The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson
Use these new and classic children's books to teach kids 3- to 5-year-olds the joy of reading.

The House in the Night
By Susan Marie Swanson; illusustrated by Beth Krommes*


Beautiful black-and-white scratchboard illustrations with touches of yellow convey the beauty of the night in this cumulative bedtime story.

Houghton, 2008. ISBN: 9780618862443





How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham
How to Heal a Broken Wing
By Bob Graham; illustrated by the author*
In this sweetly reassuring story, a young boy finds an injured bird on a busy street and takes it home. In simple language and carefully constructed panels of illustration, the book relates that with "rest, time and a little hope, a bird may fly again."

Candlewick, 2008. ISBN: 9780763639037





The Snow Day by Komako Sakai
The Snow Day
By Komako Sakai; illustrated by the author*
One morning, a young rabbit wakes up to find that it had been snowing all night and kindergarten is closed for the day. She and her mother spend the day watching the snow, having a snack and playing cards. When night comes and the snow stops, they bundle up and go out into the snow to make snowballs, snow dumplings and even snow monsters. The story is beautifully complemented by pastel-like illustrations.

Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, 2009. ISBN: 9780545013215.


Up, Down, and Around by Katherine Ayres
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
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







Big Bad Bunny by Frannie Billingsley
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
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
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
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
It's Moving Day!
By Pamela Hickma; illustrated by Geraldo Valerio
Over several seasons, eight different animals make their homes 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
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
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 by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
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
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 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
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





Try these classics for kids 3 to 5 years old.

* 2009 list addition

NEXT STORY

Next Story