LITERACY-RELATED GIFT IDEAS FOR CHILDREN

LITERACY-RELATED
GIFT IDEAS FOR CHILDREN
Courtesy of the Children’s Literature/Parent Resource Center Committee
November 2011
CATEGORIES
FAIRIES
SPACE
DINOSAURS
TRAINS
CARS/TRUCKS
PIRATES
SPORTS
ANIMALS
CLASSICS
FAIRY TALES
AWARD WINNERS/NEW RELEASES
EDUCATIONAL TOYS
FAIRIES
The Belly Button Fairy by Bobbie Hinman (Ages 3 and up): The Belly Button Fairy is a grandmotherly fairy who flies through the skies in her rocking chair, carrying a
ruler and a bucket of fairy dust. She is responsible for making sure that every child has a belly button, and that it’s always in the middle.
http://www.amazon.com/Belly-Button-Fairy-Bobbie-Hinman/dp/097867913X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321409254&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Sock Fairy by Bobbie Hinman (Ages 3 and up): The Sock Fairy is the mischievous little fairy responsible for missing socks, mismatched socks and the occasional
hole in the toe. With its captivating illustrations, this magical story comes alive, revealing a less practical and more magical explanation for missing socks. After all, who better
to blame it on than a fairy? The easy-to-read verse makes this book a favorite among beginning readers as well as toddlers. Includes audio CD of story and original fairy
song.
http://www.amazon.com/Sock-Fairy-Book-Audio-CD/dp/0978679113/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322528397&sr=1-1-spell
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Fairy Houses by Tracy Kane (Ages 5 and up): What would happen if you built a house for the fairies to live in? Would they come to visit? Kristen is in for a surprise when
she sets out to build a fairy house in the woods. Nature wants to get in on the act with her own special cast of characters!
http://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Houses-Tracy-Kane/dp/0970810458/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321409354&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Good Night Fairies by Kathleen Hague (Ages Preschool and up): "Of all the world's creatures, there is nothing so like a fairy as a child," a mother whispers in this gentle
and reassuring bedtime story. At her child's bedside, she tenderly reveals all of the delightful secrets about how fairies live, work, and play. They teach birds to sing and
draw rainbows to brighten rainy days,...they make spring flowers bloom and scatter autumn leaves,...and when little animals are sleepy, the fairies read bedtime stories to them.
Bursting with luscious images filled with over 300 fairies, here is the perfect good-night treat by a best-selling author-illustrator team.
http://www.amazon.com/Good-Night-Fairies-Kathleen-Hague/dp/1587171341/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321409387&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Alice the Fairy by David Shannon (Ages 3 and up): Caldecott Honor artist and bestselling author David Shannon's warm and funny new picture book introduces Alice,
a mischievous little girl with a "No, David" nose for trouble and a magic wand. Alice has a nose for trouble, but luckily she's a fairy--a Temporary Fairy. She has a magic
wand, fairy wings, and a blanket, all of which she uses to disappear, to fly, to transform her dad into a horse, and to turn his cookies into her own! There are still a few things
Alice needs to learn to become a Permanent Fairy, like how to float her dog on the ceiling and make her clothes put themselves away, but she's working on it--sort of. Here's
an endearing, funny story about a girl and her magical imagination, sure to delight every fairy in training!
http://www.amazon.com/Alice-Fairy-David-Shannon/dp/0439490251/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321409414&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Dreamtime Fairies by Jane Simmons (Ages 2 to 6): In this evocative tale, a girl who loves to tell stories takes her brother on a nighttime journey to visit a fairyland.
When Lucy's little brother, Jamie, can't sleep because he sees "things in the shadows on the ceiling," she seeks help from the "Dreamtime Fairies" who live across the ocean.
Atop a giant bird, the duo flies to an island where they encounter a turtle, tiger, and fox, each of whom suggest ways to fall asleep, but none of which work for Jamie.
http://www.amazon.com/Dreamtime-Fairies-Jane-Simmons/dp/0316795232/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321409445&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Come to the Fairies Ball by Jane Yolen (Ages 6 and up): An enchanting picture book full of whimsy and magic. All the fairies in the woodland are invited by the royal
court to the Fairies' Ball, and a tizzy breaks loose as everyone scrambles to pull together dazzling outfits. One fairy, however, sits home forlorn because her dress is too
worn to wear to the ball. Luckily, the forest ants band together to encourage her to create one. The latecomer enters, the prince is captivated with her beauty and dances
with her all evening. Sweet but expected, the following year, all are invited to the Fairies' Wedding Ball. Lippincott's paintings take the forefront in this book, while Yolen's
clever verse adds to the unfolding pictorial drama.
http://www.amazon.com/Come-Fairies-Ball-Jane-Yolen/dp/1590784642/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321409476&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies by Ammi-Joan Paquette (Ages 3 and up): What better way to celebrate the wonderful world of nature all around us than a hunt
for local fairies? Children learn to spot the tell-tale signs of fairies in residence in this delightful mix of photos and illustrations. Then children can take their tracking skills
outside to discover the magic in their own backyard.
http://www.amazon.com/Tiptoe-Guide-Tracking-Fairies/dp/193371820X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321409511&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SPACE
On the Moon by Anna Milbourne (Ages 4 and up): Combining full-color illustrations with NASA photographs from the surface of the moon, this illustrated picture
book takes young children on an amazing journey into outer space.
http://www.amazon.com/Moon-Anna-Milbourne/dp/0794506178/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321840214&sr=8-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Me and My Place in Space by Joan Sweeney (Ages 5 and up): With earth as a starting point, a young astronaut leads readers on a tour past each planet and on to the
stars, answering simple questions about our solar system. In clear language, drawings, and diagrams, space unfolds before a child's eyes. Colorful illustrations, filled with fun
and detail, give children a lot to look for on every page and a glossary helps reinforce new words and concepts. A terrific teaching tool, Me and My Place in Space is an
easy and enjoyable way to introduce the concept of space to the very youngest astronomers.
http://www.amazon.com/Me-Place-Space-Dragonfly-Books/dp/0517885905/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321841692&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Best Book of Spaceships by Ian Graham (Ages 5 and up): Join the crew and find out how rockets, probes, telescopes, and space shuttles work! Discover the
incredibly diverse challenges that can be met by modern satellites! This colorful book introduces young readers to the amazing variety of spaceships past, present, and
ready to blast off into the future. Full color illustrations, clear captions, combined with a simple, descriptive text will help kids to discover the answers to tricky questions such
as - What's in space? - What does it feel like to put on a space suit? - and provide a fascinating overview of life and work in the space environment, from the first steps on the
moon, to life on a space station. This information-packed book makes an exciting gift and is an ideal reference for the young reader who wants to know more about
spaceships and the work of humans beyond the Earth's atmosphere.
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Book-Spaceships-Ian-Graham/dp/0753451336/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321929883&sr=8-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Star Seeker: A Journey to Outer Space by Theresa Heine (Ages 6 and up): Ride into the night sky with this unique blend of adventure, science and mythology.
Readers will uncover the mysteries of the solar system while riding on the bridle of Pegasus and swimming across Jupiter's seas.
http://www.amazon.com/Star-Seeker-Journey-Outer-Space/dp/1846863856/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321841037&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If You Decide To Go To The Moon by Faith McNulty (Ages 4 and up): In this lavish picture book, readers accompany a boy on a fascinating excursion to the moon.
The lyrical text provides tips on what to pack and describes the distance to be covered. After blastoff, facts about space travel are mingled with descriptions of what the
journey might be like: the loneliness, the lack of gravity, and how you might pass the time. Kellogg's generous splashes of bright hues in the Earth and shipboard scenes
juxtaposed with the somber moonscapes set the appropriate moods. Houston, we have a winner!
http://www.amazon.com/Decide-Booklist-Editors-Choice-Awards/dp/0590483595/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321841850&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The International Space Station by Franklyn M. Branley (Ages 5 and up): Branley writes with authority about the present and the future of the International Space
Station. The book begins with an introduction by Scott Carpenter, Mercury astronaut. The facts, including a history and background of the station and descriptions of
life in space, are presented in a clear, easy-to-read manner. Even though there is no index, information is easily gleaned from the sparsely worded text, and readers will come
away with an understanding of the project's promise and possibilities. Another winning entry to science collections and a great addition for younger readers.
http://www.amazon.com/International-Station-Lets-Read---Find-Out-Science/dp/0064452093/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321842097&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
First Space Encyclopedia by DK Publishing (Ages 6 and up): The latest title in DK's First Reference series introduces the universe, visiting all the planets of our solar
system and their moons, as well as our Sun and other stars, black holes, asteroids, comets, and other galaxies. Up to date with the latest astronomical theories, First Space
Encyclopedia includes information about the great Pluto debate and the recent discovery of an Earth-like planet, as well as pictures from the latest voyages by shuttles,
rovers, and probes, and the conflicting evidence on aliens and UFOs. And of course, young space enthusiasts will want to know all about the cool technology behind what
astronauts wear, what they do to train, and even what they eat.
http://www.amazon.com/First-Space-Encyclopedia-DK-Reference/dp/0756633664/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321842292&sr=1-1#_
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
DINOSAURS
Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs by Ian Whybrow (Ages 4 and up): Harry finds some old dinosaurs in his Grandma’s attic. He cleans them up and makes them his
own, carefully (and accurately) naming each one. Harry and his dinosaurs go everywhere together. But one day, after an exciting train ride, Harry accidentally leaves the
dinosaurs on the train. Silly, charming illustrations accompany this whimsical text of a child being a child.
http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Bucketful-Dinosaurs/dp/0375851194/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321842671&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs (Ages 4 and up): The third title in National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book series, this book is
for kids 4- to 8-years-old who LOVE dinos! The prehistoric world comes alive with dinosaurs small, big, giant, and gigantic, with stunning illustrations by Franco
Tempesta—who illustrated National Geographic Kids The Ultimate Dinopedia. Bursting with fun facts and age appropriate information, each spread features a
different dinosaur, along with simple text in big type that is perfect for little kids.
http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Little-First-Dinosaurs/dp/1426308469/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321842914&sr=1-1#_
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp by Carol Diggory Shields (Ages 4 and up): "Doo-bop-a-loo-bop!" In this rollicking romp through a prehistoric weekend,
dinosaurs frolic and caper the night away. After some initial early evening shuffling shyness, these party animals are ready to get down, doing the Triassic Twist and the
Brontosaurus Bump, the Raptor Rap and Jurassic Jump. With all this rhythm and rhyme, it's no wonder romance is soon afoot: This outrageous book provides a much
more appealing theory behind the disappearance of dinosaurs, and hints at the possibility of another Dinosaur Stomp someday in the future. A guaranteed favorite that
will have young children gleefully chanting "Boomalacka boomalacka! Whack! Whack! WHACK!"
http://www.amazon.com/Saturday-Night-at-Dinosaur-Stomp/dp/0763638870/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321843118&sr=1-1#_
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dinosaurs! by Gail Gibbons (Ages 4 and up): Gibbons begins with a clear introduction to dinosaurs and paleontology for young readers. Two-page spreads illustrate
and highlight well-known dinosaurs and give an idea of each one's size, habitat, eating habits and behaviors well as a phonetic pronunciation of its name. In closing, Gibbons
describes the two leading theories on the decline of the dinosaurs: either the planet grew too hot or meteoritic dust in the atmosphere caused it to cool down. An appendix
describes the information gained from fossilized dinosaur footprints.
http://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-Gail-Gibbons/dp/082342197X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321843433&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dinosaur Train by John Steven Gurney (Ages 3 and up): Jesse thinks about, dreams of, and lives for two things: dinosaurs and trains. One night, he hears a loud noise
and feels the house shake, and, with a cry of "ALL ABOARD!," the boy finds himself embarking on an exciting train ride with all sorts of dinosaurs, eating and having a
small adventure with them.
http://www.amazon.com/Dinosaur-Train-John-Steven-Gurney/dp/0060292458/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321843891&sr=1-1#_
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo by William Joyce (Ages 4 and up): This droll tale of dinosaur ``pethood'' will bring to mind various animal
predicaments from other books about oversized creatures: Bridwell's ``Clifford the Big Red Dog'' series, for example, or Kellogg's The Mysterious Tadpole. Bob the
dinosaur is a friendly sort, who plays the trumpet, can scare off burglars, and loves to play baseball. But his playful antics result in trouble when the police arrest him for
chasing cars with his dog friends and disturbing the peace. Bob is forgiven and joins the Lazardo family in a musical cookout celebration under the stars. The illustrations,
more than the plot, are what will stick in readers' minds. Deep, rich colors and Bob's smooth, verdant hide add a sort of dreamy quality to the pictures, which complement the
understated humor of the story.
http://www.amazon.com/Dinosaur-Adventures-Lazardo-Reading-Rainbow/dp/0060210745/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321844060&sr=1-1#_
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Great Dinosaur Search by Rosie Heywood (Ages 3 and up): Filled with facts about the amazing creatures that inhabited the Earth millions of years ago. More
than just a book about dinosaurs--contains hundreds of prehistoric animals and plants to spot on every double-page. You won't stop searching until you've found them all!
http://www.amazon.com/Great-Dinosaur-Search-Searches/dp/0794528538/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321844303&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TRAINS
The Goodnight Train by June Sobel (Ages 3 and up): This bedtime story is likely to strike a chord with young listeners. A gentle, rhyming text intersperses train noises
with a getting-ready-for-bed routine with a railroad-inspired theme. Brightly colored cartoon illustrations picture children in their beds being pulled along by the engine.
They ride through tunnels, over bridges, and past fields of sheep.
http://www.amazon.com/Goodnight-Train-June-Sobel/dp/0152054367/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321929958&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Big Book Of Trains (Ages 5 and up): The Big Book of Trains is setting off on a journey to explore the fastest, heaviest, longest, and most fantastic trains in the world.
Features more than 50 of the world's most amazing trains, from the Bullet train-the fastest-and the Rocket-the oldest-to the Trans-Siberian Express, the longest
scheduled train. Explained in simple language and packed with enough fascinating facts to satisfy every avid young enthusiast. Stunning, specially commissioned photos are
reproduced in large format. Detailed annotation highlights the unique features of each example from this incredible international collection.
http://www.amazon.com/Big-Book-Trains-DK-Publishing/dp/0789434369/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321929989&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Trains: Steaming! Pulling! Huffing! by Patricia Hubbell (Ages 3 and up): Intricate collage illustrations add whimsy to Hubbell's rhyming text about all kinds of trains, train
cars, cargoes, and railroad employees. The deceptively simple rhymes convey a great deal of information, and the fanciful collages contribute sly humor: Venetian gondoliers
ride on gondola cars; a coal car belongs to the "Naughty and Nice Coal Co."; and large rats toting briefcases and newspapers hurry along with the human commuters in the
New York City subway. The energetic design, with varying typefaces and layouts, reinforces the power and excitement of trains.
http://www.amazon.com/Trains-Steaming-Pulling-Patricia-Hubbell/dp/0761455930/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321930182&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Train Song by Diane Siebert (Ages 3 and up): From boxcars to diners, from rural towns to city stations, the intriguing world of trains is evoked in this stunningly
illustrated poem.
http://www.amazon.com/Train-Song-Diane-Siebert/dp/0064433404/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321930539&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
My Little Train by Satomi Ichikawa (Ages 3 and up): Little Train toots along, taking all his passengers exactly where they want to go. "To the pond!" says the duck. "To
the forest!" says the monkey. "To the mountain!" says the bear. But Little Kangaroo doesn't say a word. He wants to go on an adventure with Little Train-adventure that
leads him up a mountain, off a cliff, and back where he belongs: in his mama's pocket. This endearing picture book is perfect for train, toy and adventure lovers everywhere.
http://www.amazon.com/My-Little-Train-Satomi-Ichikawa/dp/0399254536/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321930729&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It's Funny Where Ben's Train Takes Him by Robert Burleigh (Author), Joanna Yardley (Ages 4 and up)
A boy draws a train one night right before bedtime, then climbs aboard for a "magical ride." In his imagination he crosses mountains and rivers, through cities and towns, until
he arrives at his final destination, a whistlestop called "In-My-Bed," where "filled with travels,/ And train-wheel hums,/ He'll dream train dreams/ Till morning comes."
http://www.amazon.com/Funny-Where-Bens-Train-Takes/dp/0531301060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322507386&sr=8-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bear on the Train by Julie Lawson (Ages 4 and up): One fall day, a bear follows the smell of grain down a mountain and onto a hopper car on a mile-long freight train.
Nobody sees him but Jeffrey, who shouts at him to get off the train. The bear pays no attention and soon settles in for a long winter sleep. For months, Jeffrey watches
for the train to pass through his town, and each time it does, he tries to rouse the bear. But it's not until the fresh green smells of spring are in the air that the bear wakes
from his sleep and heads back up the mountain. Bear on the Train combines a beautifully written text with richly evocative illustrations to create an unusual tale of
hibernation that hums with the rhythm of the rails.
http://www.amazon.com/Bear-Train-Julie-Lawson/dp/1553370686/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321931359&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Big Blue Train byJulia Jarman (Ages 3 and up):A chunky board book edition of a bestselling picture book. Ben and Bella are off on another adventure - this time
aboard the Big Blue Train! They set off for the seaside, with various animal friends jumping, leaping and squashing aboard along the way. But will everyone manage to
squeeze on, and what surprises are in store when they reach their destination ...?
http://www.amazon.com/Big-Blue-Train-Julia-Jarman/dp/1408304333/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321931576&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Two Little Trains by Margaret Wise Brown (Ages 2 and up): Two-time Caldecott Medalists Leo and Diane Dillon team up with Margaret Wise Brown in Two Little
Trains, first published in 1949. Right from the cover, the sleek, horizontal illustrations chronicle the parallel journeys of the titular trains: a toy train wrapped in a gift box
waits on the platform next to a massive modern train. "One little train was a streamlined train,/ Puff, Puff, Puff to the West./ One little train was a little old train,/ Chug,
Chug, Chug going West." In one spread, the trains look down at the "deep dark river." The streamlined train races across a purple bridge while, opposite, the toy train
crawls along the edge of a bathtub, the purple soap and tub basin connecting the tub scene to that of the locomotive.
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Trains-Margaret-Wise-Brown/dp/0064435687/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321931797&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
My Freight Train by Michael Rex (Ages 3 and up): Rex balances a story about a child who imagines that he is an engineer with information about trains. As the story
opens, the boy is playing with his electric train. This framing device blends seamlessly into the factual part of the text. The engineer introduces the various cars and their
contents, ranging from automobiles to chickens to gasoline. He explains that he is expected to keep the train on schedule, and he is proud of his contribution to communities
everywhere through his distribution of materials. The presentation of information encourages children to learn train terminology while surrounded by familiar objects such as
gravel and ice cream. Illustrations of each type of car are colorful and distinct, and all of the pictures are packed with energy and movement. Friendly, active, diverse
characters fill each one-people smiling, waving, and working. This winning story ends with the African-American protagonist falling asleep in his father's lap while dad plays
with the train set. A perfect choice for all young railroad fans.
http://www.amazon.com/My-Freight-Train-Michael-Rex/dp/0805066829/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321932079&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I Love Trains! by Philemon Sturgess (Ages 3 and up): A little boy in a striped engineer cap and overalls extols the many virtues of trains in this boldly colored celebration
of that most romantic form of transportation. Holding a toy train, he gazes out his bedroom window onto the bucolic countryside bisected by a set of tracks, while train cars
"hoot and roar as they rumble by my door." One long train stretches over the course of the book; every two-page spread features several types of cars and the boy's simple,
rhyming descriptions. "Some carry steel; some carry scrap, or secret stuff that's under wrap." The latter shows what's obviously an airplane, under cover. Vibrant swaths of
color and heavy black outlines make the vivid, almost childlike pictures particularly pleasing to the eye. And as the last car rounds the bend, we discover there's a special
reason our hero loves trains so much, especially the caboose!
http://www.amazon.com/I-Love-Trains-Philemon-Sturges/dp/0064436675/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321932360&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CARS/TRUCKS
If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen (3 and up): A young boy decides to design a better car than the old family station wagon. Driven by a robot, his sleek, supercharged
vehicle can drive underwater and fly, and the interior includes a snack bar and swimming pool. The story is told in jaunty rhyming couplets, but the fun really comes from the
illustrations, which perfectly parody 1950s' visions of the future, as depicted in such magazines as Popular Mechanics. The car glides past neat suburban homes with wide
and perfect lawns, where everything is bathed in pastels.
http://www.amazon.com/Built-Car-Chris-Van-Dusen/dp/0142408255/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322338147&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go by Richard Scarry (Ages 3 and up): The station wagon, the tow truck, the garbage truck and the bulldozer.
Every manner of machinery that moves is riotously depicted in this classic favorite. As the pig family head to the beach for a picnic, they encounter every vehicle known, from
the forklift to the locomotive, and many vehicles that are not as common, from the pumpkin car to the broom-o-cycle.
http://www.amazon.com/Richard-Scarrys-Cars-Trucks-Things/dp/0307157857/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322337862&sr=8-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root (Ages 4 and up): Will the family's rapidly deteriorating jalopy survive the ride to the lake? Junie, Jakie, the baby and Poppa are so set on a
swim to cool off that they're determined their rattletrap car won't disappoint them. Each time the car breaks down which Root evokes with a rousing and ever-growing chorus
of onomatopoeia a family member improvises a solution, making ingenious use of a beach toy and car snacks. When the floorboard falls off with a "Whumpety Whomp!,"
Jakie "put his surf board on the car and he stuck it on tight with chocolate marshmallow fudge delight." Not only does the family make it to the lake, but they make it back
home again as well, with a refrain of "flippita fluppita/ fizzelly sizzelly/ wappity bappity/ lumpety bumpety/ clinkety clankety/ bing bang pop!" As in their What Baby
Wants, Root and Barton prove that they know how to convey mounting comic mayhem. Root builds her narrative house of cards with plenty of rhythmic repetition and
nonsense words, while Barton's sunny, high-spirited watercolors demonstrate that, with a sense of humor, it is possible to move the world or at least a broken-down Tin
Lizzie.
http://www.amazon.com/Rattletrap-Car-Phyllis-Root/dp/0763620076/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322338186&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Trucks: Whizz! Zoom! Rumble! By Patricia Hubbell (Ages 3 and up): Hubbell's verse starts readers down a road that is sure to become a favorite route. "Old trucks.
New trucks. Going-to-the-zoo trucks. Red trucks. Blue trucks. Bringing-toys-to-you trucks.- Trucks that RUMBLE, ROAR and shriek." These vehicles whiz and
zoom through country and city, as varying fonts enhance the sounds with visual clues. And what a visual trip it is. Children will turn this book every which way searching for
familiar roads and towns on the many background maps, and they'll want to retrace the rhythmic and scenic route again and again. It's a great trip!
http://www.amazon.com/Trucks-Whizz-Rumble-Patricia-Hubbell/dp/0761453288/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322338316&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle (Ages 3 and up): Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. 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.
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Blue-Truck-Alice-Schertle/dp/0152056610/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322338495&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Chuck's Truck by Peggy Perry Anderson (Ages 5 and up): As a farmer sets off for town in his well-used pickup truck, his barnyard animals decide to go along. The duck
Luck climbs onboard and is soon joined by a chicken that goes 'cluck,' two dogs named Nip and Tuck, a burro called Buck, and several other critters. With such a heavy
load, it's no surprise that the old truck breaks down upon reaching town. After calling for help from Handyman Hugh and his crew, Chuck is soon reunited with a shiny blue,
totally refurbished pickup. Filled with rhyming language, this story will be a boon for beginning readers who will easily identify the rhyming words.
http://www.amazon.com/Chucks-Truck-Peggy-Perry-Anderson/dp/0618668365/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322338616&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy Makes a Car by Mary E. Lyons (Ages 4 and up): Lyons expands a two-paragraph tall tale, collected by Zora Neale Hurston for the Federal Writers' Project in the
1930s, into a wildly funny story about a gifted car mechanic. Roy is so exceptional that he can "grease an axle faster than you can say 'carburetor,' and he can clean spark
plugs just by looking at them hard." No one believes him, however, when he says that he can build an accident-proof car, "a stabilated, lubricated, banjo-axled, wing-fendered,
low-compression, noncollision car." Perfect for reading aloud, the funny rhythmic words are well matched to Widener's exaggerated acrylic illustrations, which show sly Roy
and his huge, flying 1930s-style car. Young car enthusiasts will enjoy the silly mechanical details, and Lyon's lively afterword about "storycatcher" Hurston is a delight.
http://www.amazon.com/Roy-Makes-Aesop-Prize-Awards/dp/0689846401/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322340923&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This Car by Paul Collicutt (Ages 3 and up): Brightly colored artwork and an intriguing array of cars make this book a standout among the many offerings available on the
topic. The examples include a toy racer that "loops-the-loop," a solar-powered automobile, and the Lunar Rover. Each one is featured as part of a realistic-looking, full-
page scene. In one illustration, a pit crew repairs a drag racer, while in another, jump-suited mechanics tinker with a lift-bound sedan. The automobiles are presented in pairs
that reinforce simple concepts. A car that "pulls a trailer" is coupled with one that "pushes snow." A red convertible "drives over water," while an amphibious vehicle "drives
through water." Featuring metallic shades of gray, blue, and red and lots of shiny chrome, the art captures the power and potential of these machines.
http://www.amazon.com/This-Car-Paul-Collicutt/dp/B001PIHVBC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322338966&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PIRATES
Pirate Boy by Eve Bunting (Ages 4 and up): After reading his favorite book about a pirate boy, Danny wonders what would happen if he sailed away on a pirate ship.
Luckily, his mother reassures him that she would find him, even if she had to ride on a dolphin, battle sea monsters, and wield a bottle of magical pirateshrinking spray to do it!
Young readers will love this adventurous and ultimately reassuring tale of a mother's love.
http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Boy-Eve-Bunting/dp/0823423212/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322446249&sr=8-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pirates Go to School by Corinne Demas (Ages 4 and up): A funny rhyming story about the silly things pirates do when they go to school. Pirates and their parrots go to
school, and it's time to hang up their swords and have fun. They learn reading and math, and they bring pirate treasure for show-and-tell. For pirates, going to school is as
much fun as a game of "walk the plank"!
http://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Go-School-Corinne-Demas/dp/0545206294/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322446333&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC by June Sobel (Ages 3 and up): The captain of this brave and bumbling pirate crew has ordered them to capture the entire alphabet-and they'll walk the plank if they're missing a single letter! Now these swashbuckling mateys are embarking on an alphabet adventure unlike any other, and they won't (ahem,
can't) rest until they've found an A, a Z, and everything in between. June Sobel's hilarious text and Henry Cole's adventurous animal pirates harmonize in an irresistible
book for alphabet-learning, pirate-loving kids everywhere.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Shiver+Me+Letters%3A+A+Pirate+ABC+by+June+Sobel
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pirate Pete by Kim Kennedy (Ages 4 and up): Pirate Pete and his parrot love gold. When they hear the Queen has a treasure map, they must have it. For where there is
treasure, there is gold. And as Pete says (over and over again): "Where there's gold, I'm a-goin'!" Pete and his parrot steal the map and hit the high seas. As they journey to
Mermaid Island, where the treasure lies, they come upon other islands that tempt Pete in his search for gold. On Candy Island, they are sure to find gold cavity fillings; on
Sleepy Island, magic gold dust from the Sandman; on Clover Island, a pot of leprechaun gold! But their search is futile: the children on Candy Island brush their teeth!
Sleepy Island residents read books to help them sleep! And the leprechaun's pot holds Irish stew! And these aren't their only problems. Whose ship is that on the horizon,
giving chase? This funny and whimsical book will have both children and adults giggling as Pete and crew make their way toward Mermaid Island. This book is pure gold!
http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Pete-Kim-Kennedy/dp/0810943565/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322446623&sr=1-1
Also Pirate Pete’s Giant Adventure by Kim Kennedy
http://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Petes-Giant-Adventure-Kennedy/dp/0810959658/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322446743&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gingerbread Pirates by Kristin Kladstrup/Matt Tavares (Ages 4 and up): What if a brave Captain Cookie stood up to Santa? A fresh, funny story that sparkles with
all the excitement of a pirate adventure — and all the magic of Christmas morning. It’s Christmas Eve, and Jim and his mother are making pirate gingerbread men to leave for
Santa. Jim’s favorite is Captain Cookie, who carries a gingerbread cutlass and has a toothpick peg leg. The captain is much too good to be eaten, so Jim keeps him close
by his bed. But late that night, when Jim is fast asleep, Captain Cookie steptaps away on a daring adventure to find his pirate crew — and rescue them from that mysterious
character he’s heard about: a cannibal named Santa Claus. At once contemporary and timeless, suspenseful and joyous, this masterfully illustrated tale is destined to be a
new holiday classic.
http://www.amazon.com/Gingerbread-Pirates-Kristin-Kladstrup/dp/0763632236/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322446789&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long (Ages 4 and up): When Braid Beard's pirate crew invites Jeremy Jacob to join their voyage, he jumps right on board. Buried
treasure, sea chanteys, pirate talk--who wouldn't go along? Soon Jeremy Jacob knows all about being a pirate. He throws his food across the table and his manners to the
wind. He hollers like thunder and laughs off bedtime. It's the heave-ho, blow-the-man-down, very best time of his life. Until he finds out what pirates don't do--no reading
bedtime stories, no tucking kids in. . . . Maybe being a pirate isn't so great after all.
http://www.amazon.com/How-Became-Pirate-Melinda-Long/dp/0152018484/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322446979&sr=1-1
Also by Melinda Long: Pirates Don’t Change Diapers
http://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Dont-Change-Diapers-Melinda/dp/0152053530/ref=pd_sim_b_5
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Do Pirates Take Baths by Kathy Tucker (Ages 4 and up): This sprightly picture book gives the lowdown on those low-down varmints, pirates. Each two-page spread
offers a new glimpse of their sometimes nefarious, sometimes silly actvities: "Just once in a while, / when they smell very bad, / they jump into the seas. / They use sea foam
/ to wash their hair, / and shells to scrub their knees." Whatever tricks the pirates may be up to, like capturing a rival ship, are lightly looked upon by Wescott's cheerful
watercolors. They make pirating seem like lots of fun indeed.
http://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Take-Baths-Kathy-Tucker/dp/080751697X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322447073&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Port Side Pirates by Oscar Seaworthy and Debbie Harter: Traverse the high seas with a lively band of buccaneers as they enjoy a melodic adventure aboard their
galleon. Includes fun information about historical pirates, pirates around the world, and even a helpful chart naming the parts of a ship. Includes a dual-purpose audio and
video CD.
http://www.amazon.com/Port-Side-Pirates-Book-Enhanced/dp/1846866677/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322447647&sr=1-1-fkmr0
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tough Boris by Mem Fox (Ages 4 and up): Boris von der Borch is a mean, greedy old pirate--tough as nails, through and through, like all pirates. Or is he? When a young
boy sneaks onto Boris's ship, he discovers that Boris and his mates aren't quite what he expected.
http://www.amazon.com/Tough-Boris-Mem-Fox/dp/0152018913/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322447850&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Come Away from the Water Shirley by John Burningham (Ages 4 and up): On a day trip to the seaside, Mom and Dad settle down in their deck chairs to snooze the day
away, while for Shirley, it’s a chance to set sail for uncharted seas. "Come away from the water, Shirley," caution her parents. But Shirley has already set out on an
adventure, where she encounters danger, pirates, and buried treasure! John Burningham’s brilliant juxtaposition of both sides of the story will have children and parents
laughing aloud.
http://www.amazon.com/Come-Water-Shirley-Picture-Books/dp/009989940X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322448082&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1001 Pirate Things to Spot (search and find) by Teri Gower (Ages 2 and up): This puzzle book is packed with Pirate-themed things to find and count. Search through
30 pages of stormy seas and sunken ships to spot the hidden treasures. A great activity book for those still too young to read.
http://www.amazon.com/1001-Pirate-Things-Spot/dp/0794515134/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322447525&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PIRATE PUZZLES:
Melissa and Doug 48-piece pirate puzzle
http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Deluxe-Wooden-48-Piece/dp/B000LCD2GQ/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322448294&sr=1-1-catcorr
Puzzle Pirates (young puzzles) by Jenny Tyler
http://www.amazon.com/Puzzle-Pirates-Young-Puzzles-Jenny/dp/079451359X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322448345&sr=1-1
SPORTS
Swish! by Bill Martin Jr., Michael Sampson and Michael Chesworth (Ages 4 and up): With engaging rhyme and vibrant art, Swish! takes readers into the final minute
of a hotly contested game between two basketball teams, the Cardinals and the Blue Jays.
http://www.amazon.com/Swish-Bill-Martin/dp/0805065784/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322510093&sr=1-2
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Magic Hockey Stick by Peter Maloney (Ages 5 and up): Do you believe in magic? Tracy does. When she starts using Wayne Gretzky's hockey stick, won by her
parents at a charity auction, she suddenly becomes the best player on her hockey team. She hasn't become a better player overnight-it's the magic of The Great One's
stick! But while Tracy's star is on the rise, Wayne's is steadily dropping. He's in the greatest slump of his career. Tracy knows that Wayne needs his magic stick back, but
she needs it, too. The question is: Who needs it more? This heartfelt story, with its clever rhyme and vibrant artwork, will delight young readers.
http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Hockey-Stick-Picture-Puffins/dp/0142300152/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322510232&sr=11+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Duck on a Bike by David Shannon (Ages 4 and up): A duck decides to ride a bike and soon influences all the other animals on the farm to ride bikes too.
http://www.amazon.com/Duck-Bike-Rdg-Prgm-08/dp/0153565683/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322510377&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Froggy Plays Soccer by Jonathan London (Ages 3 and up): It's the day of the big game, and Froggy is ready. His soccer team is playing the Wild Things for the City
Cup. All Froggy has to do is remember the rule: "Head it! Boot it! Knee it! Shoot it! BUT DON'T USE YOUR HANDS!" But Froggy's busy doing cartwheels
and picking daisies. Uh oh, Froggy! Here comes the ball! Budding soccer players and Froggy's many fans will welcome Froggy's latest hilarious adventure.
http://www.amazon.com/Froggy-Plays-Soccer-Jonathan-London/dp/0140568093/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322510506&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream by Deloris Jordan/Roslyn M. Jordan (Ages 4 and up): Michael Jordan. The mere mention of the name
conjures up visions of basketball played at its absolute best. But as a child, Michael almost gave up on his hoop dreams, all because he feared he'd never grow tall enough to
play the game that would one day make him famous. That's when his mother and father stepped in and shared the invaluable lesson of what really goes into the making of a
champion -- patience, determination, and hard work. Deloris Jordan, mother of the basketball phenomenon, teams up with his sister Roslyn to tell this heartwarming and
inspirational story that only the members of the Jordan family could tell. It's a tale about faith and hope and how any family working together can help a child make his or her
dreams come true.
http://www.amazon.com/Salt-His-Shoes-Michael-Pursuit/dp/0689834195/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322510814&sr=11+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ANIMALS
What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page (Ages 5 and up): This clever and engaging nonfiction book is filled with amazing facts about
an assortment of animals. Using beautiful collages, parts of animals' bodies are presented with intriguing questions such as, "What do you do with a nose like this?" and
"What do you do with eyes like this?" These are followed by information about how each animal makes use of that particular body part. A 2004 Caldecott Honor book.
http://www.amazon.com/What-Tail-Like-Caldecott-Honor/dp/0618256288/
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bark, George by Jules Feiffer (Ages 2 and up): George's mother tells him, "Bark, George!" and he responds "Meow!" Something is not right with his voice. Children will
enjoy hearing all the animal sounds George makes as he tries to find his bark.
http://www.amazon.com/Bark-George-Jules-Feiffer/dp/0062051857
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems (Ages 3 and up): Unleashed on his visit to the country, a dog meets a new friend in frog and together they experience the
seasons and the cycle of life.
http://www.amazon.com/City-Dog-Country-Frog-Willems/dp/1423103009
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In the Wild by David Elliott (Ages 4 and up) : A joyful collection of brief poems paired with dynamic woodblock prints celebrates favorite animals from every continent.
http://www.amazon.com/Wild-David-Elliott/dp/0763644978
Also by David Elliott: On the Farm
http://www.amazon.com/Farm-David-Elliott/dp/0763633224/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322450638&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A Sick Day for Amos McGee. by Philip C. Stead (Ages 2 and up) : Zookeeper Amos McGee gets the sniffles and receives a surprise visit from his caring animal
friends. Caldecott Medal
http://www.amazon.com/Sick-Day-Amos-McGee/dp/1596434023
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.
Tuck Me In! by Dean Hacohen.(Ages 3 and up): Who needs to be tucked in? Turn each page until all baby animals—and little readers—are cozy and ready for sleep in
this irresistible bedtime ritual. The stars are out. The moon is rising. All the baby animals, from peacocks to pigs to zebras, are ready for bed. Will you tuck them in and say
good night? Just turn the pages and the big inviting flaps that serve as blankets cover each little creature up to its chin. This simple but endlessly satisfying novelty is sure to
be the book of choice for little ones everywhere, night after night.
http://www.amazon.com/Tuck-Me-Dean-Hacohen/dp/0763647284
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin (Ages 3 and up): When Farmer Brown's cows find a typewriter in the barn they start making demands, and go
on strike when the farmer refuses to give them what they want. Caldecott Honor Book.
http://www.amazon.com/Click-Clack-Moo-Cows-That/dp/0689832133
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Wild Little Horse by Rita Gray (Ages 1 and up): An exhilarating adventure awaits Little Horse, just starting to explore the world beyond his cozy barn. Trotting
past sleepy meadows, then gaining speed as the rolling sea beckons, he becomes Wild Little Horse. But home is never far away—Papa Horse and Mama Mare follow close
behind. Little ones, especially horse lovers having their own first adventures, will be entranced by courageous Little Horse’s majestically illustrated, rollicking journey.
http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Little-Horse-Rita-Gray/dp/0525474552/ref=cm_lmf_tit_6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CLASSICS
Frederick's Fables : A Treasury of 16 Favorite Leo Lionni Stories by Leo Lionni (Ages 4 and up): In honor of the 30th anniversary of the publication of Frederick,
Knopf is pleased to issue an expanded collector's edition of Leo Lionni's timeless tales that celebrate the power of imagination and the human spirit. With the addition of
three new titles--Matthew's Dream, An Extraordinary Egg, and Six Crows--this magnificent treasury now contains 16 unabridged stories.
http://www.amazon.com/Fredericks-Fables-Treasury-Favorite-Stories/dp/0679888268/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=IXRDRTQ0JAWQ1&colid=2S4CPJ3NRMJG6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi Barrett (Paperback): Animals should definitely not wear clothing. ...because a snake would lose it, a billy goat
would eat it for lunch, and it would always be wet on a walrus! This well-loved book shows the very youngest why animals' clothing is perfect...just as it is.
http://www.amazon.com/Animals-Should-Definitely-Wear-Clothing/dp/0689708076/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=IJ9NNRRDQSG6W&colid=2S4CPJ3NRMJG6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Stone Soup by Marcia Brown: First published in 1947, this picture book classic has remained one of Marcia Brown's most popular and enduring books. This story,
about three hungry soldiers who outwit the greedy inhabitants of a village into providing them with a feast, is based on an old French tale.
http://www.amazon.com/Stone-Soup-Aladdin-Picture-Books/dp/0689711034/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I7T9XJE0IFSU6&colid=2S4CPJ3NRMJG6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Henny Penny by Paul Galdone (Ages 4 and up): Convinced the sky is falling, Henny Penny and a band of gullible friends march off to tell the king, only to meet their end
at the hands of a wily fox.
http://www.amazon.com/Henny-Penny-Paul-Galdone/dp/0899192254/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2S2BLWIXRVMQI&colid=2S4CPJ3NRMJG6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jamberry by Bruce Degen (Ages 3 and up): They're off...a boy and an endearing, rhyme-spouting bear, who squires him through a fantastic world of berries. And their
adventure comes to a razzamatazz finale under a starberry sky. Children will want to feast again and again on Bruce Degen's exuberant, colorful pictures and his rollicking,
berryful rhymes.
http://www.amazon.com/Jamberry-Bruce-Degen/dp/0694006513/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1GXNEN87DWMZU&colid=2S4CPJ3NRMJG6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don Wood (Ages 5 and up): First published in 1984, a picture book in which the Little
Mouse will do all he can to save his strawberry from the Big, Hungry Bear, even if it means sharing it with the reader. The Little Mouse and the Big Hungry Bear are
known and loved by millions of children around the world. Little Mouse loves strawberries, but so does the bear...How will Little Mouse stop the bear from eating his freshly
picked, red, ripe strawberry.
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Strawberry-Hungry-Childs-Library/dp/0859536599/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=IEXHLPOJJEBK4&colid=2S4CPJ3NRMJG6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Silly Sally by Audrey Wood (Ages 3 and up): Dance a jig with a silly pig. Play leapfrog with a silly dog. And that's just the beginning of all the fun! Come along and join
Silly Sally and her outrageous friends as they parade into town in a most unusual way. " Exploding with whimsy, humor, and zest. . . . Be prepared to read this one a
thousand times!"
http://www.amazon.com/Silly-Sally-Book-Audrey-Wood/dp/0152000720/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I369R1MFZLZB1B&colid=2S4CPJ3NRMJG6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Little Bear Boxed Set: Little Bear, Father Bear Comes Home, and Little Bear's Visit by Else Homelund Minarik (Ages 4 and up): To celebrate Little Bear's thirtyfifth anniversary, three paperback editions in the series—Little Bear, Father Bear Comes Home, and Little Bear's Visit—have been slipcased in a boxed gift set for a
whole new generation of children.
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Bear-Boxed-Set-Father/dp/0064441970/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I26VHQGF64A5RS&colid=2S4CPJ3NRMJG6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Dot by Peter Reynolds (Ages 5 and up): Art class is over, but Vashti is sitting glued to her chair in front of a blank piece of paper. The words of her teacher are a
gentle invitation to express herself. But Vashti can’t draw - she’s no artist. To prove her point, Vashti jabs at a blank sheet of paper to make an unremarkable and angry
mark. "There!" she says. That one little dot marks the beginning of Vashti’s journey of surprise and self-discovery. That special moment is the core of Peter H. Reynolds’s
delicate fable about the creative spirit in all of us.
http://www.amazon.com/James-Excellence-Childrens-Literature-Awards/dp/0763619612/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I254L6SVJJYDIR&colid=2S4CPJ3NRMJG6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Elmer by David McKee (Ages 3 and up): Elmer the elephant is bright-colored patchwork all over. No wonder the other elephants laugh at him! If he were ordinary
elephant color, the others might stop laughing. That would make Elmer feel better, wouldn't it? The surprising conclusion of David McKee's comical fable is a celebration
of individuality and the power of laughter.
http://www.amazon.com/Elmer-Books-David-McKee/dp/0688091717/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3FZ20LSU2P0FZ&colid=2S4CPJ3NRMJG6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg : A life lesson that all parents want their children to learn: It’s OK to make a mistake. In fact, hooray for mistakes! A mistake is an
adventure in creativity, a portal of discovery. A spill doesn’t ruin a drawing—not when it becomes the shape of a goofy animal. And an accidental tear in your paper? Don’t
be upset about it when you can turn it into the roaring mouth of an alligator.
http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Oops-Barney-Saltzberg/dp/076115728X/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_T1?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1D85AAC23B36S&colid=2S4CPJ3NRMJG6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper:The classic tale of persevering against the odds!The Little Engine That Could comes to life all over again in this
gorgeous oversized picture book with foil on the cover and the beautiful art from the 1950s. A train of toys desperately need an engine to take them over the mountain so
that they can deliver toys and food to children. But none of the big, important engines will help them. Luckily, the Little Blue Engine comes along. She is small, but she has
confidence that she can do it - and she does!
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Engine-That-Could-Deluxe/dp/044845257X/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=IEC4R755C3HJU&colid=2S4CPJ3NRMJG6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins (Ages 2 and up) A madcap band of dancing, prancing monkeys explain hands, fingers, and thumbs to beginning readers.
http://www.amazon.com/Fingers-Thumb-Bright-Early-Board/dp/0679890483/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1N2EFZFK6IN4R&colid=2S4CPJ3NRMJG6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (Ages 4 and up): One evening Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight. But there wasn't any moon, and
Harold needed a moon for a walk in the moonlight. Fortunately, he had brought his purple crayon. So he drew a moon. He also needed something to walk on. So he drew a
path...
http://www.amazon.com/Harold-Purple-Crayon-Anniversary-Books/dp/0064430227/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2786E9R1IGQPG&colid=2S4CPJ3NRMJG6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Corduroy by Don Freeman (Ages 3 and up):Two world-renowned children's book creators, Richard Peck and Don Freeman, collaborated on this picture book--the
evocative tale of a boy who takes on the monster lurking in his grandma's home.
http://www.amazon.com/Corduroy-Don-Freeman/dp/0140501738/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3G8S75WPXEN7T&colid=2S4CPJ3NRMJG6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (Ages 4 and up): The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day.
http://www.amazon.com/Snowy-Day-Ezra-Jack-Keats/dp/0140501827/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3BA78RUEQZKPT&colid=2S4CPJ3NRMJG6
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FAIRYTALES
The Gingerbread Man by Jim Aylesworth (Ages 4 and up): A new rendition of a beloved classic. "Concisely written text and a jazzy refrain....You may have other versions
on your shelves - make lots of room for copies of this one." –
http://www.amazon.com/Gingerbread-Man-Jim-Aylesworth/dp/0590972197/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322448494&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky (Ages 4 and up): Surely among the most original and gifted of children's book illustrators, Paul O. Zelinsky has once again with unmatched
emotional authority, control of space, and narrative capability brought forth a unique vision for an age-old tale. Few artists at work today can touch the level at which his
paintings tell a story and exert their hold. Zelinsky's retelling of Rapunzel reaches back beyond the Grimms to a late-seventeenth-century French tale by Mlle. la Force,
who based hers on the Neapolitan tale Petrosinella in a collection popular at the time. As ever, and yet always somehow in newly arresting fashion, Paul O. Zelinsky's work
thrillingly shows us the events of the story while guiding us beyond them to the truths that have made it endure.
http://www.amazon.com/Rapunzel-Caldecott-Medal-Book-Zelinsky/dp/0525456074/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322448572&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Apple-Pip Princess by Jane Ray. (Ages 3 and up): With sumptuous artwork, Jane Ray tells an original fairy tale of a humble princess whose love for nature’s beauty
restores a kingdom. Once there was a kingdom full of laughter, happiness, trees, and birdsong. But when the queen dies, the land becomes quiet and barren, and everyone is
filled with sadness. What will make the kingdom bloom again? Can Serenity, the youngest of three princesses, bring hope and life back to her kingdom with a single apple pip
— a precious seed left to her by her mother? This original fairy tale is brought to life and exquisitely illustrated by the internationally renowned Jane Ray.
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Pip-Princess-Jane-Ray/dp/0763637475/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322448729&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle. (Ages 3 and up): Every inquisitive little girl wonders what it is really like to be a genuine princess. At the
heart of Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? lives an energetic, spirited, and contemporary child who has lots of important questions for her mom. Do princesses ride
tricycles, climb trees, do chores, or have to eat the crusts of their bread? The mother's voice is timelessly reassuring as she answers her daughter's questions and advises her
that being like a princess has to do with what we are on the inside. An illustrated picture frame surrounds a mirror at the end of the book which answers the little girl's most
important question. This heart-warming book offers a gentle lesson about self-acceptance, and will inspire children to follow their dreams and leave their own mark on the
world.
http://www.amazon.com/Do-Princesses-Wear-Hiking-Boots/dp/0873588282/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322448963&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Emperor and the Kite by Jane Yolen. (Ages 4 and up): Largely ignored by her own family, Princess Djeow Seow spends her days playing with a kite made from
paper and sticks. But when the Emperor is imprisoned in a high tower, only the Princess can save the day, flying her kite high up into the sky to rescue her father. A familiar
jewel polished to unaccustomed brilliance.
http://www.amazon.com/Emperor-Kite-Paperstar-Book/dp/0698116445/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322449028&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch. (Ages 4 and up): The Princess Elizabeth is slated to marry Prince Ronald when a dragon attacks the castle and kidnaps
Ronald. In resourceful and humorous fashion, Elizabeth finds the dragon, outsmarts him, and rescues Ronald --- who is less than pleased at her un-princess-like appearance.
http://www.amazon.com/Paper-Bag-Princess-Classic-Munsch/dp/0920236162/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322449142&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Princesses Are NOT Quitters by Kate Lum. (Ages 4 and up): Bored with their lives of pampered luxury, Princesses Allie, Mellie, and Libby enviously watch
three servant girls "Out in the fresh air, doing interesting things" and decide to swap jobs for a day. The young royals eagerly run off to work in high-heeled shoes and
towering bouffant hairdos, but after polishing the windows, scrubbing the fountains, and washing the dogs, they begin to realize just how hard they must toil. Their afternoon
and evening chores seem even more daunting, from making butter to shearing sheep, but they persevere. The next morning, although exhausted, the formerly spoiled young
ladies take pride in their accomplishments: "Say! I think- I made this bread!" With newfound empathy for others, they proclaim new rules: "WORK no more than you can do"
and "SPEND an hour every day just SITTING in the gardens." Hellard's watercolor illustrations humorously depict the mayhem created as the princesses try, often
unsuccessfully, to keep up with the ever-growing list of duties. Witty details, such as a chicken making a nest and laying eggs in Princess Libby's voluminous hair, are sure to
please. Children will enjoy the role reversal in this lighthearted tale.
http://www.amazon.com/Princesses-Are-Not-Quitters-Kate/dp/1582349878/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322449325&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Very Fairy Princess by Julie Andrews (Ages 4 and up): While her friends and family may not believe in fairies, Geraldine knows, deep down, that she is a
VERY fairy princess. From morning to night, Gerry does everything that fairy princesses do: she dresses in her royal attire, practices her flying skills, and she is always on
the lookout for problems to solve. But it isn't all twirls and tiaras - as every fairy princess knows, dirty fingernails and scabby knees are just the price you pay for a perfect
day!
http://www.amazon.com/Very-Fairy-Princess-Julie-Andrews/dp/0316040509/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322449541&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
AWARD WINNERS/NEW RELEASES
NY Times Best Children’s Books of 2010:
Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter (Ages 4 and up): A fictionalized account of real events that occurred in 1987, this story will convince young readers to
take their recycling efforts more seriously. When Islip, NY, has nowhere to put 3168 tons of garbage, the town officials decide that shipping them south is the right thing to
do, so a tugboat towing a garbage-laden barge takes it to North Carolina. But North Carolina won't allow the vessel to dock. It goes on to New Orleans, but again is
denied harbor rights. Then it is on to Mexico, Belize, Texas, Florida, and back to New York. The garbage is ripening all along the way.
http://www.amazon.com/Comes-Garbage-Barge-Jonah-Winter/dp/0375852182/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322516278&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown (Ages 3 and up): Check out this rollicking, humorous, and heartwarming twist on the classic "first pet" story about a
young bear and her favorite pet boy! When Lucy, a young bear, discovers a boy in the woods, she's absolutely delighted. She brings him home and begs her mom to let her
keep him, even though her mom warns, "Children make terrible pets." But mom relents, and Lucy gets to name her new pet Squeaker.
http://www.amazon.com/Children-Make-Terrible-Peter-Brown/dp/0316015482/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322516536&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Seasons by Blexbolex (Ages 3 and up): In this graphically stunning picture book, Blexbolex explores the cyclical nature of time by looking at the seasons. Using objects,
landscapes, activities, and different types of people that are associated with each season (such as a skier, a swimmer, a roasted chestnut seller), Blexbolex evokes the sense
of permanency given to life by its cyclical nature, despite the fact that time is always passing. The purpose of this book is to encourage observation of the world around us
and lead the reader to form all sorts of logical and imaginative associations having to do with the seasons, the cycles of life, and time.
http://www.amazon.com/Seasons-Blexbolex/dp/1592700950/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322516694&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Shadow by Suzy Lee (Ages 3 and up): A dark attic. A light bulb. An imaginative little girl. Internationally acclaimed artist Suzy Lee uses these simple elements to create a
visual tour de force that perfectly captures the joy of creative play and celebrates the power of imagination. Stunning in their simplicity, Lee's illustrations, in just two shades
of color, present an adventure that begins and ends with the click of a light bulb.
http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Suzy-Lee/dp/0811872807/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322517189&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Busing Brewster by Richard Michelson (Ages 5 and up): Brewster is excited about starting first grade . . . until Mama announces that he'll be attending Central—a school
in the white part of town. Mama says they have art and music and a library bursting with books, but Brewster isn't so sure he'll fit in. Being black at a white school isn't easy,
and Brewster winds up spending his first day in detention at the library. But there he meets a very special person: Miss O'Grady. The librarian sees into Brewster's heart
and gives him not only the gift of books but also the ability to believe in himself. This powerful and tender story of desegregation in the 1970s introduces readers to the
brave young heroes who helped to build a new world.
http://www.amazon.com/Busing-Brewster-Richard-Michelson/dp/B005OHXGAU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322517258&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan (Ages 4 and up): Rubina has been invited to her first birthday party, and her mother, Ami, insists that she bring her little sister along.
Rubina is mortified, but she can't convince Ami that you just don't bring your younger sister to your friend's party. So both girls go, and not only does Sana demand to win
every game, but after the party she steals Rubina's prized party favor, a red lollipop. What's a fed-up big sister to do? Rukhsana Khan's clever story and Sophie Blackall's
irresistible illustrations make for a powerful combination in this fresh and surprising picture book.
http://www.amazon.com/Big-Red-Lollipop-Rukhsana-Khan/dp/0670062871/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322517346&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Henry in Love by Peter McCarty (Ages 3 and up): Henry is a bit of a dreamer and not much of a talker. Then there's Chloe, who says what she thinks and knows how to
turn a spectacular cartwheel. This is the story of how one blueberry muffin makes all the difference.
http://www.amazon.com/Henry-Love-Peter-Mccarty/dp/B0044KN09U/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322517492&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A Sick Day for Amos McGee. by Philip C. Stead (Ages 2 and up) : Zookeeper Amos McGee gets the sniffles and receives a surprise visit from his caring animal
friends. Caldecott Medal
http://www.amazon.com/Sick-Day-Amos-McGee/dp/1596434023
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Subway by Christoph Niemann (Ages 2 and up): A father. Two children. And more than 840 miles of track. What does it addup to? Something thrilling. Are you ready
for Subway?
http://www.amazon.com/Subway-Christoph-Niemann/dp/0061577790/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322517634&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo/Alison McGhee (Ages 6 and up): Meet Bink and Gollie, two precocious little girls — one tiny, one tall, and both utterly irrepressible.
Setting out from their super-deluxe tree house and powered by plenty of peanut butter (for Bink) and pancakes (for Gollie), they share three comical adventures involving
painfully bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion. No matter where their roller skates take them, at the end of the day they
will always be the very best of friends. Full of quick-witted repartee, this brainchild of Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo and award-winning author Alison McGhee is a
hilarious ode to exuberance and camaraderie, imagination and adventure, brought to life through the delightfully kinetic images of Tony Fucile.
http://www.amazon.com/Gollie-Junior-Library-Selection-Candlewick/dp/076363266X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322517799&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NY Times Best Children’s Books of 2011:
Along a Long Road by Frank Viva (Ages 3 and up): Follow that road! Speed off on an eventful bicycle ride along the bold yellow road that cuts through town, by the sea,
and through the country. Ride up and around, along and through, out and down. Frank's striking graphic style is executed in just five joyous colors, and his spare, rhythmic
language is infectious.
http://www.amazon.com/Along-Long-Road-Frank-Viva/dp/0316129259/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322518455&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka (Ages 3 and up): Here's a story about love and loss as only Chris Rashcka can tell it. Any child who has ever had a beloved toy break
will relate to Daisy's anguish when her favorite ball is destroyed by a bigger dog. In the tradition of his nearly wordless picture book Yo! Yes?, Caldecott Medalist Chris
Raschka explores in pictures the joy and sadness that having a special toy can bring. Raschka's signature swirling, impressionistic illustrations and his affectionate story will
particularly appeal to young dog lovers and teachers and parents who have children dealing with the loss of something special.
http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Daisy-Chris-Raschka/dp/037585861X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322518455&sr=1-2
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Brother Sun, Sister Moon: Saint Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures by Katherine Paterson, illustrated by Pamela Dalton (Ages 3 and up): In Brother Sun,
Sister Moon, award-winning author Katherine Paterson re-imagines a hymn of praise originally written by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1224. Illuminated with the exquisite
illustrations of cut-paper artist Pamela Dalton, this picture book offers a stunningly beautiful tribute to nature.
http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Sister-Moon-Katherine-Paterson/dp/0811877345/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322518455&sr=1-5
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grandpa Green by Lane Smith (Ages 5 and up): Grandpa Green wasn't always a gardener. He was a farmboy and a kid with chickenpox and a soldier and, most of all, an
artist. In this captivating new picture book, readers follow Grandpa Green's great-grandson into a garden he created, a fantastic world where memories are handed down in
the fanciful shapes of topiary trees and imagination recreates things forgotten. In his most enigmatic and beautiful work to date, Lane Smith explores aging, memory, and the
bonds of family history and love; by turns touching and whimsical, it's a stunning picture book that parents and grandparents will be sharing with children for years to come.
http://www.amazon.com/Grandpa-Green-Lane-Smith/dp/1596436077/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322518455&sr=1-4
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ice by Arthur Geisert (Ages 4 and up): A gorgeously rendered wordless tale of discovery and adventure that is meticulous in architectural detail and bursts with
inventiveness. Arthur Geisert's ingenuity engages the child's imagination as well as the adult's through seamless storytelling and zany wit. Invested as always in his porcine
universe, here Geisert tells the story of a community of pigs that is suffering from the heat. Rather than be sapped of energy and miserable, they go on an adventure in
search of ice. The pigs' inventiveness and great can-do spirit create a joyful tale of change and adventure.
http://www.amazon.com/Stories-Without-Words-Arthur-Geisert/dp/1592700985/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322518455&sr=1-9
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen (Ages 4 and up): The bear s hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes across, one by
one, whether they have seen it. Each animal says no, some more elaborately than others. But just as the bear begins to despond, a deer comes by and asks a simple
question that sparks the bear s memory and renews his search with a vengeance. Told completely in dialogue, this delicious take on the classic repetitive tale plays out in sly
illustrations laced with visual humor and winks at the reader with a wry irreverence that will have kids of all ages thrilled to be in on the joke.
http://www.amazon.com/I-Want-My-Hat-Back/dp/0763655988/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322518455&sr=1-3
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Me … Jane by Patrick McDonnell (Ages 3 and up); In his characteristic heartwarming style, Patrick McDonnell tells the story of the young Jane Goodall and her special
childhood toy chimpanzee named Jubilee. As the young Jane observes the natural world around her with wonder, she dreams of "a life living with and helping all animals,"
until one day she finds that her dream has come true.
http://www.amazon.com/Me-Jane/dp/0316045462/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322518455&sr=1-7
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Migrant by Maxine Trottier by Isabelle Arsenault (Ages 4 and up): Anna is the child of Mennonites from Mexico, who have come north to harvest fruit and vegetables.
Sometimes she feels like a bird, flying north in the spring and south in the fall, sometimes like a jackrabbit in an abandoned burrow, since her family occupies an empty
farmhouse near the fields, sometimes like a kitten, as she shares a bed with her sisters . . . But above all Anna wonders what it would be like to be a tree rooted deeply in the
earth, watching the seasons come and go, instead of being like a "feather in the wind."
http://www.amazon.com/Migrant-Maxine-Trottier/dp/0888999755/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322519081&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Ages 6 and up): On the eve of World War II, African
American boxer Joe Louis fought German Max Schmeling in a bout that had more at stake than just the world heavyweight title; for much of America their fight came to
represent America's war with Germany. This elegant and powerful picture book biography centers around the historic fight in which Black and White America were able to
put aside prejudice and come together to celebrate our nation's ideals.
http://www.amazon.com/Nations-Hope-Story-Boxing-Legend/dp/0803731671/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322519143&sr=1-1-fkmr0
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A New Year’s Reunion by Yu Li-Qiong, illustrated by Zhu Cheng-Liang (Ages 3 and up): Little Maomao s father works in faraway places and comes home just once a
year, for Chinese New Year. At first Maomao barely recognizes him, but before long the family is happily making sticky rice balls, listening to firecrackers, and watching the
dragon dance in the streets below. Papa gets a haircut, makes repairs to the house, and hides a lucky coin for Maomao to find. Which she does! But all too soon it is time for
Papa to go away again. This poignant, vibrantly illustrated tale, which won the prestigious Feng Zikai Chinese Children s Picture Book Award in 2009, is sure to resonate
with every child who misses relatives when they are away and shows how a family s love is strong enough to endure over time and distance.
http://www.amazon.com/New-Years-Reunion-Chinese-Story/dp/0763658812/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322519220&sr=1-1
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
EDUCATIONAL TOYS
Shopping List Memory Game by Orchard Toys ($13.99)
http://www.amazon.com/Orchard-Toys-003-Shopping-Memory/dp/B0007VTA5S/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I32FMUDSYYLKG0&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bilingual Zingo (English/Spanish) Offered by Quidsi, Inc. ($16.79)
http://www.amazon.com/Think-Fun-07701-Bilingual-English/dp/B000ZGYT38/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3DYFAR5OXCJOR&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Alphabet Soup Sorters Offered by MMP LLC ($33.54)
http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-LER6801-Alphabet-Sorters/dp/B0035EQDUY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=IJ19D65DLCA8H&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Simple Words Puzzle Set Offered by Lakeshore Learning Materials ($14.95)
http://www.amazon.com/Lakeshore-Learning-Materials-Simple-Puzzle/dp/B000VL4VNA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1SY3KC27CJWNI&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Beginning Sounds Magnetic Match Offered by Lakeshore Learning Materials ($29.95)
http://www.amazon.com/Lakeshore-Learning-Materials-Beginning-Magnetic/dp/B004ZAKMLS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1INNX861X1ZY9&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Smethport 120 Foam Magnetic Letters by Patch Products ($16.71)
http://www.amazon.com/Smethport-120-Foam-Magnetic-Letters/dp/B001ECI9EM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3RI63S70FB9KH&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Alphabet Stamp Set by Melissa & Doug ($14.66)
http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Deluxe-Alphabet-Stamp/dp/B000NV7L0I/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I376GMGE8ZXUT8&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Eureka Tub of Letter Tiles by Paper Magic Group ($9.27)
http://www.amazon.com/Eureka-Tub-Letter-Tiles-176/dp/B000FA6DXS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2INNPFI5BH5FL&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Create Your Own Pop-Up Books by Faber and Castell ($14.02)
http://www.amazon.com/Create-Your-Own-Pop-Up-Books/dp/B000XW0EME/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3L13RK5WTS6F5&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Puppet Theater by Melissa and Doug ($63.39)
http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Deluxe-Puppet-Theater/dp/B000NVBF4Q/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1DSY1E3KWSXWS&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Make Your Own Sock Puppets by Faber and Castell ($14.28)
http://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Own-Sock-Puppets/dp/B0017L3SPU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I13JWK28OFIO38&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Gingerbread Boy - Pre-Cut Flannelboard Figures Offered by Wizard of Math ($14.79)
http://www.amazon.com/Gingerbread-Boy-Pre-Cut-Flannelboard-Figures/dp/B0006V56C0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1HL3NDDPMTXY2&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Melissa & Doug See & Spell by Melissa & Doug ($14.93)
http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-2940-See-Spell/dp/B0007Y4DLG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3AP8QJ155KXO6&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Melissa & Doug Upper & Lower Case Alphabet by Melissa & Doug ($13.99)
http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Upper-Lower-Alphabet/dp/B00004NKKN/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1LOCDY428IXSR&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tell Me A Story - Circus Animal's Adventure Offered by Play World Toys by eeBoo ($9.33)
http://www.amazon.com/Tell-Me-Story-Animals-Adventure/dp/B001FYNUIE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3BN7SE2W7Q5CJ&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
eeBoo Tell Me A Story- Mystery in the Forest Offered by Find Cool Toys by eeBoo ($9.24)
http://www.amazon.com/eeBoo-Tell-Story-Mystery-Forest/dp/B001FYHQ5C/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2V220U2W3C7EI&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kids on Stage Charades Game Tin by University Games ($11.49)
http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Stage-Charades-Game-Tin/dp/B000ZPF906/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I11C2AT2R9KCMA&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Rory's Story Cubes by Gamewright ($6.86)
http://www.amazon.com/Gamewright-318-Rorys-Story-Cubes/dp/B003EIK136/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1CFOPQXFGX4XM&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Boggle Junior Game by Hasbro ($9.92)
http://www.amazon.com/BOGGLE-456-Boggle-Junior-Game/dp/B00000IWD4/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I13T3203C23ITQ&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sequence for Kids by Jax Ltd Inc ($12.86)
http://www.amazon.com/Jax-8001-Sequence-for-Kids/dp/B00005UM9P/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1CO7J69EDLIG9&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ThinkFun What's Gnu by ThinkFun ($15.48)
http://www.amazon.com/Think-Fun-7760-ThinkFun-Whats/dp/B00073JTQQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3MWFJRDX6XC1L&colid=TR6OS74KPQWA
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++