For the Youngest Readers (Toddlers to Kindergarten)

THERE’S GOING TO BE A BABY
Written by John Burningham, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury (Candlewick Press)
This book is a delightful story featuring an expectant mother explaining to her toddler about the future arrival of a new baby. Both mother’s and son’s perspectives on what this new baby will do someday are precious.

BEAUTIFUL OOPS!
Written an illustrated by Barney Saltzberg (Workman Publishing)
This extraordinary book is all about making something wonderful and creative from what may appear to be a mistake or accident when working with paper. It’s a fantastic board book with interactive pages that lends itself to imagination and creativity.

I CAN BE ANYTHING
Written by Jerry Spinelli, illustrated by Jimmy Liao (Little Brown)
Encouraging a child’s imagination to flow with the endless possibilities provided in this world is great for self-esteem and creativity. Reading Spinelli’s book to young ones is surely a place to get them started.

For Readers (Kindergarten to 2nd Grade)

FRIENDS (MOSTLY)
Written by Barbara Joosse, illustrated by Tomaso Milian (Greenwillow)
Joosse & Milian brilliantly capture the essence of making friends at a young age. Children will emotionally connect with the good and challenging moments in this friendship.

I AM THE DOG
Written by Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by Jack E. Davis (Harper)
Imagine changing places with your dog and doing what he or she does over a short period of time, and you will catch the essence of this laugh-out-loud read. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself chuckling about this book days later.

WHY?
Written and illustrated by Richard Torrey (Harper)
The “why” question comes up a lot as children try to make sense of the world around them. Take time to answer as best you can. Asking questions is an important part of learning, as you can see in this book.

For Readers (3rd to 6th Grade) 

I FEEL BETTER WITH A FROG IN MY THROAT: HISTORY’S STRANGEST CURES
Written and illustrated by Carlyn Beccia (Houghton Mifflin)
With flu and cold season approaching, you might want to check this book out for a bit of history on what cures have worked in the past and have actually influenced preventive care today. You will learn about some cures that were not a good idea, too!

THE ODIOUS OGRE
Written by Norton Juster, illustrated by Jules Feiffer (Scholastic)
The cover illustration alone will make you want to pick up this book. This thoughtful story has messages about insecurity, self-doubt, despair, hope, and kindness. Readers will ponder at the conclusion.

BORN YESTERDAY: THE DIARY OF A YOUNG JOURNALIST
Written James Solheim, illustrated by Simon James (Philomel)
Comical writing from a baby’s perspective makes this book unique. It can be used as a great anchor text for point of view, voice, and journal writing.

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