Books by Theme
April Delights
April is a month of celebrations. Seeds, bunnies, and birds are on the move. Read about a bird that makes its new home in an unusual place and about animals as they splash in and around ponds and the farm. Join a fancy féte or two. And since April is also National Poetry Month, look for a favorite poem to read together from one of these collections. Whether you pick a poem or a poetically told tale, make the month special by sharing a book or two with someone.
Birdsongs
From start to finish, the day is filled with birdsongs. Realistic, richly textured collages of familiar birds combine with lyrical language as the reader counts down their specific sounds. A bit of information about each bird concludes this multifaceted book.
Fancy Nancy: Bonjour Butterfly
Fans of the young girl who likes fancy everything — from words to clothing — will appreciate her angst when she must miss her friend Bree's butterfly-themed birthday party. Instead, Nancy must attend her grandparents' special anniversary celebration. Detailed line and wash illustrations and fancy (but clear) language create a memorable tale.
Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move
The many ways seeds get to where they can grow is revealed in poetic language enhanced by understandable illustrations. Though the information is brief, the sound of the words makes this a unique introduction to this cycle in nature.
Here's a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry
A young child's world is presented in a variety of poems, each illustrated with verve and humor. The large pages support the well-organized collection sure to be appreciated by young children and the adults who share the poems with them.
Little Green Frogs
As each page unfolds, readers see frog eggs gradually change into frogs. By the time the grown frogs go off, readers realize that the pages have unfolded to create a frog-filled blue pond with lily pads. This unusual book playfully introduces the growth of frogs.
On the Farm
Short verse and dynamic woodcut illustration combine to reveal characteristics of farm animals, from rooster to rabbit with lots in between. Allusions are intriguing and playful ("The Bees/Tell their story,/sweet and old./It begins in clover;/it ends in gold.") and may inspire other activities.
Scoot
Six silent turtles sit still as stones while life at the pond swirls all around them — until the turtles are startled and they "suddenly speed away!" Vibrant language combines with textured illustrations that scamper and flutter across richly colored pages. In the endnote, the author shares where and what she observes from her tree house.
The Bunnies' Trip
Each member of the Bunny family has a job to do as they prepare for their trip. The challenges of packing and walking are forgotten when they arrive at the family reunion and the fun starts! Children and adults will see themselves in this colorfully illustrated rhyming tale.
There Is a Bird on Your Head!
When a bird builds its nest on Elephant's head, his buddy Piggie suggests that Elephant simply ask the bird to move to another location. The bird honors Elephant's polite request and takes up residence on Piggie's head! Humor abounds in the understated text and simple illustrations of this easy-to-read book.
Wee Little Chick
It was spring in the barnyard and the wee little chick … was not only brand new but the smallest of all his brothers and sisters. That didn't stop him from doing his best — and being just right for his Mama Hen. Soft illustrations complement the gentle text.
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