Waiting for Winter, by Sebastian Meschenmoser

Meschenmoser,Sebastian. Waiting for Winter. Kane Miller, 2009. 56 pages. $15.99, ISBN 978-1-935279-04-4

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW
It's winter, and Squirrel, Hedgehog, and Bear have decided to wait to watch the first snowfall.  They have never seen snow before, and so are looking for something that resembles the description provided by Deer, who explained that snow is "white and wet and cold and soft".  Each animal finds an object which fits some of these requirements.  As they sit staring at Bear's choice (an old white sock), the real thing begins to fall.  Even though certain pages contain a large amount of text, others are wordless, making this book enjoyable for toddlers and preschoolers alike.  The colored pencil drawings are tenderly done in blacks, browns, and a wonderful orange-red for Squirrel.  They are appropriately a tad scruffy around the edges, as they depict, after all, wild animals. This humorous and highly recommended book is a great subtle reminder to children to be thorough when trying to find items to meet a certain set of criteria, a skill that will help them later in life.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
This book could be shared at toddler storytime along with other books concerning the coming of winter, such as Here Comes Jack Frost by Kazuno Kohara, and Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep!, by Maureen Wright.

All Aboard! A True Train Story, by Susan Kuklin

Kuklin, Susan. All Aboard! A True Train Story. Orchard, 2003. 32 pages. $16.99, ISBN 978-0439455831

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year olds

GENRE
Nonfiction (Trains)

REVIEW
"Fire blazing / Water steaming / CHUGGA-CHUGGA /  Wheels rolling," begins this exuberant book, which shows in large photographic images the journey of a Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge steam engine through the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  Images are bordered by a track motif, and yellow, green, and red solids form the background -- everything comes together very attractively.  At no more than ten words per two-page spread in enormous text, some repetition of certain phrases, and a lot of onomatopoeia in words/made-up words such as "SQUEAK-SQUEAK", "WHOO-WHOO", and "HISSSSS", this book is perfect for 1 and 2 year-olds.  The book gives the basics of the events during a train's journey, in basic language: "Ring the bell All aboard!" and "Through the town, smoke swirls". This book certainly creates excitement about trains and books, and it is highly recommended for these facts.  However, the pervasive lack of proper punctuation is one slight concern.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Here is a rhyme to accompany this book during toddler storytime:

          DOWN BY THE STATION 

          Down by the station
          Early in the morning
          See the little pufferbellies
          All in a row

          See the station master
          Turn the little handle
          Puff, puff, toot, toot
          Off we go!

A Weekend with Wendell, by Kevin Henkes

Henkes, Kevin. A Weekend with Wendell. Greenwillow Books, 1995. 32 pages. $6.99, ISBN 0-688-06325-X

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book 

REVIEW 
Wendell is staying with Sophie for the weekend, and things are not going well.  He only wants to play games where he makes all the rules, he wakes Sophie up, tries to scare her, and ruins her crayons, just to list a few examples of his annoying behavior.  Not surprisingly, Sophie is counting the minutes before Wendell's mother returns to pick him up.  On the last day of the visit, however, Sophie asserts herself, declaring that she will make the rules of their next game of make-believe.  Finally experiencing a taste of his own medicine and likely touched by Sophie's tenderness to him when she sees that he is hurt, Wendell's attitude changes and the two become friends.  Sweet painted illustrations reveal the characters' emotional states.  This is a very funny look at a topic which is important for 3 and 4 year-olds, namely how to compromise and share in friendships.  The repetitive pattern of the plot heightens its accessibility to young children.  A highly recommended gem of a book.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
At one point in the story, Wendell leaves Sophie's crayons on the porch and they melt.  In a special visit to the library kitchen, children can watch librarians melt old crayons in a microwave and pour the result into candy molds of various shapes.  Children can help decide which colors to melt together.

A Splendid Friend, Indeed, by Suzanne Bloom

Bloom, Suzanne. A Splendid Friend, Indeed. Boyds Mills Press, 2005. 32 pages. $8.95, ISBN 978-1590784884

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW

As Bear is reading a book, Goose starts climbing his huge body.  He ends up at Bear's head, where he asks, “What are you doing?  Are you reading?”  Goose can’t help himself, as his favorite pasttime is chatting.  Bear prefers solitary silent activities such as reading books, writing, and thinking, and is at first annoyed by Goose’s questions, although he tolerates them.  However, when Goose writes a note to Bear, referring to him as “my splendid friend,” Bear is touched and joyful.  Due to its few words per page, engaging multi-shade blue and white illustrations, and the irresistible character of Goose, this book is very highly recommended for 1 and 2 year-olds.  This is a wonderfully humorous look at the theme of friendship.

On Earth, by G. Brian Karas

Karas, G. Brian. On Earth. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2005. 32 pages. $16.99, ISBN 0-399-24025-X

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Nonfiction (Earth)

REVIEW
This is a great introduction for 3 and 4 year-olds to topics concerning space and the planets.  More specifically, the book discusses concepts concerning Earth, such as rotation and revolution, gravity, and the seasons in simple, concise language.  Karas’ lovely large illustrations are absorbing in various shades of blue, green, and yellow.  They are fun – with wonderful details such as a face hidden in the clouds smiling benevolently onto our planet – and also demonstrate a sense of wonder about the universe.  Each page contains few words, making this book accessible to children.  This beginning science text is highly recommended.

Henry and the Crazed Chicken Pirates, by Carolyn Crimi

Crimi, Carolyn. Henry and the Crazed Chicken Pirates. Illustrated by John Manders. Candlewick Press, 2009. 40 pages. $15.99, ISBN 978-0-7636-3601-2

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW
Life for Henry and the other Buccaneer Bunnies has been peaceful for quite some time, until the day Henry finds a threatening letter in a bottle which reads in part, "We're coming to steal all yer loot....BOWK!  Sincerely, Yer worst enemies".  Of cautious nature, Henry is quite concerned about the note and decides to prepare for a possible attack through research and writing down his plans. His rabbit friends all think he's silly for worrying, but when the crazed chicken pirates actually do arrive, Henry is ready to save the day.  This is a rollicking fun book for 3 and 4 year-olds, full of adventure and laugh-out-loud humor.  Children will enjoy the comically drawn rabbits and chickens in their swashbuckling outfits, wigs, and exaggerrated features.  This book is recommended for its positive message about reading, planning in advance, and believing in oneself.

At the Beach, by Huy Voun Lee

Lee, Huy Voun. At the Beach. Henry Holt & Company, 1994. 32 pages. $15.95, ISBN 0-8050-2768-8

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Nonfiction (Chinese characters)

REVIEW
This book teaches a few Chinese characters through the visit of a mother and her son, Xiao Ming, to the beach.  As the mother draws the characters, she and her son discuss how the forms of the characters are similar to the objects and ideas they represent.  For example, the character for person looks like the torso and legs of someone walking forward in long strides.  Additionally, the characters for big, small, sky, water, mountain, sand, woman, child, and good are taught.  For the unique and highly relevant way in which it aims to teach this vocabulary, this book is recommended for 3 and 4 year-olds.  The book is short enough that it will not overwhelm.  The cut paper collage illustrations are eye-catching, and it is positive that depictions of people of all races, genders, and body sizes are included.  One slightly unusual aspect of the book is that the figure who appears to represent Xiao Ming appears to be wildly different ages on different pages: teenager, boy, and finally young toddler at the end.

Sleepy Boy, by Polly Kanevsky

Kanevsky, Polly. Sleepy Boy. Illustrated by Stephanie Anderson. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2006. 32 pages. $15.95, ISBN 978-0689867354

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW 
A little boy has had a full day, including a visit to the zoo, and is having trouble falling asleep.  He has gone through all the bedtime rituals, but still cannot somehow close his eyes and head off to dreamland.  In almost every charcoal and watercolor illustration we see a small lion cub lingering, hinting at the great impression that the day had on the boy.  The boy's father interacts tenderly with him, holding him and stroking his hair as he coaxes him to sleep.  This book is recommended for the way in which its illustrations and text create a calming atmosphere conducive to encouraging sleep in children.  Even though the illustrations could perhaps contain a bit more variety, the softness of their lines is soothing.  The father's calm requests that his son just "shut one eye" and "now shut the other eye," interspersed with detailed descriptions of the sensations that the boy is feeling, come together in an almost rhythmic way that make this a good bedtime story for 3 and 4 year-olds.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
This is a good song to accompany this book at preschool storytime, as it concerns bedtime and a mother animal and her child:

          LISTEN TO THE TREE BEAR

          Listen to the tree bear,
          Crying in the night,
          Crying for his mammy
          In the pale moonlight.
         
          What will his mammy do
          When she hears him cry?
          She'll tuck him in a coco pod
          And sing a lullaby.
          She'll tuck him in a coco pod
          And sing a lullaby.

The Secret Life of Walter Kitty, by Barbara Jean Hicks

Hicks, Barbara Jean. The Secret Life of Walter Kitty. Illustrated by Dan Santat. Alfred A. Knopf, 2007. 40 pages. $16.99, ISBN  978-0-375-83196-6

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW
Walter the housecat reveals to us that although his "Person", Mrs. Biddle, doesn't realize, his name is actually "Fang".  Although his tame daily activities and demeanor couldn't be more disconnected from such a dangerous name, he has vivid waking dreams of an alter ago in which with much derring-do, he usually saves the day.  He is sometimes a swashbuckling pirate, sometimes an Indiana Jones-style adventurer, and sometimes Catzilla.  He does admit that he loves Mrs. Biddle after all, however.  This book, although not deeply meaningful, is humorous, and 3 and 4-year-old children will enjoy the contrast between Walter's real and imaginary worlds.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Here is a song that could be done as a fingerplay after reading this book aloud during preschool storytime:

          THE BIG BLACK CAT

          The little mice are creeping, creeping, creeping,
          The little mice are creeping, alll through the house.

          The big black cat goes stalking, stalking, stalking,
          The big black cat goes stalking, all through the house.

          The little mice go scampering, scampering, scampering,
          The little mice go scampering, all through the house.

Rain Play, by Cynthia Cotten

Cotten, Cynthia. Rain Play. Illustrated by Javka Steptoe. Henry Holt & Company, 2008. 32 pages. $16,95, ISBN 978-8050-6795-8

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW
As this rhyming story begins, a group of children are playing at a park playground.  Suddenly, the sky grows dark and the weather changes.  Cotten writes, "Rain begins.  Cools our skins.  Raindrops splatter. People scatter."  The children continue playing for a while, stomping in puddles and making boats, among other things.  But when the storm begins in earnest, Dad appears in his car to scoop up his children and take them home.  The painted paper collage illustrations in this book are quite striking and the illustrator has achieved interesting shading effects, it appears by possibly wrinkling the paper at some point in the creative process.  The text per page is minimal, yet rhythmic and descriptive. For example, "Make a boat. Watch it float. A leaf's a cup.  Fill it up."  For its stunning visuals and brief text that moves the story along like poetry, this book is a great pick for 1 and 2 year-olds.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Share this story aloud at toddler storytime along with some nonfiction books about rain and storms.

Frog Went A-Courtin', by John Langstaff

Langstaff, John. Frog Went A-Courtin. Illustrated by Feodor Rojankovsky. Harcout, Brace, Jovanovich, 1955. 32 pages. $7.00, ISBN 0-15-230214-X

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Traditional Literature (Folktale)

REVIEW
According to the foreword, this Caldecott Award winner is the retelling of a story which originated in Scotland over 400 years ago.  Frog decides he'd like to marry Miss Mouse, and so asks her for her hand.  Once she gets the approval of her Uncle Rat, the wedding is a go.  The last two-thirds of the story details the arrival of each of the wedding guests --  including a raccoon, a bumblebee, two ants, and a snake, among others -- and their contributions to the wedding day, such as fiddling, bringing cider, or laying the tablecloth, etc. Rojankovsky's ink and pencil illustrations depict the animals and insects in the story with accuracy and tenderness at the same time.  The artwork -- whether containing several colors in an image, or simply black and one other color -- is striking, and its style is suggestive of wood-cut printing in several instances.  Because the story rhymes, contains only two short lines per page and large illustrations, and is repetitive in its last two-thirds, it's a perfect choice for 1 and 2 year olds.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Here is a rhyme to accompany this book during toddler storytime:

          THE FROG

          A little green frog once lived in a pool,
          The sun was hot and the water cool.
          He sat in the pool the whole day long,
          And sung a dear little, queer little song,
          "Juaggery do, Quaggery dee,
          No one was ever so happy as me."

Let's Look at Winter, by Sarah L. Schuette

Schuette, Sarah L. Let's Look at Winter. Capstone Press, 2007. 24 pages. $21.00, ISBN 978-07368-6706-1

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Nonfiction (Seasons, Winter) 

REVIEW
This is a wonderful introduction to the winter season for 1 and 2 year-olds.  The text is broken up into four chapters concerning the signs of winter, animals and winter, plants and winter, and a brief mention of spring. On the left panel of each two-page spread are a couple sentences about winter.  Each chapter starts off with a question about the season, e.g., "How do you know its winter?" and is followed  by a simple answer, e.g., "The temperature is cold," or "Water freezes".  On each right panel, a large clear photograph of a wintry scene, a forest animal or bird lushly draws in our attention.  The text is followed by a glossary, suggestions of further reading on the topic, information on how to reach a Web site with supplemental information, and an index.  This book is clear, basic, informative, and eye-catching; an exemplary work of nonfiction for this age group which is a nice early introduction to the "chapter book" format.  An excellent way to encourage future nonfiction and science reading.

City Dog, by Karla Kuskin

Kuskin, Karla. City Dog. Clarion Books, 1994. 32 pages. $14.95, ISBN 0-395-66138-2

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW
In very simple text and panoramic watercolor images, this story tells us about the first experience of a city dog in the countryside and at the seaside.  For the first time, she is able to run unbound by the city's organization and simply enjoy a whole new set of sights, such as trees, crabs, and waves.  At the end of the day, she and her family return home.  This book is recommended as it nicely encourages in children an excitement about exploring environments different to their immediate surroundings.  The family's return home at the end of the day lends a sense of security important to young children. However, while the watercolor illustrations are attractive, the depictions of the dog could have been a bit more detailed and interesting. But this does not detract from the fact that this is a very appropriate book for 1 and 2 year-olds.

Gobble Gobble Crash!: A Barnyard Counting Bash, by Julie Stiegemeyer

Stiegemeyer, Julie. Gobble Gobble Crash!: A Barnyard Counting Bash.  Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. Dutton Children's Books, 2008. 32 pages. $16.99, ISBN 978-0-525-47959-8

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Nonfiction (Numbers, Counting)

REVIEW
This is not your average counting book.  In addition to practice with the numbers one through ten, it contains a humorous story of a group of turkeys' barnyard visit, encouragement to help others, and a fun game of find-the-turkey toward the end of the story.  The story starts off peacefully with one mare quietly eating at night, two calves sleeping, three kittens cuddled close to their mother, etc.  But then, "Gobble-Gobble-Crash!," the turkeys arrive to take this count home, alternately annoying and delighting the animals whom they visit, such as six chicks, seven mice, eight baby goats, etc.  The farmer, awoken by all the racket, threatens to catch the turkeys.  The other animals come to their aid, and children will enjoy discovering just where the turkeys are hidden. Although this story has a very predictable structure, the amount of text makes it more appropriate for 3 and 4 year-olds than younger children.  The painted illustrations are warm and joyful.  Children will enjoy participating by counting and repeating "gobble-gobble-crash!" A highly recommended book.

Woolbur, by Leslie Helakoski

Helakoski, Leslie. Woolbur. Illustrated by Lee Harper. HarperCollins, 2008. 32 pages. $17.99, ISBN 978-0-06-084727-2  

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW
Woolbur is a free-thinking young sheep.  While the other lambs keep away from the herding dogs, he runs with them.  While the other lambs are practicing dyeing yarn, Wilbur tints himself a deep blue.  While the others his age are all practicing weaving, he adds to his own forelock some lengths of yellow yarn.  His parents, "Maa" and "Paa" despair and try to get him to change his ways, but Wilbur's response to their concern is always just continued pride in himself.  When they finally present him with a demand to conform, Wilbur comes up with a creative solution.  Funny illustrations of a very content Woolbur add to the humor in the text.  This is a great read-aloud for 3 and 4 year-olds who are individualistic, and hopefully a little encouragement for the followers to dare to be different a little more.  Children will enjoy repeating Wilbur's response to his parents' shocked response to everything he does differently: "I know...isn't it great?"

The Neighborhood Mother Goose, by Nina Crews

Crews, Nina. The Neighborhood Mother Goose.  Greenwillow Books, 2004. 64 pages. $17.99, ISBN 0-06- 051573-2

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Traditional Literature (Nursery Rhymes)

REVIEW
In this delightful presentation of forty-one Mother Goose rhymes, Crews livens up these verses and makes them highly relevant to today's children by illustrating them with enormous clear photographs of African-American, Caucasian, and Latino children playing in an urban neighborhood.  A young boy gazes out his bedroom window at a star "like a diamond in the sky," a little "Jack" jumps "over the candlestick" on a cupcake,  and a "little girl" with a "little curl right in the middle of her forehead" stands poised to chop off Barbie's locks.  The delight of the children in these images is contagious.  Young listeners will enjoy the creative photography, as some of the shots contain miniaturized images of children.  This would be a great addition to any toddler or preschooler's personal library.  The rhyming and short nature of the verses make them accessible for both age groups.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Use these rhymes throughout the year of toddler and preschool storytimes, when one of the rhymes matches the storytime theme.

Calendar, by Myra Cohn Livingston

Livingston, Myra Cohn. Calendar. Illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. Holiday House, 2007. 32 pages. $16.95, ISBN 978-0-8234-1725-4

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Poetry

REVIEW
This is a lovely mixed media look at the twelve months of the year.  Each two-page spreads depicts, in beautifully shaded paint and collage illustrations, a scene particular to each month.  Accompanying these images are short sentences of about two to five words each, such as "January shivers," "September whistles by," and "November is the fireplace".  Most pictures contain a smiling child engaged in an activity.  The exclusion of Santa Claus from December would have broadened the appeal of this book, yet this does not detract from this collection of absorbing images and succinct yet descriptive text.  This is likely to be hit with 1 and 2 year-olds.

Big Brown Bear Stories, by David McPhail

Nutmeg Media. Big Brown Bear Stories. Nutmeg Media, 2007. 1 videodisc, 24 minutes. Price unknown, ISBN 1933938323

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE 
Film

REVIEW

This delightful DVD is a film version (still images of the pages) of three picture books about good friends Bear and Rat.  The first of these books is Big Brown Bear's Up and Down Day, in which the two meet and become friends as a result of Rat’s attempt to steal Bear’s slipper to use as a bed. In the second book, Big Brown Bear Goes to Town, Bear and Rat find a creative solution to the issue of preventing Rat’s car from filling with rain.  The third book is Big Brown Bear’s Birthday Surprise, in which Rat organizes a surprise birthday picnic for Bear.  The warm and sweet ink and watercolor illustrations transfer well to the screen.  The DVD also includes McPhail’s discussion of how he became a children's books author and other topics. These humorous stories which focus on friendship, creative problem-solving, and forgiveness make for a wonderful DVD which is highly recommended for 3 and 4 year olds. Although the film is a collection of still images, it is not at all stilted.  Actually, this format, in which different sections of each page are focused on separately, highlights aspects that one may have missed when reading the books.

Go Potty Go!: For Boys and Girls, by Mazzarella Media

Mazzarell Media. Go Potty Go!: For Boys and Girls. Mazzarella Media, 2007. 20 minutes. Price unknown, ISBN 1934119377  

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Nonfiction DVD (Potty Training) 

REVIEW

This DVD is concerned with teaching toddlers how to use the potty.  Animated characters Paige and Parker Panda introduce various topics related to using the potty, such as reducing fear of the potty, self-esteem concerns, self-hygiene. Other characters such as elephants, giraffes, and penguins are also included.  Two especially important pieces of information communicated to toddlers are that everyone goes to the bathroom, and how we know when we need to go to the bathroom.  It is possible to view the entire DVD or simply watch the music videos.  This DVD is recommended for 2 year-olds for the entertaining yet soothing, no-pressure way in which potty topics are addressed.

What's Opposite?, by Stephen R. Swinburne

Swinburne, Stephen R. What's Opposite? Boyds Mills Pres, 2000. 32 pages. $15.95, ISBN 1-56397-881-4

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Nonfiction (Opposites)

REVIEW
This a great book for 3 and 4 year-olds to learn about opposites.  On some pages, two items, concepts, or states of being which are opposites are presented in simple words and photographs of children.  Examples are the front and back of someone's head, "walk" and "don't walk" traffic signals, and the idea of top and bottom.  In other instances, one concept is presented on a right-hand side page and its opposite is presented on the other side of the page.  For example, one page shows a girl eating a strawberry and asks, "What's the opposite of sweet?"  Once the page is turned, the answer "sour" appears and we see a girl holding a piece of lemon with mouth puckered and eyes closed.  Images are clear and relate quite obviously to the text below them in all cases, and children will enjoy guessing the opposites, making this a recommended book.

Don't Forget I Love You, by Miriam Moss

Moss, Miriam. Don't Forget I Love You. Illustrated by Anna Currey. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2004. 32 pages. $15.99, ISBN 0-8037-2920-0

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds
GENRE
Picture book 

REVIEW
Billy the bear is holding up his and his mother's departure for nursery school one morning because he keeps turning his attention to his stuffed rabbit doll, who of course has not been helping matters by hiding, refusing to eat his eggs, and buttoning his clothing wrong.  But finally Billy and his mom are off.  Unfortunately, Billy drops his lunchbox on the way, leading to Mama's placing of Rabbit in her bag for safe-keeping during the clean-up.  Dropping off Billy late at school, Mama accidentally leaves with the toy still in her bag and without remembering to say "I love you" to Billy.  The day at school just doesn't start off right for Billy, but suddenly the school door swings open and a welcome visitor appears.  This is an excellent story for 3 and 4 year olds, and will help them make the transition from home to preschool.  They will be reassured that their parents and caregivers always love them, and will always return.  This is also a nice reminder to both parents and children of the importance of telling your loved ones that you care.  Softly-edged watercolor paintings round out the story's charm.

Millie Waits for the Mail, by Alexander Steffensmeier

Steffensmeier, Alexander. Millie Waits for the Mail Title in Caps. Walker & Company, 2007. 32 pages. $16.95, ISBN 978-0-8027-9663-9

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW
Millie is a cow who looks forward to the arrival of the mail carrier every day -- so she can scare him half out of his mind.  Every morning she finds a new hiding place, and every morning she is successful in frightening the postman, usually damaging the deliveries for the farmer in the process.  One day, the mail carrier decides that enough is enough, and tries make a friend by personally sending Millie her first package of her own, in the hope that things may then improve.  Of course, there are comic results from this attempt, but Millie is touched by the mail carrier's effort, and becomes a great helper to him as a result.  This book is highly recommended for 3 and 4 year-olds for its zany humor, creative plot, and the fun details in the illustrations.  This book also contains a healthy switch of the usual gender roles in picture books, as this time the farmer is a strong and capable woman.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Here is a rhyme that can accompany this book at preschool storytime:

          MAILMAN, MAILMAN

          Mailman, Mailman,
          Do your duty.
          Send this letter
          To my cutie.

          Don't you stop
          And don't delay.
          Get it to her
          Right away.

What Am I?: An Animal Guessing Game, by Iza Trapani

Trapani, Iza. What Am I?: An Animal Guessing Game. Whispering Coyote Press, 1992. 32 pages. $13.95, ISBN 1-879085-76-3

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Nonfiction (Animals, Guessing)

REVIEW
This is a fun book for 3 and 4 year-olds to practice their guessing skills and build up some animal knowledge.  On each right-hand side page, about six lines of description of a certain animal's appearance, habitat, and/or usual behaviors is given, followed by the question "What am I?"  An illustation of a young boy demonstrating an action mentioned in this text is included on each of the right-hand pages as well.  Once one turns the page, the name of the animal is printed in large letters, over a lively picture of the boy and the animal engaged in some activity.  Polar bears, seals, owls, and ostriches are some of the animals included.  Although some of the clues given could signify  more than one type of animal, most clues give hints that should touch on some aspect of most children's knowledge of animals.  For the way in which it makes learning and reviewing basic facts about animals fun and encourages active participation through excellent pacing, this book is recommended.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
After hearing this story at preschool storytime, children can make a paper bag puppet of their choice of animal from the book.

Mamá Goose: A Latino Nursery Treasury / Un Tesoro de Rimas Infantiles, by Alma Flor Ada & F. Isabel Campoy

Ada, Alma Flor & Campoy, F. Isabel. Mamá Goose: A Latino Nursery Treasury / Un Tesoro de Rimas Infantiles.  Illustrated by Maribel Suárez. Hyperion Books for Children, 2004. 121 pages. $19.99, ISBN 0-7868-1953-7

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Traditional Literature (Nursery Rhymes, Folklore)

REVIEW
This is a wonderful compendium of short nursery rhymes and other traditional literature from Spain and Latin America.  Included, with Spanish and English text side by side, are lullabies, finger games, lap games, sayings, nursery rhymes, jump-rope songs, riddles, song games, tall tales, proverbs, riddles, birthday songs, goodbye songs, and Christmas carols.  Sweet and colorful painted images of animals and moon-faced children illustrate each brief piece of  literature.  1 and 2 year-olds will be enthralled by these happy pictures, and 3 and 4 year-olds will enjoy repeating the often rhyming words.  A very brief introduction to Spanish and Latin American folklore and a table of contents precede the text, and an index of titles follows it.  The table of contents and the indexes are bilingual, but unfortunately the introduction to the book, and the introductions to each chapter appear only in English.  This is a highly unique must-have for any children's library collection.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
This book would be a great accompaniment during a year of bilingual toddler or preschool storytime.  Rhymes and other pieces can be chosen as their associated themes come up in storytime.

When Sophie Gets Angry -- Really, Really Angry, by Molly Bang

Bang, Molly. When Sophie Gets Angry – Really, Really Angry. Scholastic, 1999. 34 pages. $9.95, ISBN 0590189794

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book  

REVIEW
Sophie is a young child prone to fits of anger, and experiences one when she learns that she must share her stuffed gorilla with her sister. Her anger is depicted vividly in blazing reds and blues, and household and outside items change their shape and natural positions as a reflection of the intensity of her feeling. Sophie finds, however, that climbing a tree and enjoying the beauty of nature soothes her frustration, and she is then able to rejoin and enjoy her family once again. Few words per page make this book accessible to 1 and 2 year-olds, but the topic of soothing one's own angry feelings is more appropriate for 3 and 4 year-olds. This Caldecott honoree is a must-read-aloud for this older age group, as it accurately depicts in illustrations what is so often difficult for children of this age to describe in words.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
As suggested by the book's author, after reading this book aloud at preschool storytime, ask children to talk about what they do to get over their anger.

Global Babies, by the Global Fund for Children

The Global Fund for Children. Global Babies. Charlesbridge, 2007. 18 pages. $6.95, ISBN 978-1580891745

AGE LEVEL
0-12 months

GENRE
Board Book

REVIEW
This board book contains photos of babies of both genders and several races from around the world.  Infants will enjoy looking at these colorful and clear images of the faces and torsos of other infants in interesting outfits particular to countries such as South Africa, Guatemala, Greenland, Afghanistan, the U.S.A., and several others.  The backgrounds of the images of the babies are various bright colors such as red, blue, deep pink, yellow, and others.  The babies' faces show a range of expressions.  The text of the book, with only a few words on each page, is: "Wherever they live, wherever they go, whatever they wear, whatever they feel, babies everywhere, are beautiful, special, and loved."  For its simplicity and high visual interest, this is a great book for infants 0-12 months old to enjoy.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
If available, read a picture book-size edition of this book aloud at infant storytime, and pair with the following face rhyme:

          EYES, NOSE, CHEEKY CHEEKY CHIN

          (Touch baby's facial features as you sing to the 
          tune of "Someone's in the Kitchen with Dinah".)

          Eyes , nose, cheeky cheeky chin,
          Eyes , nose, cheeky cheeky chin,
          Eyes , nose, cheeky cheeky chin,
          Cheeky cheeky chin, nose, eyes.

Tuesday, by David Wiesner

Wiesner, David. Tuesday. Clarion Books, 1991. 30 pages. $7.99, ISBN 0395551137

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW
As this Caldecott winner opens, a group of frogs, previously sleeping peacefully, are awakened by their lily pads' sudden levitation. The frogs are of course at first quite surprised, but eventually adjust to this development and settle in for their ride above marsh and suburbs, enjoying their new perspective, and the chance to scare a crow and a dog, wave to a man eating a late snack in his kitchen, and watch some television while an elderly woman sleeps. To me, the implications of this story are that anything is possible and that more amazing things happen in this world than most of us are aware. Tuesday is almost completely wordless, with the exception of the noting of the time and date on certain pages. For this reason, I feel that it's a great pick for all ages of young children, who can make up their own stories as they take in the illustrations.  The painted illustrations in their nighttime greens, purples, and blues with softly edged background images are lovely, but may be a bit too busy for babies, however. 

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
This book can be shared at toddler storytime along with some nonfiction books about frogs.

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!, by Mo Willems

Willems, Mo. The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! Hyperion Books for Children, 2004. 40 pages. $14.99, ISBN 0-7868-1869-7

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW 
As this story opens, Willems’ pigeon hero finds a hot dog, which he looks forward to scarfing down all by himself. This plan is threatened, however, when a duckling appears and begins asking a series of questions about the dog. Pigeon eventually begins to feel guilty about not offering to share the snack, and his distress leads to a hysterical scene in which he grapples with this moral dilemma.  In eight small cells over a two-page spread, Pigeon alternately paces, flaps, and sits overwhelmed, thinking aloud, "It's MY hot dog, right!? MINE! MINE! MINE!....I can't take it anymore!  What am I supposed to do?"  Readers will find out his decision and should pay close attention to Duckling's revealing last remark.  The minimal amount of text in this book and the simple yet fun cartoon drawings are perfect for 1 and 2 year olds. Pastel colors outlined in black pencil make for appealing images, and Willems manages to convey a range of emotions through Pigeon's expressive eyelid: from excitement, to suspicion, to full tantrum. A truly funny book which older children will love as well.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Here is a fingerplay related to sharing to accompany this book at toddler storytime:

          HERE'S A CUP

          Here's a cup,
          (cup one hand)

          And here's a cup,
          (cup the other hand)

          And here's a pot of tea.
          (make a teapot with 3 of the middle fingers bent over,
          thumb and little finger stuck out for spout and handle)

          Pour a cup,
          (make motion of pouring)

          And pour a cup,
          (make motion of pouring)

          And drink it up with me.
          (pretend to drink out of "cup")

Tar Beach, by Faith Ringgold

Ringgold, Faith. Tar Beach. Crown, 1991. 32 pages. $15.00, ISBN 0-517-58030-6

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW
Ringgold based this Caldecott honoree and King Award winner on her childhood memories of growing up in Harlem.  As the book begins, we are immediately transported into narrator eight-year-old Cassie Louise Lightfoot's imagination as she declares, "I will always remember when the stars fell down around me and lifted me up above the George Washington Bridge." In a completely absorbing folk style, Ringgold paints in peaches, corals, and pale green-blues against deeper blue nighttime skies.  It is revealed that the Bridge is important to Cassie's family history and relates to her touching wish for a better life for her father and mother.  The social climate of the time the picture book takes place, which appears to be the late 1930s, is included in the text, as Cassie states, "Well, Daddy is going to own that building, 'cause I'm gonna fly over it and give it to him.  Then it won't matter that he's not in their old union, or whether he's colored or a half-breed Indian, like they say."  This book is a tour-de-force -- words, images, and themes create a powerful story together -- and is very highly recommended for three and four year olds, athough the imaginations of younger children will also take flight based purely on the illustrations.  An image of Ringgold's stunning Tar Beach story quilt and an informative article about her follows the story text.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Due to the book's focus on flight, the following is a possible action rhyme to pair with it at preschool storytime:

          BIRDS

          If I were a bird, I'd sing a song,
          (tuck hands in armpits to represent wings) 
         
          And fly about the whole day long.
          (stretch arms out at sides and rock body as if flying)
         
          And when the night came,
          (give yourself a hug and make shivering motion)
         
          Go to rest, up in my cozy little nest.
          (flap arms and them cup hands to form nest)

The Hello, Goodbye Window, by Norton Juster

Juster, Norton. The Hello, Goodbye Window. Illustrated by Chris Raschka. Michael Di Capua Books/Hyperion Books for Children, 2005. 32 pages. $15.95, ISBN 978-0786809141

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW
In her own words and illustrated by exuberant paintings with many childlike elements, a very young girl tells us all about the many special qualities and uses of a window in her grandparents’ house.  She calls this kitchen window at Nanna and Poppa’s house the “Hello Goodbye” window, stating that it “looks like a regular window but it’s not”.  Through this window, she greets her grandparents as she arrives, sees what’s going on outside, looks at it as a mirror with her grandpa, and finds a myriad number of other uses, to do with both the real and imaginary world. Throughout the book, the window also serves as a vehicle through which we learn about all the things that our narrator does with Nanna and Poppa at their house, and one can see how much they treasure her.  This Caldecott Award winner is highly recommended for its tribute to the special relationship between grandparents and grandchildren and the imagination, and its reminder to find the joy in simple everyday things.  The focus on a multiracial family is a highly positive aspect of the work. It is quite a lengthy picture book, and for this reason is recommended for three and four year olds wth good attention spans.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Read this aloud as part of a special Grandparents' Day celebration at the library (first Sunday after Labor Day), including grandparents reading additional stories aloud, and grandparents and grandchildren making crafts together.

In the Small, Small Pond, by Denise Fleming

Fleming, Denise. In the Small, Small Pond, 1993. 32 pages. $24.95, ISBN 0-8050-2264-3

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW

This Caldecott honoree, a feast for the senses, describes the abundance of life in a little pond in words and pictures.  Several aspects about this book make it perfect for one to two year olds.  First of all, there are only four words on each two-page spread describing the activities of each animal.  Secondly, each of these phrases follows the same verb-verb-noun-verb pattern, such as “hover, shiver, wings quiver” or “circle, swirl, whirligigs twirl”.  And of course, the originality of Fleming’s artwork, created with colored cotton pulp and stencils, is enough to awakne anyone’s sense of wonder.  Striking blues, greens, and yellows of grasses, sky, and the pond itself form the backdrop for multi-hued images of brown and white geese swimming, purple fireflies skimming, and red lobsters crawling.  With its closing lines of “cold night, sleep tight, small, small pond”, this could even serve as a bedtime book.  Colorful dreams will be inspired by the images within.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
A good pond-related rhyme to pair with this book at toddler storytime is:

          FUNNY DUCKY

          Waddle, waddle, waddle ducky,
          waddle to the pond.
          (place thumbs in armpits and waddle like a duck)

          Paddle, paddle, paddle ducky,
          paddle round and round.
          (paddle with hands)

          Tail up, head down, funny little duck.
          Tail up, head down, funny little duck.
          (move head downward and place hands behind back to represent tail)

The Lion & the Mouse, by Jerry Pinkney

Pinkney, Jerry. The Lion & the Mouse. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2009. 40 pages. $16.99, ISBN 978-0-316-01356-7

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Traditional Literature (Fable)

REVIEW
Anyone who is not a fan of Aesop already is fairly likely to experience a change of heart after reading Pinkney's amazing Caldecott Award-winning rendition of "The Lion and the Mouse".  To start off with, every sketched and painted inch of lion, mouse, and landscape is beautifully multi-tonal in golds, browns, grays, and greens --  a true visual extravaganza.  But perhaps the most impressive aspect of the artwork is that the animals aren't caricatures; they are depicted as authentic creatures, along with the ambiguity that comes with this.  For example, when the lion decides to let the mouse go toward the beginning of the fable, one can literally see the mixed feelings in his eyes, and something more: the inscrutable nature of wild animals that prevents us from knowing exactly what his expression means.  The story is wordless except for a few animals sounds, such as the lion's "Grrr" and the mouse's "squeak".  True to the original fable, the mouse later remembers her debt to the lion, coming to his aid when he is caught by hunters.  For the beauty and accuracy of its illustrations of wild animals, and the way in which it highlights the potential for greatness in even the smallest and most unexpected of us -- whether this be the mouse's courage in initially approaching the lion, the lion's magnanimity in letting the mouse go, or the mouse's integrity in honoring her debt -- this book is very highly recommended for age 1 and up.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Due to the fact that Pinkney's drawings are very accurate in their depictions of wild animals, this book is the perfect lead-in to presenting some nonfiction books on mice and lions at toddler storytime

Sumi's First Day of School Ever

Pak, Soyung. Sumi’s First Day of School Ever. Illustrated by Joung Un Kim. Viking, 2003. 32 pages. $15.99, ISBN 0-670-03522-X    

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW
Sumi is a young Korean immigrant and it’s her first day of school in America. Her feeling of not knowing how to act in this new environment upon entering the classroom and an incident of teasing from a classmate at first lead her to believe that school is "scary" and "mean".  But her mood quickly improves based on kind treatment from her teacher and another classmate's interest in starting a friendship.  This book is a great choice for three and four year-olds who are hesitant about starting preschool or who have already had a bad experience and need encouragement.  The painted illustrations in washes of green, yellow, and blue are uncomplicated in style, yet convey Sumi's emotions well through facial expression and body posture.  The story is told in a matter of fact and easy-to-follow style, and the inclusion of Sumi's thoughts is a nice component.  Most children will identify with something in this very appealing book.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Here is a simple getting-to-know-each-other song to sing after reading this book aloud at preschool storytime, and to start off subsequent storytimes:

          HERE WE SIT TOGETHER

          Here we sit together, together, together.
          Here we sit together, all here on the floor.
          There's _____ and _____ and _____ etc...   (each child says their name)
          Here we sit together, all here on the floor.

Two Homes, by Claire Masurel

Masurel, Claire. Two homes. Illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton. Candlewick Press, 2001. 40 pages. $14.99, ISBN 0-7636-0511-5

 AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW
A child named Alex, who appears to be 3-4 years old, narrates this story about his post-divorce world. He lives part-time with his mom in the city and part-time with his dad near the ocean. He has two of everything: two bedrooms, two toothbrushes, and friends in each location.  And most important of all, he knows that he always has the love of both of his parents.  Alex's calm acceptance of this living situation and his happiness while going about his day at each home will assist children of divorce. The watercolor and gouache illustrations are warm and inviting and fill each page with lots of interesting details to discover.  A couple of the illustrations may contain too much detail for young 1 year-olds, but the brief text on each page makes for a short story which will be enjoyable for most younger children.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
After reading this story aloud at toddler or preschool storytime, children can follow Alex's lead and create paintings of a parent or another special person in their lives.

Armadilly Chili, by Helen Ketteman

Ketteman, Helen. Armadilly Chili. Illustrated by Will Terry. Albert Whitman & Company, 2004. 32 pages. $7.95, ISBN 0-8075-0457-2

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Traditional Literature (Folktale)

REVIEW
A cold wind's blowing in a Texas desert town, and Miss Billie Armadilly is in the mood to make her special chili.  All the friends she asks to help her collect beetles, pick peppers, and chop cactus in order to prepare the dish, however, are too busy doing their own thing to help her.  Peeved, she makes the chili on her own and initially turns her friends down when they later show up on her doorstep to eat.  However, Billie soon realizes that chili eaten alone is just not very tasty.  Lucky for her, her friends have already realized their error and have returned to make amends.  This book is a wonderful southwestern twist on the Little Red Hen story, and the regional details and the illustrations' lush blues, reds, and browns are very evocative of the story's locale.  The engaging character of Billie alone is reason to read this book aloud --  even when miffed, she is adorable, and reminiscent of a sweeter Miss Piggy. A great book for 3 and 4 year-olds to explore important themes of friendship and helpfulness.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
This book could be read aloud during preschool storytime along with other variations on the Little Red Hen story, such as Jerry Pinkney's traditional The Little Red Hen and The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza, by Philemon Sturges

So Mary Circles, So Many Squares, by Tana Hoban

Hoban, Tana. So Many Circles, So Many Squares. Greenwillow Books, 1998.  40 pages. $15.00, ISBN 0-688-15165-5

AGE LEVEL
0 -12 months

GENRE
Nonfiction (Shapes)

REVIEW
Even the youngest children will enjoy this book of photographs showing examples of geometric shapes in everyday life.  This wordless book shows mainly urban, but also a few natural scenes.  There are photographs of circular-shaped objects such as bicycle tires, buttons, and streetlights, and square-shaped objects such as street signs, luggage, and boxes.  All of the images are large, bright, clear, and colorful -- and very natural, including mud stains on a car, crumbs on a table, etc.  Children will have fun finding as many of each shape as possible in these scenes which will be familiar in most of their daily lives.  A great book for infants simply to enjoy, and for older children to start laying the foundation for developing the reading readiness skill of letter knowledge through shape recognition.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Here are a couple songs to accompany this book during infant or toddler storytime:

          SUZY CIRCLE 

          I'm Suzy Circle.
          I'm happy as can be.
          I go round and round.
          Can you draw me?


          THE SQUARE SONG

          I am a square, a lovely square.
          I have four sides; they're all the same.
          I have four corners, four lovely corners.
          I am a square, that is my name!

All the World, by Elizabeth Garton Scanlon

Scanlon, Liz Garton. All the World. Illustrated by Marla Frazee. Beach Lane Books, 2009. 40 pages. $17.99, ISBN 978-1-4169-8580-8

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Poetry

REVIEW
With stunning illustrations and a thoughtful yet easy-to-understand rhyming text, this Caldecott honoree beautifully presents a poem about the common experiences in peoples' lives everywhere.  The text and images alternate between the experiences of individual families/groups and how these are played out in everyone's lives around the world. Scanlon and Frazee show that we all have our ups and downs.  For example, one scene shows families getting caught in an unexpected downpour, as the text notes, "Slip, trip, stumble, fall / Tip the bucket, spill it all / Better luck another day / All the world goes round this way". Yet the next scenes show how a bad day can turn around, as one of these rain-soaked families enjoys a warm meal lovingly prepared by the chefs at their local restaurant: "Table, bowl, cup, spoon / Hungry tummy, supper's soon / Butter, flour, big black pot / All the world is cold and hot".  1 and 2 year-olds will be transfixed by the gorgeous images of intimate scenes and breath-taking natural panoramas, will enjoy following the everyday adventures of several characters who recur throughout the book, and will love repeating the "All the world..." phrases.  An excellent book to encourage a sense of wonder and the knowledge that we humans are so much more alike than different.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Keeping in mind the scene of families and friends gathered together for a party toward the end of the book, one great action song to accompany this book during toddler storytime would be:

          COME ALONG AND SING WITH ME

          (to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb", change the day of the 
          week as needed)

          Come along and sing with me, sing with me, sing with me,
          Come along and sing with me, on a Tuesday morning.

          Come along and clap with me, clap with me, clap with me,
          Come along and clap with me, on a Tuesday morning.

          Come along and roll with me....
          Come along and stretch with me....

Guji Guji, by Chih-Yuan Chen

Chen, Chih-Yuan. Guji Guji. Kane/Miller, 2004. 32 pages. $15.95, ISBN1-929132-67-0

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Picture Book

REVIEW
Due to Mother Duck's deep absorption in the book she's reading, a crocodile egg rolls into her nest unnoticed, and she raises the baby reptile Guji Guji as one of her own. One day, however, three nasty crocodiles inform Guji Guji that he is not a duck, and ask for his help with catching his duck siblings. This prompts Guji Guji to consider who he is, in this example of the story's humorous and thoughtful text, "'Is it true? Am I a bad crocodile too?'  He looked down into the lake and made a fierce face.  Guji Guji laughed.  He looked ridiculous. 'I am not a bad crocodile. Of course, I'm not exactly a duck either.'" This very highly recommended book skillfully addresses several positive themes, exhibited in Mother Duck’s unconditional acceptance of Guji Guji as her child, Guji Guji’s loyalty to those who accept and love him, and his creative response when he realizes he must protect his duck family.  Heartwarming brown, blue and greenish-gray ink illustrations of the stubby-legged Guji Guji strutting around happily in duck fashion add to the charm of this book. The lengthier text of several pages makes this book appropriate for 3 and 4 year-olds.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Read this story aloud during preschool storytime along with other picture books about hero crocodiles such as Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, by Bernard Waber, as well as a simple nonfiction book about crocodiles.

Two Old Potatoes and Me, by John Coy

Coy, John. Two Old Potatoes and Me. Illustrated by Caroyn Fisher. Alfred A. Knopf, 2003. 32 pages. $15.95, ISBN 0-37592180-X

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW
This is a book which completely and wonderfully transports reader and listener into the world of its story, surrounding us not only with the earthy and bright colors and textures of its mixed media artwork, but equally with the wonder of the process of creating new life through growing potatoes and with its description of a dad lovingly fathering his daughter post-divorce.  As the story opens, a young girl relates how she was about to throw away some old potatoes at her dad's house in the spring.  But her dad recognized their potential, and the two decide to try growing new potatoes. The girl describes the process from planting in May to harvesting in September, her words drawn right into lush paint and crayon collages of earth, leaves, and herself and her dad working side by side. This is an exceptional work in both text and illustration, and especially in its demonstration that life for children after divorce will go on and can be wonderful again. 3 and 4 year olds will enjoy discovering and poring over each fully alive page and will probably want to try growing something themselves afterward.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Read this story aloud toward the beginning of a two to three-month preschool storytime session, and have the children help plant and tend to something relatively easy to grow in individual cups, such as lima bean plants.

Yo! Yes?, by Chris Raschka

Raschka, Chris. Yo! Yes? Orchard Books, 1993. 32 pages. $14.95, ISBN 0-531-05469-1

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW
At the start of this fun and vibrant book, two young boys different in every way, from personality to speech to race, meet by chance.  They reach out to each other in tentative one to two-word exchanges such as "Yo!", "Yes?"; “What’s up?”, “Not much.”; and “Why?” “No fun.”  The vivid and expressive watercolor and charcoal illustrations reveal the range of emotions that each boy experiences, ranging from loneliness to hopefulness to their final ecstatic happiness that their desire for friendship is reciprocated. The sparse text enables even the youngest children to enjoy this story, yet the fact that the characters appear to be 5-6 years old and the exuberance of  the artwork makes this book a great choice for 3 and 4 year-olds and older children as well.  A seemingly simple story which contains the powerful message that making friends is usually easier than it seems.  A veritable must read-aloud.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
The following song is a great match for this book during toddler storytime:

          THE MORE WE GET TOGETHER

          The more we get together, together, together,
          The more we get together, the happier we'll be.
          For your friends are my friends,
          And my friends are your friends.
          The more we get together, the happier we'll be.
          
          The more we play together....
          The more we sing together....
          The more we read together....

Where Do You Sleep, Little One?, by Patricia Hooper

Hooper, Patricia. Where Do You Sleep, Little One? Illustrated by John Winch. Holiday House, 2001.  40 pages. $16.95, ISBN 0-8234-1668-2

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Poetry

REVIEW 
On opening this lovely book, one is immediately secreted away into the woody and leafy bedtime world of animals and birds. On the endpapers, insects begin to scurry out from under leaves, followed by squirrels and mice poking out from behind bark and grass as the book itself begins. Artist John Winch has used oils,  handmade paper, and layered images to dramatic and completely unique effect. Patricia Hooper’s rhyming poem, suggestive of a lullaby, questions where a succession of animals sleep at night. For example, “Little fawn who ventures near, / Where are you when stars appear? / In the forest, dark and warm / I can slumber, far from harm.” The last scenes tenderly bring the child listener into the story, stating “Little pony, goat, and sheep, / What warm bed does someone keep….In our stable dreams are deep, / Little child. Now, go to sleep.” Although the phrases used to question each animal differ, the intent of the questions and the pattern of the answers is repeated each time, and there are few words on each page, making this a great choice for 1 and 2 year olds.  Children will be mesmerized by the textures and life in the arresting artwork.  An excellent choice to get one's own little ones ready for slumberland.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Pair this book with the following lullaby during toddler storytime:

          AUTUMN LULLABY 

          (With older two year-olds, you can use "darling" or another word 
          instead of "baby".)

          The sun has gone from the shining sky,
          Bye, baby, bye.
          The dandelions have closed their eyes,
          Bye, baby, bye.
          The stars are lighting their lamps to see,
          If babes and squirrels and birds and bees,
          Are fast asleep as they ought to be,
          Bye, baby, bye.

Meeow and the Pots and Pans, by Sebastien Braun

Braun. Sebastien. Meeow and the Pots and Pans. Boxer Books, 2010. 32 pages. $12.95, ISBN 978-1907152351

AGE LEVEL
1 and 2 year-olds

GENRE
Picture book

REVIEW 
On the opening page of this book, a happy black cat named Meeow greets us in a bright yellow apron and snappy red scarf.  Meeow and friends – a dog, cow, rabbit, and duck – are all in the kitchen and choosing pots, pans, and cooking utensils. The text details what each animal picks out, often noting the color of the object. The text alternates between describing the action and directly addressing the characters with comments and questions.  For example, "Moo finds three mixing bowls -- red, green, and purple.  Wobble, wobble!  Be careful, Moo!"  Although not the most exciting story, its ending has an interesting twist that makes reading the book worthwhile and may encourage creative thinking, as it is revealed that the animals will use the kitchen tools for something other than cooking. The simplicity of the story, its few words per page in an enormous font, and bold clear images make this book appropriate for 1 and 2 year olds.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
After reading this book aloud at toddler storytime, children can make their own music with shakers, strings of bells, and other easily manipulable items.

My Boat, by Kay Davies & Wendy Oldfield

Davies, Kay & Oldfield, Wendy. My Boat (First Step Science series). Photographs by Fiona Pragoff. Gareth Stevens Publishing, 1994. 32 pages. $11.99, ISBN 0-8368-1115-1

[No image available of cover.  Here is a link to the Worldcat record.]

AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds

GENRE
Nonfiction  (Boats, Water Displacement)

REVIEW
At about 5-10 words per page, this short book about the properties of boats, how they float, water displacement, and how to make some simple vessels, is perfect for 3 and 4 year-olds.  We explore the world of boats through the eyes of two young boys who appear to be 5-6 years old, and of different races, a positive aspect of this work.  Unfortunately there is only one image of a young girl.  Topics in the book are explained simply and concisely.  Photographs are large and clearly illustrate the text that accompanies them. There is some helpful additional material following the text: notes to help adults explain the scientific concepts touched upon in the book, suggested activities and topics for further learning, facts about boats, a glossary, a list of science museums, a few recommended books, and an index.  Although a bit dated in appearance, this book is an interesting introduction to the topic.

LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Here's a good song to pair with this book at preschool storytime:

          LIGHTLY ROW
         
          Lightly row,  
          Lightly row,
          Over the deep blue sea we go,
          Smoothly glide,
          Smoothly glide,
          On the gentle tide.
          
          Let the wind and waters be,
          Mingled with our rhyme of glee,
          Sing and float,
          Sing and float,
          In our rowing boat.