Kids Reading List: 3–5 Years

New Releases

Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres; illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
Growing a garden was never so busy before! In a bouncy rhyme and pictures full of creatures and activity, a garden is planted, grows and becomes lunch.
Candlewick, 2007. ISBN: 9780763623784







Never Take a Shark to the Dentist (and Other Things Not to Do) by Judi Barrett; illustrated by John Nickle
The things you shouldn’t do with various animal friends—and one you should!
Simon & Schuster/Atheneum, 2008. ISBN: 9781416907244

A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker; illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton
A small hungry mouse pesters Bear as he prepares breakfast. Exasperated, Bear shouts, “I told you to leave!” and “Unbelievable! Away with you! Vamoose!” but the mouse remains. Resigned, he extracts the mouse’s promise to leave after a cup of tea and some cheese. The unlikely friendship is sealed when Bear finds that he likes the attention!
Candlewick, 2008. ISBN: 9780763628079

Big Bad Bunny by Frannie Billingsley; illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Big Bad Bunny is chomping and crashing in the forest. And Baby Boo Boo has disappeared from her cozy bedroom. Maybe she’s in great danger…or maybe it’s just part of a funny surprise.
Simon & Schuster/Richard Jackson, 2008. ISBN 9781416906018

Tadpole Rex by Kurt Cyrus
In the time of the dinosaurs, “Tadpole Rex” emerges from the goop. The creature grows into a frog, whose ancestors outlived all the dinosaurs “and somewhere inside, deep in their core, they all have an inner tyrannosaur.” Impressive scratchboard illustrations and clever rhymes bring this mighty prehistoric tale to life.
Harcourt, 2008. ISBN 9780152059903

Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett
A girl tells us about the animals she visited at the zoo with her stuffed monkey. Pay close attention to the pictures, and you just might be able to guess the next animal before she reveals it.
Simon & Schuster, 2007. ISBN: 9781416954576

Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett
Colors, shapes and a simple story are cleverly presented through a seamless combination of witty watercolor illustrations and the four words of the title—plus one more at the very end.
Simon & Schuster, 2005. ISBN: 9781416939993

It’s Moving Day! by Pamela Hickma; illustrated by Geraldo Valerio
Over several seasons eight different animals make their home and raise their young in the same woodland burrow. When it’s time to move on, “It’s moving day!” and the next inhabitant moves in. Factual information on each animal is provided at the end of the story.
Kids Can, 2008. ISBN: 9781554530748

I’m Bad! by Kate McMullan; illustrated by Jim McMullan
This T. Rex is determined to tell you just how very bad he is, but he’s also very hungry. Determinedly, he stalks his prey but never catches it. Is he ever going to eat again?
HarperCollins/Joanna Cotler, 2008. ISBN: 9780061229718

A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann
Four kittens have never seen snow, and three of them are pretty worried. The fourth kitten, however, says, “I can't wait.” When snow finally comes, will any of them be brave enough to venture outside into the cold and mysterious whiteness?
Knopf, 2008. ISBN 9780517709153

Dog and Bear: Two Friends, Three Stories by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
In three very short but distinct stories, Bear, a multicolored stuffed toy, and Dog, a rowdy dachshund, solve problems and enjoy their friendship.
Roaring Brook, 2007. ISBN: 9781596430532

I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
A giant squid proclaims himself the biggest thing in the ocean, but his bragging comes to a humorous climax when he meets a whale.
Dial, 2007. ISBN: 9780803731929

Duck Soup by Jackie Urbanovic
Duck has cooked all kinds of delicious soups—but all from recipes created by other chefs. Attempting to come up with his own soup creation, he decides something is missing and goes off to look for it. His poor friends come in and see a feather in the pot! Has he fallen in?
HarperCollins, 2008. ISBN: 9780061214417

Every Friday by Dan Yaccarino
With warmth and charm in both text and the 1950s retro illustrations, a little boy recounts how every Friday morning, whatever the weather, he and his father walk to the local diner for breakfast.
Holt, 2007. ISBN: 9780805077247