Favorite Books to Read Aloud
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The Library Book
What’s the best way to cure a gloomy day? A trip to the library! Based on the hit song by Tom Chapin and Michael Mark, here is an affectionate, exuberant, uproarious celebration of books, reading, and—SHHH!—libraries!
The rain is pouring, Dad is snoring, and the same old stuff is on TV—boring.
What is there to do today?
Go to the library, of course!
Who will we meet there? Let's find out! -
You are (not) Small
Winner of the 2015 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
Two fuzzy creatures can't agree on who is small and who is big, until a couple of surprise guests show up, settling it once and for all!
The simple text of Anna Kang and bold illustrations of New Yorker cartoonist Christopher Weyant tell an original and very funny story about size—it all depends on who's standing next to you.
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The Big Umbrella
“A subtle, deceptively simple book about inclusion, hospitality, and welcoming the ‘other.’” —Kirkus Reviews
“A boundlessly inclusive spirit...This open-ended picture book creates a natural springboard for discussion.” —Booklist
“This sweet extended metaphor uses an umbrella to demonstrate how kindness and inclusion work...A lovely addition to any library collection, for classroom use or for sharing at home.” —School Library Journal
In the tradition of Alison McGhee’s Someday, beloved illustrator Amy June Bates makes her authorial debut alongside her eleven-year-old daughter with this timely and timeless picture book about acceptance.
By the door there is an umbrella. It is big. It is so big that when it starts to rain there is room for everyone underneath. It doesn’t matter if you are tall. Or plaid. Or hairy. It doesn’t matter how many legs you have.
Don’t worry that there won’t be enough room under the umbrella. Because there will always be room.
Lush illustrations and simple, lyrical text subtly address themes of inclusion and tolerance in this sweet story that accomplished illustrator Amy June Bates cowrote with her daughter, Juniper, while walking to school together in the rain. -
Go Away, Big Green Monster!
Caldecott Award-winning author-artist Ed Emberley has created an ingenious way for children to chase away their nighttime fears. Kids can turn the pages of this die-cut book and watch the Big Green Monster grow. Then, when they're ready to show him who's in charge, they'll turn the remaining pages and watch him disappear! This lavish reissue features dramatic die-cut eyes and sparkling foil on the cover.
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Touch the Brightest Star
This interactive bedtime story proves nighttime isn't scary at all. The gentle journey from sunset to sunrise shows even the youngest children the magic of the nighttime sky—and lets them make magic happen! A companion to the popular and acclaimed Tap the Magic Tree.
What happens while you're sleeping? With lush, beautiful watercolors and cut-paper collage, Christie Matheson reveals the magic of the nighttime sky, using the same kinds of toddler-perfect interactive elements as her acclaimed Tap the Magic Tree. Wave good-bye to the sun, gently press the firefly, make a wish on a star, rub the owls on their heads, and . . . shhhh. No two readings of this book will be the same. That along with the gentle, soothing rhythm, makes Touch the Brightest Star a bedtime winner—no matter how many times you and your child read it.
“This exploration of the world at night should be inviting to even the very youngest children, who will also enjoy its imagination-fueled and child-powered interactivity.”—The Horn Book
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I Got the Rhythm
On a simple trip to the park, the joy of music overtakes a mother and daughter. The little girl hears a rhythm coming from the world around her- from butterflies, to street performers, to ice cream sellers everything is musical! She sniffs, snaps, and shakes her way into the heart of the beat, finally busting out in an impromptu dance, which all the kids join in on! Award-winning illustrator Frank Morrison and Connie Schofield-Morrison, capture the beat of the street, to create a rollicking read that will get any kid in the mood to boogie.
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Press Here
Press the yellow dot on the cover of this book, follow the instructions within, and embark upon a magical journey! Each page of this surprising book instructs the reader to press the dots, shake the pages, tilt the book, and who knows what will happen next! Children and adults alike will giggle with delight as the dots multiply, change direction, and grow in size! Especially remarkable because the adventure occurs on the flat surface of the simple, printed page, this unique picture book about the power of imagination and interactivity will provide read-aloud fun for all ages!
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This is Not My Hat
WINNER OF THE 2013 CALDECOTT MEDAL!
From the creator of the #1 New York Times best-selling and award-winning I Want My Hat Back comes a second wry tale.
When a tiny fish shoots into view wearing a round blue topper (which happens to fit him perfectly), trouble could be following close behind. So it's a good thing that enormous fish won't wake up. And even if he does, it's not like he'll ever know what happened. . . . Visual humor swims to the fore as the best-selling Jon Klassen follows his breakout debut with another deadpan-funny tale. -
I Like Myself!
Exuberant rhymes and wild illustrations celebrate self-acceptance and self-love, from the New York Times bestselling creators of I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!
High on energy and imagination, this ode to self-esteem encourages kids to appreciate everything about themselves--inside and out. Messy hair? Beaver breath? So what!
Here's a little girl who knows what really matters. At once silly and serious, Karen Beaumont's joyous rhyming text and David Catrow's vibrant illustrations unite in a book that is sassy, soulful . . . and straight from the heart.
I Like Myself belongs on the shelf alongside such favorites as The World Needs More Purple People and I Am Enough.
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Tap the Magic Tree
The acclaimed interactive picture book about the changing seasons. “Like Hervé Tullet’s Press Here, Matheson’s Tap the Magic Tree proves you don’t need apps for interactivity,” praised the New York Times.
Every book needs you to turn the pages. But not every book needs you to tap it, shake it, jiggle it, or even blow it a kiss. Innovative and timeless, Tap the Magic Tree asks you to help one lonely tree change with the seasons. Now that’s interactive—and magical!
It begins with a bare brown tree. But tap that tree, turn the page, and one bright green leaf has sprouted! Tap again—one, two, three, four—and four more leaves have grown on the next page. Pat, clap, wiggle, jiggle, and see blossoms bloom, apples grow, and the leaves swirl away with the autumn breeze. The collage-and-watercolor art evokes the bright simplicity of Lois Ehlert and Eric Carle and the interactive concept will delight fans of Pat the Bunny. Combining a playful spirit and a sense of wonder about nature, Christie Matheson has created a new modern classic that is a winner in every season—and every story time!
And don't miss the follow-up, Touch the Brightest Star!
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Sheep in a Jeep
"A rollicking, simple story that never loses its bounce" --Boston Globe
Here they come, a flock of rollicking sheep in their sturdy red jeep. Will their outing be a success?
Jeep goes splash! Jeep goes thud! Jeep goes deep in gooey mud!
Here is a lively, funny tale, perfect for reading aloud. The youngest lap sitters will quickly learn to chant along with the reader as the brisk story unfolds, and they'll delight in the colorful portrayal of the hapless sheep.
This proven winner for sharing and circle time will have your little ones giggling along.
"The bright-colored pencil drawings and lean text make this a great choice for preschool storytimes, as well as for beginning readers who want a funny story." --School Library Journal
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Pete the Cat
Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as he steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other big messes! But no matter what color his shoes are, Pete keeps movin' and groovin' and singing his song...because it's all good. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes asks the reader questions about the colors of different foods and objects.
Don't miss Pete's other adventures, including Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, Pete the Cat Saves Christmas, and Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses.
Supports the Common Core State Standards
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Nita's First Signs
Baby sign language makes it easy to communicate with your child, and Nita makes it fun! Nita's First Signs teaches ten essential signs for every parent and child to know, including eat, more, hungry, milk, all done, ball, play, love, please, and thank you. A simple story about Nita and her parents teaches each sign in context, and repetition throughout each story makes them easy to practice. Even better, each page slides open to reveal accurate instructions on how to make each sign, plus tabs on the side of each page make it simple to locate every sign for later reference. Baby sign language collections aren't complete without Nita!
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Hooray for Birds!
In an exuberant display of color, Lucy Cousins invites little ones to imagine themselves as brilliant birds.
Birds of all feathers flock together in a fun, rhyme-filled offering by the creator of Maisy. From the rooster’s “cock-a-doodle-doo” at dawn to the owl’s nighttime “tuwit, tuwoo,” the cheeps and tweets of many bright and beautiful avian friends will have children eager to join in as honorary fledglings. This day in the life of birds will hold the attention of even the smallest bird-watchers, whether at storytime or just before settling into their cozy nests to sleep. -
The Hidden Rainbow
All the colors of the rainbow are hidden in the garden, but can the little bee find them--with help from the reader Christie Matheson, author of the popular and acclaimed Tap the Magic Tree, brings a garden to life in this bright, interactive picture book about the natural world--and our place within it.
One little bee peeks out on a world of gray and snow.
She's looking for bright colors and needs you to help them grow.Bees need a healthy and colorful garden to survive. Luckily, all the colors of the rainbow are hidden in this garden--but the bees need the reader's help to find them. Brush off the camellia tree, tickle the tulips, and even blow a kiss to the lilac tree. With every action and turn of the page, a flower blooms and more bees are drawn to the feast.
Christie Matheson is a master at creating simple picture books that encourage children to engage with the natural world. In The Hidden Rainbow, she introduces the colors of the rainbow, counting, and the basic ecosystem and vocabulary of a garden. Beautiful collage-and-watercolor art captures all the bold colors of a garden throughout the seasons, and the interactive text will captivate young readers at every story time.
Books for Babies
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Hello, ocean friends : a high-contrast book
Promotes early eye development while helping babies make connections between images on a page and the real world, depicting two-color images of sports figures and balls on bold, single-color backgrounds.
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Look Look Outside
A black-and-white board book just right for baby's eyes
There's a world of wonder outside baby's window in this fourth board book in the popular Look, Look! series. In striking black-and-white images perfect for infant eyes, ladybugs fly, cars zoom, and clouds float. With bold, simple text and art, this board book makes an ideal learning experience for very young babies and a perfect shower gift. -
Hello World!
Babies can see black-and-white images from birth, and this captivating series has been specially designed to delight even the youngest readers.
Babies will love to experience the appealing, high-contrast black-and-white images in this engaging board book. With a tactile die-cut cover and super-bright fluorescent inks on every page, which feature simple black-and-white illustrations, this series has been specially designed to capture your little one's attention. Babies will meet a host of friendly, familiar characters, such as the sun smiling and saying hello, a cheerful flower, a happy bee, a sleepy ladybug, and more fun creatures and sounds.
Happy Baby introduces adorable baby animals and other happy friends with engaging black-and-white board books! Each page features minimal text and a black-and-white, high-contrast picture with a bright burst of color. -
Indestructibles: Taste the Fruit! (High Color High Contrast)
Indestructibles is the trusted series for easing little ones into story time. Beloved by babies and their parents, Indestructibles are built for the way babies “read” (i.e., with their hands and mouths) and are:
- Rip Proof—made of ultra-durable tight-woven material
- Waterproof—can be chewed on, drooled on, and washed!
- Emergent Literacy Tool—bright pictures and few or no words encourage dialogic reading
- Portable—lightweight books can go anywhere, perfect for the diaper bag and for travel
- Safe for Baby—meets ASTM safety standards
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Hello Head to Toe
Meet adorable animals that are here to help baby learn about their own body parts - from their eyes and ears to their nose and toes! Hello, Head to Toe is the perfect first baby book and introduction to making connections to their body that's written in a rhythmic read-aloud text for parents. Every lino-cut artwork and high contrast design is intentional for a baby's developing eyesight to make visual connections with simple shapes in simple black and white. Also included is a surprise mirror at the very end of the book to give your baby the opportunity to look at themselves - something babies just love to do!
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Sweet Baby: Breakfast/El Desayuno
Give your little one's developing brain some food for thought! Adorable images introduce mealtime vocabulary to babies and toddlers. Newborns and young infants will be captivated by the black and white aspects, and older babies will be able to perceive the high-contrast colors as they learn mealtime vocabulary.
- High-contrast images stimulate babies’ vision and brain development.
- Provides an engaging activity for tummy time.
- Makes a perfect gift for a baby shower or for new parents.
- Series also includes Sweet Baby: Lunch/El almuerzo, Sweet Baby: Dinner/La cena, plus all three titles in English-only versions.
Adorables imágenes introducen el vocabulario de la hora de comer a bebés y niños pequeños. Los recién nacidos y los bebés pequeños quedarán cautivados por los aspectos en blanco y negro, y los bebés mayores podrán percibir los colores de alto contraste a medida que aprenden el vocabulario de la hora de comer.
- Las imágenes de alto contraste estimulan la visión y el desarrollo cerebral de los bebés.
- Proporciona una actividad atractiva para el tiempo boca abajo.
- Es un regalo perfecto para un baby shower o para nuevos padres.
- La serie también incluye Sweet Baby: Lunch/El almuerzo, Sweet Baby: Dinner/La cena, además de los tres títulos en versiones solo en inglés.
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My First Words
Babies can see bold, high-contrast images from an early age. Help to strengthen your child's developing eyesight with this engaging board book! Bright, colorful artwork and photographs as well as black-and-white illustrations introduce children to fun first words and other babies. Children will meet a variety of objects in a baby's busy day and night, such as a stroller, a bottle, a pacifier, a crib, pajamas, a diaper, and many more.
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Hello Baby Animals!
Babies can see black-and-white images from birth, and this captivating series has been specially designed to delight even the youngest readers.
Babies will love to experience again and again the appealing, high-contrast black-and-white images in this engaging board book. With a tactile die-cut cover and super-bright fluorescent inks on every page, which feature simple black-and-white illustrations, this series has been specially designed to capture your little one's attention. Babies will meet a host of friendly baby animal characters.
Happy Baby introduces adorable baby animals and other happy friends with engaging black-and-white board books! Each page features minimal text and a black-and-white, high-contrast picture with a bright burst of color. -
Tummy Time!
A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of 2023
The perfect gift for newborn babies!"Tummy time - placing a baby on his or her stomach only while awake and supervised - can help your baby develop strong neck and shoulder muscles, and promote motor skills." - Mayo Clinic. And this book will keep babies' brains busy, too, while their muscles are hard at work. The high-contrast images on one side are mesmerizing because, although young babies' vision is blurry, they can see bold patterns with sharp light-dark contrast and saturated color. Babies are also hard-wired to recognize faces, so there are baby photos on the other side to delight your baby, and an embedded mirror - because babies love looking at themselves! The book can be spread out in front of them, or read like a book so you can enjoy reading time together.
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Now That You're Here
From bestselling Feminist Baby and It Had to Be You creator Loryn Brantz comes a fun-filled high-contrast black-and-white board book that celebrates the experiences kids of all abilities may have with their loved ones
Now that you're here, there's so much we can do. We've been waiting so long for the chance to show you!
From blowing bubbles to exploring in the park, these moments and more are cherished in this sweet poem from caregiver to baby. With playful text perfect for fans of You Are My Happy and Guess How Much I Love You, bestselling Feminist Baby creator, Loryn Brantz, compliments her poem with black and white illustrations that babies can actually see!
Now That You're Here is a must-have addition to every baby's nursery and a perfect gift for baby showers, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Valentine's Day.
Also available in the LOVE POEMS YOUR BABY CAN SEE series:
- It Had to Be You
- For Your Smile
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Black Cat & White Cat
Can black cat and white cat find a way to play together? Find out in this clever black-and-white board book!
Black cat and white cat are friends. But in a world of black and white, someone is always hard to see! Can they find a way to play together without someone disappearing?
In the face of adversity, friendship prevails and black cat and white cat set off to find a place where they can play happily together. -
Hello Baby: Faces
Roger Priddy's Hello Baby: Faces is a high-contrast board book with lots of different faces for little eyes to discover!
Babies love to look at faces – looking at and learning the different types of faces and their expressions forms the cornerstone for the development of later social skills.
From a happy face to a sad face, all of the pictures in this high-contrast board book are designed simply so that they are easy for baby to focus on, and are illustrated in strongly contrasting black and white with splashes of color to stimulate baby's developing sight. -
Baby sees colors! : a totally mesmerizing high-contrast book for babies
Babies as young as six weeks old can appreciate the bold shapes and colors in BABY SEES COLORS! and will benefit from hearing a parent's voice, and the bonding that naturally occurs when a loving adult reads to a baby. Receptive language skills develop right from the start, as babies soak in everything they hear, and eventually learn to associate particular sounds with familiar people and things. Hundreds of thousands of parents in Japan have already discovered the power of this little book, and now American parents can too!
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Hello Happy Faces
Say "Hello!" to the animals of the world with this beautiful board book designed specifically for babies! From alligators and elephants to lions, sloths, and frogs, Hello, Happy Faces is the perfect first baby book. A great early introduction to animals for your baby, every linocut artwork and high contrast design is intentional for a baby's developing eyesight to make visual connections with simple shapes in simple black and white. Also included is a surprise mirror at the very end of this adorable baby animal book to give your baby the opportunity to look at themselves - something babies just love to do! Easy wipe clean board book pages with rounded corners are perfect for children as young as six months.
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Tummy Time: My Farm
Make the best of tummy time with your baby with this two-in-one fold-out book featuring beautiful illustrations of life on a farm.
This sturdy accordion book opens up to stand alone in a crib, on the carpet, or on a bed, making it easy for your baby to enjoy tummy time, all the time. One side feature vibrantly illustrated friendly cows, chicks, and ducks, and the opposite side has high-contrast black and white patterns, perfect for baby's developing eyes. And with two reflective pages, your baby can see him- or herself and practice those future smiles!
Since the American Academy of Pediatrics and other top pediatric organizations around the world recommend tummy time to help ""build the strength and coordination needed for rolling over, crawling, reaching, and playing"" this book is not just fun, it's also good for your baby.
Featuring:
- Two-sided fold-out panels
- Sturdy pages allow the book to stand alone in a crib, carpet, etc.
- High-contrast black and white images to help baby with eye development
- Two reflective pages
- Round corners for extra safety
Also available: TummyTime(R) Happy Baby
Also available: TummyTime(R) Animal Parade
Also available: TummyTime(R) Love Is All Around
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