74. Stars by Mary Lyn Ray

Bibliographic Citation:
Ray, Mary Lyn. Stars. Illustrated by Marla Frazee. New York, NY: Beach Lane Books, 2011. 40 p. ISBN 978-1442422490.

Awards/Selection Lists:
Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
Starred Review, School Library Journal
Starred Review, Booklist

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:
This book encourages children to observe the stars in the night sky.

Personal Reaction:
Beautiful illustrations inspire children to notice the beauty of the stars in the night. The text also encourages children to create their own stars to keep in their pockets to help them remember that they are special. 

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 3-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Nighttime, stars, observation, self-esteem

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge: 
Letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book.


Narrative Skills: 
Narrative skills are modeled through simple lines of text. Children are encouraged to participate in answering questions posed throughout the text.


Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is not a direct focus of this book.


Print Awareness:
The text appears in a small, simple font against a white background, which draws attention to the words printed on the page.


Print Motivation: 
This book, with its beautiful illustrations of stars in the night's sky and simple text encourages children to observe the details of stars in the night sky, as well as to connect their observations to the story. 


Vocabulary:
The vocabulary of the story focuses on the descriptions of stars as they are observed in the sky, as well as physical attributes of real and created star shapes.



Author/ Illustrator Website:
Illustrator website: http://www.marlafrazee.com/

73. He's Got the Whole World in His Hands (DVD)

Bibliographic Citation:
Scholastic. (2010). He's Got the Whole World in His Hands [Animate motion picture]. United States: Weston Woods Studios, Inc.

Awards/Selection Lists:
None

Format Examined:
DVD

Annotation:
This DVD includes animated "read-along" versions of seven books for children, including He's Got the Whole World in His Hands by Kadir Nelson.

Personal Reaction:
In addition to the featured book, other animated stories included on this DVD are Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse, illustrated by Jon J. Muth; and Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp, illustrated by Erwin Printup, Jr.; and Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr. The Tale of Mandarin Ducks by Katherine Paterson, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon; Patrick by Quentin Blake; and A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog by Mercer Mayer. The DVD is part of the Scholastic Storybook Treasures children's DVD series, which features children's books in animated form, often narrated by the author. The original artwork of Nelson's He's Got the Whole World in His Hands is presented with movement from the camera in order to bring an animated representation to the story. The text of the story is based on the classic folk song, and the printed words appear across the bottom of the screen as the words are performed by singer, Crystal Taliefero. The illustrations are rich and vivid, bringing the words of the song to life for young children.     

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this DVD for children 3-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
The animated selections on this DVD represent stories that celebrate nature and the environment. 

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge: 
Letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this DVD.


Narrative Skills: 
Narrative participation is modeled through the reading of each story on this DVD by a narrator, and accompanied by corresponding text across the bottom of the screen.


Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is fostered through rhyming and lyrical texts included in the stories on this DVD.


Print Awareness:
Print awareness is fostered through the inclusion of printed text along the bottom of the screen as each story is read by a narrator.


Print Motivation: 
Children will be encouraged to read along with the printed text on the screen, as well as to make connections to the printed books included on this DVD.


Vocabulary:
Vocabulary is modeled through the narration and printed text of each story included on the DVD. Vocabulary is centered around the main themes of nature and the environment.



Author/ Illustrator Website:
Author website: http://www.kadirnelson.com/
DVD website: http://store.scholastic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/LandingPageView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10051&jspStoreDir=SSOStore&pageName=StorybookTreasures

64. Go, Go, Grapes: A Fruit Chant by April Pulley Sayre

Bibliographic Citation:
Sayre, April Pulley. Go, Go, Grapes!: A Fruit Chant. New York, NY: Beach Lane Books, 2012. 32 p. ISBN 978-1442433908.

Awards/Selection Lists:
None

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:
This book showcases different types of fruits through photographs taken at farmer's markets, small grocery stores, and fruit stands. 

Personal Reaction:
Rhyming text is presented alongside photographs to identify different types of fruit. The rhythmic text describes the attributes of the various fruits in the pictures, including color, taste, and texture.

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 3-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Fruits, colors, textures, taste, nonfiction

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge: 
Letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book.


Narrative Skills: 
The narrative, rhythmic text invites children to participate in reading the story. Dialogic reading would also offer children the opportunity to identify fruit in the accompanying photographs.

Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is presented through rhyming text and alliteration.

Print Awareness:
Text appears in white font against colorful backgrounds, which draws attention to the printed words of the book.


Print Motivation: 
Children will enjoy the colorful pages and photographs included in this book. The rhyming text is presented in fun, rhythmic way that will have children jumping in as the story is read.


Vocabulary:
Vocabulary presented in this book is focused around different types of fruit and the way they look, feel, and taste. Children will be presented with the identification of new types of fruit.



Author/ Illustrator Website:
http://www.aprilsayre.com/

58. Hide and Snake by Keith Baker

Bibliographic Citation:
Baker, Keith. Hide and Snake. New York, NY: Harcourt, Inc., 1991. 40 p. ISBN 978-0152339869.

Awards/Selection Lists:
None

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:
A colorful snake hides among many different brightly colored objects, inviting the reader to find him. 

Personal Reaction:
Keith Baker's vivid illustrations are paired with simple text to encourage children to seek out the snake on each page. Children become part of the story through hunting for the snake, and are encouraged to help narrate the story through its simple plot.

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 3-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Hiding, camouflage, snakes, garden

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge: 
Letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book.


Narrative Skills: 
Children are encouraged to help narrate the story through finding the snake and guessing where he might be next.


Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is highlighted through the rhyming text of the story.


Print Awareness:
The text of the story is printed in a large, simple font, dancing along the edge of the illustrations of each page. This fun way of incorporating the text draws attention to the words as they correspond with the pictures.

Print Motivation: 
This simple story, with bright illustrations, and rhyming text is fun to read and to listen to. It also provides a game of hide and seek that will engage children.


Vocabulary:
The vocabulary is centered around the things that snake hides among, and includes familiar words for young children. 



Author/ Illustrator Website:
http://www.keithbakerbooks.com/

53. Leonardo, the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems

Bibliographic Citation:
Willems, Mo. Leonardo, the Terrible Monster. New York, NY: Hyperion Books, 2005. 48 p. ISBN 978-0786852949.

Awards/Selection Lists:
School Library Journal Starred Review
Time Magazine's 10 Best Children's Books, 2005
Book Sense Book of the Year Honor Book, 2006

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:
Leonardo is a monster who cannot scare anyone, so he seeks out Sam, a boy who he thinks he can scare.

Personal Reaction:
This story introduces Leonardo, a monster who is not able to scare anyone, so he seeks out a kid that he can scare, and finds Sam. When he scares Sam, the boy bursts into tears, but not because he scared him, but for a variety of "wrongs" that Sam has suffered that day. Leonardo decides to change from a scary monster to a good friend to help Sam.

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to children 3-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Self-esteem, frustration, change in perspective, friendship

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge: 
Letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book.


Narrative Skills: 
Narrative skills can be modeled through the reading of this book through dialogic reading. The large text also invites children to become familiar with the text of this book, and encourages involvement in the telling of the story.   

Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is not a direct focus of this book.

Print Awareness:
Changing, colorful, and lively fonts bring the text of the story into the story in a way that the words almost become characters of the story themselves.

Print Motivation: 
This is a fun story that children will love revisiting and becoming a part of the telling of the story. The surprising turn of events in the story make this a book that children will enjoy.

Vocabulary:
The vocabulary in this book deals with self-esteem, feelings of frustration, changing emotions, and friendship.



Author/ Illustrator Website:
http://www.mowillems.com/

40. Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by by Eric Litwin

Bibliographic Citation:
Litwin, Eric. Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons. Illustrated by James Dean. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2012. 40 p. ISBN 978-0062110589.

Awards/Selection Lists:

Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor, 2013

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:

Pete the Cat returns in this book about his four groovy buttons, which he loses one by one, but he keeps his cool throughout the entire book.

Personal Reaction:
Pete the Cat's attitude about life teaches many lessons for children in a very cool way. Using a combination of rhyme (or song, if you download it), and everyday language, Pete teaches that "things will come and things will go", but that we should keep on going with a positive attitude. This book also embeds subtraction of buttons throughout the story.  

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 3-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Losing things, positive attitude, subtraction

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge: 
Letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book.

Narrative Skills: 
Through the use of rhyming text/song, repeated lines, and math, children are invited to become a direct part of telling the story.

Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is not a direct focus of this book.

Print Awareness:
While the actual text of the story is printed in small text, which is not easily seen in a group atmosphere, the numbers included in the subtraction of the buttons is easily seen.

Print Motivation: 
This book is a wonderful book for print motivation, as the song/chant is fun, hip, and easy for children to participate in, and Pete the Cat is a likable character with a contagious positive attitude. 

Vocabulary:
Vocabulary pertaining to subtraction (minus and equals) are presented within the text of the story. Other everyday language is used, including common slang phrases, such as "it's all good".



Author/ Illustrator Website:
Author website: http://www.ericlitwin.com/#!
Illustrator website: http://www.petethecat.com/about

36. David Gets in Trouble by David Shannon

Bibliographic Citation:

Shannon, David. David Gets in Trouble. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc., 2002. 32 p. ISBN 978-0439050227.

Awards/Selection Lists:

None

Format Examined:
Paperback

Annotation:

David gets into trouble over and over, but always has an excuse, until he goes to bed, and realizes that he should apologize for the things he has done.

Personal Reaction:

This book provides a good lesson for young children about taking responsibility for their mistakes. David repeatedly denies any wrong doing as he gets into trouble over and over throughout the day. He makes the realization at the end that he should apologize, and is able to go to sleep at the end with a clear conscious.  

Age Recommendation:

I would recommend this book for children 3-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:

Personal responsibility, apologizing, telling the trouble

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge: 
Letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book.

Narrative Skills: 
Narrative skills are modeled through the reading of the simple text on the page. As children become more familiar with the book, they may be able to become involved in the telling of the story.


Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is not a direct focus of this book.

Print Awareness:
The text of the story is in font that is hand-drawn and large, which calls attention to the print on each page.

Print Motivation: 
This book is fun to read, as some of the things that David does are funny. David is a likable character, and teaches a lesson at the end. The artwork and hand-drawn words make this an enjoyable book for preschoolers.

Vocabulary:
Vocabulary can be supported through the dialogic reading of this book. Words concerning personal responsibility can be highlighted.



Author/ Illustrator Website:
No official author website

32. Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs by Byron Barton

Bibliographic Citation:

Barton, Byron. Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs. New York, NY: HarperTrophy, 1989. 40 p. ISBN 978-0064432986.

Awards/Selection Lists:

None

Format Examined:
Paperback

Annotation:
Colorful illustrations accompany a story that helps the reader and listener imagine what dinosaurs looked like, and how they might have lived long ago. 

Personal Reaction:

This book's color and subject matter make it a book that dinosaur-loving children choose again and again. Children are invited to imagine what dinosaurs were like. Dinosaur types are represented through the illustrations, inviting children to identify them each by name.

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children 3-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:

Dinosaur identification and history

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge: 
Letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book.

Narrative Skills: 
Colorful illustrations encourage children to take part in naming the dinosaurs on the page as the story is read.

Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is not a direct focus of this book.

Print Awareness:
The text of the story is in a large, simple font that describes the illustrations on the page. The color of the font is changed on darker pages where the print may be difficult to see otherwise.

Print Motivation: 
Dinosaurs and their descriptions make this a fun book for children who love dinosaurs.

Vocabulary:
Words that describe what dinosaurs might have looked like, and how they lived, are used throughout this book.



Author/ Illustrator Website:
No official author website

31. Who Put the Cookies in the Cookie Jar? by George Shannon

Bibliographic Citation:

Shannon, George. Who Put the Cookies in the Cookie Jar?. Illustrated by Julie Paschkis. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, 2013. 32 p. ISBN 978-0805091977. 

Awards/Selection Lists:

None

Format Examined:
Hard cover

Annotation:

Using the reverse of a familiar chant, the author tells the story of how many different people in different places it takes to make all the ingredients that make up a cookie.

Personal Reaction:
George Shannon uses a familiar chant used with young children to explain how a cookie is made, from the growing of wheat, to the delivery of the ingredients, to the person baking the cookies. Illustrations represent many different people, in different environments throughout the world, with many different cultures represented.

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children ages 3-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:

Multicultural, food sources, global awareness

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge: 
Letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book.

Narrative Skills: 
Rhyming text encourages child participation, and narrative skills are modeled through the reading of the text.

Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is represented through rhyming text.

Print Awareness:
The text of the story is placed within the illustrations to draw attention to the text in a way that makes the print a part of the story.

Print Motivation: 
Interesting multicultural, festive looking illustrations, coupled with the explanation of the real story of how a cookie is made make this an interesting book for preschool-aged children. 

Vocabulary:
The vocabulary in this book includes words that represent the ingredients that go into making a cookie, and the way they are formed and pulled together.



Author/ Illustrator Website:
http://www.georgewbshannon.comcastbiz.net/

30. Sail Away by Donald Crews

Bibliographic Citation:

Crews, Donald. Sail Away. New York, NY: HarperTrophy, 1995. 40 p. ISBN 978-0688175177.

Awards/Selection Lists:

Booklist Editors' Choice

Format Examined:
Paperback

Annotation:

A family rows out to their sailboat, and goes sailing all day, through sun, wind, and a storm.

Personal Reaction:
Donald Crews uses illustrations and typeface together to form the story of this book about a family who sails the day away. The colors are bold and the use of large letters draws a child's eyes to the words as an important part of the story. The tone of the reader's voice is encouraged to change through the growing size of the font. Crews also uses words to symbolize the sound of the boat and the wind. 

Age Recommendation:
I would recommend this book for children ages 3-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:
Sailing, family, storms

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge: 
While letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book, letters can be identified through the large text that is printed on several pages to symbolize the wind and sailing through a storm.

Narrative Skills: 
Narrative skills are modeled through the reading of this story, and children may be encouraged to help tell the story since the text is short and simple. Children may also be encouraged to participate in the sound effects of that are a part of the story.

Phonological Awareness: 
Phonological awareness is a part of this book through the use of words to represent the sound of a small boat engine ("putt... putt... putt...") and the sound of the wind picking up the sail ("WHOOSH!).

Print Awareness:
This book provides a rich print awareness experience through the use of text that is a direct part of the story through changes in size, color, and position in relation to the illustrations. 

Print Motivation: 
This book provides an active experience for children through the use of sounds and a growing intensity throughout the book. Children will find the illustrations interesting to look at as well, since there are many details to explore on each page.

Vocabulary:
New words pertaining to sailing are presented, as well as words that symbolize sounds. 



Author/ Illustrator Website:

No official author website

15. My Bunny and Me by Lindsay Barrett George

Bibliographic Citation:

George, Lindsay Barrett. My Bunny and Me. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books, 2001. 32p. ISBN 0-688-16074-3

Awards/Selection Lists:

None

Format Examined:

Hard cover

Annotation:

A boy draws a picture of a bunny and imagines all the things they could do together if the bunny were real. 

Personal Reaction:

The beautiful illustrations in this book bring the story of the imaginary bunny, and the boy who drew him, to life. The illustrations include realistic details and textures through dark lines. This sentimental story identifies with how many young children feel on days where they have no one to play with. At the end, when the boy thinks about what he would do if the bunny were actually real, he decides that he would probably let him him go. Instead, the boy puts the picture of the bunny in his back pocket and kicks the soccer ball around the yard with a smile on his face.    

Age Recommendation:

I would recommend this book for children 3-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:

Loneliness, imagination, drawing, rabbits

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge:

Letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book

Narrative Skills:

The text of this book is simple, encouraging children to retell the story on their own.

Phonological Awareness:

Phonological awareness is not a direct focus of this book.

Print Awareness:

The simple text is printed in large black text and white text, calling attention to the words on each page.

Print Motivation:

The beautiful illustrations support the text in a way that draws attention to the words on the page and encourages children to look at the book / read the book on their own. 

Vocabulary:

The text of the story introduces words that pertain to real rabbits, such as burrow, as well as other words that my be new for young children, such as reflection.

Author/ Illustrator Website:

http://www.lindsaybarrettgeorge.com/ 

6. Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino

Bibliographic Citation:
Guarino, Deborah. Is Your Mama a Llama? Illustrated by Steven Kellogg. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc., 2004. 32 p. ISBN 978-0439598422

Awards/Selection Lists:

None.

Format Examined:

Paperback

Annotation:

As a baby llama looks for his mother, he asks other baby animals about their mothers through rhyming text along the way. 

Personal Reaction:

Is Your Mama a Llama is a charming story of a baby llama's quest to find his mother. As he searches, he encounters other baby animals who describe their own mothers through riddles with rhyming text. Children are encouraged to guess, along with the llama, the identity of each of the animals that are described. The llama first meets Dave, and asks the question that is repeated throughout the book, "Is your mama a llama?". Dave answers with a clue, "She hangs by her feet, and she lives in a cave. I do not believe that's how llamas behave". The llama then guesses that Dave's mama must be a bat. The story continues in the same fashion with a swan, a cow, a seal, and a kangaroo. The story ends after the llama finds his friend, Llyn, whose mama is described as a llama. Steven Kellogg's illustrations are bright and the babies depicted are sweet. Each page that asks the question, "Is your mama a llama?" has the illustrations boxed on with a fine line around the picture. Each page with the answer to each riddle is in full color to the edges of the page. This artistic method encourages to children to participate in guessing, with the answer revealed in full-page color as a reward for their effort.

Age Recommendation:

I would recommend this book for 3-7 years of age.

Themes/Issues:

Animal babies, identification

Early Literacy Skill Value:

Letter Knowledge:
While letter knowledge is not a direct focus of this book, the double "L" in the word "llama" lends itself to letter recognition discussion.

Narrative Skills:
The rhyming clues invite children to participate in telling the story through guessing the animals that are described.

Phonological Awareness:
Phonological inference is embedded into this book through matching riddles and answers through rhyming text.

Print Awareness:
The riddle answers are each printed in large, bold text at the top of the page. This connects the printed words on the page with the answers that the children guess to each of the riddles.

Print Motivation:
Through riddles that rhyme, this book encourages having fun while reading. After participating in a reading or two of this book, children will want to share it with others through "reading" the riddles to them.

Vocabulary:

New words are introduced with each description of a new animal throughout this book. Words used to describe each of the animals also match with their specific animal name, which connects the vocabulary used in riddles and answers.

Author/ Illustrator Website:

No author website available.
Illustrator Steven Kellogg's website: http://www.stevenkellogg.com/