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Reading Circle Program

PRESCHOOL/KINDERGARTEN

Ahwoooooooo! by Yannick Murphy, illustrated by Claudio Muñoz. Houghton Mifflin, ©2006. Little Wolf wants to learn how to howl. When his parents cannot take the time, he goes to other animals to ask them to teach him to howl. When each of these attempts is unsuccessful, Little Wolf goes to his grandfather, who teaches him how to howl. His parents hear him and come to tell him how proud they are of his success. The soft, watercolor illustrations add to the mood and tenderness of the story. (Read aloud, Wolfs, Creature sounds, Nighttime)

Alphabet Rescue, by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Bruce Wood. Scholastic, ©2006. Charley’s alphabet letters worked very hard this year, so the little letters decided to take a vacation, past the moon, to Alphabet City. After their adventure, the little letters return home and help Charley write a thank you letter. The colorful illustrations are digitally created and complement the story. There are many details to watch for, such as soot on the letters after a fire and a zebra hood ornament. (Alphabet, Adventure, Vacation, Game-like)

Baby Bear’s Books, by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Harcourt, ©2006. Baby Bear has books for each period of the day. He obviously loves to read, and the enjoyment is obvious in the facial expressions. The lilt of the rhyming text adds to the delight. The large, colorful illustrations complement the story. (Personified animals, Rhyming text, Reading, Enjoying books)

Banjo Granny, by Sarah Martin Busse and Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Barry Root. Houghton Mifflin, ©2006. When Owen’s granny learned he liked bluegrass music, she decided to pack her things, including her banjo, and start walking to visit Owen. When she arrives, she and Owen sing his song and enjoy the bluegrass sound. The book includes an author’s note about bluegrass music and the music to Owen’s song. The illustrations are colorful, matching the jauntiness of the text. (Bluegrass, Music, Repetitions, Imagination)

The Bear Hug, by Sean Callahan, illustrated by Laura J. Bryant. Albert Whitman and Co., ©2006. Cubby and Grandpa have wonderful times together throughout the year, but the best part is the bear hug that happens at each visit. The relationship is tender and loving, and the reader feels he or she is a part of the story. The watercolor illustrations fit the mood very well. (Bears, Family, Grandparents, Love)

Best Best Friends, written and illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine. Harcourt, ©2006. What makes a best friend? The two girls in this story are best friends, but jealousy separates them for a while. The preschool setting is central to the storyline. The abstract, colorful illustrations give an observer’s point of view as the reader enjoys the story. (Birthdays, Emotions, Friendship, School) (Booklist starred)

The Best Book of Big Cats, by Christiane Gunzi, illustrated by Martin Knowldon and Mick Loates. Houghton Mifflin, ©2006 (Reprint edition). The magnificent picture of a lion on the cover will encourage many children to pick up the book. The illustrations inside would appeal to children, whether they can read the text or not. The information presented includes “The First Big Cats,” “Cat Cousins,” “Big Cats in Danger,” and “Cat Talk.” [599.75] (See also The Best Book of Whales and Dolphins) (Early reference, Cats in the wild, Introduction)

The Biggest Parade, by Elizabeth Winthrop, illustrated by Mark Ulriksen. Henry Holt and Co., ©2006. Harvey, Fred’s owner, was appointed parade chairman. Soon he had everyone in town participating, but that left no one to watch. That is how Fred, the hound dog, became the town’s hero. He was the noisiest “crowd” ever to see a parade. The colorful and humorous illustrations from different perspectives enhance the storyline. (Dogs, Parades, Hometowns)(Publisher’s Weekly starred)

Boo and Baa Have Company, by Lena Landström and Olof Landström, translated by Joan Sandin. Holtzbrinck, ©2006 (First American edition). Boo and Baa, two clever lambs, are taking up the fall leaves when they discover a kitten in a tree. They try several methods to get the cat down, ending with Boo stuck up in the tree. Baa tries to rescue him and they both end up in a pile of leaves. Translated from Swedish. (Personified animals, Problem solving, Pets) (Booklist starred, Horn Book starred)

Brave Bitsy and the Bear, by Angela McAllister, illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke. Houghton Mifflin, ©2006. Little Bitsy fell out of a little girl’s pocket and was lost in the autumn woods. Bitsy meets a bear that agrees to help find her home while Bitsy does everything she can to keep him awake. The bear delivers Bitsy to her home and returns to the forest, but she worries that he will fall asleep before he gets home. The soft watercolor and mixed media artwork create a gentle, non-threatening atmosphere. (Friendship, Courage, Big-little story)

Can You See What I See? Seymour Makes New Friends, written and photographed by Walter Wick. Scholastic, ©2006. [A Search-and-Find Storybook] This picture adventure stars a little toy boy named Seymour who inhabits a world of pipe cleaners, tin cans, marbles, blocks, tongue depressors, beads, paint and more. On each page, there are specific objects to look for amid the imaginative world pictured. [793.73] (Puzzles, Play book)

Carl’s Nose, written and illustrated by Karen Lee Schmidt. Harcourt, ©2006. Carl does indeed have an extraordinary nose. He can sniff out bad weather, which he forecasts on his nightly TV spot. But one day, sunny, clear weather came and Carl’s nose didn’t smell anything. He went into deep despair until a child was missing. Carl sniffed him out in the forest, and his nose was special again. The watercolor and gouache illustrations depict the scene and emotions very well and help draw the reader into the story. (Weather, Talent, Lost but not forgotten, Personified animals)

The Cat Who Wouldn’t Come Inside, written and illustrated by Cynthia von Buhler. Houghton Mifflin, ©2006. A woman offers many enticements to get a feral cat to come into her home. The detailed illustrations make this book extraordinary. The setting is a real dollhouse with clay characters that have been baked, painted and dressed. These sets were then photographed for the book. The pages are decorated with embellished borders on paper that looks aged. Time will be needed to fully view the pictures. The cumulative text encourages creative reading techniques. An author’s note explains the tale is based on a true story. (Cats, Dolls, Dollhouses, Art)

Chicken and Cat, illustrated by Sara Varon. Scholastic, ©2006. In this wordless book, the pictures narrate the day Chicken and Cat have together. Cat lives in the country, Chicken lives in the city and they visit each other. Cat thinks the city needs more color, so the two of them plant a flower garden, which they both enjoy when it blooms. The illustrations are easy to follow and develop the story through a series of events. (Wordless books, Friendship, Personified animals) (SLJ starred, Publishers Weekly starred)

Chickens to the Rescue, written and illustrated by John Himmelman. Henry Holt and Co., ©2006. The flustered chickens pictured on the cover foretell a humorous story. Six days a week, the chickens help the inhabitants of the farm, but they need a day to rest. The title is a repetitive phrase throughout the book that invites listeners to join in. The black-line and watercolor illustrations provide humor. Details, such as the expressions and personalities of the chickens, embellish the story. (Chickens, Farms, Humor, Repetition)

Clink Clank Clunk!, by Miriam Aroner, illustrated by Dominic Catalano. Boyds Mills Press, ©2006. Rabbit has a clunker of a car. One day, he decides to drive to town and along the way picks up some friends. Each time, something is wrong with the car, presented as the differing sounds the car makes. The situation worsens until the friends have to push the car to make it to town. Rabbit buys a new car for the return journey. The bright, full-color illustrations would be appropriate for reading to a group. An added bonus is that the letters for the sounds can be seen and recited by the children. (Friendship, Automobiles, Personified animals)

The Cow Who Clucked, written and illustrated by Denise Fleming. Henry Holt and Co., ©2006. The illustrations use colored cotton fiber, hand-cut stencils and squeeze bottles. The title and the big-eyed cow on the cover make the reader want to learn more. Cow searches diligently for her “moo” but cannot find it. So she returns to the barn only to find that the hen has her moo. On her search, each animal she meets makes it own sound, inviting reader participation. (Animals, Farm, Quest) (SLJ starred)

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, by Kevin Lewis, illustrated by Daniel Kirk. Scholastic, ©2006. The day of a child dinosaur can be hectic, as the narrative of this book proves. In bouncing, rhyming text, descriptions of dinosaurs, and colorful illustrations, the readers spend the day with the protagonist. (Dinosaurs, Personified animals, Child activities)

Fantastic Farm Machines, by Cris Peterson, photographs by David R. Lundquist. Boyds Mills Press, ©2006. Large photographs and simple text make this a basic information book. The pictures of the machines in action are clear and add another dimension to the facts presented. There are pictures of children on almost every page, giving the book an almost scrapbook feel. (Farms, Machinery)

Farley Found It! written and illustrated by Bruce Van Patter. Boyds Mills Press, ©2006. Farley is a sheep who did not like sleeping under the stars. Edna, the dog, on the other hand, had her own house until Farley found it. No matter where Edna hid her house, Farley found it. Finally, Edna built a house just for Farley. The places where Edna hid the doghouse are reflected in the words describing Farley’s dreams. The repetitive phrase “Farley found it” adds to the pleasant flow of the story. Humor and characterization are enriched by the digitally produced illustrations. (Farm, Animals, Humor)

Fast Food, written and illustrated by Saxton Freymann. Scholastic, ©2006. If ever a book would make you hungry, this is the one. All the illustrations are made up of fruits and vegetables carved, pinned and decorated to resemble snowmen, trucks, a train, airplanes and ships at sea. Children like using this book as a picture puzzle in an attempt to name all the original items. (Art, Food, Imagination) (Booklist starred)

Firefighters in the Dark, by Dashka Slater, illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli. Houghton Mifflin, ©2006. This book has an imaginative story idea. Each night a child hears the fire engine sirens from a nearby firehouse. As she lies in bed, she makes up stories about the fires the men are dealing with, such as a fire-breathing dragon, hot chili peppers and others. Between the fires, the activities in the firehouse are shown. The colored illustrations are as imaginative as the text. A good book to be read aloud. (Fires, Fire prevention, Firemen, Imagination)

Five Little Ducks, illustrated by Ivan Bates. Scholastic, ©2006. This visual adaptation of a nursery rhyme is soft, gentle and quietly reassuring. Mother duck goes out for a walk with her five ducklings. One by one, they are distracted until she ends up alone. When she quacks sadly, the ducklings return. The watercolor illustrations give just enough details to enliven the story. Music is provided in the back pages. (Nursery Rhymes, Mother, Children, Lost)

Go! Poetry in Motion, by Dee Lillegard, illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. Random House, ©2006. This collection of poetry features short poems about things that move, such as an ice cream truck, freight train, speedboat and scooter. The simple verses could serve as an introduction to this literary form. Illustrations are enjoyable and colorful with humorous details added. (Poetry, Everyday objects)

Good Boy, Fergus! written and illustrated by David Shannon. Scholastic, ©2006. Fergus is a lovable dog with a mind of his own. He lies down when he is told to sit, and he sits when he is told to roll over. Despite this, his master says he is a “good boy.” The pictures are large, colorful and easy to see. The text is more a description of what is happening in the illustrations than narrative and invites participation from the reader. (Pets, Dogs, Training, Animal behavior.)

Grace for an Island Meal, by Rachel Field, illustrated by Cynthia Jabar. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, ©2006. Inspired by Rachel Field’s poem, Jabar illustrates the essence of the poetic work in pictures set on the coast of Maine. The drawings follow a family on their journey to have a meal with friends while experiencing the elements of the poem. The colors are bright and cheery and have the flavor of the coast of Maine. No deity is mentioned in the text. [811.54] (Poetry, Travel, Maine)

Hattie Hippo, by Christine Loomis, illustrated by Robert Neubecker. Scholastic, ©2006. In a series of four short chapters, the reader learns Hattie Hippo’s various activities: ballet, tea parties, hide-and-seek and swimming. The endings of each section add to the humor of the story – no water left in the pool for example. The large pictures are simple and easily seen from a distance. (Personified animals, Hippos, Play time)

How Do You Count a Dozen Ducklings? by In Seon Chae, illustrated by Seung Ha Rew. Albert Whitman and Co, ©2006. Illustrating the concept of using sets to count a group, Mother Duck counts her offspring in various configurations. The mathematical aspects of the story could be introduced with this book, but the reader could just enjoy the idea of counting children in a different way. The bright, full-color illustrations are cute, especially the expressions of the ducklings. They also heighten the sense of adventure in the story. (Counting, Sets, Ducks)

Hurricane Wolf, written and illustrated by Diane Paterson. Albert Whitman and Co., ©2006. Hurricane Anna is coming. Noah learns about hurricanes as he and his family prepare for the storm. The facts are not stated in a frightful manner, and the story has an even flow. Back matter includes more information. The illustrations are realistic and enhance the story. The author lives less than 10 miles from where Hurricane Charley’s eye came ashore. (Storms, Hurricanes, Preparation)

Letters from a Desperate Dog, written and illustrated by Eileen Christelow. Houghton Mifflin, ©2006. Emma, a desperate dog, writes a letter to Queenie, the new canine advice columnist. Her master, George, gets upset by “the least little thing” and she doesn’t know what to do. Emma tries to follow the advice given and nothing seems to be successful. Queenie then suggests looking for a job and when Emma auditions, she is given a part in a traveling theater group. She wonders if George misses her, and reunites with George when she returns from the tour. (Dogs, Cats, Home, Friendship, Personified animals)

Little Elephant’s Trunk, written and illustrated by Hazel Lincoln. Albert Whitman and Co., ©2006. The reader learns all the uses of a trunk, through the story of a baby elephant’s first day. Other animals of the African plains are referred to in the text and are a part of the colorful illustrations. The illustrations are charming and the cute elephant on the cover will draw many readers. (Elephants, Africa, Noses)

Little Mama Forgets, by Robin Cruise, illustrated by Stacey Dressen-McQueen. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, ©2006. Set in Southern California, this story explores the issue of memory loss in the elderly. Lucy knows that her grandmother forgets some basic things but she does remember stories, dances, songs and more. The Mexican flavor is reflected in the colors and contents of the illustrations. This circle story is unified by repeated phrases. A Spanish word glossary is included. (Family, Memory, Forgetfulness, Culture) (Booklist starred)

Moon Plane, written and illustrated by Peter McCarty. Henry Holt and Co., ©2006. A little boy sees a plane and imagines what it would be like to fly in it. During the journey he passes over other common forms of transportation and finally lands on the moon, where he flies. Soon he has to return home, where Mother is waiting and he can fall asleep to dream of planes flying. The soft, black-and-white pencil illustrations and the gentle, soothing rhythm of the text combine to make this a good nap or bedtime read. (Dreams, Transportation, Imagination) (SLJ starred, Booklist starred)

The Moon, by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Tracey Campbell Pearson. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, ©2006. The words of this classic poem are made real by the illustrations. There is a story within the story, as the pictures show father and son on a nocturnal boat trip in the bay to view the moon. The illustrations create a circle story as the title page and next-to-last page show the boy’s messy bedroom. The pictures are colorful and gaily present the story. [821.8] (Poetry, Family, Nighttime) (SLJ starred, Booklist starred)

Nuts, written and illustrated by Paula Gerritsen. Boyds Mills Press, ©2006. It is autumn and time for Mouse to gather nuts from the tree across the fields. She sets off wearing her coat with big pockets to carry the nuts home. She continues on her journey despite warnings from her friends about an approaching storm. She reaches the tree during the storm and finds a snug place to rest and sleep. When she awakens, she finds all the leaves and nuts from the tree are gone. Slowly she trudges home only to find walnuts piled up at her home. The colors of the illustrations add to the fury of the storm and peacefulness to the rest of the time. (Autumn, Weather, Nut-gathering)

On Top of Spaghetti, written and illustrated by Paul Brett Johnson, lyrics by Tom Glazer. Scholastic, ©2006. The story tells a tale about a big sneeze. Yodeler decides to invent the best meatball ever. Just as he puts it on a plate, he sneezes and then the chase is on. The narrative is straight text but the continuing thread is the repetitious, rhythmic phrases that can be sung to the tune of “On Top of Old Smoky.” The illustrations are colorful and humorous and add to the pleasure of the text. Music is included. (Humor, Food, Personified animals)

Pablo the Artist, written and illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, ©2006 (First American edition). Pablo the elephant has developed artist’s block just when he should be preparing a painting for the art show. His friends suggest he take a walk and find a landscape to paint. He starts his painting but takes time to eat and nap, dreaming of how to improve his picture. When he wakes up, he changes his painting as he dreamed and it becomes the star of the show. The illustrations cleverly show each suggestion to enrich the original picture. (Personified animals, Art, Friendship)

Pancakes for Supper, by Anne Isaacs, illustrated by Mark Teague. Scholastic, ©2006. Toby’s adventure starts when she is unexpectedly bounced out of the wagon she is traveling in with her parents. When she lands, she meets a wolf that wants to eat her, but she gives him her blue coat so that he is the “grandest beast.” Then she meets a cougar and gives him her yellow sweater with the same promise. As she continues her journey, she meets a skunk, a porcupine and a bear, giving them each an article of clothing. When the animals meet in the forest, they argue about who is the grandest. Toby’s parents find her, and they eat pancakes. The full-color illustrations are large enough for a reading group. Their action enhances the character and action of the story. The story is reminiscent of one by Helen Bannerman. (Animals, New England, Adventure) (SLJ starred, Booklist starred)

A Particular Cow, by Mem Fox, illustrated by Terry Denton. Harcourt, ©2006. A particular cow went for a stroll that turned out to be less than ordinary. After a series of connected events, the cow finally returns home as if nothing has happened. The sparse watercolor and black-ink illustrations and the captions add to the humor of the story. The full-color pictures would be most appropriate for one-on-one reading. (Animals, Cumulative story, Humor)

Please Play Safe! Penguin’s Guide to Playground Safety, by Margery Cuyler, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. Scholastic, ©2006. Through animal antics, the book portrays common playground rules. The actions, such as standing in line, taking turns, and others, are written as a situation with the question “Is that right?” On the next page, the reader learns the answer is “no” and cites what should be done. Bold, colorful pictures depict the text clearly. (Safety, Playgrounds, Children, School)

Puppies, Puppies Everywhere! written and photographed by Cat Urbigkit. Boyds Mills Press, ©2006. The color photos show puppies doing all kinds of puppy things. The text is easy, making this a true introduction to dog behaviors. The details in the photos need individual viewing. (Puppies, Pets)

A Puppy for Annie, written and illustrated by Kim Lewis. Candlewick Press, ©2006. Through soft, detailed illustrations, the reader enters the world of Annie and her puppy, Bess. They learn about each other and enjoy their time together. Throughout, Annie learns what Bess is trying to tell her. The puppy’s picture on the cover invites the reader into the book. The illustrations are done in colored pencil and pastels and engage the reader in the story. (Pets, Home, Family)

The Rabbit Who Couldn’t Find His Daddy, by Lilian Edvall, illustrated by Sara Gimbergsson, translated by Elisabeth Kallick Dyssegaard. Holtzbrinck, ©2006 (First American edition). Rabbit goes looking for his Daddy throughout the house. His sister joins him and they are accidentally locked out. Mother comes to the rescue, and Daddy comes up from the basement, where he was looking for his old toys. He rescues a scruffy, old lamb and all is right in the family again. The illustrations are in dark colors, which are counterbalanced by the white space around them. The action and emotions are clearly shown in the pictures. Translated from Swedish. (Personified animals, Parents, Family, Courage, Toys)

Read and Rise, by Sandra L. Pinkney, photographs by Myles C. Pinkney, forward by Maya Angelou. Scholastic, ©2006. The theme of this book is that reading can take you anywhere. It shows children reading and reacting to books and encourages the reader to explore, dance and soar. It is a what-reading-means-to-me book leading to discussions and other activities. (Children, Books, Reading, Rhyming)

Sam’s Winter Hat, by Albert Lamb, illustrated by David McPhail. Scholastic, ©2006. Sam has a tendency to lose things by putting them aside and forgetting to pick them up later. The last thing he lost was a blue hat made by his grandmother, and he tries to find it. He lies on the ground and looks up and sees his hat in the tree. He and his friend Billy rescue it. The soft and gentle illustrations match the mood and theme of the story. (Lost and found, Personified animals, Bears)

Sea Stars: Saltwater Poems, by Avis Harley, photographs by Margaret Butschler. Boyds Mills Press, ©2006. This book presents a clever concept. For very young children, looking at the photographs first would probably be helpful. Then, look at the poems selectively for the class. The poems range from cute to some with deeper meaning. [811.4] (Sea life, Poetry, Animals, Plants)

Silly Billy, written and illustrated by Anthony Browne. Candlewick Press, ©2006. A cute and comforting story for all worriers that centers on young Billy, who worries about almost everything. Finally, his grandmother introduces him to worry dolls and tells him he will sleep peacefully if he tells them his worries before bedtime. This works for awhile, until he starts to worry about all the worries he told the dolls. So he makes worry dolls for the worry dolls and for his friends. Information about Guatemalan worry dolls is included. The pictures are watercolor and colored pencil and are in full color when there are no worries but are one color with black lines otherwise. (Art projects, Multicultural, Worries, Friendship)

Substitute Groundhog, by Pat Miller, illustrated by Kathi Ember. Albert Whitman and Co., ©2006. This story involves an unusual premise, as seen in the title. Groundhog is sick and will not be able to exit his hole in time for Groundhog Day. After many possible substitutes are suggested, Armadillo is finally chosen. In the end, the two head off for Texas. The illustrations follow the storyline and embellish it with background details. (Personified animals, Groundhog Day)

That’s Love, by Sam Williams, illustrated by Mique Moriuchi. Holiday House, ©2006. Rhyming text and simple illustrations record the many facets of love from a childlike perspective. The last page summarizes by saying: “Seeing the good/the way we all should/Being special,/being there,/the way you are/the way you care/that’s love.” The multitude of ideas and the brightly colored illustrations make an attractive book. (Love, People, Emotions)

Toolbox Twins, by Lola M. Schaefer, illustrated by Melissa Iwai. Henry Holt and Co., ©2006. The text introduces the name and uses of common tools as father and son use them at home. The rhyming text is cheerful, encouraging the idea that doing with chores with Dad is fun. The colorful illustrations clearly follow the text through the various repairs. (Introductory, Tool, Dad, Family)

Up On Daddy’s Shoulders, by Matt Berry, illustrated by Lucy Corvino. Scholastic, ©2006. There is something special about riding on Daddy’s shoulders. It is exciting, wonderful and fun being up so high that you can touch the tops of trees, be bigger than your brother, and soar. That is what this story tells as a good, gentle sleepy time book. The illustrations fit the story in mood and content. (Fathers, Sons, Imagination)

Wag a Tail, written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert. Harcourt, ©2006. In her signature use of bright, vivid colors and bold images, Ehlert tells the story of the graduates of the Bow Wow School. These dogs are well behaved at the Farmer’s Market but when they leave, they go to the park to play. The images of the dogs progress from staid and obedient to jumping, leaping and having a good time. The pictures were created much like a quilt – pieces of material, paper and buttons form the dogs and their owners. In an author’s note, Ehlert says some of the scraps used were leftovers from other books. (Dogs, Farmer’s Market, Training dogs)

What is Science? by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa. Henry Holt and Co., ©2006. This introductory text presents the broad scope of the topics found under the name “science.” Some of the topics include geology, astronomy and anthropology. The text, due to its rhyme and rhythm, moves quickly. The illustrations are big and bold consisting of acrylic, pastel and paper collage mediums. [500] (Introductory, Science)

When Daddy’s Truck Picks Me Up, by Jana Novotny Hunter, illustrated by Carol Thompson. Albert Whitman and Co., ©2006. A little boy’s dad drives a red tanker truck and today is his day to pick up his son at school. The boy gets up early and fidgets all day waiting for Daddy. When will he come? He is delayed in traffic but finally arrives. Dad and son will have quality time together in the truck. There is some repetition in the telling, but if read rapidly this creates the excitement the child feels. The full-color illustrations are simple with definite personalities provided for each character. The storyline provides good structure for drama. (Stories in rhyme, Dads, Trucks, Family)

Winter Song: A Poem by William Shakespeare, illustrated by Melanie Hall, introduction by Alice Provensen. Boyds Mills Press, ©2006. Even young children can appreciate Shakespeare when his words are presented in an easy way. In this case, the words describe a bitterly cold day and what people are doing. The few Elizabethan expressions are defined in the back. The illustrations done in mixed media present the time period and text clearly. [821.33] (Shakespeare, Poetry, Winter)