Special Collections
Picture Books and Easy Readers
Description: Browse this list of popular favorites for bedtime stories, picture books and early readers. Some books will have pictures, and some will have picture descriptions. You can find more books by many of these authors in the Bookshare collection. #kids
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Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile
by Bernard WaberA cranky neighbor puts Lyle in the zoo but experiences a change of heart when the crocodile saves him from a fire.
Make Way for Ducklings
by Robert MccloskeyThis classic tale of the famous Mallard ducks of Boston was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1941. Make Way for Ducklings has been described as 'one of the merriest picture books ever' (The New York Times). Ideal for reading aloud, this book deserves a place of honor on every child's bookshelf. Images and image descriptions available.
Martha Speaks
by Susan MeddaughWhen Helen Finney feeds alphabet soup to her dog Martha, Martha begins to speak. But having a talking dog is not as fun as it seems.
Measuring Penny
by Loreen LeedyLisa learns about the mathematics of measuring by measuring her dog Penny with all sorts of units, including pounds, inches, dog biscuits, and cotton swabs.
Mine!
by Shutta Crum and Patrice BartonHave you ever had a toy you really really liked? Have you ever had a lot of toys you really really liked?Have you ever said "MINE!"?If so, this book is for you!Enjoy this adorable, playful, picture-based book about two very young children and an adorable dog navigating the troubles and triumphs of sharing.From the Hardcover edition.
Monsters Eat Whiny Children
by Bruce Eric KaplanAges 4-8. Henry and Eve are two perfectly delightful children who happen to be going through a terrible phase where they whine all day and night. Their kindly father warns them that monsters eat whiny children. Of course, they don't pay attention, until one day a monster shows up at their door. But that is just the beginning.
Moose Tales
by Nancy Van Laan and Amy RuschMoose has good friends in the woodland: Beaver, Squirrel, Rabbit, and Mouse. Together they count snowflakes, help one another out of fixes, and make practically perfect creatures out of snow. Set in the secure world of the woods, these tender, funny stories for beginning readers celebrate the simple joys of having friends both trusty and true. And the delicately silly illustrations capture the foibles and idiosyncrasies of each woodland creature, from Moose's skinny legs to Rabbit's long, floppy ears.
Mr. Popper's Penguins
by Richard Atwater and Florence Atwater and Robert LawsonMr. Popper has penguins in his fridge, an ice rink in the basement, and a family for whom life will never be the same How many penguins in the house is too many?
Mr. Popper is a humble house painter living in Stillwater who dreams of faraway places like the South Pole. When an explorer responds to his letter by sending him a penguin named Captain Cook, Mr. Popper and his family's lives change forever. Soon one penguin becomes twelve, and the Poppers must set out on their own adventure to preserve their home.
First published in 1938, Mr. Popper's Penguins is a classic tale that has enchanted young readers for generations.
Newbery Medal Honors book
Winner of Pacific Northwest Library Association’s Young Reader’s Choice Award
My Friend Rabbit
by Eric RohmannThis Caldecott Medal Honor book is two-thirds illustrations, which are described. From the front flap: "When Mouse lets his best friend, Rabbit, play with his brand-new airplane, trouble isnt far behind. Of course, Rabbit has a solutionbut when Rabbit sets out to solve a problem, even bigger problems follow. This file should make an excellent embossed braille copy.
My Lucky Day
by Keiko KaszaAn award-winning story time favorite with a hilarious twist at the end.
When a delicious-looking piglet knocks on Mr. Fox's door, the fox can hardly believe his good luck. It's not every day that dinner just shows up on your doorstep. It must be his lucky day!
But as the piglet is quick to point out, shouldn't the fox give him a bath first? And wouldn't it be best to fatten him up a little, and give him a massage so he'll make for a nice tender roast?
Preparing this feast is a lot of work, but the fox is sure it will be worth it. After all, it's his lucky day. Or is it?
In a funny trickster tale of her own, Kasza keeps readers guessing until the surprise ending when they'll realize it was piglet's lucky day all along.
Nate the Great
by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Marc SimontNate the Great has a new case! His friend Annie has lost a picture. She wants Nate to help her find it. Nate the Great must get all the facts, ask the right questions, and narrow the list of suspects so he can solve the mystery.
No, David!
by David ShannonWhen David Shannon was five years old, he wrote and illustrated his first book. On every page were these words: NO, DAVID! . . . and a picture of David doing things he was not supposed to do. Now David is all grown up. But some things never change. . . .
Over fifteen years after its initial publication, NO, DAVID! remains a perennial household favorite, delighting children, parents, and teachers alike. David is a beloved character, whose unabashed good humor, mischievous smile, and laughter-inducing antics underline the love parents have for their children--even when they misbehave.
Officer Buckle and Gloria
by Peggy RathmannOfficer Buckle is dedicated to teaching schoolchildren important safety tips, such as never put anything in your ear and never stand on a swivel chair. The problem is, Officer Buckle's school assemblies are dull, dull, dull, and the children of Napville just sleep, sleep, sleep. That is, until Gloria the police dog is invited along!
Olivia
by Ian FalconerOlivia is a little pig who likes to dress up, sing songs, dance, think, snooze and is even quite good at building sandcastles. At the end of the day, when she snuggles up in bed and her mother reads her a story (or three), Olivia feels very full of love.
Ollie
by Olivier DunreaFriends Gossie and Gertie are waiting and waiting for Ollie to hatch. They try poking, listening, even sitting on top of his egg--but Ollie just won't come out.Ollie is Ollie and he will decide when it's time to hatch. Fans of Gossie and Gossie and Gertie will find Ollie just as charming and delightful as the first two books. Any toddler that has had to wait for a new brother or sister will find Ollie irresistible.
One Funny Day
by Kate McmullanAn Easy-to-Read Book.
Laughter is the best medicine for Pearl and Wagner!
Wagner is having a bad day. He oversleeps and is late for school. His best friend, Pearl, his teacher, and even the school librarian are acting very strangely. And the lunch lady is serving bug juice!
Why?
It's April Fools' Day!
But when Pearl picks another partner for the class dance contest, she's not joking around. It's one unfunny day for poor Wagner ... until he dreams up the perfect way to get the last laugh!
Winner of the Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor
Owen and Mzee
by Isabella Hatkoff and Graig Hatkoff and Paula KahumbuThe inspiring true story of two great friends, a baby hippo named Owen and a 130-yr-old giant tortoise named Mzee (Mm-ZAY). When Owen was stranded after the Dec 2004 tsunami, villagers in Kenya worked tirelessly to rescue him. Then, to everyone's amazement, the orphan hippo and the elderly tortoise adopted each other. Now they are inseparable, swimming, eating, and playing together. Adorable photos e-mailed from friend to friend quickly made them worldwide celebrities. Here is a joyous reminder that in times of trouble, friendship is stronger than the differences that too often pull us apart.
Pinky and Rex
by James Howe and Melissa SweetPinky and Rex are the best of friends, but a trip to the museum with Pinky's dad and his sister, Amanda, puts their friendship to the test. When Pinky, whose favorite color is pink, and Rex, who loves anything to do with dinosaurs, set their sights on the very same stuffed animal at the museum gift shop, it takes a little wisdom and some help from an unexpected source before the matter is neatly sorted out. "Pinky and Rex" is the first in a series of short chapter books about this inseparable pair by acclaimed author James Howe. Accompanied by Melissa Sweet's exuberant illustrations, "Pinky and Rex" captures perfectly the challenges -- and the rewards -- that true friendship brings.
Poppleton
by Cynthia RylantMeet Poppleton, the new pig in town, who lives in a charming house and goes to the library every Monday to read good books.
The Pumpkin Book
by Gail GibbonsDescribes how pumpkins come in different shapes and sizes how they grow and their traditional uses and cultural significance Includes instructions for carving a pumpkin and drying the seeds Gail Gibbons is the well known nonfiction author for children. Other titles include Fire Fire, Apples, Bats, and the Post Office. This book would be a wonderful teaching tool with real pumpkins.
The Quiet Book
by Renata Liwska and Deborah UnderwoodAll quiet is not created equal. In this irresistibly charming picture book, many different quiet moments are captured, from the anticipation-heavy "Top of the roller coaster quiet" to the shocked-into-silence "First look at your new hairstyle quiet." The impossibly sweet bears, rabbits, fish, birds, and iguanas are all rendered in soft pencils and colored digitally, and, as in all of the best picture books, the illustrations propel the story far beyond the words. A sure-to-be-a-classic bedtime favorite. Awards: 2011 ALA Notable Children's Book, 2010-2011, New York Times bestseller, 2011 CCBC Choices, 2011 NCTE Notable Children's Trade Book, 2010 New York Times Notable Book, 2010 Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, 2010 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Rotten Ralph
by Jack Gantos and Nicole RubelRalph, a very, very nasty cat, finally sees the error of his ways -- or does he?
Ruby Lu, Brave and True
by Lenore Look and Anne WilsdorfMost days the best thing about being Ruby is everything. Like when she's the star of her own backyard magic show. Or when she gives a talk at the school safety assembly on the benefits of reflective tape. Or when she rides the No. 3 bus all the way to Chinatown to visit GungGung and PohPoh. And then there are the days when it's very hard to be Ruby. Like when her mom suggests Chinese school on Saturdays. Or when her little brother, Oscar, spills all of Ruby's best magician secrets. Or when her parents don't think she's old enough to drive! Come along with Ruby Lu in her chapter-book debut -- which even includes a flip book of a magic trick -- and share the good and the not-so-good days with an (almost) eight-year-old Asian-American kid.
Russell and Elisa
by Johanna HurwitzThree-year-old Elisa's new rag doll goes along on the adventures she and her seven-year-old brother Russell have with friends and family in their apartment building and outside.
Sam, Bangs & Moonshine
by Evaline Nessfrom the book Jacket: Sam, a fisherman's daughter who dreams rich and lovely dreamsmoonshine, her father sayssits in her dragon-drawn chariot and says wise things to Bangs, her cat. One day Sam sends little Thomas, her devoted friend, to Blue Rock, far out in the harbor, and a sudden storm brings near disaster to Thomas and Bangs. It is then that Sam repentantly draws a line between moonshine and reality. Young readers whose mothers are mermaids, who own fierce lions and baby kangaroos, and who can talk to their cats will find a fast friend in the heroine of this imaginative, humorous book. "Never has the artist made more striking pictures." The Horn Book "The narrative is delightfully expressed and the charming drawings beautifully portray the island scene." Booklist "An unusually creative story . . . presented in a realistic and sympathetic context. . . . This is an outstanding book." School Library Journal