Book Finder

Jaunty language and buoyant watercolors illustrate a range of children sharing their fondness for favorite books. Whether read alone or together, with a dog, or even in the bathroom, “This is my book, / My favorite book. / I wake and I take it. / I sleep and I keep it.”  This joyful celebration is not to be missed!

Short poems are generously illustrated in a large, inviting, and diverse collection of poetry— and as the title indicates, there is at least one for each day! To build on daily poems, try some of the ideas in Poetry Prompts: All Sorts of Ways to Start a Poem from Joseph Coelho (opens in a new window).

When snow starts falling, the perfectly normal animals on Farmer Pumpernickel’s farm start acting strangely; they catch snowflakes on their tongues! Eventually, even the farmer himself gets with the rhythm. Rhyming text accompanied by comical illustrations will make a joyful read aloud.

Tired of the same Old MacDonald’s farm? Add donuts and a greedy crocodile alongside a take-charge rooster and it’s a new tune! Silliness is the word (and picture) on this farm as children will sing along with the rousing E-I-E-I-O!

Cat fanciers of all ages will recognize the funny feline behavior in this vivacious rhyming jaunt. Broad shapes create kitties of various stripes and colors all with big round eyes add humor and verve until it’s bedtime (or not — if you’re a naughty kitten).

There are many reasons why animals form a line ranging from protection to efficient flying.  In an informative rhyming narrative accompanied by crisp illustrations with additional information at the end, readers discover why (and how) animals form lines.

This book celebrates the magic of discovering your very own poetry in the world around you. “Begin / with a question / like an acorn / waiting for spring.” Written as a step-by-step guide, and using language including “first,” “next,” and “then,” the authors teach the art of poetry. Readers are prompted to first ask a question, and then to “listen to the grass, the flowers, the trees — anything that’s friends with the sun” to create imagery for their poetry. The book teaches poetry by tasking students with exploring nature, questions, and ideas in unique ways. 

Sleeping Beauty isn’t just cursed to sleep until she’s awakened by a kiss, she’s turned into a sleeping crocodile in this funny riff on the familiar tale. Comic, colorful illustrations propel the action in this traditional tale turn on its head.

Vibrant illustrations and brief, rhyming, staccato text tells the tale of a blue baboon who plays the bassoon out of tune. She is unappreciated until a green baboon who croons out of tune joins her on a dune — and together, they make a great tune!

Everyone needs a smile and this range of poems in different forms are sure to create lots. From verse about contagious laughter all the way to bedtime ditty, these poems will read aloud well. Each is briefly introduced and colorfully illustrated. 

A word (or more) for each day of each month is presented and defined with a pronunciation guide, pleasingly illustrated. At the end of each month, a story is presented that uses all the words, with an audio version (accessed by QR code) so kids can hear it spoken aloud. Clever and appealing!

Everyday objects and activities come together to help build a young child’s vocabulary in this sturdy, large format book. Familiar scenes are presented in simple illustrations with labeled photographs on a different colored background to extend language and present a search-and-find activity.

Count along with the families as they make dumplings from their own culture and share them as a community. The rhyming tale can be shared on several levels with children of various ages, from the youngest to cooks who want to try their hand at the recipes included.

Each bird makes its own sound as the day begins. Bold, colorful images and straightforward language encourage joining the bird song from chirps to warbles.

A young boy on a crowded bus (dala dala) discovers that, after some wiggles and giggles, there’s room for everyone in this lighthearted rhyming picture book set in Zanzibar.

The smallest lemur in the troop is reassured by parents, siblings, grandparents, and all the lemurs that he is loved in this gently rhyming tale. Expressive illustrations combine with a surprisingly informative text to reassure family bonds as well as lemur habits.

Baby Izzie’s middle-of-the-night awakening starts a chain reaction that wakes up everyone in the red brick apartment building. This cozy cumulative tale is filled with alliteration and onomatopoeia and illustrated in richly hued, textured collage illustrations.

Sunrise Elementary School’s new librarian is Miss Lotta Scales, a fire-breathing dragon who fiercely guards her new books. When a nearsighted child enters the unused facility and begins reading aloud, other children wander in, and Miss Scales realizes that kids don’t necessarily damage books. The text is filled with dragon-related puns.

Take a jaunt through a jungle to meet animals with a short rhyme and then lift the flap to “hear” and see them hiss, roar, and more. Durable pages and boldly shaped animals create an attractive, interactive book sure to engage young listeners

Bella’s beret from her Grand-pere blows off her head landing on different animals and people until Bella finds it again in the spring. Short rhymes introduce each head, including a flamingo dancer who exclaims, “hip hip, Ole!” The fuzzy red beret just right for touching on the cover and when it’s on Bella’s head adds a playful dimension.

With just enough adult humor that foreshadow the next animal, readers of all ages will appreciate the silly (and completely wrong) sounds that come out of each creature as the pages turns. Large-eyed animals appear a bit clueless as they mouth sounds that young readers will recognize as erroneous in this playful, very funny book.

This rollicking barnyard show is filled with funny animals, a scarecrow host, and lots of lively language — just right for a joyous reading aloud. The repetition is sure to encourage participation as the silliness builds along with each rhyme.

A mouse’s unexpected adventure begins with a sneeze (ACHOO) and buzzes on to a comfortable and quite unique place to sleep (ZZZ). This alphabetic journey is told primarily through vibrantly colored illustrations reminiscent of folk art punctuated by lively alliterative words and sounds.

As the day begins, “All is quiet. Or is it?” If you listen closely, the sounds of the day emerge. From dawn darkness, the day gradually lightens in the subtle illustrations that depict city and country, inviting readers to “fill the world with your song.”