Book Finder

Gentle illustrations show this familiar ditty in a modern light. A boy brings a book for his father to read to him and after they both fall asleep, Mom carries the boy to bed while the family dog follows with his shoe. This book makes a wonderful bedtime choice.

Rhymes, lullabies, and songs from the Chinese oral tradition have been translated and illustrated with softly toned watercolors evocative of Asian art. Children and adults alike with recognize the universal themes of childhood in these pieces.

The large format and lush illustrations appeal to young children, and adults will appreciate the organization by topics of interest. Categories such as Animals, Playtime, and Bedtime make this an ideal collection for sharing — whether you have just a few minutes or a long, leisurely afternoon.

What would happen if the dish and the spoon (of “hey diddle diddle” fame) ran away and didn’t want to come back? Well, that’s the premise of this funny, pun-filled saga. Other nursery rhyme characters follow a map to find the runaways in this lively, visually sophisticated, and humorous book.

Runny Babbit talk is created by spoonerisms, switching the first sound in a pair of words, so a “silly book” becomes a “billy sook.” Kids build their phonemic awareness without even trying! The audio book narrator’s slightly gravelly voice is ideal for sharing these funny poems (completed though not published before the popular poet’s death in 1999).

In this creative collection, words are used as objects to create images — both on the page and in the reader’s mind. These literal representations make poetry and imagery accessible even to very young children.

The song made famous by jazz great Ella Fitzgerald in the 1930s has been re-created, re-energized and newly presented in a picture book version. Sprightly cut paper collage illustrations show two children losing and ultimately finding both a lost basket and a friendship.

A familiar traditional Shaker hymn has been interpreted in bold, semi-abstract, jewel-toned illustrations reminiscent of artist Paul Klee. A cat, squirrel, bird and turtle characters create the feel of the music.

This attractively animated collection of lively songs and rhyming games is a great opportunity to have fun with language! Written in both English and Spanish, this playful book expands your word game repertoire.

This poetic tribute to Langston Hughes introduces the poet and the time in which he lived and worked. An author’s note provides information about Hughes’ life and will likely generate interest in Hughes’ poetry. Stylized illustrations complement this unique story.

The tale of herdsman Ki-pat is set on a dry African plain and is told in the familiar cadence of “The House that Jack Built”. Animals are introduced, tension builds and the resolution pours forth as the rhyme builds. Stylized illustrations create place and mood in this engaging verse.

Before there was Dr. Seuss, there was nonsense poetry by Edward Lear. This Lear poem has been adapted and newly illustrated with handsome, colorful illustrations on uncluttered pages. The rhyming sounds for the letters from A and Z and all of the energetic, appealing letters in between are a delight when read aloud.

As he sits on the edge of his bed and peers out the window, a young boy wonders what is making the noise outside as he tries to sleep. It could be a cow and her calf, or many other things on the farm, but ultimately, the child sleeps; only the reader realizes it is a cat that has created the noise. Poetic text and luminous illustrations present a graceful story.

Take-offs of Mother Goose rhymes are the subject in this third read aloud/read together book. Color-coded text indicates when each of two readers should read alone or together. Comic cartoon-like illustrations romp across and through each double page poetic tale.

These short poems are an eclectic menagerie of animals illustrated with sophisticated, semi-abstract, and animated paintings. Filled with snappy word play, this book is sure to delight readers who will meet both the familiar and the exotic in this engaging zoo.

Stunning color photographs and poems combine to pay homage to some of the “world’s enduring man-made constructions” while introducing a range of poetic forms. The result is a memorable collection of visual art, information, and literary art sure to stand up to multiple examinations.

Spare text and highly textured rice paper illustrations combine in an unusual format to provide a glimpse of China, the creator’s homeland. Chinese characters placed on each page add to the poetry of the entire book.

Everyone has had a moment or a day in which nothing seems to be going right. These short, gently illustrated poems not only recall some of these uncomfortable moments, but are sure to help readers recognize the humor in them.

Rhymes, games and even insults have been part of an oral tradition as long as there have been children, outdoor activities and playgrounds (remember “Liar, liar, pants on fire…”or “I’m rubber, you’re glue….”?). These lively ditties combine with humorous illustrations for a contemporary and playful look at a shared childhood tradition.

Zuri and Danitra are best friends, but have very different responses to school from first day jitters all the way to the halfway mark of the school year. Poems combine with luminous watercolors to chronicle the girls’ range of experiences and concerns.

A collection of poetry conveys the joys of a young girl.

Sly humor and tricky truths emerge from each rhyme in this genuinely humorous collection as each poem reminds children and adults of their behaviors and foibles. Black line drawings accompany each imaginative verse which begs to be shared aloud.

Celebrate Mother’s Day every day. This celebration of the bond between mothers and their babies can be shared at naptime or bedtime or whenever it is time to say “I love you.”

All the glorious, spooky, swoopy delights of Halloween congregate on one street for one perfectly bone-chilling night in Caldecott Honor artist Denise Fleming’s splendid Pumpkin Eye. Gorgeous, thick pulp paintings depict jack-o’-lanterns, bats, dragons, and toothless hags, while clever, memorable rhymes capture the very essence of Halloween: “Trick or treat, pounding feet, wretched witches roam the street.”