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Summer Reading
2010 Big Summer Read
Recommended Books for 0-3 Year Olds
It's never too early to start reading to children. Whether you stay close to home or travel to distant places be sure to include a book or more in your satchel! Many of these books appeal to older children, too.
Browse through the recommended books below or download the guide as a one-page handout you can easily take to the library or store.
- Download the 2010 guide for 0-3 year olds (340K PDF)*
Three concept books have been combined in a newly formatted and highly appealing wordless board book featuring Lionni's signature mice. Readers are sure to find lots to talk about, from colors to counting to mice embracing letters of the alphabet as they examine the uncluttered, child-sized, durable, and appealing pages.
Fathers often have special names for their children. Each nickname is a fitting one, giving a hint as to what characterizes the young one and his parent. The human dad calls his child Doodlebug, while a snail's father calls it "Goo-and-Go." Soft illustrations convey affection and playfulness between parents and children.
A little girl asks about her mother's activities, from feeding and sheering the sheep to knitting a warm sweater. Patterned, rhythmic language with gentle rhymes and winning illustrations provide a satisfying glimpse of farm life and a warm mother/daughter relationship.
From morning to nighttime, a small kitten explores a farm. At the end of the day, a tired young cat returns home to rest, sleep, and dream. A simple, rhythmic staccato text and textured collage illustrations are used to convey the pleasure in everyday adventures.
Rounded corners and carefully crafted half (or cut) pages introduce and hide various animals that stomp, prowl, stroll and scuttle across the pages of this book. Each animal is endangered though there's plenty more to engage young readers. Animal facts are included, as are child-accessible activities to help.
Count and feel the five smooth rubber ducks as one by one they go into the bathtub and touch the soft baby animals as they meow, woof, and peep in these simply illustrated, sturdy books. Crisp illustrations and minimal language make these ideal to share with the youngest child.
See also: Counting Duckies
Round faced children watch animals prepare for bedtime in this soothing tale in a newly illustrated edition of an earlier book by Margaret Wise Brown. The alphabet is used as the device to countdown from A to children who "…zip into bed,/not another peep/go to sleep!"
When the day is over, a young rabbit cuddles with a parent to let the dreams begin. Soft illustrations combine with a calm, rhythmic, rhyming text to quiet young ones who share the tranquil appreciation of nature and nighttime as they drift off to a cozy sleep.
When Goose and Bear are joined by Fox, Bear feels left out. It is up to Goose to mediate and find a way for old and new friends to play together — which they happily do! With straightforward language and charming illustrations, Goose and Bear are back for another everyday adventure familiar to many children.
Basic shapes are introduced on one side of each sturdy double page spread; on the opposing side, die-cuts hint at what is hidden. Lift the flap to see the shape in an easily recognizable object. A similar approach is used to introduce basic colors in both of these interactive books sure to hold up to small, rough hands.
See also: What Color Is Your Apple?
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