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When young Amelia’s dad gets an extra week of vacation from work, they go on a special family vacation — roaming — all recorded in Amelia Bedelia’s faithfully kept journal. Her literalist tendencies are humorous and portend the housekeeper she grows into in later books.

Math is all around when the Bird brothers, Woody, Willy, Wilmer, Wendell and Walter compete at games, eat hot dogs, and ride the Ferris wheel at a carnival. Comic illustrations combine with words and numerals to highlight the brothers’ alliterative tale while illuminating basic math concepts.

A boy recalls when he was “frightened by numbers” with an “allergic reaction/to multiplication  … addition … subtraction.” The narrator ultimately diminishes his fear and the creepy clown-like monster when he realizes how important and fun math can be. Richly-hued illustrations for this cautionary tale are oversized, sitting atop the rhyming text.

Simple rhymes combine with crisp, uncluttered photographs to ask (and answer visually as well as with numerals) simple questions that are answered with subtraction. Number sentences (e.g., 8 - 2=6) are also included for each as are clever asides or additional information on each double page spread.

Ten princess tales are retold in verse accompanied by highly detailed illustrations that encourage close examination. The lush illustrations place princesses in unique settings, affirming their universal appeal. “The Princess and the Frog”, for example, is set in China; the princess whose sleep is disturbed by a single pea under many mattresses appears in an African county.

A prairie chicken named Mary McBlinken, “heard a rumbling and a grumbling and a tumbling” fearing that “a stampede’s a comin’!” Others join her to alert Cowboy Stan and Red Dog Dan to the impending danger. Almost sidetracked by a tricky coyote, Stan and Dan save the day and stop the rumbling of Mary’s tummy. A take-off of “Chicken Little” is made even more humorous by rib-tickling illustrations.

When Nelly May takes a job as housekeeper for Lord Ignasius Pinkwinkle, she must learn a new vocabulary. Lord Pinkwinkle becomes “Most Excellent of All Masters,” his bed a “restful slumberific” and so on — until she must put it all together to save the Master and his home. Jauntily illustrated, a fresh version of an old English tale is sure to engage children.

Poems intended for two voices celebrate nature and how its creatures are interrelated. Seeds helicopter, hitchhike and travel by bird; worms snack; snails leave trails and more in playful verses made more accessible by the large, colorful, almost whimsical illustrations.

Rich language and inspired collage illustrations are used to present 16 imaginative creatures, each combining the familiar and exceptional. Meet “Slobsters” that are “…slovenly/SLOBSTERS are crude…”, “Jollyfish” with infectious humor and “buoyant effervescence”, and many more.

What’s a “wordle”? The title uses wordles. “Reindeer” and “rain dear” are wordles. Get it? Readers will be inspired to make up their own as they go through the clever language and comically illustrated wordles presented.

The original form of poetry (introduced in Mirror Mirror (opens in a new window)) is again used to present different perspectives on the same topic. Characters large and small — from the Emperor in a birthday suit to tiny Thumbelina — a clever form and lush illustrations bring well known characters into focus.

Willy’s barbeque is about the best around, even attracting green, 3-eyed, barbeque-loving aliens! Laughs abound in the rhyming tale and swirling, understated illustrations and its surprise ending.

Mary’s little lamb is well known, but Maria lives in Peru and has a fleecy llama. The well-known cadence in English and Spanish and fresh illustrations present the familiar in a lively new setting.

A bee sounds like “BUZZ’ in English, but “SURR’ in Swedish and “ZZZ’ in Italian. Many animals sounds from different countries (with a national flag) are presented in lighthearted illustrations and large typeface.

Stunning, realistic illustrations of frogs and onomatopoeic language combine to present frogs and their songs from around the world. A brief warning about threats to frogs’ environments and additional information conclude this engaging book just right to read aloud.

The seasons of a year are presented in realistic illustrations and thoughtful, evocative haikus. A brief note about the form is followed by a final poem: “Earth circles the sun/spinning a tapestry of/days, months, seasons — life.”

Unique observances for everything from rats to limericks are celebrated in a variety of poems and poetic forms. When combined with comic illustrations, the lighthearted collection is sure to keep readers chuckling from cover to cover.

Textured borders contain each double-page illustration which places the familiar cumulative song on an African savannah. Rebuses are included in the body of the book and again in a key; music is also included to make this version ideal for sharing.

Circles, squares, triangles, ovals and stars are all around! The rhyming text incorporates Spanish words which are defined in illustrations reminiscent of folk art. A glossary of Spanish words concludes this engaging glimpse into Mexican culture.

Stripes are found in nature in a variety of flora and fauna in many habitats. From exotic to domestic, revel in observing stripes in carefully crafted illustrations and lyrical text. Additional information and a playful call to match animal with stripe ends this handsome volume.

Rain spoils Max and Ruby (and friends) outdoor plans but their clever grandmother’s treasure hunt more than makes up for it. Clues in the form of traditional rhymes are numbered, hidden beneath small but sturdy flaps as well as in the spot art are sure to make this a modern classic.

Homographs make sense in context. A word wall of words that are spelled alike but are pronounced differently (depending on the context in which they are used) may be developed inspired by this funny animal-filled “zoo.”

A cumulative poem (in the cadence of “The House that Jack Built”) chronicles the work and life of Mexican potter, Juan Quezada. Words could center around the culture, the potting process, or art & artists.

There are many kinds of sounds. Use this book as a jumping off point for loud sounds, onomatopoeic sounds, or use The Quiet Book (Houghton) for the opposite of loud. These books might also inspire a word wall for emotions (e.g., how does this kind of quiet/loud make you feel?).