Paperback Books

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Crockett Johnson (Paperback)

Genre: Fiction - Children's Picture Books

"Harold and the Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson is one of the best picture books for children. Harold draws a magical world with his purple crayon and has many imaginative adventures. Finally, Harold's purple crayon takes him back to his own bed. Author Crockett Johnson has created an enduring classic picture book for preschoolers, kindergarteners and beginning readers. "Harold and the Purple Crayon" is a great bedtime story.

Jamberry

Bruce Degen (Paperback)

Genre: Fiction - Children's Picture Books; Book Themes: Animals, Rhyming Stories

In "Jamberry" by Bruce Degen, a boy and a bear have a lot of fun picking blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and all kinds of berries. The silly rhymes are fun to read aloud. The illustrations are detailed and lively. Babies and toddlers will enjoy this wonderful picture book.

Caps for Sale

Esphyr Slobodkina (Paperback)

Genres: Fiction - Children's Picture Books, Humorous Stories; Book Theme: Animals

"Caps for Sale" by Esphyr Slobodkina is one of the best children's picture books. The author tells a humorous story about a peddler who sells caps and his encounter with mischievous monkeys. Colorful pictures help tell a captivating story. Children will enjoy this classic book. "Caps for Sale" is a fun book to read aloud.

It Looked Like Spilt Milk

Charles G. Shaw (Paperback)

Genre: Fiction - Children's Picture Books

"It Looked Like Spilt Milk" by Charles G. Shaw is an imaginative classic children's book. Young readers can see a white shape against the blue background on each page. Sometimes it looks like spilt milk, but it isn't spilt milk. Sometimes it looks like a rabbit, a bird, a tree, an ice cream cone and other familiar things, but it isn't what it looks like. The picture book keeps children guessing until the last page, where they find out that it is a cloud in the sky. Simple words and repetitive patterns make the book easy to read and remember. The guessing game encourages creative thinking. "It Looked Like Spilt Milk" is a good book for older toddlers and preschoolers.

Where the Wild Things Are

Maurice Sendak (Paperback)

Genre: Fiction - Children's Picture Books

"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak is an imaginative classic children's book with great illustrations. The picture book has won many awards, including Caldecott Medal, Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Illustration and ALA Notable Children's Books award. After being put to bed without supper by his mother, Max imagines sailing off to where the wild things are, becoming the king of all wild things and eventually returning to his own room where hot supper is waiting for him. "Where the Wild Things Are" is a good book for preschoolers, kindergarteners and beginning readers.

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything

Linda Williams, Megan Lloyd (Paperback)

Genre: Fiction - Children's Picture Books; Book Themes: Emotions and Feelings, Halloween

"The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything" by Linda Williams is a great Halloween story although it doesn't have the word Halloween anywhere in the texts. A brave old lady walks home through a dark forest. She comes across two big shoes, a pair of pants, a shirt, two gloves and a hat. Each time, the little old lady tells them she is not afraid of anything. Then after a scary orange pumpkin head appears, the old lady runs all way home. Once at home, she overcomes her fear and finds a happy solution. The items that have tried to scare her become a scarecrow in the little old lady's garden. The picture book makes good use of attention-grabbing sound words, such as "clomp clomp", "shake, shake" and "clap, clap". Megan Lloyd's lively and detailed illustrations show the old lady's emotions and complement the story well. It is a good picture book for read aloud to children in preschool, kindergarten and first grade.

The Carrot Seed

Ruth Krauss, Crockett Johnson (Paperback)

Genre: Fiction - Children's Picture Books

In "The Carrot Seed", a little boy plants a carrot seed and carefully tends to it, despite all the naysayers. He is eventually rewarded with a very big carrot for his faith and perseverance. Ruth Krauss' texts are simple and engaging. Crockett Johnson's illustrations are simple and charming. Together, they created a classic children's book. Toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy this great picture book.

Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months

Maurice Sendak (Paperback)

Genre: Fiction - Children's Picture Books; Book Theme: Rhyming Stories

"Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months" by award winning author Maurice Sendak features original catchy rhymes and engaging illustrations. Each month of the year has a short silly rhyme with the "chicken soup with rice" theme. There is just the right amount of repetition that children in preschool, kindergarten and first grade will like. "Chicken Soup with Rice" is a good picture book to teach children the concept of months of the year.