Spoon thinks he just doesn't have as much fun as fork and knife. He just doesn't realize that without him we couldn't eat ice cream or soup! A wondeful story about appreciating why we are all special and unique.
Recommended by Jessilynn
Although I've long been a fan of any book graced with David Small's whimsical and expressive illustrations, I dare say this is my favorite to date. This story is ideal for any reader going through that dinocentric phase of childhood. Charming and truly clever, parents will especially appreciate the mother's innovative spirit at the end. An all-around winner!
Recommended by Katie
As the population moves toward an increasingly digital age, we may lose sight of many surroundings and happenings that are taken for granted. In simple, repetitive verse, and with all the innocence of the young, Margaret Wise Brown reminds us of what is important about these things. (A great inspiration for an early elementary writing assignment too!)
Recommended by Katie
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Even before Edna Lewis moved to New York City and became a pioneering African American and female chef, she understood the importance of eating foods grown in a garden or by Mother Nature. As a young girl, Edna took pleasure in the exciting flavors that came with the changing of the seasons in the South. She ran through fields with bare feet, and sang rhymes about picking apples and pickling beans and gathering honeycomb. She shared meals with her family, and used all these lessons and love in her cooking for many years to follow.
Recommended by Katie
Intricate and striking illustrations by Maurice Sendak complement this once lost Grimm's tale of a war ravaged land, and a girl whose mother sends her into the forest for protection. Despite the terrors in the woods and her own helplessness, Mili finds comfort in her guardian angel and shelter with a kindly old man. A deeply moving story of the effects of war on children, but also the divine powers of love. It's no wonder this story has lasted these many centuries.
Recommended by Katie
You can now sleep easy knowing that your child too will find a fitting job one day . . .
Recommended by Katie
This is probably the greatest story to yet be told in pictures alone. Any child, young or old, who has ever spent a day at the lake or seashore, will recall every thrill and exaltation, here so perfectly rendered in Suzy Lee's jubilant watercolors. Wave is a picture book to be treasured for its humor, its innocence and its simple timelessness.
Recommended by Katie
Rodents have never before been as utterly lovable as in Peggy Rathmann's nearly non-verbal countdown to bedtime. But no worries, for her brightly-colored and imaginative illustrations offer an adventurous storyline no child can refuse. So grab your toothbrush and pajamas, and hop on the bus to the 10-Minute-Bedtime tour!
Recommended by Katie
Who would have guessed that existing as a wee green vegetable could be such a difficult life? Little pea comes home to a miserable dinner of candy every night, before he is allowed to have his most favorite dessert of all!
Recommended by Katie
El mejor libro de lee-en-volz-alta en enos, mi amigo. ?Es un perro? un gato? !No! !Es el figher mas grande de espada en el mundo, El Skippito, cha cha!
The best read-aloud book in years, my friend. Is it a dog? a cat? No! It's the greatest sword fighter in the world, El Skippito, cha cha!
Recommended by Katie
This may be the first one I've encountered, but I can now say, without question, that I'm a sucker for any toad who's been pumping iron. And if he's able to lend a helping hand to the plucky little blue truck, pig, cow, and the rest of the farm animals, I can only lover him all the more. Schertle has most splendidly and cleverly retold the classic underdog story with Little Blue Truck.
Recommended by Katie
From the endlessly fantastical mind of the dear Dr. Seuss comes a fable for children of all ages. Through Seuss' signature rhyming style, and with a host of new furry creatures, we learn of the terrible effects of greed, when the Onceler refuses to stop cutting down trees. The Lorax, who speaks for these trees, teaches an important lesson in conservation that has proven to be a favorite for many generations.
Recommended by Katie
I've read enough picture books in my time to know that a) simplicity is not overrated and b) most children have a far more zany and intuitive sense of humor than we give them credit for. As an adult, who frequently acts like a child, I can tell you that Shea's creation is spot-on simple silliness. Few words, bold colors and an exuberant dino make for an absolute delight to read again and again. You'll no doubt be roaring by the end!
Recommended by Katie
While exploring his dreary, gray city one afternoon, a curious little boy named Liam discovers "a lonely patch of color" -- scraggly flowers and plants struggling to survive in the dull, urban wasteland. Though he knows nothing about caring for plants, Liam begins to look after these stems and vines and blooms, and the tenacious little plants recover until soon bits of green and splashes of color are popping up all over. The garden wends its way among brick and concrete, transforming the city into a lush green wonderland and its inhabitants into a vibrant community of gardeners and caretakers. The Curious Garden is an enchanting testament to the value of green space and the power of one person to improve the world.
Recommended by Megan
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The year 2007 marked the 65th anniversary of a bold experiment: the launch of the Little Golden Books during the dark days of World War II. At a time when the literacy rate was not nearly as high as it is now - and privation was felt by nearly all - quality books for children would now be available at a price nearly everyone could afford (25 cents), and sold where ordinary people shopped. Golden Legacy is a lively history of a company, a line of books, the groundbreaking writers and artists who created them, the clever mavericks who marketed and sold them, and the cultural landscape that surrounded them.
Recommended by Susan
In Mommies Say Shhh the always enchanting Patricia Polacco works her magic with a story for the very young. The simple text, lively illustrations, and fun animal noises make for a memorable romp through the farmyard. Be prepared to read this one over and over again!
Recommended by Susan
This is a rollicking rhymed story of Molly the librarian who accidentally drives her bookmobile to the zoo and introduces the birds and beasts to a new something called reading. Tall books for giraffes, small books for crickets, joke books for hyenas, even waterproof books for the otters. Wild About Books is a laugh-out-loud winner of the E.B. White Read Aloud Award for 2005.
Recommended by Susan
Author Barbara Lehman has done it again! Rainstorm is a treasure. In her wordless format she tells the story of a boy as he looks out the window and rain is spattering the panes. Bored, he starts to wander only to find a key that opens a chest, that contains a ladder, that leads to a most interesting place on a rainy afternoon.
Recommended by Susan
Because Amelia Smiled, by David Ezra Stein, is a charming
story that perfectly illustrates the chain effect of goodness, when one
person starts the ball rolling. When Amelia smiles at a neighbor while
jumping rope, the neighbor smiles and decides to send a package of
cookies to her grandson Lionel in Mexico. This sets in motion a chain
of events from person to person in various countries around the world
and finally ending up back in New York. This is a seemingly simple
story, beautifully illustrated with a very big message. Perfect for
ages 3 and up; there is much to talk about.