Books to promote Print Awareness

This week the book selections are all children’s book titles that promote the early literacy skill of print awareness. Print awareness is the knowledge of how a book works and how to follow the words on the page. As I always say, exposing your children to any children’s book assists in building this early literacy skill, but here are some fun titles to promote print awareness development.

The Great Doughnut Parade by Rebecca Bond
Cheerful rhymes accompany the wonderful watercolor paintings as you read the story of young Billy and the doughnut tied to his belt with a string. Laugh along as you read about the real and imaginary characters that begin to follow Billy and his doughnut. A hen with a “cluck, cluck” begins a long chain of followers including waiters, diners, porter, mailmen, bricklayers, and painters join what becomes a parade. Enjoy this story with your children over and over as you read along to find out where Billy is leading the great parade.

Heat Wave by Eileen Spinelli
The town of Lumberville is in a heat wave! Wonderful charcoal and watercolor paintings bring us back to the simple days of being a kid on hot and sticky summer days. Heat Wave is a charming story of what happens in a small town before air conditioning and what people did to keep cool during an extremely hot summer week. Follow this tale and remember a time gone by as you follow all the different characters in the story as each one finds their own way to stay cool.

Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler and R. Gregory Christie
A family lays down some soft and jazzy toot-toots, clap-claps, and snap-snaps to help put baby to sleep. Follow along with the wonderful paintings that illustrate this tale, and bop your head along with the beat of the story as you watch each family member add their own style in their bedtime sequence. A Theodor Suess Geisel Honor book, Jazz Baby is an enjoyable rhyming story that will encourage children to read.

Mother, May I? by Lynn Plourde
Parents and children will enjoy and relate to this story right from the first page. Smile along with the story and read as a young girl tries to mother her mom. Is she more of a hinder than a help? Follow along with the watercolor and charcoal illustrations that bring you through yet another hectic day with this energetic young girl, and laugh along as you see scenes that will seem all too familiar.

Hurry! Hurry! By Eve Bunting
Hurry, hurry and read along with this sweet and fun barnyard story. Kids will be able to read this story as early readers because of the fun pictures and large simple text that make this story a short, fun bedtime tale. Find out what all the fuss is about going on in the barnyard as you continue through the story.

Top Cat by Lois Ehlert
This loveable tale brings us through the tale of Top Cat and a new kitty. Follow the wonderful and intricate tissue paper cutout collages as Top Cat teaches a new kitten their daily routine. From frolicking on the couch to chasing birds outside you will have fun reading along as Top Cat gives kitty lessons on how to be a top cat.

Joey and Jet by James Yang
Open this book to meet Joey and his dog Jet. Jet likes to chase the ball when Joey throws it. Follow Jet’s adventure through the birds, rooftops, tables, and more as he chases the ball. Families will love reading the simple sentences enhanced with colorful and fun illustrations as you read the adventure. Then find out if Jet is the best ball chaser in the world as the story ends where it began, and you can read it again and again.

No Biting, Louise by Margie Palatini and Matthew Reinhart
Wonderfully colorful and exciting drawings enhance the story of young Louise. She is so proud of her new baby choppers that she is biting on anything and everything. Kids are going to enjoy hearing the story and parents will relate to this common childhood problem. This is a great story that helps teach children not to bite but will Louise have another problem after learning not to bite?

All for Pie Pie for All by David Martin
Grandma cat has made a delicious apple pie. As the whole cat family enjoys a piece of pie there is one left over. This piece is perfect for the mouse family, and as they each enjoy their pie there is a few crumbs left over that are perfect for the ant family. Enjoy reading this story and benefit from the moral of sharing illustrated by all the families in this tale.

Flower Garden by Eve Bunting
Flower Garden is filled with soft and enchanting illustrations that bring you through a story of a little girl and her father building a flower garden for their apartment. Read along as they pick up the flowers from the grocery store, bring them home on the bus and plant them. This story will lift your spirits as you read further to find out who the little girl and her father made the flower box for.


Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor
Nancy loves to be fancy, but her family is not fancy at all. They don’t understand a lot of the extras that Nancy needs to be fabulous. Can Nancy teach her family how to be fancy? Children will build their vocabulary as Nancy teaches those around her the finer points of being fancy. Come along on this cute, sweet adventure into a little girls’ world and grin as you read about the family’s fancy dinner at Kings Corner. Families will love reading about this fun and glamorous little girl and her fancy way of life.

Sally and the Purple Socks by Lisze Bechtold
Sally couldn’t wait to try on her new perfect purple socks. But there is a problem, they are too small. The note that came with the socks said they will grow to the perfect size after opened. Families and children will enjoy reading along as Sally finds new and ingenious ways to use her socks as they grow to enormous proportions. Will they ever stop growing? We don’t know, but follow this cute story to find out.

Mighty Max! by Harriet Ziefert
Fun, inviting and childlike illustrations help guide the reader through the adventure of young Max. He is not Superman, King Kong or Evil Kneivel, he is Mighty Max! This superhero can save the day, but will he be able to save his lunch from sudden disaster? Mighty Max will bring a smile to your face when you read through the tale of just one day in Max’s superhero life.

Taking a Bath with the Dog and Other Things that Make Me Happy by Scott Menchin
Simple sentences and large colorful illustrations help you follow the story of Sweet Pea and her quest to find what makes her happy. What makes you happy? Sweet Pea asks everyone she meets. Read along to find out what she decides makes her happy, and how that will make her mom happy too.

There Are Cats In This Book by Viviane Schwarz
There Are Cats In This Book is a fun, lift-the-flap book to find what lies underneath. Three cats encourage the reader in turning the pages to find out what fun things lie ahead for the cats to play with. Fun, bold colorful illustrations and text will encourage children to follow along and help build early literacy skills.

My Life as a Chicken by Ellen A. Kelley
Follow the adventures of Pauline the chicken as she escapes the life she knows in search of a better one. Predators, pirates, and more confront Pauline as she attempts a better life for a chicken. Where she ends up is the best part of the story. Bright, colorful and fun illustrations help to tell this rhyming story. Children and grown ups will enjoy reading this enjoyable book.

If You’re Happy and You Know It by James Warhola
A new take on an old favorite, James Warhola presents a jungle version of If You’re Happy and You Know It. Roar, stomp, beat your chest, and jump up high just like the animals. Children will enjoy singing and playing along to this classic song, while taking on a new animal persona with each verse. The rhyming and repletion will assist early readers in their literacy development.

Hello Tilly by Polly Dunbar
Tilly and her friends all live together in a little yellow house and what fun adventures they have! Read along as Tilly introduces you to all her friends and the fun times they have living together. Each friend has their own unique personality which makes for an interesting arrangement of characters. Beautiful illustrations and easy text will engage early readers.

Clinton Gregory’s Secret by Bruce Whatley
Clinton Gregory has a wonderful imagination and because of that leads a most interesting life. A week in the life of Clinton Gregory is a fabulous adventure. Follow along as Clinton Gregory wrestles a dragon, washes a tiger, and eats with giants. Fun and creative, Clinton Gregory’s Secret will want to be read again and again.

Carry Me! by Rosemary Wells
Sweet, song-like words make up the text of this beautifully illustrated book. Carry Me, Talk to Me, and Sing to Me are the three divisions of the story which encourages parents and children to interact. Reminding the readers of how magical and special childhood is, Carry Me is a precious read everyone is sure to enjoy.