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Books as Gifts

2004 Holiday Buying Guide


Recommended Books for 4-5 Year Olds

Your presence is always the best present! The books below are great to share with preschoolers and kindergarteners. Ten of the books are ones that emergent readers may enjoy reading on their own. The other eight books, with their engaging stories and playful language, are especially recommended for sharing with a parent or other caring adult.

Books to read on their own

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Books to read with you

Brown Angels: An Album of Pictures and Verse
Brown Angels: An Album of Pictures and Verse
By: Walter Dean Myers
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Join acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers in a heartwarming celebration of African-American childhood. Sharing favorites from his collection of long-forgotten, turn-of-the-century photographs, and punctuating them with his own moving poetry, Mr. Myers has created a beautiful album that reminds us that "the child in each of us is our most precious part."

Bunny Mail
Bunny Mail
By: Rosemary Wells
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

When Ruby sends out invitations to a party, Max sends out his own which are delivered to Grandma. Children are encouraged to participate by lifting the flaps in this sturdy, colorful book. They'll try to figure out the meaning of Max’s messages and may even be inspired to write their own letters in this latest Max and Ruby jaunt.

Duck, Duck, Goose!  A Coyote's on the Loose!
Duck, Duck, Goose! A Coyote's on the Loose!
By: Karen Beaumont
Illustrated by: Ariane Dewey
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

The ducks and goose start the animals' frenzied flight when they see a mostly hidden animal and exclaim, "A coyote's on the loose!" Colorful, comic illustrations culminate in a house in a rain storm where the "coyote" turns out to be a small white rabbit.

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
By: Kevin Henkes
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

When Lilly continues to show off her much-loved purple plastic purse and its contents in class, Mr. Slinger — an astute and stylish teacher — puts it away for the day. Lilly's anger toward her once favorite teacher comes out in a mean letter for which she ultimately repents.

My Father's Dragon
My Father's Dragon
By: Ruth Stiles Gannett
Illustrated by: Ruth Chrisman Gannett
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

An author's note from Ruth Stiles Gannett, now 85 years old, provides background for this modern classic. In honor of its 60th anniversary, the fantastic tale of the boy who sets out to find his father is a bit larger with colorful endpages but otherwise unchanged.

Ramona the Pest
Ramona the Pest
By: Beverly Cleary
Illustrated by: Tracy Dockray
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader

Ramona loves kindergarten and her wonderful teacher, Miss Binney. But even the best teacher and the most enthusiastic kindergartner can have a rough day or so. This leads to laughs for readers as they empathize with Ramona, who can be rather a pest and perhaps the first-ever kindergarten dropout.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
By: Michael Rosen
Illustrated by: Helen Oxenbury
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

A father and his four children share an adventure through fields, over rivers and more. They go — and hastily return with a lumbering bear chasing them! Language lilts and repeats as the adventure unfolds, enhanced by clever illustrations.

Where The Wild Things Are
Where The Wild Things Are
By: Maurice Sendak
Age Level: 3-6
Reading Level: Beginning Reader

Max's temper gets him sent to his room where he takes a journey to the land of the Wild Things. There he regains control but wants to return to where he is loved best of all and so travels back into the night to his very own room.

Proceeds from the sale of books purchased at Amazon.com help support the Reading Rockets project. Thank you!

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