Thanks to Shelley H. Allen, Ph.D. – Reading Consultant and Children’s Literature Specialist

Originally produced by Read Aloud Virginia

Key for age recommendations: P = Preschool, K= Kindergarten, 1 = 1st Grade, 2 = 2nd Grade

Allen, J. & Humphries, T. (2000). Are You a Ladybug? Kingfisher. P-1
An informative and appealing nonfiction book. Part of the “Backyard Books” series. Vocabulary: aphids, problem, underneath, congratulations

Allen, J. &Humphries, T. (2002). Are You an Ant? Kingfisher. P-2
An appealing informational picture book about the life cycle of black garden ants. Vocabulary: larva, pupa, nurseries, corridors, prey, aphids

Aylesworth, J. (1992). Old Black Fly. Henry Holt. P-K
A fly buzzes through the alphabet in this rollicking, rhyming text with a surprise ending. Vocabulary: bothered, frolicked, nibbled, pestered

Bruel, N. (2005). Bad Kitty. Scholastic. K-2
Kitty takes several hilarious trips through the alphabet when her owners give her healthy, then cat-friendly foods.
Vocabulary: endangered, grappled, irritated, loitered, quarreled, tormented

Carle, E. (1997). From Head to Toe. HarperCollins. P
Readers are invited to mimic the movements of animals in this colorful book. Vocabulary: [wild animal and color identification]

Cronin, D. (2003). Diary of a Worm. Scholastic. K-2
A young worm humorously describes his experiences, family, and friends. Vocabulary: tunnel, hopscotch, Secret Service agent

Demi. (1990). The Empty Pot. Henry Holt. K-2
In this folktale, an emperor challenges the children of China to grow flowers from his special seeds. Although Ping fails to get the seeds to grow, he is richly rewarded for his honesty. Vocabulary: tended, successor, proclamation, eagerly

Dorros, A. (1991). Abuela. Puffin. 1-3
A young Hispanic girl takes an imaginary flight over the city with her grandma. Vocabulary: abuela, surround, papayas, harbor

Edwards, P.D. (1996). Some Smug Slug. HarperCollins. K-2
A smug slug ignores the warnings of other animals and meets an unexpected ending. Vocabulary: smug, slope, sinister, suspicion, sham, succulent

Edwards, P.D. (2001). Clara Caterpillar. HarperCollins. P-2
Plain but plucky Clara, a cream-colored butterfly, uses camouflage to rescue conceited, crimson-colored Catisha from the clutches of a hungry crow.
Vocabulary: courageous, contented, cruel, scrumptious, conceited, camouflaged, crisis

Ericsson, J. A. (1993). No Milk! Tambourine. P-K
Readers are encouraged to repeat the refrain, “but no milk!” as a city boy tries a variety of interesting methods to milk a cow.
Vocabulary: pail, stool, dented

Evans, K. (1992). Hunky Dory Ate It. Puffin. P
Simple rhyming text invites children to chime in as a naughty dog steals and eats his neighbors’ food.
Vocabulary: [rhyming words]

Fleming, D. (2006). The Cow Who Clucked. Henry Holt. P-K A cow scours the farm in search of her lost “moo.” Vocabulary: [farm animal identification]

Fox, M. (1988). Koala Lou. Harcourt Brace. K-2
After other siblings come along, Koala Lou tries to regain the attention of her mother by competing in the Bush Olympics.
Vocabulary: splendid, compete, spectators, kookaburra, appeared

Fuge, C. (2006). Where To, Little Wombat? Sterling. P-K
Little Wombat is dissatisfied with his own burrow and sets out to find a better home. Vocabulary: grumbled, burrow, fantastic, marvelous, comfortable, appeared

Gibbons, G. (1999). Pigs. Holiday House. K-2
Learn all about pigs in this informational picture book.
Vocabulary: domestic, descended, traits, moisten, desperate, cartilage, foraging

Gray, L. M. (1994). Small Green Snake. Orchard. K-2
Despite his mother’s dire warnings, a daring young snake ventures over the garden wall. Vocabulary: startled, stern, chorus, boldly, disappear

Gunson, C. (1995). Over on the Farm. Scholastic. P
Ten lively baby animals are counted in this variation on the “Over in the Meadow” rhyme. Vocabulary: clever, leap, rustle, orchard

Henkes, K. (1991). Chrysanthemum. Greenwillow. K-2
Chrysanthemum is teased at school because of her unusual name, until her adored music teacher reveals an unusual name of her own.
Vocabulary: appreciate, dreadful, miserably, fascinating, envious, indescribable

Henkes, K. (1993). Owen. Troll. P-1
Owen’s parents try a variety of methods to get him to relinquish his favorite yellow blanket. Finally his mother thinks of the perfect solution.
Vocabulary: absolutely, invisible, essential, especially

Henkes, K. (1987). Sheila Ray the Brave. Puffin. K-2
Sheila Rae is fearless until she gets lost taking a new way home from school. Luckily her timid sister Louise is there to help her. Vocabulary: creatures, occurred, familiar, convinced

Isadora, R. (2007). The Princess and the Pea. G.P. Putnam’s Sons. P-2
The classic fairy tale is told in an African setting with colorful illustrations. Vocabulary: difficult, terrible, sensitive

Jenkins, S. (1997). What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You? Houghton Mifflin. P-2 Fascinating factual book about animal defense systems.
Vocabulary: avoid, threaten, confusing, impossible, immune, predator

Johnston, T. (1995). The Iguana Brothers. Blue Sky Press. 1-2.
Tom and Dom, iguanas from Mexico, carry on humorous conversations in three vignettes. Vocabulary: lolling, fearsome, constellation, attractive, “palido” (pale), “hola” (hello), “lo ciento” (I’m sorry)

Lass, B. & Sturges, P. (2000). Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar? Scholastic. P Skunk tries to find out who took the cookies from the cookie jar in this repetitive, rhyming chant. Includes instructions for a game to go with the chant.
Vocabulary: [woodland animal identification]

Lester, H. (1986). A Porcupine Named Fluffy. Houghton Mifflin. K-2
A porcupine learns to embrace his unusual name with the help of an unlikely new friend. Vocabulary: delighted, suspicious, convinced, remained, exhausted

Levine, E. (2007). Henry’s Freedom Box. Scholastic. 2 and up.
Gorgeously illustrated true story of Henry “Box” Brown, who mailed himself to freedom on the Underground Railroad.
Vocabulary: beckoned, factory, crate, warehouse, vitriol

Look, L. (2006). Uncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding. Atheneum. 1-2
A young Chinese-American girl describes the traditional Chinese customs – and her mixed feelings – surrounding her favorite uncle’s wedding.
Vocabulary: wealth, bargain, aurora borealis, incense, ceremony, tofu

Lowell, S. (1992). The Three Little Javelinas. Scholastic. 1-4 Southwestern twist on the “Three Little Pigs” folktale.
Vocabulary: fortunes, coyote, hullabaloo, suspicious, discouraged,

Lovell, P. (2001). Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon. Scholastic. K-2
Molly Lou is a tiny dynamo who is proud of her quirks, thanks to her grandma’s sage advice. Vocabulary: boa constrictor, fumble fingered, glee, foolish, revealed

Marshall, J. (1988). Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Dial. P-2 Humorous retelling of the traditional folktale.
Vocabulary: naughty, scalding, porridge, smithereens, explanation

McBratney, S. (1996). The Dark at the Top of the Stairs. Candlewick. K-1
A wise old mouse leads his three young charges to the top of their cellar stairs to see the “monster” that lurks there for themselves.
Vocabulary: cellar, comfortable, journey, mention, heap