This list is compiled 2012 by Kathy Mulholland, Children's Librarian at Freehold Public Library.
Preschool through Entering or in Second Grade (RED means book on order)
Title |
Author |
Call Number (Freehold Public Library) | Genre |
Description |
Link to Amazon |
Additional Notes |
My Very First Mother Goose |
Iona Opie, Illustrated by Rosemarie Wells |
j 398.8 MY |
Nursery Rhymes |
Fun collection of classic Mother Goose nursery rhymes with illustrations by popular children's illustrator Rosemarie Wells.
|
http://www.amazon.com/My-Very-First-Mother-Goose/dp/1564026205/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322968056&sr=1-7 |
There are many nursery rhyme books in the j 398 section. Look for other favorites! |
Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock |
Janet Stevens, Illustrated by Eric A. Kimmel |
j 398.2 KIM | Folk Tale (Picture Book format) |
Anansi the spider thinks he's so smart, tricking his friends out of their food. But he's not the only clever critter around! |
http://www.amazon.com/Anansi-Moss-Covered-Rock-Janet-Stevens/dp/0823407985/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322968232&sr=1-1 |
Anansi is a famous "trickster" in tales originating in West Africa. |
Wagons Ho! |
George Hallowell, Illustrated by Joan Holub |
E HAL | Picture Book |
Follow Jenny (1846) and Katie (2011) on their very different journeys along the Oregon Trail as their families move West. |
http://www.amazon.com/Wagons-Ho-George-Hallowell/dp/0807586129/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322977070&sr=1-1 |
Adults will also enjoy the side-by-side comparisons of travel "then" and "now." |
Bear's Loose Tooth |
Karma Wilson, Illustrated by Jane Chapman |
E WIL | Picture Book |
Bear's friends pitch-in to help him deal with the crisis of his first loose tooth. |
http://www.amazon.com/Bears-Loose-Tooth-Karma-Wilson/dp/141695855X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322977176&sr=1-1 |
This is the same Bear as found in Bear Snores On. Adorable illustrations capture facial expressions perfectly! |
Back to School Tortoise |
Lucy M. George, Illustrated by Merel Eyckerman |
E GEO |
Picture Book
|
Tortoise has the back-to-school jitters. What if he falls down? What if the kids are mean to him? |
http://www.amazon.com/Back-School-Tortoise-Lucy-George/dp/0807505102/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1322968614&sr=1-1-catcorr |
The ending will surprise and delight students and parents (and teachers!). |
Here Comes the Garbage Barge! |
Jonah Winter, Illustrated by Red Nose Studio |
E WIN |
Picture Book |
The "mostly true" story about a barge full of garbage from Long Island that nobody wanted, and where it ended up. |
http://www.amazon.com/Comes-Garbage-Barge-Jonah-Winter/dp/0375852182/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322969702&sr=1-1 |
Adults may remember this story from the news; there is a strong ecology reminder here, but it's also just a fun book to read, with great illustrations. |
A Porcupine Named Fluffy |
Helen Lester, Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger |
ER LES |
Easy Reader |
What do you do when your name just doesn't make any sense? This was a problem Fluffy finally gets to share with a friend. |
http://www.amazon.com/Porcupine-Named-Fluffy-Helen-Lester/dp/0395520185/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322945452&sr=1-1 |
Children enjoy this light, funny story about names and friendship. |
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site |
Sherri Duskey Rinker, Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld |
ER RIN (NEW BOOK) |
Picture Book |
Heavy construction equipment and machines wrap up their busy day in this rhyming bedtime tour. |
http://www.amazon.com/Goodnight-Construction-Sherri-Duskey-Rinker/dp/0811877825/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322943927&sr=1-9 | Surprisingly soothing read, considering the characters are front-end loaders, bulldozers, etc. Kids who like trucks will love this book, even if they don't like bedtime. |
The Grouchy Ladybug |
Eric Carle |
E CAR (CARLE COLLECTION) |
Picture Book |
This ladybug is just plain-old hard to get along with! |
http://www.amazon.com/Grouchy-Ladybug-Eric-Carle/dp/0064434508/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_9 |
Eric Carle's books are favorites with children. We never know why the ladybug is so grouchy, but that's the way it is with people sometimes, too! |
The Rain Came Down |
David Shannon |
E SHA |
Picture Book |
A sudden rain storm sets-off a series of events that sets the whole town in an uproar...until the sun shines again. |
http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Came-Down-David-Shannon/dp/0439050219/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322944933&sr=1-1 |
Excellent cause-and-effect sequencing and illustrations running-the-gamut of emotions, plus just a lot of fun! |
Kitten's First Full Moon |
Kevin Henkes |
E HEN |
Picture Book |
Kitten has never seen a full moon. To her, it's a big bowl of milk that she can't quite reach! |
http://www.amazon.com/Kittens-First-Full-Kevin-Henkes/dp/0060588284/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0 |
Sweet story about how things aren't always what they seem, and inexperienced Kitten's frustrations are something small children can identify with. |
Biscuit |
Alyssa Satin Capucilli, Illustrated by Pat Schories |
ER CAP |
Easy Reader |
It's bedtime, but Biscuit isn't quite ready! |
http://www.amazon.com/Biscuit-My-First-Can-Read/dp/0064442128/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322944459&sr=1-3 |
With lots of familiar and repeating words, this may be one of the first books your child will read independently. Look for other ER titles in the much-loved Biscuit series.
|
Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds |
David A. Adler, Illustrated by Susanna Natti |
j ADL |
Easy Reader |
Cam Jansen has a great memory, but that alone doesn't solve the mystery! |
http://www.amazon.com/Cam-Jansen-Mystery-Stolen-Diamonds/dp/0142400106/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322944616&sr=1-1 |
The Cam Jansen series is popular perhaps because Cam seems like such a normal girl (though she has a great memory!). Readers think-along with the story to solve the mystery. |
The Very Bad Bunny |
Marilyn Sadler |
ER SAD |
Easy Reader |
PJ Funnybunny always seems to be on the wrong end of trouble. A visit from his cousin Binky changes PJ's reputation, however. |
http://www.amazon.com/Very-Bad-Bunny-Beginner-Books/dp/0001714384/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322945404&sr=1-1 |
Some kids just end up in trouble all the time for little things; maybe it's just bad timing! These students will particularly enjoy this PJ Funnybunny title.
|
One Dark and Scary Night |
Bill Cosby, Illustrated by Varnette P. Honeywood |
ER COS |
Easy Reader |
Little Bill is scared of the monsters, but nobody seems to understand...nobody except his grandmother. |
http://www.amazon.com/Scary-Night-Little-Beginning-Readers/dp/0590514768/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322967752&sr=1-1 |
Bill Cosby is not just an entertainer, but an accomplished educator and author. Little Bill series have the same wisdom and humor expressed in his works for adults. Young and old will enjoy! |
Digging Up Dinosaurs |
Aliki |
j 388.9 ALI |
Picture Book |
Not just a book about dinosaurs, but also the people who "dig" them. |
http://www.amazon.com/Digging-Dinosaurs-Lets-Read---Find-Out-Science/dp/0064450783/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322945117&sr=1-1 |
Includes male and female scientists, and conveys the excitement of discovery. |
Home-Field Advantage |
Justin Tuck, Illustrated by Leonardo Rodriguez |
E TUK | Picture Book |
Justin Tuck of the New York Giants, tells about his childhood, growing up with five sisters! |
http://www.amazon.com/Home-Field-Advantage-Justin-Tuck/dp/1442403691/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1322968481&sr=1-1-catcorr |
Sports fans will want to read this book about family. The cover (where Tuck is about to be mercilessly tacked by his sisters!) will immediately capture the interest of both boys and girls. |
These Hands |
Margaret H. Mason, Illustrated by Floyd Cooper |
E MAS | Picture Book |
A grandchild loves his grandfather's hands; all the things they could do and all the things they could teach. |
http://www.amazon.com/These-Hands-Margaret-H-Mason/dp/0547215665/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1322968745&sr=1-1-catcorr |
A moving tribute to not only the love between a grandfather and grandson, but a poignant and subtle story about the senselessness and pain of racial segregation and prejudice. |
The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses |
Joanna Cole, Illustrated by Bruce Degen |
j 612.8 COL |
Picture Book |
Join Ms. Frizzle's class on a field trip through the five senses, with typical Magic-School-Bus antics along the way! |
http://www.amazon.com/Magic-School-Bus-Explores-Senses/dp/0590446983/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322968943&sr=1-9 |
Wildly popular for years, enjoy other Magic School-Bus titles on subjects ranging from the solar system to dinosaurs. |
Who Was Johnny Appleseed? |
Joan Holub, Illustrated by Anna DiVito |
j B JOH | Slim paperback |
Johnny Appleseed was a real person, but he wasn't just a wondering apple-core litter-bug! |
http://www.amazon.com/Who-Johnny-Appleseed-Joan-Holub/dp/0448439689/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322969070&sr=1-8 |
Don't let the goofy cover fool you. This light-looking and approachable book has solid research behind it, but it reads like a story. Look for other "Who was" titles. |