Picturebook: Old Bear

Beloved author Kevin Henkes has written another winning picture book. Like his award winning "Kitten's First Full Moon", "Old Bear" is drawn with thick lines and a cartoon style. The art is beautiful, with just a touch of abstract in the full colour spreads.

This is an excellent themed pick for Fall or Seasons units. Old Bear goes to sleep in the fall, and dreams about the changing seasons through the year. When he wakes up, it's spring...and it looks just like his vibrant dream! Old Bear can hardly believe he's awake. The extremely simple text and plot mean that this book is suitable for very young children: however, older kids will enjoy playing seek and find in the detailed depictions of the seasons. A lovely book, suitable for all ages.

Picturebook

Ages 1-4

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Picturebook: Who Ate All the Cookie Dough?

This rhyming picturebook has a snappy beat, and a sure-bet premise. Kangaroo can't figure out who ate all her cookie dough, so she asks each of her friends in turn:

" monkey, monkey, do you know/who ate all the cookie dough?"

"I don't know, it wasn't me! Maybe Hippo. Let's go see."

And so on, until it's clear that the culprit is hiding...right under Kangaroo's nose!

With a fun flap at the end and a refrain that really encourages participation from kids and parents, this book is a great choice for readalouds and storytimes for the younger crowd.

Picturebook

Ages 2-5

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Picturebook: Poor Puppy

This sequel to the alphabet book "Bad Kitty" is a fantastic counting book for older preschoolers. Poor Puppy really really wants to play with Kitty, but Kitty is just not interested. Instead, Poor Puppy romps with an ascending number of toys, from one airplane to twenty six zoo animals. After all that fun, Poor Puppy curls up for a nap with Kitty's toy mouse. He dreams of playing 26 different games with Kitty (from Apple bobbing in Antarctica to running Zig Zags in Zimbabwe), and when kitty wakes him up trying to steal back the mouse, Poor Puppy is ready to play again. A fun alphabet/counting book with lots of detailed illustrations.

Picturebook

Ages 2-5

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Picturebook: Llama Llama Mad at Mama

Ah, the dreaded grocery shopping trip. Every parent will recognize the warning signs early in this book: the bored whining, the pout, the missed nap...and sure enough, little llama has a massive meltdown at the Shop-o-rama when Mama llama takes too long with the shopping. Somewhat improbably, little llama stops his tantrum after a stern warning and a kind hug, and finishes the shopping trip by helping to push the cart and find the car. If only it was that easy! The best part about this book is the clever rhyme scheme, and fans of the prequel, Llama Llama Red Pajama, will definitely want to give this book a look.

Picturebook

Ages 2-4

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Picturebook: Who's Hiding?

Japanese graphic artist Satoru Onishi has created an amazingly clever picturebook in "Who's Hiding". This book is a memory puzzle, where kids see the same two page spread of cartoon animals throughout the book, but must look closely to discover "who's hiding?" or "who's angry?". This book requires children to pay close attention to each picture on the page in order to discern small differences between the animals. The art is cartoonish and colourful, and preschoolers will love this seek and find book as much as older kids love the classics like "Where's Waldo?" and "I Spy".

Picturebook

Ages 4-7

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Picturebook:Yo, Jo!

Rachel Isadora has used collage art to create a vivid book about a boy's afternoon in an urban african american neighbourhood. Two brothers wait outside their home for their grandfather to come home for dinner, and as they wait, they interact with kids, adults and animals in their neighbourhood. A warm and lively depiction of an inner city community where everyone knows eachother, and nobody is a stranger. Kids and adults alike will appreciate the sense of easy belonging that this book projects.

Picturebook

Ages 2-5

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Picturebook: Overboard!

Overboard! is author Sarah Week's adorable, rhyming tale of a baby bunny who loves to toss things. Every parent will recognize this stage, where baby chucks toys, food, diapers, and everything else over the side of the stoller/highchair/crib, just to watch it crash on the ground. The best part about this attractively illustrated book is the clever, rhyming text; a book most suited to babies, but certainly a pleasure for parents to read over and over again.

Picturebook

Ages 0-18 mos

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Picturebook: Follow the Line Through the House

This award winning book is a graphic masterpiece. A single black line creates most of the shapes through the whole house, and kids are invited to start on the first page, and follow the line as it bends and angles through the kitchen, basement, bedrooms, bath and more. The sharp illustrations are reminiscent of 50's art, and kids will be challenged to trace the line's tangled path through the rooms. A very engaging and unique book, probably best for 4 year olds and up, and definitely a good choice for building eye sequencing and fine motor skills.

Picturebook

4-8 years

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Alphabet Book: Bad Kitty

Bad Kitty used to be a good kitty. That is, until her owner ran out of cat food, and all there was left to eat was Asparagus, Beets, Cauliflower, Dill, Eggplants, Fennel, Garlic, Horseradish...well, you get the idea. Not the first choices for a finicky cat. So Bad Kitty decided to be bad, and she Ate my homework, Bit grandma, Clawed the curtains...again, i'm sure you see where this is going! Bad kitty wreaks havoc all the way through the alphabet, but has an ABC change of heart when her owner brings home some lovely alphabet treats from the grocery store. A very appealing introduction to the alphabet! Sequel Poor Puppy is coming soon...

Alphabet Book
Preschool-Kindergarten
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Poetry: Rumble in the Jungle

Another poetry book to build rhyming skills, but this time Giles Andreae has created an oversized menagerie to enchant kids who love animals. The silly rhymes are very short, but they are perfectly suited to reading aloud in groups or one on one. If you like this one, make sure you check out the companion book, Commotion in the Ocean!

Preschool

Poetry

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Poetry: Ook the Book

As well as providing 24 pages of silly fun, this nonsense book builds phonemic awareness skills by emphasizing the rhyming parts of words. Preschoolers and kindergarten kids will howl with laughter when you read the silly rhymes, and anyone who likes Dr. Seuss is sure to enjoy this slim volume. Here's an excerpt:

I am ook,

Ook the book.

Do you see me

In my nook?

Will you stop and take a look?

You will see, I'm one good book!

Poetry

Preschool-Kindergarten

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Picturebook: The Bunnies Are Not in Their Beds

Three little bunnies are not sleepy at all, in this clearly illustrated picturebook from Marisabina Russo. Bright paper collage illustrations are offset by lots of white space, and kids will sigh with recognition as the bunnies find many things to do in their bedrooms after they are supposed to be sleeping. The night ends with mom and dad asleep in their beds, and three tired out little bunnies piled on the couch!

Picturebook

Preschool-Kindergarten

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Board Book: Skippyjon Jones Up and Down

This book is a great introduction to opposites, as Skippyjon zooms back and forth, up and down, over and under, and in and out. Based on the wildly popular picturebook series for preschoolers, this short version for babies and toddlers is brightly illustrated and sure to please.

Board Book

Ages 6 mos to 3

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Picture Book: City Signs

Zoran Milich's simple book of signs is a great I spy book for kids when they travel around town. Many ordinary street signs are left out of this book, but signs like "rail crossing" "taxi" and "construction" are sure to be familiar. Clear, attractive photographs allow kids to easily identify the sign with its object.

Picture Book

Ages 2-4

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Picture Book: The Growing Story

First published in 1947, this classic story has been beautifully reillustrated by Helen Oxenbury. A boy, and his puppy, and some chicks are all very little. In the spring, the boy notices that the flowers and the grass are all growing: "Will I grow too?" he asks his mother. "Of course!" she replies. The story progresses through the seasons, and by fall the little boy despairs of every growing bigger. He is only convinced when he puts on last winter's warm clothes, and lo! They're too small! The real joy of this book is in the lovely, delicate watercolour illustrations. It took me twice as long as it should have to read this sweet story, because sometimes I just stared at the pictures for a few minutes!

Picture Book

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: I.Q. Gets Fit

This adorable nod to healthy living starts when Mrs. Furber's class signs up for their school's Health Month competition. I.Q. is the class pet, and he knows right away that he wants to pass the fitness test, and win a gold ribbon! When I.Q. doesn't do as well as the other students on the fitness test, he's worried he won't pass; but as the month goes on, I.Q. learns about healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet, exercising, and getting enough sleep. At the end of the month, I.Q. takes the fitness test again, and after a moment of suspense, it turns out that he's won the award for most inproved student! The pictures of the tiny mouse exercising his heart out are so endearing; you'll be cheering so hard for I.Q. that you won't even notice you're learning as you read.

Picture Book

Ages 4-7

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Picture Book: Museum Trip

Wordless picturebooks are one of my favourite formats, and Museum Trip doesn't disappoint. There's plenty for older preschoolers to talk about in this simply drawn tale of a boy's class visit to the museum. A boy is separated from his group when he stops to tie his shoe, and his solitary wanderings lead him to a secret room filled with mazes! Your child will enjoy tracing the path through the maze almost as much as they'll like the surprising ending.

Talking about the wordless illustrations really supports your child's narrative skills; every page is an opportunity to ask, "what's happening here?" It would be fun to read this book before or after your own family's museum outing!

Wordless Picture Book
age 4-7
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Picture Book: I Love Trains!

For kids who are train obsessed, Philemon Sturges classic picture book provides a very simple, rhyming introduction to the different types of cars and what they carry. The subject matter alone makes this book very popular!

Picture Book

Ages 2-5

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Nonfiction: Jump into January: a journey around the year

Jump into January is a calendar I-Spy book with a glorious double page spread for each month of the year. The relatively simple gouache pictures have lovely colours, and show friendly kids doing seasonal activities. Along the bottom of the pages, there is a list of things kids can look for in the month's spread. Kids will enjoy finding the objects, and parents will have a great conversation about what other things their family or school might do or find during the month. A great concept book.

Nonfiction

Preschool to Kindergarten

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Picture Book: The Great Graph Contest

This book is packed with great information about graphs! Although the book is written as a story (Gonk and Beezy have a contest to see who can make the best graph) the information is communicated clearly.

Gonk and Beezy each make three different types of graphs. This gives kids a great survey of some of the basic varieties they might encounter in elementary math. The appealing pictures and storyline add interest to the lesson. This book would fit in very neatly with units on graphs up to grade 4 or 5. I have to admit, I learned some things about graphs from the "make your own graphs" section at the back of the book!

Loreen Leedy has authored several other books about math concepts, and they are definitely worth a look.

Picture Book/Nonfiction

Grades 1-5

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