One animal’s claim is followed by others who are successively bigger, smaller, etc., each using rich (and richer) descriptors.
Big, Bigger, Biggest
In this ode to country living, Rylant shares a glimpse into one family’s life.
When I Was Young in the Mountains
A girl finds a book with a red cover on a winter day that transports her to a sunny beach. The idea of getting lost in a book (figuratively and magically) is presented wordlessly; only illustrations are used. The story can be told or written any number of ways according to the writer’s interpretation of the story.
The Red Book
Crisp color photographs in this wordless book connect concepts defined in the titles. Another great picture book by Tana Hoban is Is It Rough? Is It Smooth? Is It Shiny? (opens in a new window). Both are sure to generate rich language as each picture is examined and described multiple times. [May also be used for building observational skills in science.]
Exactly the Opposite
The stylish child whose love of words has become the basis of a series of books shares her love of words in this alphabetically arranged picture book glossary. Humorous illustrations are sure to generate additional words to describe Nancy’s fancy, chic, attractive world.
Fancy Nancy’s Favorite Fancy Words: From Accessories to Zany
Silly rhymes about silly activities make the words jump off the page, complemented by humorous illustrations.
Sheep in a Jeep
Jaunty rhymes (that just may be ‘sing-able’) are likely to lead to wordplay (literally) as one follows the animal cast play with berries of all kinds.
Jamberry
Gerald, the giraffe, is told by the other jungle animals that he can’t dance. Of course, they’re proven wrong as Gerald does his thing in this rhyming tale. This book may also inspire alliterative use of language.
Giraffes Can’t Dance
Emily Bartlett lives in an old farmhouse in Pitchfork, Oregon at a time when automobiles are brand-new inventions and libraries are a rare luxury. Can Emily use her lively mind to help bring a library to Pitchfork? ReadWriteThink (opens in a new window) offers a persuasive writing lesson plan featuring this book.
Emily’s Runaway Imagination
An improbable cumulative tale with lots of interesting rhymes that uses illustrations as clues for meaning.
I Can’t Said the Ant
Tongue twisters abound in this lively and easy to read book by the famous doctor.
Fox in Socks
Rhyming couplets describe city sounds with illustrations embedding the onomatopoeic sounds.
Clang! Clang! Beep! Beep! Listen to the City
Chimps from one to ten counting sneak out to dance their rhyming way around and through this very funny counting book.
Cha Cha Chimps
Join three children who find a magical piece of chalk that begins an exciting series of events to figure out “what next.” This might be fun to use together with Crockett Johnson’s Harold and the Purple Crayon.
Chalk
A homeless boy and his dad make their home in a busy airport.
Fly Away Home
When a boy learns about palindromes, he begins to see them everywhere. The humorous tale introduces words and phrases that are the same when spelled — and pronounced — forward or backward. Palindrome riddles are presented in Too Hot to Hoot: Funny Palindrome Riddles by Marvin Terban (Sandpiper). Both books have strong visual clues.
Mom and Dad Are Palindromes
Observing changing leaves and tree life cycles are appropriate in fall. Also try Snowballs (opens in a new window), Waiting for Wings (opens in a new window), Growing Vegetable Soup (opens in a new window), and Planting A Rainbow (opens in a new window) by Lois Ehlert for other seasonal science-related activities.
Leaf Man
Cinderella stories are found around the world; here, they have been fused into one tale with special characteristics in text and illustrations that reflect the different origins. Expand parts of the story to echo the traditions of the culture and its history from which it comes. It may be possible to develop a map of tales (e.g., ancient vs. modern countries, or as a visual as to where it is/was told).
Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella
Separated from the colony, readers join two adventurous ants and see the world from a very different perspective.
Two Bad Ants
A girl maps her dog Penny’s world from her room, to the neighborhood as well as the tools she uses.
Mapping Penny’s World
When the humans are away, a toy soldier named A-One becomes demanding, calling the other toys names. When they begin playing with the sounds and letters of the words, insults become silly to make everyone smile and reform. In addition to playing with the sound of words, this humorously illustrated book just may start a discussion of bullying and behavior.
I’m Number One
Mr. and Mrs. Rogers leave their new maid, Amelia Bedelia, a list of things to do on her first day of work. For anyone else, changing the towels or dusting the furniture would have been quite straightforward — but not for Amelia Bedelia! Her lemon meringue pie, however, more than compensates for her failings caused only by her literal interpretations! Amelia Bedelia was launched 50 years ago, commemorated in this anniversary edition with a fascinating, brief but informative history, “The Story Behind the Story” included.
Amelia Bedelia: 50th Anniversary Edition
“Lily-Rose May was a sweet little girlie…” who discovered she really was a princess because of her reaction to peas. When she joins royalty, however, Lily-Rose figures out what’s really important. Told in spritely verse and humorous illustration, Lily’s adventure comes alive.
The Princess and the Peas
When Penny picks up a marble near her neighbor’s home, she begins to imagine that it really belongs to Mrs. Goodwin. In short chapters with Henkes’ signature illustrations, the young mouse successfully works through her guilt to a very satisfying conclusion.