My 2nd 20 Suggested Children's Books

Early Literacy Skill Development: Vocabulary
All of the books chosen this week build vocabulary. Reading to children will build their vocabulary and their brains! These books were chosen for their specific ability to expand vocabulary skills.

I Stink by Kate and Jim McMullan
Children will love this grimy, but spirited story about a garbage truck and the objects he picks up. I Stink illustrates the seedy underworld of garbage disposal in an educationally fun manner. The authors, Kate and Jim McMullan, manage to demonstrate the ABC’s in a gross and amusing fashion children and adults will enjoy.

Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
Anyone who enjoys the beautiful illustrations of Lois Ehlert will enjoy this book. If you’re not familiar with Lois Ehlert, this is a great book to start. The food depictions are bright and colorful. Children will enjoy pointing and naming the different food pictures while learning the alphabet.

Oh Say Can You Say? By Dr. Seuss
There is a reason that Dr. Seuss books are classics. The books can be enjoyed generation to generation because they are so good. Adults will have so much fun reading out loud, or trying to read out loud, Oh Say Can You Say while children will enjoy listening. Reading this book is like reading amusing poetry. Create a memorable experience and read this one with a kid.

Cold Little Duck, Duck, Duck by Lisa Westberg Peters
Cold Little Duck, Duck, Duck is a pleasure to read, read, read. Watch Little Duck bring a spring thaw with positive thinking and encouragement from friends. Each page has a repeating word which will build vocabulary and creates a fun reading experience. Kids will like to repeat the words with their adult, making the book three times the fun to read together.

Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino
Follow little Llama Lloyd in this charming story as he tries to find his mama. Lloyd asks different animal friends if their mama is a Llama, leading children to guess the name of each baby animal’s mama. I have heard this story read many times in library story times and children can’t help but yell out the correct animal mama, having fun guessing before anyone else does. Reading this one will ensure the same sort of enjoyment.

Dinosaur Train by John Steven Gurney
Dinosaur Train will ignite the imagination with its creatively entertaining story. Take the Dinosaur Train with Jesse and see how dinosaurs like to travel. Vocabulary is built with the easy but pointed dialog in the story. Children will love saying, “uh-oh” along with Jesse when the train runs into a dino accident and take pleasure in the ultimate resolution.

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
Mouse outsmarts all the animals out to get him by creating the story of a Gruffalo, mouse then must outsmart the Gruffalo who turns out to be more than fiction. Children will love the rhyming verse and the smart story. Creative and inventive, The Gruffalo is sure to be a children’s book classic.

Peanut Butter and Jellyfishes by Brian P. Cleary
Children learn their letters and their words in this beautifully illustrated book. Each letter of the alphabet is accompanied with words that begin with that letter. Fun, sweet, and a pleasure to read, Adults and children will love Peanut Butter and Jellyfishes.

I’m Not Scared by Jonathan Allen
Baby Owl takes a walk at night and shows his friends he’s not afraid of the dark. Different animal friends show up to help baby Owl and baby owl has his stuffed friend, Owly. For every child who is grappling with night time fears, this book will show them it’s OK.

Thanksgiving Mice by Bethany Roberts
The Mice put on a Thanksgiving play about the pilgrims coming to America and the friends that helped them when they arrived. Children will learn the Thanksgiving story with this wonderful mice depiction. Thanksgiving Mice is a sweet story children will love to listen to.

It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw
“It looked like spilt milk, but it wasn’t”, what was it? Read the book and you’ll find out! Milky-white depictions of different images on each page will get you and your child seeing spilt milk in a new light. Children will enjoy using their imaginations with this book. Building vocabulary has never been so inventive.

The Best Time to Read by Debbie Bertram and Susan Bloom
The Best Time to Read shows that the only thing better than knowing how to read is being able to read to others. The book illustrates for children the joy of reading in a fun rhyming story. Reading this one will encourage children to get excited to share the knowledge of reading with those they love.

Snow by Manya Stojic
Children learn what happens with animals when it snows. Owl, Bear, Goose, Moose, Fox, and Rabbit all do something different when it snows. Bright, beautiful illustrations make this book an enjoyable read.

Don’t You Feel Well, Sam? By Amy Hest
Sam is sick and Mrs. Bear helps him to feel better. Children will relate with this story of what it’s like when kids get sick. Don’t You Feel Well, Sam? is a good book to help children understand sickness.

Bounce by Doreen Cronin and Scott Menchin
Bouncing is fun and a little bit risky. Sure to make you smile, bounce along with this amusing story. Children will expand their vocabulary and their bouncing repertoire. Caregivers may learn new bounces too!

Millie Waits for the Mail by Alexander Steffensmeier
Millie Waits for the Mail is a pleasure to read. The story of Millie and her preoccupation with the mailman is hilarious and endearing. The illustrations in Millie Waits for the Mail are so much fun. Everywhere you look there are attention-grabbing details. Children and caregivers will love this one.

Did You Say Pears? By Arlene Alda
Did You Say Pears is a clever book. Show children how words can have the same sound and sometimes even the same spelling and still mean two different things. A concept that is at times bewildering for children is beautifully illustrated in this wonderful book. Have fun reading Did You Say Pears? demonstrating the awesome and cool power of words.


Big Words for Little People by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell
Big Words for Little People is a sweet, amusing book that teaches exactly that, big words. A fun read to help children build their vocabulary. I think caregivers will be amazed how quickly children will learn and use the new “big” words taught in this book. A great source of exposure to words children might hear but not understand…yet.

All Your Own Teeth by Adrienne Geoghegan
All Your Own Teeth is the creative story of Stewart, the artist, who goes looking for the perfect animal to paint. While Stewart criticizes animal after animal for their supposed faults, children learn letters, letter sounds, and animal behavior. Until finally Stewart finds the perfect animal model, or does he?

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is sure to become a children’s classic. Inventive and original in its story concept, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom teaches children the alphabet. The book makes the letters of the alphabet seem wild and fun.