Joseph Had A Little Overcoat by Simms Taback.

Joseph Had A Little Overcoat by Simms Taback.

One sentence per page is all you need to understand how thrifty Joseph is. Joseph’s coat gets worn, but he doesn’t give up on it, he makes something new out of it over and over again. This book is an excellent read to show children how we can REUSE things again and again. The cut outs in the pages make the book fun too. My kids kept flipping them back and forth to see Joseph’s coat morph into something new. (See open book picture with cut out through the cow.) The illustrations are excellent and appear even thick and woolen.

 

The Diggers by Margaret Wise Brown. Illustrated by Daniel Kirk.

The Diggers by Margaret Wise Brown. Illustrated by Daniel Kirk.

Dig, Dig, Dig, this phrase is repeated so rhythmically in this book, that after a few reads you have begun to memorize this title like a poem. Meet different types of diggers in the world from the smallest mouse to the largest excavator. In here man has a plan with the digging that brings a train through a mountain and maybe to China? Margaret Wise Brown’s rhyming talent is featured so nicely with the beautiful art deco style illustrations. This one has become a car trip favorite for us because it can be read again and again and again and again.

 

 

Ella Takes the Cake by Carmela and Steven D’Amico

Ella Takes the Cake by Carmela and Steven D’Amico

The illustrations draw you in on this one, they are so elegant and antique, and reminiscent of Curious George. Ella the elephant is just like your average child (well, except she’s an elephant), always wanting to help. In this book Ella gets to prove her ability to help in a big way. My son loves this story because I think he identifies with her, as he ALWAYS wants to help, but what preschooler DOESN’T?? Read this with your toddler and preschooler and it might inspire you to offer more challenges too.

http://www.ellatheelephant.com/

 

Henry Builds a Cabin by D.B. Johnson

Henry Builds a Cabin by D.B. Johnson

After celebrating Earth Day, this book seems like the perfect post. Henry builds a VERY small cabin to live in, which his friends question. This book seemed somewhat familiar, and in the back I read through a paragraph that explained why. It’s based on Henry David Thoreau, the paragraph explains Henry’s decision to live in a cabin in the woods. This is an awesome historical introduction to your preschooler on Henry David Thoreau, and also a nice book if your child seems to have the gimmie, gimmies.

 

The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge by Hildegarde H. Swift and Lynd Ward.

The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge by Hildegarde H. Swift and Lynd Ward.

This book is so wonderful, truly one of the top ten best books we have ever read! The little red lighthouse (based on a real lighthouse on the Hudson river) feels so proud doing its daily job. Then a large grey bridge (The George Washington bridge) is built and it feels it may not be useful anymore. My preschooler and toddler LOVE this story, the illustrations are so beautiful with just red, black and blue! We don’t want to give this one back to the library! The story is nicely paced and by all means not too long at all! My toddler sits for the whole thing, interested, easily!

 

Flotsam by David Wiesner.

Flotsam by David Wiesner.

Follow a boy on a wordless, but amazingly illustrated adventure through the sea via a very special camera. My preschooler and toddler both loved looking through the book and figuring it out as we went along. This book is very magical.

 

Mr. Seahorse by Eric Carle.

Mr. Seahorse by Eric Carle.

Eric Carle’s books are amazing and right up the alley of your preschooler. They incorporate learning in a magical way, as The Very Hungry Caterpillar validates. This book is no exception, my preschooler LOVES this book! It features a story about several of the sea dwelling creatures where the male carries the eggs before they hatch. Very interesting. This book also features see through pages which I’ve shown below, because GET READY your preschooler is definitely going to ask to see those AGAIN AND AGAIN! I’m not even sure you can HAVE a preschooler and not know who Eric Carle is…

 

Wheel Away by Dayle Ann Dodds. Illustrated by Thacher Hurd.

Wheel Away by Dayle Ann Dodds. Illustrated by Thacher Hurd.

This is a short, rhythmic book that is so beautifully illustrated. Follow the wheel across town and back, and hear all the sounds of the town on the way. My toddler and preschooler both enjoyed this one.

 

This House is Made of Mud – Esta casa está hecha de lodo by Ken Buchanan.

This House is Made of Mud – Esta casa está hecha de lodo by Ken Buchanan. Illustrated by Libba Tracy.

A child talks about life in the desert in English and en Español. Beautiful descriptions talk about how the fence of their home is mountains, the random visitor is rain. Colorful pastel illustrations highlight the dreamy text. This book is poetic, short bilingual read for a preschooler.

 

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton.

The illustrations in this book could keep your toddler and preschooler busy for hours. Tiny detailed illustrations surround large illustrations and the story moves along quickly as Katy must race to help the citizens of the city do their jobs. This story is a great introduction to cities, including maps, and the jobs people have in these cities.  It’s also a great story about determination, and understanding why it is important to finish a job. Now that description sounds really boring, but the book really is NOT. Virginia Lee Burton is an amazing author and illustrator and this book you will find yourself reading again and again.