Preschool

  “Line up every kind of plant and animal on Earth…and one of every four will be a beetle.”  So begins the Beetle Book by Steve Jenkins, a treasure trove of fascinating facts about beetles the world over, including information about body structure, life cycles, communication, defenses, and other beetle behaviors.

This bilingual poem by the late author of the famous Brown Bear, Brown Bear series, Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson tells some of the very descriptive reasons our Earth is so beautiful.  Dan Lipow's photographs are lush and bright with color.  The children featured in the pictures are from multiple cultures, although the photos do not identify them.  This book was recently successfully shared in a Spanish/English bilingual storytime.  For all ages.

"HEY! I'm a chicken. Yes, it's true. Tell me!  Tell me!  What are you?"

And so begins Are you a Cow? by Sandra Boynton, a fun call and response board book for the very youngest toddlers to enjoy.  Children will love answering the silly questions posed by the silly chicken with one of their favorite words (no).  And the book ends with the best message of all, that you are you.  This book deservedly received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, and receives high praise from this librarian.  For ages 1-3.   

Meet Wendell, Wilmer, Willy Woody and Walter—5 bird-like juggler brothers who perform together in a hilarious stage show, while demonstrating basic math concepts such as counting, addition, subtraction and comparison.  The reader audience will learn as they laugh at the Wing Wing Brothers’ antics and comic appearance.  Parents and teachers will appreciate that the book meets the Common Core Standards for kindergarten mathematics; kids will appreciate the goofiness and fun.

Recommended for kids ages 3-7.

In this fun Level 1 Starting to Read reader published by Stone Arch (Guided Reading Level E), Fire Truck and Tractor are getting ready for the big parade with the help of their friends Train and School Bus. They get clean and decorated, but they are missing something.  What could it be?  There are several early readers about these characters, which are just right for the child who is getting ready to read, plus loves transportation vehicles. 

“Why do it?” I asked myself.  “Just months ago, you reviewed a book about a dog with a second chance at a happy life (Saving Audie by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent), so why do another so soon?”  “I can’t help it!” was my reply.  “I’ve fallen in love, and people in love can do foolish things.  So there!”

Part of the Touch, Look, and Learn! series, Animals Talk features wonderful single, textured illustrations of animals that make noise. Very young children will enjoy cuddling up to share this book while they feel the raised surfaces in the illustrations and make the fun animals sounds on each page. Try others in this series including Animals Go, Colors, and Counting.

Ages 6 months to 3

This early chapter book is an abridged version of the 1964 collection, “The Adventures of Spider: West African Folktales” written by Joyce Cooper Arkhurst and illustrated by Caldecott and Coretta Scott King award winning illustrator Jerry Pinkney.  It’s part of the level 4 Passport to Reading series.  According to the i

With their bushy tails and acrobatic antics, squirrels are great fun to watch.  They’ve also been the subject of stories and poems for children over the years.  Back in 1871, Alexina B.White paid sweet tribute to those frisky, funny critters in her collection of poetry, Little Folk Songs.  White’s ode to squirrels has been given new, vibrant life for new readers with adaptation and additional verses provided by Susan Lurie, perfectly matched with beautiful, naturalistic photographs by Murray Head.  It’s been one of my new favorites for fall storytime, but can be enjoyed

Young children will delight in this charming story of the famous American cook Julia Child living in Paris with her husband Paul and her mischievous tortoiseshell cat, Minette. Julia Child learns to cook with passion and endless energy. Minette inhales the delicious aromas and dines on the most scrumptious meals, yet being a cat, still prefers a good fresh mouse.

It’s Christmas Eve and Santa is on his way to deliver toys around the world. Suddenly his reindeer harness breaks, sending him downward “like a BIG, FAT, JOLLY RED SKYROCKET!” Santa crashes into a barn and recruits the barnyard animals. A magical journey ensues with an old dog, cows, sheep, a goat, a horse, and a pig pulling his sleigh. Bright, colorful, luminous pictures draw young children into this riotous tale.

Uh-oh! Little Owl has fallen from the nest and cannot find Mommy! With the help of a dizzy but well-meaning squirrel, Little Owl sees many animals with some of the same traits as Mommy Owl, but that are definitely not her. Whooo--I mean, who-- knows where she is? Originally published in Europe with the title A Bit Lost, this book features gentle humor, charming animal characters and simple landscapes in bright colors with contrasting earth tones. It's great for reading aloud, with enough of a pattern to make it good for beginning readers as well.

This picture book surely lives up to its name. Not only is its story about a square, it is square! The book's shape is just one of many creative details that make this book so delightful. And it is just about perfect, too, with a clever but simple story, a good message, and colorful, playful, beautiful illustrations by artist and author Michael Hall. A perfect square is happy being just that, square and perfect.

This beginning reader is a continuation of the Stinky Face picture book series. The main character, Stinky Face, asks “what if” questions to his mother about going to Kindergarten. The questions get sillier and sillier as the book progresses, including a question about a hungry armadillo and art class.