Special Collections
District List: NYC Reads 365 - Pre-K
Description: NYC Reads 365 is a literacy initiative of the New York City Department of Education to create a new generation of readers. This list of high-interest titles is curated by NYC school librarians for children in Pre-K and is updated each school year.
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Marta! Big And Small
by Jen Arena and Angela DominguezMarta is una niña, an ordinary girl . . . with some extraordinary animal friends!
As Marta explores the jungle, she knows she's bigger than a bug, smaller than an elephant, and faster than a turtle. But then she meets the snake, who thinks Marta is sabrosa―tasty, very tasty! But Marta is ingeniosa, a very clever girl, and she outsmarts the snake with hilarious results.
With simple Spanish and a glossary at the end, this fun read-aloud picture book, Marta! Big and Small, teaches little ones to identify opposites and animals and learn new words.
Stanley The Builder
by William BeeWhat a job for Stanley—he's building a house for his friend Myrtle. He will need his digger and his bulldozer and his cement mixer. He will also need his friend.
Stanley's Diner
by William BeeStanley is cooking for some hungry customers today!
Eggs and pancakes, coming right up! Stanley is cooking for all the hungry customers who come into his diner, while Hattie takes their orders. Then Stanley serves up a special cake – but whose birthday are they celebrating?
William Bee’s wonderful series featuring Stanley, an adorable hamster, is great for readers at a transitional age between board books and picture books. Stanley’s Diner will appeal to young children wanting to know about occupations and machines.
Stanley's Garage
by William BeeStanley is working at his garage today. From filling up Hattie's red sports car with gas to changing the tire on Shamus and Little Woo's blue car, it sure is a busy day. As his friends each come in with their car problems, Stanley knows just what to do to get them back on the road.
Stanley's Store
by William BeeStanley has fresh fruits and veggies to be unloaded, Myrtle needs help at the cheese counter, Shamus and Little Woo’s groceries must be rung up, and Charlie just knocked over Stanley’s produce display. Even for an industrious hamster like Stanley, running a store is hard work!
Stanley the Farmer
by William BeeDown on the farm, Stanley is sowing seeds. Will they grow? It’s going to be a busy day on Stanley’s farm! From plowing the field, to planting the seeds, to harvesting the wheat, Stanley has a lot to do. Luckily, his friends Shamus and Little Woo lend a helping hand. William Bee’s wonderful series featuring Stanley, an adorable hamster, is great for readers at a transitional age between board books and picture books. Stanley the Farmer will appeal to young children wanting to know about occupations and machines.
Stanley the Mailman
by William BeeIt's going to be a busy day for Stanley! He gets up early to sort through all of the mail in his post office. Then he sets off through town to deliver it all. Myrtle, Little Woo, and Charlie all receive exciting gifts and letters. But will everyone be happy with what's in Stanley's mail bag?
Finding Spring
by Carin BergerInstead of hibernating as he should, a little bear cub goes out in search of spring—and he thinks he's found it! Gloriously illustrated with dioramas and cut-paper collages by the award-winning designer and illustrator Carin Berger, this stunning picture book celebrates the changing of the seasons.
Among A Thousand Fireflies
by Helen Frost and Rick LiederOn a summer evening, just as the stars blink on, a firefly lands on a flower. Lights start to flash all around her -- first one, then three, seven. Hundreds. Thousands. How will she find just one flash among them? And will he see her flash in return?
In evocative photographs and lyrical language, Rick Lieder and Helen Frost, creators of the critically acclaimed Step Gently Out and Sweep Up the Sun, offer a true story of how two fireflies come together after finding each other's light among thousands of others.
Boats Go
by Steve LightAll aboard! Sail away with 8 noisy boats, as they toot, chug, clang, and splash their way across the water! The sturdy pages feature a fireboat, tugboat, cruise ship, paddleboat, speedboat, sailboat, submarine, and gondola, and encourage young readers to chime in with all the noises each makes--ssshhhh cling-clang FLAP FLAP FLAP goes the sailboat! Here's a joyful addition to this much-praised series.
Cars Go
by Steve LightLittle ones will enjoy revving up their reading with these eight noisy cars as they honk, clank, vroom, and zoom their way through this lively book! The pages feature a police car, pick-up truck, sports car, monster truck, and many more, accompanied by a cacophony of sounds sure to charm any young vehicle enthusiast.
Diggers Go
by Steve LightThe excavator goes, "chumma chumma hufft hufft FALUMP." The steamroller goes, "CHUG chug CHUG chug moooooosh." The wrecking ball goes, "BOOOOOM!" Come on down to the construction site and make some noise with eight exciting construction vehicles as they rumble, crunch, chug, and boom their way through this lively book!
Planes Go
by Steve LightThe helicopter goes, "PITTATATATA PITTATATATA PITTATATATA." The jumbo jet goes, "Wheeeeeeeee VRRRRRRRRRRUUUHHHHHHHHHMMM." The propeller plane goes, "HUK HUK HUK WHIRRRRRRR WHIRRRRRR." Prepare for liftoff with 8 exciting aircraft and the noises they make in this irresistible ebook!
Trains Go
by Steve LightThe big steam train goes, CHUGGA chugga chugga CHUGGA chugga chugga CHOO CHOOOOOOO! The diesel train goes, "zooosh zooosh ZOOOOOOOOSH ding ding ding!" The American goes, "clang clang clang TOOT TOOT!" All aboard! Take a trip on eight noisy trains as they huff, puff, and toot-toot their way through this lively board book! Perfect for the young train enthusiast.
Trucks Go
by Steve LightThe garbage truck goes, "BRRRRRRRR SCREETCH BEEP-BEEP-BEEP CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH"The fire engine goes, "WHEE-OOO WHEE-OOO WHEE-OOO"The cement truck goes, "VERRRRP JIGGA JIGGA VRRRRUMMMMM"Seven popular vehicles grumble, roar, and crunch their way through this very simple, graphically appealing board book. Perfect for the young truck enthusiast.
Little Tree
by Loren LongIn the middle of a little forest, there lives a Little Tree who loves his life and the splendid leaves that keep him cool in the heat of long summer days. Life is perfect just the way it is.
Autumn arrives, and with it the cool winds that ruffle Little Tree's leaves. One by one the other trees drop their leaves, facing the cold of winter head on. But not Little Tree—he hugs his leaves as tightly as he can. Year after year Little Tree remains unchanged, despite words of encouragement from a squirrel, a fawn, and a fox, his leaves having long since turned brown and withered. As Little Tree sits in the shadow of the other trees, now grown sturdy and tall as though to touch the sun, he remembers when they were all the same size. And he knows he has an important decision to make.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Loren Long comes a gorgeously-illustrated story that challenges each of us to have the courage to let go and to reach for the sun.
First Snow
by Peter McCartyFirst Snow is the newest picture book from acclaimed Caldecott Honor–winning author-illustrator Peter McCarty, which extends the winning world of animal characters established in Chloe, a Kids' Indie Next List Pick and Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book, and Henry in Love, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book.
1 Big Salad
by Juana MedinaJuana Medina's ingenious illustrations nearly pop off the page in her new counting book, ONE BIG SALAD. One avocado deer saunters across the spread, two radish mice scurry by, until finally ten clementine kitties prance onto the scene - all of the ingredients in one big salad!
Medina's previous book with Viking, SMICK!, introduced her to the children's book world, and now she's bringing her fresh and innovative take on the concept book form.
Every Day Birds
by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater and Dylan MetranoYoung readers get an introduction to twenty different types of birds, with breathtaking paper-cuts by newcomer Dylan Metrano! "Chickadee wears a wee black cap. Jay is loud and bold. Nuthatch perches upside-down. Finch is clothed in gold." Young readers are fascinated with birds in their world. Every Day Birds helps children identify and learn about common birds. After reading Every Day Birds, families can look out their windows with curiosity--recognizing birds and nests and celebrating the beauty of these creatures! Every Day Birds focuses on twenty North American birds, with a poem and descriptions written by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater and beautiful paper-cuttings by first-time picture book illustrator Dylan Metrano. Interesting facts about each bird are featured in the back of the book.
If I Had a Triceratops
by George O'ConnorWouldn’t it be great to have a triceratops for a pet? If you had one, it would probably be your best friend. It would always want to play with you, and it would always know how you’re feeling. On dark and stormy nights, if your triceratops got scared, you could let it sleep in your room. True, a triceratops is a little on the huge side, but that just means more pet to love, and more pet to love you right back! Just imagine your very own pet triceratops running out to greet you at the end of the day. Ooof! Wouldn’t that be the best thing ever?
Shark Detective!
by Jessica OlienA missing pet poster nudges him to grab for his fantasy, and Shark thoughtfully begins a quest to find the missing kitty of the poster, a search that begins with research in the library and developing inner strength through Tai Chi. Interviewing witnesses is difficult when the detective presents his formidable teeth, but luck is with him as a chance sighting of the missing kitty not only solves the case but promises a future career for Detective Shark.
Lizard from the Park
by Mark PettWhen Leonard takes a shortcut through the park, he finds an egg and takes it home, where it hatches into a lizard (or so Leonard thinks). Leonard names his new pet Buster and takes him all around the city: on the subway, to the library, to a baseball game, and more.
But Buster keeps growing and growing—and Leonard gets the sense that Buster is longing for something Leonard can’t provide.
Before long, Buster becomes too big to keep, and Leonard realizes he needs to set Buster free. So Leonard comes up with an inventive plan, one that involves all the balloons Leonard can find and the annual Thanksgiving parade, in an imaginative plot twist that will spark readers’ imaginations—and touch their hearts.
Because of an Acorn
by Lola M. Schaefer and Adam Schaefer and Frann Preston-GannonBecause of an acorn, a tree grows, a bird nests, a seed becomes a flower. Enchanting die-cuts illustrate the vital connections between the layers of an ecosystem in this magical book. Wander down the forest path to learn how every tree, flower, plant, and animal connect to one another in spiraling circles of life. An acorn is just the beginning.
Two Mice
by Sergio RuzzierOne house, two mice, three cookies . . . and the adventure begins. In gorgeously illustrated spreads and two-word phrases, this picture book takes two mice through their exciting and eventful day. Funny, lively, and easy to follow, the book offers the youngest readers the chance to count from one to three and back again. Sergio Ruzzier's illustrations display his signature quirky, colorful, and slightly surreal view of characters and settings, and the text is a minimalist gem. It's a perfect book to share one-on-one with a young child and a lovely lead-up to bedtime.