Whether your dad walks you to school or walks you to the bus, whether he wears suits or two different socks, whether he has a lot of hair or a little, Todd Parr assures readers that no matter what kind of daddy you have, every father is special in his own unique way. With his trademark bold, bright colors and silly scenes, kids will learn that while no two dads are exactly alike, "all daddies love to hug and kiss you," and that is what is so special about them! Perfect for young children just beginning to read, The Daddy Book is designed to encourage early literacy, enhance emotional development, celebrate multiculturalism, promote character growth, and strengthen family relationships.

    The elephants BOOM, the rhinos BAM-BAM, the hornbills CAW-CAW and the apes HOO-HAA. But Tapir and Little Tapir don't make a sound. They tiptoe through their days—until the morning a hungry leopard forces them to run for their lives. Leopard is just about to pounce when BANG! The sound of a hunter's gun stops all three animals in their tracks. Now Leopard must flee—very quietly, with help from the tapirs. From that day on, Leopard moves with a very soft step as do the rest of the jungle beasts.

    Holly Hobbie's intricate watercolors evoke the small kitten's hardscrabble life as powerfully as they do his blissful one. This story tugs the heartstrings and is a testament to the importance of pet adoption and the powerful ways that pets connect with their people.

    Olivia and Owl pick apples and frolic through piles of colorful leaves. After enjoying a perfect fall day, they go inside to wish upon a star and hoot at the moon. The youngest readers will relate to the loving bond between a child and her favorite stuffed animal and how this sweet friendship makes each day special.

    Sap's rising! It's officially maple syrup season at the Brockwell family farm. There will be a lot to do, from hammering spouts into the maple trees to gathering, pouring, and boiling the sap. But the whole family will help together, and when all of the work is done, there will be a sweet and tasty treat. Maple syrup is a favorite breakfast treat for many children. Ann Purmell satisfies young readers' curiosities by showing the in-depth process of making syrup. Jill Weber's cheerful artwork portrays a family working together to achieve a goal, alongside cozy and humorous forest animals who occasionally "help" with the process. Teachers are always looking for process books that tell how familiar products are made.

    As all parents know, three is a big year. Follow along as three friends learn new things in threes—from tricycles to triangles—take a dip in the pool, and play in the park with their friends!  Of course, it’s not all fun and games. There’s a tantrum and then hugs all around as the three kids head to bed.   This adorable picture book celebrating important life events is the perfect gift for third birthdays. Kids will love pointing out all the activities they can do now that they are three years old.

    She wears them to the dentist, to the supermarket, and most importantly, to her super-special dress-up birthday party. Her dads have decorated everything for the party and Harriet has her most favorite costume all picked out for the big day. There’s just one thing missing—party hats!But when Harriet dons her special penguin errand-running costume and sets out to find the perfect ones, she finds something else instead—real penguins! Harriet gets carried away with the flock. She may look like a penguin, but she’s not so sure she belongs in the arctic. Can Harriet manage her way back to her dad's (and the party hats!) in time for her special day?

    But when the four best friends who live there decide they all want to try living somewhere new, their differences drive them apart and they go their separate ways, each taking a piece of the house with them. They soon learn, though, that a house is more than the sum of its parts.

    Along the way she meets an array of interesting characters, including an odd postal worker and a gang of bandit monkeys, who all help her get where she is going. This eccentric and hilarious story from Philip C. Stead, the author of the Caldecott-winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee and illustrator Matthew Cordell will surprise and entertain from beginning to end.

    Little Oink is a neat little fellow. Clean, clean, clean, that's all he wants to do. But Mama and Papa won't have it! They say in order to be a proper pig, he has to learn to make a proper mess. "Don't come out until your room is a pigsty," says Papa Pig. "I won't have any child of mine going out looking so neat and clean. It's just not acceptable," says Mama Pig. Readers who hate to clean up will love this humorous twist on a universal dilemma.

    How would you feel if one morning you woke up with a big-eared, wet-nosed bunny on your head? Would you be surprised? Happy? And what would you do if you learned the bunny's name was Fred and he liked it there on top of your head?

    Felicia Sanzari Chernesky's simple verses are beautifully accompanied by Susan Swan's collage art.

    When the world / Is ready for bed / The sky grows dark / The sun glows red.The little flowers / Shut their eyes / The night birds sing / Their lullabiesTold with a gently rhyming text, this lovely story of the world falling asleep is just right for soothing babies and toddlers at bedtime.

    Ray the magician and his bunny assistant are best friends. They work together all day, performing their act in front of admiring crowds and return each night to the tiny apartment they share. But then comes the day downtown when the friends become separated, and suddenly Bunny is lost and alone. How will he ever find Ray in the hustle and bustle of the city? With its wonderfully detailed black-and-white illustrations strategically sprinkled with yellow (look carefully!), this tender story from a talented new author-illustrator will have you believing in the magic of friendship.

    Although he can't understand her words, he returns day after day all summer to hear the woman read to him. Each night he carries the sound of her stories--of sailors and goddesses and far-off lands--back to his cave. The stories are from another world, but their sound touches him.