The Butterfly
Bright, child-like illustrations and a straightforward text invite readers to take a look at what daddies do. They work, they teach their children different things, and they love to “hug and kiss you!” Its companion, The Mommy Book (opens in a new window), is equally appealing.
The Daddy Book
The Desert Is My Mother
Seeing that man is sorry after arguing with his wife, Sun sends the first strawberries to the land. The sweet fruit slows the wife down, allowing her husband to catch up and apologize. To this day, strawberries remind people to be kind to each other. Rich illustrations add interesting details to this fluid telling of a traditional legend.
The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story
Recommended by Michelle – Not only was this one of my favorite children’s books, it was also a favorite of my former students. This story leaves you hanging to the edge of your seat because of the many surprises found throughout. I also enjoy the very clever characters. Even though they find themselves in many sticky situations, they always find ways to escape.
The Five Chinese Brothers
Miss Hester’s disagreeable dog, Fritz, escapes young Alan’s care and runs into the forbidden garden of Abdul Gasazi. When the boy unsuccessfully tries to find the dog in the mysterious garden, he meets the stern magician himself. Stunning black and white illustrations magnify the magic of Van Allsburg’s first book.
The Garden of Abdul Gasazi
The Ghost-Eye Tree
A small, ill-tempered insect will not say “Good morning” or “Thank you” to anyone. But, as the day progresses, she becomes a nicer, happier, better-behaved bug. The use of die-cut pages in this vividly illustrated book enhances the sense of movement in a memorable fashion.
The Grouchy Ladybug
Children will expand their vocabulary and play with hidden images in this unusual and elegantly illustrated alphabet book. A solid black frame with a one word descriptor focuses on an object. Lift the flap, and the image becomes the letter in full color, thus inviting readers to play with both words and images.
The Hidden Alphabet
The Honest-to-Goodness Truth
Hawai’i was once an independent country ruled by a royal family. But, while Princess Ka’iulani was at school in England in the 1800s, the small island nation became part of the United States — and she never got a chance to become queen. This intriguing, quiet, bittersweet story presents a little known period and a real-life princess. It is a well-told and handsome book was created by a mother-daughter team.
The Last Princess: The Story of Princess Ka’iulani
The Magic School Bus: Inside a Beehive
The Magic School Bus: Inside the Human Body
Being brave is fun! In 1974, French acrobat Philippe Petit cast a tightrope between the two towers of the World Trade Center and spent an hour walking, dancing and performing high-wire tricks up in the sky. This picture book captures the poetry and magic of the event, using lyrical words and lovely paintings that present the detail, daring and – in two dramatic foldout pages – dizzying drama of Petit’s feat. (2004 Caldecott Medal Winner)
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
The Milk Makers
Now that Juan’s mother has left him with his grandmother, he shines shoes to earn a living. More than anything else, though, 7-year old Juan wants to learn to read and go to school. Guatemala comes alive through the daily lives of Juan and his grandmother and the detailed black/white illustrations.
The Most Beautiful Place in the World
How does an older sibling respond to and feel about the inevitable changes when a baby joins a family? Straightforward text and crisp, full-color photographs present many aspects of a new baby – including diapers and other not-so-often discussed issues – while reassuring the older sibling of their continued place in a loving family.
The New Baby at Your House
Princess Elizabeth saves the kingdom (and the prince) from a fire-breathing dragon – and is told by the ungrateful Prince Roland that she looks a mess. The princess shows her stuff as she strikes out on her own, leaving the prince in the dust. A light touch and plenty of humor make this parody successful and its message clear.
The Paper Bag Princess
Often as children grow up, they “stop hearing their toys,” as did the girl who made the paper princess. So the wind whisks Princess off on a magical journey, ultimately carrying her to a new home where she can once again be loved by a little girl. Highly detailed illustrations are used in this sequel to The Paper Princess, though each book stands on its own.
The Paper Princess Finds Her Way
A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa Claus. This holiday classic earned a Caldecott Medal.
The Polar Express
Hans Christian Andersen’s classic story explains how a prince can identify royalty: a real princess can feel a single pea even when covered by twenty mattresses! Soft illustrations depict an elegant setting with regal appointments.
The Princess and the Pea
In this outrageous send-up of well-known fairy tales (especially “The Princess and the Pea”), Princess Pauline passes all the necessary tests to win Prince Drupert, including inventing the pizza. She decides, however, that her real talent is as a chef, and so she leaves the prince to open her own pizza parlor. Exaggerated illustrations add to the comical tone of this parody.
The Princess and the Pizza
Stella and her brothers speak Spanish at home but English at school. Being different is both scary and exciting. Stella learns this when she prepares for the school’s celebration of May Day. She finds a way to honor her Mexican background by wearing a special skirt that is both alike yet different from the other girls’. Stella, like many children, can take pride in being part of two cultures. (In English sprinkled with Spanish).
The Rainbow Tulip
A child (and a small green frog) witness the change of seasons in a small, critter-filled pond. Engaging language swirls and moves across the pages in this vibrantly illustrated Caldecott Honor book.