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Journey
Author: Aaron Becker Book Link Sometimes it is hard to read a book with no words. But this one is a picturesque, imaginative and adventurous journey powered by a red marker. My five year old has narrated the story to her dolls and is marvelous book to help children unlock their imagination. This is one…
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Seven Blind Mice
Author: Ed Young Book Link Seven Blind Mice are trying to identify a strange object in their path. Each one goes on each day of the week to figure out what the object is. My daughter guessed the object right on the first page but it was still a lot of fun to read through…
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Last stop on Market Street
Author: Matt De La Pena Illustrator: Christian Robinson Any time one can travel on a city bus with their grandmom on a leisure trip, one should definitely do it. Grandmoms are wonderful people in building community. This book is no exception. My daughter is a first generation America living in the American suburbia , so…
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Waiting
Author: Kevin Henkes A pig, a bear, a bunny, an owl and a dog are waiting by the window side. They are all waiting for something. While they wait, they experience the moon, rain, thunder, winds and their days goes on. They have newer friends who join them from time to time. Some stay with…
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Hot Dog
Author: Doug Salati “A picture can convey a 1000 words”. Doug Salati’s hot dog is a perfect example for that famous idiom. He captures the dog’s frustration, desperation, elation and every other emotion with his wonderful pictures. My daughter loves the beach and carries a stuffed animal which is a sea lion. Both the beach…
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Alma and how she got her name
Author: Juana Martinez- Neal A girl with a really long name wants to know the reason behind her long name. Her dad goes about explaining the story behind each person whose name is a part of her name. What follows is a wonderful passing down of family heritage and how we all really are standing…
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Finding Winnie: True Story of the World Famous Bear
Author: Lindsay Mattick Illustrator: Sophie Blackall This is one of the coolest origin stories. The story is about the man who found Winnie in Winnie the Pooh and also the man who created Winnie, the character. As I was reading the book, my daughter wanted to whether it is really a true story. She also…
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Sam and Dave Dig a Hole
Author: Mac Barnett Illustrator: Jon Klassen This book is one of my daughter’s favorite books. There are many times she has gone back and asked Sam and Dave to dig their hole in the right direction. Jon Klassen is a hero. He transforms a simple book with this wonderful and uncomplicated illustrations. I couldnt help…
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The Truth About Dragons
Author: Julie Leung Illustrator: Hanna Cha A mom reads a richly illustrated bed time story to her toddler about going on an expedition to figure out the truth about dragons. The pictures make you feel as if you are right in the adventure with him. The truth sayers are two old women living in very…
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A Different Pond
Author: Bao Phi Illustrator: Thi Bui A Great book with beautiful illustrations. A young Vietnamese boy accompanies his father one early morning on a fishing trip. This fishing trip is not for fun but to put dinner on the table for that night. Dad shares his memories about fishing at a different pond in…
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Leave me alone
Author: Vera Brosgol Hands down, this book has the best title. I am sure most parents with kids will agree. Jokes apart, this is heart warming tale about a grandma who wants to get finish with her annual pet project but is disrupted by her grandkids of all ages. She leaves the house to finish…
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Have you ever seen a flower
Author: Shawn Harris This book is a visual treat. The first page opens in the city in a color depicting the lack of open spaces in the city – black. The mood improves in the second page as if we drive out to the faraway open spaces. The book bursts with color from there on.…
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Thank you, Omu
Author & Illustrator: Oge Mora I can smell Omu’s Red stew – Out the window, Out the door , down the hall, toward the street, around the block, through the pages and just like her many neighbors, even I feel like knocking on her door. This book is celebration of food, community and sharing. It…
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Mel Fell
Author & Illustrator: Corey R Tabor If there is a Hall of Fame for kids books, this book should belong in it. Mel is a Kingfisher who is trying to get out of his nest and fly for the first time. She is going to do it in the absence of his mom. She steps…
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Where the Wild things are
Author and Illustrator: “The OG” Maurice Sendak This is a tribute to the wild imagination inside every child, who wants to command a army of wild things and rule them. There is a Max in all of us. The visuals draw you in bringing out child’s impishness, courage, valor , hunger, anger, enjoyment and vulnerability.…
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Make way for Ducklings
This is another book that was written in the early 1940s . I fear I might have to drop the word – “Classic”. (Read Mark Tawin’s quote on Classics and you will know the reason for my apprehension). A Mallard and his wife take you on a tour of Boston as they attempt to start…
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No, David
When I read books to my toddler, I am most satisfied when it brings out a smile in them. She couldn’t stop giggling halfway through No David when the kid steps out to the street and his mom is yelling “No, David”. This is a beautifully illustrated book and fully deserves the Caldecott Honor. The…
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Du Iz Tak
The fun fact about this book is it is written in Insect Language with English alphabets. So it is really hilarious to decipher what the insects are talking and you can let your imagination run wild. The astounding visuals on each page help your broaden that creativity. We have discussed butterfly life cycles, seasons, plant…
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Knight Owl
I read nightly to my five year old and I am reading her Caldecott medal winning books or Caldecott Honor books. We recently read the Knight Owl by Christopher Denise. The illustrations are perfect – an owl who wants to be a Knight who is perservering, clever and strong. The reveal in the section where…