Tom's Tweet by Jill Esbaum

Summary: When a cat finds a bedraggled baby bird that has fallen from its nest, an unlikely friendship develops between the two.

Little ones are sure to enjoy this book for its silly humor. I enjoyed the grumpy character, Tom.

Interest Level: ages 2-4
Reading Level: grade 3

Dinosaurs Don't, Dinosaurs Do

by Steve Björkman

Summary: Colorful illustrations of dinosaurs and simple text reveal lessons of etiquette for children, encouraging sharing, and demonstrating good manners.

This is an amusing story for discussing appropriate behavior with preschool age children. The illustrations of the dinosaurs are appealing to youngsters.

Interest Level: ages 2-4
Reading Level: grade 1

Henry's Heart: A boy, his heart, and a new best friend

by Charise Mericle Harper

Summary: When Henry falls in love, his heart reacts strangely.

This is a neat book. The first half is about the real heart in our chests. Then, the text becomes a story about love and what makes hearts beat faster. The book’s illustrations are cartoonish and include many captions and fun diagrams.

Interest Level: grades k-3
Reading Level: grade 2

The Crown on Your Head

by Nancy Tillman

Summary: A story in rhyme, lovingly expressing that every child is born with a crown of features that gives them unique value as they grow.

The illustrations in this book are beautiful. In certain places, the illustrations look realistic, like photographs. In other places, the pictures are dream-like. This is an excellent book for a parent or care giver to read to a child before bed and to close the night by telling the child how they are loved. The story can be used as a conversation starter about self-worth.

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3
Reading Level: grade 2

A Box Can Be Many Things

 by Dana Meachen Rau

Summary: A girl and her brother retrieve a large box from the garbage and pretend that it is a cave, car, house, and cage.

This story is a celebration of imagination! This book is part of the Rookie Readers publications. These books vary in style and appeal but are all excellent books for readers who are beginning to read on their own.

Interest Level: grades K-3
Reading Level: grade 1

I Love My Daddy Because…

by Laurel Porter-Gaylord

Summary: Many different animal fathers are shown caring for their young.

This is a very sweet story. It is an excellent share for celebrating dads and Father’s Day. The author also wrote I Love My Mommy Because…

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3
Reading Level: grade 1

 

Let's Look for Opposites 

by Bill Gillham and Susan Hulme

Summary: Illustrates such opposite concepts as full/empty, open/shut, top/bottom, and dark/light, using photographs and sentences.

This book is ideal to read to children from birth. The illustrations are photographs which infants often enjoy. However, the photographs are somewhat dated. The short and simple text makes it a wonderful one on one read to young children with short attention spans. The book may also be used to teach opposites.

Interest Level: birth-age 4

Reading Level: grade 1

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Happy March!

March is.. 

Women’s History Month

Music in Our Schools Month

National Nutrition Month

Red Cross Month

Irish American Month

Purim is March 8^th

St. Patrick’s Day is March 17th

International Earth Day is March 20^th

Spring Starts March 20^th

^{Celebrate with a great read!}

^{Check out the labels below for previously posted books and bibliographies} 

Hunky Dory Ate It 

by Katie Evans

Summary: Spunky Hunky Dory tries to eat everything in sight and winds up a sick puppy at the vet's.

This is a humorous story in rhyme that is sure to be enjoyed by young children. This book reminds me of the Marley series, although, it was published long before those books.

Interest Level: ages 2-4

Reading Level: grade 2

(Cover image not available)

A Road Might Lead to Anywhere 

by Rachel Field

Summary: After reading about faraway lands, a young girl closes her eyes and imagines all the wonderful places a road could take her, from a cave full of treasure to a witch's house and even to Mexico.

This is an excellent story for celebrating the power of imagination and creativity. The paper-sculpture illustrations add a nice element to the book. 

Interest Level: grades k-3

Reading Level: grade 2

(Cover image not available)

 

I've Got an Elephant 

by Anne Ginkel

Summary: Content with one elephant then pleased to have two, a girl begins having problems as her lonely pachyderms bring home more and more friends throughout this rhyming counting book.

This story in rhyme is bound to be seen as humorous by young children. Preschool age children will enjoy learning to count with this book. 

Interest level: ages 2-grade 3

Reading Level: grade 2 

The Neat Line: Scribbling Through Mother Goose 

by Pamela Duncan Edwards

Summary: A young scribble matures into a neat line, then wriggles into a book of nursery rhymes where he transforms himself into different objects to assist the characters he meets there.

I love fractured fairy tales, and this book seems to be part of a new trend of fractured nursery rhymes. This story is a series of neat twists on old, well-known nursery rhymes strung together by a scribble. This is an excellent class read aloud that students will find humorous.  

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3

Reading Level: grade 3

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!

by Candace Fleming

Summary: After planting the garden he has dreamed of for years, Mr. McGreely tries to find a way to keep some persistent bunnies from eating all his vegetables.

This repetitive story is excellent for actively engaging children in a read aloud. The reader may ask children questions such as “What do you think will happen next?” The story is somewhat repetitive and predictable, which is ideal for involving young children and developing an interest in literature.

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3
Reading Level: grade 3

Little Mist

Little Mist

by Angela McAllister

Summary: Little Mist, a young snow leopard, is filled with wonder when his mother introduces him to the world for the first time.

This magnificently illustrated story is touching, especially the last few pages. A parent may choose to read this with his/her child and discuss how they feel the same way as the snow leopard mother.

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3
Reading Level: grade 3

Egyptian Mummies: A Pop-Up Book

by Milbry Polk

Summary: Unwrap a mummy to see what lies beneath its bandages, lift the layers of a pharaoh's coffin, and help an ancient priest remove the organs from a soon-to-be-mummified body!

This is a unique pop-up book because it contains detailed information and is for older readers. It is a lot of fun to read and manipulate this book, but beware: the beginning is not for those who can become queasy easily!

Interest Level: grades 4-6
Reading Level: grade 6

 

Bathing 

by Liesbet Slegers

Summary: A book filled with illustrations that celebrates bathing at bath time. 

This is a short, small board book. The sturdy pages allow very young children to hold this book. This is an excellent read for young children who do not want to take baths. It also may be helpful for older children with special needs who are reluctant to take baths. In a special school where I worked, we “scripted” everyday matters for students up to age 21, as many educational institutions for special needs children do. The scripts would include steps involved in common situations with which certain students regularly would become frightened, angry, or confused (for example, doctor visits, fire drills, and bathroom usage). To overcome the anxiety associated with these situations, we scripted steps to make those overwhelming daily activities manageable for children with special needs. 

Interest Level: infant-age 4

Reading Level: grade 2

Roll Over!

by Mordicai Gerstein

Summary: A sleepy tot and his ten frolicsome animal friends romp through the numbers one to ten in this counting book, based on the traditional children's song.

This adorable book is in a small format and ideal for reading one-on-one with a child. I greatly enjoyed the twist and the end of the story

Interest Level: ages 2-4
Reading Level: grade 2

Ruby in Her Own Time 

by Jonathan Emmett

Summary: Ruby, the last of Mother Duck's and Father Duck's eggs to hatch, is slower to develop than her four siblings, until the day that she flies further and higher than any of them.

This is a sweet story about self-perception. I liked that the parents are concerned for Ruby, but also have faith in her. This is a great story to read to a child who is behind his/her peers, or to classmates who may tease such a child.

Interest Level: ages 2-grade 3

Reading Level: grade 2 

Happy Leap Year!

Click on image for large print

 

How Many Kisses Do You Want Tonight?

by Varsha Bajaj


Summary: When animal and human parents lovingly ask their offspring how many kisses each wants at bedtime, the answers start at the number one and end at a million.

This is an adorable bedtime story. It can be used to teach counting, and to show a child how much they are loved.

Interest Level: ages 2-4
Reading Level: grade 2