Aesop’s Fables by Jerry Pinkney.
Aesop’s fables have lived on for thousands of years, teaching lessons and morals through short and entertaining tales. This gorgeously illustrated version brings together 60 of these memorable stories.

Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban.
Frances the Badger loves bread and jam and is very picky about eating anything else. Her mother cooks up an ingenious solution to this problem in a story that will strike a familiar chord in any family with young children. Soft, homey illustrations add to the charm of this classic.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, illustrated by Eric Carle.
Using a simple rhyming chant and bright bold illustrations, children learn their colors as they see an assortment of animals and people.

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina.
A group of mischievous monkeys steal all of the peddler’s hats while he naps. How does he get them back? The reader will be just as surprised as the peddler when the answer is revealed.

Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert.
Written by a Milwaukee author, this cleverly designed book introduces colors and shapes as animal faces are formed using die-cut pages with vivid colors layered on top of each other.

Corduroy by Don Freeman.
Late at night, Corduroy, a toy bear, goes looking through a deserted department store for a button which has fallen off his overalls. He hopes to look brand new so someone special will take him home and love him.

Curious George by H. A. Ray.
George is a good little monkey and always very curious. His curiosity gets him into all sorts of mischief in a story that has been delighting children for 65 years. Bright illustrations enhance the child appeal of this delightful story.

Eric Carle’s Treasury of Classic Stories for Children by Eric Carle.
This collection of childhood favorites includes tales from the Brothers Grimm, Aesop and Hans Christian Anderson. Vibrant collage illustrations lend additional appeal to a wonderful bedtime story book.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown.
In this gentle, quiet book a bunny says goodnight to all the things in the room. The simple text and subdued illustrations are sure to settle your youngster down for a restful night.

Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg.
As a couple children play a board game, they begin a series of exciting adventures when the jungle and its animals become the world around them. Large, imaginative, full-page illustrations and text combine perfectly to tell this fantastic tale.

My Very First Mother Goose edited by Iona Opie, illustrated by Rosemary Wells.
Mother Goose never had more fun than in this collection of nursery rhymes. Included are very familiar rhymes as well as lesser known ones. Lively illustrations add extra zest.

Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann.
Officer Buckle is in a pickle. How does he get the kids from Napville Elementary School to listen to his important safety tips? Gloria, the police dog, has the solution when she steals the show with her antics.

Olivia Saves the Circus written and illustrated by Ian Falconer.
Olivia never has a dull moment and is more then happy to share with others her trip to the circus where she was the star. Falconer’s sparse use of color is extremely effective in showing the exuberance of Olivia, a high-energy piglet.

Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold.
Cassie is a young girl in Harlem who picnics on Tar Beach, the rooftop of a NYC apartment house, and dreams of flying above the buildings and bridges, claiming all that she sees. The motif of flying to freedom comes from African-American folklore.

Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel.
A long time ago in China it was custom to give first-born, honored sons great long names. Read how one great long name gets the first-born son in some serious trouble.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.
Looking out of his apartment window, Peter discovers that snow has fallen during the night. He puts on his snowsuit and goes out to play in the deep, deep snow. Simple text and charming collage illustrations capture the universal delight of playing in freshly fallen snow.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.
Told with simple text and bright illustrations, this is a tale of a small caterpillar munching his way through all kinds of familiar food and becoming a big caterpillar. His final transformation to a butterfly is as spectacular as it is satisfying.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.
A sassy little boy is punished and sent to his room. He proceeds to embark upon a wild imaginary trip to the land of the Wild Things where he is crowned “king.” Fanciful illustrations foster the imagination in all of us.

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears by Verna Aardema.
A chain reaction that affects the entire animal kingdom begins when Iguana sticks twigs in his ears to avoid listening to Mosquito’s silly nonsense. The use of muted colored cutout illustrations and bold black space accompanying this West African tale effectively captures the African setting and emotion as the story escalates.

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish.
Mrs. Malaprop, move over! For almost 30 years, Amelia Bedelia has been amusing children with her literal interpretations of such household chores as changing the towels and dusting the furniture. This classic series has hilarious appeal for young readers.

Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary.
Beezus is a nine-year-old girl whose biggest problem is her four-year-old sister Ramona, whose exasperating antics provide one challenge after another. Never has sibling rivalry been captured more lovingly or humorously than in Cleary’s classic tale.

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by Deborah and James Howe.
Harold the dog tells the humorous story of what happened in the Monroe household when a new pet rabbit moved in. Awake at night, and possibly responsible for sucking the color out of the vegetables, could the sweet new addition really be a vampire in disguise?

Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel.
Happy-go-lucky Frog and gloomy Toad are the best of friends, sharing many a woodland adventure in this series of beginning reading books. Lobel’s sensitive text and muted drawings allow the experiences of this lovable pair to shine through.

Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant.
Henry has no brothers or sisters, but he does have a huge sweet dog named Mudge. The two friends share many adventures in this heart-warming and funny series of easy readers illustrated with clear, sunny colors.

Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss.
“An elephant’s faithful, one hundred percent,” are familiar words to many children and adults who have shared the silly adventures of this very kind, very patient pachyderm. Illustrated with Seuss’s signature comical drawings, this is a story that truly has stood the test of time.

How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell.
Billy wants to buy a bike, but he needs some money. Fortunately, $50 is only a bet away when his friend challenges him to eat a worm a day for 15 days. Children love to gross themselves out and they won’t be disappointed in this fast-paced, hilarious tale.

Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard and James Marshall.
The kids in Room 207 are the worst-behaved students in the whole school, taking complete advantage of their teacher Miss Nelson’s sweet temperament. They are in for a rude surprise when substitute teacher Viola Swamp arrives to take over the class. All’s well that ends well in this funny and mysterious story.

My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett.
A young boy decides to rescue a baby dragon that is being used to ferry lazy animals across the river on Wild Island. With its short chapters and friendly gray and white illustrations, this book has great appeal for children moving from easy readers to longer fiction.

Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, illustrated by Marc Simont.
Nate the Great is a case-solving boy detective in this series of easy reading books featuring neighborhood kids, dogs, and mysterious happenings. This is a great introduction to the mystery genre.

The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales told by Virginia Hamilton, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon.
This splendid collection of African-American folktales includes funny accounts of talking animals, spooky stories of the supernatural and uplifting slave tales of freedom. A wonderful collection to read aloud.

The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron.
Julian likes to tell stories, but sometimes they get him in trouble. His father has a unique way of dealing with the tales Julian tells in this warm family story.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume.
Nine-year-old Peter Hatcher has a problem - his two-and-a-half-year-old brother. In his parents’ eyes, his brother can do no wrong even though he smears mashed potatoes on restaurant walls, scribbles on Peter’s homework, and even swallows Peter’s pet turtle. Follow the further adventures of the Hatcher brothers in Superfudge and Fudge-a-Mania.

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith.
Illustrated with outrageously funny pictures, the big bad wolf tells his side of the story after he tangles with the three pigs. Children will be highly amused by this twist of a familiar tale.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
First published in 1865, the reader is invited to join Alice on her visit to a world of
nonsense, inhabited by the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and many other imaginary characters.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White.
This is the story of Wilber, the runt pig, and Charlotte, the intelligent spider who vows to save him from slaughter. Humor and pathos are superbly blended in this animal fantasy.

The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper.
Will Stanton, on his 11th birthday, learns that he is the last of the Old Ones, destined to play a critical role in an epic battle between the forces of good and evil. This splendid example of high fantasy resonates with especial import in these modern times.

Fast Sam, Cool Clyde, and Stuff by Walter Dean Myers.
When Stuff moves to 116th Street in Harlem, he doesn’t know anyone. Meeting friends like Cool Clyde and Fast Sam makes for an eventful year in this funny, action-packed tale.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg.
When 12-year-old Claudia and her brother Jamie decide to run away from home, they do it in style, camping out at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Their plan brings them into the heart of an art world mystery.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.
When a single engine plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness and the pilot is killed, Brian, the lone passenger, must overcome incredible odds with only a hatchet to use as a tool. A fast-paced survival/adventure story.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling.
Upon his 11th birthday, Harry Potter learns that he is not just an ordinary boy being raised by malicious relatives, but rather a budding wizard whose great destiny awaits him at the Hogwarts School for Wizards and Witches. Full of funny, frightening, fantastic and fun turns, this book has had a phenomenal rise to popularity throughout the world.

Homer Price by Robert McCloskey.
Six humorous stories are told about Homer, who lives in his parents’ motel outside of small town Centerburg. One of the most famous is the story of the doughnut machine that will not stop making doughnuts.

The House With a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs.
Louis Barnevelt, recently orphaned, goes to live with his eccentric and downright mysterious uncle in a house with a terrifying secret. Edward Gorey’s elegantly creepy illustrations add to the spooky and humorous charm of this fantastic read.

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin.
Wanda wears the same faded blue dress to school every day, but insists to her classmates that she has 100 dresses at home, all lined up in her closet. This poignant tale of peer cruelty and the importance of looking beyond appearances was written almost 60 years ago, but is as topical today as when it was first published.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis.
Four English children enter a wardrobe and come out in Narnia, a magical land filled with talking animals, centaurs, an evil witch and a noble lion. C. S. Lewis penned this modern fantasy for his goddaughter and in his dedication says, “You are already too old for fairy tales…but some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” These words accurately reflect the appeal this book has for both children and adults.

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
An accurate picture of pioneer life in the Midwest is recounted in this first title about the Ingalls family. Readers come to know Laura, her siblings and parents as they make their Wisconsin cabin a home in the wilderness.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien.
Extraordinary circumstances force Mrs. Frisby, a mouse with a sick child, to seek the help of a natural enemy, rats. But these are no ordinary rats. Formerly part of a laboratory experiment, this group of highly intelligent rats works together with Mrs. Frisby to better the others’ situation.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor.
Strong family bonds help an African-American family weather racism and discrimination during this Depression era novel set in the rural south. This is the first in a series about the proud, land-owning Logan Family.

The New Way Things Work by David Macaulay.
Fascinating, carefully executed drawings are paired with clear, descriptive explanations in this introduction to technology. Anyone who has asked the question, “How does that work?” will be captivated by this title.

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein.
Shel Silverstein’s collection of sidesplitting poems is wildly popular with children, who appreciate both their humor and profundity. If you know a child or adult who claims to not like poetry, offer up a copy of this volume.

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne.
Stories told to the author’s son are the basis for these tales about a loveable toy “bear of very little brain.” Pooh and a menagerie of forest friends come to life with fascinating details supplied by both the author and the illustrator, Ernest Shepherd.