Once I Was… by Niki Clark Leopold. Illustrated by Woodleigh Marx Hubbard.

Once I Was… by Niki Clark Leopold. Illustrated by Woodleigh Marx Hubbard.

“Once I was an alphabet, now I am a book,” starts out this title about how things become new things and also how a child changes and grows. It is a really nice title to read to a preschooler who can sometimes become frustrated with what they cannot do. Instead, this title focuses on how far they have come. “Once I couldn’t walk, now I always run.” The bold reds and turquoises and yellows of this title are happy and make this a calming, endearing title. It pairs a child’s change with many other things in life that change in a way for both parent and child to have fun and reminisce.

 

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Micheal Rosen and Helen Oxenbury.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Micheal Rosen and Helen Oxenbury.

This is the book of the classic song I used to sing in school and girl scouts, “We’re going on a bear hunt, gonna catch a big one, we’re not scared, what a beautiful day.” I just knew my boys would get a kick out of it. We can rarely sit still when reading this one. This is a fun, easy read for when your bunch is feeling wiggly.

 

Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner

Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner

I find that after reading this book I keep repeating the lines to the kids for the rest of the day. “My ears are to beeg for my head, my head ees to beeg for my body,” is what Skippyjon chants (and I do over and over) as he decides he’s not a Siamese cat, but indeed a Chihuahua. This book is so fun to read aloud and listen to, that we’ve read it twice in a row. There is plenty of Spanish in this story too, a wonderful bonus. Skippyjon is a silly story that will make you fall in love with him and his imagination. Check out the short movie from another Skippyjon title on the website below. It’s definitely wild.

http://www.skippyjonjones.com/

 

The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers

The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers

This clever book is just too funny. The illustrations are as interesting as the main character, a boy who starts eating books, first by tasting a word, then a sentence, then just whole! The book even features a bite out of the back (see photos). He finds out in the end books are better read in this quick, fun read.

 

Montessori Geometric Inset Substitute: Stenciling Books

For a dollar at garage sales I found two tracing books that my son loves. In fact he traced fifteen buildings in one sitting, which is huge for a 4-year-old boy learning fine motor skills. This has become our geometric inset substitute. I feel it’s adequate (and my son would most likely say superior) because he already has shape recognition. Also, these were a much cheaper and mobile substitute as we travel frequently. Finally, they spur much conversation on building structures around the world and dinosaur habitats and diets respectively. Happy garage sale and flea marketing. Hope you find some your child enjoys. I’ve seen the dinosaur one on Amazon.com here.

 

Katy No Pocket by Emmy Payne. Pictures by H.A. Rey.

Katy No Pocket by Emmy Payne. Pictures by H.A. Rey.

My two year old brings me this book because he likes it, but does end up flipping the pages over while I’m still reading a paragraph. It’s still just a little too long for him. Anyhow, we read what we can and my four year old easily sits for the whole thing. Katy is a kangaroo with no pocket and has a little joey that needs a ride. She is very sad about it, in fact I believe she cries on every single page, but in the end becomes the envy of all the other mother kangaroos. H.A. Rey, of Curious George fame, illustrated this book which may add to our liking for the story. This book will introduce your young child to a few animal mothers and how they carry their babies.

 

Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann

Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann

This book will have you grinning by the time you’re halfway through as Gloria isn’t your average police dog, but Officer Buckle learns this the hard way. This book was a lot of fun to read again and again. It also spurred excellent conversations with my preschooler about safety tips (of which he invented many good ones of his own) versus laws. Overall, a funny book that is a great way to talk about safety, rules, laws, and surprises!

 

Minerva Louise and the Red Truck by Janet Morgan Stoeke.

Minerva Louise and the Red Truck by Janet Morgan Stoeke.

A silly hen gets taken for a ride in the farmers red truck and mistakes everything she sees. This book is really silly and entertaining and my preschooler enjoyed the humor. It’s so well illustrated too. This one is a quick and fun read.

 

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.

 

My Crayons Talk by Patricia Hubbard. Illustrations by G. Brian Karas.

My Crayons Talk by Patricia Hubbard. Illustrations by G. Brian Karas.

Yakity yakity, click, clack, clackety. Here is a fun, quick, read that focuses on colors. Perhaps more for the toddler than the preschooler, but I’ve got to tell you, my preschooler LOVES this one too! A Bill Martin Book, so you know there is great substance here.