Every day, young children and their families can celebrate familiar things and activities in this sturdy, handsome, and appealing collection of 30 poems. Each short piece by a range of poets is about food, family, firsts, play and bedtime, creating a memorable collection just right for the youngest listener.
Lullaby and Kisses Sweet: Poems to Love with Your Baby
A blue alien arrives on a farm, “Blip, stop! Zot, wazzzzdot?” he wonders. Young readers will readily recognize the silhouette of a pig but will exclaim with the alien when the page turns. Lively illustrations and clipped language leaps and jumps across the pages as the exploration continues.
Waz Dot?
Blip, a round red creature on open pages, has one goal: to get to the bar with numbers on it — but he needs the readers’ help. Count down from five to one as the book is shaken and tilted to get to the surprise at the end — a new (very purple) friend.
Tap to Play
“Outside, snow falls silently on the house. Inside a boy has nothing to do.” That is, until he bundles up and creates an entire world in the snow. The soft lines and changing colors beautifully illustrate the magic of imagination in a wintry world.
Outside
To begin the family frolic, the bald, comically illustrated but appealing baby asserts, “I am NOT ticklish!” Father and child are joined by mom and pets until it’s time to start again. The same baby and family explore bodily noises in Toot (opens in a new window) (Candlewick).
Tickle
Rhythmic language and colorful cartoon-like illustrations show children engaged in a variety of activities that create happiness. From “the city zoo/zooming planes/chugging trains” to “garbagemen/a good friend/peekaboo” children and their adults will see themselves in this joy-filled book that is sure to be shared aloud.
100 Things That Make Me Happy
Join a diverse group of young children through winter, spring, summer and autumn in simple rhyming text and play-filled, mixed media illustrations. Rhyming words evoke the sound of each season that will read well aloud.
Boom Boom
What causes the remote, or just one sock to disappear? Dr. Zooper provides the answers in his guide to the Mischevians. Young artists can add to the list of these silly critters as they laugh and share this pseudo-serious take on why things disappear.
The Mischievians
Dots abound in lots of colors all around, everywhere and every day. Some are heavy, others are light; some are even edible. This color-filled, playful, cheery look at everyday things in which dots are seen is sure to inspire creative examinations of the world around.
Lots of Dots
There are faces all around. They can be seen in everyday things, like a chair. And they can be made from fruits and vegetables, tools and what is found in the garden. When imaginations are let loose, there are all kinds of faces to see and to make! Cheerful collages made from different materials are sure to inspire creativity and making faces.
Let’s Make Faces
Chubby-cheeked toddlers come in colorful carriers with their families to stand, crawl and more in a parade of babies! Sweet, diverse children celebrate the day and its activities in simple words and soft, appealing illustration.
Baby Parade
Little T is afraid to go to the zoo. To convince her that it’ll be just fine, both parents and older sister try to identify the cause of the fear. Miming an animal that starts with an “A” begins their creative afternoon. A very funny and satisfying ending is revealed only in the delightful illustration.
FraidyZoo
There are things to do indoors and outside. But the inside goes outside and the reverse with cutouts on pages in this attractive wordless book. Simple lines and flat colors are appealing on brown paper, and encourage careful — and multiple — examinations.
Inside Outside
The frumpy Frazzle family is very forgetful. They forget most things including pants and umbrellas — until Aunt Rosemary comes to help them out. Watercolor illustrations appear slapdash but complement the laugh-filled, list-filled telling for a satisfying saga.
The Frazzle Family Finds a Way
Jesse wants a book from the floating library/bookstore that visits his town. Though he has worked and saved money, Jesse wonders if it will be sufficient. Art evokes the story’s 19th century setting, inspired by an article about early barges from the author’s hometown.
The Book Boat’s In
They can be observed anywhere; in fact, “You don’t have to go anywhere fancy to watch birds!” The informative, informal and playful guide encourages close observation and identification as well as tips for recording and finding out more about these ubiquitous creatures.
Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard
It’s hard to resist babies and baby toes which are “a hundred times sweeter than one could suppose.” A sweet, rhyming homage to babies, families, and a lifetime of affection is presented here with textured, softly colored illustrations.
Ten Tiny Toes
An imaginative child shares her pleasure in old clothing, repurposing them and finding joy in imagining the history, mystery surrounding them. Soft, expressive illustrations accompany the lively rhythmic, rhyming text.
I Like Old Clothes
On each sturdy, oversized page appear numerous pictures and labels generally grouped by subject such as music and musical instruments, things that go, etc. Though small, the illustrations are distinct and clear, often with a story imbedded.
The Big Book of Words and Pictures
A cheerful, much loved baby hears everyday sounds when at play, on a walk outdoors, and in the car. Even the youngest child will enjoy sharing this sweet, simple book with an adult.
Baby Sounds
Lydia tires of her electronic devices while her parents and brother are enmeshed in theirs. A small leaf beckons the girl outdoors, propelling her into an imaginative outdoor adventure. Sure to start conversations among plugged-in family members, this genial fantasy is playful and light.
Hello! Hello!
Words are everywhere and so, too, are poems; that is, if you know how to look. Those included in this small, illustrated anthology have been compiled from words in likely and unlikely locations to present a range of topics, sure to inspire young readers to find poems of their own.
The Arrow Finds Its Mark: A Book of Found Poems
For a bilingual girl and her mamá , a loving bond is about being together…and independent. Arthur Dorros’s skillful and subtle blend of English and Spanish narrative, illustrated with bold, striking paintings by award-winning artist Rudy Gutierrez, offers readers a poignant reminder that every day with Mamá is sweet.
Mama and Me
Children share Ollie’s school day beginning with getting dressed for school (will he wear a bathing suit? A space suit? A police officer’s uniform? Shirt and pants?) as well as everyday activities until the he gets home. Young listeners will laugh as they participate in this inviting, comical, and lively presentation.