The Seven Silly Eaters

Author: Mary Ann Hoberman Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Synopsis: Mrs. Peters has seven children, each with their own specific food preferences. For example, Peter only drinks his milk warm, Lucy only drinks homemade pink lemonade, Mary Lou only eats homemade bread, and so on. All her children complain if their standards aren’t met. At first,…

July 17, 2019

The Sneetches

Author: Dr. Seuss Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Synopsis: The Sneetches is about two types of creatures, separated by having or not having stars on their bellies. The Star-Belly Sneetches think they are the best, and look down upon Sneetches without stars. The Plain-Belly Sneetches remain depressed and oppressed, prohibited from associating with their star-bellied counterparts, until Sylvester…

July 20, 2019

The Story of Ferdinand

Author: Munro Leaf Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Synopsis: Young Ferdinand the bull does not enjoy butting heads with other young bulls, preferring instead to lie under a cork tree smelling the flowers. One day, five men come to the pasture to choose a bull for the fights. Ferdinand is again on his own, sniffing flowers,…

August 2, 2019

The Story of the Little Piggy Who Couldn’t Say No

Authors: Sabine Ludwig and Sabine Wilharm Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Synopsis: A little pig is ready for a big day of swimming–she’s packed a huge bag stuffed with toys, books, towels, hats, food, and more. But friends keep stopping the little pig on the way to the water. A dog borrows her flotation ring, a cat needs her…

July 20, 2019

The Teacher from the Black Lagoon

Author: Mike Thaler Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Synopsis: On the first day of school, a boy falls asleep and dreams that he is assigned to Mrs. Green’s class. In his nightmare, Mrs. Green is a monster with a tail and smoke coming out of her nostrils. He is so happy when he awakes to see the real…

The Thankful Book

Author: Todd Parr Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten Synopsis: The Thankful Book celebrates all the little things children can give thanks for. From everyday activities like reading and bath time to big family meals together and special alone time between parent and child, Todd Parr inspires readers to remember all of life’s special moments. Debrief Questions:  What was one time…

The Way I Feel

Author: Janan Cain Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Synopsis: Feelings are neither good nor bad, they simply are. Kids need words to name their feelings, just as they need words to name all things in their world. The Way I Feel uses strong, colorful, and expressive images which go along with simple verses to help children connect the…

Verdi

Author: Janell Cannon Grades: Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Synopsis: Young Verdi doesn’t want to grow up big and green. He likes his bright yellow skin and sporty stripes. Besides, all the green snakes he meets are lazy, boring, and rude. When Verdi finds a pale green stripe stretching along his whole body, he tries every trick he…

January 6, 2020

We Found a Hat

Author: Jon Klassen Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Synopsis: When a pair of googly-eyed tortoises find a 10-gallon hat—which they both agree would look good on either of them—they decide to leave it be rather than risk inequity between them. However, it becomes obvious that one of the tortoises still very much covets the hat. In…

August 2, 2019

Whale is Stuck

Author: Karen Hayles and Charles Fuge Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Synopsis: As the midsummer sun melts the winter ice in the Arctic, Whale cavorts happily through the open sea. While his friend Fish watches from below, the majestic mammal leaps high into the air, landing “slap” in the middle of an ice floe. Other animals…

What Does Peace Feel Like?

Author: V. Radunsky Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Synopsis: What does peace really feel like? What does peace sound like? Look, smell, or taste like? This book tries to answer all these abstract questions in concrete ways by taking real responses from kids around the world. Debrief Questions: Try to answer the same questions but for other…

What if Everybody Did That?

Author: Ellen Javernick Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Synopsis: If you drop just one soda can out the window, it’s no big deal…right? But what if everybody did that? What if everybody broke the rules…and spoke during story time, didn’t wash up, or splashed too much at the pool? Then the world would be a…

Whoever You Are

Author: Mem Fox Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten Synopsis: Every day all over the world, children are laughing and crying, playing and learning, eating and sleeping. They may not look the same. They may not speak the same language. Their lives may be quite different. But inside, they are all alike. Stirring words and bold paintings weave their way around…

July 20, 2019

Yertle the Turtle

Author: Dr. Seuss Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Synopsis: The eponymous story revolves around Yertle the Turtle, the king of the pond. Dissatisfied with the stone that serves as his throne, he commands the other turtles to stack themselves beneath him so that he can see farther and expand his kingdom. However, the stacked turtles…

August 2, 2019