Book Suggestions

Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss
Use every occasion, birthdays, holidays, all celebrations big and small, to place a book in your child’s hands or to bring as a gift each time you visit a friend.


BUY NOW!	Owen Illustrated by Kevin Henkes Greenwillow 1993 Ages: 3 to 5 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss Owen loves Fuzzy, his blanket, and takes it wherever he goes, until one day, before he starts school, everyone tries to have him leave his beloved blanket at home. MORE...

BUY NOW!	Little Rat Makes Music by Monika Bang-Campbell Illustrated by Molly Bang Harcourt Children's Books 2007 Ages: 5 to 7 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss Little Rat hates to practice but loves to make music with her new violin. The book emphasizes hard work and perseverance. An elegant first chapter book. MORE...

BUY NOW!	A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker Illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton Candlewick Press 2008 Ages: 3 to 5 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss Bear tries to keep out visitors to his house, but his efforts are undermined by a very persistent mouse. This is a comedy about how the mouse just won't let Bear eat his breakfast in peace. MORE...

BUY NOW!	A Splendid Friend, Indeed! by Suzanne Bloom Boyds Mills Press 2005 Ages: 3 to 5 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss Bear is trying to spend a quiet day reading, writing and thinking, but this plan is soon interrupted by the arrival of Goose, who can’t help but talk about how exciting these activities are. MORE...

BUY NOW!	Little Fur Family by Margaret Wise Brown Illustrated by Garth Williams HarperFestival; Rei Boxed edition 1985 Ages: Birth to 3 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss “There was a little family warm as toast, smaller than most, in little fur coats and they lived in a warm wooden tree.” This classic tale, in a new edition covered with warm brown furry fabric, will be hugged by your child. Don’t miss Garth Williams’ illustrations. MORE...

BUY NOW!	Cat by Matthew Van Fleet Illustrated by Brian Stanton Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers 2009 Ages: 3 to 5 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss For cat lovers everywhere, brilliantly photographed with simple descriptions and moveable parts. A book all kids will enjoy. MORE...

BUY NOW!	Moon Bear by Brenda Z. Guiberson Illustrated by Ed Young Henry Holt and Company 2010 Ages: 3 to 5 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss "Who scratches the birch tree and licks oozing sap? Hungry moon bear." Exquisite illustrations of moon bear follow his moods throughout the book, like sleepy, hungry, curious, and grumpy. The ending provides pictures of real moon bears in danger of becoming extinct, with notes on how to help these beautiful bears. MORE...

BUY NOW!	Silly Suzy Goose by Petr Horacek Candlewick 2004 Ages: 3 to 5 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss This delightful Suzy Goose who ventures from her flock because she wants to be “different”, tries to jump like a kangaroo, stretch high like a giraffe, and swim under water like a seal until she roars like a lion and he chases her back to the others, just in time. Full of action and beautiful graphics, this new picture book by a Czech illustrator will be a winner. MORE...

BUY NOW!	Houndsley and Catina: Plink and Plunk by James Howe Illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay Candlewick Press 2010 Ages: 5 to 7 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss In the best tradition of first chapter books like Henry and Mudge, Frog and Toad, and Mr. Putter and Tabby, Houndsley the dog and Catina the cat are special friends who love to ride bikes and ride in a boat. But they have a dilemma: Houndsley doesn't ride a bike, and Catina is afraid of water because she can't swim. Luckily, their bird friend helps them solve the puzzle. MORE...

BUY NOW!	Whose Mouse Are You? by Robert Kraus Illustrated by Jose Aruego Aladdin; 1st Aladdin Books ed edition 1986 Ages: 3 to 5 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss An endearing story of a little mouse who feels the need for attention when a new baby brother arrives at his home, is a classic story that no one should miss. MORE...

BUY NOW!	The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry Illustrated by Jules Feiffer Houghton Mifflin Books for Children 2010 Ages: All ages Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss "Please don't be so vicious, Delicious" pleads Princess Patricia Priscilla to her cat when she is so terribly bored with her royal life. In this amusing novel, a perfect read-aloud for 8+ readers and adults, we see the princess change places with her chambermaid and attend the village school in disguise. The events humorously build up as she has to choose a suitor from an unsuitable group of young men for her 16th birthday ball. We delight in a surprising ending and the values and friendships between the characters this marvelous story holds for its readers. Not to forget the engaging pen and ink illustrations by Jules Feiffer that bring these characters to life. MORE...

BUY NOW!	Raining Cats and Dogs by Will Moses Philomel Books 2008 Ages: 5 to 7 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss Children often wonder why someone "gets in a pickle," or "has cold feet." In trademark folk art style, Will Moses sheds some light on these wonderful sayings. A book that is especially worthwhile for children who are learning the language as well as those who are fascinated with interesting sayings. For example, "Feeling Blue means: Feeling sad. Just thinking about six more weeks of winter had poor old Ben and his cat and dog - and mouse - feeling blue." MORE...

BUY NOW!	Posy by Linda Newbery Illustrated by Catherine Rayner Atheneum Books for Young Children 2008 Ages: 3 to 5 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss Posy, a "sofa scratcher," "ice-cream guzzler," and "cushion crawler," carefully pounces and bounces through this book in intriguing watercolors. MORE...

BUY NOW!	Blueberries for the Queen by John PatersonKatherine Paterson Illustrated by Susan Jeffers HarperCollins 2004 Ages: 3 to 5 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss Based on a true family story when Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands came for the summer to New England to escape the hardships of World War II, William picks some fresh blueberries from his farm and presents it to her. In reaching out to his neighbor, he, at such a young age, begins to make his own “peace effort”. MORE...

BUY NOW!	Flip, Flap, Fly!: A Book for Babies Everywhere by Phyllis Root Illustrated by David Walker Candlewick Press 2009 Ages: Birth to 3 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss In a joyful rhyme, baby animals squeak, bark, fly, swim, wiggle, and rumble with the help of their mothers. MORE...

BUY NOW!	Annie and Snowball and the Cozy Nest by Cynthia Rylant Illustrated by Sucie Stevenson Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers 2009 Ages: 5 to 7 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss Annie can't wait to show her new cousin the nest full of baby birds. This is a wonderful first chapter book for children who are beginning to read. MORE...

BUY NOW!	The Snow Day by Komako Sakai Arthur A. Levine Books 2009 Ages: 3 to 5 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss Reminiscent of Keats' The Snowy Day, Japanese artist Komako Sakai paints a snow day when a little rabbit stays home from kindergarten to make snow monsters and play with his mother while he waits for his father to get home. MORE...

BUY NOW!	Cornelius P. Mud, Are You Ready for Baby? by Barney Saltzberg Candlewick Press 2009 Ages: 3 to 5 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss Cornelius P. Mud is introduced to his new baby brother who can't do anything that Cornelius likes. The book touches on sibling rivalry at the arrival of a new baby: "I wish we could send him back." It has a lovely ending, though. Especially good for the new arrival of a baby brother. MORE...

BUY NOW!	Always by Ann Stott Illustrated by Matt Phelan Candlewick Press 2008 Ages: 3 to 5 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss This story shows the everyday range of a child's behavior and the unconditional quality of a parent's love. MORE...

BUY NOW!	The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson Illustrated by Beth Krommes Houghton Mifflin Books for Children 2008 Ages: Birth to 3 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss Reminiscent of Goodnight Moon, this goodnight book illuminates nighttime objects in a house before the child dozes off to sleep. Elegant black and white illustrations with just a hint of gold highlight the objects. MORE...

BUY NOW!	God's Dream by Archbishop Desmond Tutu Illustrated by LeUyen Pham Candlewick Press 2008 Ages: 3 to 5 Topic: Great Read Alouds: Stories You Won't Want to Miss This book introduces readers to Archbishop Tutu's message of forgiveness and empathy, and welcomes them to a pathway toward joy. MORE...