Picture Books Too Good To Miss—The Remix! Andreasen, Dan. The Treasure Bath. N.Y.: Henry Holt, 2009. Gr. P-3 A wordless picture book in which a little boy takes a magical and not altogether disappointing bath. Ashman, Linda. Samantha on a Roll. Illus. Christine Davenier. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2011. Gr. PK-2, Good rhyming, relatively complex sentences for reluctant/emergent readers The protagonist goes against her mom’s wishes and takes a romp through the house and the park on her skates. Aston, Dianna Hutts. Dream Something Big: The Story of the Watts Towers. Illus. Susan Roth New York: Dial Books, 2011. Gr. 3-6, Nice Back Matter, supplemental materials readily available (nice Youtube video about Rodia) The story of Simon Rodia’s towers in Watts, California, and his relationship with the neighborhood. Baker, Jeannie. Mirror. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2010. Gr. P-5 A multi format book in which the right side is the experience of a Moroccan boy and the left side is the experience of an Australian boy. Wordless, the introduction to the two stories are given in both English and Arabic. Highlights the differences as well as some commonalities. Multicultural, Contemporary Realism Bandy, Michael. White Water: Inspired by a True Story. Illus. Shadra Strickland. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2011. Favorite, Multicultural, Historical A young boy is so plagued by thoughts that the water in the whites only fountain is better that he risks everything to find out if its true. Barnett, Mac. Extra Yarn. Illus. Jon Klassen. New York: Balzer & Bray, 2012. Gr. PK-3 Annabelle finds a box and a supply of yarn that never runs out, so she knits for everyone and everything in town. But, an archduke decides that he wants this mysterious yarn for himself. Barrett, Mary Brigid. Shoebox Sam. Illus. Frank Morrison. Grand Rapids, MI: Zonderkidz, 2011. Gr. PK-3, Multicultural, Favorite Two young children watch and help Shoebox Sam invite everyone into his store and offer kindness and shoes, even to the “least of these”. Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. Naamah and The Ark at Night: A Lullaby. Illus. Holly Meade. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2011. Gr. K-5, Multicultural, Ghazal-Arabic Poetry form (couplet ends in same word preceded by rhyming word) Naamah is Noah’s wife and this is her perspective of an evening on the ark.

Base, Graeme. The Jewel Fish of Karnak. New York: Abrams Books, 2011. Gr. 1-6, Puzzle Book, Favorite, Fun! Two thieves are brought before the Cat Pharaoh and are told to solve a riddle in order to be pardoned. Students who solve the riddle can go to the website for a reward. Becker, Bonny. A Bedtime for Bear. Illus. Kady MacDonald Denton. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2010. Gr. P-3 Bear needs it to be absolutely quiet in order to fall asleep, but his new friend Mouse has to help him with this in more ways than one. ___________. A Visitor for Bear. Illus. Kady MacDonald Denton. Cambridge: Candlewick Press, 2008. Gr. P-3 Bear does not want friends and likes his life just as it is, until he has an unexpected guest show up for breakfast. Burningham, John. It’s A Secret. Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2009. Gr. P-3 A young girl gets to explore and share in the secret nightlife of her pet cat. Buzzeo, Toni. One Cool Friend. Illus. David Small. New York: Dial Books, 2012. Gr. PK3. Favorite, Very funny twist at the end, some factoids make this a nice way to introduce a penguin unit. Elliot, a proper young man, takes a penguin as a friend and dad’s reaction is quite unexpected. Carle, Eric. The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse. New York: Philomel Books, 2011. Gr. PK-3, Beautiful illustrations, for the preschool set or younger elementary students who need an introduction to Franz Marc A child paints everyday animals in a variety of different hues, just like the artist Franz Marc. Includes biographical ino about Marc. Castillo, Lauren. Melvin and the Boy. New York: Henry Holt, 2011. Gr. P-3 A boy chooses a turtle that he finds at a park to be his pet. But, ultimately, he realizes that the turtle is only happy in his former habitat. Favorite, Emergent Literacy Cole, Brock. The Money We’ll Save. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2011. Gr. PK-3, A Christmas Story but also good for historical picture book requests; looks at city tenement life during the late 19th Century. Hoping to save money for the Christmas holiday, a family raises a turkey for a grand dinner. Cooper, Elisha. Farm. N.Y.: Orchard Books, 2010. Gr. P-5, Favorite Follows a family and the work of a farm from early spring through winter. Crews, Nina. Sky-High Guy. N.Y.: Henry Holt, 2010. Gr. P-1 A solitary boy gets help from his brother to retrieve his toy from a tree. Crum, Shutta. Thunder-Boomer! Ill. Carol Thompson. N.Y.: Clarion, 2009. Gr.P-3 After a summer thunder storm a family finds a new friend.

Czekaj, Jef. Hip and Hop, Don’t Stop! N.Y.: Disney Hyperion, 2010. Gr. PK-3, Favorite Hip, a turtle, and Hop, a rabbit, become fast friends despite their differences and use their love for rap to bring all their animal friends on board. Diggs, Taye. Chocolate Me! Illus. Shane Evans. New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2011. Gr. K-2, Multicultural, Good read for kids who are dealing with skin tone issues and or their friends/tormentors Relates his experiences of having dark skin and other African American features when his friends look so different and don’t always understand. Dodd, Emma. I Don’t Want a Posh Dog. N.Y.: Little Brown, 2009. Gr. P-3 EL—short sent., Easy vocab. In rhyming text the narrator explains the best kind of dog to have. __________. I am Small. New York: Scholastic, 2011. Gr. PK-1, Emergent, silver foil highlights some of the illustrations In beautiful illustrations, a small penguin acknowledges all that is more than he/she, except for his/her parent’s love. __________. I Love Bugs. N.Y.: Holiday House, 2010. Gr. P-3 EL—short sent., easy vocab. In rhyming text the narrator shares his love for all kinds of bugs.

Evans, Shane. Underground. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2011. Gr. 1-3, Multicultural, Historical, First depiction that is actually appropriate for younger kids, emergent readers Conveys the experience of escaping on the Underground Railroad. ___________. We March. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2012. Gr. 1-3, Multicultural, Historical, Awesomely done, nice discussion opener for older kids, makes topic approachable for younger kids Portrays the evens of the 1963 march on Washington, D.C. Fogliano, Julie. And then It’s Spring. Illus. Erin Stead. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2012. Gr. PK-1, Emergent Literacy A young boy waits eagerly for the color and growth of spring to arrive. Foley, Greg. Purple Little Bird. New York: Balzer & Bray, 2011. Gr. P-3, Favorite, Favorite, Concept (colors) Purple Little Bird knows that something is missing from his purple house and goes on a journey to figure out what that is. ___________. Willoughby & The Lion. N.Y.: Bowen Press, 2009. Gr.P-3 A lonely boy is taught the greatest lesson about friendship from a lion who grants him multiple wishes.

___________. Willoughby and the Moon. N.Y.: Balzer and Bray, 2010. Gr. P-3 A young boy overcomes his fear of the dark by helping someone else. Frazier, Craig. Bee & Bird. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2011. Gr. P-3, Fantasy A wordless picture book in which a bird and bee share an amazing travel adventure. Very good way to look at perspective. Fucile, Tony. Let’s Do Nothing!. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2009. Gr. P-3 Frankie and Sal have run out of things to do and decide to just do “nothing.” Gaiman, Neil. Crazy Hair. Illus. Dave McKean N.Y.: Harper Collins, 2009. Gr. P-1 In rhyming text a young girl implores a man to comb his crazy hair and when she tries to assist him is sucked into his hair forever (?)…kind of creepy. Gal, Susan. Into the Outdoors. New York: Alfred A. Knopf Books, 2011. Gr. PK-3, Emergent Literacy A tribute to being in the outdoors and spending time with family on a camping trip. ___________. Night Lights. N.Y.: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. Gr. P-1 While preparing for bedtime, a little girl and her dog note all the different kinds of lights that brighten up the night, from headlights to moonlight. EL Gerstein, Mordicai. A Book. N.Y.: Roaring Brook, 2009. Gr. P-3 A girl searches for her place in her family and the book that her family inhabits. Gibbs, Edward. I Spy with My Little Eye. Somerville, MA: Templar Books, 2011. Gr. P-K A concept book that explores colors and animals with die cut holes. Favorite, Concept Gilmore, Dorina K. Lazo. Cora Cooks Pancit. Illus. Kristi Valiant. Walnut Creek, CA: Shen’s Books, 2009. Gr. K-3 Cora is the youngest in her Filipino family, but mom finally entrusts her with big kid jobs when cooking dinner. Multicultural Gravett, Emily. Dogs. N.Y.: Simon & Schuster, 2010. Gr. P-1 A surprise narrator likes almost every kind of dog that exists. EL ____________. Spells. N.Y.: Simon & Schuster, 2009. Gr. P-3 A kissed frog doesn’t always turn into a handsome prince as this cutaway book illustrates. ____________. Wolf Won’t Bite! New York: Simon & Schuster Books, 2012. Gr. PK-2, Favorite Three pigs make a wolf do crazy tricks, secure in the belief that they are safe with him. Greenberg, Jan and Sandra Jordan. Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring. Illus.

Brian Floca. N.Y.: Flash Point, 2010. Gr. 2-5 The story behind the creation of the ballet, “Appalachian Spring.” Grey, Mini. Egg Drop. N.Y.: Knopf, 2009. Gr.P-3 A hilarious and cautionary tale about having patience when you want to learn to fly. Hegamin, Tonya. Most Loved in all the World. Illus. Cozbi Cabrera. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2009. Gr. 2-5 Because mama is an Underground Railroad agent she must remain a slave to help others, but she sends her small child away to freedom with a gift to remember her by. Multicultural Henkes, Kevin. Birds. Illus. Laura Dronzek. N.Y.: Greenwillow, 2009. Gr.P-3 Colors, numbers, letters, and sounds are all used to celebrate a menagerie of birds. ___________. My Garden. N.Y.: Greenwillow Books, 2010. Gr. P-3 Hole, Stian. Garmann’s Secret. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books, 2012. Gr. 3-5, awesome Illustrations as usual Garmann can tell the difference between twins Hannah and Johannah, even when others can’t and his life is the richer for it. ___________. Garmann’s Street. Grand Rapids, Mich: Eerdman’s Books for Young Readers, 2010. Gr. K-3 After succumbing to peer pressure from a bully, an unusual friendship between Garmann and the Stamp Man arises out of a near-disaster. Johnson, Angela. Lottie Paris Lives Here. Illus. Scott Fischer. New York: Simon & Schuster Books, 2011. Gr. PK-3, Multicultural, Intergenerational (lives with grandfather) Depicts a day in the life of happy, full of life and imagination, Lottie who lives with her grandfather in a house across from the park. Johnston, Tony. My Abuelita. Ill. Yuyi Morales. Orlando: Harcourt, 2009. Gr. P-3 A little boy helps his grandmother prepare for her day at work. Karas, G. Brian. The Village Garage. N.Y.: Christy Ottaviano Books, 2010. Gr. P-3, Favorite Through every season the village garage is busy keeping the streets prepared for every weather situation and unexpected mishap. Khan, Rukhsana. Big Red Lollipop. Illus. Sophie Blackall. N.Y.: Viking, 2010. Gr. P-3 Having to take her younger sister along the first time she is invited to a birthday party spoils Rubina's fun, and later when that sister is asked to a party and baby sister wants to come, Rubina must decide whether to help. Multicultural EL Klassen, Jon. I Want My Hat Back. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2011. Gr. PK-3,

Animal Fantasy, Favorite A bear searches for his red, pointy hat that he knows he has seen somewhere before. He finds it with a shocking and funny outcome. Kooser, Ted. House Held up by Trees. Illus. Jon Klassen. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2012. Gr. 3-6, Nature-lovers, strength of the environment, Favorite A man continues to destroy the tree seedlings that sprout in his yard every year. But, after his children are grown and move away, he does too. The trees are allowed to sprout and grow. And, they take with them the little house belonging to the family, creating an awesome treehouse as well as an awesome display of nature. Kostecki-Shaw, Jenny. Same, Same, but Different. New York: Henry Holt, 2011. Gr. Pk-3, Multicultural Two boys, one from America and one from India, are pen pals who compare their similarities as well as differences. Lee, Suzy. Mirror. N.Y.: Seven Footer Kids, 2010. Gr. P-3, wordless picture book, Multicultural, Fantasy A young girl likes playing with her mirror image, until the two stop matching. ________. Shadow. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2010. Gr. K-3, Favorite, Nearly wordless picture book A young girl uses her imagination in an attic lit by a single bulb. Lin, Grace. Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same! N.Y.: Little, Brown, & Company, 2010. Gr. K-1, Multicultural, EL—short chapters, easy vocabulary, short sentences Ling and Ting are twins, but everything about them is definitely not the same. Lipson, Eden Ross. Applesauce Season. Illus. Mordicai Gerstein. N.Y.: Roaring Brook Press, 2009. Gr. P-3 In an urban setting, a family gets together to cook apples for applesauce, a favorite family tradition. Ludwig, Trudy. Better Than You. Illus. Adam Gustavson. New York: Alfred Knopf, 2011. Gr. 1-6, Very useful book to address the issue of bragging/boasting and poor self esteem Tyler’s friend is always bragging about his abilities and putting Tyler down but Tyler’s uncle and new neighbor help him to see that Jake is the one with the problem. Manning, Maurie. Kitchen Dance. N.Y.: Clarion Books, 2008. Gr. P-3 Two sleepy Latino children sneak out of their beds to watch as their parents, who love each other very much, break into a dance while washing the dishes. Multicultural Mason, Margaret. These Hands. Illus. Floyd Cooper. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011. Gr. 1-3

A grandfather shares his experience with work discrimination in the Wonder Bread factory with his young grandson. Multicultural Maltbie, P.I. Bambino and Mr. Twain. Illus. Daniel Miyares. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2012. Gr. 2-6, Favorite Details the grief of Mark Twain after his wife has died and how his daughter’s cat helped him to have joy in life again. McKissack, Patricia. Never Forgotten. Illus. Leo and Diane Dillon. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011. Gr. 3-8, Nicely told, sad, multicultural, folkloric and historical The tale of Dinga and his son, Musafa, who was stolen away from Africa and ends up in Charleston, SC, to continue an 8 generation tradition of blacksmithing. McPhail, David. The Family Tree. New York: Henry Holt, 2012. Gr. PK-3, Conservation, Favorite A tree that has stood on family property for generations is protected and saved by its youngest. Mora, Pat. Abuelos. Illus. Amelia Lau Carling. Berkeley: Groundwood, 2008. Gr. P-3. Ray and Amelia experience the tradition of “los abuelos” for the first time in their New Mexico village. Moundlic, Charlotte. The Scar. Illus. Olivier Tallec. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2011. Gr. 1-4, Favorite, very good for use with grieving children A young boy works really hard in expressing his grief and anger after his mother dies. Muth, Jon. Zen Ghosts. N.Y.: Scholastic Press, 2010. Gr. P-5, FAVORITE On Halloween Night, Stillwater the giant panda tells Karl, Addy, and Michael a spooky and unusual story. Myers, Walter Dean. Looking Like Me. Ill. Christopher Myers. N.Y.: Egmont USA, 2009. Gr. P-3 A young boy embraces what he and others know about him. Na, II Sung. A Book of Sleep. N.Y.: Knopf, 2009. Gr. P-3 Some animals sleep at night but not all. ________. The Thingamabob. N.Y.: Alfred Knopf, 2010. Gr. P-1, EL—short sentences, easy Vocab. An elephant discovers a new thing and attempts to determine its use. Niemann, Christoph. Subway. N.Y.: Greenwillow Books, 2010. Gr. K-3, Favorite, EL— Rhyming text, easy vocabulary On a rainy day, a father and his two sons ride the New York subway. Love the illustrations.

Oelschlager, Vanita. A Tale of Two Daddies. Illus. Kristin Blackwood and Mike Blanc. VanitaBooks, 2010. Gr. P-3, Multicultural In rhyming text, a young girl explains to her friend the many ways that her two fathers take care of her. Parot, Annelore. Kimonos. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2011. Gr. PK-5, Multicultural, awesome illustrations, a search and find book, favorite, def. share Introduces the reader to Japanese kimonos and other aspects of the culture. Polacco, Patricia. In Our Mother’s House. N.Y.: Philomel, 2009. Gr.P-3 A woman reflects on warm memories of her childhood, her siblings, and her two mothers. Multicultural Portis, Antoinette. A Penguin Story. N.Y.: HarperCollins, 2009. Gr. P-3 A penguin hopes that more colors exist than just black, white, and blue. Proimos, James. Swim! Swim! N.Y.: Scholastic Press, 2010. Gr. P-3 Favorite, very funny, Unexpected ending, EL—very easy vocab. Lerch the lonely fish searches for a friend and thinks he has finally found one in a cat. Ransome, James. New Red Bike. New York: Holiday House, 2011. Gr. P-2 Tom has a new bike that he wants to show to his friend Sam, but Tom does more than just show his new bike, he shares. Multicultural, Contemporary Realism Raschka, Christopher. A Ball for Daisy. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011. Gr. PK-2 First Raschka book I’ve ever liked! Ink/watercolor/gouache, wordless, favorite A dog clearly loves his red ball and misses it terribly when it pops. But his human and dog friends come to the rescue. Rocco, John. Blackout. New York: Hyperion, 2011. Gr. PK-3, Caldecott Honor Captures the excitement of family time when the lights go out in the neighborhood. Rockwell, Anne. Apples and Pumpkins. Illus. Lizzy Rockwell. New York: Aladdin, 2011. Gr. PK-1, Favorite A family visits a farm, before Halloween, to pick apples and pumpkins. Rose, Naomi. Tashi and the Tibetan Flower Cure. New York: Lee & Low Books, 2011. Gr. 1-5, Multicultural, Def. share A young girl inspires her community to help aid her grandfather in a traditional Tibetan cure using flowers. Rosenthal, Amy Krouse. Duck! Rabbit! Illus. Tom Lichtenheld. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2009. Gr. P-4 Two unseen characters argue about whether the creature they are looking at is a rabbit or a duck.

Russell, Natalie. Moon Rabbit. N.Y.: Viking, 2009. Gr. P-3 A lonely city rabbit finally finds a friend but must find a compromise between friendship and her desire for the city. Russo, Marisabina. I Will Come Back for You: A Family in Hiding During World War II. New York: Schwartz & Wade, 2011. Gr. 3-6, Historical, Favorite, Includes photos and author’s note A grandmother shares the experience of her family hiding from the Nazis in Italy. Sayre, April Pulley. Honk, Honk, Goose!: Canada Geese Start A Family. Ill. Huy Voun Lee. N.Y.: Henry Holt, 2009. Gr. P-3 A gander protects a goose as she nests and eagerly awaits the newborns. Scanlon, Elizabeth G. All The World! Ill. Marie Frazee. N.Y.: Beach Lane Books, 2009. Gr. P-3 Depicts the details of life for a small family and a small seaside town. EL Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. Green. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2012. Gr. PK-1, Favorite Using die cuts, Seeger explores the various shades of green. Sendak, Maurice. Bumble-ardy. New York: Harper Collins, 2011. Gr. PK-3, OK, Lots of controversy concerning this one—too scary?(pig is orphaned/parents are eaten/never given a birthday party/goes to live with aunt who won’t let him have a party/ has one while she is away/party is wild with getting drunk on brine/he is caught and yelled at by his aunt) There’s an Native American/Indian depiction that could be considered disturbing as well (Reese) Sierra, Judy. Tell the Truth, B.B. Wolf. Illus. J. Otto Seibold. N.Y.: Alfred A. Knopf, 2010. Gr. K-5, Favorite The Big Bad Wolf is now retired but is invited to the library to tell his story and, perhaps, make amends. Smith, Lane. Grandpa Green. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2011. Gr. P-5 A child explores his grandfather’s life with the help of his grandfather’s topiaries. And, we find by the end of the book that they are a necessary aid for his grandfather to remember as age is taking away his memory. Favorite, Emergent Literacy ________. It’s a Book. N.Y.: Roaring Brook, 2010. Gr. 3-6 The author’s tongue-in-cheek examination of the argument of book vs. technology. Stead, Philip. A Sick Day for Amos McGee. Illus. Erin Stead. N.Y.: Roaring Brook Press, 2010. Gr. P-1, 2011 Caldecott, Favorite, EL-short sentences, easy vocabulary, some repetition, good read aloud Amos the much loved zookeeper is missed by his animals when he doesn’t show up for work. So, they visit him and lovingly care for him as he has done for them so many times.

Stein, David Ezra. Interrupting Chicken. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2010. Gr. P-3. Caldecott Honor Little Red Chicken wants Papa to read her a bedtime story, but interrupts him almost as soon as he begins each tale. Thomson, Bill. Chalk. N.Y.: Marshall Cavendish, 2010. Gr. P-3, Favorite, Fantasy Three kids find chalk in the park, and when they draw pictures, they come to life. Tullet, Herve. The Book with a Hole. New York: Abrams, 2011. Gr. PK-5, Awesome Oversized black and white illustrations, great questions for imaginative thinking and play, might would be good for teachers and writing prompts or impromptu speech topics. Each time a page is turned the hole in the center of the book becomes something different. Uhlberg, Myron. A Storm Called Katrina. Illus. Colin Bootman. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree, 2011. Gr. PK-3, Multicultural, Favorite. Louis and his family survive Hurricane Katrina together. Urban, Chieu Anh. Raindrops: A Shower of Colors. Illus. Viviana Garofoli. N.Y.: Sterling, 2010. Gr. P, Boardbook Introduces children to colors with die-cut transparencies. Van Fleet, Matthew. Cat. N.Y.: Simon & Schuster, 2009. Gr. P-3 A sensory exploration of a variety of cats, including moveable parts and sounds. Walker, Sally. Freedom Song: The Story of Henry “Box” Brown. Illus. Sean Qualls. New York: Harper, 2012. Gr. 3-5, Multicultural, a nice version of this story Gives a thorough depiction of Henry Brown’s life and courageous escape in a box. Walsh, Ellen Stoll. Balancing Act. N.Y.: Beach Lane Books, 2010. Gr. P-1, Excellent illustration of the concept for math/science classes. Two mice balance on a stick and things become precarious as their friends join them. Wheeler, Lisa. Ugly Pie. Illus. Heather Solomon. Boston: Harcourt Children’s Books, 2010. Gr. P-3, EL—rhyming, repetition, relatively easy vocabulary, worked into theatrical production, Favorite Ol’Bear wants an ugly pie, but everyone is making other kinds. Finally, he comes up with the perfect solution. Wiesner, David. Art & Max. Boston: Clarion Books, 2010. Gr. P-3, Favorite, Fantasy Max wants to be an artist like Arthur, but his first attempt at using a paintbrush sends the two friends on a whirlwind trip through various media, with unexpected consequences. Willems, Mo. Cat the Cat Who is That? N.Y.: Balzer & Bray, 2010. Gr. P-1

The very vibrant Cat the Cat meets a whole host of friends until she comes upon a creature unlike any she has ever seen before. What does she do? EL ___________. City Dog, Country Frog. Illus. Jon Muth. N.Y.: Hyperion Books for Children, 2010. Gr. K-3, Favorite, EL—easy vocab., short sentences(1-3 per page), repetition City dog finds a new friend in country frog but as the seasons turn country frog becomes tired and is not there for City Dog to play with the next spring. Luckily, a new friend fills the spot. Bittersweet : )! ___________. The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? New York: Hyperion, 2012. Gr. PK-3, Very Funny, Favorite Duckling attempts to teach Pigeon about politeness, but we find that Duckling has a trick or two up her own sleeve. ___________. Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion. N.Y.: Balzer & Bray, 2010. Gr. K-3, Favorite, EL-easy vocab., short sentences. Trixie and her parents visit the grandparents in Holland. Trixie loses Knuffle Bunny on the plane, finds him again, but hands him over to a baby boy as she is now a big girl. Heart breaking : ) ! ___________. What’s Your Sound, Hound the Hound? N.Y.: Balzer & Bray, 2010. Gr. P-K, Fantasy, Favorite, EL—one sentence per page, easy vocabulary, predictable pattern Cat the Cat's animal friends make many different sounds and hugs are always available. Williams, Karen Lynn. A Beach Tail. Illus. Floyd Cooper. Honesdale, P.A.: Boyds Mills Press, 2010. Gr. P-3, Multicultural, beautiful illustrations Gregory cannot leave the lion he has drawn in the sand or go into the ocean but drawing the lion’s tail gives him a day of fun and a way to return to his dad. Willis, Jeanne. The Bog Baby. Illus. Gwen Millward. N.Y.: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2008. Gr. P-3, Favorite, Fanatasy Two sisters find a winged blue bog baby and sneak it home with them. Woodson, Jacqueline. Pecan Pie Baby. Illus. Sophie Blackall. N.Y.: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2010. Gr. P-3, Favorite, Multicultural, EL—harder vocabulary, short sentences When Mama’s pregnancy draws attention away from Gia, she worries that the special bond they share will disappear forever once the baby is born. Yum, Hyewon. The Twins’ Blanket. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2011. Gr. P-3 Twin girls who have always shared everything experience their first time sleeping in their own beds with their own blankets. Favorite, Emergent Literacy, Multicultural Zia, Farhana. Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji. Illus. Ken Min. New York: Lee & Low, 2011. Gr. PK-3, Multicultural, Favorite A young boy makes roti for his dada-ji, hoping to help his dada-ji relive his youthful days.