Off to First Grade by Louise Borden - ESSENTIAL

Borden, Louise Off to First Grade, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2008. PICTURE BOOK

Pre-K, EL (K-3) -ESSENTIAL

Using free-verse poems, Borden gives little snapshots of each child's or school staff member's experience on the first day of first grade-from leaving mom to wondering about the new teacher. 

This is a fantastic first-day-of-school book; it clearly expresses all of the many feelings that kids, parents, and teachers initially have. The sweet pictures and appealing verse made me wish I had a first grader to enjoy it with me. 

Kami, Children's Librarian

A Pipkin of Pepper by Helen Cooper - OPTIONAL

Cooper, Helen A Pipkin of Pepper. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2005.

Pre-K - OPTIONAL

Duck has made the perfect pumpkin soup, except it needs a bit of salt. Duck convinces Cat and Squirrel to let him go into the city with them, but Duck is distracted by a shop of pepper and finds himself lost in the big city.

This is a reprint in paperback from the original. The young animals are adorable; the big city of fun and bustling. The story is a little odd, but when you are young, sometimes the pictures are more important than the plot.

Cindy - Library-Teacher

Pink! by Lynne Rickards and Margaret Chamberlain - ADVISABLE

Pink! by Lynne Rickins, illustrated by Margaret Chamberlain. Chicken House (Scholastic), January 2009.

PreK, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

Patrick Penguin has woken up PINK! His mom takes him to the doctor and they decide that Patrick may feel best living with a flock of penguins. Patrick makes his solo trip to Africa and tries his best, but decides that even pink, he still is a penguin.

Okay, so I adore penguins! But Patrick's plight is compelling (how can a boy be Pink!), the line drawings are adorable, and how can anyone resist a penguin.

Cindy - Library-Teacher

Crocodile Safari by Jim Aronsky - ADVISABLE

Aronsky, Jim Crocodile Safari. Scholastic, March 2009.

EL, MS - ADVISABLE

Jim Arnosky and his wife took a trip to the Florida Everglades to research and film crocodiles for this book. Their adventures become the centerpiece for the facts about crocs in America; it adds that spice to what could have been just a traditional non-fiction book. The pages are packed with facts, and Arnosky's paintings complement the text with an earthy feeling.

Cindy - Library-Teacher

Tillie Lays an Egg by Terry Golson - ADVISABLE

Golson, Terry Tillie Lays an Egg, with photographs by Ben Fink. PICTURE BOOK. Scholastic, 2009.

Pre K - ADVISABLE

All of the other hens take turns laying their eggs in the nesting boxes. Tilly, however, lays her eggs wherever she is at the moment. Can you find Tillie's eggs through the week?

The author uses her own chickens (yes, Tillie did inspire the book), with great photos that are propped with Golson's own stuff. The find-the-egg is perfect for little ones with quick minds and excited eyes.

Cindy - Library-Teacher

Boo Hoo Bird by Jeremy Tankard - ADVISABLE

Tankard, Jeremy Boo Hoo Bird. Scholastic, 2009. PICTURE BOOK.

Pre-K - ADVISABLE

Bird and Racoon are playing a game of catch when Bird gets bonked on the head. Nothing the wide group of friends comes up with seems to cure Birds boo-boo. Then something happens to startle Bird right out of the hurt.

Parents will see their little ones in this book. The vibrant colors will catch their child's eye and they will certainly have sympathy with Bird's hurt.

Cindy - Library-Teacher

Madeline and the Cats of Rome by John Bemelmans Marciano - ADVISABLE

Marciano, John Bemelmans Madeline and the Cats of Rome. Viking (Penguin), 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

EL - ADVISABLE

Madeline and the girls leave Paris for the sights and sounds of Rome. When the nun's camera is stolen, Madeline picks up the chase and loses herself in the sideways and byways of the bustling city. A gypsy-like girl seems to be her nemesis and challenge.

Ludwig Bemelman's grandson has picked up the Madeline torch and carried the little girl to new sights and fine adventures. I think we will see many more new books in the Madeline series, well worth reading.

Cindy - Library-Teacher

South by Patrick McDonnell - ESSENTIAL

McDonnell, Patrick South. Little, Brown, 2008. WORDLESS PICTURE BOOK.

EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL

Without a single word, McDonnell tells a poignant story of a lost little bird and the cat who befriends her. I don't think this book can get any cuter than this!

Cindy - Library-Teacher

Starlight Goes to Town by Harry Allard - ESSENTIAL

Allard, Harry Starlight Goes to Town, pictures by George Booth. Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

EL - ESSENTIAL

Starlight (aka Ethel Fae) feels too big for the henhouse and barnyard, so when her fairy godmother (chicken) arrives, she follows her dreams in a very unusual way (I am not giving it away). Across the ocean and back to the states, Starlight dreams large and finds a way to get the life she wants. This book is too, too funny!! The whole story is fresh and Starlight's antics in the pictures are priceless. I can see her having her own Saturday morning cartoon.

Cindy - Library-Teacher

Wish by Roseanne Thong - ADVISABLE

Thong, Roseanne Wish, art by Elisa Kleven. Chronicle, 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

EL - ADVISABLE

Children from all over the world frolic and play and caper across brightly colored pages, while, in that special way unique to their city, country or culture, make a wish for happy things.

I have to admit the children and the pictures are my favorite part of this book. But I can totally see an elementary teacher building an lesson around this information . There is extra info at the end of the book explaining each celebration a bit more and also a fun hidden picture challenge.

Cindy - Library-Teacher

Walt Disney's Alice in Wonderful by John Scieszka - ESSENTIAL

Scieszka, John Walt Disney's Alice in Wonderland, pictures by Mary Blair. PICTURE BOOK. Disney Press (Hyperion), 2008.

EL - ESSENTIAL

Scieszka takes Lewis Carroll's brilliant novel and distills its essence, making it accessible for the youngest of readers or listeners, without having to even resort to the movie. Mary Blair is my favorite Disney artist - while she has passed away, reams of her art still exists in Disney archives and all over the park. Her original drawings helped set the look for the movie and while her pictures are not copies of the film, her personality shines through.

I would buy this for my own collection just because it has Blair's name on it, but read it again and again for Scieszka's wry sense of humor and his spin of the original.

Cindy - Library-Teacher

The Day Leo Said I Hate You! by Robie H. Harris - ESSENTIAL

Harris, Robie H. The Day Leo Said I Hate You! Illustrated by Molly Bang. PICTURE BOOK. Little, Brown, 2008.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

Leo is so tired for his mommy saying NO to everything he does to entertain himself, so when he reaches his boiling point, he screams out "I hate You!" Immediately, he feels awful; but a loving mom helps him find a way to say "I'm sorry." Younger readers may not always know how to handle their emotions, and this title is a great way to illicit talk at school or home.

Cindy - Library-Teacher