Recommended Reading

Picture Books

Kindergarten Kids: Riddles, Rebuses, Wiggles, Giggles, and More!
by Stephanie Calmenson, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Ages 3-5
Rhythm, Rhyme and Kindergarten Preparation

Join the members of a Kindergarten class as they demonstrate show and tell skills, solve puzzles, deal with making mistakes, do the popcorn dance and search for Mr. Wig (the Guinea Pig). Stephanie Calmenson's poems cover a magical range of Kindergaren experiences. Her active rhymes are well mirrored in the joy and expression of Melissa Sweet's colorful illustrations.

- Donnae 4/06

Hooray for Fish!
by Lucy Cousins

Ages 2-4
Variety, Spatial Relationships and Opposites

Swirling with color and bouncing with rhyme, Hooray for Fish! introduces basic concepts, from counting to spatial relationships and opposites. Perfect for sharing and for introducing concepts beyond the text, this book begs to be explored again and again.

- Donnae 9/05

Llama, Llama Red Pajama
by Anna Dewdney

Ages 2-4
Bedtime and Separation Anxiety

Baby llama does not like being left alone. Following a sequence that will be familiar to parents of small children, he moans, pouts, stomps and wails until Momma llama assures him that she is near, even when she is not right here. A fun book with exuberant illustrations, Llama, Llama Red Pajama is also a terrific way to start a conversation about bedtime and separation.

- Donnae 9/05

There's a Dragon Downstairs
by Hilary McKay, illustrated by Amanda Harvey

Ages 3-5
Bedtime and Fear of the Dark

Every night Sophie hears a dragon crawl in through the cat flap. Although her parents deny the dragons existence, Sophie is determined to confront the dragon. Each night she takes on a different role: knight, firefighter and princess, but she is unable to find the dragon. Finally she decides to meet the dragon as herself and finds a pleasant surprise. Another fine book ripe with the possibility of starting a dialog about nighttime and the fear of the dark.

- Donnae 9/05

Bad Bears and a Bunny
by Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by Jill Pinkwater

Ages 4 and up
Fear, Social Situations and General Silliness

Irving & Muktuk, two bad bears that remind me of a few eight- to ten-year-olds I know, are back and still crave muffins! This time their visit to the zoo is complicated by a confrontation with a bunny and an invitation to a party. Can the bears be trusted, especially around blueberry muffins? Find out in Bad Bears and a Bunny.

- Donnae 9/05

Chicken Bedtime is Really Early
by Erica S. Perl

Ages 3-5
Animals and Time

Chicks, lambs, calves, bunnies, fish and frogs prepare for bed with the usual rituals including: bedtime stories, footy pajamas and drinks of water. But wait, the hamsters are not sleeping, at least not when all the other animals are resting. Filled with fun rhymes and silly details Chicken Bedtime is Really Early is a fun way to introduce sequencing and time to preschoolers.

- Donnae 7/05