It's Time for Back to School!

In our part of the country, we are heading into our second week of school, but back where I grew up on the east coast, folks are probably hitting those school supply lists as they gear up to start after Labor Day.  Whether you've already kicked off your year or are getting ready to head back to school, check out these stories to share with your young child to help quiet first day jitters.  Check out your local library for copies!

School Bus by Donald Crews (ages 2-5)
In this briefly worded book, young readers follow a school bus through a day from the early morning start, to picking up the children and delivering them to school, to the afternoon drop off and back to the parking lot again.  Bold images and simple text bring make this book accessible to the youngest of readers.

Off to School, Baby Duck! by Amy Hest (ages 4-6)
Baby is headed off to school.  But she is a little nervous and shares valid concerns with her gentle, caring Grampa.  What is the teacher is mean?  What if she doesn't have any fun or friends?  What if there is no one to tie her shoe?  In the end, Grampa provides just the right words of support and Baby makes a new friend on her way into the building.  

A Pirate's Guide to First Grade by James Preller (ages 4-7)
If you have a pirate fan in early elementary school, then this is the book for you.  Complete with a pirate glossary to help your define all the lingo, you and your mateys will have a great time with this guide.

The Little School Bus by Carol Roth (ages 3-5)
Hop aboard this lively bus on the way to school with the goat in a coat and the quick quick chick!  The silly, rhyming language and the bright illustrations provide a great ride. 

Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa: School Days by Erica Silverman (ages 5-7)
In this early reader series, Cowgirl Kate has a best friend in her faithful horse, Cocoa.  Cocoa has some growing pains watching Kate head off to school.

Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate (ages 4-6)
Bounce along through an alphabet of characters as we watch Miss Bindergarten prepare her Kindergarten classroom.  A visual treat with lots of details to pour over and share.

Many Favorites, Few Words

Have you tried wordless picture books with your preschooler?  Sharing a wordless picture book requires a different approach.  You and your child have to provide the words of the story.  You have to encourage your child to study the pictures very closely to read facial expressions, action that the illustrations are suggesting, and other fine details to comprehend the storyline.  You and your child develop the vocabulary used to describe the actions and that vocabulary changes with each "reading".  And from this experience, your child will fine tune their observation skills, develop a strong understanding of sequence (first this event happens, then this event happens, etc), practice early reading skills by following the pictures in sequence (left to right and top to bottom), learn about perspective in illustration, and have a blast using their imaginations to tell the story in their own words.  Here are just a few favorite wordless picture books - don't forget to check your local library for these and many more!

1, 2, 3 To the Zoo by Eric Carle (ages 1-4)
A train ride, animals, a trip to the zoo and a playful mouse hiding on every page.  You can't go wrong with this Eric Carle counting and wordless classic.  

Truck by Donald Crews (ages 1-4)
This wordless, Caldecott Honor classic is for any toddler or preschooler who loves trucks and vehicles.  Follow a big rig truck across the country on its way to deliver a shipment of bikes.  If you enjoy this book, try Crews' Freight Train, School Bus and Harbor.  

Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola (ages 3-6)
On this particular morning, this woman is intent on having her pancakes for breakfast.  A great opportunity for discussing sequencing and then whipping up some pancakes of your own!

Bee & Bird by Craig Frazier (ages 4-6)
This wordless book opens up the opportunity to discuss perspective.  Bee is traveling back home via the bird and on each page, the reader gets a close up of part of their journey which is revealed on the next page spread.  

The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (ages 3-6)
In this Caldecott Award winner, the familiar Aesop tale of The Lion and the Mouse is shared with a new generation of young readers through illustration alone.  An outstanding wordless story and one not to miss.

Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann (ages 2-5)
In this bedtime classic, mischievous gorilla borrows the zoo keeper's keys and one by one unlocks all of the zoo animals.

Owly & Wormy, Friends All Aflutter by Andy Runton (ages 3-5)
Owly and Wormy love having butterflies in their garden and are sad to see them leave.  To invite them back, they go about planting flowers and are at first dismayed to find caterpillars munching on the leaves.  But being of good heart, they let the caterpillars stay only to be confused when the caterpillars disappear.  A wonderful caterpillar-to-butterfly story to share with young ones.  

Where's Walrus? by Stephen Savage (ages 4-7)
Walrus is on the run from the zookeeper.  The trick to stay ahead of his pursuer is to blend in with the scenery - at the soda counter, in a store window display, a construction site.  Until the end when walrus can't help himself by join in a high dive competition.  Your little ones will giggle as they search out the hiding walrus on each page.  

Have You Seen My Duckling? by Nancy Tafuri (ages 3-5)
In this Caldecott Honor book, a mother duck leads her ducklings through the pond in search of one who is missing.

Chalk by Bill Thomson (ages 5-8)
You and your child are in for adventure on what seems like an ordinary day.  A group of children discover a bag at a playground that holds a bit of magic.  Soon a huge, towering T-Rex is bounding after them through the playground.  Incredible art and an exciting story - what's not to love?

Bedtime Books for Toddlers

Are you looking for a few bedtime stories to share with your toddler?  The list below includes books that are short, made for toddlers, and just right for a snuggle at the end of the day.  And what's great is that these are simply wonderful bedtime books in addition to being simple books, so you can share these with older preschool siblings, too!  

Ten Nine Eight by Molly Bang (ages 1-3)

In this recent bedtime classic, we count down from ten to one as we slow down, settle down and say goodnight with this toddler.  

Peekaboo Bedtime by Rachel Isadora (ages 1-3)

You can't go wrong by adding in the toddler-loved game of Peek-a-Boo to a bedtime story.  You can follow this cheerful baby around the house as she peeks at pets, her family, slippers, her blankie and more.  One not to miss.

* A Cozy Up and Read All Time Favorite.

Goodnight Goodnight Sleepyhead by Ruth Krauss (ages 1-3)

This gentle bedtime book is perfect to share with a sleepy toddler.  Using simple phrases and soft illustrations, the baby in this story bids goodnight to all the things in her room one by one.  

Dinosaur Vs Bedtime By Bob Shea (ages 2-4)

This young dinosaur takes on every challenge throughout his day.  The pile of leaves? The big slide?  The bowl of spaghetti?  No challenge for this dinosaur.  ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!  But what about the biggest challenge of all - bedtime?

*A Cozy Up and Read All Time Favorite.

Bedtime Bunnies by Wendy Watson (ages 1-3)

With only a handful of onomatopoeic words per page spread, we join in the bunny family at the end of day.  Young children will recognize activities that they also participate in at bedtime such as bath time, teeth brushing, and story reading.  Everyone will delight in the charming illustrations.  

Overboard! by Sarah Weeks (ages 1-3)

If you've got a toddler at home, then you are probably very familiar with the game "overboard".  Throughout his busy day, bunny tosses many things overboard including one last surprise at the end of the day.

Ready for a Read Aloud?

Some children are ready to listen to a longer book, but aren't ready to tackle the reading themselves.  There is no "right" age for this, but maybe your child is ready to listen to a chapter book spread out over several readings.  Here are a couple of titles to try out.  Remember that every child has unique interests and may not click with every title (or even any title) on this list.  Also keep in mind that the best reading you can share with your child is positive and enjoyable.  If you begin a longer book and it doesn't seem to catch her interest, set it aside and move onto another choice.  You might start multiple short chapter book before you find one that works for your family.  Look for these titles at your local library - then you've got nothing to lose to try them out at bedtime!  

Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
The Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo is simply delightful reading for all ages.  The spirited stories in combination with Van Dusen's stylized illustrations are a winning combination.  Mercy is the beloved, buttered-toast-eating pig of Mr and Mrs Watson.  One evening Mercy decides that she would not like to sleep alone, so she climbs into the bed of her sleeping owners.  The added weight sends the bed through the floor.  Now that Mercy is up, she's decided that she's hungry and she goes off to find a midnight buttery snack at the neighbors.  Her doting owners believe she's off to alert the fire department for assistance and ultimately that is what happens, but not before a comedy of misunderstandings and late night chases.  
* A Cozy Up and Read all time favorite

Kenny and the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi
In this updated retelling of The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame, young Kenny, a rabbit, befriends a not-so-fierce dragon named Grahame.  But the townsfolk of Roundbrook become a terrified mob when they discover a dragon is living in their vicinity.  They enlist the aid of a former dragon slayer named George who happens to be the town's bookseller and Kenny's dear friend.  In the end, it is up to Kenny to save his gentle friend, but does he have the courage?  

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by Deborah Howe
When the family brings home a baby rabbit found in a movie theater, the household cat, Chester, early on becomes convinced that the bunny perhaps isn't what he seems.  Narrated through the eyes of Harold, the dog, this story will have young readers wondering, "what if..." and "could be...".  

Andy Shane and the Pumpkin Trick by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Andy Shane has not always been a huge fan of classmate Dolores Starbuckle and he is chagrined to discover his grandmother is helping with her birthday party and therefore will also be attending the party.  But while there, Andy learns that pranksters in the neighborhood have been smashing jack-o-lanterns.  Together with Dolores, they devise a plan to catch the kids and along the way discovers that maybe Dolores isn't so bad after all.  

Flight of the Phoenix by R.L. LaFevers
This first book in the Nathaniel Fludd Beastologist series combines historical fiction with fantasy.  Set in the 1920's, we are introduced to Nathaniel, a neglected 10-year-old whose parents are mapmakers and explorers.  They are thought lost at the North Pole, so Nathaniel is sent to live with his Aunt Phil A. Fludd.  Now part of the family business, Nathaniel begins his own adventures at his aunt's side.  Their first mission?  To assist and oversee the birth of a mythological phoenix.  

Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry
Gooney Bird Greene is a new second grader at Watertower Elementary School.  When she arrives the first day in pj's and cowboy boots and declares that she wants a desk in the middle of the room because she likes to be in the middle of everything, we, the reader, know we have been introduced to a feisty, fun force.  Gooney Bird, a storyteller, immediately begins sharing tall tales with her classmates that she claims are all 100% true - from how she got her name to how she got diamond earrings from a prince.  You'll have to read to find out the true story!

Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express by Megan McDonald
Stink Moody (younger brother to the well known Judy Moody) is desperate to add a guinea pig named Astro to his family of pets, but his mom has said no.  He offers to help out the local pet store owner, Mrs. Birdwhistle, find homes for the 101 guinea pigs that she has recently rescued.  Along with Stink's friends, their quest takes them up and down the highway in the camper-turned-pet mobile aptly named "Squeals on Wheels".  McDonald's books take off from chapter one and don't slow down until the very last page.  

Daisy Dawson Is on Her Way! by Steve Voake
In this early chapter book, Daisy is scolded for regularly dawdling on her way to school.  One day, though, Daisy frees a butterfly from a spider's web (and certain death).  In return, the butterfly kisses Daisy gifting her the ability to talk to animals.  Daisy's adventures will delight young listeners and readers alike.  

Down on the Farm

You will never find a shortage of farm books for toddlers and preschoolers.  You can see why young children love them so much - animals and their noises, busy activity, and loud machinery.  There's always something going on at a farm.  For more farm themed books, check here.

And you can always pair up your books with a song or two to help your child make more connections.  Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer have a great farm song - look for this CD (and all of these titles) at your local library!

Cathy and Marcy Collection for Kids
Grandpa's Farm (Track 2)

Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown (ages 2-4)
This gentle farm story carries the reader through the farmyard as the say is coming to a close - a perfect bedtime story to share.  Spend time examining the illustrations.  There are lots of details to explore and discuss.  

Wake Up, Big Barn! by Suzanne Tanner Chitwood (ages 2-6)
Spend the morning on the farm waking up with the animals, but come prepared to join in - this beautiful book expects readers to provide all the animal sounds!

Serious Farm by Tim Egan (ages 4-8)
As Farmer Fred will tell you, there's nothing funny about corn.  And he's probably right, but Edna, the cow, is bound and determined to lighten up the scene on the farm.  The animals work together to get Farmer Fred to laugh - the pig barks like a dog, the animals all dress up in clothes and dance, but nothing cracks even the smallest smile from Farmer Fred.  Discouraged, the animals decide to leave the farm and that's when Farmer Fred moves into action to bring them all home again.  The humor involved is for the slightly older crowd and even though farms are serious business, you'll probably see a smile cracked from the audience.  Funny stuff.  

On the Farm by David Elliott (ages 2-4)
Take a stroll through the farm to meet the wide range of animals - a cow, a cat, a bull, a turtle, a snake, a pig, bees, and more.  The gorgeous illustrations are matched with a vocabulary enriched verse.  One not to miss.  

Otis by Loren Long (ages 3-6)
This simple story of friendship inspires young readers to cheer for Otis, the tractor.  Even though he is replaced by a newer, modern tractor, Otis will have a place of honor on the farm for years to come.  Loren Long's storytelling and illustrations are reminiscent of a slower-paced world from years gone by which is like a breath of fresh air in today's flashing, high speed network.  

Blue Goose by Nancy Tafuri (ages 2-5)
Farmer Gray is away and the barnyard birds decide to take advantage of painting some color into their world.  Part farm story, part color concept book (what happens when you mix blue and red?), and all charm, Blue Goose is one not to miss.
* A Cozy Up and Read All Time Favorite

The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson (ages 2-5)
Join on a fun romp through the farm yard and discuss what every animal loves to eat and find out why those cows love the cookies.  Bouncy rhymes and playful illustrations carry you along for the visit.