The Game of Mix-up Art

by Hervé Tullet

Summary: Presents colorful paintings on split pages to allow young readers to mix up the pictures to make new artistic creations.

This book contains pages that are cut. Hence, the illustrations on each page can be changed when parts of the pages are turned. I did not especially care for this book, but I suppose it may be valuable in developing an interest of books in young children.

Interest Level: birth-age 4

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Summary: This is the story of a caterpillar’s birth, extensive eating, and transformation into a beautiful butterfly.

I LOVED this book as a child. I would ask to have it read to me every night for a long time. The holes throughout the pages indicating where the caterpillar ate were very appealing. I always loved Saturday reading the variety of food the caterpillar had eaten.

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

Tiny Little Fly

Tiny Little Fly

by Michael Rosen

Summary: With a tramp and a roll and a swat, Great Big Elephant, Great Big Hippo, and Great Big Tiger try to capture Tiny Little Fly as he teases each one in turn.

This is an adorable book appropriate for very young listeners. This book can be used for an interactive audience. The text is repetitive and has many fun sounds to make, and a guessing game of which animal is on the next page can be played.

Interest Level: birth-age 2, ages 2-4

Reading Level: grade 2

Librarianjk recommends Ocean's Child

Ocean's Child

by Christine Ford

Summary: A mother and her child canoe along the Alaskan Beaufort seacoast, viewing Arctic marine wildlife

This book is very cute. It shows how sea animals sleep. With the books' beautiful illustrations and repetition of “to ocean’s child we say good night”, this is a great book to read before sleep. However, the first few times it is read a child may be excited to see how sea animals sleep!

Interest Level: infants, ages 2-4, grades K-3
Reading Level: grade 3

Librarianjk recommends Tuesday

 

Tuesday

by David Wiesner  

Summary: On a Tuesday night, frogs float through the air on their lily pads and explore people’s houses.

This book is interesting to say the least. As with all wordless picture books, an adult may ask a child to create a story from the pictures.

Librarianjk recommends Good Night Moon

Good Night Moon
by Margaret Wise Brown

A little bunny says goodnight to everything in the room before falling asleep. The story is in rhyme.

This is a classic story and favorite to many. It is a simple book to help children fall asleep.

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

Books for Babies

They may not understand the stories, but many studies have shown that children benefit from hearing stories from birth. Rhythmic text helps babies in developing speech. Board books are wonderful for babies who like to grab or children who cannot seem to turn a page without tearing it. The pages are very thick and extremely difficult to rip. As they grow older, allow them to point to pictures, talk about the illustrations, and predict what will happen next. This also helps children develop an interest in reading. The books in this bibliography include books that are “lift-the-flap” and “touch and feel”. Many have photographs which many young children enjoy especially when the photographs are of real babies like themselves!

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