The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear

When the lowercase x from Charley’s alphabet disappears, the other letters set off to find him. Young readers become detectives on the quest to find the lowercase letters and will rejoice when little x finds a way to rescue his rescuers from becoming alphabet soup.

The sky is as changeable as the weather — from blue sky to rain sky to dark sky and ultimately to sleep sky. A poetic depiction of the sky introduces weather and a child’s day in simple, repeating language and richly colored illustrations that may inspire writing “list poems.”

A mother warns her seven children not to open the door in her absence, but alas, the children are duped by a tricky witch named Heckedy Peg. Their mother’s wisdom, however, cleverly saves the day. Told in the cadence of a folktale, this richly illustrated tale makes a fine read aloud.

While others in his court have tried, only the young page is able to dislodge King Bidgood from his bubbly bathtub. Rich illustration (which won a Caldecott Honor) and a rhyming text depict an elegant Elizabethan period in this rib-tickling tale. 

Little pigs play on pudgy fingers in this inventive and playful illustrated rhyme. Young children and adults are sure to enjoy reading and re-reading the book and slow down to examine the colorful paintings.

Young readers share short, humorous escapades with Piggy Pie Po, a large-eared porcine hero. Lively illustrations and vivacious, rhyming illustration make this an adventure to share more than once.

A child can be as quiet as a cricket, as small as an ant or as big as a whale on the path from toddler to childhood. Lyrical metaphors and realistic illustrations combine for a celebration of the sometimes contradictory process of growing up.   

From sending invitations to preparing party games, the queen makes certain that all is just perfect for an upcoming birthday party. Whose birthday is it? Her daughter’s! Bouncy illustrations and a relaxed text are sure to inspire party planners everywhere.

Residents of the napping house are anything but sleepy; in fact, the full moon shining brightly is making them restless! With rich, rhyming language and playful paintings, this cumulative tale is a worthy companion to the creators’ early (and quite opposite book), The Napping House. 

Sleepers, both human and four-legged, pile atop of each other in this clever cumulative rhyme. Rich illustrations evoke the evening setting and provide humorous personalities to the drowsy granny and her companions.