Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young

selected by Jack Prelutsky
pictures by Marc Brown

*****

This is a wonderful book of children's poetry. When I start reading this one with my kids, it is quite literally hard to stop...they always want to read just one more! Prelutsky does a fabulous job of selecting poems that are so relevant to a child's life. And page after page of Marc Brown's colorful illustrations only add to the fun!

Dreams

by Peter Spier

****

I believe this book is out of print, but it is definitely worth purchasing from a used bookstore (just do a google search.) In this wordless picture book, Spier brings the clouds to life by illustrating what two children see in the sky as they lay in a meadow and stare at the changing white cumuli. This book is so imaginative and encourages my kids to look a little longer, and a little closer at things around them.

Another wonderful book by Peter Spier: Noah's Ark

Zen Shorts

by Jon J. Muth

****

This charming book tells the story of three young siblings that meet a large panda named Stillwater. He teaches each of them profound life lessons through the simple stories he shares. Two of Stillwater's anecdotes are based on stories from Zen Buddhist literature, and the third comes from an ancient Taoist tale. The paintings in this book are done in watercolor and are absolutely breathtaking. Muth earned a Caldecott Honor for the illustrations in this book in 2006.

The Story About Ping

by Marjorie Flack
pictures by Kurt Wiese

***

This is an old favorite (really old...original copyright 1933.) It's a story of a little duck that gets separated from his family (to be more specific his mother, father, 2 sisters, 3 brothers, 11 aunts, 7 uncles, and 42 cousins!) It all ends well though, as Ping finds his way back home after he almost ends up as dinner for a local fisherman's family. He also learns a lesson through it all, which is always nice!

Bats at the Library

by Brian Lies

*****

This is a clever story about a colony of bats that take advantage of a window left open at the library. Seeing their opportunity, they fly in and the fun begins. While some read and research, others play in the water fountain, with the overhead projector, or make copies of themselves with the Xerox machine! Young bats play in pop-up books and have story time. The best part is that each bat is "completely swallowed up and lives inside a book instead of simply hearing something read." I love that the author shows this by painting recognizable scenes from well-loved children's books and incorporating the bats in them (i.e. Pippy Longstocking as a bat, or bats crossing the road instead of ducks in Make Way for Ducklings by Robert Mccloskey .) It's very funny and illustrates to kids just how fun it can be to get lost in a book.