Why We Love It:

A peddler sells caps, each stacked on his head. When he walks into the countryside for a nap, he wakes to find all of the caps gone. He sees monkeys in the tree above him, all wearing his caps. How the peddler manages to get the caps back makes for a delightful tale that has entertained generations of children since it was first published in 1940.

Why We Love It:

The Going-To-Bed Book

What happens when it is time for a batch of zany animals to go to bed on the boat? This short, rhyming book describes the animal’s bedtime routines. The regular meter of the poem ensures that your child will eventually be able to chant along with this funny, yet soothing bedtime story.

Why We Love It:

It won’t take many reading before your child happily chants along with the regular metered rhythm of this delightful book. Detailed ink and watercolor pictures work perfectly in delivering the escapades of lovable Hairy Maclary and his canine friends. This is the first in a popular series.

Why We Love It:

Good luck finding a funnier, rhyming counting book than this Sandra Boynton classic. The rich visual detail combined with the consistent rhyming pattern will keep your child’s interest and attention for every reading of this short, colorful board book. A great early concept book for teaching counting, number sense and rhyme..

Why We Love It:

Stomp, clap, bow and spin along with a variety of barnyard animals in this delightful Boynton book. The rhythm, rhyme and words work perfectly and encourage bouncing and dancing—things that young children love so much.

Why We Love It:

Engaging and witty illustrations, repetition and rhyme make this book a must-have for any home library! This book introduces the concepts of opposites, adjectives, counting and colors while hunting for the elusive green sheep. The simple words and predictable pattern make it easy for children to finish the sentences as they read together with a parent. And the well-placed Spanish text is an additional bonus for Spanish speakers.

Why We Love It:

Rhythm and rhyme make this board book so much fun to share with young children. Your little one will soon be chanting and bouncing along with the animals in the story. Simple rhyming couplets and colorful pictures with just enough details for pointing and naming will will make this book a favorite.

Why We Love It:

The funny pictures and words delivered in a rhythmic rhyming text make this a delightful book to read again and again. Sandra Boynton’s animals make the kind of sounds that young children love and the regular beat lends itself to a variety of activities. First published in 1982, this sturdy board has sold over 3 million copies and is Boynton’s most popular title as you will see.

Why We Love It:

A bear and a boy go on a magical berry-picking adventure filled with ice skating elephants, a brass band of raspberry rabbits and shooting rockets. Bruce Degan’s lively illustrations, short rhymes and familiar repeats are especially enjoyable to young children.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

Four lines of rhyming text set the reader up for guessing who or what is being described in each poem. Illustrations are hilarious with super-silly surprises on every page turn.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

Don’t be surprised if your young children laugh with delight whenever you open Karen Beaumont’s I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! Little ones giggle to see the cheeky young boy causing mayhem as he coats his house in Technicolor splashes of paint. David Catrow’s brilliant illustrations capture this wild rumpus perfectly. From beginning to end, Beaumont’s story maintains a pulsing beat and makes you want to sing it from the rooftop even after the book has been put away.

Why We Love It:

“Young Iggy Peck is an architect,

and has been since he was two.

When he built a great tower – in only an hour –

with nothing but diapers and glue.”

With its hilarious storyline, clever text, lyrical rhyme and spectacular illustrations this book is a home library must-have. Iggy uses all sorts of unusual objects to build his masterpieces: dirty diapers, dirt clods, underwear and peaches, to name a few, and manages to save the day when a school field trip goes awry. Iggy Peck Architect is a terrific story that encourages children to think outside of the box. It is a fantastic read-aloud for kids and grown-ups alike with lots of post-reading potential for building fun.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

Brothers Sam and Dave are digging a hole and won’t stop until they find something spectacular. Each time they change direction they narrowly miss finding yet another giant jewel, so very close to where they had been digging. The brothers continue their search until the surprising end of this simply illustrated, read-aloud.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

Just try to read this one without laughing. It cannot be done. Pick up the pace and everyone will be in stitches following young bonnet-wearing piggy who just wants to play in the mud. Despite her family’s objections, one by one, they all end up in the squishy-squashy, mooshy-squooshy, oofy-poofy mud.

Why We Love It:

WHy We Love It

Bear searches for his missing hat and questions a variety of animals. Illustrations are rich with informative detail and the animal’s facial expressions are hilarious. The surprise ending will keep the preschool to elementary age children coming back for another chance to enjoy this funny picture book.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love it

On his birthday, Alex’s grandmother gives him an adorable Birthday Bunny book. Armed with a number 2 pencil, Alex rewrites the story creating evil characters and a plan to save the world. The “enhanced” illustrations and superhero nature of this picture book will appeal to middle elementary age students longing to save the world through creative genius.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

When Lucy the bear finds a little boy on her walk, she is enchanted. Although her mother warns her that children make terrible pets, Lucy keeps the child and in a series of funny events finds out her mother was unfortunately correct. When the boy disappears and finds his family, Lucy sees her pet in a new light.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love it

Crankenstein is the angry monster stuck inside one cranky child. Every difficult situation makes Crankenstein roar in frustration until he meets his match and transforms (at least for today) back into a normal child. Colorful, large illustrations and lots of humor make this book a great launching point for further discussion.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

This hilarious story features one humongous chicken routinely saving his clueless family. Chicken Big just wants to be in the hen house with the other birds. This story will keep kids giggling from beginning to end as Chicken Big establishes his true chicken identity and saves the day.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

Doing nothing is harder than you think. After Frankie and Sal do everything possible to entertain themselves, they decide to do nothing. Frankie’s imagination keeps interfering with becoming statues in the park, imitating a redwood tree and becoming the Empire State Building. The action builds until the two boys find the perfect solution to their boredom.

Why We Love It:

Why We Love It

Take an eight year-old sheriff full of dinosaur knowledge. Ride him into town, slowly, on a tortoise and watch how he snags the job then adeptly tricks the town’s criminals into jail. This hilarious spoof on westerns run amuck is a great read-aloud with Lane Smith’s delightful illustrations.