Picture Books

Awesome photographs and an interesting selection of mostly animals are displayed in this nicely done counting book.
RL=read aloud and 2nd-3rd

It is natural for a nose to stick out. Is it possible for it to fit in, too? Meet the nose that travels the world before it finds its place in the world. A wonderful lesson about being yourself with imaginative and artistic illustrations.
RL=1st-2nd and read aloud

Bright, funny pictures partner simple and hilarious stories. It must be a challenge to make a basic beginning reader that is so captivating!
Read also A Bit More Bert 2002.
RL=K-1st

This is an exciting spy alphabet book clever in its use of language with sharp, action-filled pictures.
RL=1st-3rd and read aloud

My youngest enjoyed the format of this ABC book. It is a bit like the I Spy books. Many of the pictures are collages or still lifes. There are enjoyable words included and a list of names of objects to find in the pictures.
RL=1st-2nd and read aloud to younger

Such awesome pictures with beautiful and fascinating details. Going backwards is a different idea, but the best part of the text is the comparison of letters and sounds that is rarely done in alphabet books. Viorst inserts her wit as well to keep it from becoming tedious. As the cover says, it is "an alphabet book for folks who already know their ABCs."
RL=K-3rd

Two of the most exciting women in history are together on a jaunt! Fact and fiction are mixed in this warm and lively meeting of two independent, like-minded women. Ryan has notes at the back to sort out which is which.

At a dinner party at the White House, Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart decide to fly around D.C. after Eleanor asks Amelia what it is like to fly at night. To top off the evening, they go for a fast ride in Eleanor's automobile in continuation of their sharing their love of freedom.

The text perfectly captures the spirit of these two women and the excitement of their shared adventure. The illustrator being Selznick, the pictures are gorgeous and alive. The cover art ranks among my favorite.

related-Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States, flight, cars, independence, adventure, historical fiction
RL=1st-3rd, read aloud to toddler-1st

Animalia is my favorite alphabet book. It has totally absorbing pictures, wonderful descriptions for each letter, plus many objects hiding in the scene starting with the appropriate letter for each picture. It is a book children enjoy way beyond the age of ABCs.
RL=PreK-4th

This is definitely a read aloud alphabet. It has great vocabulary but not words young ones would be reading. The pictures are wonderful and at times hilarious. I love the Brilliant with the flowing white hair (an exaggeration of Einstein). A vocabulary builder with great pictures.
RL=read aloud

The pictures are fantastic and captivating in this colorful excuse for being late for school. I enjoyed the use of real words from Earthling languages that are woven into the tale to seem like Henry P. is making them up.
RL=2nd-3rd

A bunch of bugs are the cast of characters in this intriguing trial of a tree killer. Dramatic, larger than life pictures are included as well as a description of each beetle in the cast.
RL=1st-3rd

Grampa and Mary Ellen start an adventure to find a honey tree. A parade forms as members of the town join their quest. They have a honey-eating party afterwards, and Grampa compares the chase for the honey to the search for knowledge or enjoyment of books. I enjoy the old-time story, but I especially like that it is an adventure we could have ourselves today.

related-books and reading, bees, simple pleasures
RL=2nd-3rd and read aloud ages 3-6

This book shows the land we love in a more sacred and majestic way. The legends remind us of lessons that are important to us all.
RL=2nd-3rd

This is an excellent book for curious young ones who are not yet reading or reading well. There are large habitat pictures in which you look for various insects. The names of the insects and pictures are given with a sentence or two as a hint of where they can be found.
RL=PreK-1st

This is one of the books my oldest son wanted read to him again and again. When I first read it, I wasn't crazy about it, but I grew to enjoy it also with successive readings. I don't know specifically what so appealed to him, but I see possibilities-the boy determined to shoot a bear like all the neighbors and instead bringing home a baby to raise, the idea of a huge animal for a young boy, the havoc the bear creates as it grows unbelievably fast, the wonderfully meaningful drawings. For such simple language, the book has so much to say. My guess is that it was the pictures he loved the most.
related-hunting, farm life, animals, bears, wild pets, zoo, humorous
RL=1st-2nd     read aloud to pre-K and K

All of Lionni's books have a beautiful simplicity about them. This particular one is a fable about wishing for too much. I love "the house like a birthday cake." It was a little disappointing to see it decay, even though mobility is obviously better for a snail.
RL=1st-2nd and read aloud to PreK-K

A most amazing book! There is an almost tangible power flowing through the message of Chief Seattle to the representatives of the U.S. government as they try to buy native lands. The truth is so absolute that we feel the essence of his words even though we are reading a translation without his imposing presence. "The earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth." and "What befalls the earth befalls all the sons and daughters of the earth."

The paintings are an excellent partner in this wondrous statement of truth.
RL=read aloud and 3rd-4th

What a wonderful Western story with some very unusual twists! Great use of language and phrases. Wonderfully unique illustrations.
RL=1st-2nd

Unbelievably a fly grants Arthur three wishes because he doesn't swat it. He doesn't believe it and chooses some crazy, careless wishes. Arthur and his wife don't need the wishes and want their normal lives.
RL=1st-3rd

It may not be the first book that comes to mind for most people when they think of Robert McCloskey. Many have never heard of it. While I enjoy the more popular Make Way for Ducklings, Blueberries for Sal, and One Morning in Maine, I think Burt Dow has more character. The language is rich with culture and sound. The humor is irresistible and stimulating. The details in the pictures and story are fabulous (though some may find the pictures garish).

Upon moving to Maine, we tried all the McCloskey books. All but Time of Wonder are fixtures in our home and have been lovingly read to all 3 kids. We have favorite parts of each book. For Burt Dow that would be giggling gull, the new fashion of striped band-aids for the whales, the boat's paint job, the Pollock-like decoration of the whale's tummy, and the descriptive words and sounds.

The texture and rhythm of Burt Dow's language takes a little getting used to, but (odd though it is) I believe it is the best book of the bunch.
related-whales, boats, fishing on the ocean, self-sufficiency, Maine
RL=2nd-3rd and read aloud to age 2 and up

Emilio's grandfather can no longer speak, but receives pleasure from Emilio reading to him and watching the butterflies on a sunny day. Emilio can tell by the glimmer in his grandfather's eyes. The butterflies migrate and come again the next year. On the day of their arrival, Emilio greets the butterflies and then learns his father has painted their white garage blue. The white being the main attraction for the butterflies, Emilio begs his father to change it back. It takes a few moments for his father to understand the importance of his plea, but he leaves for white paint soon after.

This is a delightful story bringing together a grandson's love and caring of an elderly and incapacitated man and the habits of butterflies. Both are subtly shown, but all important in the story. It has great depth of feeling.

The illustrations are vibrant and alive, carrying the same depth of emotion and meaning. The artwork is Mexican in style, with fantasy and symbolism and even some foreshadowing. As much as I like the story itself, the paintings are what attracted me and keeps me coming back.

related-butterflies, debilitating illness, old age, Mexico-juvenile literature
RL=1st-2nd, read aloud to toddler and up

This book is based on real people who did actually meet van Gogh. It is a nice introduction to one of my very favorite artists and some of his famous works. The pictures follow the style of van Gogh's works as well.
RL=1st-2nd

Cows that type? Farm animals bargaining for better living conditions. Farmer Brown has to learn to compromise, but will that be the end of his troubles? This is a very simple story but so entertaining.
RL=1st-3rd

A tailor asks his three sons to each make a cloak for a customer to prove their readiness to be tailors. The two older boys do beautiful work. What the third son does is lovely, but not quite right for a cloak. However, the father has a solution. The story has lovely pictures (especially if you love fabrics and designing with them as I do) and connections to geometry.
RL=2nd-3rd

Canary burglars are on the loose, and so are Mrs. Hibbins's 2 cats. Is it a coincidence? Ike LaRue (dog suspect) thinks not. He snoops around, trying to find proof of the cats' wrongdoing. It's anyone's guess which story is true, but it's quite entertaining with 2 versions of the story layed out in dramatic pictures.
RL=2nd-3rd

Through the prose and images, the reader is drawn into the setting: England in the 1850s. In 1853, with the help of a scientist, Waterhouse Hawkins builds the first models of dinosaurs to be displayed on the grounds of the Crystal Palace science museum. To impress the scientific community he planned a dinner party to present his creations.

The illustrations in this book are amazing, and it is an interesting story that most people wouldn't already know. There are also great notes at the end regarding the dinosaurs, Waterhouse Hawkins, Boss Tweed, the Crystal Palace, and the experiences of Barbara Kerley and Brian Selznick in recreating Hawkins's story.
RL=3rd-5th, read aloud with PreK-2nd

This is one of the funniest of Stevenson's books. Reading aloud to young ones it is almost impossible not to laugh or grin.
RL=read aloud and 1st-2nd

A cajun tall tale about a spunky girl used to getting her way. Her grandpa won't let her go alligator hunting with him and the boys, so she sneaks off in the night to follow.

Feliciana is quite a character, and the Cajun atmosphere is interesting and entertaining. I especially like the picture of Feliciana straddling the alligator.
RL=1st-3rd

David Wiesner is the master of the wordless story. Besides the beauty of his work, he creates one surprise after another in his books. Some of his concepts are loosely tied to the story, but they are fabulous, detailed stories within the story. The robotic fish is a story begging to be told, and the picture within a picture is an excellent variation of the message in a bottle theme.

I think Flotsam is now my favorite of David Wiesner's books. An inquisitive boy finds an underwater camera washed up on the beach. He immediately has the film developed and finds evidence of a wondrous underwater world. Looking closer he sees that many people (from various places and even through time) have shared the discovery through the camera.

There is no text, and yet the more you look at the amazing illustrations, the deeper you are drawn into the story. Little ones especially will see something new every time they open the book.
RL=toddler & up, all ages

Not many picture book illustrators are so successful in capturing a whole story as Wiesner is. He has taken M. C. Escher's concept of tessellations, brought them close up, and made them real. He blends reality and fantasy with a remarkable effect. Then it all turns out to be a dream after all, influenced by objects in the boy's room. Every picture is a work of art by itself-and also a possible story starter for creative writing. It is also an excellent book to use for art lessons. A book to pour over again and again noticing new details every time. The artwork is amazing and delightful. One of the best picture books I've seen.

I did some research on the book and author because my husband said he saw something similar in an old comic strip, Little Nemo in Slumberland. The comic has adventures in dream lands, but other than that it didn't seem closely related to me. I checked other reviews and was surprised no one mentioned M. C. Escher. However, I did see a very negative review. The review said that young children wouldn't see the logic connecting the pictures and that it would not appeal to older children. I disagree with both points. Young children are often not given credit for their ability to understand. If they look closely (as young children do), they can understand. Also, if adults can be excited about picture books (as many parents, teachers, and librarians can confirm), then the book can appeal to older children. Excellent picture books are enjoyable for all ages.
related-stories without words, tessellations, dreams, M. C. Escher, art
RL=PreK and up

This is the story of a tree that never stops giving. As the boy is young, it is joyous, but as the boy grows he wants more and more from the tree (or life). I've enjoyed this story again and again since I first read it many years ago.
RL=read aloud and 1st-2nd

Drawing on the idea of pictograms McLimans has graphically depicted the letters of the alphabet. Each letter becomes an endangered animal of the world. An attempt was made to pick animals whose characteristics worked well with their respective letters. It is an old idea to use pictures to help learn the sounds and shapes of letters. Some children (such as those taught in Waldorf schools) still learn their letters through tracing or drawing object-shaped letters. McLimans has taken the idea beyond the basic and also turned it into a lesson of diversity and ecology.

The book may be used for several ages, starting with familiarizing toddlers with the sounds of the letters. It can also be used up through 5th grade for lessons of biology, ecology, and art.

related-alphabet books, art of illumination, endangered species
RL=toddler-5th

I love this hilarious bedtime story. The pictures tell it all. A zookeeper says good night to all the animals as he leaves the zoo, but the gorilla has snatched his keys and lets all of the animals out as they go along.
RL=PreK-K read aloud

The Board of Public Works in Richmond, Virginia announced a competition for a bridge to be built over the Tyart River in the town of Philippi. Anyone could compete. Construction experts from all over the Eastern United States came to participate. Lemuel Chenoweth, a self-taught cabinetmaker from northwestern Virginia, was awarded the contract. Unlike the other participants, he had no blueprints, and his model was much simpler than the engineers. But he ingeniously proved his bridge was strong in a way the others could not. The bridge today is part of a federal highway-holding many times the load for which it was built.

This is a great story about an amazing bridge with interesting facts and attractive pictures. There are also descriptions of other covered bridges that have survived at the end of the story.
RL=2nd-4th and read aloud

Beautiful illustrations and a variety of jungle creatures give us a gentle reminder of the importance of the Amazon rainforests and the need to protect them. The animals speak to a man who lays down to sleep after trying to chop a great kapok tree.
RL=1st-3rd

This book is about the transformation of a neighborhood. It is written in an almanac format and has notes about organizations that collect seeds and encourage people to grow gardens. The pictures are beautiful, and there are activities and recipes to try.
RL=2nd-4th

This book has a nice story about friendship and appealing pictures. The text is also simple enough to use as a beginning reader.
RL=K-1st

Most of this story is told with bright, lively pictures. The details of the animals' trip are clever. The facts of the first hot-air balloon exhibition are included at the back of the book.
RL=1st-2nd and read aloud to younger

Hermit Crab moves into a new shell after outgrowing the old. It's a bit plain, but he decorates it as he goes along with things from the sea. This is one of my favorites of Eric Carle's. As he grows more (just as children do) he must find another shell, but he is only thinking of the new and exciting possibilities.
RL=2nd-3rd and read aloud PreK-1st

Napoleon kidnaps a crocodile on a raid in Egypt. He is the main attraction for a while in France, but when he becomes old news, he is in danger of becoming dinner. Witty, with pictures that tell it all. They have lovely details, and emotions are skillfully conveyed.
RL=1st-2nd and read aloud

This is a fun and thought-provoking tribute to the awe-inspiring things animals can do. It also happens to be a wonderfully visual demonstration of ratio and proportion. Wouldn't you like to leap from home plate to first base in one bound? How about eat 700 hamburgers in one day?
RL=1st       math explanations L=4th-5th

The paintings are the attraction of this collection of Rob Gonsalves's paintings. There is no story. Instead, Thomson invites viewers to share the awe and wonder of imagining through Gonsalves's highly creative work. Each of his Escher inspired creations has its own story to explore-the farmer lulling his sunflowers to sleep with music, the cityscape cut from a curtain, a planetarium created through curtain cuttings, the ladies of the lake appearing as a reflection, the monks of the magical mixture of clouds, moonlight and windows, and more.

related-M. C. Escher, fine art in children's books, artists, patterns and images created by nature, tessellations, point of view, imagination
RL=all ages, read aloud to PreK-K

A very imaginative story of an artist whose paintings are slightly too realistic. My sons and I loved the visual jokes and the damage caused by the paintings.
RL=1st-2nd

This book has created quite a stir in the last year. Many were sure it would win an award-just not sure which one. It's taken a while for me to get my hands on a copy. The coverart and the author's name were enough for me to be excited, because I loved his illustrations in The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins (Caldecott Honor of 2002).

My first impression was shock at the length of the book and then amazement (flipping the pages) at the wondrous artwork and how long Selznick must have spent drawing. The story is a novel, though short in terms of text. The style is similar to Chris Van Allsburg's-striking, intense, and mysterious. The photographs added of actual events are also intriguing. The story itself is unusual (an understatement), suspenseful, captivating, and in the end awesome as the threads come together.

It wasn't until the end that I realized the illustrations are a means of reflecting the motion picture industry which factors into the story. In the beginning, the story centers on Hugo's mechanical ability and his orphaned situation with the mystery of the broken automaton he tries to fix. When the maker of the automaton is revealed, the story turns towards a segment of the early history of motion picture.

My oldest son praised the unusual concept. His comment reminded me how much I enjoy stories that are so different from anything else. With the amount of reading I do, I have seen many good books (and series) that follow the same format as others. It's a special treat to read a book that is totally its own.

related-Georges Méliès, robots, clocks, orphans, railroad stations, history of Paris, France, mechanical toys, automatons
RL=4th-8th, read aloud to k-3rd

You can almost hear the music and feel the beat as Miz Mozetta prepares for a night of dancing. Her friends decline since their bodies don't work the way they used to do, and the kids dancing to their music on the street doubt she has the moves. She gives up and goes home, but her friends decide to lift her spirits.

Even the pictures are jazzy. What a lovely way to share the love of music and dance! Both transcend all barriers-in this case the generation gap.
RL=1st-3rd

The illustrations are excellent and carry the story. The story is an extension of Jack and the Beanstalk instead of a changing. There are some interesting ideas and a bit of repetition for young listeners.

RL=1st-3rd and read aloud to toddlers-K

Mr. Potts, the next door neighbor, looks exactly like Abraham Lincoln. He has clothes like him and behaves like him.

The story gives a good impression of what Lincoln was like and what he stood for. It is a beautiful tribute that is sure to inspire more Lincolnphiles, and it has a funny ending.
RL=1st-2nd and read aloud

A hilarious retelling of King Kong using cat and mice characters. The text and pictures are equally funny.
RL=3rd & up

This is one of the King Arthur tales told less often. I find the introduction of Gareth's character fascinating. On arriving in Camelot, he doesn't tell his name and accepts a job in the kitchen, because he wants to be credited for his accomplishments not for being Arthur's nephew. The story is expanded upon in Gerald Morris's The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf. I enjoy Trina Schart Hyman's almost full-page illustrations. The story is accessible to young readers, but the ending will appeal more to girls because of the chivalry theme.
related-King Arthur, Gareth, the Red Knight, Beaumain, Linette and Linesse, knights, champions, quests, chivalry
RL=2nd-3rd, read aloud

The Magic School Bus originally by Joanna Cole. il. Bruce Degen.
Scholastic Inc: NY.

Besides being a very informative introduction to scientific ideas, the series motivates beginning readers with its witty dialogue and details.
RL=1st-3rd and read aloud to younger

By Joanna Cole: At the Waterworks, and the Electric Field Trip, Explores the Senses, For Lunch, Gets Lost in Space, Gets Planted, Goes Upstream, Going Batty, In the Attic, In the Rain Forest, In the Time of the Dinosaurs, Inside a Beehive, Inside the Human Body, Inside a Hurricane, Inside the Earth, Inside Ralphie, Lost in the Solar System, On the Ocean Floor, Out of This World

By Linda Beech: Gets Ants in Its Pants, Gets Baked in a Cake, Meets the Rot Squad

By George Bloom: Makes a Rainbow

By Gail Herman: Blows Its Top

By Nancy Krulik: Butterfly and the Bog Beast, Hello Out There

By Jane Mason: Ups and Downs

By Joseph Mitchell: Looking for Liz

By Jackie Posner: Shows and Tells

By Patricia Relf: Gets Eaten, Hops Home, Wet All Over

By Tracey Web: Gets Cold Feet, Spins a Web

By Nancy White: Gets a Bright Idea, Gets Programmed, Kicks Up a Storm, Sees Stars, Takes a Dive

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein.
Roaring Brook Press: Brookfield, CT, 2003.
Caldecott Award 2004

This is the story of Phillipe Petit, the young Frenchman who walked and danced for an hour on a tightrope strung between the two towers of the World Trade Center in NY in 1974. The story is presented with beauty and humor. I can imagine the two towers being a perfect place for a tightrope experience. The book was written as a memorial to the World Trade Center.
RL=1st-3rd and read aloud to younger

Math Curse by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith.
Viking/Penguin Group: NY, 1995.

Have you ever had a day when you noticed a math problem in everything around you? Or do you make sure that never happens because it would be your worst nightmare? In Math Curse, Mrs. Fibonacci (math teacher) says "you can think of almost everything as a math problem" and starts a barrage of questions (some of them ridiculously unrelated).

This is my favorite Scieszka/Smith book so far. The problems are imaginative and at times hilarious. The pictures are absorbing and delightful as well.
related-math anxiety, mathematics
RL=2nd-5th (or anyone wanting a good laugh)

Merlin and the Dragons by Jane Yolen. il Li Ming.
Puffin Books/Penguin Group: NY, 1995.

This is the best picture book I've seen of the King Arthur stories. It is the only one I've seen in which the illustrations and text are equally good. Maybe the text is better than most because it is approached in a different way.

King Arthur is younger than he is normally portrayed. As a boy king he is woken by dreams of pulling the sword from the stone. To calm and reassure him Merlin tells him the story of Vortigern's fortress and the battle of the dragons. When he hears Uther's name, Arthur questions whether Uther may have had a son who will try to claim the throne, and Merlin tells him that he is Uther's son and the rightful king.

related-King Arthur, Merlin, dragons, boys, mentors
RL=3rd-4th, read aloud

Merlin and the Making of the King retold by Margaret Hodges. il Trina Schart Hyman.
Holiday House: NY, 2004.

This book is above picture book level but accessible to readers who aren't ready for the length of others such as Robin Lister and Howard Pyle. Some of the details are different from what I originally read but not too far off from other versions. It is a little brief and abrupt, but the pictures are attractive with illuminated borders. Some of the language is difficult for the age it is targeted, so it may have been meant for reading aloud.

related-Merlin, King Arthur, Arthurian romances, Folklore-England, knights, Sir Thomas Malory
RL=3rd-4th, read aloud

Millions to Measure by David M. Schwartz. il. Steven Kellogg.
HarperCollins Publishers: NY, 2003.

Marvelosissimo the Mathematical Magician gives a brief history of measurement. He suggests moving towards the future when hopefully the world will use the same measuring units to avoid confusion and costly mistakes. He introduces the metric system and explains its simplicity.
RL=2nd-3rd

Miss Alaineus: A Vocabulary Disaster by Debra Frasier.
Harcourt, Inc: NY, 2000.

Sage misunderstands an assigned vocabulary word and embarasses herself in front of her class. She transforms her mistake into a great success. The book can be used as a vocabulary lesson or enjoyed for its creative and touching story and its celebration of the richness of our language.
RL=3rd-5th

The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein.
Harper & Row, Publishers: NY, 1976.

The circle rolls along singing, having adventures, and looking for its missing piece. This is a humorous and gentle fable both simple and enjoyable.
RL=read aloud and 1st-2nd

The Mitten adapted and il by Jan Brett.
G. P. Putnam's Sons: NY, 1989.

The Mitten is one of my all-time favorite children's books. The pictures are incredibly detailed and gorgeous. It is another of those excellent books that can be told totally through the illustrations. The borders of the pictures have sneak-peaks at what's still to come.

The story itself (a Ukrainian folktale) is irresistible. A boy asks his grandmother for white mittens. She warns him he'll lose them in the snow but makes them for him anyway. He does drop one in the snow almost immediately. Through the day the lovingly knitted mitten becomes a warm place to sleep for many animals. A bear's sneeze blows it up where Nicki finds it again on his way home.

The book did not receive a Caldecott Medal, but I think it is better than some of the books that have.
related-mittens, Ukraine-folklore, textiles, homemade crafts, family, habitats, sharing
RL=1st-2nd, read aloud to toddler-K

Molly Bannaky by Alice McGill. il Chris K. Soentpiet.
Houghton Mifflin: Boston, 1999.

This is a powerful story based on the life of Benjamin Banneker's (scientist and mathematician) grandmother. The focus is on social conditions of the time and the strength and perseverance with which she met those situations. The pictures are beautiful two-page spreads.
RL=2nd-5th

Moosetache by Margie Palatini. il by Henry Cole.
Hyperion Books for Children: NY, 1997.

Moose's mustache grows beyond what is reasonable. He can't do any of his favorite things with all of that facial hair in the way. He meets a mate with a similar problem, and she helps him to solve his problem.

The language is creative and descriptive. The pictures are worth a thousand words.
RL=1st-3rd

Mount Olympus Basketball by Kevin O'Malley.
Walker & Company: NY, 2003.

The Greek gods battle the heroic mortals in this terribly funny satire. A basketball game with play by play commentary. It's sure to be a close match despite the cheating of the gods and the umpire's fear of them. The dramatic pictures are great, and the wordplay fits brilliantly with the characters.
RL=1st-3rd, up to 5th for study of Greek culture, read aloud to pre-K to K

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg.
Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston, 1984.

The idea of a missing author is very intriguing. The drawings are incredible and beg you to provide the story. I have, in fact, had my children write short stories from them as school exercises.

Van Allsburg, like David Wiesner, is an artist who uses the illustrations to tell most of the story. His work is less whimsical. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick is my favorite of all the Van Allsburg books. Each picture has its own mysterious story to tell.
RL=K-3rd     *Any level could use as a story starter for creative writing.

The Old Man Who Loved Cheese by Garrison Keillor. il by Anne Wilsdorf.
Little, Brown and Company: Boston, 1996.

Wallace P. Flynn is a man who relishes any and all cheeses. The smellier the better. He drives away neighbors. He drives away animals. He even drives away his family. Until the fateful day the judge hands down the sentence of "No cheese!"

I discovered this book years ago when looking for picture books for my youngest. It is a ballad full of hilarious word-play, outrageous details, and exaggerated reactions. Reading aloud is the best way to appreciate the language while little ones pour over the accompanying pictures.

RL=3rd-4th and read aloud to pre-k to 2nd

Our Neighbor Is a Strange, Strange Man by Tres Seymour. il Walter Lyon Krudop.
Orchard Books:: NY, 1999.

This is a humorous depiction of the thought processes of Melville Murrell from Tennessee as he worked out the details of his early flying machine. The illustrations are superb, and the viewpoint of the neighbors as he pursues his dream is amusing. The author's endnote sounds a little argumentative, though. Although it was a wonderful achievement, it is not difficult to see the Wright brothers' plane had more potential for practical application.
RL=1st-2nd

Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: NY, 1990.

Jack wants a pancake for breakfast. His mom has him make it from scratch, and that includes harvesting the wheat and all of the steps to make the flour plus getting an egg from the hen and milk from the cow, not to mention churning the butter. Young ones will find it hilarious as they see and hear what all is required for making a pancake. As always they will also enjoy Carle's wonderful collage art.
RL=1st-2nd and read aloud PreK-K

Picture Pie by Ed Emberley.
Little, Brown and Company: Boston, 1984.

Emberley shows how circles can be cut into 4 basic shapes and the pieces fit together to form limitless designs. The pictures range from very basic with step by step graphics to quite complex. There are also suggestions for variations, such as cutting differently or using printed paper.

I was excited to find this book, because it is a technique my mother told me she used in her art class for elementary grades. It teaches that art on a basic level is shapes and also can be an introduction to fractions.

To encourage children's natural desire to create sometimes requires showing them how to have an end product that is great. Simple projects like this help them to succeed, and so, they will keep creating. While the process is what is most important, a child who doesn't feel successful in art will stop creating. I did not learn until I was an adult that practice is essential, and that I can also be happy with my creations if I continue to try.

related-drawing technique, circles in art
RL=K-5th

Q is for Quark by David M. Schwartz. il. Kim Doner.
Tricycle Press: Berkeley, 2001.

This has to be one of the most unique and delightful alphabet books. The terms are explained in clear, simple, and humorous ways-partnered by detailed, comical drawings. Enjoy these exciting and hilarious science lessons.
RL=3rd-5th       Don't miss G is for Googol! by same author

The Quiltmaker's Gift by Jeff Brumbeau. il. Gail de Marcken.
Pfeifer-Hamilton Publishers: Duluth, MN, 2000.

The pictures in this book are absolutely gorgeous. That is what initially attracted my attention. The title also did because I believe handmade quilts are priceless treasures.

The story is lovely, too. A king who has almost everything still searches for more things. He meets a quiltmaker who only gives her glorious quilts to the poor. She teaches the king the valuable lesson that things do not bring true happiness, but giving to others can.
RL=1st-3rd

Rocks in His Head by Carol Otis Hurst. il. James Stevenson.
Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins Publishers: NY, 2001.

Through good times and bad Carol Otis Hurst's father collected rocks. He carried them in his pockets, and people said he had rocks in his head. Still his passion for rocks never ceased.

The book is about a man who truly appreciated the beauty of nature. For all of us who keep a box of rocks (or more) as treasures and all of us who know we are not quite like others-this is a special book.
RL=1st-3rd

Rolling the Cheese by Patricia Miles Martin. il. Alton Raible.
Atheneum: NY, 1966.

A wonderful, heartwarming story of a funny pastime and a girl who wanted to participate in a man's game. The title even is too good to pass up.
RL=1st-3rd

Rooster's Off to See the World by Eric Carle.
Picture Book Studio: Natick, MA, 1972.

Written as an introduction to numbers and sets, the story starts with Rooster leaving home to see the world, and 14 animals join him in his traveling. They don't get far before the animals change their minds in groups. The beautiful rooster is a great example of what draws children to Carle's books.
RL=1st-2nd and read aloud PreK-K

The Seasons by Steven Schnur. il Leslie Evans.
Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Company: NY.

Autumn 1997
Spring 1999
Summer 2001
Winter 2002

Schnur has created an alphabet acrostic book for each season. Eye-catching linoleum-cut illustrations partner acrostic poems for each letter of the alphabet. What a beautiful way to share the seasons with young ones! Full of wonder, overflowing with descriptions.
related-abc, poetry, seasons
RL=3rd-4th     read aloud to PreK-2nd

Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson. il Hudson Talbott.
G. P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Young Readers Group: NY, 2005.
Newbery Honor 2006

This is a beautiful family story (and history) presented through the use of quilt designs. It incorporates the quilts showing the fugitives the way North, the battle for civil rights, the strength and determination of the women in the family, and the lessons learned turned to crafts that bring income.

I love the beauty, subtlety and thoughtfulness of the illustrations. Some of them are truly treasures. Even more amazing is that they frame and increase the depth of a powerful story.

related-quilts, tradition, mother and daughter, slavery, African Americans
RL=1st-4th and read aloud

Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner.
Dutton Children's Books/Penguin Young Readers Group: NY, 2003.

Skippyjon Jones-the Siamese cat with the wild imagination. Sent to his room to think about his behavior, he gets caught in another of his adventures. Bright pictures full of energy and great use of words.
RL=1st-3rd

Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth. il Chris K. Soentpiet.
Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc: NY, 1998.

A girl is taught the word beautiful in school. Looking around her neighborhood she sees many ugly or disturbing things. So she goes on a quest of things other people believe are beautiful. There are several lessons in this beautiful book.
related-garbage cleanup, homeless, graffiti, inner city, minorities, beauty
read aloud and 1st-2nd

Song of the Water Boatman & Other Pond Poems by Joyce Sidman. il Beckie Prange.
Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston, 2005.
Caldecott Honor 2006

As with most collections, some of the poems resonate better than others. The accompanying woodcut illustrations are remarkable. I also like the biology facts given for each creature. The collection is an observation of life and the food chain surrounding ponds.
RL=3rd-5th and read aloud

The illustrator's note says more woodcuts can be viewed at www.wildlifewoodcuts.com.

The Story of Kites by Ying Chang Compestine. il. Yong Sheng Xuan.
Holiday House: NY, 2003.

Ting, Pan, and Kuai are tired of banging pots and waving arms to scare the birds away from their rice field. They try some new ideas with varying degrees of success.

The pictures alone are worth viewing. The vibrancy of the colors, the crispness of the lines, and shading of the edges resemble stained glass.
RL=1st-2nd and read aloud

Supergrandpa by David M. Schwartz. il. Bert Dodson.
Lothrop, Lee, & Shepard Books: NY, 1991.

This book tells about Gustaf Hakansson, a 66-year-old man who finished first in the 1951 Sverige Loppet (Tour of Sweden, the longest bicycle race in the history of Sweden) even though the judges refused to allow his registration due to his age.
RL=1st-3rd and read aloud

Superhero ABC by Bob McLeod.
Harper Collins Publishers: NY, 2006.

Fantastic drawings! Very funny characters. With the growing popularity of graphic novels, I am glad to see some superheroes for youngsters. This timely publication is sure to be a success.
RL=1st-2nd

Ten Rowdy Ravens by Susan Ewing. il Evon Zerbetz.
Alaska Northwest Books/Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company: Portland, OR, 2005.

It's hard to say what I like best about this-the awesome color, texture, and details of the linocut prints, the meaningful language (also full of texture) for each number counted, or the entertaining and true reports of ravens in the short news section at the end. This is a counting book (backwards), but is far more than that. Each of the ideas portrayed is something totally in character for the ravens, branded as sharp-witted troublemakers through the ages. I especially like the ravens hanging on the laundry line. Can't you just picture it? When I first picked up the book, I had no idea what a treat was in store for me.

related-counting books, counting rhymes, ravens, habits of ravens and crows, birds
RL=2nd and up, plus read aloud to young ones

The Three Pigs by David Wiesner.
Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Company: NY, 2001.
Caldecott Award 2002

Wiesner lets the pigs control the story in this retelling. After escaping from the wolf, they roam through a gallery of stories. They use part of their own book as a paper airplane, enter other stories, and invite their new friends home.

Wiesner uses new concepts and great attention to detail in this engaging tale.
RL=1st-2nd and read aloud to younger

Time For Bed by Mem Fox. il Jane Dyer.
Gulliver Books/Harcourt Brace & Company: NY, 1993.

This is a beautiful, peaceful bedtime book. Simple rhymes with nature, animals, and loving thoughts. Simple enough to memorize and say and also for beginning readers.
RL=1st-2nd and read aloud as young as you like

Tomatoes From Mars by Arthur Yorinks. il Mort Drucker.
Michael di Capua Books/HarperCollins Publishers: NY, 1999.

The pictures and the story concept are both hilarious and great in this explanation of why Mars is red. The details are so entertaining as is the solution to the invasion.
RL=read aloud and 2nd-3rd

Traction Man Is Here! by Mini Grey.
Alfred A. Knopf/Random House, Inc: NY, 2005.

For those looking for comics and superheroes for young ones-this is it. The storyline is basic, but the wordplay is enjoyable and the pictures fabulous with much action and emotion. The situations and props are all things to which young ones will relate.
RL=2nd-3rd (mostly read aloud)

Train Song by Diane Siebert. il. Mike Wimmer
Thomas Y. Crowell: NY, 1981.

I have long loved this rhythmic poem of trains. At times I can hear the sound of the wheels on the tracks through the words (and maybe even a whisper of steam). I believe it would be an excellent one to memorize and perform. The full-page illustrations are also very appealing. Excellent for the young ones fascinated by transportation.
RL=2nd-3rd and read aloud to younger

Tuesday David Wiesner.
Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Company: NY, 1991.
Caldecott Award 1992.

Again Wiesner's illustrations are works of art. The idea of the frogs out for a night on the town is hilarious. The nuances in the pictures are delightful-the frogs caught in the laundry, the dog chase, frogs zooming on lily pads, the detective wondering about the lily pads in the street. It is amazing how much can be told without words.
related-frogs, fantasy, stories without words, humorous stories
RL=all ages

Ulaq and the Northern Lights by Harriet Peck Taylor.
Worzalla/Farrar Straus Giroux: NY, 1998.

Seal, Wolf, Polar Bear, Caribou, Rabbit and Snowy Owl all give different explanations for the northern lights to Ulaq the fox who is curious about them. The book will have special meaning for those who have actually seen the northen lights. Beautiful batik style pictures.
RL=2nd-3rd

Walking with Henry: Based on the life and Works of Henry David Thoreau by Thomas Locker.
Fulcrum Publishing: Golden, CO and
The Thoreau Institute at Walden Woods: Lincoln, MA, 2002.

The author relates some of Thoreau's experiences in explanation of his love of nature. There are a few selections of Thoreau's at the end as well.
RL=read aloud to K-4th
*A third grader could read for himself/herself but might not understand the importance of Thoreau's writings without discussion.

Walt Whitman: Words for America by Barbara Kerley. il Brian Selznick.
Scholastic Press: NY, 2004.

Kerley and Selznick make such an excellent team! The text and illustrations capture the spirit of Whitman and of the country in a time of great growth and excitement. What it must have been like to experience the bustle of New York City during that time period! (Yes, it bustles now, too-but then it was a time when you could see people at work and building in a more personal way. Now, it is mostly people coming and going). I love the discussion of Walt Whitman's printing and writing experience. The words and pictures are full of excitement about Whitman's profession.

I have long heard of Whitman's desire to be the poetic representative of America. It was very effective to focus the story on Whitman's nursing of the soldiers during the Civil War and his grieving for the soldiers and country-his grieving mirroring that of President Lincoln's.

Another feature I think is excellent is the notes of the author and illustrator about their influences, research, and experiences while creating the work.

The illustrations in the book are some of Selznick's best.

One of the things Whitman writes is "I love the President personally." Despite being far removed from Lincoln's time, I have also felt this way. When I read this statement, I immediately thought of one I feel that way about now, too. I believe Barack Obama will be President, because he is the politician who seems to totally understand what is going on and where our country should be heading. He, like Lincoln did, is attempting to hold honest discussions of how we can move forward. I'm frustrated and irritated by the Clintons' dogged determination to have their way when our country so obviously needs something different. Their methods seem to me to be more of the same political nonsense that our people have been tired of sense the early 90s.

related-Walt Whitman, United States history, medical care during the Civil war, American poets, biography, nurses, Abraham Lincoln, printing and writing
3rd-5th

The Warlord's Puzzle by Virginia Walton Pilegard. il Nicolas Debon.
Pelican Publishing Company: Gretna, LA, 2000.

This story of the beginnings of the tangram puzzle is very nicely presented. It incorporates the Chinese respect of wisdom as well as the common idea of the lowliest being the most clever. The dramatic drawings go well with the text.
RL=2nd-3rd

Weslandia by Paul Fleischman. il Kevin Hawkes.
Candlewick Press: Cambridge, MA, 1999.

Wesley is not like the other neighborhood children. He enjoys school and creates his own learning projects in the summer. This year he has learned that every civilization has a staple crop, so he makes that his new project-cultivating a staple crop. Once the plants are producing, he finds many uses for his crop. The ideas expand until he has founded his own civilization.

It is a stimulating and thought-provoking book which hopefully will broaden children's minds and get their creative energies flowing. Let them see the possibilities of creating their own worlds or expanding upon this one-if not physically, then possibly through writing or another form of art. Teachers may wish to consider using this for a Social Studies lesson.

Two things drew me to this book: the pictures which are fantastic and that I had already read several of Fleischman's books.

RL=2nd-3rd and read aloud

What Can You Do With a Pocket? by Eve Merriam. il Harriet Sherman.
Alfred A. Knopf: NY, 1964.

This is a great, imaginative book with suggestions of things you can keep in your pocket and the creative things you can do with them. There are wonderful ideas and word play, and the simple pictures contribute beautifully to the whimsy. I especially enjoyed the paper to confetti and the sand escaping through the hole.
RL=1st-2nd     mostly read aloud to PreK-1st

When Marian Sang by Pam Muñoz Ryan. il Brian Selznick.
Scholastic Press: NY, 2002.

The use of sepia in the illustrations is beautifully rich and effective for a historical setting. Selznick has a glowing quality about his work that shows the feeling and spirit of the people he portrays. I think the brown illustrations also deemphasize (intentionally or not) the fact that the people are black-with the focus totally on them as people.

The text is very informative and gentle in its discussion of Marian Anderson's extraordinary life and ability. The tribulations of black people during the time are not glossed over. It is an extraordinarily powerful and beautiful book.

related-Marian Anderson, famous singers, concerts, Lincoln Memorial, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jim Crow laws, Black history, travel in Europe, performance arts, historical fiction
RL=3rd-5th

When Pigasso Met Mootisse by Nina Laden.
Chronicle Books: San Francisco, 1998.

This is a great story of the clashing of artistic styles and learning to respect others' work. The wordplay is silly and corny, but fun. The illustrations are fantastic. They certainly tell the story in a lively way, and the details are so much fun.

related-Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, pigs, bulls, artists, humorous stories, respect, conflict resolution, friendship
RL=1st-3rd and read aloud to toddler-K

Young Arthur by Robert D. San Souci. il Jamichael Henterly.
Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group: NY, 1997.

This is a good introduction to King Arthur for young kids. It follows the traditional tellings-although skipping over the behavior of Uther regarding Igraine (Igerna) and the pact with Merlin to give Arthur away and ending with the gift of Excaliber. The pictures are appealing in a bright and luminous way. It works well either as a read aloud for pre-K or a beginning reader (up to 4th grade).

related-King Arthur, Merlin, sword in the stone, England
RL=2nd-4th