My Car


Byron Barton - 2001
    From the sound of the engine to the proper care and keep of a car. This spectacular machine loses its mystique as we grow older, but Byron Barton's vibrant picture book just may rekindle your -- and your child's -- love of the auto.Using a very bold color palette with smooth lines and short text, My Car introduces young readers to Sam. Sam loves his car and proceeds to show how to take care of it, from changing the oil to getting gas. Sam also explains that cars have lights to see at night. Of course, he always follows traffic laws. In one happily busy scene, Barton shows Sam in his compact red car sitting in heavy traffic. And what does Sam do for a living? Drive a bus, of course!This wonderfully vivacious picture book offers youngsters a look at ownership, responsibility, and possibility -- and the whole while, they are having fun! From Sam's easy demeanor and dialogue to the colorful illustrations, Barton confirms that the car is a wondrous thing.

Hello Baby!


Mem Fox - 2009
    . . itself, of course! With an exuberant rhyming text by bestselling author Mem Fox and adorable cut-paper illustrations by Caldecott Honor recipient Steve Jenkins, this book is an irresistible celebration of the joyful connection between parent and child.

Under My Hood I Have a Hat


Karla Kuskin - 2004
    Winter is hereand it's time to put on your gloves and mittens and scarf and hat and...Only award-winning poet Karla Kuskin and illustrator Fumi Kosaka could make bundling up for the snow so much fun!

I Went Walking


Sue Williams - 1989
    The boy sees a black cat, then a brown horse, then a red cow, and so on, and before he knows it, he’s being trailed by the entire menagerie! The Australian illustrator Julie Vivas brings the parade to life in lovely, lively watercolors—when the pink pig looks at the boy, for example, the boy sprays off his muddy body with a hose. Big type, repetition, friendly art, clean design—and the visual guessing game created by introducing each animal only partially at first—make this beloved tale a winner at story time.

Wiggle


Doreen Cronin - 2005
    Told in rollicky, wiggly rhyme that begs to be read again and again, Doreen Cronin's latest romp will have toddlers wiggling, giggling, and then (hopefully) falling into bed, blissfully exhausted!

Uncles and Antlers


Lisa Wheeler - 2004
    Once a year, every year,the seven uncles gather.Shaggy coats,scarves of red.Two tall antlerson each head.Is it their niecethey've come to see?Surely, yes.Is it their jobthey've come to do?Most definitely.And is she eagerto join in the fun?AbsolutelyHere is a playful tributeto a famous teamof eight relatives who, once a year, everyyear, bring delight to children.

It's Not Fair!


Amy Krouse Rosenthal - 2008
    And life can't always go the way we want it to. But with this delightful and witty book, Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld reassure us that everyone, including pigs, planets, and square pegs, sometimes thinks: It's not fair!

Grandma's Tiny House: A Counting Story!


JaNay Brown-Wood - 2017
    Neighbors, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and grandkids crowd into the house and pile it high with treats for a family feast.But when the walls begin to bulge and no-body has space enough to eat, one clever grandchild knows exactly what to do.Where there's a will there's a way when families grow and come together."A warmhearted tribute to the messy joys of a big, impromptu gathering" -- Publisher's Weekly STARRED review"A fine addition to book collections about families, food, counting, and joyous gatherings" -- The Horn Book "This counting story will have repeated readings during the holidays and all year round" -- School Library Journal"Grandma's lucky to have all these family members, and young readers are even luckier to be invited to this wonderful family gathering." -- Kirkus ReviewsChicago Public Library's 2017 Best of the Best Books selection

Room on the Broom


Julia Donaldson - 2001
    The witch and her cat are happily flying through the sky on a broomstick when the wind picks up and blows away the witch's hat, then her bow, and then her wand!  Luckily, three helpful animals find the missing items, and all they want in return is a ride on the broom.  But is there room on the broom for so many friends?  And when disaster strikes, will they be able to save the witch from a hungry dragon?

The Hallo-Weiner


Dav Pilkey - 1995
    But one brave act on Halloween makes Oscar a Grade-A hero, proving that a little wiener can be a real winner!

I Love You Through and Through


Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak - 2005
    A perfect first book for toddlers with sturdy cardstock pages and a padded cover with rounded corners for safe handling by little ones.

Ten Little Ladybugs


Melanie Gerth - 2000
    Where did they all go? Young ones will love finding out as they feel their way through the sturdy, colorful pages of this innovative book. The cute critters provide a hands-on learning experience and the rhyming text reinforces the counting concept. Interactive, educational, adorable -- this magical countdown book adds up to a whole lot of fun.

Tiny Little Fly


Michael Rosen - 2010
    Off flies the fly! The teasing insect easily misses the rhino’s roll, squash, roll and the tiger’s swat, swoop, snatch too. Michael Rosen’s simple language is a joy to read aloud, while Kevin Waldron’s whimsical images match his playful rhythm beat for beat, offering a fly’s-eye view of each favorite animal before revealing the energized creature in full. How will this gently suspenseful adventure end? Fly, fly, fly!

My Many Colored Days


Dr. Seuss - 1996
    Seuss wrote in 1973, was a letter outlining his hopes of finding "a great color artist who will not be dominated by me." The late Dr. Seuss saw his original text about feelings and moods as part of the "first book ever to be based on beautiful illustrations and sensational color." The quest for an artist finally ended—after the manuscript languished for more than two decades—at the paint brushes of husband-and-wife team Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher whose stunning, expressive paintings reveal such striking images as a bright red horse kicking its heels, a cool and quiet green fish, a sad and lonely purple dinosaur, and an angrily howling black wolf. Using a spectrum of vibrant colors and a menagerie of animals, this unique book does for the range of human moods and emotions what Oh, the Places You'll Go! does for the human life cycle. Here is a wonderful way for parents to talk with children about their feelings. With Johnson and Fancher's atmospheric, large-scale paintings bursting off the pages, Dr. Seuss's vision is brought to life. This rare and beautiful book is bound to appeal to both the innocent young and the most sophisticated seniors.

Bear Says Thanks


Karma Wilson - 2012
    There’s just one problem: Bear’s cupboards are bare! What is he to do? Karma Wilson’s playful text and Jane Chapman’s charming illustrations bring to life this celebration of family and friendship. Young readers will delight in discovering the special gift Bear has to share.