Read with Me

by Stephanie Zvirin

  The Dot

  By Peter H. Reynolds. Illustrated by the author. Candlewick, 2003. Ages 5–7.

  Vashti doesn’t like art class because she thinks she can’t draw. When her teacher insists she participate, Vashti stubbornly makes a single dot on the paper and hands it in. Seeing her picture on the wall convinces her she can do better, and soon she’s experimenting and having all kinds of fun. An important message wrapped in a tidy package.

  Edwin Speaks Up

  By April Stevens. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Schwartz & Wade, 2011. Ages 4–7.

  Baby Edwin, the youngest in the Fennimore ferret family, accompanies his mother and rowdy siblings to the grocery store to get sugar for his birthday cake. One thing after another goes awry. Calmly observing the goings-on from his seat in the grocery cart, Edwin sees the mishaps in the making, but his warnings go unheeded; his family can’t understand his baby jibber jabber (“Clob foo Poop SWEETY”). Sharp-eyed kids following the pictures will realize that they know more than the family when it comes to Edwin’s oratory. They’ll even figure out his babbled reminder not to forget the sugar, which, at the end of the story, is shown teetering on the roof of the speeding family car.

  Faith

  By Maya Ajmera, Magda Nakassis, and Cynthia Pon. Illustrated with photographs. Charlesbridge, 2009. Ages 5–7.

  Created by the Global Fund for Children, an organization dedicated to helping children understand and accept the importance of diversity, this striking photo essay pictures young people practicing their faith in thirty-seven countries around the globe. From pictures of a Taoist child in Hong Kong and Muslim children in Saudi Arabia to a young Christian girl in the United States, the photos tug at the heartstrings. At the same time they depict the different ways faith can be expressed—through chanting, praying, celebrating holy days, feasting, and mentoring and teaching others. The selection of images is diverse, but the message of the book is one of community rather than separateness. A few words of background accompany each crisp, full-color photo, and a map identifying the countries mentioned in the text provides more for parents and children to talk about.

  Fox

  By Kate Banks. Illustrated by Georg Hallensleben. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2007. Ages 4–6.

  Here’s a soothing celebration of growing up and, with parents’ loving help, becoming independent. The passing seasons mark the changes in the life of a little fox. Born in winter, it snuggles with its parents, safe in the den. In spring, it grows curious and yearns to explore outdoors. In summer it is big enough to hunt, and when the leaves begin to fall, it is ready to strike out on its own. A quiet and warmly told tale about the certainty of change—for foxes, of course, but also for children.

  Harry & Hopper

  By Margaret Wild. Illustrated by Freya Blackwood. Feiwel and Friends, 2011. Ages 4–7.

  Harry, a boy, and Hopper, a dog, are inseparable, and when Hopper is killed in an accident, Harry is inconsolable. At night Hopper appears in Harry’s bedroom, and the two play together again. Hopper returns each night (is it a dream?) until he senses that Harry is ready to let him go. This tender story acknowledges children’s deep attachments and their feelings about love and loss in a way young readers will understand.

  I Can Be Anything!

  By Jerry Spinelli. Illustrated by Jimmy Liao. Little, Brown, 2010. Ages 4–6.

  Spinelli offers a fresh and charming take on a common theme. In rhyming phrases, a young boy considers: “When I grow up, what shall I be? / Of all the many, many jobs, which one will be the best for me?” Doctor and lawyer never cross his mind. Instead, he’s thinking about becoming a pumpkin grower, a dandelion blower, and a silly-joke teller—things he might want to undertake without the fuss of actually growing up. Energetic art shows him giving each one a try. In the end, he’s had so much fun he’s prepared to do them all.

  I’ll Be There

  By Ann Stott. Illustrated by Matt Phelan. Candlewick, 2011. Ages 4–6.

  In a warm, gentle story that speaks to the mother-child bond, a little red-haired boy struggles with his desire for independence and his love and attachment to his mother. During a walk, the child talks to his mother about his babyhood, which she fondly recalls. She fed him, bathed him, and dressed him, and lots of other things the boy can now do on his own—thanks to his mother’s patience and enduring love coupled with his own desire to grow up.

  I’m Getting a Checkup

  By Marilyn Singer. Illustrated by David Milgrim. Clarion, 2009. Ages 4–6.

  A heartening view of a visit to the doctor’s office for a checkup, with cartoon art showing three children (parents nearby) being weighed, measured, and checked “from neck down to neck up.” While the children describe doctors and nurses going about their routines, a second layer of text explains in simple terms some of the equipment at a modern doctor’s office: “I’m still a little scared. / But knowing what each tool is for helps me feel prepared.” The information, the gentle humor, the smiling faces of parents and doctors, and the acknowledgment of a child’s anxieties will help prepare children for a routine experience.

  I’ll Be There by Ann Stott

  Jibberwillies at Night

  By Rachel Vail. Illustrated by Yumi Heo. Scholastic, 2008. Ages 4–6.

  In Sometimes I’m Bombaloo (below), Katie Honors learned how to handle angry feelings. This time it’s jibberwillies—worrisome flying creatures who show up at night when the lights go out. She tries to be tough, but she can’t quite manage without Mom, who finds a great solution to Katie’s night fright: she and Katie gather the offending jibberwillies in a bucket and fling them out the window. Among the many books on the topic, this one does more than acknowledge apprehensions; it offers a surprisingly practical way that might put them to rest.

  Jumpy Jack & Googily

  By Meg Rosoff. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Holt, 2008. Ages 4–6.

  Jumpy Jack the snail can’t manage on his own. Because he’s afraid of just about everything (especially monsters) he has his buddy Googily reconnoiter. Googily looks in the yard, in the house, everywhere. That Googily happens to be a monster is part of the joke, though Googily’s obvious devotion to Jack and his jaunty bowler and orange umbrella make him more comical than scary. “What if a monster stares at me through the letterbox?” asks Jack, whose buddy does that very thing. Kids will love being more in-the-know than the story’s characters.

  Katy Did It!

  By Lorianne Siomades. Illustrated by the author. Boyds Mills, 2009. Ages 4–6.

  Katydid Katy’s younger brother, Lou, who follows her everywhere, is a tattler. When energetic Katy, who loves to jump, accidentally scatters the bumblebee’s pollen and tangles the spider’s web, Lou is quick to call out, “Katy did it!” But when Katy comes to the rescue of some ants, Lou changes his tune if not his words; “Katy did it,” he cries, this time alerting everyone to how she saved the day. It’s an unusual child who hasn’t tattled; try using this book to start a conversation on the subject.

  Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion

  By Mo Willems. Illustrated by the author. Balzer & Bray, 2010. Ages 4–6.

  The quizzical, flop-eared toy rabbit that first appeared with toddler Trixie in Knuffle Bunny has been around the block a time or two since being rescued from the laundromat. He’s a bit grubbier than he was in the old days. Trixie has changed, too. She’s growing up. When she accidentally leaves her old friend on an airplane, she’s very sad. She doesn’t love him less—but she doesn’t need him anymore. Children worried about what happens to the faithful bunny will like the touching four-page foldout that gives the rabbit a new lease on life.

  Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same!

  By Grace Lin. Little, Brown, 2010. Ages 4–7.

  Chinese American sisters Ling and Ting are twins, and everyone tells them they are just alike. They do look identical—until the barber trims too much off Ting’s bangs. That makes it much easier to tell which twin makes lumpy dumplings and which can
’t master chopsticks. Lin is also the author of Dim Sum for Everyone! and Fortune Cookie Fortunes.

  Llama Llama Home with Mama

  By Anna Dewdney. Illustrated by the author. Viking, 2011. Ages 4–6.

  Llama feels “yucky, just not right!” He’s sneezy and wheezy, and his throat hurts. No school for him today, says Mama Llama. He’ll stay home in his red pajamas (the same ones he wears in Llama Llama Red Pajama) while Mama nurses his coughs and sneezes. She feels his forehead, straightens his covers, and brings him books to read. Just when he starts feeling better, Mama begins to sneeze. Now little Llama will take care of Mama. The latest book in a popular series certainly proves that love is the best medicine.

  Lizette’s Green Sock

  By Catharina Valckx. Illustrated by the author. Clarion, 2005. Ages 3–5.

  Children independent of mind when it comes to their wardrobes are the perfect audience for this tender book. On a walk one lovely day, Lizette (a little bird) finds a lone green sock. Pleased with her unusual find (“You don’t find a beautiful sock like this every day!”), she puts it on and continues happily on her way. Her good humor evaporates, however, when she’s told that socks are meant to be worn in pairs. It’s restored when her friend demonstrates another use for the sock: it makes quite a wonderful hat.

  Looking Like Me

  By Walter Dean Myers. Illustrated by Christopher Myers. Egmont, 2009. Ages 5–8.

  Dynamic contemporary art that crackles with energy couples with rhythmic, raplike verse, perfect for reading aloud. With special resonance to boys, the book is more portrait than traditional story. As young Jeremy travels through Harlem, he encounters a number of people whose lives he has touched—his sister, his father, his teacher, his grandmother. Their simple, positive affirmations of his role in their lives make him feel proud and strong. Simple enough for young children, and thoughtful enough to read with older ones.

  Lottie Paris Lives Here

  By Angela Johnson. Illustrated by Scott M. Fisher. Simon & Schuster, 2011. Ages 4–6.

  African American Lottie is a happy, curious child. She loves running around outdoors or imagining she’s a princess who lives in a toy castle. She always finds something interesting to do, even if her actions occasionally get her in trouble. Her special fondness for her father, whom she calls Papa Pete, comes through on every page—whether she’s testing his limits or playing funny tricks they both enjoy. Like Emily Jenkins’s What Happens on Wednesdays, this is a charming portrait of a contented child.

  Lucy and the Bully

  By Claire Alexander. Illustrated by the author. Albert Whitman, 2008. Ages 4–6.

  Bullying is an increasingly widespread problem, not only in schools but also on playgrounds and neighborhoods across the country. In this book Lucy, a little lamb, is being bullied by her classmate, a bull named Tommy. He sabotages her artwork and makes fun of her. Their teacher is oblivious. Trouble escalates, and when Lucy decides she can’t manage alone, she tells her mother. When her mother calls the teacher, who in turns calls Tommy’s parent, Lucy is horrified. But the next day Tommy looks so sad that Lucy swallows her fear and takes the initiative to pay him some attention. Bullying is rarely put to rest so simply, but Lucy’s fictional experience may encourage little ones under similar stress to enlist their parents’ help, and the lamb’s willingness to forgive her tormenter is well worth discussing. A follow-up note to parents suggests other ways to help a struggling child. The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill is another good book for sharing.

  My Name Is Yoon

  By Helen Recorvits. Illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2003. Ages 5–7.

  Yoon, newly arrived in America, is having a difficult time adjusting. Her name, which means “shining wisdom” in Korean, doesn’t seem to fit now; it’s much more suited to the wonderful place she has left behind. Her teacher encourages her to practice writing her name in English, but Yoon resists, substituting other words like cupcake and bird, which seem to better fit her new life. Her parents’ and teacher’s gentle encouragement eventually win her over, and in the end, she writes her name both ways.

  No Two Alike

  By Keith Baker. Illustrated by the author. Beach Lane, 2011. Ages 4–7.

  On a wintery day two little red birds have fun in the snow. They make tiny snowballs, transform pine needles into skis, and tickle a sleepy squirrel’s nose with a feather. As they play they observe differences in the things that surround them: the squirrel’s nest differs from the bird’s nest; the pine needle tracks are different lengths; some snowflakes are big and some are small. Even the two birds, who at first glance look so much alike, aren’t quite the same: “Are we the same—just alike? / Almost, almost…but not quite.” Children will want a close-up look at the tiny birds when the story has ended.

  No Two Alike by Keith Baker

  Not Afraid of Dogs

  By Susanna Pitzer. Illustrated by Larry Day. Walker, 2006. Ages 4–6.

  Daniel has a problem; he’s afraid of dogs, and he hasn’t told a soul. When his aunt’s dog Bandit comes to stay, Daniel goes into hiding. After discovering both he and Bandit are afraid of thunderstorms, he decides Bandit isn’t all that bad. At the end, he even lets Bandit sleep in his bed.

  Not All Princesses Dress in Pink

  By Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple. Illustrated by Anne-Sophie Lanquetin. Simon & Schuster, 2010. Ages 4–6.

  Princesses and little girls just seem to go together. That doesn’t mean girls can’t play soccer, get dirty, wear bike helmets—or refuse to wear pink. Putting stereotypes to rest, this vibrant book makes it clear that little girls (and little boys, for that matter) are more than one thing. Pictures showing girls in jeans and jerseys with princess crowns on their head make the case admirably.

  Orange Pear Apple Bear

  By Emily Gravett. Illustrated by the author. Simon & Schuster, 2007. Ages 3–5.

  A brown bear is the facilitator in this comical book that jokes around with shape, color, words (only five words appear in the story), and pieces of fruit. It’s hard to resist the yummy fruit, but the bear doesn’t eat it straightaway. He stacks it on his head, juggles it, balances it on his paw, and so on. It’s almost a shame when he eats his lovely toys, but by that time little ones will have had plenty of opportunity to appreciate the wordplay and imagine their own bear backstory.

  The Pirate of Kindergarten

  By George Ella Lyon. Illustrated by Lynne Avril. Atheneum/Richard Jackson, 2010. Ages 4–6.

  Lyon drew on his own experience when he wrote this story about a child with vision problems. Ginny likes kindergarten, but her classmates occasionally laugh at her when she runs into chairs or makes mistakes when she reads. On vision screening day, the school nurse discovers that Ginny has double vision. To correct it, the doctor gives her an eye patch, which Ginny uses to turn herself into “Kindergarten Pirate.” The other kids think pirates are soooo cooool!

  Princess K.I.M. and the Lie That Grew

  By Maryann Cocca-Leffler. Illustrated by the author. Albert Whitman, 2009. Ages 4–6.

  Kim is anxious to fit in at her new school, so instead of telling classmates she’s just plain Kim, she introduces herself as Princess K.I.M., Katherine Isabella Marguerite. It’s not entirely a lie, she thinks; Daddy calls her “Princess.” With the exception of skeptical Jonathan, her classmates are suitably impressed. She gets more attention than she knows what to do with. Then Grandma Betty comes to the class. Kim is sure she’ll be exposed, but wise Grandma plays along—giving Kim an opportunity to clear up her own mess. In the end, Kim does come clean. She also realizes she likes being just plain Kim, especially since at least one classmate, Jonathan, respects her courage in telling the truth. Kids will recognize not only the strong temptation to tell a lie when things get tough, but also the relief when the truth comes out.

  The Quiet Book

  By Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by Renata Liwska. Houghton Mifflin, 2010. Ages 4–6.

  The Lou
d Book!

  By Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by Renata Liwska. Houghton Mifflin, 2011. Ages 4–6.

  Talk about opposites! Using the same cast of small animals in both these books, Underwood and Liwska thoroughly investigate the flip sides of sound as related to a child’s world. In Quiet animals are pictured in solitary activities, playing contentedly with friends and being with family. There’s also the silence of a new snowfall, the stillness of a dark theater, and the quiet that comes when someone is sad or has done something naughty. There are lots of louds in Loud—sounds children hear but rarely think about (someone unwrapping candy in the movies) as well as happy, funny more everyday sounds, such as whistling and cheering. When it comes to burping, expect audience participation.

  Ready for Anything!

  By Keiko Kasza. Illustrated by the author. Putnam, 2009. Ages 4–6.

  Adventurous Duck and his anxious friend Raccoon are planning a summer outing. Raccoon imagines the worst: a dreadful storm, bees, a terrifying dragon living in a cave. He scares himself so much he hides. Duck’s imagination conjures a more comforting scenario: a lovely lake instead of pouring rain, butterflies instead of bees, a cool, quiet cave where a baby dragon lives. His version soothes his uneasy friend, who decides he’ll go on the picnic—but he takes a flashlight along just in case. Duck is a good enough buddy not to care.

  Saying Goodbye to Lulu

  By Corinne Demas. Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. Little, Brown, 2004. Ages 4–6.

  A little girl cares deeply for her elderly dog, Lulu, but she knows that Lulu isn’t able to play as she once did, and that one day soon Lulu will die. Even though the beloved dog’s death is expected, it takes some time before the girl can say good-bye. As the story ends, she gets a puppy, and realizes that she has the capacity to love both her dear old friend and her sweet new one.

  Shades of People

  By Shelley Rotner. Illustrated by Sheila M. Kelly. Holiday House, 2009. Ages 4–7.

  “Our skin is just our covering, like wrapping paper. And you can’t tell what someone is like from the color of their skin.” The message here is both obvious and charming. The story is in the upbeat photos that parents and children can look at together. Candid shots as well as posed ones show children with skin fresh as peaches, rich as cocoa, and everywhere between, playing and laughing together, at home and at school. The question sure to follow: “Which shade am I?”