Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball


Vicki Churchill - 2001
    Or sticking out his pink tongue--and pulling funny faces (now that can be fun)! And maybe he'll jump just as high as he can, and see how much noise he will make when he lands. But when the day ends and the sun starts to fall...he goes back home to mama and curls into a ball. Good night! Soft-toned illustrations portray an endearing little wombat and the warm and friendly world around him--and every page is filled with charming details that stand up to repeat viewings: cute mice, rabbits and turtles peering from behind tall grass, marching pigeons, and a menagerie of other adorable animals. The images, along with the lyrically rhyming text, combine to make a sweet-spirited bedtime story to ease young ones to sleep.

A Bear and His Boy


Sean Bryan - 2007
    Like "A Boy and His Bunny" and "A Girl and Her Gator," this new picture book will entertain young children and their parents, and put smiles on the faces of their grandparents too. Mack, a type-A bear who is terribly over-scheduled, is initially stressed to discover the boy, named Zach, and tells him: "Here's the deal . . . I've got no time to slack. I'm looking at my schedule, and it is jam-packed." But in the end, after a rhyme-filled tour through Mack's fanciful schedule, Zach teaches the bear to slow down and enjoy life, rather than rush through it. With aplayful text and simple, witty illustrations, A BEAR AND HIS BOY will help everyone stop and smell the lilacs!

It's Raining, It's Pouring


Kin Eagle - 1994
    This favorite nursery rhyme has been transformed into a riotous picture book. Colorful and exuberant watercolors make six witty new verses dance with sunny humor. Sure to become a favorite of young and old alike.

I Love to Dance


Anna Walker - 2008
    Join in as Ollie dances like jelly with a wobbly belly and wriggles after a bath.

Once Upon a Winter Day


Liza Woodruff - 2020
    Instead, she encourages him to go out and play in the snow. At first, Milo is disappointed - he doesn't want to play outside, he wants a story.But when he starts to follow a trail of mouse-prints, he discovers signs of activity all around, prompting him to ask, What happened here? Before long, he's using his imagination -- depicted in lush wordless spreads that capture the vividness of Milo's fantasies -- to fill in the gaps. By the time Milo comes home, he's the one with stories to tell.A must have for the winter season, Liza Woodruff's Once Upon a Winter Day is a fun read-aloud that shares details about animal behavior from a child's perspective.A Bank Street Best Childrens Book of the Year!

Row, Row, Row Your Boat


Jane Cabrera - 2014
    Uncover one delightful animal surprise after another. Sheet music with guitar chords, along with Cabrera's jaunty new verses, is included.Jane Cabrera's Story Time celebrates children's best-loved read along nursery rhymes and songs. These interactive favorites are given a new twist by award-winning artist Jane Cabrera and feature her bold, bright, kid-friendly illustrations.Don't miss the other delightful nursery-rhyme titles, including Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush, If You're Happy and You Know It, and One, Two, Buckle My Shoe.

Eli, No!


Katie Kirk - 2011
    He makes his disastrous way through the house and the yard, at every turn disobeying his owners, who each time repeat with mounting exasperation, “Eli, no!” At the end of the day, there’s only one important question left to answer: Do his owners still love him? Of course, in this case the answer is “Eli, yes!” Eli and his antics are depicted in clean, graphic spreads with a fresh and modern palette. Readers will enjoy adding their voices to the call of “Eli, no!”

I'm the Scariest Thing in the Jungle!


David G. Derrick Jr. - 2013
    When you add in his expertly drawn gestural illustrations, you have, simply, perfection. I wish I had thought of this!"—Chris Van Dusen, illustrator of Kate DiCamillo's Mercy Watson book series"Dave's curiosity for the natural world is always obvious to me in his work, and he transfers that love for life to who ever chances upon it. His drawings and compositions show the wonder of the natural world, while his humor and his story layer it with life."—Matt Nolte, Pixar"David conveys movement and life in his pieces through strong poses and powerful gestures."—Artists for ConservationIn India the Bengal tiger is the king of the land. But the giant saltwater crocodile is the ruler of the water. What happens when the kids of these fearsome beasts meet?Let's get ready to rumble!These animals sing their own version of Anything You Can Scare, I Can Scare Better!The tiger cub and little croc joust in a witty war of words. In a playful game of one-upmanship, they top each other's boasts of who owns the most frightening canines, claws, and capabilities.Climbing trees and swimming circles around each other, they are truly well-matched adversaries. But will these terrible tykes discover someone even scarier than them? No elephant is waiting around to find out the answer! Enjoy an eye-opening adventure, illustrated by a veteran DreamWorks Animation artist.David G. Derrick, Jr., lives in Valencia, California.

Puddle


Hyewon Yum - 2016
    His mom comes up with a way to keep him entertained--by drawing a picture of herself and him going outside, playing in the rain, and splashing in a giant puddle. They have so much fun drawing themselves that they decide to venture out and make the most of the rainy weather.

Mouse's First Spring


Lauren Thompson - 2005
    The wind blows in something feathery and plump -- a bird, and something wiggly and pink -- a worm, and something green, who hops and leaps -- a frog. But before it's time to go back inside, Mouse finds something that's soft and new with petals... the prettiest flower he's ever seen! Could it mean spring is finally here?

A Surprise for Tiny Mouse


Petr Horáček - 2015
    She loves the crackle of the leaves in the wind. She even loves the snowflakes when they tickle her nose. But when the rain starts to fall, Tiny Mouse runs for her hole. What will make her come out? Toddlers will love turning the wheel to discover the answer—a beautiful rainbow. A cheerful board book about different kinds of weather makes the perfect pick for rainy-day story time.

This Beautiful Day


Richard Jackson - 2017
    The day’s palette shifts from greys to a hint of blue, then more blue. Then green! Then yellow! Until the day is a technicolor extravaganza that would make Mary Poppins proud. A joyous homage to the power of a positive attitude.

Where Are You?


Sarah Williamson - 2017
    "Where are you?" Under the bridge, out of the pond, through the sandbox--these are just a few answers as a little green snake follows a little pink snake in a day at the park. Sarah Williamson's debut picture book is both a delightfully energetic introduction to prepositions and search-and-find concepts, and a celebration of friendship and imagination. With playful text and fresh, lively illustrations, this is the perfect book to inspire young readers, artists, and explorers.

Spunky Little Monkey


Bill Martin Jr. - 2017
    Mama called the Doctor and the Doctor said:"Apple Juice, Orange Juice, Gooseberry Pies --Monkey needs some exercise!"Sleepy little monkeys everywhere will clap, stomp, shake, and cheer -- while chanting this rhythmic, energetic dance song based on a popular playground game. And as they move their heads, hands, hips, and feet -- everyone will be bursting with clapping energy -- and ready to start a new day!With humor, high energy, and Bill Martin Jr's trademark rhythm and rhyme, young readers will learn to name parts of the body. And the book makes a perfect exercise warm-up to start off a busy day of school!

Dinosaur Roar!


Paul Stickland - 1994
    The subjects are, first, antonyms--such as above/below and weak/strong--and then lunch. The paired dinosaurs, in a goofy array of pastels, are almost all smiling, even when the rhyme insists they're "grumpy"--so when they settle down to a lunch with (and not of) each other, the end is satisfying. The pictures and swingy short verses will make this a good group read-aloud, even for the very young. -BooklistThese prehistoric monsters are just perfect for the preschool crowds. A natural for story time. -School Library Journal