2017 Summer Reading List Birth-preschool

The classic meditation on creativity and the natural world "For years I have carried this book. . . with me on travels to reread, ponder, envy. In prose of classic gravity, precision, and delicacy, Fowles addresses matters of final importance." —W. S. Merwin, Los Angeles Times Book Review " The Tree is the fullest and finest exploration I've ever read of how the useless delights to be discovered in nature can ripen into the practice of art." —Lewis Hyde, author of The Gift First published a generation ago, The Tree is renowned English novelist John Fowles's provocative meditation on the connection between the natural world and human creativity, and a powerful argument against taming the wild. In it, Fowles recounts his own childhood in England and describes how he rebelled against his Edwardian father's obsession with the "quantifiable yield" of well-pruned fruit trees and came to prize instead the messy, purposeless beauty of nature left to its wildest. The Tree is an inspiring, even life-changing book, one that reaffirms our connection to nature and reminds us of the pleasure of getting lost, the merits of having no plan, and the wisdom of following one's nose wherever it may lead—in life as much as in art. This special 30th anniversary edition includes an introduction by Barry Lopez.

A young boy discovers a whale in his pool and tries everything he can think of to get it out. When a little boy discovers a whale in his pool, he tries everything he can think of to get it out, eventually coming up with the perfect solution to the problem.

This picture book brings an international twist to the beloved nursery rhyme, The Wheels on the Bus, by bringing you aboard a busy three-wheeled taxi in India! Anything can happen as the tuk tuk rolls through town from an elephant encounter to a tasty treat to a grand fireworks display. And in the midst of all the action, one thing s for sure: passengers young and old love every minute of their exciting ride as the wheels of the tuk tuk go round and round!

As her mom reads a bedtime story, Lucy drifts off. But later, she awakens in a dark, still room, and everything looks mysterious. How will she ever get back to sleep?

Learning to be thankful in a beautiful story Thank You and Goodnight is a beautifully illustrated book that shares the heart of gratitude. Jon Gordon takes a little boy and girl on a fun-filled journey from one perfect moonlight night to the next. During their adventurous day and night, the children explore the people, places and things that they are thankful for. The two tots in Thank You and Goodnight learn that being thankful makes ice cream taste better, butterflies look more beautiful, and weekend days seem longer. "Thank you" is a phrase that will brighten any kid's day and help them get a good night’s sleep. Jon Gordon's bestselling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. He is the author of numerous books on leadership and teamwork and several children's books including The Energy Bus for Kids. Jon invites you to visit and connect with him on his website www.JonGordon.com and on Twitter @JonGordon11. Donald Wallace, illustrator, animator and designer loves to work in all directions of the visual story: animation and movies, books, games, commercials, music videos, and theme park rides. This is his third collaboration with Jon Gordon. Donald’s constant mission: spread light and keep the kid alive in all of us. Visit Donald’s website, www.wallyhood.com.

All aboard the dream train as the crew prepares for its next stop—Christmas! From the author of the Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site series, the long-awaited sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Steam Train, Dream Train is here at last. ’Tis the season for sharing delicious treats, singing Christmas carols, dazzling the world with sparkly decorations, wrapping gifts, delivering packages, and so much more. On the dream train, the workers know their tasks by heart, for when each new December starts, the Christmas Train takes to the air, transporting magic everywhere. Setting off on an epic journey of holiday cheer, the crew goes full steam ahead celebrating Christmas, inviting little readers to say goodnight to their favorite animals before tucking in for sweet holiday dreams. Sherri Duskey Rinker and AG Ford—the author-illustrator team behind many of the bestsellers in the Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site series—bring their playful rhyming text and vibrant illustrations to a merry bedtime book sure to become a family favorite and a new holiday classic. CHRISTMAS BOOK FOR KIDS: Full of exciting animals and Christmas cheer, with the ever-present appeal of the iconic dream train, this bedtime book makes a great gift for train enthusiasts and young readers who love holiday stories. JUST RIGHT FOR READING ALOUD: Lyrical prose and evocative rhymes, paired with vibrant, dreamy artwork, make this bedtime story a tremendously satisfying read-aloud experience. It’s perfect for engaging little ones who love trains and animals before lulling them to sleep at the end of a charming holiday adventure. NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING CREATORS: Sherri Duskey Rinker is the author of numerous #1 New York Times bestsellers, including Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site and Steam Train, Dream Train. AG Ford has illustrated many award-winning and bestselling books for children, including Construction Site on Christmas Night, Three Cheers for Kid McGear!, and Construction Site: Taking Flight! Perfect for: Kids who love trains Fans of holiday classics like The Polar Express Anyone who loves animals and animal picture books Parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians looking for engaging bedtime books Gift-givers looking for beautiful Christmas books Fans of Steam Train, Dream Train and other Sherri Duskey Rinker books

On a walk with her father, a little girl gathers a bunch of wild flowers found hidden in the places people usually don't look. Then, in small, loving gestures, the little girl transforms the world around her b giving each one away ...

Having the bunnies as friends is the best! They go for walks in the sunshine, under cloudy skies, even in the rain. Just a happy monster out taking a walk with some bunnies! That is, until Declan sees something he loves! Puddles!!!Splish! Splash! Splash! But the bunnies don't like puddles! Now what?

One rainy day, a little boy is upset because he can't go out and play. His mom comes up with a way to keep him entertained - by drawing a picture of herself and him going outside, playing in the rain, and splashing in a giant puddle. They have so much fun drawing themselves that they decide to venture out and make the most of the rainy weather.

Old MacDonald had a farm E-I-E-I-O. And on that farm he had a...TRUCK?! With a DIG DIG here and a SCOOP SCOOP there, this classic folk song just got revved up! Beloved machines—the excavator, dump truck, bulldozer, and more—will have the vehicle-obsessed of all ages reading and singing along.

Key Selling Points My Heart Fills With Happiness won the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize in 2017. Author Monique Gray Smith has also written the bestselling picture book You Hold Me Up and the middle-grade nonfiction book Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation . This book features a beautiful array of Indigenous children and multigenerational families. The dual-language English/Plains Cree edition of this bookwas selected for the 2019 TD Grade One Book Giveaway. Monique Gray Smith dedicated this book to the former Indian Residential School students and their families. My Heart Fills With Happiness has been translated into French, Spanish, Plains Cree and Anishinaabemowin.

"When a boy's abuela accuses him of being careless with his beloved Bongo, he devises a trap and catches the toy thief red-handed"--

A wonderful new dot-play adventure from the much-loved internationally bestselling creator of Press Hereand Mix it Up!.

From the beloved author of the Moonbear series, Frank Asch, comes a charming new picture book about a zoo-brary that accidentally loses track of a tiger! Miss Perkins is happy to be the librarian at The Lending Zoo, a zoo-brary that lends out all types of animals from massive elephants to majestic giraffes. Everything usually goes smoothly: water buffaloes, snakes, parrots, and more are checked out and returned without a problem. But one sunny day Pancake, the tiger, goes missing and Miss Perkins along with her new friend Molly must go on a citywide search to find him! Will they be able to track him down before he causes a commotion all over town?

* “Isadora’s book about the five senses is aimed perfectly at another sense—kids’ sense of humor.”—The Horn Book, starred review Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora’s sweet and simple introduction to the five senses is perfect for the youngest children, who will recognize themselves in charming vignettes portraying a wide range of childhood activities. Hearing, smelling, seeing, touching, tasting--our five senses allow us to experience the world in so many ways! With our ears we hear the birds sing; with our nose we smell the stinky cheese; with our eyes we see the moon and stars (and sometimes glasses help us see even better!); with our skin we feel the rain (and learn not to touch the hot stove!); and with our tongue we can taste our favorite foods. Isadora’s lively art reveals the power and delight of each sense.

Three little birds crack their way out of eggs and fly away, leaving one egg sitting all alone until the three chicks come back and discover a friendly baby alligator has finally hatched.

A poignant and beautiful bedtime book, Cricket Song connects two children on different continents through the evocation of sound and smell. Readers will love identifying various creatures portrayed in the book and watching what they are doing as the two children begin to fall to sleep in their beds on seemingly opposite sides of the world. While differences between cultures may be obvious, ultimately, this lovely story of sleep is a tale about interconnection.

Who can can-can? Find out in this hilarious book that features cockatoos, two more cockatoos, and tutued toucans too!

From shimmering skyscrapers to fluttering kites to twinkling stars high in the sky, everyday scenes become extraordinary as a young girl walks through her neighborhood noticing exciting new shapes at every turn. Far more than a simple concept book, City Shapes is an explosion of life. Diana Murray's richly crafted yet playful verse encourages readers to discover shapes in the most surprising places, and Bryan Collier's dynamic collages add even more layers to each scene in this ode to city living.

Little Elephants is based on a traditional Mexican counting song and is one of the oldest (and best!) methods of putting a child to sleep -- the verses, which describe how a number of elephants come to be balancing on a spider web, can be repeatedly endlessly by changing only the number of elephants each time around. This English adaptation is the only one that truly matches the melody of the Spanish so that parents can sing it in English as well as in Spanish.

When his three rambunctious robots give every possible excuse not to go to sleep, what's a little boy to do? With a fun refrain that will have readers of all ages chanting along, here's a book that kids will be begging to read every night before bed.

A gentle, poetic lullaby for baby, filled with memories from a perfect day playing on the beach. Castles, sand dollars, seals peering out of the waves and the beat of the ocean become sweet reminders of all the magical things that await baby tomorrow. A lyrical celebration of natural beauty and a soft, reassuring reminder for little ones being tucked into bed that fun and adventure will return with a new day. Elly MacKay’s paper-theater worlds are a delight to behold and infuse the story with a sense of magic and wonder. Beautiful verse from Laurie Elmquist sets a calm and serene tone. A breathtaking board book that will be treasured and make a wonderful gift.

In this take-off on the familiar nursery rhyme, black sheep graciously offers bag after bag of wool to Miss, who handcrafts mittens, a tea cosy, and more for her friends, then produces a sweater for the shivering sheep when all the wool is gone. Includes music for piano and guitar.

Invites young readers to follow the trail to discover wonders in the mountains, under the sea, in the desert, and through the forest.