Books for Beginning Readers
Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole
Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole by Wong Herbert Yee Mouse and Mole are neighbors, sharing the same tree. They are friends, and they have their differences. But, as friends, they try to work out any conflicts with some creative problem solving. Mole sweeps his hole every morning to keep it tidy. Mouse sweeps her house every…
The Blue Hill Meadows
The Blue Hill Meadows by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Ellen Beier Willie Meadow lives with his family (mother, father, and big brother) in Blue Hill, Virginia – a green valley with mountains and lakes nearby. Things in Blue Hill seem to belong to a simpler, slower time. This is a book about Willie and his…
Iris and Walter
Iris and Walter by Elissa Haden Guest, illustrated by Christine Davenier Iris’s family moved from the big city to the country. Iris was sad because she missed things from her old life – like roller skating in the long hallway, tango music at night from a neighbor’s apartment, playing baseball after dinner with the neighborhood…
Bramble and Maggie
Bramble and Maggie by Jessie Haas, illustrated by Alison Friend Bramble is a horse who gives riding lessons in a riding ring. But, Bramble is getting bored of riding around and around the ring while Mrs. Blenkinsop tells the riders what to do (and they tell Bramble what to do). Bramble expresses her boredom by…
Library Lion
Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes This was a huge favorite in my house for many years. A lion, a library, friendship, and some rules – a wonderful story. One day a lion walked into the library. One of the librarians, Mr. McBee, saw the lion and ran to a different part…
Miss Rumphius
Miss Rumphius, story and pictures by Barbara Cooney When Alice was a little girl, she lived in a city by the sea where she helped her grandfather with his paintings. Her grandfather told her stories of faraway places he had seen in his travels. Alice told her grandfather that she, too, wanted to travel and…
Keeker and the Sneaky Pony
Keeker and the Sneaky Pony by Hadley Higginson, illustrated by Maja Andersen This is a good book for readers who are ready to move beyond the beginning reader books, but who feel a little intimidated by longer chapter books. Keeker is an eight-year-old girl who desperately wants a pony. She has taken riding lessons, been…
Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend
Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Sucie Stevenson One morning in February, Henry woke up and looked out of his window and found wet yuck. It was one of those gray days that isn’t Winter (with snow and exciting outdoor fun), but really isn’t anything else either. What to…
Ella Sets the Stage
Picture book heroes come in all shapes, colors, sizes, and species. Some are headstrong and rush ahead despite warnings. Some are frightened, but face their fears. Some are cats, or dogs, or purple aliens. My family found a shy, yet strong hero in a young elephant. In Ella Sets the Stage by Carmela and Steven…
Meet Mr. and Mrs. Green
Meet Mr. and Mrs. Green by Keith Baker I stumbled upon Mr. and Mrs. Green when my children were learning to read. These alligators are fun, quirky characters presented through mini stories (3 per book) and colorful illustrations. Mrs. Green suggests that they go camping. They plan what to bring – Mrs. Green says they…
Click, Clack, Moo
November is Picture Book Month (http://picturebookmonth.com/calendar/). What a great idea to celebrate the first connection to books most children have – and don’t we all remember a few favorites even as adults? Tuesday was a farm theme day in the Picture Book Month calendar. One of my favorite farm-themed picture books is Click Clack Moo…
Hurricanes and Children’s Books
Where I live, people still are recovering from a hurricane (well, a tropical storm). A little over a year ago, Tropical Storm Irene blew through Vermont leaving behind a mess of flooded rivers, power outages, and flooded towns and farms. Last week another hurricane came up the East Coast. While Vermont escaped the worst of…
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