MOTY notes

Picture Books

A list of books we really like:

Too Busy Marco by Roz Chast – I read this one to my son’s first grade class.  They LOVED it.  Marco is a bird.  A way too busy bird.  Sleep?  Ha!

The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers – The story of a boy who loves to eat books.  Literally.  I mean it.  He eats books.

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodnika – Monkey see, monkey do, this is a folktale retold with an original copyright date of 1940.  I always read too much into things, but for me this story is much more than just silliness.  Kid’s books have a way beautiful way of telling simple truths.  This story wasn’t just about silly cap-stealing monkeys.  It’s about how we approach interaction.  If you want to experience different behavior from others, you must model it first. 

Dear Fish by Chris Gall – Amazing illustrations and a great story.  I really like this one…Has all the elements of a great kid’s book – fantastical images, sweet story, and a unique perspective.  When a little boy invites some fish to visit -  it’s wonderful and weird.

The Nightgown of the Sullen Moon by Nancy Willard and David McPhail – I forgot about this one!  My daughter picked it out to read last week.  A sweet story of a sad moon who wants what others have, and can’t keep it’s promises.  A great bedtime book with a celestial tone.

Clara and Asha by Eric Rohmann – I picked this book out because it’s my daughter’s name.  And we loved it.  Warm illustrations and flights of fancy.  A little girl can’t go to sleep because her imagination carries her away.

The Pinkish, Purplish, Bluish Egg by Bill Peet – My daughter LOVES this one.  Written in 1963, it’s an amazingly illustrated and beautifully written book.  It’s kind of a book length poem.  It has a great peaceful message about acceptance and love, and a wonderful story about being different and finding your strengths.

Who Put the Pepper in the Pot? by Joanna Cole and R.W. Alley – Spice is what happens when you help a little too much.  Great read aloud book.

But No Elephants by Jerry Smath – If you open up your heart and home – it could fall apart or be the best thing that every happened.

Babymouse by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm (Series) Mouse adventures that my son loves. Part book, part comic, part adventure and written by a brother and sister team.  Which gives me hope that my kids will someday get along.

Zen Shorts by John J Muth – A wise panda imparts his wisdom – My kids were just a little too little to understand, but it spoke volumes to me.

Diary of a Worm/Diary of a Spider/Diary of a Fly All by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss – A day in the life of a worm, spider, and fly – there’s way more than you know.

Raven by Gerald McDermott – Gorgeous illustrations, Native American tale of a trickster bird.

I am an Ankylosaurus by Karen Wallace and Mike Bostock – A dinosaur’s world ain’t easy.

Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Williams – Funny, excellent book to read to a group of kids – great design, Mo Williams rocks.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay up Late/Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Williams – These get them every time.  There are more titles, the pigeon series is just great work.

I Am Invited to a Party, Piggy and Gerald by Mo Williams  (Series) He does so much great stuff, these books are excellent for new readers.  Funny and great illustrations.

Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant and Sucie Stevenson (Series) – Warm tales of a boy and his dog.

Corduroy by Don Freeman – Written in 1968, it’s the sweet story of a little bear, on a department store shelf, who’s missing button.  And sometimes a best friend has a spare.

Because a Little Bug went KaChoo! by Rosetta Stone and Michael Frith – Funny chain of events – the world can change just from a sneeze.

It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny by Marilyn Sadler and Roger Bollen – How to find yourself, right where you belong.

When Sophie Gets Angry – Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang – We all get mad, sometimes.

Superhero ABC By Bob Mcleod – Awesome ABC book, just look out for V.

Mess Monsters by Beth Shoshan and Piers Harper – Little ones better tidy their rooms.

Cinder the Bubble-Blowing Dragon by Jessica Anderson and Leah-Ellen Heming – Blowing bubbles is a good thing.

Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt – A day in the life of a phobic squirrel who can’t control her world; no matter how organized she is.

Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton – Pretty much all her stuff rocks.

Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss – All the Seuss books rock.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle – Ok, we love all his books too.

White Rabbit’s Color Book by Alan Baker – Colorful baths make a great story.

If You Give a Moose a Muffin/If You Give a Pig a Pancake/ If You Take a Mouse to the Movies All by Laura Numeroff – You better be ready, moose, mice and pigs are high maintenance.

Hush Little Baby by Sylvia Long – It’s the same as the song, but based on less material things.

Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff – Just a kid’s average day with a dinosaur.

Good Night Sweet Butterflies by Melanie Gerth – Pretty butterflies having fun, then going to sleep – Great bedtime book.

The Rainbow Fish/Dazzle the Dinosaur by Marcus Pfister – Stories of colorful creatures who find out why they are special.

Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin – Cows get organized, rise up, and make demands in the name of comfort.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats – The magic of being a kid and waking up on a snowy day.

Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott – Beautiful bold colors, West African tale about a spider, his sons who come to help when he is in trouble, and the moon.

The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler – A snail who longs travel, hitches a ride, and has a wonderful adventure.

Scranimals by Jack Prelutsky – Great funny poems about strange animals. All I have to say is…Bananaconda!

Witch Bazooza by Dennis Nolan – Published in ’76 (I think) – Cute Halloween story about a witch, a contest, some vegetables, and  spells that don’t work.

Traction Man Is Here by Mini Grey – Stories of bravery among evil pillows, dirty dishes, and knitted green outfits.

Charlie’s Super Hero Underpants by Paul Bright and Lee Wildish – Nothing says hero like red underpants.

Sitting Ducks by Michael Bedard – LOVE the illustrations.  Story of two unlikely friends who discover some not too cool truths.

I Stink! by Kate and Jim McMullan – I do not enjoy thinking about the contents of a garbage truck…but, thank GOD for them.  One hasn’t truly experienced garbage until you’ve seen pick-up day in New York City.  This book makes the kids laugh and gleefully shout, “Gross!  EEEWWWW!  YUCK!  Read it AGAIN!”

Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies – I love this one and the kids do too.  Bats take over a beach after the moon comes up.  Gorgeous illustrations and completely charming.

Beautiful Blackbird by Ashley Bryan – Amazingly illustrated with construction paper collages.  It’s an adaptation of a Zambian tale about how birds became decorated with black markings.  But the blackbird makes known – it’s what inside that counts.

Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman – A police officer needs a little spirit for his lectures on rules.  A somersaulting dog comes to the rescue.  Sometimes, it’s good to get upstaged.

The Boy Who Loved Words by Roni Schotter and illustrated by Giselle Potter – A wonderfully melodic, mellifluous, and exultant rhapsody of words.  Very sweet story about a boy who truly loves words.  He relishes in the mysterious and captivating power of words and then finds his place in the world.

Tyrannosaurus Drip by Julia Donaldson and David Roberts – It’s an herbivore’s life in a carnivore’s world.  My daughter loved this one – sweet story of feeling a little out of place, then finding your home.  And eating dinners of juicy water weeds.