Second Banana


Blair Thornburgh - 2020
    Millet’s class are putting on their annual nutrition pageant. Every kid plays a food. Every kid gets a line. It is a big deal. But this year, there aren’t quite enough parts for everybody. So the class is cast: Fish, Cheese, Broccoli, Blueberry, Banana, and . . . Second Banana. Second Banana feels rotten. She wants to be the ONLY banana!In this deliciously original school story, Blair Thornburgh and Kate Berube recognize the dreadful disappointment that a casting list can cause—as well as the power of friendship, creative thinking, and a good attitude to turn a rotten situation into one that’s quite ap-peel-ing. Showtime!

The Camping Trip


Jennifer K. Mann - 2020
    . . won’t it? An endearing story about a girl’s first experience with the great outdoors.My aunt Jackie invited me to go camping with her and my cousin Samantha this weekend. I’ve never been camping before, but I know I will love it.Ernestine is beyond excited to go camping. She follows the packing list carefully (new sleeping bag! new flashlight! special trail mix made with Dad!) so she knows she is ready when the weekend arrives. But she quickly realizes that nothing could have prepared her for how hard it is to set up a tent, never mind fall asleep in it, or that swimming in a lake means that there will be fish — eep! Will Ernestine be able to enjoy the wilderness, or will it prove to be a bit too far out of her comfort zone? In an energetic illustrated story about a first sleepover under the stars, acclaimed author-illustrator Jennifer K. Mann reminds us that opening your mind to new experiences, no matter how challenging, can lead to great memories (and a newfound taste for s’mores).

What Does Little Crocodile Say?


Eva Montanari - 2021
    WAHHHH!In this charming book of sounds, a little crocodile experiences the highs and lows of preschool, ultimately enjoying their day . . . after a small meltdown, of course! Little ones will delight in the adorable illustrations and fun read-aloud, and parents will delight in the sly humor and familiar emotional rollercoaster of a toddler's day.

Off to See the Sea


Nikki Grimes - 2021
    An imagination-fueled adventure on the high seas is just what it takes to get little one clean.

Even Monsters Go to School


Lisa Wheeler - 2019
    What’s a school day like for you?Bigfoot rides a yellow bus.Frankenstein shows off his new shoes.Troll loves playing tag at recess.And aliens go gaga over school supplies.Just like you, even monsters go to school!

The Tiny Tale of Little Pea


Davide Calì - 2017
    Teeny-tiny. His clothes were hand sewn by his mother and his shoes were hand-me-down doll shoes. As he grew older, Little Pea enjoyed climbing tomato plants, driving around in his wind-up car and riding on the backs of grasshoppers. But then Little Pea started school. And he suddenly realized just how small he was. Too small for his chair. Too small to play the flute. Too small for gym class. What would become of wee Little Pea?

Dream Friends


You Byun - 2013
    They do all sorts of magical things together. But when Melody wakes up, she’s back in the real world, where she hasn’t yet made a friend. Then her dream friend inspires her to make some moves that help Melody’s dream of friendship come true.Ms. Byun's art is full of delightful details and fantastic scenes that children will want to pore over again and again.

Ally-saurus & the First Day of School


Richard Torrey - 2015
    Instead, she's the only one chomping her food with fierce dino teeth and drawing dinosaurs on her nameplate. Even worse, a group of would-be "princesses" snubs her! Will Ally ever make new friends? With its humorous art, appealing heroine, and surprise ending, this fun picture book celebrates children's boundless imagination.

Chill, Chomp, Chill!


Chris Ayala-Kronos - 2021
    . . who is also a T. Rex! Join him as he learns to navigate his emotions in this timely debut picture book complete with a downloadable companion song.Should Chomp roar? Should Chomp stomp? Should Chomp . . . CHOMP? Chill, Chomp. Chill! From losing a toy to making a huge mistake on the kickball field, Chomp is a loveable T. Rex going through tough and relatable preschool experiences. When Chomp is about to lose his temper and act out,  he uses mindfulness as a tool to better understand his emotions. Whether it's sharing toys, feeling left out, or making mistakes, every child encounters frustrating situations in the classroom setting and at home. This picture book helps kids identify, understand, and cope with their feelings. With bright, humorous, and playful illustrations and a memorable companion song, children will all want to chill with Chomp as they learn chill skills to manage their emotions in sticky situations through his example.

Count on Me


Miguel Tanco - 2019
    For some, it's music. For others, it's art. For our heroine, it's math. When she looks around the world, she sees math in all the beautiful things: the concentric circles a stone makes in a lake, the curve of a slide, the geometric shapes in the playground. Others don't understand her passion, but she doesn't mind. There are infinite ways to see the world. And through math is one of them.This book is a gorgeous ode to something vital but rarely celebrated. In the eyes of this little girl, math takes its place alongside painting, drawing and song as a way to ponder the beauty of the world.

I Am a Bird


Hope Lim - 2021
    Ca-Caw! Ca-Caw!Every day, a little girl rides to school on the back of her father’s bike. As they twist and turn through the streets, the little girl spreads her arms like wings and sings her birdsong for all to hear. But when they pass a strange woman in blue who carries a mysterious bag, the girl goes quiet until the woman is out of sight. One day, when they’re running late, the little girl discovers what the woman does with her bag each morning—a surprise that transforms her wariness into a feeling of kinship to be celebrated. Hope Lim’s simple text and Hyewon Yum’s delicate, expressive illustrations create a touching story that encourages readers to embrace our similarities rather than focus on our differences.

Where Three Oceans Meet


Rajani LaRocca - 2021
    Along the way, they share meals, visit markets, and catch up with old friends.For Pati, the trip retraces spaces she knows well. For Mommy, it’s a return to the place she grew up. For Sejal, it’s a discovery of new sights and sounds. The family finds their way to Kanyakumari, where three oceans meet, and delight in making it to the end of the earth together.

The Princess of 8th Street


Linas Alsenas - 2012
    Between having tea with her “ladies-in-waiting” (her doll collection), keeping up with her studies (Math for Monarchs and Pink Power are two of her favorite books), and dealing with her horrible toad of a brother, Jane doesn’t often have time to venture from her palace or socialize with other young royals.But one day, on a trip to the market, her mother insists that Jane go play in the park with the other children. Jane is shy around the other young lords and ladies, and things become even worse when she is confronted by Samantha, the Princess of 10th Street. Will the two princesses be able to overcome their differences? Will Jane finally make a friend?This cute and clever picture book proves there’s more to being a princess than just dresses and tea parties.

Go to School, Little Monster


Helen Ketteman - 2015
    That means he’ll be meeting all the other little monsters, including one who has really big teeth and draws scary pictures. Who will ride the ogres and dragons with Little Monster at recess, and listen with him during story time? And what happens when—gulp—Little Monster realizes he forgot his lunch? It’s a good thing Mr. Drool is there to guide Little Monster the whole day through. Helen Ketteman’s soothing rhymes and Bonnie Leick’s sweet watercolor illustrations combine to create a reassuring first-day-of-school story that’s perfect for little monsters everywhere.

Little Bat in Night School


Brian Lies - 2021
    Perfect for fans of We Don't Eat Our Classmates and The King of Kindergarten.Little Bat can't wait for his first night of school. He is excited about everything: his new school supplies, learning amazing things, and making new friends.     But when he finally arrives, his world turns upside down. Any little bat who's tried something new or gone somewhere they've never been before knows that first times can be scary. With the help of Little Bat and his adorable classmates, readers will see that spreading your wings is easy when you listen, act with kindness, and take a chance on new friends. With his signature, gorgeous artwork, New York Times bestseller and Caldecott Honor winner Brian Lies brings his expressive bats back for the youngest readers.