Feelings and Colors by Julia Levine - ESSENTIAL

Levine, Julia Pimsleur Little Pim: Feelings.  Abrams Books for Young Readers 2011 $8.95. Content G-BOARD BOOK. Pim the Panda explores emotions such as surprised, sad, and scared in English, Spanish, and French. Each page is filled with examples and non-examples of a specific emotion using interactive flaps and slide outs. Although I’m new to the Little Pim books, I’m guessing they all have the French and Spanish translation.  This is a very fun and educational book. Pre-K - ESSENTIAL. Shauna, reading teacher.

Levine, Julia Pimsleur Little Pim: Colors.  Abrams Books for Young Readers 2011 $8.95. Content G-BOARD BOOK. Pim the Panda explores colors in English, Spanish, and French as he collects balloons. Each page is filled with examples and non-examples using interactive flaps and slide outs. Although I’m new to the Little Pim books, I’m guessing they all have the French and Spanish translation.  This is a very fun and educational book. Pre-K - ESSENTIAL. Shauna, reading teacher.

Peas on Earth by Todd Doodler - OPTIONAL

Doodler, Todd H. Peas on Earth. Robin Corey Books, 2012 $6.99. Content G- BOARD BOOK. There’s a bit of a social commentary and encouragement to do the right thing mixed throughout the book. The peas give examples of what “peas on earth” would look like as everyone gets along and no one gets hurt.  The book has a cute message if you want to teach your kids that life could be perfect if you make the effort. If you want your kids to get used to disappointment so they will have the coping skills later in life, this might not be the book for you. 

Pre-K, EL - OPTIONAL. Shauna, reading teacher.

B is for Babar by Laurent Brunhoff - ADVISABLE

Brunhoff, Laurent De. B is for Babar: An Alphabet book. Abrams Appleseed, 2012 $7.95. BOARD BOOK. The text is new, but the pictures are classic Babar. The text gives early readers a small taste of alliteration as it reinforces the sound that each letter makes. The pictures are cute and the text is not too easy; just a bit of a challenge for an emerging reader. Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE. 

Shauna, reading teacher.

My Birdie and My Bunny by Jessie Ford - ADVISABLE

Ford, Jessie. My Birdie Abrams Appleseed, 2012 $6.95. BOARD BOOK. Just in time for spring and Easter the birdie book has arrived. This book features basic counting to four while telling what parts are on a bird. Each page also has a puzzle piece that pops out to create a small four-piece puzzle of a bird. PRE-K - ADVISABLE Shauna, reading teacher.

Ford, Jessie. My Bunny Abrams Appleseed, 2012 $6.95. BOARD BOOK. Just in time for Easter and spring the bunny book has arrived. Each page tells what bunnies do and also has a puzzle piece that pops out and creates a small four-piece puzzle of a bunny. This is perfect for quiet time or for stuffing a basket. PRE-K, PARENTS. Shauna, reading teacher.

Yawn by Sally Symes - ADVISABLE

Symes, Sally Yawn, illustrated by Nick Sharrat.  Candlewick Press, 2011.  $8.  Content: G.  STOP!  Don’t read this book until you are in your pajamas and ready for bed.  You have been warned.  As baby Sean lets out a great big yawn, he passes to a succession of unwitting victims – including you!  

A sturdy board book with a great big hole in the middle is always lots of fun!  Pre-K – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

Pantone Colors by Abrams Appleseed

Pantone Colors by Abrams Appleseed.  BOARD BOOK.  $10.  The people at Abrams have partnered with the professional color people – Pantone - to create a board book of the basic colors matched with twenty variations, each with the official pantone number and a real life name.  

When my daughter was little, she was always very precise – “These aren’t shoes, Mom.  I am wearing sandals,’” she would say.  Thank goodness this book wasn’t around then, because them every single color in the world would have had a specific name!   I would have never heard the word ‘green’ again – instead it would have been pistachio, olive, lettuce, leaf, grass, emerald and so on.  And I would have loved every minute of it!  I can’t imagine an art teacher that wouldn’t love to share it with their classes.  

PRE-K, EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL; EVERYONE – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

A You’re Adorable by Martha Aexander - ADVISABLE

Alexander, Martha. A You’re Adorable Candlewick Press, 1994. $6.99. Content G- BOARD/PICTURE book.  This ABC book is based on a “popular” song from the 1940s,  although I cannot place the song. It’s a cute board book with lots of fun illustrations. PRE-K - ADVISABLE. Shauna, reading teacher.

Trains Go by Steve Light - ADVISABLE

Light, Steve. Trains Go Chronicle Books, 2012. $8.99. Content G- BOARD/PICTURE BOOK. The shape of the book adds to the fun of it. It’s about 12”x6” so opened it’s 24” long! Each page shows a different type of train along with the sound it makes. This a great book for train lovers, and teachers that want to expose their students to onomatopoeia for the first time. PRE-K, EL - ADVISABLE. Shauna, reading teacher.

Bizzy Bear: Let’s Go and Play by Benji Davies - ADVISABLE

Davies, Benji Bizzy Bear: Let’s Go and Play.  Nosy Crow (Candlewick), 2011.  $6.99.  BOARD BOOK.  Content: G.  Bizzy Bear is off to play with his friends in the park.   While the rhymes left me a bit underwhelmed, they are spot on for the little hands these books are intended for.  The colors are bright and the pictures are happy – and the added dimension of sturdy pull tabs and slide-y rings mean that this movable board book will stand up under a lot of use.  Pre-K – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Bizzy Bear: Fun on the Farm by Benji Davies - ADVISABLE

Davies, Benji Bizzy Bear: Fun on the Farm.  Nosy Crow (Candlewick), 2011.  $6.99.  BOARD BOOK.  Content: G.  Bizzy Bear is off to visit the farm.  In short, repetitious rhyme he meets the animals and helps out.  While the rhymes left me a bit underwhelmed, they are spot-on for the little hands these books are intended for.  The colors are bright and the pictures are happy – and the added dimension of sturdy pull tabs and slide-y rings mean that this movable board book will stand up under a lot of use.  Pre-K – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher