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Aardema, Verna. Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale. New York: Scholastic, 1975.

                In this retold African folktale, young readers will see a series of events linked together in a cause-effect chain, starting with the iguana putting sticks in his ears so he won't have to listen to the mosquito.  This text won the Caldecott Medal in 1976.

Adoff, Arnold. Tornado! New York: Delacorte Press, 1977.

                Through a series of poems from a young boy's perspective, we are told the story of the Xenia tornado of April 13, 1974.  The last line of the work is very powerful, "and anyway/no old tornado/i don't care/how bad/is stronger/than the/people on the land."

Adoff, Arnold. Touch the Poem. New York: Blue Sky Press, 2000.

                The author of more than 20 books of poetry, Adoff's unusual "shaped speech" style is teamed with Lisa Desimini's unusal mixed-media illustrations from photos, paintings, paper, and computer graphics.  The series of poems in this picture book touch those special yet familiar events of childhood: submerging in the bathtub, falling into a leaf pile, playing in wet snow.

Bang, Molly. When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry. New York: Blue Sky Press, 1999.

                The language of this important story about how to deal with strong emotions is right on target for young ears, using rhyme, alliteration, and onomatopoeia.  The wildly bright and colorful abstract paintings enhance and extend the narration, subtly changing to cooler colors as Sophie's mood changes.  A delightful book!

Berenstain, Stan, and Jan Berenstain. The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room. New York: Random House, 1983.

                In this popular series of First Time Books, the bear siblings learn that organizing and cleaning their room has its benefits, one of which is keeping mother happy!

Bridwell, Norman. Clifford: The Big Red Dog. New York: Scholastic, 1985.

                In this classic story, Elizabeth shares with us everything she loves about her super-sized beloved pet, and the illustrations will make us agree that Clifford is one-of-a-kind!  Appropriate for the youngest readers.

Briggs, Raymond. The Snowman. New York: Random House, 1978.

                In this wordless story, a little boy finds a friend in his snowman, a friend with whom he shares exciting discoveries, and a friend who takes him flying over the city.  This creative format inspires much discussion between parent and child and asks the audience to practice using imagination.  A sweet tale!

Brown, Marcia. Stone Soup: An Old Tale Retold. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1975.

                In this Caldecott Honor Book, three hungry soldiers arrive in a poor town where no one can spare any food--until they begin to make their magic stone soup!  Illustrated in simple, black, red, & white drawings, this is a classic story.

Brown, Margaret Wise. Goodnight Moon. Board Book ed. United States: Harper Collins, 1947.

                A classic bedtime story listing all the familiar objects in a child's bedroom.  Simple rhyming language progressively grows quieter.  Illustrations alternate between color and black & white, gradually becoming a dimly lit room for sleeping.

Browne, Anthony. Zoo. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1992.

                Accomplished illustrator/author Anthony Browne tells readers about his boring family trip to the zoo where the animals are not entertaining enough for him or his brother.  Their father tells silly jokes only he thinks are funny, while the mother wishes the boys wouldn't fight.  At the end of the story, the mother muses, "I don't think the zoo really is for animals," "I think it's for people."

Bunting, Eve. Dandelions. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Co., 1995.

                A family of four leaves Illinois to claim their land in the Nebraska Territory.  Change is hard, and Zoe and her father try to make her mother happy about their new life.  An educational tale about the push west, the gouache paintings (Greg Shed) are warm and romantic, adding to the emotion of the story.

Bunting, Eve.  Smoky Night. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Co., 1994.

                Smoky Night was the winner of the 1995 Caldecott Medal, and David Diaz uses acrylic paint and photos of unusual collages for the amazing illustrations for this poignant picture book whose setting is the L.A. Riots.  Two families learn to accept one another, despite their ethnic differences, when they see their cats bonding and the chaos all around them.  A powerful story with phenomenal artwork.

Carle, Eric. The Very Busy Spider. Board book ed. New York: Philomel Books, 1984.

                Creative and colorful collage illustrations adorn this story about a spider weaving her web, busily ignoring all the various farm animals who make their unique noises to try to get her attention.  The fly, slightly raised off the page, gets caught in the raised web the reader feels grow page by page.

Brett, Jan. The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1984.

                The town mouse visits his cousin in the country and is quite bored with the lifestyle; the country mouse's reciprocal visit to the city awes and terrifies him.  Each mouse appreciates his own surroundings at the end of the story.  Peaceful, hazy illustrations accompany this familiar tale about different lifestyles.

Child, Lauren. I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go to Bed. Cambridge: Candlewick Press, 2001.

                In this stylish new book, older sister Charlie tries to convince her imaginative little sister Lola to get to bed.  Illustrations are a remarkable mix of photos, drawings, and paper cut-outs, producing a unique modern look enhanced by the unusual and hip font.

Collier, Bryan. Uptown. New York: Henry Holt and Co., 2000.

                The African-American stylized watercolor and collage illustrations are a fascinating tour of the culture of Harlem.  The text is simplistic, humorous, and lyrical.

Cousins, Lucy. Maisy Cleans Up. Cambridge: Candlewick Press, 2002.

                Young listeners will learn that good things come to those who wait in this book which makes cleaning look like fun.  Bright, bold illustrations are perfect for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Falconer, Ian. Olivia. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000.

                Little kids will be delighted to watch cute piglet Olivia go about her day, dressing in bright red clothes, go to the beach, got to the museum to discover ballet and painting.  She's got lots of energy and wears her mother out, but during their bedtime story they exchange the words "I love you, anyway."

Fox, Mem. Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild! San Diego: Harcourt, Inc., 2000.

                The youngest readers will enjoy reading about and seeing the various messes Harriet makes, though she doesn't mean to frustrate her mother with her clumsiness.  The illustrations by Marla Frazee add a humorous touch to the simple yet endearing text.  Repetition and ample white space makes this an appropriate picture book for the youngest readers.

Fox, Mem. Whoever You Are. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Co., 1997.

                This is a beautifully illustrated (Leslie Staub) story about the similarities which exist between cultures: smiles, pain, blood, joys, love, and hearts "are just the same--wherever they are, wherever you are, wherever we are, all over the world."  A powerful message about diversity.

Freeman, Don. Corduroy. New York: Puffin Books, 1976.

                In this sweet story, children will grow attached to the little bear who's lost his button and be relieved when he finds a home with a little girl who will take good care of him.

Ga'g, Wanda. Millions of Cats. New York: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, 1996.

                A sweet tale about an old man and woman who decide to get a cat.  How will they pick the prettiest one from "hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats"?  The delightful refrain and simple black & white illustrations make this a memorable classic.

Garland, Michael. Dinner at Magritte's. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 1995.

                Award-winning author/illustrator Michael Garland tells the story about Pierre learning about the world of artists when he visits his neighbor Margritte whose dinner guest is Salvador Dali.  This book's illustrations have many surrealistic elements themselves that readers of all ages will enjoy.

Greenfield, Eloise. Honey, I Love. New York: Harper Collins, 1978, 2003.

                First published in a collection by Thomas Y. Crowell, this poem about all the things a young black girl loves in her life is now its own picture book, illustrated beautifully by Jan Spivey Gilchrist.  (Ages 2-5)

Keats, Ezra Jack. The Snowy Day. New York: Viking Press, 1962.

                This Caldecott Medal Book tells us about Peter playing in the snow.  Abstract soothing illustrations accompany onomatopoeic language.  At the end of the story Peter is relieved to see snow outside again the next day, unlike his snowball he saved inside his jacket pocket.

Luthardt, Kevin. Mine! New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001.

                The unique and modern cartoon-like illustrations really tell this story about two boys and their tug of war over a new stuffed animal.  They learn to share when they realize sharing is better than not having a fun dinosaur at all.

McCloskey, Robert. Make Way for Ducklings. New York: Viking Press, 1941.

                This Caldecott Award winning book tells a tale about Mr. and Mrs. Mallard trying to find a suitable home for their little ducklings.  A friendly police officer helps the family traverse the dangerous Boston streets.  Simple but rich drawings add much depth to the story.

McMullan, Kate, and Jim McMullan. I Stink! United States: Harper Collins, 2002.

                This is an ABC book with a twist!  Young readers will enjoy accompanying the garbage truck on his nightly travels to rid the city of its refuse.  The text, full of rhythm and onomatopoeia, as well as the humorous illustrations, make this a unique book.

Nye, Naomi Shihab. Come with Me: Poems for a Journey. New York: Greenwillow Books, 2000.

                This collection of poems exhibits a fresh, succinct style which uses figurative language children can understand.  The poem "Somebody's Story" uses the phrases "tall as a riddle, as full as a shadow, as far as the wind" and "a halo of giggles," all comparisons relevant to the lives of children.  Dan Yaccarino's mixed media collages are modern, intense, and quaint all at the same time.  An excellent edition to any school library, though the poetry if probably best suited for 3-8 grades.

Osborne, Mary Pope. New York's Bravest. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 2002.

                Dedication: "To the memory of the 343 New York City firefighters who gave their lives to save others on September 11, 2001."  The author's historical note gives background about the book's protagonist, Mose Humphrey, a legendary New York firefighter "eight feet tall" with "hands as big as Virgina hams."  Paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher beautifully illustrate the text.

Perrault, Charles. Puss in Boots. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1990.

                A Caldecott Honor Book for Fred Marcellino's artistry, Perrault's familiar tale about the trickster cat comes to life in muted illustrations in warm, earthy colors.

Piper, Walter. The Little Engine That Could. New York: Platt & Munk, 1976.

                "I think I can" is the a powerful phrase at the heart of this classic story.  Onomatopoeia and the interesting subject will keep children interested.  However, page turns come at awkward places, and the sentences are long, making this a better book for read-aloud than for early readers to try on their own.

Potter, Beatrix. The Tale of Peter Rabbit. London: Puffin Books, 1991.

                A classic tale of a mischievous bunny named Peter who disobeys his mother's strict instructions and finds himself in dangerous Mr. McGregor's garden.  He survives but must go to bed sick rather than getting a yummy blackberry dinner like his good siblings.  Potter's watercolor illustrations are delicate and beautiful treasures.

Prelutsky, Jack. The Dragons Are Singing Tonight. New York: Greenwillow Books, 1993.

                Prelutsky's poetry is filled with the elements kids love: rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, onomatopoeia, yet he doesn't condescend the least in his vocabulary.  In this anthology, we meet dragons fierce, sad, unborn, and imaginary.  As always, Peter Sis's illustrations are magical.

Rey, H.A., and Margaret Rey. Curious George Goes to the Beach. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999.

                With simple illustrations which enhance the plot, this story is a humorous and educational look at what a typical trip to the beach is like. George discovers life guards, seagulls, and friendship.  The story is written to involve children in the plot development with questions and well-placed page turns.

Scieszka, Jon. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! Tenth Anniversary ed. New York: Viking Press, 1999.

                This retold story sounds both familiar and modern at the same time.  We learn from A. Wolf that the real story concerns a cup of sugar and some ill-timed sneezes.  The fun illustrations, in natural colors, tell a very different story than the one we all remember.

Scieszka, Jon, and Lane Smith. Math Curse. New York: Viking Press, 1995.

                Can everything in life be seen as a math problem?  That's how one girl wakes up in this humorous tour of life through story problems.  Anyone would enjoy this book, whether math hating or loving.

Scieszka, Jon. Squids Will Be Squids: Fresh Morals for Modern Fables. New York: Viking Press, 1998.

                A fun picture book for all ages, perhaps written from the point of view of a frustrated parent of teens.  Scieszka has written a series of "fables" about annoying, dim-witted characters.  The unique morals at the end--"he who smelt it, dealt it" and "it takes one to know one"-- are often surprising punch lines of these otherwise didactic stories.

Scieszka, Jon. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. New York: Viking Press, 2002.

                Yes, they're stupid.  But that's what's fun about these cleverly adapted tales. Little red hen is frustrated she never gets to tell her story, Jack runs from the giant throughout the pages, Cinderella meets Rumplestiltskin, and the Princess doesn't feel a pea, but a bowling ball.  Finally, the tortoise and the hare never finish their race.  Very clever intermingling of text and illustrations made this a Caldecott Honor Book.

Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are. United States: Harper Collins, 1963.

                With muted and textured illustrations, this book about a boy named Max uses language techniques like alliteration and onomatopoeia to appeal to young listeners' ears.  Max is a little too wild for his mother, so she sends him to his room without supper.  Max takes a trip to a land far away and returns when he smells a hot dinner waiting for him in his room.

Shannon, David. No, David! New York: Blue Sky Press, 1998.

                The bright and colorful two-page illustrations tell the story of a mischievous young boy hearing "No!" from his mother by reaching for cookies, picking his nose, running naked down the street (and more), until finally he hears, "Yes, David, I love you" as his mom puts him to bed and the end of his busy day.  A Caldecott Honor book.

Singer, Marilyn. Boo Hoo Boo-Boo. New York: HarperFestival, 2002.

                Appropriate for ages 1+, this picture book uses a lot of onomatopoeia, rhyme, and repetition to show the young kids that getting a boo-boo won't be the end of the world.

Singer, Marilyn. The One and Only Me. New York: HarperFestival, 2000.

                "I may have a bit of everyone, but they all add up to me," is the last line of this sweet book about how we are made up of a composite of our parents', grandparents', and seemingly, our siblings' genes.  (ages 3+)

Sis, Peter. Madlenka. New York: Frances Foster Books, 2000.

                With meticulous illustrations alternating muted and bright accompanying her, Madlenka travels the world to tell her neighbors about her loose tooth.  Pages cut out place her in different settings and her friends introduce her to many different cultures' artifacts and customs.

Sis, Peter. Ship Ahoy! New York: Greenwillow Books, 1999.

                A small boy's imagination takes him sailing with a variety of boats, constructed with regular living room materials.  Sis's illustrations are a peaceful combination of watercolor, paint, and ink, alternating between the "real" and "fantasy" worlds imagined.  Will the boy meet a sea monster?

Sis, Peter. Starry Messenger. New York: Frances Foster Books, 1996.

                An exquisitely illustrated biography of Galileo's life.  The story seems almost magical, combing Sis's simple narration and the astronomer's own words.  The message of the book is positive, as Galileo is finally pardoned of his "crime" and celebrated for his discoveries.

St. George, Judith. So You Want to Be President? New York: Philomel Books, 2000.

                A humorous and serious picture book describing the presidents up through Bill Clinton.  Humorous anecdotes and Caldecott medal illustrations, done in political cartoon style by David Small, make this a fun, informative book all ages will enjoy.  St. George also includes a bibliography for further reading at the end.

Suess, Dr. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. New York: Beginner Books, 1960.

                Bright wild illustrations attract all readers to this delightful rhyming nonsensical story that begs to be read aloud.  "From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere" is the message of the book.

Taback, Simms. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. New York: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, 1999.

                This Caldecott picture book, written by the author of There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, features an overcoat which through a series of die-cut pages transforms itself into many different articles of clothing until finally, we learn "you can always make something out of nothing."  Contrasting simplistic and repetitive text, the illustrations (watercolor, gouache, pencil, ink, and collage) are full of interesting details children will love to explore.

Tokuda, Wendy, and Richard Hall. Humphrey the Lost Whale: A True Story. Campton, CA: Heian International, 1992.

                Poor Humphrey has lost his way!  How did an enormous whale end up in a river?  And how will the humans help him find his way home?  An endearing account of a true natural event.