This Jazz Man


Karen Ehrhardt - 2006
    The tuneful text and vibrant illustrations bop, slide, and shimmy across the page as Satchmo plays one, Bojangles plays two . . . right on down the line to Charles Mingus, who plays nine, plucking strings that sound "divine."     Easy on the ear and the eye, this playful introduction to nine jazz giants will teach children to count--and will give them every reason to get up and dance!      Includes a brief biography of each musician.

Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow?


Susan A. Shea - 2011
    School Library Journal declared it "a standout concept book [that's] engaging, fun . . . and a favorite for storytimes or one-on-one settings." (App also available.)

Five Little Ducks


Raffi Cavoukian - 1988
    With sweet illustrations by veteran children's book artists Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey, this lovely counting song will invoke squeals of delight from babies and toddlers. They'll love counting down as first five little ducks, then four, then three, then two, then one go out to play, not to return. Sadly, Mother Duck waits alone through all four seasons until spring returns and with it her five ducks, all grown up-along with their new families of baby ducks.

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands


Kadir Nelson - 2005
    Most importantly, he wished to portray the world as a child might see it--vast and beautiful.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly


Simms Taback - 1997
    An old favorite as you've never seen it before! Everyone knows the song about the old lady who swallowed a fly, a spider, a bird, and even worse, but who's ever seen what's going on inside the old lady's stomach? With this inventive die-cut artwork, Simms Tabak gives us a rollicking, eye-popping version of the well-loved poem.

Head, Shoulders, Knees, And Toes


Mike Wohnoutka - 2009
    Words and music on last page.

Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young


Jack Prelutsky - 1986
    In his introduction to this book Jim Trelease, bestselling author of The Read-Aloud Handbook, writes, “No one better recognizes the essence of the child-poetry connection than poet and anthologist Jack Prelutsky. . . . Here are more than 200 little poems to feed little people with little attention spans to help both grow. Marc Brown’s inviting illustrations add a visual dimension to the poems, which further engage young imaginations.” The poems are by 119 of the best-known poets of the 20th century.This book has been selected as a Common Core State Standards Text Exemplar (Grades K-1, Poetry) in Appendix B.

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.

Peek-A-Zoo!


Marie Torres Cimarusti - 2003
    With its oversize flaps and bright, bold illustrations, this follow-up to the highly successful Peek-a-Moo! is sure to be another hit with young readers. On every page, kids play peek-a-boo with a different animal found at the zoo, guessing what it is, then lifting the flap to find out. Each animal has a different sound that becomes part of the peek-a-boo game: Guess who? "Peek-a-roar!" says the lion. "Peek-a-ooo-ooo-ooo!" says the chimpanzee. The sweet, funny animals will keep kids laughing, while the large trim size and sturdy binding will ensure many hours of lift-the-flap fun!

Shoe Baby


Joyce Dunbar - 2005
    Sailing by dolphins, tootling to the zoo, flying with birds, even sipping tea with the queen are all in a day's play — until a noisy one-shoed giant stomps by and a giantess sobs that she's lost her baby, "Boo-hoo-hoo." Is it finally time to shout "peekaboo"?

The Croaky Pokey!


Ethan Long - 2011
    Each goofy frog gets a chance to show off its dance moves, hopping and bopping around the pond. But will the fly figure out that these frogs are really after some lunch? That's what it's all about!From a Geisel Winner and Daytime Emmy Nominee, this musical story is the perfect at-home readaloud or classroom tool to get preschool kids moving.

Baby Penguins Everywhere!


Melissa Guion - 2012
    Even more unusual? Out of the hat pops a baby penguin. But not just one baby penguin . . . or even two. But a third, and a fourth, and on and on!At first the mama penguin is happy for the company. Until she realizes that taking care of a family is very hard, very tiring work, and what she could really use is just a moment alone. Yet as newcomer Melissa Guion reminds us in her adorable debut picture book, alone time is all well and good, but, it's together time that's best of all.Perfect for any mama penguin with a family, or classroom, full of mischievous little ones.

Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months


Maurice Sendak - 1962
    Maurice Sendak, the Caldecott Medal-winning creator of the iconic Where the Wild Things Are, created a warmly loved classic book of months, in verse, with Chicken Soup with Rice.This rhyming book cleverly uses a little boy’s love for soup to teach children the months of the year and features Sendak’s imaginative drawings and lyrical verses.Who says you can only slurp chicken soup with rice in cold January or freezing December? Chicken soup with rice is nice all year round!

If I Was the Sunshine


Julie Fogliano - 2019
    A breathtaking picture book about the relationships we share from New York Times bestselling storytellers Julie Fogliano and Loren Long in the tradition of The Runaway Bunny and Guess How Much I Love You.if i was the sunshine and you were the day i’d call you hello! and you’d call me stay if you were the winter and i was the spring i’d call you whisper and you’d call me sing… Through clever, thought-provoking verse and warmly evocative art, New York Times bestsellers Julie Fogliano and Loren Long explore the awe-inspiring nature of relationships, love, and connection.

The Lady with the Alligator Purse


Nadine Bernard Westcott - 1988
    These outrageous rhymes will appeal to reluctant readers, eager readers, silly readers, and the whole family together!