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Reading Rockets offers a wealth of reading strategies, lessons, and activities designed to help young children learn how to read and read better. Our reading resources assist parents, teachers, and other educators in working with struggling readers who require additional help in reading fundamentals and comprehension skills development.
 

Summer Reading

2009 Big Summer Read

Recommended Books for 0-3 Year Olds

It's never too early to start reading to children. It's also a great way to engage very young children anywhere, any time, and make children feel at home, even when traveling.


A Garden of Opposites
A Garden of Opposites
By: Nancy Davis
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

Simple, colorful graphics are used to illustrate paired opposites seen in a garden: short caterpillar and long snake; mama bird asleep, hatched eggs awake, and more, until a final foldout encourages readers to identify even more.

Beep Beep
Beep Beep
By: Petr Horacek
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

What better way for a family to travel to grandma's house than by jumping in their yellow car? Though the town, over the crosswalk, down the hill — to their destination: "Beep! Beep!"

Cat
Cat
By: Matthew Van Fleet
Illustrated by: Brian Stanton
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

There are all kinds of cats — cool, copy, striped, furry, bald, and more. They're shown in all their glory in full color photographs on sturdy, interactive pages that can be touched, unfolded, etc. Playful language and silly humor create a broadly appealing book.

Choo Choo
Choo Choo
By: Petr Horacek
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

A train of children "chuff" and "choo choo" down the tracks, through a tunnel, and into the sun — until they get to the beach. "Hooray!"

I Know a Lot of Things
I Know a Lot of Things
By: Ann Rand & Paul Rand
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

All children know a lot of things like when "I look in a mirror/what I see is me" and that they will continue to grow and learn. Poetic, child-like realizations combine with strong, uncluttered graphics to affirm and maybe even instruct.

Maisy Bakes a Cake
Maisy Bakes a Cake
By: Lucy Cousins
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

Maisy takes to the kitchen in an apron and with washed hands to bake a cake in this interactive and informative book. She gathers ingredients, measures, mixes, bakes, and decorates. Then best of all, she shares it with her friend!

Oscar and the Bat: A Book about Sound
Oscar and the Bat: A Book about Sound
By: Geoff Waring
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

Oscar, a young cat, learns from his friend Bat that "our ears help us know what's around us, even when our eyes can't." Thus begins a fascinating sound adventure filled with information in an attractive format.

Planet Earth: Baby Penguins
Planet Earth: Baby Penguins
By: Quinlan B. Lee
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

This appealing, sturdy book presents photographs of emperor penguin chicks (and adults) going about their daily business of fishing, cuddling, and generally taking care of one another. It is sure to create warm feelings regardless of the snowy landscape.

Please Pick Me Up, Mama!
Please Pick Me Up, Mama!
By: Robin Luebs
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

A young raccoon seeks attention from her ever-patient mother. She wants to be held then put down throughout their day together, until the youngster whispers "good night." Soft illustrations in warm hues show their cozy world and affectionate relationship.

Seymour & Henry
Seymour & Henry
By: Kim Lewis
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

When their mother tells them their day of play is about to end, two ducklings run away — "pit-a-pat" — until it starts to rain. Gentle illustrations depict the appealing toy duck family.

Shake It Up, Baby!
Shake It Up, Baby!
By: Karen Katz
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

Chubby, rounded children in bright colors whish and swish, shake and bang in this sturdy board book with its built-in rattle. The rattle adds to the playfulness, though the language alone will get the young children moving.

The I Love You Book
The I Love You Book
By: Todd Parr
Age Level: 0-3
Reading Level: Pre-Reader

A heart shaped cut out on the front cover invites readers into the book in which child-like illustrations in primary colors depict adults' unconditional love for children. Round-faced, smiling adults love them when they are shy or sharing, stinky or squeaky clean.

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