Children's Books

Children's Picture Book Stories by Subject

Accepting Yourself / Accepting Others / Adoption / Adventures / Alphabet / Animals / April Fool's Day / Bedtime / Beginning Readers / Behavior / Bilingual / Birthdays / Books /Christmas / Cleanliness / Clothing / Colors / Conservation / Counting / Courage / Cultural Diversity / Dance / Day Care / Death / Disabilities / Divorce / Easter / Emotions / Etiquette/Manners / Family / Father's Day / Fishes / Folklore / Food / Foster Care/ Friendship / Getting Lost/ / Groundhog Day / Growing up / Halloween / Hanukkah / Helping / History / Homes / Illness / Imagination / Insects / Jobs / July 4th / Learning a new skill / Math / Monsters / Mother's Day / Moving / Music / Nature / New Baby / Night Time/ Noise / Non-Fiction / Pets / Poetry / Religion / Rhyming / School / Science / Seasons / Separation Anxiety / Sexual Abuse/ Shapes / Sharing / Siblings / Silly Stories / Spanish Language Books / Stealing / Time / Thanksgiving / Transportation / Valentine's Day / Violence / Weather / Women / Wordless Stories / Zoos

COS Fiction for Children: Elementary - Young Adult

Caldecott Award Winners Newbery Award Winners

* indicates a good book for story telling

Use the COS online catalog to search for specific titles and/or authors.

Accepting and Loving Yourself

Title: Arthur's Nose
Author: Marc Brown
Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company, 1976
"Unhappy with his nose, Arthur visits the rhinologist to get a new nose."

* Title: Giraffes Can't Dance
Author: Giles Andreae Illustrator: Guy Parker-Rees
Publisher: Orchard Books, 1999
"Gerald the giraffe is too clumsy to dance with all the other animals at the Jungle Dance, until he finds the right music.

Title: Hey, Al
Author: Arthur Yorinks Illustrator: Richard Egielski
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1986
"Al, a janitor, and his faithful dog, Eddie, live in a single room on the West Side and are very bored with their lives. Magically transported to a gorgeous island in the sky, they are soon living a life of ease and comfort but after a while the realize there is no place like home." Caldecott Award Winner, 1987

* Title: I'm as Quick as a Cricket
Author: Audrey Wood Illustrator: Don Wood
Publisher: Child's Play, 1982
With a gentle rhythm, this book explores how a boy describes himself using animals as a reference.

Title: It Came from Outer Space
Author: Tony Bradman, Illustrator: Carol Wright
Publisher: Dial Books, 1992
"A visitor from outer space visits an elementary school class and brings an important message about physical beauty."

Title: Kathy's Hats: A Story of Hope
Author: Trudy Krishner Illustrator: Nadine Bernard Westcott
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company, 1992
Kathy learns to face her cancer and the resulting loss of hair with courage and humor.

Title: Miss Alaineus: a Vocabulary Disaster
Author: Debra Frasier
Publisher: Harcourt, 2000
"When Sage's spelling and definition of a word reveal her misunderstanding of it to her classmates, she is at first embarrassed, but then uses her mistake as inspiration for the vocabulary parade."

Title: Miserable Marabou
Author: Franz Berliner, Illustrator: Irene Hedlund
Publisher Gareth Stevens Children's Books, 1989
"Marabou, the stork, is despondent because he sees nothing good about himself until a sparrow gives him incentive to change his life."

Title: The Ugly Duckling
Author: Hans Christian Anderson Adapted and Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Publisher: Scholastic, 1999
A baby swan ends up being hatched in a duck's nest. He is teased, bullied and called ugly by all the other ducks. He spends a miserable year by himself and then finds out the next spring that he has grown into a beautiful adult swan.

* Title: Who Wants Arthur?
Author: Amanda Graham Illustrator: Donna Gynell
Publisher: Gareth Stevens Publishing, 1987
"Arthur, a dog in a pet store waiting to be adopted, takes on the identities of other animals he thinks might be more appealing, until discovering that he can be a success as himself."

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Accepting Others

Title: About Handicaps
Author: Sara Bonnett Stein Photography by Dick Frank
Publisher: Walker and Company, 1974
Discusses in a story for children and in smaller print for parents how to help their children not to be frightened or cruel to other disabled children."

* Title: And Tango Makes Three
Authors: Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell Illustrator: Henry Cole
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2005
"At New York City's Central Park Zoo, two male penguins fall in love and start a family by taking turns sitting on an abandoned egg until it hatches."

Title: Becky the Brave: A Story About Epilepsy
Author: Laurie Lears Illustrator: Gail Piazza
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company, 2002
"Nothing seems to scare Sarah's big sister Becky, until having an epileptic seizure makes her reluctant to return to school, and so Sarah summons her own courage to explain the disease to the other students."

Title: Chester's Way
Author and Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 1988
"Chester and Wilson share the same exact way of doing things, until Lilly moves into the neighborhood and shows them that new ways can be just as good."

Title: Dumpy La Rue
Author: Elizabeth Winthrop Illustrator: Betsy Lewin
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co., 2001
"A rhyming story about a pig whose passion for dancing becomes contagious."

Title: Huge Harold
Author: Bill Peet
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 1961
"Harold, the rabbit, grows to be huge and has a difficult time finding a place to fit in."

Title: My Nose, Your Nose
Author: Melanie Walsh
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 2002
"Come and join in this celebration of all our unique, funny parts. And see how we're similar too!"

Title: A Pig is Moving In!
Author: Claudia Fries
Publisher: Orchard Books, 2000
"Someone new is moving into the apartment building. 'It's ....a pig!' gasps Henrietta Hen. 'Everyone knows that pigs are messy and dirty and sloppy.'"

Title: The Sissy Duckling
Author: Harvey Fierstein Illustator: Henry Cole
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2002
"Elmer the duck is teased because he is different, but he proves himself by not only surviving the winter, but also saving his papa."

Title: Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen
Author: DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan
Publisher: Marrow Junior Books, 1991
"A boy spends the day with Uncle Willie in the soup kitchen where he works preparing and serving food for the hungry."

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Adoption

Title: Emma's Yucky Brother
Author: Jean Little Illustrator: Jennifer Plecas
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2001
"Emma finds out how hard it is to be a big sister when her family adopts a four-year-old boy named Max."

Title: You Bet Your Britches, Claude
Author: Joan Lowery Nixon, Illustrator, Tracey Campbell Pearson
Publisher: Viking Penguin, 1989
"Shirley and Claude lead a settled life with their adopted son, Tom, until Shirley goes to town to retrieve Tom's sister, Bessie and the two run into more than their fair share of criminals."

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Adventures

Title: The Cow Who Fell In the Canal
Author: Phyllis Krasilovsky Illustrator: Peter Spier
Publisher: Doubleday, 1953
Hendrika was a cow living on a Holland farm. She was unhappy and bored until she accidentally got into a raft and went on an adventure.

Title: A Fun Weekend
Author: Franz Brandenberg, Illustrator: Alexa Brandenberg
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 1991
The bear family starts out for a night at a lodge but make so many stops they don't get there in time.

Title: Huge Harold
Author and Illustrator: Bill Peet
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 1961
Harold, the rabbit, grew to be huge. He has some adventures and misfortunes along the way but ends up with a kind farmer and a good life. Told in rhyming phrases.

Title: In the Night Kitchen
Author: Maurice Sendak
Publisher: Harper and Row, 1970
Mickey is awakened in the night and has an adventure in the night kitchen with the bakers.

Title: "It's Simple," said Simon
Author: Mary Ann Hoberman Illustrator: Meilo So
Publisher: Alfred A Knopf, 2001
"After successfully meeting the challenges posed by a dog , cat, and horse, Simon meets a tiger that is much harder to satisfy and that he must outwit before he becomes the tiger's dinner.

Title: Jack and the Giant: A story full of beans
Author: Jim Harris
Publisher: South Sea International Press Ltd., 1997
Jack and the Beanstalk turned Western.

Title: Kitten's First Full Moon
Author and Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 2004
"When kitten mistakes the full moon for a bowl of milk, she ends up tired, wet, and hungry trying to reach it." Caldecott Award Winner, 2005

Title: Lottie's Circus
Author: Joan W. Blos, Illustrator: Irene Trivas
Publisher: Morrow and Company, 1989
"Lottie imagines that she and her cat, Famous, are the stars of a wonderful circus."

* Title: Louella and the Yellow Balloon
Author: Molly Coxe
Publisher: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1988
"Patricia Pig takes her baby, Louella, to the circus and loses her when Louella wanders off to retrieve her new balloon. Luckily, Louella's mother spots her in time to make a thrilling rescue."

Title: The Minpins
Author: Roald Dahl, Illustrator: Patrick Benson
Publisher: Viking, 1991
Little Billy's mother was always telling him exactly what he was and was not allowed to do. One day Little Billy goes into the forbidden forest and has an adventure.

Title: Mr. Meredith and the Truly, Remarkable Stone
Author: Grace Chetwin, Illustrator: Catherine Stock
Publisher: Bradbury Press, 1989
Mr. Meredith finds a stone and keeps making his house finer and more grand for the stone so more people can visit it and finally her has forgotten about the stone entirely.

Title: Princess Dinosaur
Author: Jill Kastner
Publisher: Greenwillow, 2001
"Princess Dinosaur has fun playing with the rest of the toys until Spots the dog comes and carries her off to an outdoor adventure."

Title: Robin Hook; Pirate Hunter
Author: Eric A. Kimmel Illustrator: Michael Dooling
Publisher: Scholastic Press, 2001
"A kind and honest young pirate and his ragamuffin crew thwart evil pirates by rescuing and giving riches to the innocent and the poor."

Title: Solomon the Rusty Nail
Author: William Steig
Publisher: Farrar, 1985
"Solomon was an ordinary rabbit, except for one thing: anytime he wanted to he could turn into a rusty nail." This trick led him into an adventure.

Title: There's Nothing to Do
Author: James Stevenson
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 1986
"When Mary Ann and Louie are bored, Grandpa tells them what happened on day when he and his brother Wainey were bored."

Title: Tinker's Journey Home
Adapted by Paula Bryant, Illustrator: Charlotte Adamson
Publisher: Green Tiger Press, 1989
Tinker, a rabbit leaves home in search of his own place and finally finds it.

Title: The Travels of Babar
Author: Jean De Brunhoff
Originally Published by Random House in 1934 and now distributed in the United states by Alfred A. Knopf, 1962
Babar, the King of the Elephants and his new wife Céleste leave on their wedding trip and have a great adventure.

Title: We Were Tired of Living in a House
Author: Liesel Moak Skorpen, Illustrator: Joe Cepeda
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1999
"Four children move to a tree, a raft, a cave, and finally the seashore, enjoying each new dwelling until they discover its drawbacks."

*Title: Where's My Teddy?
Author: Jez Alborough
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 1992
A small boy named Eddie goes looking in the woods for his teddy bear so he can go to bed. He meets up with a big bear with a similar problem.

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Alphabet

Title: A is for Abigail: an Almanac of Amazing American Women
Author: Lynne Cheney Illustrator: Robin Preiss Glasser
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2003
Starting with the letter "A" this book takes a name such as Abigail Adams and discusses her achievements or takes the letter to represent a subject such as "E" for educators and briefly discusses several women in the field.

Title: Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions
Author: Margaret Musgrove Illustrators: Leo and Diane Dillon
Publisher: Dial, 1976
"Explains some traditions and customs of twenty-six African tribes beginning with the letters from A to Z." Caldecott Award Winner, 1977

* Title: Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom *
Authors: Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault Illustrator: Lois Ehlert
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1989
"An alphabet rhyme/chant that relates what happens when the whole alphabet tries to climb a coconut tree."

Title: Dog's ABC: A Silly Story about the Alphabet
Author: Emma Dodd
Publisher: Dutton Children's Books, 2000
"The clumsy dog finds an alphabet's worth of adventure as he patrols his neighborhood."

Title: Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z
Author: Lois Ehlert
Publisher: Harcourt, Brace and Co., 1989
"An alphabetical tour of the world of fruits and vegetables, from apricot and artichoke to yam and zucchini."

Title: The Handmade Alphabet
Author: Laura Rankin
Publisher: Dial Books, 1991
"Presents the manual alphabet used in American Sign Language."

* Title: I Stink!
Authors: Kate and Jim McMullan
Publisher: Harper/Collins, 2002
This story follows the nightly runs of the garbage truck. It relates all the trash it picks up in alphabetical order.

Title: Kipper's A to Z: An Alphabet Adventure
Author and Illustrator: Mick Inkpen
Publisher: Red Wagon Books Harcourt, Inc., 2000
"Kipper the dog and his friend Arnold work through the alphabet by collecting animals and other things for each letter."

Title: So Many Bunnies: a bedtime, abc, counting book
Author: Rick Walton Illustrator: Paige Miglio
Publisher: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books/ Marrow, 1998
"Old Mother Rabbit's twenty-six children, each named for a letter of the alphabet, are lovingly put to bed."

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Animals See Also Pets See Also Fishes

* Title: Barn Dance! *
Author: Bill Martin Jr., Illustrator: John Archambault
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, 1986
While a boy tries to sleep he hears square dance music and follows it out to the barn where the animals have gathered for a barn dance. A rhyming book.

Title: Bats at the Beach
Author and Illustrator: Brian Lies
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 2006
"On a night when the moon can grow no fatter, bats pack their moon-tan lotion and baskets of treats and fly off for some fun at the beach."

* Title: Bear Snores On
Author: Karma Wilson Illustrator: Jane Chapman
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2002
"On a cold winter night many animals gather to party in the cave of a sleep bear, who then awakes and protests that he has missed the food and the fun."

Title: The Biggest Bear
Author: Lynd Ward
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1952
This book won the Caldecott award in 1953 and is still popular with children. Johnny goes out to shoot a bear and ends up bringing a cub home as a pet instead. Unfortunately, the bear outgrows his home and Johnny has to find a new home for him. Caldecott Award Winner, 1953

* Title: Bringing Down the Moon
Author: Emmett, Jonathan Illustrator: Vanessa Cabban
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2001
"Mole is so taken with the beauty of the moon that he tries to get it from the sky, but eventually learns to appreciate it where it is."

* Title: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? *
Author: Bill Martin Jr. Illustrator: Eric Carle
Publisher: Henry Holt, 1967
This book talks about animals and colors.

* Title: Caps for Sale
Author and Illustrator: Esphyr Slobodkina
Publisher: Scholastic Inc., 1940
"A tale of a peddler, some monkeys, and their monkey business."

Title: Castles, Caves, and Honeycombs
Author: Ashman, Linda Illustrated by Lauren Stringer
Harcourt, Inc, 2001
"Describes some of the unique places where animals build their homes." Last picture shows children asleep in their home.

Title: Catching the Wind
Author: Joanne Ryder, Illustrator: Michael Rothman
Publisher: Morrow Junior Books, 1989
"Transformed into a bird for a day, a child joins a flock of wild geese in glorious flight." The story gives quite a bit of accurate information concerning geese.

*Title: Chicky Chicky Chook Chook
Author: Cathy MacLennan
Publisher: Boxer Books, 2007
"Chicks, Kitties and buzzy bee, peck, fizz and scatter in the early morning sunshine. Soon it is time to snooze and snuggle in the shade from the midday sun."

* Title: Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type
Author: Doreen Cronin Illustrator: Betsy Lewin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2000
"When Farmer Brown's cows find a typewriter in the barn they start making demands and go on strike when the farmer refuses to give them what they want."

* Title: Come Along, Daisy!
Author: Jane Simmons
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, 1997
"Daisy the duckling becomes so engrossed in playing with dragonflies and lily pads that she temporarily loses her mother.

* Title: Copy Me, Copycub
Author: Richard Edwards Illustrator: Susan Winter
Publisher: Harpercollins, 1999
"Through spring, summer, and autumn, through streams, swamps, and up and down trees, a mother bear and her cub play a important game of follow the leader." Learning life skills.

Title: Diary of a Worm
Author: Doreen Cronin, Illustrator: Harry Bliss
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2003
"This is a diary....of a worm. Surprisingly, a worm not that different from you or me. Except he eats his homework. Oh, and his head looks a lot like his rear end.

Title: Don't Bump the Gump and Other Fantasies
Author and Illustrator: Shel Silverstein
Publisher: HarperCollins, 1964
Short poems about made-up animals.

"Title: Don't Take your Snake for a Stroll
Author: Karin Ireland Illustrator: David Catrow
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc., 2003
"Mayhem ensues when a little boy takes unusual pets like a rhinoceros and a kangaroo to places usually reserved for people."

Title: Duck & Goose
Author: Tad Hills
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2006
"Duck and Goose learn to work together to take care of a ball which they think is an egg."

Title: Farmer Duck
Author: Martin Waddell
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 1991
"When a kind and hardworking duck nearly collapses from overwork, while taking care of a farm because the owner is too lazy to do so, the rest of the animals get together and chase the farmer out of town."

Title: The Finest Horse in Town
Author: Jacqueline Briggs Martin Illustrator: Susan Gaber
Publisher: Harper/Collins, 1992
"Long ago, two sisters in Maine owned a remarkable gray horse named Prince, who went on to become legendary in their family."

*Title: Giddy Goat
Author: Jamie Rix Illustrator: Lynne Chapman
Publisher: Orchard Books, 2003
"Giddy isn't like other mountain goats who relish picnics atop The Needle, the highest, mountain around. Stand Giddy on a mountain ledge and his head starts spinning, his face turns white, and his knees turn to jelly."

*Title: A Good Day
Written and Illustrated by Kevin Henkes
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 2007
"It started out as a bad day for little yellow bird, little white dog, little orange fox and little brown squirrel. Until...A discovery, and love, and luck and persistence and a different point of view changed all that."

Title: Gregory's Shadow
Author: Don Freeman
Publisher: Viking, 2000
"Gregory Groundhog and his shadow desperately look for each other after they become separated from one another just before their annual appearance on Groundhog Day."

* Title: Harry the Dirty Dog
Author: Gene Zion Illustrator: Margaret Bloy Graham
Publisher: HarperCollins, 1956
Harry the dog gets so dirty his own human family doesn't recognize him.

*Title: Harry and the Lady Next Door
Author: Gene Zion Illustrator: Margaret Bloy Graham
Publisher: Barnes & Noble, 1960
"Harry is a little white dog with black spots who has a big problem--the lady next door sings all the time and hurts poor Harry's ears."

Title: The Hat
Author and Illustrator: Jan Brett
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1997
"When Lisa hangs her woolen clothes in the sun to air them out for winter, the hedgehog, to the amusement of the other animals, ends up wearing a stocking on his head." Jan Brett is known for her beautiful and intricate drawings.

Title: Hello, Farm Animals
Author: Eileen Curran, Illustrator: June Goldsborough
Publisher: Troll Associates, 1985
"Depicts farm animals in their natural setting doing their customary activities."

Title: A Hippopotamusn't
Author: Patrick Lewis Illustrator: Victoria Chess
Publisher: Dial Books, 1990
"More than thirty mostly humorous poems about a variety of animals."

* Title: Honey...Honey...Lion!: A Story from Africa
Author: Jan Brett
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2005
"After working together to obtain honey, the African honey badger always shares it with his partner, the honeyguide bird, until one day when the honey badger becomes greedy and his feathered friend decides to teach him a lesson."

Title: Horton Hatches the Egg
Author: Dr. Seuss
Publisher: Random House, 1968
"A lazy bird talks Horton, the elephant, into sitting on her egg while she takes a long break."

Title: Huge Harold
Author: Bill Peet
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 1961
"Harold, the rabbit, grows to be huge and has a difficult time finding a place to fit in."

* Title: Hurry! Hurry!
Author: Eve Bunting Illustrator: Jeff Mack
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc., 2007
"All the animals of the barnyard community hurry to greet their newest member, who is just pecking his way out of an egg."

Title: I Had a Cat
Author: Mona Rabun Reeves, Illustrator: Julie Downing
Publisher: Bradbury Press, 1989
"The owner of a cat, dog, bird, ape, frog, elk, deer, and a multitude of other animals finds new homes for all but one."

* Title: I Love it When You Smile
Author: Sam McBratney Illustrated by Charles Fuge
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2005
"A grumpy little kangaroo is having a bad day until his mother finds a way to make him smile."

* Title: If You Give a Pig a Party
Author: Laura Numeroff Illustrator: Felicia Bond
Publisher: Laura Geringer Books, 2005
"One thing leads to another when you give a pig a party."

Title: If You Want to See a Caribou
Author: Phyllis Root Illustrator: Jim Meyer
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004
"If you really want to see a woodland caribou, you might try going to a place forgotten by time."

Title: Is This a House for Hermit Crab?
Author: Megan McDonald Illustrator S.D. Schindler
Publisher: Orchard Books, 1990
"When hermit crab outgrows his old house he ventures out to find a new one."

*Title: Leaves
Author and Illustrator: David Ezra Stein
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2007
A young bear spends his first summer, fall and winter in the woods.

*Title: Leon and Albertine
Author and Illustrator: Christine Davenier
Publisher: Orchard Books, 1998
"Leon the pig follows the advice of the other barnyard animals in trying to get the attention of Albertine the chicken, with whom he has fallen in love."

Title: The Mice Came in Early This Year
Author: Eleanor J. Lapp Illustrated by David Cunningham
Publisher: Albert Whitman, 1976
"A child observes the preparations made by his family and by the wild creatures outdoors as autumn approaches."

Title: My Bunny and Me
Author: Lindsay Barrett George
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 2001
"A young boy describes the things he would do if the rabbit in his drawing were real"

Title: My Cat, The Silliest Cat in the World
Author: Gilles Bachelet
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2006
"An artist describes his cat, (actually an elephant) who can usually be found either sleep or eating."

Title: My Friend Rabbit
Author: Eric Rohmann
Publisher: Roaring Book Press, 2002
"When Mouse let his best friend, Rabbit, play with his brand-new airplane, trouble isn't far behind--but when Rabbit sets out to solve a problem, even bigger problems follow." This story includes an: elephant; rhino; alligator; bear and more.

* Title: Never, Ever Shout at the Zoo
Author: Karma Wilson Illustrator: Doug Cushman
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, 2004
"Rhyming text depicts the chaos caused by shouting at the zoo."

Title: Noah's Ark
Illustrator: Peter Spier
Publisher: Doubleday, 1977
A wordless story of the traditional, biblical version of Noah's Ark Caldecott Award Winner, 1978

Title: Now I know Animals at Night
Author: Sharon Peters, Illustrated by Paul Harvey
Publisher: Troll Associates, 1983
"Text and illustrations describe various nocturnal animals and their habits."

Title: Now I know Turtles
Author: Janet Palazzo-Craig. Illustrator: Kathie Kelleher
Publisher: Troll Associates, 1982
"Brief text and pictures introduce the turtle, the animal that carries its home on its back."

Title: Nurse Lugton's Curtain
Written by Virginia Woolf Illustrator: Julie Vivas
Publisher: Harcourt Books, 2004 (redesigned edition)
"As Nurse Lugton dozes, the animals on the patterned curtain she is sewing come alive."

* Title: One Little Mouse
Author: Dori Chaconas Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2002
"Woodland animals, from two moles to ten opossums, offer to share their homes with a little mouse who is dissatisfied with his own."

Title: One Monday
Author: Amy Huntington
Publisher: Orchard Books, 2001
"Over the course of a week, the wind plays havoc all around Annabelle's farm." Farm animals play a big part in the book.

Title: Owl Moon
Author: Jane Yolen Illustrated by John Schoenherr
Publisher: Philomel Books, 1987
"On a winter's night under a full moon, father and daughter trek into the woods to see the Great Horned Owl." Caldecott Award Winner, 1988

* Title: "Paddle," Said the Swan
Author: Gloria Damen
Publisher: Atheneum, 1989
"Before falling asleep, a baby hears a variety of animal sounds."

Title: Professor Noah's Spaceship
Author: Brian Wildsmith
Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1980
The forest the animals live in is becoming too polluted to stay. The animals gather together and find Professor Noah and he helps them with his spaceship.

*Title: Raccoon Tune
Author: Nancy Shaw Illustrator: Howard Fine
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, 2003
"A family of raccoons prowls around a neighborhood making a ruckus until they find supper." A rhyming story.

* Title: Sam Who Never Forgets
Author: Eve Rice
Publisher: Greenwillow, 1977
Sam feeds the zoo animals everyday at 3 o'clock but elephant is afraid that Sam has forgotten him.

Title: The Tortoise and the Hare
Adapted by Janet Stevens
Publisher: Holiday House, 1984
"Recounts the race between the boastful hare and the persevering tortoise." An Aesop Fable

Title: The Travels of Babar
Author: Jean De Brunhoff
Originally Published by Random House in 1934 and now distributed in the United states by Alfred A. Knopf, 1962
Babar, the King of the Elephants and his new wife Céleste leave on their wedding trip and have a great adventure.

Title: The Trouble with Elephants
Author and Illustrator: Chris Riddell
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd., 1988
"A little girl describes the various problems with elephants, but decides the real trouble with elephants is that you can't help but love them."

* Title: Turtle Splash!: Countdown at the Pond
Author and Illustrator: Cathryn Falwell
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 2001
"As they are startled by the activities of other nearby creatures, the number of turtles on a log in a pond decreases from ten to one."

* Title: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Author and Illustrator: Eric Carle
Publisher: Philomel Books, 1969
Describes the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. It also covers the days of the week and counting.

* Title: What do you do with a Kangaroo?
Author and Illustrator: Mercer Mayer
Publisher: Scholastic, 1973
"If a bossy kangaroo jumped through your window AND started telling you what to do AND refused to go away AND had all kinds of other animals joining him...what would you do" A wonderful rhythm to the words.

* Title: What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?
Author: Steve Jenkins Illustrator: Robin Page
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003
This book talks about what various animals do with different parts of their bodies, such as mouths, feet, and eyes.

Title: What is a fish
Author: David Eastman, Illustrator: Lynn Sweat
Publisher: Troll Associates, 1982
Brief text covering the basic facts about fish.

Title: What's Under the Ocean
Author: Janet Palazzo-Craig, Illustrator: Paul Harvey
Publisher: Troll Associates, 1982
"Brief text and pictures introduce some animals and plants that live in the ocean."

* Title: When Sheep Sleep
Author: Laura Joffe Numeroff Illustrator: David McPhail
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2006
"Rhyming text suggests other options when one tries to count sheep but discovers that they are all asleep."

* Title: Wild About Books
Author: Judy Sierra Illustrator: Marc Brown
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, 2004
"A librarian named Molly McGrew introduces the animals in the zoo to the joy of reading when she drives her bookmobile to the zoo by mistake."

* Title: Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?
Authors: Bonnie Lass & Philemon Sturges Illustrator: Ashley Wolff
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, 2000
"A skunk tries to find which of his animal friends stole the cookies."

*Title: You're All My Favorites
Author: Sam McBratney Illustrator: Anita Jeram
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2004
"Once upon a time, a Mommy Bear and a Daddy Bear told their three little cubs that they were the best baby bears in the whole wide world. But the time came when each of the siblings began to wonder. They couldn't all be the best They couldn't all be favorites. Or could they?"

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April Fool's Day

* Title: April Foolishness
Author: Teresa Bateman Illustrator: Nadine Bernard Westcott
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Co., 2004
"Grandma and Grandpa and the grandkids enjoy April Fool's Day on the farm."

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Bedtime

Title: Billy's Big-Boy Bed
Author: Phyllis Limbacher Tildes
Publisher: A Whispering Coyote Book
"As Billy gets too big for his crib, his parents buy him a new bed, but Billy is not sure he is ready for the change, until his favorite teddy bear ends up sleeping in the new bed."

Title: Can't Sleep
Author: Christopher Raschka
Publisher: Orchard Books, 1995
"The moon comforts bedtime fears."

Title: Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite!
Author and Illustrator: Diane deGroat
Publisher: SeaStar Books, 2002
"Gilbert's day camp is going on an overnight trip, and Gilbert expects nothing but fun. But when loudmouthed Lewis tells him about the Camp Hi-Dee-Ho ghost, he can't help but feel a little nervous. And when he has to go outside in the middle of the night, it looks like he may have to confront his fears face-to-face."

*Title: A Good Night Walk
Author and Illustrator: Elisha Cooper
Publisher: Orchard Books, 2005
"A parent takes his/her child on a journey through a neighborhood and shown the sights, sounds, and smells as evenig approaches."

* Title: I Love You with All My Heart
Author: Noris Kern
Publisher: Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 1998
"When Caribou tells Polo that his mother loves him with all her heart, Polo is curious. How is this possible? He asks several of his friends how their mothers love them."

Title: In the Night Kitchen
Author and Illustrator Maurice Sendak
Publisher: Harper & Row, 1970
Mickey has an adventure when to goes to bed.

Title: Oh No, Not Ghosts
Author: Richard Michelson Illustrator: Adam McCauley
Publisher: Harcourt, 2006
"An older brother "reassures" his younger sister abut all the creatures hat she imagines lurking in the dark bedroom, but his words only scare her more."

* Title: "Paddle," Said the Swan
Author: Gloria Damen
Publisher: Atheneum, 1989
"Before falling asleep, a baby hears a variety of animal sounds."

Title: Song of Night: It's time to go to bed
Author: Nakamura, Katherine Riley Illustrator: Linnea Riley
Publisher: The Blue Sky Press, 2002
"Award-winning artist Linnea Riley and her daughter Katie present a community of bunnies, squirrels, ducks, and bears who are lovingly being put to bed."

Title: When Sheep Sleep
Author: Laura Joffe Numeroff Illustrator: David McPhail
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2006
"Rhyming text suggests other options when one tries to count sheep but discovers that they are all asleep."

* Title: Where the Wild Things Are
Author: Maurice Sendack
Publisher: Harper & Row, 1984,1963
"A naughty little boy, sent to bed without his supper, sails to the land of the wild things where he becomes their king." Caldecott Award Winner, 1964

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Beginning Readers

Title: Amelia Bedelia
Author: Peggy Parish Illustrator: Fritz Siebel
Publisher: Barnes & Noble, 1963
"Meet Amelia Bedelia, the hardworking, charming housekeeper who does exactly what the Rogers family asks her to. When she's told to "draw the drapes," Amelia Bedelia gets out her pad and pencil."

Title: Birthday Surprise
Author: Louis Sabin Illustrator: John Magine
Publisher: Troll Associates, 1981
"Sammy is sad when no one seems to remember his birthday."

Title: Here Comes Jack Frost
Author: Sharon Peters Illustrator: Eulala Connor
Publisher: Troll Associates, 1981
"When the wind blows on a cold night, Jack Frost goes to work."

Title: Perrywinkle's Magic Match
Author: Ross Martin Madsen Illustrator: Dirk Zimmer
Publisher: Dial Books, 1997
"Nevermore, the pet crow, comments as Perrywinkle and Andromeda compete for superiority in magic until they learn that the best way is to do it together."

Title: Pussycat Kites
Author: Sharon Peters, Illustrator: Susan T. Hall
Publisher: Troll Associates, 1985
"Peter, a cat, has a wonderful time flying his kite one windy day until a tree gets in the way."

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Behavior

* Title: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Author: Judith Viorst
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1972
"He could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. He went to sleep with gum in his mouth and woke up with gum in his hair. When he got out of bed, he tripped over his skateboard and by mistake dropped his sweater in the sink while the water was running. Nothing at all was right. Everything went wrong, right down to lima beans for supper and kissing on TV."

Title: Cookies: Bit Size Life Lessons
Author: Amy Krouse Rosenthal illustrated by Jane Dyer
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2006
"A new kind of dictionary, one that defines mysteries such as "fair" and "unfair" and what it really means to "cooperate."

Title: Duck & Goose
Author: Tad Hills
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2006
"Duck and Goose learn to work together to take care of a ball which they think is an egg."

Title: First Day in Grapes
Author: L. King Perez Illustrator: Robert Casilla
Publisher: Lee & Low Books, 2002
"When Chico starts the third grade after his migrant family moves to begin harvesting California grapes, he finds that self confidence and math skills help him cope with the first day of school."

Title: Hunter's Best Friend at School
Author: Laura Malone Elliott Illustrator: Lynn Munsinger
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2002
"Hunter, the raccoon, is not sure what he should do when his best friend Stripe starts acting up a school."

Title: So, You Want to Be President
Author: Judith St. George Illustrator: David Small
Publisher: Philomel Books, 2000
"Presents an assortment of facts abut the qualifications and characteristics of U.S. presidents, from George Washington to Bill Clinton." Caldecott Award Winner, 2001

Title: Zen Shorts
Author: Jon J. Muth
Publisher: Scholastic Press, 2005
"When Stillwater the bear moves into the neighborhood, the stories he tells to three siblings teach them to look at the world in new ways." These stories are based on Zen short meditations.

Bilingual

Title: Carlos and the Skunk
Author: Jan Romero Stevens, Illustrator Jeanne Arnold
Publisher: Rising Moon
In both Spanish and English. Carlos wants to impress a girl he likes and decides to do it by capturing a skunk. He's pretty sure he knows how.

Title: It Doesn't have to be this way: a barrio story
Author: Luis J. Rodriguez Illustrator; Daniel Galvez
Publisher: Children's Book Press, 1999
In both Spanish and English. "A compelling tale of a young boy's encounter with the world of gangs."

Title: Moon Rope
Author: Lois Ehlert
Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1992
"An adaptation of the Peruvian folktale in which Fox and Mole try to climb to the moon on a rope woven of grass."

Title: The Park Bench
Author: Fumiko Takeshita Illustrator: Mamour Suzuki
Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Publishers, 1988
In both Japanese and English "All through the sunny day the white bench in the park provides pleasure for the many people who come by, from the old man taking a walk to the children playing in the park."

Title: Shake It, Morena! and other Folklore from Puerto Rico
Compiled by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand Illustrator: Lulu Delacre
Publisher: Millbrook Press, 2002
An illustrated collection of games, songs, traditions, and stories from Puerto Rico in both English and Spanish.

Title: Siesta
Author: Ginger Foglesong Guy Illustrator: Rene King Moreno
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 2005
"A brother and sister, and their teddy bear go through the house gathering items they will need for their siesta in the back yard." The story also emphasizes colors and is written in Spanish and English.

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Birthday

Title: Birthday Surprise
Author: Louis Sabin Illustrator: John Magine
Publisher: Troll Associates, 1981
"Sammy is sad when no one seems to remember his birthday."

Title: Bunny Cakes
Author: Rosemary Wells
Publisher: Dial, 1997
"Max makes an earthworm cake for Grandma's birthday and helps Ruby with her angel surprise cake. At the store, the grocer can't read all of the shopping list until Max solves the problem by drawing pictures."

Title: Corduroy Lost and Found
Author: Barbara G. Hennessy Illustrator: Jody Wheeler
Publisher: Viking, Penguin Group, 2006
"Corduroy the teddy bear sets out one night to find a birthday present for his owner, Lisa, but soon realizes that he cannot find his way home."

Title: Happy Birthday, America
Author: Chall, Marsha Wilson Illustrator: Guy Porfirio
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2000
"Joined by an army of aunts, uncles, and cousins, eight-year-old Kay and her family celebrate the Fourth of July."

Title: It's My Birthday
Author: Pat Hutchins
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 1999
"Billy is reluctant to share his birthday presents with the other little monsters, but then something happens to make him change his mind."

Title: Jimmy's Boa and the Big Splash Birthday Bash
Author: Trinka Hakes Noble, Illustrator: Steven Kellogg
Publisher: Dial Books, 1989
"Jimmy's birthday party a SeaLand turns out to be a big splash when everyone ends up in a big tank."

Title: A Secret for Grandmother's Birthday
Author: Franz Brandenberg, Illustrator: Aliki
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 1975
"A brother and sister cat plan the secret gifts they will give grandmother cat for her birthday."

Title: Stina's Visit
Author and Illustrator: Lena Anderson
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 1989
"Stina and her grandfather visit an old sailor on his birthday."

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Books

Title: The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq
Author and Illustrator: Jeanette Winter
Publisher: Harcourt, 2005
"Alia Muhammad Baker is the librarian in Basra, Iraq. For fourteen years, her library has been a meeting place for those who love books. Until now. Now war has come, and Alia fears that the library--along with the thirty thousand book within it--will be destroyed forever." This story tells how she saved most of the books.

Title: Read All About It
Author: Laura Bush and Jenna Bush
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2008
"Tyrone rules the school! He's king of the monkey bars, a math machine, and a science whiz. The only thing he doesn't like about school is reading. Books are so boring! But when strange visitors start dropping by the classroom for story hour, Tyrone discovers there's more to books than just words on pages."

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Christmas

Title: American Christmas
Author: Diane Goode
Publisher: Dutton Children's Books, 1990
A collection of American poems, songs, and stories with a Christmas theme.

Title: The Christmas Gift
Author: Emily Arnold McCully
Publisher: Harper & Row, 1988
The mouse family gets ready and then celebrates Christmas. A wordless story.

Title: The Last Chimney of Christmas Eve
Author: Linda Oatman High Illustrator: Kestutis Dasparavicius
Publisher: Boyds Mills Press, 2001
"After Nicholas, a chimney sweep, receives a red furry coat, he returns to the rooftops to pass on the kindness he was given."

Title: The Little Reindeer
Author: Michael Foreman
Publisher: Dial Books, 1997
"A young reindeer becomes a surprise Christmas gift for a city boy."

Title: Noel's Christmas Secret
Author: Grégoire Solotareff
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1988
One version of how a young boy became Santa Claus.

Title: The Night Before Christmas
Author: Clement Clarke Moore, Illustrator: Wendy Watson
Publisher: Clarion Books, 1990
A well known poem about Santa Claus.

* Title: The Polar Express
Author: Chris Van Allsburg
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 1985
"A magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa Claus." Caldecott Award Winner, 1986

Title: The Secret Keeper
Author: Anna Grossnickle Hines
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 1990
"Unhappy to be the only one in his house without Christmas secrets, Joshua is relieved when Grandma comes and helps him have some secrets of his own."

Title: Silver Packages; An Appalachian Christmas Story
Author: Cynthia Rylant Illustrator: Chris K. Soentpiet
Publisher: Richard Jackson, 1987
"Every year at Christmas, a rich man rides a train through Appalachia and throws gifts to the poor children who are waiting, in order to repay a debt he owes the people who live there."

Title: Too Many Tamales!
Author: Gary Soto Illustrator: Ed Martinez
Publisher: Putnam, 1993
"Maria tries on her mother's wedding ring while helping make tamales for a Christmas family get-together. Panic ensues when, hours later, she realizes the ring is missing."

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Cleanliness

Title: Clean your Room, Harvey Moon!
Author: Pat Cummings
Publisher: Simon and Schuster, 1991
"Harvey tackles a big job, cleaning his room."

* Title: Harry the Dirty Dog
Author: Gene Zion Illustrator: Margaret Bloy Graham
Publisher: HarperCollins, 1956
Harry the dog gets so dirty his own human family doesn't recognize him.

* Title: I'm Dirty!
Author: Kate and Jim McMullan
Publisher: Harper/Collins, 2006
A backhoe loader is reporting for work and he loves his dirty job.

Title: What's With This Room?
Author: Tom Lichtenheld
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, 2005
"A discussion between a boy and his parents about a bedroom, that is so dirty he would 'have to clean up just to call it a mess,' ends with a blast."

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Clothing

Title: Crazy Clothes
Author: Niki Yektai Illustrated by Sucie Stevenson
Publisher: Bradbury Press, 1988
"When Patrick tries to show his mother how well he can dress himself, his clothes become contrary and insist on going on the wrong parts of his body"

Title: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Author and Illustrator: Simms Taback
Publisher: Viking, 1999
"A very old overcoat is recycled numerous times into a variety of garments." Caldecott Award Winner, 2000

Title: Just My Size
Author: May Garelick Illustrator: William Pène du Bois
Publisher: Harper & Row, 1990
"A little girl reminisces about the beautiful coat she owned, which as she grew became, in turn, a jacket, a vest and a cap, a knapsack, and finally a beautiful coat for her doll."

Title: The Magical, Mystical, Marvelous Coat
Author: Catherine Ann Cullen Illustrator: David Christiana
Publisher: Little, Brown and Co., 2001
"The unusual buttons from a young girl's favorite coat provide magical assistance to a giant, a swan, some sailors, a wizard, some rabbits, and a elf."

Title: Old Jake's Skirts
Author: C. Anne Scott Illustrator: David Slonim
Publisher: Rising Moon, 1998
"A reclusive pumpkin farmer finds an abandoned steamer trunk filled with cotton calico skirts which he eventually uses around the house in ways which seem to bring him luck."

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Colors

* Title: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Author: Bill Martin Jr. Illustrator: Eric Carle
Publisher: Henry Holt, 1967
This book talks about animals and colors.

Title: Chidi Only Likes Blue: An African Book of Colors
Author: Ifeoma Onyefulu
Publisher: Cobblehill Books, 1997
Nneka teaches her little brother about all the other colors there are besides blue. She does this by showing him things in their village so the story also shows a different way of life.

Title: My Many Colored Days
Author: Dr. Suess Paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996
"This rhyming story describes each day in terms of a particular color which in turn is associated with specific emotions."

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Conservation

Title: Brother Eagle, Sister Sky
Author: A Message from Chief Seattle as told by Susan Jeffers Illustrator: Susan Jeffers
Publisher: Dial Books, 1991
"A Suquamish Indian chief describes his people's respect and love for the earth, and concerns for its destruction."

Title: The Tin Forest
Author: Helen Ward Illustrator: Wayne Anderson
Publisher: Dutton Children's Books, 2001
"In the middle of a windswept wasteland full of discarded scrap metal lives a sad and lonely old man. In spite of his gloomy surroundings, he dreams every night of a lively forest full of birds and animals. When he finds a broken light fixture that looks like a flower, an idea begins to grow in his mind..."

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Counting

Title: Counting in the Garden
Author: Kim Parker
Publisher: Orchard Books, 2005
"Invites the reader to count the inhabitants of a garden, from one to ten, such as four bunnies and nine inchworms."

Title: Cuenta Los Insectos
Author: Jerry Pallotta Illustrator: Ralph Masiello
Publisher: Charlesbridge, 1992
A counting book of insects. This book is in Spanish.

Title: Gator Pie
Author: Louise Mathews, Illustrator, Jeni Bassett
Publisher: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1979
A story that talks about fractions.

Title: Give the Dog a Bone
Adapted and illustrated by: Steven Kellogg
Publisher: SeaStar Books, 2000
A silly version of Nick-Nack paddywhack, give the dog a bone.

* Title: I'm Dirty!
Author: Kate and Jim McMullan
Publisher: Harper/Collins, 2006
A backhoe loader is reporting for work and he loves his dirty job.

Title: In Window Eight, the Moon is Late
Author and Illustrator: Diane Worfolk Allison
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company, 1988
"At the end of a summer day a little girls goes through the house saying good-night to the various members of her family." The book also involves some counting and the summer season.

*Title: Max Counts His Chickens
Author and Illustrator: Rosemary Wells
Publisher: Viking, 2007
"Ruby finds one in the dollhouse, another in the soap dish, one more under her pillow. Soon Ruby can count ten chicks in her basket. Max has none. But count on Max to have the last laugh."

Title: One Dragon's Dream
Author: Peter Pavy
Publisher: Bradbury Press, 1978
"The reader can count items from 1 to 10 included in the dragon's dream."

Title: One, Two, Three, and Four. No More?
Author: Catherine Gray Illustrator: Marissa Moss
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 1988
"Twenty-two simple, rhyming verses depict animals who are acting out a series of arithmetical relationships."

* Title: Raindrop, Plop
Author: Wendy Cheyette Lewison Illustrator: Pam Paparone
Publisher: Viking, 2004
"A young girl and her dog find many things to count on a rainy day, both as they play outside and after they come home to a warm, dry house."

* Title: Ten Little Hippos: a counting book
Author: Bobette McCarthy
Publisher: Bradbury Press, 1992
"The mishaps of a troupe of dancing hippos give the reader the opportunity to count down from ten to one."

Title: Ten Potatoes in a Pot - And other Counting Rhymes
Selected by Michael Jay Katz Illlustrator: June Otani
Publisher: Harper and Row Junior Books, 1990
"A collection of traditional counting rhymes, including both popular and little-known verses."

Title: Tickle-Toe Rhymes
Author: Joan Knight Illustrator: John Wallner
Publisher: Orchard Books, 1989
Thirteen rhymes based on "This Little Pig Went to Market" which can be used to learn how to count up to five.

*Title: Waking Up Wendell
Author: April Stevens Illustrator: Tad Hills
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2007
"Early in the morning a bird begins to sing at #1 Fish Street, waking the man next door and his dog, and before long, as one noise leads to another everyone on the street is awake."

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Courage

Title: Mirette on the High Wire
Author: Emily Arnold McCully
Publisher: Putnam & Grosset Group, 1997
"Mirette learns tightrope walking from Monsieur Bellini, a guest in her mother's boardinghouse, not knowing that he is a celebrated tightrope artist who has withdrawn from performing because of fear." Caldecott Award Winner, 1993

* Title: Swimmy
Author: Leo Lionno
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, 1963
A Caldecott Honor Book. "In this Lionni classic, Swimmy, a small orphaned fish, shows his friends how--with ingenuity and hard work--they can conquer their fears and overcome the dangers of the wet world."

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Cultural Diversity

Title: Brother Eagle, Sister Sky
A Message from Chief Seattle as told by Susan Jeffers Illustrator: Susan Jeffers
Publisher: Dial Books
"A Suquamish Indian chief describes his people's respect and love for the earth, and concerns for its destruction."

Title: Chidi Only Likes Blue: An African Book of Colors
Author: Ifeoma Onyefulu
Publisher: Cobblehill Books, 1997
Nneka teaches her little brother about all the other colors there are besides blue. She does this by showing him things in their village so the story also shows a different way of life.

Title: Gilberto and the Wind
Author: Marie Hall Ets
Publisher: Viking, 1963
Gilberto plays with and observes the wind.

Title: Grandfather's Journey
Author: Allen Say
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1993
"A Japanese American man recounts his grandfather's journey to America which he later also undertakes, and the feelings of being torn by a love for two different countries." Caldecott Award Winner, 1994

Title: The Gullywasher
Author & Illustrator: Joyce Rossi Publisher: Northland Pub., 1996
"Leticia's grandfather, who was a vaquero as a young man, provides some fanciful explanations for how he got his wrinkles, white hair, round belly and stooped frame.

Title: How My Parents learned to Eat
Author Ina R. Friedman Illustrator: Allen Say
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1984
"An American sailor courts a Japanese girl and each tries, in secret, to learn the other's way of eating."

Title: The Keeping Quilt
Author: Patricia Polacco
Publisher: Simon and Schuster, 1988
"A homemade quilt ties together the lives of four generations of an immigrant Jewish family, remaining a symbol of their enduring love and faith"

Title: Less than half, more than whole
Author: Kathleen Lacapa, Illustrator: Michael Lacapa
Publisher: Northland Publishing, 1994
Tony discovers that he is half Indian and half White. Through visiting his Indian Grandfather, Tony learns that he is not less than half, but is more than whole.

Title: Mama, Do You Love Me?
Author: Barbara M. Joosse Illustrator: Barbara Lavallee
Publisher: Chronicle Books, 1991
"A child living in the Arctic learns that a mother's love in unconditional."

Title: Nene and the Horrible Math Monster
Author: Maria Villanueva Illustrator: Ria Unson
Publisher: Polychrome Books, 1993
"Nene, a Filipino American girl, confronts the model minority myth that all Asians excel at mathematics, and in doing so, overcomes her fears."

Title: My Nose, Your Nose
Author: Melanie Walsh
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 2002
"Come and join in this celebration of all our unique, funny parts. And see how we're similar too!"

Title: Our Home is the Sea
Author: Riki Levinson Illustrator: Dennis Luzak
Publisher: E. P. Dutton, 1988
"A Chinese boy hurries home from school to his family's houseboat in Hong Kong harbor. It is the end of the school year, and he is anxious to join his father and grandfather in their family profession, fishing."

Title: Smoky Night
Author: Eve Bunting, Illustrator: David Diaz
Publisher: Harcourt Brace and Company, 1994
"When the Los Angeles riots break out in the streets of their neighborhood, a young boy and his mother learn the value of getting along with others no matter what their background or nationality." Caldecott Award Winner, 1995

* Title: Tikki Tikki Tembo
Retold by Arlene Mosel Illustrator: Blair Lent
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, 1968
A re-creation of an ancient Chinese folktale about the dangers of giving first born sons long names.

Title: When the Pigs Took Over
Author: Arthur Dorros Illustrator: Diane Grenseid
Publisher: Dutton's Children's Books, 2002
"This is a riotous tale of two brothers--one small but enormously sensible, one big but a little crazy--told with the warmth and sprinkling of Spanish found in Arthur Dorro's other books.

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Dancing

* Title: Barn Dance!
Author: Bill Martin Jr., Illustrator: John Archambault
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, 1986
While a boy tries to sleep he hears square dance music and follows it out to the barn where the animals have gathered for a barn dance. A rhyming book.

Title: Dumpy La Rue
Author: Elizabeth Winthrop Illustrator: Betsy Lewin
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co., 2001
"A rhyming story about a pig whose passion for dancing becomes contagious."

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Day Care/Nursery School

Title: Barney is Big
Author: Nicki Weiss
Publisher: Greenwillow, 1988
"Before going off to his first day at nursery school, Barney and his mother recall what being a baby was like and discuss what a big boy he is now."

Title: First Day of School
Author: Helen Oxenbury
Publisher: Dial Books, 1983
"A little girl is not looking forward to her first day at nursery school until she makes friends with another new girl."

Title: I Don't Want To!
Author: Sally Grindley Illustrator: Carol Thompson
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, 1990
"All young children worried about starting nursery school, as Jim is, will be reassured by this funny, satisfying story as they watch him finally change his mind."

Title: My Day, Your Day
Author: Robin Ballard
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 2001
"Children have a busy day at day care while their parents have a busy day at work."

Title: We Play
Author: Phyllis Hoffman Illustrations: Sarah Wilson
Publisher: Harper & Row, 1990
"A rhymed account of a child's fun-filled day at nursery school. a rollicking, playful book, which shows that even the simplest things can be fun when shared with friends."

Title: You Go Away
Author: Dorothy Corey Illustrator: Diane Paterson
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company, 1999
"Conveys everyday experiences of children briefly separated from their parents or caretakers and then reunited." Written for the very young child.

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Death

Title: Better With Two
Author: Barbara M. Joosse Illustrator: Catherine Stock
Publisher: Harper & Row, 1988
"Laura tries to make Mrs. Brady feel better when her dog Max dies."

Title: The Bug Cemetery
Author: Frances Hill Illustrator: Vera Rosenberry
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, 2002
"Neighborhood children imaginatively stage funerals for dead bugs, but they experience real sadness following the death of a pet."

Title: Goodbye Mousie
Author: Robie H. Harris Illustrator: Jan Ormerod
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2001
"A boy grieves for his dead pet Mousie, helps to bury him, and begins to come to terms with his loss."

Title: The Worry Stone
Author: Marianna Dengler, Illustrator: Sibyl Graber Gerig
Publisher: Rising Moon, 1996
This is a series of three stories loosely woven together. The middle story concerns a young girl's love for her grandfather and how she copes with his death.

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Disabilities

Title: The Cross-Eyed Rabbit
Author and Illustrator: Claude Boujon
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 1984
"A visually-impaired rabbit comes to the aid of his two brothers when a fox threatens their home."

Title: The Hickory Chair
Author: Lisa Rowe Fraustino Illustrator: Benny Andrews
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2001
"A blind boy tells of his warm relationship with his grandmother and the gift she left him after her death."

Title: Someone Special, just like you
Author: Tricia Brown, Photographs by Fran Ortiz
Publisher: Henry Holt, 1982
Talks about how children with disabilities have the same wants, needs and hopes as other children.

Title: What's Wrong with Timmy?
Author: Maria Shriver Illustrator: Sandra Speidel
Publisher: Warner Books, 2001
"Making friends with a mentally retarded boy helps Kate learn that the two of them have a lot in common."

Title: Where's Chimpy?
Author: Berniece Rabe, Photographs by Diane Schmidt
Publisher: Albert Whitman and Company, 1988
"Text and photographs show Misty, i little girl with Down Syndrome, and her father reviewing her day's activities in their search for her stuffed monkey."

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Divorce

Title: Loon Summer
Author: Barbara Santucci Illustrator: Andrea Shine
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
"While spending the summer with her father. Rainie wished her parents would stay together, just like the family of loons she sees on the lake."

Title: My Mother's Getting Married
Author: Joan Drescher
Publisher: Dial Books, 1985
"Katy is not looking forward to the changes that her mother's marriage will bring."

Title: A New Room for William
Author: Sally Grindley Illustrator: Carol Thompson
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2000
"When William and his mother move, he is unhappy about having a new room, but he changes his mind after he gets dinosaur wallpaper and makes a new friend."

* Title: Two Homes
Author: Claire Masurel Illustrator: Kady MacDonald Denton
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2001
"A young boy named Alex enjoys the homes of both his parents who live apart but love Alex very much."

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Easter

Title: The Bunny Who Found Easter
Author: Charlotte Zolotow Illustrator: Helen Craig
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 1959, renewed 1987 Illustrations © 1998
"A lonely bunny rabbit searches for others of his kind from summer through winter until spring arrives and he finds one special bunny."

Title: The Easter Bunny that Overslept
Authors: Priscilla and Otto Friedrich Illustrator: Donald Saaf
Publisher: HarperCollins Publisher, 2002
"Having slept past Easter, the Easter bunny tries to distribute his eggs on Mother's Day, the Fourth of July, and Halloween, but no one is interested until finally Santa Claus is able to get him back on track."

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Emotions

Title: A Book of Hugs
Author: Dave Ross Illustrator: Laura Rader
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, 1999
"Describes a variety of hugs, including people hugs, blanket hugs, and birthday hugs, and presents facts and hints about hugs."

Title: Good-bye Sammy
Author: Liza Ketchum Murrow Illustrator: Gail Owens
Publisher: Holiday House, 1989
"A boy misses his lost toy rabbit even though his mother buys him a new rabbit."

Title: How Are You Peeling: foods with moods
Author: Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books, 1999
This book uses photographs of vegetables that have been decorated in such a way that explore human emotions.

Title: Hugs and Kisses
Author: Eve Tharlet Illustrator Christophe Loupy
Publisher: A Michail Neugebauer Book; North-South Books, 2001
"A puppy named Hugs sets out one morning on a quest. He asks every animal he meets for a kiss, and they are all happy to oblige. He collects lots of wonderful kisses, but when he returns home Hugs discovers that the best kiss of all is the one he gets from his mother."

Title: I Love it When You Smile
Author: Sam McBratney Illustrated by Charles Fuge
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2005
"A grumpy little kangaroo is having a bad day until his mother finds a way to make him smile."

Title: I Love You with All My Heart
Author: Noris Kern
Publisher: Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 1998
"When Caribou tells Polo that his mother loves him with all her heart, Polo is curious. How is this possible? He asks several of his friends how their mothers love them."

Title: I'm Sorry
Author: Sam McBratney Illustrated by Jennifer Eachus
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2000
"Having a best friend makes life so much better. But even best friends fight, and when that happens, "I'm sorry" is the hardest thing to say."

Title: Left Behind
Author: Carol Carrick Illustrator: Donald Carrick
Publisher: Clarion Books, 1988
"Christopher gets lost on the subway during an excursion to the aquarium and is afraid he'll never be reunited with his class." Demonstrates the emotion: fear

Title: Leon and Albertine
Author and Illustrator: Christine Davenier
Publisher: Orchard Books, 1998
"Leon the pig follows the advice of the other barnyard animals in trying to get the attention of Albertine the chicken, with whom he has fallen in love."

*Title: Mama, Do You Love Me?
Author: Barbara M. Joosse Illustrator: Barbara Lavallee
Publisher: Chronicle Books, 1991
"A child living in the Arctic learns that a mother's love in unconditional."

Title: My Many Colored Days
Author: Dr. Suess Paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996
"This rhyming story describes each day in terms of a particular color which in turn is associated with specific emotions."

Title: Pig and Crow
Author: Kay Chorao
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co., 2000
"Crow tricks Pig by trading him supposedly magic items for food, but in the process Pig discovers the value of hard work, patience, and an appreciation for beauty and joy." The story also explores loneliness.

*Title: Soft House
Author: Jane Yolen Illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2005
"On a rainy afternoon, a little brother and big sister make a cozy house from blankets and cushions with the help of Mr. Cat." The story also covers being afraid of the dark.

*Title: Toby and the Snowflakes
Author: Julie Halpern Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 2004
"Lonely after his best friend moves away, Toby finds new playmates in the talking snowflakes that begin to fall."

Title: Today I Feel Silly: & Other Moods That Make My Day
Author: Jamie Lee Curtis Illustrator: Laura Cornell
Publisher: Joanna Cotler Books, 1998
"A child's emotions range from silliness to anger to excitement, coloring and changing each day."

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Etiquette/Manners

Title: Big and Noisy Simon
Author: Joseph Wallace Illustrator: Kevin O'Malley
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children, 2001
"Simon cannot help being big and noisy, until he goes to Africa with his parents and watches a herd of elephants being big and noisy sometimes and silent when they need to be."

Title: Manners
Author and Illustrator: Aliki
Publisher: Greenwillow, 1990
"Discusses manners and gives example of good manners and bad manners."

* Title: My Dog Never Says Please
Author: Suzanne Williams Illustrator: Tedd Arnold
Publisher: Dial Books, 1997
"Tired of having to mind her manners, clean her room, and wear shoes, Ginny Mae wishes she could trade places with the family dog."

* Title: Rude Mule
Author: Pamela Duncan Edwards Illustrator: Barbara Nascimbeni
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, 2002
"A rude mule learns that he has more fun when he uses good manners."

Title: The Thingumajig Book of Manners
Author: Irene Keller Illustrator: Dick Keller
Publisher: Ideals Children's Books, 1988
"Those Thingumajigs are at it again! They slurp their soup and rock their chairs. They never say 'Thank you' and they never say 'Please.' They are funny study in bad manners but children also learn the good manners from each pages's contrasting example."

* Title: When Kangaroo Goes to School
Author: Sonia Levitin Illustrated by Jeff Seaver
Publisher: Rising Moon, 2001
"Kangaroo learns the proper way to behave on the first day of school."

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Family

Title: Abigail at the Beach
Author: Felix Pirani Illustrator: Christine Roche
Publisher: Dial Books, 1989
"A little girl goes to the beach with her Father, where her imagination enables her to build the biggest sand castle in the world."

Title: Amy Loves the Rain
Author: Julia Hoban Illustrator: Lillian Hoban
Publisher: Harper and Rowe, 1989
"Amy and her mother drive through the rain to pick up Daddy."

Title: A Book of Hugs
Author: Dave Ross Illlustrator: Laura Rader
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, 1999
"Describes a variety of hugs, including people hugs, blanket hugs, and birthday hugs, and presents facts and hints about hugs."

Title: At Grammy's House
Author: Eve Rice, Illustrator: Nancy Winslow Parker
Publisher: Greenwillow, 1990
"A brother and sister spend a delightful day at Grammy's farmhouse."

Title: Flying Dimitri
Author: Blair Drawson
Publisher: Orchard Books, 1997
"After presenting a birthday gift to his father, Dimitri embarks on a flying adventure."

Title: A Fun Weekend
Author: Franz Brandenberg, Illustrator: Alexa Brandenberg
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 1991
The bear family starts out for a night at a lodge but make so many stops they don't get there in time.

*Title: A Good Night Walk
Author and Illustrator: Elisha Cooper
Publisher: Orchard Books, 2005
"A parent takes his/her child on a journey through a neighborhood and shown the sights, sounds, and smells as evenig approaches."

Title: The Hello, Goodbye Window
Author: Norton Juster Illustrator: Chris Raschka
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children, 2005
A child talks about visiting with her grandparents. Caldecott Award Winner, 2006

Title: The Hickory Chair
Author: Lisa