A cut above the traditional alphabet book, this one has a story to support the learning. The teller is a floppy-eared dog, who looks on as his owner, a little girl, makes a pie. Dog eagerly waits while the apple pie bakes and cools, and the little girl dishes out a piece for herself. What! No piece for him? The alphabet continues to unfold as the dog figures out a way to steal the treat (yum, yum) and ends up catching some zzzzzs when he’s eaten his fill.
1, 2, Buckle My Shoe
By Anna Grossnickle Hines. Harcourt, 2008. Ages 2–4.
Hines makes use of buttons, plain and printed fabrics, rickrack, and a variety of fancy embroidery stitches in an eye-catching interpretation of the nursery rhyme “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe.” The numerals appear in large, quilt blocks, with a roundup of all coming at the end of the book. Endpapers chockablock with brightly colored buttons offer additional opportunities for counting practice.
Baby Face: A Book of Love for Baby
By Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Diane Goode. Simon & Schuster, 2008. Ages 1–2.
Little ones will not only see cute babies here (six of them, fetchingly attired in sleepsuits, are lined up on the cover) but also see them involved in familiar activities: naptime, playtime, bathtime, a walk in the park, with all the funny, busy, puzzling moments that happen in between. Everybody loves the babies in this sweet book—even the family dog.
Balancing Act
By Ellen Stoll Walsh. Illustrated by the author. Beach Lane, 2010. Ages 3–5.
Walsh has picked an unusual subject for her concept book. Two mice use a rock and a stick to build a teeter-totter and have a great time playing on it. Trouble starts, though, when other animals of different sizes join in the game. Like Mouse Paint and Mouse Count, this book gives parents a chance to discuss a bit of simple physics, as well as ideas related to sharing and friendship.
The Big Storm: A Very Soggy Counting Book
By Nancy Tafuri. Simon & Schuster, 2009. Ages 3–5.
As a storm draws near, ten animals look for shelter. The bird is first to take refuge in the cave: “Now there was 1…” Then Mouse, Rabbit, Chipmunk, and other friends arrive, crowding together as the lightening crackles and the thunder booms outside. When the sun finally returns, the animals pop out to enjoy the rest of the day.
Birds
By Kevin Henkes. Illustrated by Laura Dronzek. Greenwillow, 2009. Ages 3–5.
In this book, a husband-wife team introduces several different concepts at once: color, shape, size, and number. There’s even a nod to more sophisticated ideas related to nature. A narrator, not pictured until the end of the story, sees a variety of birds outside her open window. As she talks about their differences, she opens the way for children and parents to look outside and talk about the birds they see in their own backyard.
Choo Choo Clickety-Clack!
By Margaret Mayo. Illustrated by Alex Ayliffe. Carolrhoda, 2005. Ages 3–5.
Here’s the perfect book for little ones with a need for speed. Each page pictures a different vehicle and begins in a similarly catchy way: “trains are great at…”; “cars are good at…”; and so on. The repetition and the rhythm it engenders will easily capture listeners, inviting them to chime right in as each new vehicle is presented. In 2008, the book was introduced as part of the publisher’s Touch-and-Feel series, giving children the opportunity to use more of their senses.
Digger Man
By Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha. Illustrated by David Clemensha. Holt, 2003. Ages 3–5.
A small boy playing with his toy in the sandbox imagines himself driving the real thing. He moves along, digging, scraping, and crunching rocks and soil until he creates a wonderful park—where he and his brother can play together. Little truck enthusiasts will find this one hard to resist.
Dinosaur vs. the Potty
By Bob Shea. Illustrated by the author. Hyperion, 2010. Ages 2–4.
A little red dinosaur who first appeared in Dinosaur vs. Bedtime has found another equally worthy opponent: the potty. No way, no how does he plan to visit one, despite an abundance of liquids in his busy life (three juice boxes for lunch!). “Dinosaur wins again!” he crows after he consumes each liquid. Finally he has no choice but to give in to the urge and allow the potty to win. Both parents and potty trainees will find something to laugh about.
Don’t Want to Go!
By Shirley Hughes. Illustrated by the author. Candlewick, 2010. Ages 3–5.
Mommy is sick, and Daddy has to go to work. That means Lily has to spend the day with their pleasant neighbor, Melanie. It’s clear from the cover illustration that Lily is angry, worried, and just plain doesn’t want to go. It takes a while, but Melanie’s baby, Sam, and some attention from Sam’s school-age brother and the family dog change her mind, and by the time Dad comes for her at the end of the day, Lily doesn’t want to leave. Many children and parents will easily recognize the scenario, and no one will miss Lily’s emotional swings, clearly depicted in the art.
Don’t You Feel Well, Sam?
By Amy Hest. Illustrated by Anita Jeram. Candlewick, 2002. Ages 2–4.
Wintery winds blow outside as Sam gets ready for bed. All of a sudden, he begins to cough. Mrs. Bear encourages him to down some medicine, but Sam stubbornly refuses. It’s only after she promises to let him stay up afterward that he downs the icky stuff. Then the two make tea, snuggle together for stories, and doze by a cozy fire. Brave baby bear Sam makes a worthy model for a sick child.
Duck Tents
By Lynne Berry. Illustrated by Hiroe Nakata. Holt, 2009. Ages 3–5.
The five little ducks from Duck Skates and Duck Dunks embark on a camping trip. They fish and toast marshmallows before heading off to bed in separate tents. With night noises all around, it isn’t long before sleeping apart loses its charm. Written in cheerful rhyming couplets that will be easy to read aloud, this warm, ultimately reassuring story acknowledges that it’s okay to feel scared without scaring its audience.
Ella Sarah Gets Dressed
By Margaret Chodos-Irvine. Illustrated by the author. Harcourt, 2003. Ages 3–5.
Young Ella Sarah, a little fashionista, has specific ideas about how to dress. Pink polka-dot pants, striped socks, and yellow shoes seem just fine to her. Unfortunately, her family doesn’t think much of her choices. In the end, Ella wins the fashion battle. Her friends arrive for a party, decked out in equally flamboyant ensembles. It’s easy to appreciate this gleeful portrayal of a strong-willed child asserting her independence.
Everything I Need to Know Before I’m Five
By Valorie Fisher. Illustrated by the author. Schwartz & Wade, 2011. Ages 3–5.
This wryly comic book takes a cheerful swing at what preschoolers know, using sharp, carefully staged photos filled with things children will easily recognize. The fun begins with the cover photo of a toy dump truck piled high with objects related to concepts children must master before entering school: numbers, opposites, shapes, colors, seasons, weather, the alphabet, and more. Children will find plenty to look at in the pictures and take pleasure in telling Mom and Dad what they’ve learned as they turn the pages.
Fiesta Babies
By Carmen Tafolla. Illustrated by Amy Córdova. Tricycle, 2010. Ages 3–5.
It’s fiesta day. Families celebrate together. The babies have the most fun. They parade through the neighborhood, wearing colorful costumes, dancing, shaking mariachis, eating (“salsa out and salsa in!”), and having a glorious time. After all that activity, could a siesta be far behind? Nope. Spanish terms are sprinkled throughout the story and defined in a glossary at the end of this vibrant book.
First Snow
By Bernette Ford. Illustrated by Sebastien Braun. Holiday House, 2005. Ages 3–5.
Intrigued by newly fallen snow, a little rabbit and its siblings leave Mom in the burrow to see what’s going on in the winter-white world at night. Quietly they watch as other animals go about their business, smoke curls from nearby chimneys, and fat snowflakes fal
l from the sky. They have fun tumbling around in the snow, mimicking children at play. You will feel the crispness of a bright, cold winter’s night, even while you and your child sit snugly at home.
The Gobble Gobble Moooooo Tractor Book
By Jez Alborough. Illustrated by the author. Kane/Miller, 2010. Ages 3–5.
When Farmer Dougal sleeps, the farm animals have fun. After all, they reason, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. But being quiet isn’t of their plan. As they climb aboard Dougal’s tractor, they begin noisily imitating the various sounds the engine makes. “Baa,” cries the sheep when the engine starts up, and the other animals follow suit with purrs and quacks and moos and gobbles galore. The energetic warbling wakes Dougal, but by the time he arrives on the scene, everything is quiet. It’s easy to see by the innocent-looking expressions on the critters’ faces that they have no intention of leaving it that way. Alborough’s Duck in the Truck and Fix It Duck are just as much fun as this book.
Go-Go Gorillas
By Julia Durango. Illustrated by Eleanor Taylor. Simon & Schuster, 2010. Ages 2–4.
King Big Daddy has some very special news, so he summons ten gorilla relatives to join him at his Great Gorilla Villa. Each relative arrives in a different vehicle. One hops in on a pogo stick; one comes on skates; a third arrives in a hot-air balloon. What’s the big secret? A baby gorilla. Along with introducing a variety of modes of transportation, Durago substitutes the terms first, second, and so on for the usual numerals, demonstrating a new way to count.
Hello, Day!
By Anita Lobel. Illustrated by the author. Greenwillow, 2008. Ages 2–4.
A rooster calls “Cock-a-doodle-doo” to welcome the sun. Other animal voices follow as the day progresses: the cow moos, the sheep bleats, the horse neighs, the duck quacks. “Who-ooo” do you think wishes everyone goodnight? Little listeners will want to join the animal chorus, but the book’s softly colored art work makes this a less raucous read-aloud than most barnyard tales; children will participate accordingly.
Hurry! Hurry!
By Eve Bunting. Illustrated by Jeff Mack. Harcourt, 2007. Ages 2–4.
“Hurry! Hurry!” shouts the rooster to his animal friends. From every corner of the barnyard, they race to join him. Why the big rush? An egg is hatching in the barn, and the eager animals want to be present to celebrate the birth and bid the new chick welcome. This is an obvious choice for a sibling in waiting, but it will be a lively read-aloud anytime.
I’m Adopted!
By Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly. Illustrated with photographs. Holiday House, 2011. Ages 3–5.
Close-up color photos show many different kinds of adoptive families, while the text addresses common questions adopted children ask their parents as they seek information and reassurance: “Why would my birth mother leave me?” “Why don’t I look like you?” Kelly, a psychologist, knows the territory well, and serious issues are nicely balanced by author/photographer Rotner’s child-friendly scenarios.
I’m the Best
By Lucy Cousins. Illustrated by the author. Candlewick, 2010. Ages 3–5.
Irrepressible, self-centered Dog loves to compete. Whenever he wins a contest he thoughtlessly proclaims: “I win. I’m the best.” His friends find his boasting hard to take, even a little bit mean. After all, Dog can’t out dig Mole, even if he runs faster, and although he is bigger than Lady Bug, he’s smaller than Donkey. After realizing the hurt he has caused, he apologizes to his friends, who reassure him that he is, in fact, quite special: he has “beautiful fluffy ears.” With bright, cheerful artwork and pictures of jovial Dog dancing around on the pages, this book is winner.
A Kitten Tale
By Eric Rohmann. Illustrated by the author. Knopf, 2008. Ages 2–4.
Four curious kittens contemplate the possibilities of winter when they see a picture of a snowy scene. Three worry (after all, it might be cold!), but the fearless fourth “can’t wait.” When winter finally arrives, he’s first out the door, followed by his siblings, who decide they don’t want to miss the excitement. Rohmann’s feline quartet fairly leaps across the uncluttered pages. Waiting for winter has never been more fun.
La La Rose
By Satomi Ichikawa. Illustrated by the author. Philomel, 2004. Ages 3–5.
La La Rose, a stuffed toy rabbit, is “the inseparable friend of Clementine.” But when Grandma takes Clementine and her brother Paris to the playground, La La Rose falls out of her best friend’s backpack. Drama ensues in the shape of an encounter with a soccer team and an unpleasant swim in the pond. But little listeners needn’t worry. Everything turns out just fine in the end. For a different take on toys lost and found, read Mo Willems’s Knuffle Bunny.
Little Chicken’s Big Day
By Jerry Davis and Katie Davis. Illustrated by Katie Davis. Margaret K. McElderry, 2011. Ages 2–4.
“I hear you cluckin’, Big Chicken,” says a chick in answer to his mother’s instructions—which include the request to stay close when they go out for a walk. Unfortunately, Little Chick misses that instruction; he’s already well away, following a butterfly. A few moments of panic ensue when he realizes he’s lost. But wise Big Chicken knows her offspring. She’s let him go just far enough to learn the lesson. Simple and just plain adorable.
Little One Step
By Simon James. Illustrated by the author. Candlewick, 2003. Ages 3–5.
James’s affectionate lesson on patience, perseverance, and family ties centers on three little ducks who have become separated from their mother. The youngest is overwhelmed by the situation, but his siblings devise a simple game called One Step to keep him focused on the long journey ahead of them. He’s so good at taking one step at a time that by the time the ducks reunite with Mama he’s earned a new name, Little One Step. Young children can identify with the small duck’s proud achievement, while their older siblings will get a glimpse of what being a big brother or sister means.
Little Rabbit’s New Baby
By Harry Horse. Illustrated by the author. Peachtree, 2008. Ages 3–5.
Little Rabbit wants to be the best big brother in history, but that’s harder than he thought. Babies are annoying. They can’t do much besides cry and sleep and eat, and they demand constant attention. Regrettably, the babies adore Little Rabbit. What’s he to do? In a cozy, lovingly told story that will resonate with both parents and children, Horse mirrors the practical and emotional upheaval children and families deal with when a new baby arrives.
Little White Rabbit
By Kevin Henkes. Illustrated by the author. Greenwillow, 2011. Ages 1–3.
One day while hopping through fields of tall grass and fluffy dandelions, Little White Rabbit wonders what it would be like to be green. After all, turtles and grasshoppers are green. Later, as he hops further along, he considers how it might feel to be tall like a tree or be able to soar through the air like a butterfly. With a sure hand Henkes extends Little White Rabbit’s imaginings, showing him as green as a frog, joyously flapping his long ears alongside the butterflies, and peering over the trees, a giant rabbit looking down at his tiny brethren. The only thing he doesn’t wonder about is who loves him, which becomes clear on the very last page.
Little Chicken’s Big Day by Jerry Davis and Katie Davis
LMNO Peas
By Keith Baker. Illustrated by the author. Simon & Schuster, Beach Lane, 2010. Ages 3–5.
Baker uses the lowly pea to add some unexpected flavor to the alphabet in this cheerful primer. Each large, colorful letter is surrounded by tiny peas with arms, legs, and faces, who act out the letter being introduced: “We’re painters… / and plumbers fixing leaks… / We’re peas and…/ We’re unique.” Having fun with the way most of us string together the letters L, M, N, O in the popular alphabet song, Baker presents the letters all together on one funny double-page picture.
Maisy’s Book of Things That Go
By Lucy Cousins. Illustrated by the author. Candlewick, 2010. Ages 3–5
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The popular little mouse, the heroine of more than sixty books, takes a break from picture stories to star in a series of informational books for toddlers. In this First Science book, she’s the spokesmouse for transportation. Pull tabs add to the attraction of the book, which uses humor to introduce seven modes of transportation. Illustrated sidebars showing items that appear in the main picture serve as parent-child discussion starters. Like all Maisy books, the bright, bold primary colors and thickly outlined shapes call out to kids, as does the cute little mouse with her shiny black nose and pink whiskers.
Mine!
By Shutta Crum. Illustrated by Patrice Barton. Knopf, 2011. Ages 2–4.
Humor is the rule in this virtually wordless book, perfect for encouraging children to fill in the story in their own words. The determined toddler on the cover sets out to best his drooly infant sibling by gathering up all the toys: “Mine!” he loudly declares. Unfortunately for Big Brother, the baby won’t cooperate, and neither will the family’s playful puppy. Sharing is the operative concept here, and it comes across clearly, even without words.
Mother Goose’s Little Treasures
Edited by Iona Opie. Illustrated by Rosemary Wells. Candlewick, 2007. Ages 3–6.
Wells’s charming animal and child characters will be familiar to many children and parents. Here they act out twenty-two lesser-known Mother Goose nursery rhymes: “Mrs. Whirly / Mrs. Whirly sells fish, / Three ha’pence a dish; / Don’t buy it, / don’t buy it, / It stinks / when you fry it.” The silliness is contagious. Look for My Very First Mother Goose and Here Comes Mother Goose, also from Opie and Wells, at your local library; the books also make a great trio for the home bookshelf.
The Neighborhood Mother Goose
By Nina Crews. Illustrated by the author. Greenwillow, 2004. Ages 3–5.
Here’s a modern Mother Goose that uses imaginative computer manipulated photos of children and grownups in a contemporary Brooklyn neighborhood to capture the fun in the rhymes. Unlike the selections in Opie’s collection (above), the rhymes here are familiar ones: “Hush-a-bye, Baby,” “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” “The Itsy-bitsy Spider.” The overall effect is unusual and compelling. City kids will appreciate the nod to their world; others will find themselves intrigued by familiar rhymes in settings completely different and new.
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