Book picks similar to
The Muffin Man by Blake Hoena


nursery-rhymes
baking
music
song-like

I Miss You Every Day


Simms Taback - 2007
    From the creator of the Caldecott Medal-winning Joseph Had a Little Overcoat comes this tale about what a little girl will do to reach the person she just can?t live without. Filled with Taback?s signature vibrant colors and dynamic characters, with a lyrical text that?s as silly as it is moving, this gesture of love will resonate with anyone who?s ever missed someone.

Hey Diddle Diddle


Eve Bunting - 2011
    . . plays the silver trombone! Eve Bunting's fresh take on a familiar rhyme, enlivened by Mary Ann Fraser's whimsical illustrations, offers spread after spread of exuberant animals showcasing their musical talents. From the camel jamming on the trumpet to the whale keeping the beat on the drums, young readers will relish their front-row seat to this delightful animal orchestra.

Bears in the Bath


Shirley Parenteau - 2013
    Or are they? Water, soap, and sponge are there. The bath is ready. Where are the bears?The four little bears are grimy, dirty, and covered in mud! But when they see the bath and Big Brown Bear ready to scrub, they back away. "We don’t want a bath," they say. Will those grungy bears ever get in the tub? Whether bath time’s a favorite time of day or a fraught one, this fun-to-read rhyming story and the silly antics of impossibly cute bears will make a splash with toddlers and parents alike.

Clap Your Hands


Lorinda Bryan Cauley - 1992
    Little ones will jump at the chance to join this menagerie of zany animals and children as they stomp, wiggle, roar, and spin their way through the day, as the rhyming text reinforces important concepts.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star


Jerry Pinkney - 2011
    As a curious little chipmunk leaves his nest to greet the twilight, he gazes at the glittering sky above him. He can't help but also notice the sparkling dewdrops on a spider's web, the lights of the fireflies, and the shimmers of moonlight on the water. "How I wonder what you are!" marvels the tiny creature, launching a dreamlike quest to reach for the stars.Don't miss these other classic retellings by Jerry Pinkney:The Little MermaidThe Lion & the MouseThe Tortoise & the HareThe Grasshopper & the AntsThe Three Billy Goats GruffLittle Red Riding Hood

Who Loves the Fall?


Bob Raczka - 2007
    In this companion to "Spring Things," author Bob Raczka and illustrator Judy Stead pay tribute to fall with invigorating rhyming verse and vibrant paintings. Full color.

Hickory Dickory Dog


Alison Murray - 2012
    Hickory, dickory, dare, Dogs aren’t allowed in there. A sneaky peek through . . . Then a hullabaloo! Hickory, dickory, dare.Zack and his dog, Rufus, are best friends. So when Zack goes to school, Rufus follows along. And once he’s there, Rufus joins right in with painting, lunchtime, and even garden time — which makes for one messy pup when it’s time to go home! Engaging illustrations capture the people and playthings of a child’s day, with an array of analog clocks sprinkled throughout for good measure.

Ugly Pie


Lisa Wheeler - 2010
    All he finds are pies that please the eye and . . . ingredients? Wait a second. Maybe it’s time for Ol’ Bear to start cookin’ up something ugly himself! Ol’ Bear shares that Ugly Pie with his generous neighbors—and he shares his secret recipe, too, in the back of this book. Lisa Wheeler’s story is a joy to read aloud and some parts just beg to be sung. Heather Solomon’s illustrations aren’t the least bit ugly, but full of lovely details and charming bears with big ol’ appetites for pie.

Tap to Play!


Salina Yoon - 2014
    If he wins, he gets a surprise!Bounce Blip, shake Blip, tilt him and tickle him!Help Blip win the game in this spirited interactive picture book, perfect for reading--and playing--again and again!

I'm Fast!


Kate McMullan - 2012
    He’s got to get to Chicago on time and nothing is going to stop him. Mountains? Not a chance! Cows? Out of his way, ladies! He’s going to get there—and fast!

It's Pumpkin Time!


Zoe Hall - 1994
    A brother and sister get ready for Halloween early -- by planting their own pumpkin patch! Readers will discover the simple joys of gardening and enjoy watching the exciting transformation from pumpkin seed to jack-o'-lantern.

EIEIO: How Old MacDonald Got His Farm (with a Little Help from a Hen)


Judy Sierra - 2014
    He just had a yard — a yard he didn’t want to mow. But under the direction of the wise (and ecologically sensitive) Little Red Hen, Mac learns to look at the environment in a very different way, and whole new worlds start to bloom with the help of some mud, garbage, horse poop, and worms! Judy Sierra’s spirited verse, paired with Matthew Myers’s exuberant illustrations, yields a fresh take on a children’s classic, complete with raised-bed gardens and an organic farmers’ market—making this a perfect story for armchair gardeners and devoted locavores of all sizes.

Market Day: A Story Told with Folk Art


Lois Ehlert - 2000
    But this is no ordinary market--it's a feast of folk art from around the world. Whether you're looking for fruits, vegetables, or just an afternoon of fun, this is a shopping trip you don't want to miss!Includes fun new book-related activities!

Down by the Station


Will Hillenbrand - 1999
    You'd better hurry, though . . . they can't be late to greet the first busload of children!

Frisky Brisky Hippity Hop


Susan Lurie - 2012
    Here photographs capture squirrels working, playing, hiding, and even teasing a hawk.