For the Youngest Readers (Toddlers to Kindergarten) 

WYNKEN, BLYNKEN, AND NOD 
Written by Eugene W. Field, illustrated by David McPhail (Scholastic)
This classic nursery rhyme has been a bedtime favorite in many homes. McPhail’s illustrations provide a playful link to toddlers’ imaginations as they nod off to sleep.

WAITING FOR WINTER
Written and illustrated by Sebastian Meschenmoser (Kane Miller Publishing)
Amusing illustrations portray a young squirrel, hedgehog, and bear each claiming to have found the first snowflake of the season. Each funny object meets some of the criteria for snow but none is a perfect match.

THE LION & THE MOUSE
Written and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney (Little, Brown)
Jerry Pinkney’s amazing illustrations will hold readers’ attention from cover to cover. Another amazing part of this story is Pinkney’s clever use of minimal words. There is no dialogue, only words describing a sound.

For Readers (Kindergarten to 2nd Grade)

THE PLOT CHICKENS
Written by Mary Jane Auch, illustrated by Herm Auch (Holiday House)
Henrietta, the chicken, faces manuscript rejections from the publishers, but her intended audience, children at the library, love her story. This book is a humorous and perfect read-aloud for budding authors. 

BUG-A-LICIOUS (in the Extreme Cuisine series)
Written and illustrated by Meish Goldish (Bearport Publishing)
Yum! Did you know that there are more than 1700 kinds of insects eaten in over 100 countries around the world? Check this book out for some delicacies near you. 

WHEN IT’S SIX O’CLOCK IN SAN FRANCISCO
Written by Cynthia Jaynes Omololu, illustrated by Randy DuBurke (Clarion Books)
This book takes readers across the time zones through the lives of kids. In San Francisco, Jared is starting his day as children in other parts of the world are doing a host of activities from playing soccer, to eating, to ending their day.

For Readers (3rd to 6th Grade)                                                                    

THE GAMES BOOK: HOW TO PLAY THE GAMES OF YESTERDAY
Written by Hugh Davis, illustrated by Lisa Jackson (Scholastic)
This book has potential on many fronts. Indoor and outdoor games, two or more players actively involved, reading with a purpose with built-in comprehension checks, and intergenerational dialogue from stories associated with playing the games. 

CHILL: DISCOVER THE COOL (AND CREATIVE) SIDE OF YOUR FRIDGE
Written by Allan Peterkin, illustrated by Mike Shiell (Kids Can Press)
Have you ever seen a refrigerator without decorations? Okay, maybe in a store, but whether it is a family, grandparent, relative, or friend’s fridge, there is always something attached to the door. This book will give you enough decorative ideas for a lifetime—or  at least the life of the fridge.

JANUARY’S SPARROW
Written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco (Philomel Books)
Patricia Polacco’s knack for finding and telling good stories comes through in this book about a dramatic event that happened near her hometown. This is a compelling tale of one slave family’s escape to freedom during the American Civil War era.

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