Recommended Children’s Books

The Secret Life of the Sea Otter by Lawrence Pringle, illustrated by Kate Garchinsky

Cher Ami by Melisande Potter, illustrated by Giselle Potter

A Perfect Wonderful Day with Friends by Philip Waechter

Who Was Henry Ford? (Part of Who Was? Series) by Michael Burgan

Chester Van Chime Forgot How to Rhyme by Avery Monsen

Emile and the Field by Kevin Young

Elephant Island by Leo Timmers

Big Truck, Little Island by Chris Van Dusen

Julius: the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes

The Nest that Wren Built by Randi Sonenshine

Winter Is Here by Kevin Henkes (for Pre-K)

The Three Billy Goats Gruff retold by Mac Barnett illustrated by Jon Klassen (1st and 2nd graders)

Chirri and Chirra in the Night by Kaya Doi (Pre-K)

Nine Color Deer by Kailin Dian (beautiful watercolor illustrations inspired by the Mogao Cave Paintings in Dunhuang, China) Story is for 1 and 2graders.

The House by Kevin Henkes.  Very good for Pre-K.  Will elicit a lot of responses.

I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry.  Children will participate, comment on the different fish.   They name the fish and answer questions about them.  Great for getting them involved.

This Book is Read by Beck & Matt Stanton.    Same authors of This is a Ball.  These books will illicit a lot of responses from Pre-K 3 and 4yrs.old.  Great for getting them involved.

Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert, 1990.  Great read aloud for PreK.  Terrific bird illustrations, opportunity to introduce bird song.

How to Count to One, Caspar Salmon and Matt Hunt

Maurice by Jessica Bagley

Rabbit, Duck, and Big Bear by Nadine Brun-Cosme and Olivier Tallec.  Great illustrations, story about being alone and how it can be good for just thinking.  For PreK and above.

Sometimes It’s Nice to Be Alone by Amy Heat and illustrated by Philip Stead.  Good story for PreK and older about being alone and being with friends.  It’s okay to be both.

Extra Yarn by Max Barnett Illustrated by Jon Klassen.  An upbeat tale about a girl who knits for everyone and everything.

Bear Is Never Alone translated by Laura Watkinson   Lovely illustrations (charcoal with dashes of color) about a bear who plays the piano.  He wants to stop playing and be alone……ends up be wind alone together with zebra.

Flock by Margarita del Mazo Guridi.  Not to be missed!  A funny counting book with funny illustrations.

100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David Larochelle Lian Cho.  Another funny counting book.  Addition and subtraction. Fine illustrations.

Moving the Millers’ Minnie Moore Mine Mansion by Dave Eggers, illustrated by Julia Sarda’   True story about Annie Moore moving her mansion 4 miles away from original site in town so she can raise pigs.  Excellent illustrations, amusing lines here and there by Eggers.  4-8yrs   The first line: “Like all of the best stories, this takes place in Idaho.”  Reminds me of Bill Bryson’s line:  “I come from Des Moines.  Somebody had to.”

The Skull by Jon Klassen.  Droll, endearing story with wonderful illustrations.  His folktale based in a Tyrolean folktale. For 6-9 yrs.

Roll, Roll, Little Pea by Cecile Bergame.  Cute story about a little pea that gets loose and rolls around, ultimately ending up in the soil and lo and behold, it grows.  A good book for pre-K and K.  Nice illustrations.

What If One Day by Bruce Handy with illustration by Ashleigh Corrin.  Charming book for 4-6 yrs.  Nice illustrations.  What if one day there were no bugs or insects?  Water?  Birds?  —worms could relax!

Some of These Are Snails by Carter Higgins, who also wrote Circle Under Berry.  Higgins’s books are present simple concepts that focus on patterns, colors, sorting, size.  He takes the simple concept and builds on it.  It requires careful looking and attentive analysis.

Wing, Waves, & Webs by Robin Mitchell Cranfield.  This is a book of seeing patterns in nature: spots, stripes, collective motion (geese flying in formation).   With lovely illustrations it incites the viewer to really look closely at objects and animals.

Knitting for Dogs by Laurel Molk. Great book that illustrates the importance of being flexible and creative and determined.  Very nice illustrations.

The Amazing and True Story of Tooth Mouse Perez by Ana Cristina Herreros.  An inventive and fanciful story about the tooth fairy.  Lovely illustrations.  A narrative heavy engaging book for 5-9 years olds.

The Lion and the Mouse by Teresa Mlawer.  A retelling of Aesop’s fable with charming illustrations.   It is a bilingual book, English on the left-hand side and Spanish on the right.  The moral: Kindness is never wasted.  Good for pre-K and 1st graders.

Letters in Charcoal by Irene Vasco.  When one girl decides to learn to read it has an impact on a community.  Written by a Columbian writer who is a literacy advocate of some repute in her country. Nice illustrations.  A good read-aloud book with a potent story.  1st-2nd grader.

Are You Big? By Mo Wellems.  A good book for compare and contrast task.  Simple, very clear illustrations, Wellems-style.  Pre K to 1st grade.

Later, When I’m Big by Bette Westura and illustrated by Mathias De Leeaw. Marvelous illustrations that may be too whimsical for the age targeted (Pre K-1st grade).  Nice book that focuses on size.  Where we fit into the world.

Bunny Should Be Sleeping by Amy Hest and illustrated by Renata Liwska.  A focus on caring for and sharing with others, in this case a father and a baby bunny.  The fuzzy-warm illustrations suit the story well.  For PreK-1st graders.   Of interest is the repeated mention of special favorite book.

As Brave as a Lion written and illustrated by Erika Meza. A warm-hearted book about being brave and friendship with an imaginary creature.  3-7 yrs.

Dear Stray by Kirsten Hubbard and illustrated by Susan Gal. A feisty little girl who has issues controlling her emotions adopts a cat that similarly has some control issues.  I don’t like the use of non words (e.g., floof) but the girl is endearing, realistically portrayed, and the illustrations are fitting for the subject matter.  3-7 years.

The Walk of the Field Mouse by Nadine Robert.  A lovely story with bold illustrations about a field mouse who pursues a task time and again, never giving up.  It’s not the end, but the journey that matters. The book opens with a quote from Albert Camus that imagines Sisyphus being happy to have the task of the hill and rock.  5-8yrs.

Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus with charming illustrations by Jose Aruego.   The story about Leo, a young lion, who blooms late.  We don’t all bloom at the same time.  4-8yrs.

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds is a wonderful book about being creative and trying to be creative even if you think you can’t do it—draw a dot.  It’s also about friendship and support. K-2nd grade.

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen is an award-winning picture book for ages 3-6 years, though the younger ones will likely not appreciate the subtle message.  The action is conveyed through the illustrations and the ending is presented through illustration alone.  The humor is made manifest through eye gestures of the two fish as well as their physicality.

Dog vs. Strawberry by Nelly Buchet and illustrated by Andrea Zuill.  A funny story about a dog racing with a strawberry.  The text is racing lingo (e.g., “and they’re off!”) which is perfect.  Good for pre-K and Kindergartners.

We Are Definitely Human by X.Fang is a story three curious-looking visitors show up in Mr. Li’s field.  The interaction between these visitors and humans is a heartwarming tale.  It is very funny too.  Pre-K to 2nd grade.

Spaceman by Randy Cecil is a lovely tale about a miniature spaceman landing on some planet and what happens there.  This spaceman learns to appreciate what he at first overlooked.  And he develops a warm friendship with a dog.  A good story about the meaning of friendship.  Pre-K to 2nd grade.

Dalmatian: a Mars Rover’s Story by Lucy Ruth Cummins is a tale about a green-spotted Martian-dog and Stephen who takes in an alien.  The question that must be answered:  will the alien stay with Stephen or return to his home planet?  A good story about unlikely, but enduring friendship.  Pre K-2nd grade.

Ghost Dog by Joaquín Camp.  A delightful story with excellent watercolor illustrations about a dog that runs into a sheet and believes he’s become a ghost dog.  He recounts his adventures, which are funny.  He does regret being a ghost dog not because he misses Marta, but because he misses his red ball.  The truth?  Toys are more important to dogs than humans.  Pre-K to 2nd