Dinosaurs?! by Lila Prap. (NorthSouth) 2010.

Informational book --a great one--for the youngest dinosaur fans-- lots of color with warm illustrations and a child friendly layout-- sidebars filled with information can be read -- for older kids or just ignored in favor of the fabulous illustrations that take center stage. An international children's book, translated from the Danish.

Old Black Fly by Jim Alylesworth. (Henry Holt) 1999.

we follow the an old black fly as he buzzes through the alphabet, -in verse no less--until he finally meets his end SPLATT!!
Lots of repetition and a great refrain-- fun to read and fun to play - this is a great auditory read a loud. A big hit with the preschool crowd -- after they got over the initial shock of old black flies untimely demise-- they loved it.
Steve Gammell's illustrations are, as always, bright and powerful.

What Can You Do With a Paleta? / ¿Qué puedes hacer con una paleta? by Carmen Tafolla. Tricycle Press, Bilingual Edition, 2009. 32 pages

January's Sparrow by Patricia Polacco. Philomel Books, 2009, 95 pages.

Patricia Polacco doing what she does best--a fabulous new picture book for older readers--the narrative drawn from real life--in this case, the memoirs of the Michigan based Crosswhite family. A master storyteller, Polacco tells the story of the Crosswhite family's escape from slavery in Kentucky to Michigan on the underground railroad--narrated by January, it is told from young Sadie's point of view. I'm a huge Polacco fan--(can you tell?) and January's Sparrow is Polacco at her best; a warm, personal story of individuals and families dealing with issues of universal importance, full of humor and symbolism, truth and hope. The illustrations are classic Polacco-warm pencil sketches with an emphasis on people, she uses color to great effect. Even the unusual square shape of the book itself enhances the story. the publisher offers a curriculum guide as well. I have already promised it to a 5th grade teacher who cannot wait to get it for her class. Another winner from Polacco--5 of 5--no question.

Little Bunny Kung Fu by Regan Johnson. Blooming Tree Press, 2005. 32 pages

Little Bunny Kung Fu has all the elements of a good fractured fairy tale---Where little bunny foo foo was picking up the field mice and bopping them on the head, Little Bunny Kung Fu uses all his martial arts moves and props to destroy the bamboo forest-- no matter how many animals come out to explain how the destruction of the environment hurts them. It isn't until the Dragon comes down to explain in great detail --and with a clear threat to Little Bunny Kung Fu himself-- that our martial arts rabbit learns-- reluctantly-- to respect mother nature. The clean and straightforward charcoal drawings enhance the text and support the asian setting. The deceptively simple verse mirrors the nursery rhyme of old but tells a powerful tale that has even young children roaring with laughter-- Every one loves to watch a bad bunny get his in the end.

**This one was a sleeper that i had overlooked in the picture book section--Thanks to Margaret for recommending it. I love it too!!!

Stuck in the Mud by Jane Clarke. Walker Books for Young Readers (2008), Edition: 1st, Hardcover, 32 pages

Similar to The Enormous Turnip---a cumulative tale where all the barnyard animals come out one at a time to help the hen whose chick is stuck in the mud. The ending is funny and cute and surprising-- and both kids and adults love it. Fun to read. A storytime crowd pleaser!

A Frog in the Bog by Karma Wilson. McElderry, 2007. 32 pages

Karma Wilson with another winner-- Frog in the Bog has everything a storytime favorite needs-rhythm, rhyme, alliteration, numbers, repetition humor and a surprising (to kids) ending. "There's a small hungry frog sitting on a log in the middle of the bog". As frog eats 1 tick, 2 fleas, etc., he gets bigger and bigger until he realizes the log is an alligator. When frog opens his mouth to yell, all the insects jump out in reverse order. Joan Rankin's illustrations lend a muted, watery feel that works very well. Cute and fun-- flows better than some of Wilson's work. Reminiscent of Root's One Duck Stuck.

Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S Brannen. Putnam Juvenile (2008), Hardcover, 32 pages

Little Chloe adores her Uncle Bobby, but when Uncle Bobby falls in love with Jaime and begins to plan the wedding, Chloe is angry and jealous and very afraid that Uncle Bobby will no longer love her. In the end, Chloe is reassured that Uncle Bobby will always love her and in Jaime, she will now have TWO loving uncles. Plus, she gets to be flower girl! A gentle and loving yet realistic look at the complex feelings and emotions children may experience when a loved one gets married. The guinea pig characters are sweetly gentle and appealing, and while it is clear that Uncles Bobby and Jaime are gay, this is not the issue, making this an especially good choice for school units on feelings and families and celebrations. Highly Recommended.

The Story of Babar by Jean De Brunhoff. Random House Books for Young Readers (1967), Library Binding, 56 pages

A french classic i never read until today! A sweet tale of a young orphaned elephant who finds friendship and adventures in the city and then returns home to the forest to be crowned King. Lovely in its simplicity, Babar feels like a bedtime story created by a favorite aunt or uncle. The illustrations are exquisite-- both old fashioned and timeless. One warning though--while the script style font is charming, early readers may have trouble reading the text. Still, a lovely and charming tale loved by generations of children around the world.

Jamela's Dress by Niki Daly. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1999.

When her mother buys material to make a new dress for a friend's wedding, Jemela falls so in love with the beautiful fabric that she wraps it around herself and parades throught the street. But this is a busy neighborhood and on the way the fabric gets ruined. What will mama do?
Warm and earthy illustrations complement this wonderful story. Filled with images of modern South African street scenes, as well as Nguni works, children everywhere will love the story and identify with its heroine. Kwela Kwela!

My Piles of Rows and Coins by Tololwa M Mollel. Clarion Books, NY. 1999

A young boy in Tanzania saves the money he earns while working in the market with his mother. He is saving to buy a bicycle, which he believes will allow him to help his parents more at home. Although the other kids often ridicule him, he practises every chance he gets and, with the help of his father, he eventually learns. When he finally saves 350 coins he runs to the bike shop only to find out that, although 350 coins is an enormous amount to a young boy, it is no where near enough to buy a bicycle. Dejected, he returns home to Yoyo, but a surprise awaits.
This beautifully illustrated and wonderful tale manages to introduce themes that speak to experiences both universal and uniquely African.

Stay Awake, Sally by Mitra Modarressi. G P Putnum's, 2007.

In a clever and very funny role reversal, a very mature young racoon child pleads with her parents to be allowed to go to bed--"Tomorrow's a school day, I must get some rest. If i don't sleep now, I can't do my best."
--Her parents try every trick in the book to get her to stay up--"One story? Choose four! Stay awake, Sally, just a few minutes more!"
--A huge hit with parents and caregivers --but my preschoolers were only mildly amused, and mildly annoyed--by the story...Too suble for the youngest crowd, but all the adults loved it!

Mommy's Little Star by Janet Bingham. Scholastic, 2008

An inquisitive fox kit continually asks the question " What's higher in the sky?" to each answer his mother gives him--the trees, the rainbow, the cloud, etc.---Reminiscent of Sam McBratney's Guess How Much I love You, This is a sweet bedtime tale that leaves our kit (and yours) feeling safe and loved.

First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger. Roaring Book Press, NY., 2007.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Seeger's beautifully illustrated picture book details the progression of several living things --egg then chicken, tadpole then frog--simply at first---carefully progressing to word/writing, paint/picture, finally leading us to the satisfying and clever lifecycle conclusion...back to egg! Accurate and cleverly written, this beautiful book will is certain to inspire lively conversations about the circle of life. A winner!

Mean Soup by Betsy Everitt. Voyager Books (1995), Paperback, 32 pages

A bad day at school puts Horace in a foul mood that he will not be cajoled out of--until his mother makes Mean Soup. ---Not as serious as Juanita Havill's Brianna series, nor even as the Viorst classic Alexander and the terrible, horrible no good day--still, this sweet and light hearted story works and works best as a tool to use with younger children to help them shed those bad moods brought on by everyday frustration. Everitt's book is fun and clever and charming ...and who knows...it may do for bad days what Patricia Polacco's Thundercake did for thunderstorms!

Visiting Day by Jacqueline Woodson. Scholastic Press (2002), Hardcover, 32 pages

A moving view of “visiting day”-- the monthly routine of a young girl going with her grandmother to visit her incarcerated father. Told from the point of view of the little girl, the picture book is powerful in its simplicity.--- almost a spare retelling of the facts—waking up early to the smell of fried chicken, grandma fixing your hair just right, a neighbor coming by with a package to be delivered to her son, waiting for a certain bus, etc…held together with the simple refrain ”Only on visiting day”. Woodson is gifted at speaking in any voice she chooses, and the personal note she adds at the end, about visiting a favorite uncle when she was young, only adds to the tale. James E. Ransome’s watercolor illustrations are stunning and only add to the power of the text. Thought provoking and moving and visually rich, my only concern was the danger of stereotyping black men and their families. The percentages of black men incarcerated in this country far outstrip other groups, but care needs to be taken not to unwittingly reinforce racist beliefs about black youth. I would not hesitate to use it as part of a Woodson author study or in a unit/program about families or the Black experience. Love Woodson. Grades K-3 +

The Red Lemon (Deluxe Golden Book) by Bob Staake. Golden Books (2006), Library Binding, 40 pages

Farmer McPhee adores yellow lemons and after much lavish praise of their many wonderful attributes, he discovers a RED lemon on one of his trees. Determined to be rid of it because "it's too red to bear!", McPhee pitches it to a faraway island where the seeds thrive and prosper. Years after McPhee's yellow lemon grove has become nothing but a patch of weeds, the Red Lemons, "six times as sweet" remain a sensation. Staake's illustrations are clean, colorful and bold. The rhyming text is fun to read and very reminiscent of Dr. Seuss at his best. A huge hit at story time and reading readiness programs... served with red lemonade, of course. PreK-1.

One Big Building: A Counting Book About Construction (Know Your Numbers) by Michael Dahl. Picture Window Books (2004), Library Binding, 24 pages

Follow the numbers 1 to 12 through a construction site--from one plan to "a building twelve stories high". Includes extras, such as fun facts about building construction, a glossary and additional information websites. Ouren's illustrations are bold, bright and especially appealing. For youngsters interested in the topic (and there are many!) this is one great counting picture book.

Good Boy, Fergus! by David Shannon. The Blue Sky Press (2006), Hardcover, 40 pages

We've all met dogs like Fergus--happy, puppy like dogs who know what they like and who do everything--chasing motorcycles, taking a walk, peeing on hydrants-- with enthusiasm. And like Fergus's unseen owner, who says "don't beg" and then gives him bits of food, we are all charmed. Shannon's illustrations -- bright and colorful and larger than life--add the the feeling of warmth and home, comfort and fun. Like Shannon's David Books, the text consists of simple commands and statements directed to Fergus by his owner, making it easy to connect with and fun to read. --great for storytime

Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Edward R Emberley. L,B Kids (1993), Hardcover, 32 pages

Always a winner--and fun to read. toddlers thru kinder have fun making the big green monster go away and come back one page/nose at at time. Good tool for verbal practice--have group chant "GO AWAY" with you. Hand puppet too. Great for storytimes. ( )