Ruby and Bubbles by Rosie Winstead

Ruby has things under control. She's a working mother with a full-time job and life is just great. Then she gets a little pet bird she names Bubbles and everything else falls into place, she has found her new best friend.

This is a great story and I love the illustrations which are very modern, chic and fun to look at.

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2006.

What do you DO when a Monster says Boo? by Hope Vestergaard Illustrated by Maggie Smith

This book is a cute book that poses questions to the reader on what do in various situations involving a little boy and his rambunctious little sister. The most appropriate course of action is taken by the little boy in dealing with his sister and this book provides a good foundation for good sibling relations.

Dutton Children's Books, 2005.

The Zoo by Suzy Lee

A little girl and her parents visit the zoo and she wanders off. Her parents look for her among the empty animal exhibits and the little girl is pictured in vivid color playing with all of the animals of the zoo behind-the-scene.

There are few words in this book which call more attention to the illustrations. It is a true look at how a visit to the zoo can go.

La Jolla, 2007.

The Vowel Family: A Tale of Lost Letters by Sally Walker Illustrated by Kevin Luthardt

This is a fun-to-read book great for advanced readers or even for beginning readers with some help from their parents. Readers are introduced to the Vowel Family, which at first only consists of the Mom and Dad and life is dramatically different because there are no vowels in the words in the book until Baby #1 arrives. And that is how life seems to go until the addition of baby Ursula who completes the family (and the sentences and their ability to communicate with one another). With the addition of each child there are multiple additions of pets within the Vowel Family home.

It's a unique concept in a really cute book and a worthwhile read for anyone.

Carolrhoda Books, 2008.

iny's Big Asventure by Martin Waddell Illustrated by John Lawrence

Tiny and his big sister Katy decide to go exploring one day and this book encompasses their adventures in the wheat field. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and the book has easy-to-read print and a good opportunity to explore narrative skills in younger children. When Tiny gts lost on his own, there is ven an opportunity to play guessing games and guess what the scary silhouettes really are.

Candlewick, 2004.

Hattie Hippy by Christine Loomis Illustrated by Robert Neubecker

Hattie is this adorable pure-intentioned little hippo girl who always seems to mess everything up. It's a cute little book that is fun to read in rhyme in short stories about Hattie's adventures.

Orchard Books, 2006.

The Life of a Car by Susan Steggall

This picture-rich book explores, in simple phrases and terms, the life of a car and how a car can be used.

This is a really great book for young children or older children because it really opens the door for exploration. The colors are bright and bold and there is a lot going on in each picture to take in.

Henry Holt and Co., 2007.

Animals Black and White by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes

This book is a fun guessing game that introduces children to different kinds of animals which are all black and white. Various clues are given about the animal along with a semi close-up of the animals body and on the next page the animal is named and a illustration of the animal in it's home environment is shown.

This is a fun book for guessing games but also to learn about animals. Young children can even appreciate the stark contrast in the colors.

Charlesbridge, 1996.

17 Things I'm Not Allowed to do Anymore by Jenny Offill Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

This is the impromptu story of a little girl who, for some reason or another, keeps getting behaviors and privileges taken away from her as a result of her mischievous actions.

For some reason or another she is

not allowed to use the stapler anymore
not allowed to use the glue anymore
not allowed to give the gift of cauliflower anymore

and

not allowed to tell sad stories about volcanoes anymore

Schwartz and Wade Books, 2007.

Grumpy Grandpa by Heather Henson Illustrated by Ross MacDonald

This little boy is really funny (but understandable) about his fear of his gruff grandfather. He draws pictures about it, the whole book is about examples of his grandfather's grumpiness from the boy's point of view, and in the end, a resolve is made between the boy and his grandfather. It's a cute book about personality discovery and behavior modification for old and stubborn (and grouchy) old men (which is all too common....) My own grandfather was gruff and grouchy with a heart of gold, but a crude demeanor.

Antheneum Books for Young Readers, 2009.

My Traveling Eye by Jenny Kostecki-Shaw

My traveling eye was a cute story about a little girl with a serious case of lazy eye. The way the story is told, the main character refers to her eye as it's own entity and that allow her to view the world in a different and unique sort of way. When she has to wear an eye patch, she styles it up and becomes the envy or her class with her creative eye patch designs. In the end her eye gets some motivation and strength and there is a good outlook. It's one of those books that is cute to read, but it still has the purpose of creating a good book targeted about and especially for children with eye problems. My little sister wore an eye patch in her younger years and we teased her about looking like a pirate (which we tried to transform into a "cool" thing...unsuccessfully...). A book like this could have given her an opportunity to know that other children have prescribed eye problems and here were some ideas how to make wearing an eye patch 'cool'.

The illustrations throughout the book were of that bright bold color mishmosh collage type. Lots to look at but very well done.

Henry Holt and Company, 2008.

Do Lions Live on Lily Pads? by Melanie Walsh

Do crocodiles live in shells? Is this the nest of a goat? Do guinea pigs live in webs?

These are just some of the questions posed within this book. Melanie Walsh prompts the reader to identify animals as well as where they live. Some of the suggestions made are really quite amusing (a giraffe is depicted within the burrow of a mole, and considering the obvious size issues, the poor giraffe has it's legs sticking out in what I would assume to be one of the most uncomfortable positions EVER.

The colors are bright and bold and the text is large and easy-to-read.

Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.

City Animals by Simms Taback

This is one really neat book. It's a guessing game about animals as well as one of those nifty fold-out books. It gives another clue for each folding-out part of the picture and at the end (once the picture is totally unfolded) the animal is fully shown and named! The print is BIG and BOLD and really easy for kids to follow along with. We had lots of fun reading this book.

Blue Apple Books, 2009.

Meeow and the pots and pans by Sebasien Braun

In this book readers are introduced to a cute little black cat named Meeow and his/her friends (also appropriately named) Woof, Moo, Baa, and Quack. The characters explore the kitchen and the various utensils, pots and pans found within. The colors are bright and bold and jump right off of the page and each type of pot or pan's color is named. In the end, the characters have a marching parade.

Boxer Books, 2010.

The Happy Hocky Family moves to the Country! by Lane Smith

Readers meet Mr., Mrs., Henry, Holly, Baby Hocky and their cute little dog Newton as they follow along in the adventures the Hocky family has when they move to the country. This book is easy to read and infused with lots of humor and wit that children may not necessarily catch, but any parent reading the book will be entertained. This is a great book to explore the differences between city living and country living and any person living in either environment would heartily enjoy the adventures of the Hocky Family. Lane Smith extends his humor throughout the entire book including the jacket cover and all.

Viking, 2003.

The Big Wide-Mouthed Frog by Ana Martin Larranage

I love love love love love love love this book! It is short and sweet and AMAZINGLY fun to read outloud. Frog is hopping along meeting new animals until he/she comes across a crocodile. It isn't as long as other children's books (the standard 32 pages) but what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality.

I'm sure my neighbors heard me reading it more than once, but it is really lots of fun to read aloud and throw in a little attitude. Little M picked up the story line very quickly and soon she was guessing and reading the book along with me.


Walker Books Ltd., 1999.

Alphabeep: A Zipping, Zooming ABC by Debora Pearson Illustrated by Edward Miller

All sorts of vehicles, from A to Z are covered in this cute, informational book. I wish the little statements about each vehicle covered had more of a rhyming scheme, instead the noises of each vehicle are explored.

My favorite page was J. "J is for Jeep. It bumps over fields, it splashes through streams. Jeeps don't need roads to get where they're going!"

The illustrations also give a edgy modern feel to this book, you could get lost in each page with the amount of detail given to some things.

Holiday House, 2003.

Super Babies on the Move by Salina Yoon

This book is like two books mashed into one, except they are opposite sides of the book and one is upside down (that is until you turn the book over!) The book includes Max's Bath Time and Mia's Nap Time and is a really cute little book about babies who wander off and go exploring. There are sequential pictures within some of the pages to help illustrate the events. The pictures are bright and bold and colorful and it's a fun little book to read.

G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2009.

Read It, Don't Eat It! by Ian Schoenherr

The premise of this book is very simple, it is a short easy-to-read rhyming book about how to treat library books. I love it! The pictures features animals doing silly things with their books while on the opposite pages are alternating primary colors and big-bold font. It's a quick read, it is fun to read, and everyone can always do with a little reminder on the proper treatment of library books.

Greenwillow Books, 2009.

Roadwork by Sally Sutton Illustrated by Brian Lovelock

This book has lots of bright, primary colors, construction-trade vehicles, big bold words (and sounds) and a rhyming scheme as well. It's one of those great exploratory topic books for early readers and is fun to read out loud.

Candlewick Press, 2008.

Fanny by Holly Hobbie

Fanny is this adorable little girl in hightops and sneakers who, when faced with difficulties in obtaining a "Connie" doll, decides to use her skills and make her own. Firstly, this book has a great story line and the underlying theme is very strong. Secondly, the illustrations are adorable. Thirdly, her mother gives her a SEWING MACHINE for her birthday. Hooray!

This is definitely one of those worth-while reads because I have not seen any books on similar topics as of yet, plus my little really liked the story line and we read the book over and over and over and over.

Little, Brown and Company, 2008.

Magic Box by Katie Cleminson

Eva gets  a magic box for her birthday (and a whole lot of other things that she pulls out of the box....including a Polar Bear named Monty....) The illustrations are very bold and contrasty and mostly in black and white but colors are thrown in for effect and it really makes it wonderful to look at the pictures. I'm really thinking that the color represents the amount of magic that is going around. It's a cute book with more pictures than words and it's really fun to read and especially to look at.

Hyperion Books, 2009.

Lines that Wiggle by Candace Whitman Illustrated by Steve Wilson

This book is funny, wonderful to look at, fun to touch the lines (they are texturized) and all-in-all a really great read exploring the changing nature of lines. The illustrations are colorful and contrasty and they border on the highly unlikely or somewhat ridiculous (but in a subtle artful way).

My favorite is the very last two pages that says "Rainbow lines are way up high" and for some unknown reason there is the body of a giant monster sitting on a rainbow (with a tiny silhouetted family waving at him from below).

Chronicle Books, 2009.

Benny and Beautiful Baby Delilah by Jean Van Leeuwen Illustrated by LeUyen Pham

When Benny's parents bring home his new baby sister, he has a lot of different feelings, most importantly, he does not like her. That is, until he decides he does.

It's a lovely story for any child who is going to be a big sibling and children can easily relate to the feelings Benny displays.

The pictures a colorful and very contrasty, and very visually appealing.

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2006.

Lazy Little Loafers by Susan Orlean

The book starts out with the question, "Why don't babies work?" and the rest of the story follows the investigation of the main character, a savvy New York little girl, who figures out how it is babies are able to pull off such a life of leisure.

It's a great book with a unique perspective on babies with a good bit of humor too.

Illustrated by G. Brian Karas.
Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2008.

Ten Tiny Babies by Karen Katz

Ten Tiny Babies is one of those books that covers so much educational ground in the storyline of babies that keep appearing one by one until it is time to go to bed. On top of all of that, it is also absolutely fun to read, fun to act out, and really cute to look at. Even better, now my little is reading it and talking about it even though we only read it once. She's singing about it. Another thing that I noticed was that all of the babies are of different color variations, so this is one of those diversity-friendly books as well. It's so cute though and worth it to read it. All of Karen Katz's books are quite entertaining and cute and child-friendly.


Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2008. 

Walk On! A guide for babies of all ages by Marla Frazee

This book could not have entered my household at a better time. I'd like to say that I read it to my littlest little and then she started walking having learned the basic instructions from this book. Really though, I don't think her walking had much to do with the book at all....

But anyhow, this book is really cute. It's easy to read and straightforward and the pictures are adorable. I've never seen such an approach for babies to learn how to walk.

Harcourt, 2006.

Cars! Cars! Cars! by Grace Maccarone

The title of this book is really quite the spoiler. It's a book about cars. (Which is really what drew my attention to it in the first place). I like it. I was having flashbacks of One Fish Two Fish while reading it but this book takes that concept a bit differently (while also keeping up with a nifty rhyming scheme).

The little liked it because she knows a bunch of different kinds of cars and liked to name them.

Illustrated by David A. Carter
Scholastic, 1995.

Harry Hungry! by Steven Salerno

Harry must have just hit a growth spurt or something, because he is one HUNGRY baby! He starts off with a snack and ends up, after a long list of things I didn't realize babies could eat, falling asleep right before he bit a chunk out of the moon.

This kid is seriously like a Baby Godzilla or something. It's cute. I'd hate to have to keep a full fridge with Harry when he hits adolescence.

Harcourt Books, 2009.

One of Those Days by Amy Krouse Rosentha lIllustrated by Rebecca Doughty

A variety of different kinds of "those days" are explored in rhyming form over the pages. This book works for anyone, because everyone has "days" like that where it's just a rough day.

Some of the days mentioned that I frequently experience:
"You think you're right but no one else thinks so day"
"Can't Find Stuff Day"
and "Running Late Day".

But tomorrow is always a new day.

G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2006.

Sophie Peterman Tells the Truth! by Sarah Weeks

This is a fresh and amusing book from the perspective of Sophie Peterman. She is here to give you a warning about babies and ESPECIALLY little brothers. When babies get a little bit bigger they turn into monsters, and she's got tons of advice for you too when that happens!

My favorite page is when she says how at first, babies are like aliens. There is a large two-page spread of an illustration of a baby with the biggest, roundest eyes I have ever seen. That baby does kind of look like an alien.

You can't disagree with Sophie Peterson, she really does know the truth (and will keep you laughing the whole way through!)













Illustrated by Robert Neubecker.
Beach Lane Books, 2009.