree Is Nice
text by Janice Udry, illustrations
by Marc Simont
Caldecott Medal
1957
Ages 4–8
This book explores all the benefits that
trees bring us in simple text suitable for young readers. The
elongated shape of the book allows the beautiful illustrations
to capture the graceful height of trees. |
|
 A
Storm Called Katrina
by Myron Uhlberg, Colin Bootman
Ages 7–11
Louis Daniel (10) plays the
cornet like his idol Louis Armstrong. When a storm
arrives in New Orleans, he takes his horn to bed with
him, just in case. In the morning, Louis and his family
escape from the rising water through the wreckage to
the promised safety of the Superdome. As the days pass,
the electricity goes out, the air conditioning dies,
the bathrooms are closed, and people around them begin
to bicker as they run out of food and water. When Louis
and his mother become separated from his father, Louis
is sure he can do something to help. Many questions
go unanswered in this this affecting story. The first
person narration and dramatic oil paintings provide
a deeply personal and often uncomfortable look at a
disaster whose ramifications are still being felt. |
|
 The
Loud Book!
by Deborah Underwood, Renata Liwska
Ages 4–8
The menagerie from The
Quiet Book is back, this time with lots of LOUDS!
Written in all caps and illustrated in brighter colors
than its predecessor, this playful exploration of crashes,
music, the sounds various objects make when they are
dropped, and other sound effects will be equally popular
bedtime reading. |
|
 Jibberwillies
At Night
by Rachel Vail
Ages 4–8
Katie Honors is sometimes afraid
at night when the Jibberwillies fly through her room.
Luckily Katie’s mother knows just what to do, and together
they catch the Jibberwillies in a bucket and throw them
out the window. This fun book is sure to empower any
child who has ever had nighttime fears. |
|
 King
Hugo’s Huge Ego
by Chris Van Dusen
Ages 3–6
This comic tale tells the story
of King Hugo, a small person with a very large sense
of his own importance. King Hugo looks down upon his
subjects and mistreats them, and they have no choice
but to pretend to admire him. One day King Hugo is rude
to Tessa, a peasant maid who just happens to be a sorceress
in disguise. Tessa cast a spell on Hugo that causes his
head to swell larger with each arrogant act, until his
gigantic head finally topples the king right off his
throne. |
|
 The
Polar Express
by Chris Van Allsburg
Caldecott Medal 1986
Ages 6–8
The Polar Express is an old-fashioned
steam train that takes children to the North Pole on Christmas
Eve. Incredible illustrations evoke a memory of a long-ago time. |
|
 Queen
of the Falls
by Chris Van Allsburg
Ages 6–9
Annie Edson Taylor, a 62-year-old
widow, decided she needed a way to strike it rich after
closing her Michigan charm school. In 1901 she read
an article about the popular tourist attraction Niagara
Falls, and decided to become a popular attraction herself.
She commissioned a barrel large enough to hold herself
and a layer of soft pillows, hired a publicist, notified
the press, and launched herself over the falls. Sepia-tinted
illustrations accompany this story of a courageous
woman determined to earn fame and fortune. |
|
 Is
Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?
by Audrey Vernick, Daniel Jennewein
Ages 4–8
This amusing book tells the
story of a young buffalo who sets off to Kindergarten,
even though told school is no place for a buffalo.
The buffalo does stand out, and is different, but is
appreciated none the less. Gently presenting the message
that everyone is special in his or her own way, this
book will help ease those first day of school fears. |
|
 Building
Manhattan
by Laura Vila
Ages 6–8
Following the growth of Manhattan
from prehistory to the present in lavish illustrations
and single sentences, this book will be enjoyed over
and over. |
|
 Lyle
Walks the Dogs
by Bernard Waber, Paulis Waber
Ages 4–8
In this charming counting book,
Lyle the Crocodile goes into the dog walking business.
Every day Lyle adds a new dog, with a distinct personality,
to his client list. Daughter Paulis Waber makes her
illustrating debut, and her cheerful drawings echo
the humor of her father’s art. Together, the text and
illustrations convey the energy and enthusiasm of the
dogs which must be controlled by Lyle’s patience and
good humor. Young readers will enjoy counting along
to make sure that Lyle ends his journey with all the
dogs he started with. |
|
 The
Queen of France
by Tim Wadham, Kady MacDonald
Denton
Ages 4–8
Confronted by the awful prospect
of having to clean her room, Rose attires herself in
all her jewelry plus a tutu from the make-believe basket
and transforms herself into the Queen of France. The
Queen expresses her total disdain for her commoner
parents, but is eventually convinced that they love
their own lowly daughter better than a Queen. Expressive
illustrations accompany the humorous narration. |
|
 Mama
Says: A Book of Love for Mothers and Sons
by Rob D. Walker
Ages 4–up
This beautiful book pairs a
series of poems with stunning illustrations to celebrate
the bond between mothers and sons. Each poem appears
in English and another language (Cherokee, Danish,
Hebrew, etc.). The often simple verses are rendered
powerful by the illustrations that provide a deeper
context. |
|
 The
Biggest Bear
by Lynd Ward
Caldecott Medal 1953
Ages 4–8
Johnny sets off to kill the biggest bear
he can find, but since all he finds is a cup he brings it home.
When the bear grows too big to keep as a pet, Johnny tries to
set it free, but the bear keeps returning at supper time. Finally
Johnny has to find permanent solution. Beautifully detailed illustrations
capture rural life perfectly. |
|
 Chester
by Mélanie Watt
Ages 4–8
Mélanie Watt starts to write the story
of a mouse, but her cat Chester, armed with a red marker, dismisses
the mouse and rewrites the story with a new hero—himself.
Mélanie and the mouse fight back, and it’s a duel to the final
page in this hilarious picture book. |
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 Chester’s
Back!
by Mélanie Watt
Ages 4–8
Mélanie hopes
that making her egocentric cat Chester the star of
his own fairy tale will keep him satisfied, but Chester
can’t resist using his red marker to make himself even
more important. (sequel to Chester) |
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 Chester’s
Masterpiece
by Mélanie Watt
Ages 4–8
Chester the cat continues his
battle for control with author Melanie Watt by hiding
her art supplies and computer mouse. Wielding a red marker,
Chester tries to construct a story on his own, but discovers
that it isn’t as easy as he imagined. Watt’s advice is
delivered by post-it notes, which the trouble-making
cat ignores until the hilarious conclusion. (follow-up
to Chester and Chester’s
Back) |
|
 You’re
Finally Here!
by Mélanie Watt
Ages 3–8
This excitable little bunny
has been waiting far too long for a reader to appear
and has gotten a bit cranky. After giving several illustrations
of how RUDE it is to keep someone waiting, the bunny
then celebrates the reader's arrival. But the bunny
can’t resist taking a cell phone call, assuring the
caller that the reader certainly won’t mind waiting.
Bright cartoons illustrate this funny and very silly
story. |
|
 New
Year at the Pier
by April Halprin Wayland, Stephane
Jorisch
Ages 4–8
Izzy’s favorite part of Rosh
Hashanah (Jewish New Year) is Tashlich, when sins are
symbolically cast away by throwing pieces of bread
into the water. But first Izzy must make his “I’m
sorry” list and seek forgiveness from all he
has wronged the last year, and there is one item on
his list that Izzy is finding especially hard to say
out loud. This empathetic book makes important points
about personal responsibility and the joys of communal
tradition in a humorous and low-key style. |
|
 Yankee
at the Seder
by Elka Weber, Adam Gustavson
Ages 7–10
Jacob is horrified when his
mother invites a Union soldier to join their Confederate
family for Passover just one day after Lee’s surrender.
But his mother reminds him that Jews are commanded
to welcome “all who are hungry… all who
are in need” to their seder table. At first all
are awkward, but the Jewish tradition of debate allow
all views to be heard, and a tenuous connection begins
the postwar healing process. |
|
 Sophie
Peterman Tells the Truth!
by Sarah Weeks, Robert Neubecker
Ages 4–8
Sophie Peterman tells the truth
about babies: they aren’t cute, or precious, or sweet.
In fact, they are smelly crybabies and attention hogs.
Sophie’s personality leaps off the pages of this funny
book that begs to be read aloud. |
|
 Love
Waves
by Rosemary Wells
Ages 4–8
The two sections in this reassuring
book begin with a mother and a father hugging their
child before leaving for work. Throughout the day,
each parent thinks of their child, musing about what
the child might be doing and sending “love waves” promising
to come home soon. This delightful book is a wonderful
way to address the separation anxiety that many children
feel when parents leave for work, or live in separate
homes, or relatives and friends move far away. |
|
 My
Havana: Memories of a Cuban Boyhood
by Rosemary Wells & Secundino
Fernandez, Peter Ferguson
Ages 7–10
Young Secundino, “Dino” to
his friends and family, loves life in 1950s Havana,
filling notebook after notebook with sketches of
architecture, trying to capture the sense of color,
music, and vivid life that surrounds him. When Castro
takes over, Dino and his family move to New York
City, which the boy at first finds harsh and unwelcoming.
To ease his homesickness, Dino builds a model of
Havana on his bedroom floor. Eventually Dino makes
a new friend and begins to love his new city. (Secundino
Fernandez grew up to become a successful architect
in New York City.) |
|
 Alphabeasties:
And
Other Amazing Types
by Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss
Ages 4–8
This amazing ABC book begins by
introducing various typefaces and their different personalities.
From the alligator made form As through the zebra composed
of Zs, each page presents an innovative use of type, encouraging
repeat visits. |
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 Bugs
by the Numbers
by Sharon Werner & Sarah Forss
Ages 6–12
The bugs in the book are created
using only numbers. A mosquito silhouette is composed
of 75s since a mosquito can detect human breath from
75 feet away, and a group of ladybugs are created from
numbers that match the number of spots on their wings.
This creative book also includes interesting facts
about the featured bugs. |
|
 Art & Max
by David Wiesner
Ages 5–8
Art, a desert lizard, is a painter
of portraits. When his friend Max decides to also become a
painter, he asks Art what he should paint. Art suggests that
Max paint him, and the literal-minded Max begins applying paint
directly to Art’s scaly skin. When Art’s painted exterior explodes
during a temper tantrum, Max attempts to reconstruct him with
unexpected consequences. The expressive illustrations highlight
the feisty friendship in this humorous exploration of the creative
process. |
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 Flotsam
by David Wiesner
Caldecott Medal 2007
Ages 4–9
In this wordless picture book, a wave
brings an underwater camera to shore and a boy develops the film.
Amazing photographs emerge: a windup fish, aliens among the sea
horses, an octopus reading, and finally a picture of a child
holding a picture of a child holding a picture of a child… inviting
the reader to discover the narrative on each page. |
|
 The
Three Pigs
by David Wiesner
Caldecott Medal 2002
Ages 5–8
These three clever pigs move from realistic
to storybook illustrations as they manipulate the classic tale.
The use of white space, perspective, and humor make these illustrations
something special. |
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 Tuesday
by David Wiesner
Caldecott Medal 1992
Ages 5–8
In this nearly wordless book, the frogs
on their lily pads soar through the night. The illustrations
perfectly capture the surreal magic of flying frogs. |
|
 A
Not Scary Story About Big Scary Things
by C.K. Williams, Gabi Swiatkowska
Ages 4–8
A young boy lives near a regular
ordinary forest with the usual perils of bears, snakes,
and wolves. The boy isn’t frightened of those creatures
because he knows if he leaves them alone, they will
leave him alone. The forest is also inhabited by a
big scary monster. But the boy isn’t frightened of
the monster, even after he comes face to face with
it, because he know the monster doesn’t exist. And
indeed, the monster shrinks down to something very
familiar and not at all scary. Beautifully balanced
text and illustrations covey a matter-of-fact reassurance
about the importance of questioning conventional wisdom. |
|
 Cat
the Cat, Who Is That?
by Mo Willems
Ages 3–6
In Cat the Cat’s world, names
are easy to remember. Her friends all have names like
Mouse the Mouse and Fish the Fish. But then Cat the
Cat meets a strange and colorful new creature with
eyestalks and three legs, who greets her with a cheerful, “Blarggie!
Blarggie!” Young readers will love spending time
with spunky Cat the Cat as she struggles to fit this
new creature into her world. |
|
 City
Dog, Country Frog
by Mo Willems, Jon J Muth
Ages 4–8
City Dog, enthusiastic about
his new life without a leash, meets Country Frog in
the spring and the two frolic throughout the summer
and fall. But winter finds Country Frog’s favorite
rock empty. In the spring, City Dog meets a new friend
and extends the same welcome he received from Country
Frog. Beautiful watercolors expand the emotional depth
of this simple story about the transitory nature of
the seasons and the cycle of life. |
|
 Hooray
for Amanda & Her Alligator!
by Mo Willems
Ages 4–8
Amanda and her toy alligator
enjoy simple pleasures together in this humorous book
of short stories. Occasional problems (like when Alligator
discovers he came from the “sale bucket”)
are solved with grace and wit. |
|
 Knuffle
Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion
by Mo Willems
Ages 3–7
While traveling from Brooklyn
to Holland to visit her grandparents, Trixie accidentally
leaves her beloved stuffed Knuckle Bunny on the plane.
Trixie handles the catastrophe as well as she can,
but though everyone stresses how big she is getting,
Trixie wishes she weren’t expected to be so grown up.
This reassuring last book in the series celebrates
the unconditional love between parents, a child, and
a stuffed bunny. |
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 Naked
Mole Rat Gets Dressed
by Mo Willems
Ages 3–8
Unlike the rest of his family
of naked mole rats, Wilbur likes to wear clothes. When
the other mole rats report them to their leader Grand-pah, Wilbur
is worried. Wonderful illustrations and funny prose are
a perfect match in this tale of tolerance and the importance
of being yourself. (09/08)
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 Wangari's
Trees of Peace:
A
True Story from Africa
by Jeanette Winter
Ages 4–8
When Wangari Maathai was a child,
Kenya was full of trees. When she returns after six years
of study in the United States, Wangari is horrified to find
whole forests have been cut down. Beginning with nine seedlings
in her backyard, Wangari inspires the Green Belt Movement,
which has planted 30 million trees in Kenya. This simple
biography of the 2004 Nobel Prize winner is a wonderful example
of how one person can bring about change. |
|
 Gertrude
is Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude
by Jonah Winter, Calef Brown
Ages 4–8
The non-linear and repetitive
prose in this book pays homage to Gertrude Stein’s
own work. The whimsical illustrations of Stein and
Alice B. Toklas are a perfect match for the text. |
|
 Jazz
Age Josephine
by Jonah Winter, Marjorie Priceman
Ages 4–8
This accessible biography of
Josephine Baker uses the rhythms of blues and jazz
to tell the story of the famous singer and dancer.
Beginning with her impoverished childhood dancing for
money on the streets of St. Louis we follow Josephine
to her big break as a chorus line dancer in New York
and to her fame in Paris as the American icon of the
Jazz Age. |
|
 Here
Comes the Garbage Barge!
by Jonah Winter, Red Nose Studio
Ages 4–8
In 1987, when Islip, NY, has
nowhere to put 3168 tons of garbage, the town decides
to load the garbage on a barge and send it south. But
North Carolina won’t allow the barge to land, and neither
will New Orleans, so the barge heads on to Mexico,
Belize, Texas, Florida, and finally back to New York.
The exuberant dialog of the text matches the zany artwork
created by Red Nose Studio (Chris Sickels) from recycled
materials, found objects, garbage, and clay figures.
This fictionalized retelling of a true story cleverly
gets across a serious message about the amount of garbage
we all produce every day. |
|
Jazz
Age Josephine
by Jonah Winter, Marjorie Priceman
Ages 4–8
This accessible biography of
Josephine Baker uses the rhythms of blues and jazz
to tell the story of the famous singer and dancer.
Beginning with her impoverished childhood dancing for
money on the streets of St. Louis we follow Josephine
to her big break as a chorus line dancer in New York
and to her fame in Paris as the American icon of the
Jazz Age. |
|
 You
Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!
by Jonah Winter, Andre Carrilho
Ages 4–9
In this striking picture book,
an anonymous former teammate tells what made Sandy
Koufax, the 1960s pitcher for the Dodgers, so amazing.
We learn about his shyness, his physical limitations,
and the anti-Semitism he faced. But in the end it’s
Sandy Koufax in action, boldly portrayed by Andre Carrilho,
that captures the mysterious power of the great pitcher. |
|
 Golem
by David Wisniewski
Caldecott Medal 1997
Ages 6–10
Elaborate cut-paper collage illustrations
provide dramatic visuals for this retelling of a Jewish legend
of Rabbi Loew who used his powers to create a gigantic Golem
from clay to protect his people from persecution in the ghettos
of 16th-century Prague. |
|
 A
Zeal of Zebras: An Alphabet of Collective Nouns
by Woop Studios
All Ages
This colorful book is both
an introduction to animals and the alphabet for young
children and a beautiful art book for older readers.
As we move through the alphabet we meet groups like
an embarrassment of pandas, a galaxy of starfish, a
pandemonium of parrots, and a shiver of sharks. Created
by the Harry Potter design franchise, the digitally
created whimsical illustrations perfectly complement
the clever wordplay. |
|
 Rosie
Sprout’s Time to Shine
by Allison Wortche, Patrice Barton
Ages 5–9
Violet is the loudest and fanciest
girl in Rosie’s class and everyone agrees she is the
best. Except Rosie, who would like just once to be
best at something herself. So when Violet’s and Rosie’s
pea plants both sprout first, Rosie covers Violet’s
sprout with dirt to slow it down a little. But then
Rosie feels terrible, especially when Violet comes
down with the chicken pox. Rosie volunteers to take
care of Violet’s plant along with her own, and her
teacher declares Rosie is the best gardener she has
ever seen. |
|
 All
the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and
a Little Shovel
by Dan Yaccarino
Ages 5–9
This four-generational story
of an Italian-American family begins with an immigrant
who came through Ellis Island with a small shovel and
his parents’ advice to work hard, enjoy life, and always
remember your family. The shovel has many uses as it
is passed from father to son, at a pushcart stand,
measuring ingredients for sauce in a restaurant, and
to pour rock salt on the icy sidewalk outside a barber
shop. Warm illustrations illustrate this family story,
sure to encourage kids to ask parents and grandparents
for their own family story. |
|
 Meadowlands:
A Wetlands Survival Story
by Thomas F. Yezerski
Ages 5–8
The 20,000 acres of wetlands
in New Jersey, known as the Meadowlands, were once
home to a rich variety of plants and animals. But in
the 400 years since the European explorers first arrived,
the habitat has been dammed up, drained, logged built
over, polluted, and nearly destroyed. But signs of
life remained under bridges, on the edges of parking
lots, and beside train tracks, and with the help of
activist groups, government organizations, and ordinary
people, the Meadowlands is beginning to come back to
life. |
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 All
Star! Honus Wagner and the Most Famous Baseball Card Ever
by Jane Yolen, Jim Burke
Ages 6–8
Honus Wagner (1874-1955) was
a shortstop for more than 20 seasons, mainly with the
Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2007, his baseball card sold
for $3 million. This well-written biography, illustrated
with paintings that echo period photographs, presents
the story of an outstanding athlete who was also an
outstanding person: talented, hard-working, and a decent
human being. |
|
 My
Uncle Emily
by Jane Yolen, Nancy Carpenter
Ages 6–8
Thomas Gilbert (Gib) feels
he needs to defend his aunt Emily’s honor when his
classmates mock her reclusive nature. Uncle Emily (their
private nickname for her) gives Gib a poem to help
him understand how to tell his family the truth about
the fight while preserving his integrity. This book
uses real-life encounters between aunt and nephew to
explore the role of poetry in human life. |
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