Read Me a Story, Stella


Marie-Louise Gay - 2013
    Sam is as busy and worried as ever, and Stella almost always has her nose in a book these days, but she finds time to help him out, while sharing her new pastime with contagious enthusiasm.Sam has gathered a wagonload of branches to build a doghouse for Fred, and he wonders if the book Stella is reading tells you how to make one. It doesn't (although it is very funny), but Stella is more than willing to give Sam a hand. As soon as the doghouse is built though, Sam worries that a wolf might come along and blow it down. Stella breezily banishes his fears, suggesting a picnic at Lily Pond. Stella cools her feet in the water, reading a story, while Sam tries to catch a frog. Are there frogs in Stella's book, he wonders. No, Stella tells him, but there is a toad wearing a velvet jacket…With her characteristically light touch, Marie-Louise Gay imparts the pleasures and importance of reading to her young audience, whether it be humor, fiction, nonfiction or poetry. Her detailed, beautifully rendered and often-amusing watercolor illustrations (spot the tiny bunny reading a book!) show yet again that Marie-Louise Gay is one of the very best artists creating picture books today.

Hocus Pocus, It's Fall!


Anne Sibley O'Brien - 2016
    Fall is a season of transition: apples are picked, and animals prepare for winter. Summer days are coming to an end, and there's a hint of winter in the air. Hocus Pocus, It’s Fall! celebrates the magic of that in-between time.

God Gave Us Christmas


Lisa Tawn Bergren - 2006
     "Who invented Christmas?" Mama's answer only leads to more questions like "Is God more important than Santa?" So she and Little Cub head off on a polar expedition to find God and to see how he gave them Christmas. Along the way, they find signs that God is at work all around them. Through Mama's gentle guidance, Little Cub learns about the very first Christmas and discovers that... Jesus is the best present of all. This enchanting tale provides the perfect opportunity to help young children celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and to discover how very much God loves them.

Happy Thanksgiving, Curious George


H.A. Rey - 2010
    But even on Thanksgiving the curious little monkey manages to stir up some trouble! Follow George through his Thanksgiving adventures with the short poems in this board book. The fun, tabbed pages are perfect for little fingers!

Click, Clack, Surprise!


Doreen Cronin - 2016
    But Little Duck has never had a birthday before—so how better to learn how to prepare than to do what all the other animals do! The sheep trim their wool—so Little Duck trims her feathers. The pigs need a mud bath—so Little Duck quish and quashes, too. All over the barnyard Little Duck snips, slurps, squishes, and shimmy shakes herself ready until...WHOOPS! It’s party picture time—and Little Duck is a big mess. No matter—it’s not something Farmer Brown’s frosted maple cake can’t fix!

Give Thanks for Each Day


Steve Metzger - 2011
    A cuddle-up-together paperback to be thankful for!In concrete, simple, yet touching ways, Steve Metzger shows young children all the things they can be thankful for.A hug! A parade! / A bath! A new toy! But also: Give thanks for the snowflakes,/ That fall from above./ For getting together,/ With people you love.With a cadence and rhythm that's both soothing and inviting, this book can be shared with little ones at any time of day or night.

Because of an Acorn


Lola M. Schaefer - 2016
    Enchanting die-cuts illustrate the vital connections between the layers of an ecosystem in this magical book. Wander down the forest path to learn how every tree, flower, plant, and animal connect to one another in spiraling circles of life. An acorn is just the beginning.

Gingerbread Mouse


Katy Bratun - 1998
    Then…crack! A tree branch falls and destroys her house!It’s up to Mouse to find a new place to live in time for her to enjoy the season. With determination, resourcefulness, and a good amount of Christmas wonder, Mouse finds not only another house but also a place she can truly call home.Katy Bratun’s detailed and vivacious illustrations capture the warm yet festive innerworkings of Mouse’s possible homes. Little ones will want to snuggle up with this story over and over again throughout the holiday season.Includes a delicious recipe for gingerbread cookies.

Clifford Takes A Trip


Norman Bridwell - 1966
    Lonely when his family goes on vacation without him, Clifford, a giant red dog, overcomes wet cement, traffic jams, and toll bridges to rejoin them in the mountains.

The First Thanksgiving: A Lift-the-Flap Book


Kathryn Lynn Davis - 2010
    Parents can use the simple text and the bright, graphic illustrations of this lift-the-flap book to introduce a very young child to this holiday.

Pinkalicious: Thanksgiving Helper


Victoria Kann - 2014
    Pinkalicious and Peter decide to be Thanksgiving helpers...but when their efforts lead to a crash in the living room and smashed potatoes all over the kitchen, they worry that they're the worst helpers in the history of Thanksgiving.But never fear—soon the family is sitting down to a shared Thanksgiving feast and passing the marshmallow sweet potatoes.Your family will welcome this Thanksgiving book for kids 3-8!

The Thanksgiving Door


Debby Atwell - 2003
    But what appears to be a disaster becomes a blessing in disguise when Ed and Ann unknowingly intrude on an immigrant family’s own Thanksgiving celebration at their new restaurant, The New World Café. Once Grandmother silences her despairing family and invites the unexpected customers to join them, they all share an evening of friendship, good food, and lots of dancing—reminding everyone that Thanksgiving is about opening one’s heart in welcome to the strangers who become friends and the disappointments that bring unexpected joys.

Presents Through the Window: A Taro Gomi Christmas Book


Taro Gomi - 1983
    Moustache. Helicopter. This may not be your ordinary Santa, but it's still a daunting Christmas Eve challenge! There are so many presents to deliver, and so little time. It's a good thing Santa has a plan. He'll just peek into every window and toss in a gift. Done! The trouble is, Santa is moving much too quickly to see who really lives in each house. With interactive cut-outs throughout, readers will delight in following Santa's lightning-speed Christmas antics as they discover the true (and hilarious) identities of the gifts' recipients! From the beloved and bestselling Taro Gomi, here is Christmas cheer for all!

Who Is Coming to Our House?


Joseph Slate - 1988
    All the animals are eager to welcome the baby Jesus to their home.A warm, lyrical book your family will cuddle up with for years.

Waiting for Snow


Marsha Diane Arnold - 2016
    When his friend Hedgehog explains that everything comes in its time, Badger is as unconvinced and impatient as ever. But Badger’s friends have a few tricks up their sleeve to try to get the snow’s attention and distract their pal in the meantime. In the end, Badger sees there’s no trick—only waiting—until at last, it’s time.