Book Finder

All of a newborn, from head to toe, is appreciated and loved by various members of an adoring family. Lively language and joyful illustrations are used in this ebullient celebratory book.

On a dark night a pumpkin may become a scary face, a boy may dress up as a skeleton and a girl as a cat, and they just knock at a door and get some treats. The changes on a Halloween evening are shown as readers guess what’s hidden beneath the flaps in this sturdy book.

Where can Duck and Goose find a pumpkin? Young children will delight in the search and rejoice when the silly friends find their pumpkin. Autumnal colors and a simple, predictable text make an engaging book for the very young.

What’s your favorite type of dog? Is it large? Small? Soft? With stripes? Even the youngest will be surprised that the narrator winds up being a feline that introduces the host of canines with distinctive personalities. Rhyming text is minimal but extended through humorous, expressive illustrations. 

From an elephant to a butterfly, Madeline meets and interacts with a series of creatures. Simple rhymes and signature illustrations appear on sturdy pages.

Young children will appreciate the basics of how astronauts travel, what they eat, and their spectacular view from space in this sturdy board book, just right for young hands.

Chubby, rounded children in bright colors whish and swish, shake and bang in this sturdy board book with its built-in rattle. The rattle adds to the playfulness, though the language alone will get the young children moving.

This appealing, sturdy book presents photographs of emperor penguin chicks (and adults) going about their daily business of fishing, cuddling, and generally taking care of one another. It is sure to create warm feelings regardless of the snowy landscape.

A heart shaped cut-out on the front cover invites readers into the book in which child-like illustrations in primary colors depict adults’ unconditional love for children. Round-faced, smiling adults love them when they are shy or sharing, stinky or squeaky clean.

A train of children “chuff” and “choo choo” down the tracks, through a tunnel, and into the sun — until they get to the beach. “Hooray!”

What better way for a family to travel to grandma’s house than by jumping in their yellow car? Though the town, over the crosswalk, down the hill — to their destination: “Beep! Beep!”

A predictable rhyme leads from one baby animal to another until a child and his mama kiss “in the honey-sunny day, in the bright and breezy air.” The lively language uses lots of onomatopoeia and soft illustrations that are just right for sharing aloud.

A girl tells readers about the birds she sees around her, describing size and color in spare, almost lyrical language. Richly colored paintings accompany the text to enhance and build the concepts presented in the narrative.

A spare, patterned text and glowing pictures explore the origins of light that make a house a home in this Caldecott Medal-winning bedtime book for young children. Naming nighttime things that are both comforting and intriguing to preschoolers—a key, a bed, the moon—this timeless book illuminates a reassuring order to the universe. (2009 Caldecott Medal Winner)

Chubby cheeked babies of many hues are shown in crisp illustrations doing things that babies do. The simple words are playful and energetic, just like the children in this and others by Oxenbury such as Clap Hands and All Fall Down.

Even the most active baby or toddler must sleep sometime, and in this story the children “say goodnight.” Similar to Tickle Tickle and All Fall Down, this is a sure hit to share with babies and toddlers.

Young children will appreciate the game played by children (also in Tickle Tickle) in this sturdy book. Rhyming text and uncluttered illustrations are just right to share with the youngest child.

Early on, toddlers can discover princesses and like to be treated as royalty. This is definitely true for the round-faced baby who with her sparkly crown and shoes doesn’t understand why her loving parents call her silly names like cupcake. The humor is for the adults, the book is for young princesses everywhere.

Descriptive language introduces a series of animals in both English and Spanish accompanied by Carle’s signature illustrations. The animal word appears in both languages with one hidden by its picture on sturdy board that slides to reveal the other.

Sturdy pages introduce young readers to familiar ideas and objects in Spanish and English. From colors to shapes and things that go, this colorful book will introduce readers to vocabulary in two languages.

A slightly frumpy, highly energetic girl and her expressive toy monkey dramatize seeing different animals from penguins to well, monkeys. The repeated phrase “Monkey and me…” combines with animated illustrations that use few colors for great impact.

Tiddler was a chronically late little fish with a big imagination. Tiddler’s tales are believed by only one fish who shares them — which is what brings Tiddler safely home when he’s really lost. Bright, cartoon-like illustrations add detail to this cumulative tale.

Of four kittens, only one is really excited about the possibility of snow but inspires the others to enjoy it when it finally comes. Bold line and simple form combine with straightforward text to create a captivating kittens’ world.

From the opening lines to its satisfying conclusion, readers are introduced to babies from many cultures. Though each child is different, each has some things in common — “ten little fingers & ten little toes.” The rhyming text and repeated phrase make this a wonderful book to share with children of many ages.