A Tree is Nice

Entry Number: 1
Title: A Tree is Nice
Author:Janice May Udry
Illustrator: Marc Simont
Publisher: Harper Collins
Year: 1956, 1987
ISBN: 978-0064431477
Genre: Fiction
Topics: trees, plants, earth,
Age Group: 2-6
Awards: Caldecott Medal (1957)
Dewey Category: 582.16
Format: Picture book

Poetic words present all the great benefits of having a tree, from drawing in the sand with it's branches, to jumping in a pile of raked leaves in fall. Delicate ink and watercolor illustrations pair with carefully chosen prose in a perfect harmony to suggest that everyone should go out and plant a tree.

White Snow Bright Snow

Entry Number: 2
Title: White Snow Bright Snow

Author:Alvin Tresselt

Illustrator: Roger Duvoisin

Publisher: Harper Collins

Year: 1988

ISBN: 978-0688082949

Genre: Fiction

Topics: seasons, winter, snow, weather, towns

Age Group: 4-8

Awards: Caldecott Medal (1948), A Horn Fanfare Best Book (1948)

Dewey Category: 813.1

Format: Picture book

Though retro both in storyline and illustration, this simple snowy tale captures the wonder of winter through a child's eyes, while instructing about some of the preparations that need to be made when the seasons change.

A Good Day

Entry Number: 3
Title: A Good Day
Author: Kevin Henkes
Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Year: 2007
ISBN: 978-0061140181
Genre: Fiction
Topics: bad days, luck, animals, feelings
Age Group: 0-4
Awards: A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (2007), School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2007), ALA Notable Children's Book (2008)
Dewey Category: n/a
Format: Picture book

Award winning author/illustrator Kevin Henkes implements his usual ink block style combined with vivid yet soft colors to tell this simple story of four animals who face a seemingly bad day, until their temporary losses are reversed. A great read for expressing emotions.

Kitten's First Full Moon

Entry Number: 4
Title: Kitten's First Full Moon
Author: Kevin Henkes
Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Year: 2004
ISBN: 978-0060588281
Genre: Fiction
Topics: animals, cats, moon
Age Group: 0-3
Awards: Caldecott Medal (2005), ALA Notable Children's Book (2005), New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book (2004), Book Sense Book of the Year Honor Book (Children's Illustrated Honor Book 2005), BCCB Blue Ribbon Book (2004), School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2004)
Dewey Category:
Format: Picture book

A cute kitten mistakes the moon for a bowl of milk and through a series of disastrous attempts to lick the full white moon, falls, tumbles down stairs, and even gets a bug on her tongue! But despite failure after failure, the exhausted kitten finds what she's looking for- right on her front porch. An inspiring story with elements of repetition and rhythmic prose, perfect for readers of all ages.

Flotsam

Entry Number: 5
Title: Flotsam
Author: David Wiesner
Illustrator: David Wiesner
Publisher: Clarion Books
Year: 2006
ISBN: 978-0618194575
Genre: fiction, wordless
Topics: ocean, imagination, fantasy, photography
Age Group: 4-8
Awards: Caldecott Medal (2007), Quill Award (Children's Illustrated Book (2007), New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book (2006), Book Sense Book of the Year Honor Book (Children's Illustrated Honor Book (2007), Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (2006), School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2006), ALA Notable Children's Book (2007)
Dewey Category: 759.13
Format:Picture book

Pictures do the story telling in this wordless wonder from multiple award winning author/illustrator David Wiesner. A boy finds a camera on a beach that contains photos of perplexing creatures across vast oceans. Though the lack of words may not foster early literacy, it will cater to children's vast imaginations.

Interrupting Chicken

Entry Number: 6
Title: Interrupting Chicken
Author: David Ezra Stein
Illustrator: David Ezra Stein
Publisher: Candlewick
Year: 2010
ISBN: 978-0763641689
Genre: Fiction, fairy tales
Topics: bedtime, chickens, humor, fathers, reading
Age Group: 2-6
Awards: Caldecott Honor (2011)
Dewey Category: n/a
Format: Picture book

This is one of those reads that both parent and child will laugh over, as Papa chicken tries to read classic fairy tales to his daughter, only to be continually interrupted by her warnings to the characters to avoid foreseen danger, such as, "Don't go in there! She's a witch!"in Hansel and Gretel. In an attempt to foster his daughter's imagination, Papa chicken has her write her own story. The tender ending brings a peaceful close to this silly masterpiece with its enlivening illustrations.

Miffy and Friends: What I Learned Today

Entry Number: 7
Title: Miffy and Friends: What I Learned Today

Author:n/a

Illustrator: n/a

Publisher: Sony Wonder

Year: (2005)

ISBN: n/a

Genre: Children's movies

Topics: counting, science, weather, nature, animals, friendship

Age Group: 0-4

Awards: n/a

Dewey Category: n/a

Format: DVD

         Miffy, the cute little bunny from the imagination of Dick Bruna and a beloved character from the popular picure books, joins her friends in this simplistic film that introduces counting, basic science (weather, nature), and social skills/friendship. I chose this Dvd for it’s coverage of other concepts not so easy to find with early learning tools. The film plays out like a long picture book, with an immersive story line and cute clay animation style characters. The movements are subtle, the voice telling the story is calm and soothing, but Miffy’s activities are entertaining enough to draw attention even from babies: Miffy walks through a forest and counts what she sees, trees, butterflies, clouds, then a storm approaches, she finds her friend Boris the bear, and later discovers the trees to have been blown over by the wind. The pace of these events is not too fast so as to overstimulate, yet, not slow enough to lull children to sleep. This DVD offers a charming story with concepts that children can grow with, and learn something new every time they watch it.

The Letter Factory

Entry Number: 8
Title: The Letter Factory

Author: Roy Allen Smith (Director)

Illustrator: n/a

Publisher: Lions Gate (Studio)

Year: 2009

ISBN: B001TKUXUC (ASIN)

Genre: Animation

Topics: letters, alphabet, animals

Age Group: 0-3

Awards: n/a

Dewey Category: n/a

Format:DVD

This is the first in a series of educational dvd’s from Leapfrog. The delightful animation will entertain and educate young children on identifying letter sounds and letter names. Rather than just try to catch the attention of young learners with flashy animation, this program implements humor and fun through songs. Both capital and lower case letters are taught in clever ways—children will experience a monster barging through a door, then see the reaction from a group of letter A’s going “Aaaahhh!!!” out of fright. A bunch of J’s jump, and a group of K’s practice kicking in karate class. Children will fall in love with the characters Tad, Lily, and Leap as they tour through the letter factory and become introduced to the “new” letters who are only just learning their own sounds. This dvd is sure to give children a head start in preschool. 

The Best of the Best of the Electric Company

Entry Number: 9
Title: The Best of the Best of the Electric Company

Author:Elaine Laron, Jim Thurman, Paul Dooley, Sara Compton, Thad Mumford

Illustrator: n/a

Publisher: Shout Factory Theater

Year: 2006

ISBN: B000EF5MQS

Genre: Television

Topics: phonics, alphabet,

Age Group: 2-8

Awards: n/a

Dewey Category: n/a

Format: DVD

Yes, this TV series is from the early 70’s, but the quality is so superb, that it has remained a favorite since Morgan Freeman wore pink bellbottoms with a butterfly patch on them. While portions of this program are aimed towards older readers, episodes are still dedicated to one single letter of the alphabet, similar to Sesame Street. In the episode I reviewed, G was the chosen letter. The actors portray clever ways in which to illustrate the different sounds of G. The soft “j” sound versus the hard “guh” sound for instance. Combining skits, interactive games, and stories that develop over a series of episodes, this star cast (Bill Cosby, Rita Moreno, Joan Rivers, to name a few) offers a truly unique and enjoyable learning experience for a variety of ages. Parents who grew up with the show will enjoy sharing a bit of their past with their own children, and children will benefit from the dynamic lessons and diversity presented by this classic.

Inch By Inch

Entry Number: 10
Title: Inch By Inch
Author: Leo Lionni
Illustrator: Leo Lionni
Publisher: Knopf
Year: 2010
ISBN: 978-0375857645
Genre: fiction,
Topics: insects, measurement, math, caterpillar, birds
Age Group: 2-6
Awards:  Caldecott Honor (1961), A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (1961)
Dewey Category: 595.78
Format: Picture book

 A smart little inch worm avoids being eaten by a robin, by offering to measure his tail. Appreciating this worms usefulness, the robin introduces him to other birds so that he can measure things for them. A nightingale challenges the worm to measure his song, and he does so, by inching away to safety. Soft greens and minimalist illustrations depict exactly what is being told on the page and nothing else. There are no busy illustrations to distract the reader from the words on the page, making this a speedy read.

Frederick

Entry Number: 11
Title: Frederick
Author: Leo Lionni
Illustrator:Leo Lionni
Publisher: Scholastic
Year: 1967
ISBN: 978-3407730060
Genre: fiction
Topics: animals, mice, seasons, winter, hibernation,poetry, community
Age Group: 0-4
Awards: Caldecott Honor (1968)
Dewey Category: 818
Format: Picture book

 Winter is approaching and all the mice in Frederick's community are doing their part to contribute to the preparations for hibernation. But while other mice are gathering food, they notice that Frederick doesn't seem to be inputting at all. This is because Frederick is on a higher mission-to collect sunshine, colors and words, so that when they run out of food and start to lose hope, Frederick will be the one to help them remember the days of Spring and cheer them up with a poem.

Henny Penny

Entry Number: 12
Title: Henny Penny
Author: Paul Galdone
Illustrator: Paul Galdone
Publisher: Sandpiper
Year: 1984
ISBN: 978-0899192253
Genre: folk tale, fairytale
Topics: animals, chickens, foxes, rhyme,
Age Group: 0-4
Awards: n/a
Dewey Category: 398.24528617
Format: Picture book

 Though vintage in illustration and pace, this classic retelling of the old fairy tale introduces young readers to the familiar exclamation, "The sky is falling!" (also known as Chicken Little). The two-page spreads enhance the excitement surrounding the apparently impending armageddon, or was it just an acorn that landed on Henny Penny's head?

Stone Soup

Entry Number: 13
Title: Stone Soup
Author: Marcia Brown
Illustrator: Marcia Brown
Publisher: Aladdin
Year: 1947
ISBN: 978-1591127352
Genre: folktale
Topics: sharing, food, cooking, France, cooperation
Age Group: 0-4
Awards: Caldecott Honor (1948), A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (1948)
Dewey Category: 398.210944
Format: Picture book

 Some wandering and hungry soldiers seek a hot meal and a roof over their head. They end up having to fool the selfish people into being selfless, by making up a soup with a stone being its primary ingredient. But a little bit of carrots and onion and this and that are casually mentioned and the townspeople heartily offer their stores in what simmers into a satisfying and merry meal for all.

Puss in Boots

Entry Number: 14
Title: Puss in Boots
Author: Charles Perrault, Malcolm Arthur (translator)
Illustrator: Fred Marcellino
Publisher: Square Fish
Year: 1990, 2011
ISBN: 978-0312659455
Genre: fairy tales
Topics: animals, cats, France
Age Group: 2-6
Awards: Caldecott Honor (1991), ALA Notable Children's Book (1991), Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books of the Year (1990), Booklist Editors' Choice (1990), A Horn Book Fanfare List (1990)
Dewey Category: 398.2
Format:Picture book

Puss is resourceful and clever as he gracefully tricks a king into giving his daughter's hand to the cat's poor master.  Lush illustrations cast this retelling into the forefront of other Puss in Boots versions, as Fred Marcellino employs unique perspective and light to cast a dreamy glow over the classic story.

Fritz and the Beautiful Horses

Entry Number: 16
 Title: Fritz and the Beautiful Horses
Author: Jan Brett
Illustrator: Jan Brett
Publisher: Sandpiper
Year: 1987
ISBN: 978-0395453568
Genre: fiction
Topics: animals, horses, courage,
Age Group: 2-6
Awards: n/a
Dewey Category: 227
Format: Picture book

Fritz is the outcast pony that is excluded from the other beautiful horses.  Only the beautiful horses are permitted within the walls of the city and therefore, the short-legs and messy mane of Fritz cannot be allowed into the walls of the city.   Yet when a bridge gives way on his side and none of the beautiful horses are able (willingly or unwillingly) to help save the children, only Fritz can gather the courage to save the children and earn his respect from the city.

The illustrations are as intricate and gorgeous as all of Jan Brett’s work seems to be.  As all her works, the are incredibly detailed and complement the text in a superb way.

 

Town Mouse Country Mouse

Entry Number: 17
Title: Town Mouse Country Mouse
Author: Jan Brett
Illustrator: Jan Brett
Publisher: Puffin
Year: 2003
ISBN: 978-0698119864
Genre: folktales, fables, fiction
Topics: animals, home, country, mice, city
Age Group: 2-6
Awards: n/a
Dewey Category: 398.24529353
Format: Picture book

With decorative, intricate, and clever illustrations, the renowned Jan Brett offers this classic fable in a delightful way.  Two mouse couples, the town mouse couple and the country mouse couple, switch houses and the saying that “the grass is not always greener on the other side” is presented in a cute and appealing way. 

The House in the Night

Entry Number: 18
Title: The House in the Night
Author: Susan Marie Swanson
Illustrator: Beth Krommes
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Year: 2008
ISBN: 978-0618862443
Genre: fiction
Topics: bedtime, fantasy, imagination, light, night, family, home
Age Group: 2-6
Awards:  Caldecott Medal (2009), ALA Notable Children's Book (2009)
Dewey Category: 811.54
Format: Picture book

Although the text may be sparse, the story that The House in the Night presents is one that will be a enjoyable, slumbering journey for young readers.  As the sun sets and a young girl receives a key to a house that beings to light up just as the sun sets.  She heads towards to the light and discovers a book and from there we are captured and enamored just as the little girl is in this story within a story…where the adventure takes us is all that is left to discover. 

The illustrations of The House in the Night are incredibly effective; the black and white illustrations with accents of gold and yellow enhance the story and the journey that follows.

 

Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present

Entry Number: 19
Title: Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present
Author: Charlotte Zolotow
Illustrator: Maurice Sendak
Publisher: Harper Collins
Year: 1962
ISBN: 978-0064430203
Genre: fiction
Topics: birthday, fruit, gifts, rabbits, animals, mothers
Age Group: 2-6
Awards: Caldecott Honor (1963)
Dewey Category: 813.54
Format: Picture book

As a little girl wanders and wonders what to give her mother for a birthday gift, she consults a Mr. Rabbit .  Mr. Rabbit offers to help the little girl and asks questions about the young one’s mother…what she likes; what her favorite colors are, etc.   As they go into the woods to find a present, they find that nature can provide the best gift for the little girl’s mother…fruit! 

With subtle coloring yet bold designs and impressionistic-like illustrations,

Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present is a beautiful picture book presented by two ever-popular authors.  With witty dialogue between the rabbit and girl as well as the all too familiar conflict of finding appropriate gifts for mother, this book also teaches children color recognition and color identification—as well as fruit and vegetable distinctions.  A book that is not only enjoyable but also educational.

Swimmy

Entry Number: 20
Title: Swimmy
Author: Leo Lionni
Illustrator: Leo Lionni
Publisher: Dragonfly Books
Year: 1973
ISBN: 978-0394826202
Genre: fiction
Topics: ocean, fish, teamwork, friendship
Age Group: 0-4
Awards: Caldecott Honor (1964), ALA Notable Children's Book (1964), A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year
Dewey Category: 597
Format: Picture book

Swimmy is little black fish that loses his school of fish, his brothers and sisters, to a hungry tuna.  After swimming and swimming the depths of the sea alone, he comes across a new school of fish—one that reminds him of the school that he was once a part of.  Swimmy is accepted into the new school of red fish and is happy.  However, the school of fish are scared of the other larger creatures in the ocean and do not wish to venture out or swim too much.  But with Swimmy’s past, he teaches them to overcome their fears and to work together to gain the courage to swim and fool the big fish that wishes to devour them all.

What is most appealing in this story are the lessons of teamwork and cooperation in the face of adversity. Gentle watercolors depict underwater life in a dreamy seascape.

 

All the World

Entry Number: 21
Title: All the World
Author: Liz Garton Scanlon
Illustrator: Marla Frazee
Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Year: 2009
ISBN: 978-1416985808
Genre: fiction
Topics: family, community, rhyme, love, nature, peace
Age Group:
Awards: School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2009), Caldecott Honor (2010), ALA Notable Children's Book (2010), New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book (2009), South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominee (2011-2012)
Dewey Category: 811.6
Format: Picture book

In flowing rhymes with lyrical cadences that connect both words and ideas, All The World is a picture book that shows children the everyday occurrences and notions and how these occurrences are about something much bigger…life.  A family goes to the beach, to the market, out to a restaurant and then to an extended family gathering—all of which are observed in way that shows how such activities encompass that of the whole world. 

The illustrations are just as significant as the text and reflect the content of the text as well.  With incredible detail in illustrations that express the diversity and sensitivity of the world, this work of art is sure to leave young readers in awe.

 

Planting a Rainbow

Entry Number: 22
Title: Planting a Rainbow
Author: Lois Ehlert
Illustrator: Lois Ehlert
Publisher: HMH Books
Year: 1988, 2008
ISBN: 978-0152063047
Genre: fiction
Topics: earth science, gardening, flowers, plants, seasons, color, rainbow
Age Group: 0-4
Awards: n/a
Dewey Category: 635
Format: Picture book

The story of a mother and daughter and their ritualistic planting of a colorful garden in the summer is presented in this gloriously colorful picture book by Ehlert.  This book is a great introduction to colors for young readers as well as teaching children of the various albeit hard to pronounce flowers. 

 

The Carrot Seed

Entry Number: 23
Title: The Carrot Seed
Author: Ruth Krauss
Illustrator: Crockett Johnson
Publisher:Live Oak Media
Year: 1945, 2004
ISBN: 978-1591127055
Genre: fiction
Topics: plants, science, gardening, patience, carrots, food
Age Group: 0-4
Awards: n/a
Dewey Category: 635
Format: Board book

This timeless, popular classic is a great story about determination as well as caring.  As a little boy becomes excited about planting a carrot seed, his family and others around him insist that this carrot that he has planted will not grow.  The little boy carefully tends to his seed and patiently waits for a carrot that he is sure will soon sprout.  Through his determination and hard work, a carrot indeed sprouts…one that he knew would from the start.  Although strong in its message, The Carrot Seed is incredibly simple in its text and illustrations.  Yet however simple and lacking in color the illustrations may be, they are truly charming and are sure to be as significant another 60 years from now.

 

I Love You Stinky Face

Entry Number: 24
Title: I Love You Stinky Face
Author: Lisa McCourt
Illustrator: Cyd Moore
Publisher: Cartwheel
Year: 2004
ISBN: 978-0439634694
Genre: fiction
Topics: animals, bedtime, love, family, feelings
Age Group: 0-4
Awards: n/a
Dewey Category: 800
Format: Board Book

As a mother tucks her child into bed, the young boy has a question (or a few) whether if Mama would love him if he were not himself; perhaps a scary ape, green alien, a terrible dinosaur, or other outrageous creatures.  All of these creative yet outlandish scenarios that the young boy presents his mother are all retorted with the same reply from her—that she will always, unconditionally love her little boy.

The illustrations are unique and bold with compositions are sure to make young readers laugh at the little boy’s ridiculous scenarios of different animals he would be.  A great story that teaches children about family love and values

 

Quiet Loud

Entry Number: 25
Title: Quiet Loud
Author: Leslie Patricelli
Illustrator: Leslie Patricelli
Publisher: Candlewick
Year: 2003
ISBN: 978-0763619527
Genre: fiction
Topics: opposites, senses, sound
Age Group: 0-3
Awards:n/a
Dewey Category: 428.1
Format:Board book

This is a great book for that transition to reading. It's bold, its loud, it's short and sweet, and it's educational in it's clear depictions of opposites. Yummy Yucky and Big Little are two other titles that can't be missed for teaching babies basic concepts.

The Tiny Seed

Entry Number: 26
Title: The Tiny Seed
Author: Eric Carle
Illustrator: Eric Carle
Publisher: Little Simon
Year: 1987, 2009
ISBN: 978-1416979173
Genre: fiction
Topics: life cycle, science, nature, flowers, seasons
Age Group: 3-7
Awards: n/a
Dewey Category: 581.467
Format: Picture book

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle is so much more than a story of how plants grow. It starts with an autumn breeze that sends a bunch of seeds off into the world. We follow one little seed’s journey through different environments or biomes—from icy mountain-tops, to oceans and deserts where the other seeds that fall are unable to grow. Carle guides us through the seasons with ample, yet simple descriptions of this miracle. Children can begin to grasp that each little seed that even makes it through the elements of nature, is lucky to even grow. And to take it a step further, a lesson of overcoming obstacles rings true, as this tiny seed blooms into the biggest flower anyone has ever seen. Friendship, change, and the cyclical nature of life are big concepts that are brought down to a manageable size in this worthy picture book classic.