Doctor Ted

Written by Andrea Beaty

Illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre

Most enjoyed by Preschoolers and Kindergartners

Is there a doctor in the house? There is if you live with Ted, the lovable bear at the center of the delightful 'Doctor Ted'. When Ted bumps his knee, he's sure he needs a doctor but none is to be found. So, who better to answer that need than Ted himself! Not everyone thinks there's room for another doctor, especially at school where they already have one on staff. But guess which doctor helps out when Mrs. Johnson hurts her ankle!

You'll fall for Ted and his superb medical skills. He does a great job at diagnosing problems ("You have gingivitis") and determining the correct medical cure ("You need a full-body cast.")

In fact, even thought this book will appeal to little ones, older kids will really get the humor. If you need a book for an older sibling to read to a younger sibling, 'Doctor Ted' would be a great choice.

Duck! Rabbit!

Written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

Most enjoyed by everyone!

Look at that book cover. What animal do you see? You're right! Now go grab a friend, preferably one who can read, and open the book to the first two pages. You read one page, your friend reads the other. Are you laughing already? Good. Keep going until the end. Now try putting the book away. Bet you can't without reading it again. And again. And.....

Intrigued? Just ask a Zion student in Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade what they thought of 'Duck! Rabbit!'. Not only will you get a big smile but you'll hear 'I wanna read that book again!'. The best praise any book can have.

Down Girl and Sit: Smarter Than Squirrels

Written by Lucy Nolan

Illustrated by Mike Reed

Most enjoyed by Kindergartners through 3rd graders

Meet Down Girl and Sit. Neighbors, friends, and dogs. Down Girl knows just how to treat her owner right - licking his face with a nose fresh from the water bowl, waking him an hour before the alarm clock might scare him. She is one thoughtful dog. And smart to boot. She and Sit know that their yards aren't safe with all the squirrels stealing things so they work hard to chase them up trees. When the dreadful Here Kitty Kitty moves in next door, the two friends work extra hard to keep Rruff's trash can safe so he can keep using it as a hiding place for lots of good stinky stuff.

'Smarter than Squirrels' is the first book in a series for young readers featuring Down Girl and Sit. The two friends do just what dogs do - eat everything in sight, watch for the paper boy, and keep their masters safe. But with Down Girl as the narrator, readers see the world through the dogs' eyes, making for a book full of laughs. For example, Down Girl and Sit know better than to climb trees like squirrels. It's just not safe because a dog could fall out of a tree! Which just goes to prove that they are so much smarter than squirrels.

There are three titles in the series but start with 'Smarter Than Squirrels' so that you can meet Down Girl and Sit properly. Once you know these two better, you'll wonder what's going on in your own dog's head!

Birds

Written by Kevin Henkes

Illustrated by Laura Dronzek

Most enjoyed by Preschoolers and Kindergartners

One of the most loved aspects of spring is the return of birds. Many don't leave during the winter, giving us a reason to fill our bird feeders and toss out breadcrumbs. But the return of spring is heralded by a robin and bird song. Because we're so aware of birds now, it's a perfect time to savor 'Birds', the newest book from Kevin Henkes.

Birds come in many colors and sizes. They can be very beautiful in the winter when one red bird sits in a leafless tree. They can be fun to watch, like when they all fly away from a tree all at once. We enjoy birds for lots of reasons, but especially for their songs.

The bright, bold colors used throughout the book give it instant eye appeal. Thick black lines outline the simple pictures, making the colors used all the more vibrant. The strong simple drawings paired with the spare text make this a perfect read aloud for the youngest of listeners. Don't be surprised if the story is followed by a walk outside for some bird watching. The two go together perfectly!

Who Made This Cake?

Written by Chihiro Nakagawa

Illustrated by Junji Koyose

Most enjoyed by Preschoolers and Kindergartners

Last week, when I read this story to our preschoolers, we were lucky to have a student celebrating a birthday that day. As we read 'Who Made This Cake', we imagined that the cake being made was for the student. How fun to see all of the little workers with their construction equipment breaking eggs, mixing flour and sugar, and pouring cake batter into a pan. And the end result? A birthday cake to be proud of!

Younger readers will love the pictures in 'Who Made This Cake'. Each two page spread is filled with little workers helping each other complete each task. Tons of details have been used in the illustration of the construction equipment, too. It's enough to make the birthday girl or boy miss their cake and ice cream! Add this to your bookshelf and make it a special read aloud whenever a family member celebrates a birthday.

Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig

Written by Kate DiCamillo

Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

Most enjoyed by Kindergartners through 2nd Graders

Mercy Watson is sunning herself on the back yard patio when she smells something wonderful. Poking her head through the hedge, she spies some freshly planted pansies in the yard of Baby and Eugenia Lincoln. Taking one bite leads to another and another and pretty soon, the pansies that Eugenia has planted to spruce up the house have disappeared. And so has Mercy. A phone call to Animal Control starts a chain of hysterical events until Mercy ends up back home, along with everyone else, enjoying her favorite snack.

Kids love Mercy Watson. Her stories are read over and over and this newest title in the series is sure to delight. The illustrations are a big reason for the fun. Chris Van Dusen has captured the characters' personalities so well that the book has to be read more than once to catch all of the expressions on their faces. 'Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig' is a delight for readers young and old.

Knuffle Bunny, Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity

by Mo Willems

Most enjoyed by Pre-K through 1st Graders

Little ones who know the joy of bringing something special to school for show-and-tell will be able to relate to this story. Trixie is so excited to go to preshool. It's show-and-tell day and she's bringing her beloved Knuffle Bunny to share. But horrors! Someone else has a Knuffle Bunny, too! The dueling bunnies are taken away by the teacher until school is over, when the bunnies are given back to their rightful owners. But wait! It's 2 AM and Trixie wakes up to realize that Knuffle Bunny isn't the right Knuffle! The right one is with someone else! And now comes the part every parent can relate to - solving the problem of a sleepless child in the middle of the night who won't be consoled until the right bunny is found.

For some of the littlest readers, this story will hit too close to home to be funny. But most kids will get a smile from Trixie's dilemma. Parents reading the story aloud will enjoy the illustrations, especially the drawings of Trixie's dad at at 2 AM! Black-and-white photos form the background and do a great job of setting where the story takes place. And they make the actual illustrations stand out more on the page.

Read this one at bedtime, before going to bed, but check one last time - do you know where your teddy bear is?