Children's Books for Parents and Teachers » Pre-K (< 5)

10 Minutes till Bedtime

admin — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:02:00 +0000

The text in Caldecott medalist Peggy Rathman’s latest book tells a simple story. Father begins counting down to bedtime, and his son does his best to get ready. He takes his bath, puts on his pj’s, and brushes his teeth. But this is not a typical evening. The boy’s computer-literate hamster has created a Web site that invites virtually every hamster on the planet to come take a “bedtime tour” of the house. As more and more hamsters arrive, the boy’s nightly bedtime ritual turns into a fun-filled circus.

26 Fairmount Avenue

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 03:27:39 +0000

In a striking debut, Tomie dePaola finds just the right voice for his first chapter book about his adventures during the year the family built their house at 26 Fairmount Avenue. It all began when the “Big Hurricane of 1938″ roared into town…then his first day of school took an unexpected turn…so did Mr. Disney’s Snow White, the movie everyone had been waiting to see. These are only a few of the stories that will have readers racing from one episode to the next. Tomie fans, young and old, will be delighted to find favorite characters from his picture books, such as Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs, Tom and others. Funny, dramatic and memorable moments combined with lively illustrations throughout will make everyone wish they had grown up in the dePaola family.

A Boy and a Bear: The Children’s Relaxation Book

admin — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 20:20:47 +0000

Written for children, this book tells the story of a young boy who encounters a polar bear while they are both climbing a snow covered mountain. The boy and bear become friends and learn an important lesson. Young readers will enjoy the story and benefit from learning calming techniques to reduce stress, prepare for sleep, and improve self-confidence.

A Day in the Salt Marsh

admin — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:57:23 +0000

Enjoy A Day in the Salt Marsh, one of the most dynamic habitats on earth. Fun-to-read, rhyming verse introduces readers to hourly changes in the marsh as the tide comes and goes. Watch the animals that have adapted to this ever-changing environment as they hunt for food or play in the sun, and learn how the marsh grass survives even though it is covered by salt water twice a day. An activity on adaptations is included in the For Creative Minds section.

A Frog in the Bog

admin — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:57:52 +0000

A frog in the bog grows larger and larger as he eats more and more bugs, until he attracts the attention of an alligator who puts an end to his eating.

A Grand Old Tree

admin — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:00:40 +0000

Once there was a grand old tree, whose roots sank deep into the earth and whose arms reached high into the sky. Every spring the grand old tree flowered and bore cherries for the squirrels and birds that made their homes in her leafy branches. And every year, seeds from the tree scattered in the wind, along with many millions of leaves. Mary Newell DePalma creates an emotional tale of life and renewal, of nature’s bounty and quiet balance, illustrated with simple images made powerful with vivid colors and moving compositions.

A Kitten Tale

admin — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:01:05 +0000

Once there were four kittens who had never seen snow. The first three kittens are wary—snow is cold, it’s wet, it covers everything. As the seasons pass and winter begins to loom, the three skittish kittens worry. But the fourth kitten is getting excited. Snow will cover everything! “I can’t wait!”

A Plump and Perky Turkey

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:28:28 +0000

Turkeys around Squawk Valley just don’t jump into pots anymore — they are way too smart for that. So the townspeople hatch a clever plan. They host a turkey-themed arts and crafts fair and lure a vain bird into town by advertising for an artist’s model. Peter the Turkey, proud of his well-stuffed form, takes the bait but doesn’t fall for the trap.

A Screaming Kind of Day

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:45:07 +0000

Before Scully can open her eyes and put in her hearing aids, her brother Leo begins a tease-torture campaign. Meanwhile Mom, who is studying for exams, has no patience to discuss anything. Scully sneaks out into the rain and turns her hearing aids all the way up to catch the whooshing sound. She is dragged back inside from this favorite activity by her wet, angry mother and grounded until dinnertime. Later, a more relaxed Mom and Scully go outside and wait for the stars to come out. The text is rich in imagery especially when Scully uses her senses to enjoy nature.

A. Lincoln and Me

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 23:17:28 +0000

Skinny as a bean pole and born on February 12, a young boy points out the similarities between himself and Abraham Lincoln. Ted Lewin’s extraordinary black-and-white drawings of Lincoln contrast nicely with the colorful paintings of this boy and his world.

A: my name is Alice

admin — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:28:58 +0000

“A my name is Alice and my husband’s name is Alex. We come from Alaska and we sell ants.” (Alice is an ape. Alex is an anteater.) The 26 verses of this jump-rope rhyme introduce young readers to entrepreneurial animals whose names, homes, and wares span the alphabet from A to Z. After learning the rhyming structure, children will be sure to make up verses of their own. Take time to enjoy the details in Kellogg’s humorous drawings.

ABC3D

admin — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:52:05 +0000

Prepare to be amazed. From the lenticular cover that changes with the angle of your hands all the way to the Z, ABC3D is as much a work of art as it is a pop-up book. Each of the 26 three-dimensional letters move and change before your eyes. C turns into D with a snap. M stands at attention. X becomes Y with a flick of the wrist. And then there’s U…Boldly conceived and brilliantly executed with a striking black, red, and white palette, this is a book that readers and art lovers of all ages will treasure for years to come.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

admin — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 03:03:46 +0000

He could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. He went to sleep with gum in his mouth and woke up with gum in his hair. When he got out of bed, he tripped over his skateboard and by mistake dropped his sweater in the sink while the water was running. He could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Nothing at all was right. Everything went wrong, right down to lima beans for supper and kissing on TV. What do you do on a day like that? Well, you may think about going to Australia. You may also be glad to find that some days are like that for other people too.

Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland

admin — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:02:08 +0000

Pop-up guru Robert Sabuda performs his paper engineering magic again with this stunning adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale. With large and small textured pop-ups — some of the animals are actually furry — that will dazzle you with their intricacy and inventiveness, Sabuda’s rendition tells the familiar tale of Alice as she falls down the rabbit hole and makes her way through Wonderland. The book features artwork based on John Tenniel’s time-honored illustrations and text that follows the original story, and each spread includes several smaller pop-ups in “subpages,” along with larger pop-ups taking center stage. Some of the amazing must-sees are Alice’s initial fall down to Wonderland (with an accordion-like feature labelled “Open me” to pull up and peek into); the Mad Hatter’s tea party, with silvery dishware that includes a fuzzy dormouse; and the croquet match that opens wide.

Allison

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:47:09 +0000

When Allison tries on a kimono her grandmother sends her, she realizes she looks more like her Japanese doll, Mei Mei, than her parents. When her parents explain that she is adopted, she withdraws from them and her playmates at school and destroys childhood keepsakes that belong to her adoptive parents. Taking in a stray cat helps Allison see the true nature of adoption and love. Realistic illustrations show the many emotions Allison experiences on her way to acceptance.

Alphabet

admin — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:51:55 +0000

An Amazing ABC Safari for Preschoolers! In Matthew Van Fleet’s incredible new multiconcept book, over 100 creatures and plants from A to Z hilariously demonstrate action words, synonyms, opposites, and more. Young explorers are challenged to spot four plants or animals that begin with each letter of the alphabet. Twenty-three textures plus foils, flaps, pull tabs, and even a scratch-and-sniff scent add to the interactive surprises on every page.

Alphabet Under Construction

admin — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:28:12 +0000

Fleming’s brilliant illustrations, created by pouring colored cotton fiber through hand-cut stencils, show a mouse working on each letter of the alphabet. Young readers will learn new vocabulary while the mouse “airbrushes the A, buttons the B, carves the C … ” and so on. And don’t miss the calendar in the back where the mouse maps out his shopping lists and chores.

Amelia Bedelia Goes Back to School

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:59:02 +0000

Would you like to have Amelia Bedelia in your classroom? Just ask Miss Wilson. But don’t give Amelia Bedelia any problems. Or ask her to take her seat. Or tell her to paint anything. Amelia Bedelia is ready to learn, but it’s the class that getsa lesson — in reading, writing, and ridiculousness! Pull back the flaps to peek at Amelia Bedelia’s school day.

Americana Adventure

cindy — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:30:23 +0000

Celebrate the Fourth of July in a vibrant seek-and-find adventure. This fun-filled ode to America brims with patriotic spirit and more than 200 hidden objects to find. Tommy awakes on July Fourth to find a note from his eccentric Aunt Jeanne, promising a spectacular surprise if he unravels clues she has hidden for him. Tommy’s clues lead him on a magical cross-country trip through America’s great places and iconic traditions. From Times Square to Mount Rushmore, from a Mississippi riverboat to the Golden Gate Bridge.

Angel Spreads Her Wings

admin — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:45:36 +0000

Angel’s stepfather has announced that he is taking the family to Greece to visit his parents. Angel, “the worrier,” has a lot on her mind. Will she survive the airplane trip? Will she be able to communicate with her grandparents who don’t speak English? In this sixth book of Delton’s popular series, Angel’s worries turn into fun adventures.

Apple Pie Fourth of July

cindy — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:25:49 +0000

No one wants Chinese food on the Fourth of July, I say. We’re in apple-pie America, and my parents are cooking chow mein! . . . They just don’t get it. Americans do not eat Chinese food on the Fourth of July. Right?

Shocked that her parents are cooking Chinese food to sell in the family store on this all-American holiday, a feisty Chinese-American girl tries to tell her mother and father how things really are. But as the parade passes by and fireworks light the sky, she learns a lesson of her own.

Are You a Snail?

admin — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 23:53:05 +0000

“Are you a snail? If you are, your life began in an egg like one of these.” This book details the life of a snail, showing how it changes from a tiny egg to a slimy adult. Soft-colored paintings, combined with playful graphics, may convince librarians to place Are You a Snail? on the picture book shelf, rather than in the science section.

Are You My Mother?

admin — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 03:05:09 +0000

It is the story about a mother bird who knows her egg will be in her nest where she left it, so she leaves him alone to go and get something for him to eat. The baby bird hatches. He doesn’t understand where his mother is so he goes to look for her. In his search, he asks a kitten, a hen, a dog, and a cow if they are his mother. They each say, “No.”

Then he sees an old car, which can’t be his mother for sure. In desperation, the hatchling calls out to a boat and a plane, and at last, convinced he has found his mother, he climbs onto the teeth of an enormous power shovel. But he is betrayed by the behemoth, as it shudders and grinds into motion. He can’t escape. “I want my mother!” he shouts.

But at this climactic moment, his fate is suddenly reversed. The shovel drops him back in his nest, just as his mother is returning home, and the two are reunited, much to their delight. He then tells her about the adventure he had looking for her.

Are You Ready to Play Outside

cindy — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:50:10 +0000

Featuring two lovable and funny characters, an optimistic (and sometimes reckless) pig and a cautious, pessimistic elephant. Piggie can’t wait to go play in the sunshine. But will a rainy day ruin all the fun?

Are You Ready to Play Outside? (An Elephant and Piggie Book)

admin — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 04:43:17 +0000

Winning unanimous rave reviews, Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie series continues to charm readers. Featuring two lovable and funny characters, an optimistic (and sometimes reckless) pig and a cautious, pessimistic elephant, these books make reading irresistible to the beginning readers. Children who sat on their parents’ laps to have Pigeon read to them will eagerly take the plunge with these books to start reading on their own.

Each book has been vetted by an early learning specialist (and many adorable early learners). In Are You Ready to Play Outside?, Piggie can’t wait to go play in the sunshine. But will a rainy day ruin all the fun?

Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?

admin — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:41:31 +0000

Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? is the final collaboration from this bestselling author-illustrator team. Young readers will enjoy Baby Bear’s quest to find Mama, and they’ll revel in identifying each of the native North American animals that appear along the way. The central focus on the special bond between mother and child makes a fitting finale to a beloved series.
These groundbreaking picture books have been teaching children to read for over forty years, and their consistently strong sales prove their staying power and continued applicability for today’s kids.

Baby Einstein: Animal Homes

admin — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 23:00:38 +0000

This charming board book introduces young children to different types of animals and the places they live in a fun and interactive way. The unique format, combining delightful illustrations with dramatic close up photographs, is sure to engage youngsters as they explore each animal’s home.

Baby Einstein: Babies

admin — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 22:59:57 +0000

Introduce your babies to birds, cats, dogs, and babies through fine art, illustration, and photographs. These books are a rare opportunity to expose little ones to a range of images on a single subject, from simple child’s drawings and abstract art to playful photos. A brief text accompanies each image, introducing the baby to some basic—and sometimes playful—information about the subjects.

Baby Einstein: Birds

admin — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 22:55:37 +0000

Introducing your baby to birds, cats, dogs, and babies through fine art, illustration and photographs. These books are a rare opportunity to expose little ones to a range of images on a single subject, from simple child’s drawings and abstract art to playful photos. A brief text accompanies each image, introducing baby to some basic—and sometimes playful—information on the subjects.

Baby Einstein: Dogs

admin — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 22:54:59 +0000

Introduce your baby to a visual feast of fine art, illustration, and photographs celebrating dogs. From simple child’s drawings and abstract art to playful photos of various breeds of dogs, this chunky board book is a rare opportunity to expose little ones to a range of images on a single subject. A brief text accompanies each image, introducing the baby to some basic — sometimes playful — information about dogs.