Children's Books for Parents and Teachers - book reviews and suggestions for parents and teachers.
1st Grade (Age 6)

All books suitable for children in 1st grade.

What Zeesie Saw on Delancey Street

Zeesie sees a mitzvah (a good deed) on Delancey Street when her neighborhood holds a “package party” to auction their finest homemade Jewish dishes — kugel, tsimmes, and others. The money they raise brings Jewish emigrants to America. But when Zeesie peeks into a special “money room” she discovers that it isn’t filled with piles of money and treasures. People go in this room to leave spare shekels if they have them and take a bit of money when they need it. This book (which includes a Yiddish glossary) teaches …


What’s Wrong, Little Pookie?
Publisher: Random House Children's Books

POOKIE’S UPSET AND POOKIE’S MOM cannot figure out why. And Pookie isn’t helping, either. This familiar scenario is told with Sandra Boynton’s signature humor, in both story and art. Caregivers and young children will laugh their way out of their sorrow as Mom and Pookie work things out. Never fear, a happy ending is on the way! Perfect for toddlers having a meltdown, or anyone in a plain old bad mood, this book will come to the rescue for kids and adults for years to come.


When Clay Sings

In this Byrd Baylor prose-poem classic, Indian children in the Southwest make a game of collecting pieces of ancient pottery and trying to fit the pieces together. Their parents remind them to treat the clay with respect because “every piece of clay is a piece of someone’s life” and every piece “has its own small voice and sings in its own way.” As the children carefully touch the pieces of clay, they listen for the songs they sing and think about the hands that shaped them. And as they examine …


When Dinosaurs Came with Everything
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Just when a little boy thinks he’s going to die of boredom from running errands with his mom, the most remarkable, the most stupendous thing happens. He discovers that on this day, and this day only, stores everywhere are giving away a very special treat with any purchase. No, not the usual lollipop or sticker. Something bigger. Much, MUCH bigger. It’s a dream come true, except…what exactly do you do with these Jurassic treats? And how do you convince Mom to let you keep them?


When Dinosaurs Came with Everything
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Just when a little boy thinks he’s going to die of boredom from running errands with his mom, the most remarkable, the most stupendous thing happens. He discovers that on this day, and this day only, stores everywhere are giving away a very special treat with any purchase. No, not the usual lollipop or sticker. Something bigger. Much, MUCH bigger. It’s a dream come true, except…what exactly do you do with these Jurassic treats? And how do you convince Mom to let you keep them?


Where the Wild Things Are

Max is being so terrible that his mother sends him to his room without supper. But Max doesn’t care — he sails off to the land of the Wild Things, and they make him his king. There, Max can be as terrible as he pleases, and the Wild Things join in the rumpus. Finally, Max is tired of being wild, and yearns to go home. Marvelous pictures and the superb story combine to make this a quintessential picture book. In it, readers will recognize their own wild side.


Where’s Spot?
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Spot’s more colorful than ever! With a striking new cover to show him off, this lift-the-flap paperback has Spot’s mom looking for her lost puppies — especially Spot. But where is he? Little readers will have a bow-wow-wonderful time looking for the popular pooch, too.


Where’s My Mom?

When little monkey can’t find his mother, butterfly offers to help in the search. Little monkey says that his mother is big, so butterfly leads him to . . . an elephant. No, that’s not right! Little monkey says his mom is furry, so butterfly leads him to . . . a bat. That’s not right either. From then on, little monkey and butterfly meet many jungle animals, but they don’t find Mom until little monkey comes up with just the right description.


0448434075-L

A collection of reissued stories with simple vocabulary featuring Dick, Jane, and other familiar characters.


64440750

An illustrated children’s book that helps teach basic fraction concepts using colorful illustrations and a whimsical story line about a pretty crazy day in the life of one “whole” cow.