Dog's Colorful Day: A Messy Story About Colors and Counting


Emma Dodd - 2001
    Somehow he always manages to be underfoot when someone makes a mess. Red jam, blue paint, pink ice cream, orange juice -- the history of his day is splattered on his bright, white coat. And by evening, there are ten colorful spots for children to count before the careless canine must have his bath.This fresh and funny introduction to colors and numbers, illustrated by the talented young artist Emma Dodd, makes learning as breezy as a walk in the park with Dog, a pooch with poor personal hygiene but a great deal of charm.

Skunk on a String


Thao Lam - 2016
    Try as he might, the persistent critter can’t get anyone to untie him. In this wordless story, he is shooed and swatted through a bustling parade, past the windowpanes of the city’s apartment buildings with their diverse, busy inhabitants, then up to the construction cranes high above the city. He floats through the zoo, into traffic, under water, and eventually lands atop a Ferris wheel. When he finally unties himself, the skunk misses the aerial life — so he comes up with an inspired way to fly again.

Magpie Magic: A Tale of Colorful Mischief


April Wilson - 1999
    What follows is a delightfully magical tale of art run amok as each newly drawn object becomes real, and fair game for the antics of the mischievous bird. Colorful chaos ensues as the resourceful bird takes pencil in beak and begins to reveal its own artistic talents. The beautifully detailed pictures invite children to observe carefully and tell the story themselves as the mesmerizing plot leads them to an astounding surprise ending. Along the way younger children will be introduced to the concept of color (eight are featured), older ones will discover the fascinating interplay between art and imagination, and all will be inspired to reach for their own drawing pencils.

A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog


Mercer Mayer - 1967
    A boy and his dog go walking in the swamp.They spot a frog in the water.Can they use a net to catch him?

Machines Go to Work in the City


William Low - 2012
    Every other spread has an interactive gatefold which extends the original picture to three pages, revealing something new about each situation.The last spread diagrams each city machine, providing additional information for young readers to pore over again and again.William Low's classically-trained artist's eye adds a new layer to this genre, and both parents and children will appreciate the beautiful illustrations, the attention to detail, and the clever situational twists revealed by lifting the flaps.

Different? Same!


Heather Tekavec - 2017
    For example, the zebra gallops, the bumblebee flies, the lemur leaps and the tiger prowls --- ?But look closer now ... We all have STRIPES!? And so it goes. Again and again, readers will be surprised to find that a group of four seemingly different animals all have one trait in common --- whiskers, horns, shells and the like --- for a total of thirteen traits in all. Observant children will notice that one of the animals from each group also appears on the following spread with three new animals that have a different characteristic in common. Finally, all forty of the featured animals are shown together, and readers are asked to search for those with specific characteristics not already covered in the book --- for example, those with spots, those who live in the ocean or those with six or more legs. Author Heather Tekavec has discovered a fun and interactive approach to helping young children begin to explore the ways animals are classified. Pippa Curnick's playful and engaging illustrations of the animals in their habitats are all scientifically accurate, keeping the experience both enjoyable and informative. The searching activity also works to enhance visual literacy. With a detailed glossary included, this is an ideal book for introducing early lessons on the characteristics of living things and for starting discussions on the ways all creatures are like and unlike one another.

Curious George Goes Camping


Margret Rey - 1990
    Before long, an encounter with a cute forest creature throws George into a chain of outrageous events that allows him to find a way to be helpful after all.

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!


Candace Fleming - 2002
    McGreely's garden smells yum, yum, yummy. While's he's dreaming of his mouth-watering carrots, the bunnies are diving over fences and swimming trenches to get the veggies first!Hammer, hammer, hammer, Saw!That's the sound Mr. McGreely makes when the sun comes up and the moon goes down and he sees what those twitch-whiskers have done... Nibbled leaves! Empty stalks! Mr. McGreely will build something bigger and better, sure to keep even pesky puff-tails away.Children will cheer for the bunnies - or for Mr. McGreely - as they delight in Candace Fleming's clever sound effects and G. Brian Karas's vibrant, funny illustrations.

Count the Monkeys


Mac Barnett - 2013
    Full of fun reader interactions and keeps readers guessing until the very last page! Matching Mac Barnett's brilliant wit are Kevin Cornell's luminous illustrations, which will have young readers begging to count the monkeys all over again.

Stormy: A Story about Finding a Forever Home


Guojing - 2019
    With gentle coaxing, the woman tries to befriend the animal, but the dog is too scared to let her near. Day after day, the woman tries--and day after day, the dog runs away. With perseverance and patience--and help from an enticing tennis ball--a tentative friendship begins. But it's not until a raging storm forces the two together that a joyous and satisfying friendship takes hold.

Owly Wormy, Friends All Aflutter!


Andy Runton - 2011
    But when they come home from the nursery with a plant that will attract some fluttering friends, all that show up are fat, green bug things. Bug things are NOT butterflies! But, they are nice and fun and good at sleep outs under the stars and always up for a game of checkers. Fat, green bug might even be better than butterflies. Let’s be friends forever! But, the bug things can’t stay. When the bugs build their cocoons, Owly and Wormy think they have no friends left at all. They wait. And wait. And wait. And one day…their dreams have come true…and all a flutter! Owly’s friends are back...AND they've turned into butterflies. Bold, graphic and full of fun, this wordless storybook will give pre-readers the wings they need to start reading on their own, and a firm footing on the idea of metamorphosis.

Polar Bear's Underwear


Tupera Tupera - 2013
    This laugh-out-loud, one-of-a-kind novelty book from Japanese design talents tupera tupera will surprise and amuse children and their parents, all while affirming the importance of putting on your underwear.

Mouse Paint


Ellen Stoll Walsh - 1989
    One day three white mice discover three jars of paint--red, blue, and yellow. But what happens when they splash in the colors, mixing the red and blue? Or dance in the blue and yellow? This playful introduction to colors will appeal to any budding artist or curious preschooler.

The Little Barbarian


Renato Moriconi - 2015
    A barbarian must be able to survive an army of one-eyed giants or a pit of venomous snakes. He must bravely fight off manticores, dragons, and sea serpents. Luckily, a barbarian can always rely on his trusty steed to see him through any peril.Readers of all ages will savor this wordless picture book with its clever twist ending.

Something's Fishy


Jean Gourounas - 2017
    Hilariously expressive animals and their repetitive questions dramatically accumulate until finally, in the climactic finale, the penguin hears something under the water, and everyone silences for the big reveal. A fast-paced and entertaining read-aloud that provides ample opportunity for character voices and multiple punchlines. Children will wager predictions throughout, and crack up at the clever and comical ending!