Picture Books
Anatole
Anatole by Eve Titus, illustrated by Paul Galdone Anatole is a happy mouse who lives with his wife and children in a mouse village not far from Paris. Each evening, mice from the village travel to Paris (by bicycle) to human homes to get food. One night, while he is in a house finding food,…
Read MoreWho Stole Mona Lisa?
Who Stole Mona Lisa? by Ruthie Knapp, illustrated by Jill McElmurry The Mona Lisa, the famous painting by Leonardo daVinci, narrates this picture book (which is based on historical information). The story begins with the Mona Lisa hanging in the Louvre Museum in Paris, watching as a tour guide brings a group of people to…
Read MoreBlueberry Shoe
Blueberry Shoe by Ann Dixon, illustrated by Evon Zerbetz A family – mother, father, sister, and baby/toddler brother – loved to pick blueberries. Each year at the end of the summer, they went berry picking on the side of the same mountain in Alaska. One summer, sometime during the family’s hike up the mountain, their…
Read MoreHow Does Sleep Come?
How Does Sleep Come? by Jeanne C. Blackmore, pictures by Elizabeth Sayles My toddlers were rather reluctant sleepers – they needed several stories, and lots of hugs before they could fall asleep. I wish I had had this book to share with my children when they were younger. A mother tucks her son into bed…
Read MoreThe Old Woman Who Named Things
The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Kathryn Brown There was a time in my family’s reading history when we had books by Cynthia Rylant in every room, all of the time. Henry and Mudge books. Mr. Putter and Tabby Books. The Cobble Street Cousins. Gooseberry Park. The Blue Hill Meadows. …
Read MoreDon’t You Feel Well, Sam?
Don’t You Feel Well, Sam? by Amy Hest, illustrated by Anita Jeram Everyone knows how it feels to be sick with a cold. And, parents know how they feel when their child is ill. Ideally, we’d like to drop everything and just hold the sick child, comforting them, and spending quiet time with them. Sometimes…
Read MoreThere Are Cats In This Book
There Are Cats In This Book by Viviane Schwarz This is a wonderfully engaging, fun, lift-different-parts-of-the-page kind of book. Yes, there are cats in the book. Three cats talk to the reader, saying hello, asking for help turning a page, and getting excited when they see balls of yarn. We meet the three cats when…
Read MoreWhen No One Is Watching
When No One Is Watching by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by David A. Johnson Some children (and some grown-ups) want to be the center of attention. Some children (and some grown-ups) are happier away from the spotlight – are happier doing things on their own, or with one friend. The main character in When No One…
Read MoreEverything But The Horse
Everything but the Horse, A childhood Memory by Holly Hobbie When Holly Hobbie was a young girl, her family lived in a city neighborhood packed with children, pets, and grown-ups. The houses were close together. Holly Hobbie’s family lived on the third floor of one of the buildings. She loved living there. Then one day,…
Read MoreBear’s Picture
Bear’s Picture by Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by D.B. Johnson A bear wanted to paint a picture. He got paper and paints – and starting painting. He added colors as he felt he needed them. He happily added orange, blue, and a rainbow he saw. Two gentlemen out walking saw the bear. “Bears can’t paint pictures,”…
Read More