Book Love: The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear

Authors: Don and Audrey Wood

Illustrator: Don Wood

Why I Love This Book: I was camping this weekend in "bear country," and for some reason thought of this book. It's a simple, interactive story that promotes ideas of problem solving and sharing as the little mouse needs to find a way to keep his red, ripe strawberry safe from the big hungry bear. The illustrations are fun and engaging, as is usually characteristic of this author and illustrator duo. It is a great read aloud for all different levels of early readers, including toddlers and preschool aged children, because of its interactive nature. 

Book Love: The Lion and the Mouse

Title: The Lion and the Mouse

Author and Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney

Why I Love this Book: This book is essentially wordless, as the story is told through the incredibly beautiful illustrations. A book like this can be used with children who are just developing their literacy skills, as well as fluent readers, as wordless picture books can be a valuable way to work with concept of print, comprehension, story sequencing, and more. This book is a great way to experience this classic fable through illustrations that capture the life and emotion of the story. 

Book Love: DogFish

Title: DogFish

Author: Gillian Shields

Illustrator: Dan Taylor

Why I Love this Book: I was browsing in a bookstore when I found this book, and it just put a smile on my face. I love the underlying theme of optimism, and making the most of what you have. The boy in the story has a pet goldfish, but really wishes it was a dog. Since his family can't have a dog, the boy decides to pretend and in the process discovers that he has a great pet in his goldfish. The text is written from the boy's perspective and reflects child-like thought processes and perceptions, which makes for a delightful read. This is a story that kids can make a connection with, and can be used as a backdrop for discussions on needs and wants, and being happy with what you have. 

Book Love: My Heart is Like a Zoo

Title: My Heart Is Like a Zoo

Author: Michael Hall

Why I Love this Book: I think this book is a fun, delightful way to talk about feelings with young children. The simple text uses similes to relate various feeling words to animals you might find at a zoo. Don't we all have days where we are "snappy as a crab" or "frightened as a rabbit?" Helping kids to build an understanding of their emotions is key to both social and emotional development, and this book could be a great tool for guiding conversations about feelings, in addition to being colorful and engaging. The illustrations are bright collages, with all the animals made out of heart shapes. The simplicity of the text is especially great for preschool and Kindergarten aged students. 

Book Love: What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?

Title: What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?

Author: Robin Page

Illustrator: Steve Jenkins

Why I Love This Book: First of all, some author/illustrator love for Steve Jenkins. His books are always full of amazing illustrations, creative text, and great information about animals and associated science concepts. This is one of my favorites. It explores the different functions of animal parts, such as eyes, tails, feet, and mouths. I even learned some new things the first time I read it! The presentation of these concepts makes it really fun for kids, as they can engage in guessing the animals based on pictures of only their tails or noses. The science content is simple enough that it could work well for Kindergarten and First Graders, although the the ideas and pictures could make for great conversations at any age. There is also a section in the back with  more detailed information about each animal that would be great for more advanced thinkers within or above those age groups.  A very fun, informational book!

Book Love: The Water Hole

Title: The Water Hole

Author: Graeme Base

Why I Love This Book: The best part about this book is that it contains elements of both math and science, and could be used to reinforce a variety of topics. The book explores animals from all over the world as they each take a turn drinking (or swimming) in a water hole. It takes a typical counting book to a whole new level, because as the number of animals on each page increases, the water hole gets smaller and smaller. Besides the variety of animal life, it is also a simple way to look at elements of the water cycle or water conservation. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, and really bring the various animals to life. This book would be especially beneficial for children in preschool and Kindergarten. 

Book Love: Bobbie Dazzler

Title: Bobbie Dazzler

Author: Margaret Wild

Illustrator: Janine Dawson

Why I love this book: I came across this book in an International Children's Literature class, and I just fell in love with it. It was originally published in Australia and it's all about a wallaby named Bobbie who wants to do the splits. With the support of her Australian animal friends (Koala, Possum and Wombat), Bobbie keeps trying until she finally achieves her goal. It's a simple and uplifting story about friendship and perseverance that will help encourage kids to keep trying  new things, even when they are difficult. The illustrations are delightful,  and really add to the story's simple text as they bring the characters, and their emotions, to life. The book also contains some other fun active words such as jump, skip, and do somersaults that can support vocabulary and inspire kids to develop their own movement skills.