Wonderfully illustrated, funny, and adorable

By Mo Williams

Edwina is a friendly outgoing dinosaur who is loved by everyone in town. Everyone, that is, but the know-it-all Reginald Von Hoobie Doobie who is determined to show them the error of their ways. Dinosaurs don’t exist.

This book has a simple premise, facts are facts but when it concerns matters of the heart, sometimes facts don’t matter. When someone listens to you, helps you, and happens to make the best chocolate chip cookies in town, extinction is just a state of mind.

(If you give this book as a gift, do yourself a favor and include some chocolate chip cookies. It will be remembered forever!)

Sweet and poignant

By Shel Silverstein

Why would I be hesitant to recommend one of my favorite books? The Giving Tree is a beautiful, moving story of unconditional love. A tree loves someone so much it gives everything it has until there is nothing left to give. But controversy has always surrounded Shel Silverstein’s popular tome. Is the tree an overly generous parent? Is the boy a greedy, self-centered child who takes everything from the tree for his own pleasure? The book was written in 1964 and may be even more relevant today in that it asks us to question if we’ve gone too far from either the tree’s perspective or the child’s. Before I knew there was controversy, I loved this book and I still do. Shel Silverstein titled it The Giving Tree and that’s what it is to me – a tree whose love knows no limits and who is generous without bounds. How bad can that be? Read it to your child and decide for yourselves.

Hup two, three, four...

By Elinor J. Pinczes
Illustrated by Bonnie MacKain

How do you divide 25 troops evenly? By 2, by 3, by 4? There’s always a remainder of one and that just happens to be poor Soldier Joe of the 25th squadron. The private spends sleepless nights trying to find a way to even up the troops without being the odd man out.

It’s about figuring out and fitting in, overcoming a problem and pleasing the queen bee. This fun, light-hearted book shows that perseverance pays off in the end.

If your child likes counting and soldiers, march right out and get this book!  Move it soldier

Warm and engaging

By Patricia Polacco

A first grade teacher introduced me to this book several years ago. She brought the book to my second grade classroom and told me how much her former students (my current class) enjoyed the story of Thunder Cake. The children were so happy to see the book again that they cheered. I’ve been happy to read it ever since.

Author Patricia Polacco tells the story of how her grandma (Babushka) helped her overcome her fear of the thunderstorms that swept through their Michigan farmlands. Grandma reveals to her granddaughter that an impending thunderstorm is no time to be anxious but rather time to gather the ingredients for a special cake made only on such stormy occasions. Thunder Cake is a beautifully detailed story of a tender and protective grandma and her timid but trusting grandchild.

The first time I read this story one of my students even copied the recipe from the back of the book and passed it out to the class the next day. I love this book for several reasons and I’m sure that you’ll find several more once you read it yourself.

Shocking discovery of truth

By Jon Scieszka
Illustrations by Lane Smith

The wolf was framed.

Or so he says in this original, quirky tale of Alexander T. Wolf. This is Alex’s version of the plight of the pigs, and yes some do meet their demise. But after all, its not his fault that a stupid straw house gets in the way of a sneeze. Once a young reader is familiar with the classic tale of the “Three Little Pigs” it’s fun to read the wolf’s funny and far-fetched response to his accusers.

Warm, loving, and moving

By Audrey Penn
Illustrations by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak

Mrs. Raccoon explains what exciting new adventures lie ahead in school for little Chester. But all he can think of is how much he’ll miss his mom.

Sound familiar?

Mrs. Raccoon knows what will calm Chester’s nerves as they prepare for their first real time apart. The Kissing Hand is not only a lovely book to read but a sweet act to pattern. A simple, warm, loving way to feel connected while apart.