The Colors of Us


Karen Katz - 1999
    She wants to use brown paint for her skin. But when she and her mother take a walk through the neighborhood, Lena learns that brown comes in many different shades.Through the eyes of a little girl who begins to see her familiar world in a new way, this book celebrates the differences and similarities that connect all people.Karen Katz created this book for her daughter, Lena, whom she and her husband adopted from Guatemala six years ago.

I Don't Draw, I Color!


Adam Lehrhaupt - 2017
    Yellow makes us feel happy. Dark blue can make us feel sad. Red can seem angry. Black can look scary. What color do you feel like today?

Ebenezer Has a Word for Everything


Chelsea H. Rowe - 2018
    But it's hard to find someone who shares his passion.No one seems to understand Ebenezer's word collections, but his efforts are finally appreciated when he meets Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald doesn't have a word collection--but he does have lots of ideas. Together, they can make stories.Chelsea H. Rowe's offbeat story about friendship, collaboration, and a love for both language and stories is perfectly depicted by Frank Dormer's quirky illustrations. Perfect for vocabulary building, this book also includes a list of words and definitions in the back.

Little Blue Truck


Alice Schertle - 2008
    A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up--that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they're willing to whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road. Filled with truck sounds and animals noises, here is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others.

Cornelius P. Mud, Are You Ready for Baby?


Barney Saltzberg - 2009
    Is Cornelius P. Mud ready? Not really! The baby may be getting all the attention, but he isn’t very much fun. He can’t talk. He can’t eat. He can’t play. Can they send him back? Does Mom love the baby best? Of course, fans of Cornelius know that even the arrival of a sibling won’t get this resourceful little piggy down for long. When he trots out his good humor — and his gift for entertainment — he soon discovers that the new arrival can do something very special indeed.

Roar!: A Noisy Counting Book


Pamela Duncan Edwards - 2000
    Roars the little lion cub."Who will play with me?1 red monkey rushes up a tree.Poor little lion cub! All he wants is someone to play with, but he is simply too noisy. As the little lion cub Roars his way across the grassland, young picture-book readers can count the African animals,identify them by color...and Roars along too.This rollicking, Roaring poem, about a rambunctious little lion cub, is a collaboration of the talented author and illustrator team Pamela Duncan Edwards and Henry Cole.Children's Pick of the Lists 2000 (ABA)

The Best Time to Read


Debbie Bertram - 2005
    But everyone--his parents, siblings, grandparents, even his dog!--is too busy to hear a story in this fun and lively tale. When our young reader finally settles in to read to his toys, he gets a surprise visit and learns that the best time to read is whenever you have loved ones to listen! With catchy, rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, this is the perfect read-aloud--anytime!

Dog's Colorful Day: A Messy Story About Colors and Counting


Emma Dodd - 2001
    Somehow he always manages to be underfoot when someone makes a mess. Red jam, blue paint, pink ice cream, orange juice -- the history of his day is splattered on his bright, white coat. And by evening, there are ten colorful spots for children to count before the careless canine must have his bath.This fresh and funny introduction to colors and numbers, illustrated by the talented young artist Emma Dodd, makes learning as breezy as a walk in the park with Dog, a pooch with poor personal hygiene but a great deal of charm.

Not Your Typical Dragon


Dan Bar-el - 2013
    But when Crispin tries to breathe fire on his seventh birthday, fire doesn't come out—only whipped cream! Each time Crispin tries to breathe fire, he ends up with Band-Aids marshmallows teddy bears? Crispin wonders if he’ll ever find his inner fire. But when a family emergency breaks out, it takes a little dragon with not-so-typical abilities to save the day. With wry humor and whimsical illustrations, Not Your Typical Dragon is the perfect story for any child who can't help feeling a little bit different.

Yes, I Can!


Wayne W. Dyer - 2012
    Wayne W. Dyer, is taken from his latest book for adults, Wishes Fulfilled. I AM teaches kids a simple but profound message: God is not far off in the distance, or even merely beside us. In other words, we are not separate from God—we are God!       Knowing that God’s love and strength is a part of everyone can help kids grow to meet their greatest potential in life. The book uses a rhyme and illustrations to teach this lesson and help children realize that they are greater than they ever imagined! There is also a special section at the end that teaches the important meaning and way to use the words I am to create love, happiness, and greatness in their own lives and the world

Beautiful Blackbird


Ashley Bryan - 2003
    The other birds, who were colored red, yellow, blue, and green, were so envious that they begged Blackbird to paint their feathers with a touch of black so they could be beautiful too. Although Blackbird warns them that true beauty comes from within, the other birds persist and soon each is given a ring of black around their neck or a dot of black on their wings -- markings that detail birds to this very day. Coretta Scott King Award-winner Ashley Bryan's adaptation of a tale from the Ila-speaking people of Zambia resonates both with rhythm and the tale's universal meanings -- appreciating one's heritage and discovering the beauty within. His cut-paper artwork is a joy.

Meeow and the Little Chairs


Sebastien Braun - 2009
    All aboard the choo-choo chairs for a fantastic fantasy ride! When Meeow and his friends put their heads—and chairs—together, amazing things happen.

The Cat in the Hat: The Movie


Jesse Leon McCann - 2003
    The Cat in the Hat shows Conrad and Sally how to have fun and helps them clean up before Mother comes home.

Library Lion


Michelle Knudsen - 2006
    No running allowed. And you must be quiet. But when a lion comes to the library one day, no one is sure what to do. There aren't any rules about lions in the library. And, as it turns out, this lion seems very well suited to library visiting. His big feet are quiet on the library floor. He makes a comfy backrest for the children at story hour. And he never roars in the library, at least not anymore. But when something terrible happens, the lion quickly comes to the rescue in the only way he knows how. Michelle Knudsen's disarming story, illustrated by the matchless Kevin Hawkes in an expressive timeless style, will win over even the most ardent of rule keepers.

Big Rig


Jamie Swenson - 2014
    Hear the horn blow and the wipers schwat the windshield clean. But, BANG! SHHUUU! Uh-oh: a blow-out! Don't worry, a service truck saves the day so we can get the job done and make a very special delivery. Every kid will love to learn the truck driver lingo in the story, and shout out their own sound effects as they return for another ride, read after read. Author Jamie Swenson takes readers from zero to sixty with her fast-talking truck and Ned Young's bright and engaging illustrations.