Chicks and Salsa by Aaron Reynolds, illus. by Paulette Bogan

Tired of their usual diet of chicken feed, the chickens of Nuthatcher Farm creep into the nearby vegetable garden and gather up the ingredients for salsa.  Inspired by the chickens, the ducks prepare guacamole for supper and the pigs give up their slop for nachos.  No one is sure where these barnyard residents manage to [...]

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Loretta Ace Pinky Scout by Keith Graves

Merit badges for shoelace tying, punctuality, campfire in a hurricane and power napping are all proudly displayed on the Pinky Sash of Loretta, Ace Pinky Scout.  Only the golden marshmallow badge stands between Loretta and perfection.  The annual tri-county Marshmallow Trials are the only way to earn the golden marshmallow badge, and the trials are [...]

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I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont, illus. by David Caltrow

When Mama catches her son painting pictures on the floor, ceiling, walls, and curtains, she declares, “Ya ain’t a-gonna paint no more!” Unfortunately for Mama, her boy retrieves his hidden art supplies and resumes painting, starting with his own head. With each page turn the illustrations become more and more colorful, just like the young [...]

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Yum! Yum! Delicious Nursery Rhymes by Joanne Fitzgerald

Nursery rhymes are the ideal first literature for small children who respond to the rhythm and rhyme. But continue to share Mother Goose with older children. They will enjoy the imaginative word play and the fun situations of nursery rhyme characters. This is especially true when the rhymes are beautifully illustrated and feature a theme. [...]

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This Little Piggy And Other Rhymes To Sing and Play by Jane Yolen, illus. by Will Hillenbrand

Here is a book that allows you to combine physical closeness, pre-literacy exercises, and play all at the same time. Jane Yolen is the editor of this large-format book of lap songs, finger plays, clapping games, and pantomime rhymes. The activities are arranged from those for the tiniest baby to those for toddlers. Ms. Yolen [...]

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One Small Place by the Sea by Barbara Brenner, illus. Tom Leonard

Who doesn’t like the seashore?  Maybe you and your little one are afraid of the big waves.  But, have you ever explored a tide pool by the sea?  Barbara Brenner’s poetic prose about this exotic natural habitat will make one want to drop everything and run to the shore to explore.  With gentle humor and [...]

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Wonderful Worms by Linda Glaser, illus. by Loretta Krupinski

Worms are wonderful? “Yech” is my usual reaction to these critters. This first person account of the earthworm, however, is so cute and so informative, I will probably try to look at worms in a different light. Linda Glaser and Loretta Krupinski show positive inclinations toward this useful dirt digger. Miss Krupinski’s illustrations are, well, [...]

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Arnosky’s Ark by Jim Arnosky

Who can resist the beautiful illustrations of Jim Arnosky? His picture books delight toddlers and preschoolers as they explore the natural habitats of animals including the otter, the deer, and the alligator. Mr. Arnosky excels at nonfiction for little ones too. His Arnosky’s Ark, while dazzling is also arresting with stunning drawings of animals in [...]

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A Dandelion’s life by John Himmelman

What happens to the fluff of a dandelion when you blow on it? First it goes floating off into the air carrying its valuable cargo of seeds. But then the excitement begins. It hitches a ride in a chipmunk’s fur. Then it is dropped! But the ground is welcoming and one of the seeds in [...]

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What’s Wrong, Little Pookie? by Sandra Boynton

Sandra Boynton’s children’s books are classics, and there are a lot of Boynton books to love, but my favorite (aside from the out of print Goodnight, Goodnight) is What’s Wrong, Little Pookie.  Poor Pookie is sad, and it’s up to his mom to figure out why.  She names a few things that could be bothering [...]

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