 |
BEST BOOKS OF THE
YEAR
Best of Year 2009
Best of Year 2008
Notables from 2007
Notables from 2006
Notables from 2005
|
 |
THEMES
Animals
Bears
Bedtime
Classics
Concept Books
Families
Friendship
Holiday/Special Days
Humor & Nonsense
Recordings
Rhythm & Rhyme
|
Toddlers
Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third-Fifth Grades
Middle Grades
Upper Grades
|
|
PRESCHOOL
Sometime between three and five, preschoolers begin to recognize characters in a story, and books now begin to be appreciated for the story as well as the pictures.
Younger preschoolers need sturdy books, board and cloth, that can take rigorous and repeated usage. There is usually no plot or story to these books, but they should be colorful. This is a good time to teach them how books work-from the left to the right side, from the front to the back, and how to turn pages without damaging them. Encourage preschoolers to look at and identify the pictures.
Older preschoolers often enjoy information books. They seem to love labeling and identifying their world. They are more sociable and enjoy stories involving other children or animals impersonating children. Involve them more in the story, and ask them to predict what may happen next. This will stimulate their thinking and observation skills.
Take preschoolers to the public libraries. Most have wonderful programs for preschoolers. If possible, begin a small collection of books for them.
MOTHER GOOSE &
NURSERY RHYMES:
These traditional verses have rhythms that are contagious and joyous. Preschoolers still need lullabies and traditional songs, especially at bedtime.
FAIRY TALES:
Most familiar fairy tales are not for younger children because their themes are more sophisticated. At this age, they cannot discriminate between the real and the unreal. Some folktales may be acceptable but must be free of violence.
ANIMAL STORIES:
Small children seem to have a natural attraction for animals.
This is an exciting age for preschoolers, and listening to stories is where reading begins.
|
|
|
 |
WYNKEN, BLYNKEN,
AND NOD
written by Eugene W. Field, illus. by David McPhail, (Scholastic,
Inc., $6.99, ISBN 978-0-439-92144-2), 20p, Ages
2+.
Originally published in 1889 and now available in board book,
this classic bedtime poem tells of three fishermen, who set
sail in a wooden shoe into the night sky in search of fish.
With their nets of silver and gold, they meet the Old Moon,
who laughs and speeds them along with a song. "All night long
their nets they threw/To the stars in the twinkling foam;/Then
down from the sky/Came the wooden shoe,/Bringing the fishermen
home." Home is a little girl's bedroom, where her mother sings
of the fisherman, Wynken, Blynken, and Nod. |
|
10 FAT TURKEYS
written by Tony Johnston, illus. by Rich Deas, (Scholastic Books,
$6.99, ISBN 978-0-545-06469-6), 28p, Ages 3-5.
Now in board book format, this holiday counting book will delight
children with its clever wordplay, math concept, and humorous
illustrations. When ten goofy turkeys walk along the top of
a fence, one by one they fall off in extremely creative ways.
Swinging from a vine, strutting on a boar, doing a noodle dance,
roller-skating, balancing bricks, diving, whistling in a shoe,
and jumping on a pogo stick, these jolly turkeys will delight
children with their silly antics. When the fence collapses,
the turkeys perch in a nearby tree and it begins again. "Just
a minute-what is this?/BIBBLE BABBLE JIBBLE JOBBLE/ 'Looky!
Look at me!'/10 fat turkeys, fooling in a tree." |
 |
|
 |
MY HEART
IS LIKE A ZOO
written/illus. by Michael Hall, (Greenwillow Books, ISBN
978-0-06-191510-9), 32p, Ages 2-5.
In clever rhyme, children can examine the feelings of twenty
zoo animals created with more than 300 overlapping hearts that
are presented in various patterns, colors, and sizes. "Cool
as a penguin,/crafty as a fox,/quiet as a caterpillar/wearing
knitted socks." Hippos sip apple juice, a coyote walks in fog,
and a walrus lounges on a beach towel. The conclusion shows
a young zookeeper asleep with his stuffed animal menagerie around
him. Children will enjoy exploring and counting the many hearts
that make up each animal. |
|
OLLIE'S EASTER
EGGS
written/illus. by Olivier Dunrea, (Houghton Mifflin Books for
Children, $9.99, ISBN 978-0-618-53243-8), 32p,
Ages 3-6.
Easter is underway for the little goslings from the Gossie &
Friends series. Gossie, Gertie, BooBoo, and Peedie gather, dye,
and hide their Easter eggs on the farm, but Ollie feels left
out. In his pink bunny-eared cap, he shouts, "I want eggs!"
and proceeds find his friends' hidden eggs – Gossie's red egg
in the grass, Gertie's blue egg in the straw heap, Boo Boo's
purple egg in the tulips, and Peedie's yellow egg under the
green turtle. Stealthy rolling them away, Ollie redecorates
each with ribbon and flowers for his friends to discover for
the best Easter egg hunt of all. In his assertive way, Ollie
provides a very delightful holiday adventure for little ones.
|
 |
|
 |
ALWAYS
written by Alison McGhee, illus. by Pascal Lemaitre, (Simon
& Schuster, $15.99, ISBN 978-1-4169-7481-9), 40p,
Ages 4-8 yrs.
A small dog declares his love and devotion for his young mistress
by enumerating the many ways in which he will protect her. Declaring,
"I am keeper of the castle," he pledges to tame squirrels, guard
against monsters (spiders), halt avalanches (mounds of toys),
patrol and ambush intruders (mice), divert meteors, contain
the weather, and calm the sea. This sentimental tale is perfect
for teaching children about the bonds of love and loyalty, and
courage and determination in their young lives. |
|
SYLVIE
written/illus. by Jennifer Sattler, (Random House, $15.99, ISBN
978-0-375-85708-9), 40p. Ages 3-6.
Impetuous, curious, and adorable Sylvie brings new meaning to
the saying, "you are what you eat." Upon learning that flamingos
are pink because they eat shrimp, Sylvie decides to experiment
with ice cream, a kite, palm leaves, a bathing suit, chocolate,
grapes, and a stripy beach towel. After sampling each offering,
she becomes the color and pattern of whatever she eats. "But
after stuffing her tummy all day, Sylvie didn't feel so well."
Upon rejoining her flock and resuming the shrimp diet, Sylvie
returns to normal, however, those deserts are still tempting.
The vibrant illustrations are eye-catching, humorous, and certainly
steal the show. |
 |
|
 |
BEARS ON
CHAIRS
written by Shirley Parenteau, illus. by David Walker, (Candlewick
Press, $15.99, ISBN 978-0-7636-3588-6), 32p, Ages
2-5.
Four adorable small bears fit nicely into four small chairs,
until Big Brown Bear arrives looking for his own chair. "That
big bear/needs one whole chair./There's none to spare/for Big
Brown Bear." They experiment with several arrangements, but
Big Bear is just too big. Only when the chairs are placed together
in a row is there room for everyone. The storyline is perfect
for teaching little ones sharing and kindness. |
|
THE MITTEN
written by Jim Aylesworth, illus. by Barbara McClintock, (Scholastic
Press, $16.99, ISBN 978-0-439-92544-0), 32p, Ages
3-6.
Children will love this charming adaptation of a famous old
Ukrainian folktale, where a little boy plays outside in the
snow so boisterously that he loses one of his mittens. However,
the animals that find warmth and protection inside it are absolutely
delighted with their discovery. "The squirrel found the mitten
quite warm and very comfortable, and soon he was so nice and
toasty in there that he fell sound asleep." A passing rabbit
squeezes in, then a fox, and finally a bear share the very cramped
mitten, now stretched to the breaking point. When a small mouse
begs for entrance, the animals protest that there is no room,
but they finally relent and admit the mouse. As they take a
collective breath, the mitten explodes into pieces. The animals
are very disappointed and search for another place to warm their
toes. The boy and his grandmother return the next day to discover
a mitten in shreds. Grandma cheers up the boy by promising hot
chocolate another knitted mitten. The whimsical artwork and
delightful tale will have children begging for more classic
folktales. |
|
|
|
