Each page introduces a different animal with a suggestion for how a child can imitate that animal, such as “I can roar like a lion” and “I can snap like a turtle.” In place of the animal's face on each brightly illustrated page is a four-inch circular cut-out, allowing the child to insert his or her own face and pretend to be the animal by acting out what the text instructs. Alternating between animal sounds (“I can hoot like an owl”) and animal actions (“I can stick out my tongue like a snake”), this book provides children with loads of opportunities for imaginative play. It is also an excellent resource for teaching the youngest children about many kinds of animals. From a walrus to a cow, a cat to a bear, seventeen are featured in all, including household pets, farm favorites and creatures that live in the wild. The final page of the book concludes with the empowering message “I can be anything!” Created by the bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator Frank Asch, this book would work beautifully for a creative activity with preschoolers or kindergartners. It could be used one on one with a child or could be passed around the circle allowing each youngster to take a turn with the next animal. This is a truly fun book that young children are sure to request.

    Apples are red. Lemons are yellow. . . .Clever cutouts in the pages make a simple, original, and utterly beguiling introduction to color.Laura Vaccaro Seeger, whose The Hidden Alphabet dazzled critics and readers alike, introduces young children to color in this unique concept book with die cuts. The opening spread features a big, bright red lemon and the simple text, "Lemons are not RED." When the spread is turned an equally bright yellow lemon appears ("Lemons are YELLOW") across from a luscious red apple ("Apples are RED").And so it goes, from carrots that are not purple through reindeer that are not white, et al. The book ends with "The moon is not BLACK / The moon is SILVER / The night is BLACK / Good night! And the reader sees a tranquil night landscape and a house with the lights turned out.This title has Common Core connections.

    This little chick found a worm. This little chick eyed a berry. And this little chick gave a squirm! With counting, fun, and vibrant illustrations, acclaimed storyteller Nancy Tafuri brings the farmyard to life. Mamas and little ones everywhere will cherish all the special moments of these little chicks for years to come.

    . . but always to enjoy. A small child discovers their magic for the very first time in this exuberant ode to book appreciation by award-winning poet Kristine O’Connell George. Brightly colored illustrations are a perfect match for the spare, rhyming text, and thick pages with rounded corners make this a special first “real” book for baby.

    The necessary tools are pictured and labeled, as are the seeds (green bean, pea, corn, zucchini squash, and carrot). Then the real gardening happens . . . planting, weeding, harvesting, washing, chopping, and cooking! In the end? "It was the best soup ever." Ehlert’s simple, colorful cut-paper-style illustrations are child-friendly, as is the big black type. A recipe for vegetable soup tops it all off!

    Bright, playful illustrations show a different baby and a different species of animal, both engaged in similar behavior: babies stretch their limbs like sea stars, splash in the water like ducklings, toddle around like bear cubs, and fill their chubby cheeks like chipmunks.Action verbs on each page give the book energy and movement and reflect the varied activities of a baby's day, with key elements like mealtime, bath time, and bedtime in chronological order. Babies and caregivers of a wide range of ethnicities are represented in this heartwarming read-aloud designed to show little ones how much they are cherished and loved.

    They see green leaves, blue jays, brown trout, and—best of all—a patch of yummy red strawberries.From bestselling picture book creator Ashley Wolff, here is a clever concept book that combines engaging and intricate linocut illustrations with a story that enthusiastically encourages children to identify a variety of vibrant colors. Young readers will delight in this chance to join Baby Bear as he discovers the colorful wonders of his lively, leafy forest home.

    With caring support from her family and many friends, she not only finds she can do it too, but soon she is big enough to pass on loving encouragement of her own.

    And a gatefold spread of Matt's fully loaded rig will have happy young viewers counting from one to ten--over and over again--in this fun-filled ode to the classic red fire truck by Caldecott Honor-winning Peter Sis.

    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.

    His mother reassures him that once he closes his eyes, he will dream of magical places. And when he awakens, she will be right there, waiting for him.Alternating between real-life scenes with the baby tiger and his mother and enchanted dream scenes of sleep's possibilities, Kate Banks's simple, comforting text and Georg Hallensleben's bright, colorful illustrations make this a charming bedtime story for small children.Close Your Eyes is a 2002 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year and a 2003 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

    They both build with their blocks, until Benji takes one of Ruby’s red blocks and, in the tussle that follows, all the blocks CRASH to the floor. But now Benji has blue and red blocks, and Ruby has red and blue blocks, and together they build and build . . . until Guy comes with his green blocks!

    Wherever you are,Wherever you go,Always rememberAnd always know. . . That feeling you always have in your heart?That's me loving you.Amy Krouse Rosenthal captures parents’ desire to be ever-present in this simple and touching poem offering reassurance of their love. Signs of affection can be found in the natural world around us—from a soft breeze to a shimmering star.

    ONE TWO THAT'S MY SHOE! is a twist on charming verse, brought to life by Alison Murray's simple words and whimsical illustrations. For readers looking for a fun story they can count on, this book is one they're sure to read again and again.

    Illustrated with brightly detailed paintings, this simple, informative text will have children looking at feet in a whole new way.