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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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.
Back to School, Splat!
by Rob ScottonIt’s the first day of school and there’s only time for Splat to share one of his summer adventures with the class. Will it be the time he went searching for pirate treasure? Or the time he went swimming with sharks in the ocean? But before the end of the day, Splat knows exactly what to talk about—and it’s the biggest surprise of all!
Read all about Splat’s first day back at school in Splat the Cat: Back to School, Splat!, another sure-to-be-a-classic story by Rob Scotton.
Splat the Cat and the Late Library Book
by Rob ScottonWhen Splat discovers that he has an overdue library book, he fears that he will be locked up in jail! He does whatever he can to avoid the library. But when he has to go there with his family, he is in for a happy surprise.
Splat the Cat for President
by Rob ScottonSplat is thrilled to be elected student-body president, until he discovers not everyone likes his plans. So he thinks big. Real big. So big that pretty soon he’s making promises he cannot keep. Can Splat please everyone and also make a difference?
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.
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.
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?
Splat the Cat
by Rob ScottonSplat is thrilled when he finds out that Seymour's brother is coming to visit. Splat even stays up all night planning ways to impress his new friend. Although Splat's big surprise takes a calamitous turn, everyone ends up having even more fun than they expected!
Splat the Cat and the Quick Chicks
by Rob ScottonSplat's class project is taking care of chicken eggs in this I Can Read book from New York Times bestselling author-artist Rob Scotton. When Splat takes the chicks home overnight, they hatch and run loose around his house! They pop up in the bathroom, hide inside his socks, and fall asleep in the paint box! Will Splat be able to round them all up?
Splat the Cat and the Big Secret
by Rob ScottonShhhhh! Can you keep a secret? New York Times bestselling author-artist Rob Scotton is back with another story about Splat the Cat, and this time, your favorite frazzled cat has a secret of his own. When Splat overhears his parents planning a trip to Cat Kingdom for his sister’s birthday, he’s overjoyed. There’s just one problem—it’s a secret! Can Splat contain his excitement, or will he blow the big secret?
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?
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.
Splat the Cat
by Rob ScottonSplat decides to create his own from ice cubes, feathers, and a fan. When that doesn't work, he tries to persuade the snow to fall by dressing in his snowsuit and waiting with his sled.
Splat The Cat
by Rob ScottonSplat tries to cheer up his athletic dad when his soccer team loses its big game. Looking back at old pictures of his father and grandfather winning a three-legged race, Splat decides that if he and his dad can win some events at the Cat School Games, Dad will be glad. As usual, disaster occurs, causing all of the events that father and son participate in to become quite slapstick. The good news is that Dad has a great sense of humour and really enjoys spending time with his son.
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'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 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.
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.
Merry Christmas, Splat
by Rob ScottonThe fun of Splat the Cat continues in New York Times bestselling author/artist Rob Scotton's paper-over-board format of Merry Christmas, Splat! It's the night before Christmas, and Splat wonders if this year he's going to get the really big present he wants. Has Splat been good enough or will Christmas wind up ruined?
Fans of Splat will delight in this hilarious holiday tale. Rob Scotton has even hidden Santa in some of the pictures so kids can search for Kris Kringle right along with Splat!
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.
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich
by Julia Sarcone-RoachBy now I think you know what happened to your sandwich. But you may not know how it happened. So let me tell you. It all started with the bear . . .
So begins Julia Sarcone-Roach’s delicious tale of a bear, lost in the city, who happens upon an unattended sandwich in the park. The bear’s journey from forest to city and back home again is full of happy accidents, funny encounters, and sensory delights. The story is so engrossing, it’s not until the very end that we begin to suspect this is a TALL tale.
The wonderfully told story, spectacular illustrations, and surprise ending make this Julia Sarcone-Roach’s best book to date. You’ll want to share it with your friends (and keep a close eye on your lunch).