Inside, Outside, Upside Down


Stan Berenstain - 1968
    Papa Bear turns the box upside down, takes it outside, and puts it on a truck. The simple art and rhyming text make this a perfect choice for teaching spatial concepts.

Grumpy Monkey


Suzanne Lang - 2018
    His friends can’t understand it—how can he be in a bad mood when it’s SUCH a beautiful day? They encourage him not to hunch, to smile, and to do things that make THEM happy. But Jim can’t take all the advice…and has a BIT of a meltdown. Could it be that he just needs a day to feel grumpy?Suzanne and Max Lang bring hilarity and levity to this very important lesson. This picture book is an excellent case study in the dangers of putting on a happy face and demonstrates to kids that they are allowed to feel their feelings (though they should be careful of hurting others in the process!).

I Kissed the Baby!


Mary Murphy - 2003
    . . . The high-contrast pictures and exclamatory text are guaranteed eye and ear magnets for the littlest ones. -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)I saw the baby! Did you see the baby?Yes! I saw the baby, the teeny weeny thing.It's so exciting! News of the baby is buzzing from animal to animal, with each one -- fish, bird, squirrel, insect, frog -- boasting of seeing, feeding, singing to, tickling, and kissing the tiny little thing. With bold, graphic black-and-white illustrations, Mary Murphy's simple, singsong story captures the giddy commotion that only a baby can bring.

Dilly Duckling


Claire Freedman - 2004
    It's a perfect morning for a family waddle, when puff!One of little Dilly's feathers blows away!What is she to do?"Stop that feather!" she quacks.But with each gust of wind Dilly's feather blows farther away.Her friends, Spike the porcupine and Nibble the field mouse, help Dilly in their own ways, but is the downy feather lost for good?And what will she tell Mama?

Good Night Beach


Adam Gamble - 2006
    Designed to soothe children before bedtime while instilling an early appreciation for the environment’s natural wonders, the book features a multicultural group of people experiencing all that the beach has to offer. Rhythmic language guides children through the passage of a single day of fun at the seaside—splashing, playing in the waves, boating, fishing, identifying wildlife, and more.

I See Kitty


Yasmine Surovec - 2013
    She wants a cat so much that she sees Kitty everywhere she goes: at the bus stop, in her backyard, in the starry night sky, even in her dreams. From debut children's book illustrator Yasmine Surovec comes a story so adorable that if you don't already love cats you will by the time you're done reading it. In the tradition of iconic preschool books like Where's Spot?, I See Kitty uses bright, bold artwork to appeal to very young readers and charm them for generations to come.

Counting with Tiny Cat


Viviane Schwarz - 2017
    At first Tiny Cat has none. Then, what s that? One! Two! Three! And . . . four! Oops, bonk, now there s more! Soon Tiny Cat has as many red balls as you can get. Then some extra. Is that too many? Will Tiny Cat ever have just enough?"

Curious George Makes Pancakes


Margret Rey - 1998
    Always curious, George finds his way to the pancake table. After making some of the most interesting pancakes the crowd has ever seen, George gets into even more monkey mischief. Activities include coloring, fun facts, and funny faces pancake recipe.

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed


Eileen Christelow - 1989
    But trouble lies ahead as, one by one, they fall off and hurt themselves.

The Potty Book for Boys


Alyssa Satin Capucilli - 2000
    Then mom and dad bring home a big box, and Henry is anxious to open it up and see what's inside. Is it a rocking chair? A bed for Teddy? No, it's a potty--which means that it's time for Henry to graduate from his diapers. Little boys will enjoy looking at the cute pictures while having the story read to them. Meanwhile, they'll start getting the idea that it's time for them to grow up, exactly like Henry. So that at last, they'll be able to say--"I'm off to the potty!"

What Makes a Rainbow?


Betty Schwartz - 2000
    The last page is sure to delight with all the colors of the rainbow. What a fun way to learn colors!

Little Lion Shares


Michael Dahl - 2014
    The bright vibrant photos and simple story make this sturdy board book perfect for toddlers who are learning manners.

Pete the Cat: The Wheels on the Bus


James Dean - 2013
    Fans of Pete the Cat will love singing along with Pete in this groovy rendition of this favorite children's song.

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes


Mem Fox - 2008
    . . . And here, from two of the most gifted picture-book creators of our time, is a celebration of baby fingers, baby toes, and the joy they—and the babies they belong to—bring to everyone, everywhere, all over the world! This is a gorgeously simple picture book for very young children, and once you finish the rhythmic, rhyming text, all you’ll want to do is go back to the beginning . . . and read it again! The luminous watercolor illustrations of these roly-poly little ones from a variety of backgrounds are adorable, quirky, and true to life, right down to the wrinkles, dimples, and pudges in their completely squishable arms, legs, and tummies.

What a Wonderful World


Bob Thiele - 2014
    Sweet and positive in its message, with bright, beautiful art, this book is sure to be a hit. Perfect for sharing!