For the Youngest Readers (Toddlers to Kindergarten)

HELLO BABY!
Written by Mem Fox, illustrated by Steve Jenkins (Beach Lane Books)
Audiences will wonder who that special baby is as they encounter one creature after another. With exuberant rhyming text and adorable cut-paper illustrations, this book is an irresistible celebration of the joyful connection between parent and child.

SHADES OF PEOPLE
Written by Shelley Rotner & Sheila M. Kelly, photos by Shelley Rotner (Holiday House)
This is a feel-good book for everyone. Photographs and carefully selected vocabulary present a beautiful look at skin color, inspiring young children both to take notice and to look beyond the obvious.

RHYMING DUST BUNNIES
Written and illustrated by Jan Thomas (Beach Lane books)
Most children know what dust bunnies are, but few have met the rhyming kind. This playful book introduces rhyming word play and perhaps a bit of empathy for dust bunnies.

For Readers (Kindergarten to 2nd Grade)

OUR CHILDREN CAN SOAR: A CELEBRATION OF ROSA, BARACK, AND THE PIONEERS OF CHANGE
Written by Michelle Cook, illustrated by a host of award-winning illustrators (Bloomsbury)
A fine tribute to African-Americans who have influenced the freedoms we all share in the United States. Each featured character, from the Civil War forward, has a unique link to President Barack Obama.

MESSING AROUND ON THE MONKEY BARS: AND OTHER SCHOOL POEMS FOR TWO VOICES
Written by Betsy Franco, illustrated by Jessie Hartland (Candlewick Press)
Meant to be read in two voices, this book of humorous school poems is great for reading aloud.

TYRANNOSAURUS MATH
Written by Michelle Markel, illustrated by Doug Cushman (Tricycle Press)
This book uses dinosaurs to teach math concepts and applications with a touch of wit. Readers can challenge themselves to see and apply math in their world, as modeled by Tyrannosaurus Math.

For Readers (3rd to 6th Grade)

10 KINGS & QUEENS WHO CHANGED THE WORLD
Written by Clive Gifford, illustrated by David Cousens (Kingfisher)
Riveting graphic illustrations highlight the good and bad personality traits and actions of each royalty featured. Gifford does a great job condensing the biographies into captivating narratives, blending prose and illustration seamlessly.

ATLAS OF FIRSTS: A WORLD OF AMAZING RECORD BREAKERS
Written by Clive Gifford (Kingfisher)
Filled with fact-based trivia for the curious, this book covers sports, science, history, people, objects, and animals from around the globe.

MY PAPA DIEGO AND ME: MEMORIES OF MY FATHER AND HIS ART
Written by Guadalupe Rivera Marín, paintings by Diego Rivera (Children’s Book Press)
Rarely does a unique bilingual biography written by an offspring of such a famous artist appear as a children’s book.  The author treats readers to personal insights on her father’s paintings and family photos.

Book reviews provided by BSU professor Stan Steiner, the Bookman.  For more book suggestions and reviews, visit his web page at education.boisestate.edu/stansteiner.