Click below to see the other books in each age band.
2020-2021: BIRTH TO 4
Bear’s Scare
by Jacob Grant
Bear likes to keep his house clean and tidy. In fact, the only thing Bear loves more than cleaning is taking care of his small stuffed friend, Ursa. Then Bear sees a sticky spiderweb . . . and where there's a web there is certainly a spider! The messy guest must be found, but what Bear and Ursa finally discover might just be an unlikely friend. Opposites attract in this adorable story, where new friends come in all shapes and sizes.
Beware!
by Bob Raczka and Larry Day
A cautionary tale using words made up of only the five letters in the title (B, E, W, A, and R). Can a bear and a bee become friends? Abe and Bree aren't supposed to get along. When they meet, they panic. Abe swats! Bree stings! Now they're both hurt. Together they figure out how to find friendship despite differences and preconceived notions. This rare-bear, wee-bee tale helps to create a web of understanding with unique language and a clever structure.
Chinese New Year Colors
by Rich Lo
This bilingual color concept book celebrates a rainbow of traditional objects seen during the Chinese New Year. Hong is the color of explosive firecrackers! Jīn is the hue of lucky coins. Zŏng is the shade of sweet peanut puffs. Welcome to the festivities of the Chinese New Year, where symbolic gifts, foods, and objects come together in a celebration of beautiful colors. This vibrant, simple, and highly graphic bilingual book is the perfect introduction to Chinese and English words for colors as it honors one of the biggest holidays around the world. Includes informative back matter.
Mermaid Dreams
by Kate Pugsley
In this book, a shy little girl goes on a magical underwater adventure filled with adorable mermaids, silly sea creatures, games with new friends and wonderful surprises! One sunny Saturday, Maya and her parents visit the beach. Maya loves the beach: the warm sand feels wonderful between her toes. But it would be more fun if she had a friend. Too shy to say hello, Maya watches the kids play nearby, and slowly her eyes droop closed. This adorable book will delight the youngest daydreamers and shows us that making new friends may not be as hard as you think!
Peekity Boo What You Can Do!
by Heidi Bee Roemer
This sweet rhyming picture book flows smoothly through the motions of a bedtime routine starting with an energetic bath and then moving on to choosing jammies, reading a book, cuddling with a favorite toy, and snuggling with loved ones before gently falling asleep. It’s a soothing prelude to bedtime that celebrates the special bond between parent and child.
Pick a Pumpkin
by Patricia Toht
Pairing a wonderfully rhythmic read-aloud text with expressive retro illustrations, author Patricia Toht and illustrator Jarvis capture all the excitement and familial feeling of a favorite holiday tradition. Readers will be happy to follow along with each step, from picking out the perfect specimen at the pumpkin patch (be sure to stop for cider and toffee apples) to carting it home, scooping out the insides, carving a scary face, and finally lighting a candle inside — transforming an ordinary pumpkin into a one-of-a-kind glowing jack-o’-lantern.