Book Finder

As they make cupcakes, a group of messy warthogs count to ten then eat their work and end with zero. Energetic, cartoon-like illustrations and a lively, rhyming text result in a slapstick comedy that may inspire an attempt to try one of the recipes included.

As you might imagine, there are great risks in bringing your mouse to school. For starters, he’ll ask you for your lunchbox. And then a sandwich. And a snack for later. Still not satisfied, he’ll want to participate in everything from math to soccer.

When a spaceship crashes nearby, Possum goes to explore and discovers Alien, a cautious creature in a nicely rounded space suit, who overcomes his initial suspicions to become Possum’s pal. A springy pace, lively dialogue, and Alien’s silly sound effects make this an ideal read-aloud.

In a story of the Ila people of Zambia, the colorful birds of Africa ask Blackbird, whom they think is the most beautiful of birds, to decorate them with some of his “blackening brew.” The story line is simple and the rhythmic chants of the flock frequently interspersed throughout the text add drama and a rapper’s cadence to this award-winning book that is ready-made for participative storytelling.

Bunny siblings, Max and Ruby, want to get their grandmother the perfect present. Ruby’s full wallet slowly empties as their shopping expeditions require a trip to the Laundromat, a snack and more! Young readers can copy endpapers with funny bunny money to “spend” and count along with the indomitable Max and Ruby.

Chato and Novio Boy are the coolest cats in their East Los Angeles barrio. When a family of mice moves next door to Chato, he invites them to dinner. He’s going to eat them for dinner, but the mice bring a friend along to surprise Chato and foil his plans. The text and pictures show the funny situation and the satisfying solution. In English sprinkled with Spanish.

This colorful cut-out book, winner of a Caldecott Honor, is a magical manipulation of shapes that turns a lion into a goat, an ox into a monkey, and a tiger into a mouse. These are just a few of the transformations that are made using only nine shapes and 16 shades of color.

A young pup expresses the joy he and his dad share when his dad comes home from work. The energetic duo do lots of things together, from cooking to fixing things. Young readers will empathize with the boy and his dad who are shown as charming floppy-eared dogs in the animated illustrations.

Daisy, a winsome young duck, never looses faith that her new sibling will emerge from the egg, despite her mother’s warning that some eggs just don’t hatch. Daisy’s perseverance pays off when her new brother Pip finally pokes his way out of the shell. Cozy illustrations capture Daisy’s child-like confidence in an appealing story of determination and loyalty.

When Duck decides to try riding a bike, the other farmanimals scoff at him – that is, until a group of kidsleave their bikes unattended. Expressiveillustrations use different perspectives to show theanimals gleefully riding the bikes around the barnyardin this imaginative and funny romp.

As the seasons change, a large black bear prepares for hibernation. In his search for a den, he startles a bobcat, a grouse, and other smaller animals. Striking watercolors and brief text, drawn from the artist’s observations of a bear behind his Vermont home, explain the balance found in nature and the cycles of life.

A frisky cat stalks brightly colored birds, but always misses them — and ends up with just feathers for lunch. Learn about birds, their distinctive calls, and their lifestyles through this attractive book and engaging story.

A robin is the “first to greet the light” on a summer morning. But many other animals in these animated, evocative poems share the joy of the season. The frog says “I’m the baron/I’m the duke/I’m the king…” while the firefly seeks an answer to the question, “Are You the One?” Tinted photographs of lush summer scenes accompany each short poem.

Cutouts preview each dazzlingly colored fish as they swim through the pages of this appealing counting book.

Children will wiggle, whirl, romp, and stomp along with the animals in this engaging and radiantly illustrated board book. The easy text encourages verbal and physical participation.

When Farmer Brown leaves his brother in charge, hewarns Bob to keep an eye on the duck, because “he’s trouble.” Bob follows the farmer’s written instructions to the letter, but are they authentic? Astute readers willknow who’s really writing them from the animated,cartoon-like illustrations. The animals were firstintroduced in Click, Clack, Moo (Simon and Schuster,2000), another barnyard chuckler.

This is a great bedtime story for reading with your children or, in my case, my grandchildren. This lovely book has become a reference point for expressing our love for one another. Sometimes, Alexis says “I love you all the way up to my toes.” And, sometimes, Kasie says “I love you right up to the moon.” And sometimes I say “I love you right up to the moon… and back.”

Harley is loner who just can’t seem to getalong with the other llamas. But a shepherd who needs to protect his flock from coyotes sees something else inHarley. Harley not only befriends the sheep, he becomes a loveable animal hero in this short but informative and captivating book.

Harry was a white dog with black spots — until he slid down the coal chute. Then he became a black dog with white spots. When my mother read me this story, I still remember worrying that the family would never recognize Harry. But lo and behold, Harry digs up the scrubber brush and they finally give him a bath. Great illustrations, fun story, happy memories! (Recommended by David)

When Bear brags and Chipmunk teases, the results are an angry bear and a striped chipmunk. Animated language and colorful illustrations tell a Native American pourquoi story — a tale that explains why — that’s perfect for sharing aloud.

While their parents are out, Judy and Peter play a board game called Jumanji. The remarkable game creates a threatening, animal-filled jungle in their suburban house until at last the game is complete. Highly realistic illustrations juxtapose the familiar with the unexpected in this book that won the Caldecott Medal.

Katie is afraid of swimming and the creatures that may lurk in the pool. But with the help of an astute swimming teacher, Katie learns to swim across the pool. She and her parents are so proud, and now Katie can’t wait to go to her friends’ birthday party – at the pool! Children will readily see themselves in the lighthearted illustrations.

Knock, Knock! “Who’s There?” “Olive” “Olive Who?” “Olive you so much!” Only ten knock-knock jokes are in this gentle and pun-filled book, subtitled “My First Book of Knock-Knock Jokes.” Sturdy and colorful and designed for preschoolers, the set up for each joke is on one page and the answer is beneath the flap on the other. Youngsters will soon be telling these jokes on their own.

At school Jack just doesn’t understand poetry or why he has to learn to write it. In free verse, as the words start out simple yet clear, we hear this reluctance to look for deeper meaning and his lack of confidence in writing anything that will be seen by others. But slowly, as he reaches deeper, Jack finds his voice – full of warmth, love, sadness, and loss.