Storytime & Early Literacy

"When a box of cell phones is accidentally delivered to the zoo, one blue gnu quickly calls two white sheep, who plan a party - beep beep beep! Call by call, the party spreads around the zoo, but oh no! Who invited tiger, and who will he call on his new phone? A fun and colorful picture book romp, where we count from one to ten and down again in one huge party!"

A picture book celebration of girl dads everywhere by The Dad Gang CEO, Sean Williams!

A fun read-aloud written in upbeat rhyming verse, Girl Dad is a picture book that honors the loving men who raise, love, and uplift strong girls.

Share Girl Dad with the dads in your life, on Father's Day or any day.

Plus: Don't forget to check out Sean Williams's Boy Dad!

A Bank Street College of Education's Children's Book Committee's Best Children's Books of the Year pick!

Discover namaste’s many meanings in a simple, lyrical text, paired with a charmingly detailed visual narrative about a little girl’s kindness.

Namaste calms your heart when things aren’t going right.
Namaste is saying “You matter.”

What is namaste? It’s found in a smile, a friendship, a celebration. It exists in silence; it can be said when you’re happy or when you’re feeling low. For one small girl in a bustling city, namaste (“I bow to you”) is all around her as she and her mother navigate a busy marketplace—and when she returns with a little plant and chooses to give it to an elderly neighbor, it can be seen in the caring bond between them. In a sweet, universal text, debut author Suma Subramaniam shines a light on a word with significance far beyond yoga class, while artist Sandhya Prabhat makes the concept of mindfulness come alive in delightful illustrations likely to draw children in again and again.

The virtues of taking a break—and of being thankful—are extolled in the gentle story of a stubborn ox, an impatient farmer, and a day of rest.

Long ago, in the hills near Jerusalem, lived a young ox. For six days each week, she and her owner would toil in the fields, and on the seventh day both would rest. Then it came to be that this young ox was sold. For six days, she toiled in her new owner’s fields, and on the seventh day the farmer brought out the yoke and plow, expecting to spend another day hard at work. But Shoshi the ox had a different idea. In a warm, friendly narrative and vivid, humorous art, author Caryn Yacowitz and illustrator Kevin Hawkes bring to life a tale drawn from the ancient Jewish stories known as the Midrash, a story as relevant today as it was long ago. It’s a tale of encountering other cultures and learning from them, of paying attention to the world around you—sun, breeze, animals, people—and above all, of learning to slow down and take a break.

How are you supposed to get ready for bed when there are a growing number of monkeys who just won't stop messing around?

Suddenly I heard an EEK, a TAP TAP on the pane.

A tiny little monkey face was peering through the rain.

I'm sure my mom won't mind, I thought. He's really very small.

One tiny pygmy marmoset could do no harm at all. . .

When a little boy lets a monkey in through his window, he doesn't expect it to bring all its friends!

But when he is followed by six red-handed howlers, six macaques, ten capuchins and two great big baboons there's going to be trouble! Surely mom will notice the banana skins, the toothpaste, the handprints on the walls . . .

Will he ever get to bed with all this monkeying around?

Alex's hilarious rhyming text matched with Pauline's expressive illustrations makes for the perfect bedtime read!

Everyone knows what it feels like to be a passenger--and this book finally puts this universal feeling into words.

Climb aboard Bus Number Four as it travels along country roads and city streets, past train tracks and farm fields. Through the window, countless details rush by, just waiting to be noticed. What will you see today?

In this lyrical tribute to long rides and curious minds, author Grant Snider celebrates the extraordinary found within the ordinary, the fascinating hiding within the familiar, and the world of discovery awaiting all those who watch and wonder.

THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING A PASSENGER: An ode to staring out the window, to the daydream, and to observation. This thoughtful new picture book is a wonderful way for kids to think about their own commute to school.

COUNTING: Every morning, one boy watches . . . for two bright headlights, three big steps up, four rusty cars, and infinite wonders that can be seen along the way! Kids will enjoy counting the colorful worlds that slip by the windows on this journey.

READ ALOUD: With its contemplative and poetic lyricism, and bright, textured illustrations, this classic-feeling book is a beautiful read aloud.

An empowering follow-up to New York Times bestselling picture book All Because You Matter that celebrates the rich history of Black and brown men and women throughout history with soaring language and stunning illustration.

Lyrical, affirmational, and bursting with love, We Are Here is a poignant story about Black and brown heritage and community. Full of assurance, tenderness, and triumph, this much-anticipated follow-up to the New York Times bestselling picture book All Because You Matter offers an equally inspirational and arresting ode to all of the Black women and men throughout history who have made momentous contributions from the beginning of time.

Tami Charles shares the beauty and excellence in the history of the Black community, assuring Black and brown children of the extraordinary legacy from which they come. Charles's powerful and empowering text is accompanied with illustrations by renowned artist Bryan Collier, a four-time Caldecott Honor recipient and a nine-time Coretta Scott King Award winner or honoree. We Are Here celebrates readers with pride, joy, and love, reminding them of their roots, inviting readers to imagine a future that shines ever bright, and strengthening them for their triumphant days to come!

A simple and profound meditation on the many wonders of life from two-time Caldecott Honor recipient Marla Frazee.

In every life, there is love and loss, hope and joy, wonder and mystery. With glowing art and spare, powerful text, Caldecott Honor–winning creator Marla Frazee celebrates the moments, feelings, and experiences, both big and small, that make up a life.

With a bold, graphic style and a bouncy, rhyming text, this picture book catches rascally kittens being their adorable (and mischievous!) selves from morning to nap to night.

This little kitty starts the day and meows, “Wake up! It’s time to play! All the little kitties get out of bed. Their bellies grumble—it’s time to be fed."
Read along as these frisky felines pounce and play, claw and climb, and snack and sleep—until daylight fades and these little kitties are ready to receive some love and affection. Filled with bright and playful illustrations, here is an adorable picture book by debut author-illustrator Karen Obuhanych, featuring many delightful cats—all brimming with purrsonality—that will charm cat lovers and kids alike.

Just in time for Easter, a moving exploration of hope, from its resilient roots to its sprouting—and surprising!—possibilities.

When Eva's hopes for a cheerful flower garden are dashed by a rascally—and hungry! —rabbit, she sinks into despair. But it's from this new vantage point that she discovers something surprising and wonderful about her four-legged-nemesis that reminds Eva of her own growing family and inspires her to try again.

Told in sweet, lyrical verse, and accompanied by the tenderest illustrations, Hope is a Hop shares a powerful message and the heart-tugging illustrations and bunny rabbit motif make it a natural pick for Easter gifting.





 

A boy struggling to fall asleep peeks beneath his covers to find a world filled with nighttime adventures under a starry, tented sky.

Watson is having trouble sleeping. He lies awake at night, doing his best not to think about the lurking, creeping things that might be hiding in his closet or under his bed. But the more he tries, the harder it gets.

Then he notices a mysterious light coming from under his covers. When he takes a pee­k he discovers a beautiful, tented night sky full of twinkling stars. And because he isn’t sleepy, he follows a path the stars show him. It leads him through a forest and onto an adventure that includes friendly creatures and a magical trolly ride to a tiny island with a very tall tower—and finally, sleep.

Landis Blair is the author and illustrator of The Envious Siblings and Other Morbid Nursery Rhymes, as well as the illustrator of the New York Times bestseller From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty and the graphic novel The Hunting Accident by David Carlson. His quirky and wonderful work is perfect for fans of Edward Gorey. With his debut picture book, The Night Tent, he celebrates the exploration of imagination and possibility that becomes so potent in the late hours of the night.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Miss Irwin is a luminous and heartwarming story about the importance of capturing the light of precious memories before all is forgotten, from Caldecott Medalist Allen Say.

As a young woman, Miss Irwin was a kindergarten teacher who loved introducing the world of discovery to her students. As a grandmother, she often reflects on her wonderful days exploring with her students. When her grandson asks her about a mysterious box on the shelf, she gets lost in memory and her mind transports her back in time to when she was Miss Irwin. At first her grandson is confused, but remembers his grandmother's forgetfulness and plays along as the student who made the bird's nest inside the white box.

Allen Say's breathtaking artwork and emotionally powerful and thoughtful text gently weave a touching story about memory and family. Together, the grandmother and grandson rejoice in the meaning and beauty of memory before all is lost.

Miss Irwin helps readers of all ages better understand and interact with loved ones who are experiencing memory loss.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

The teachers I loved and admired are figures of light in my memory. Miss Irwin is especially luminous. She was my daughter's kindergarten teacher. The children's words and drawings and dancing made her blush with excitement. And by trying to keep her blushing, the children learned the astonishment of discovering.

I hope she will forgive me for casting her as a forgetful grandmother in this story -- it's an attempt to capture her light before all is forgotten. -- Allen Say

Alzheimer's changes the lives of everyone it touches.​ You are not alone.

When a friend or family member has Alzheimer's disease, you may feel upset, confused or scared. Some people with early-stage Alzheimer's may forget words or not remember your name from time to time. But, when you spend time with people with late-stage Alzheimer's, it is easy to see that something serious is going on. People with Alzheimer's disease are not acting like this because they don't care about you. Changes deep inside their brains are destroying the centers that control remembering, thinking, and feeling. Learning about Alzheimer's disease can help you understand what to expect and how to connect with the person you care about. -- Alzheimer's Association

A lively, humorous counting book featuring a kid trying to keep up with a load of sassy squirrels.

Some days it seems like there are squirrels everywhere! When a curious little girl decides she must find out exactly how many there are, her mission has her searching high and low, counting squirrels all over town. Only problem is, these frisky squirrels sure move around. Will she ever get a grip on the squirrely squirrel number situation?

In this lively count-along book, Ben Gundersheimer’s playful rhyming text, based on a song from his album Pizza for Breakfast, pairs perfectly with Marcos Almada Rivero’s funny, eye-catching illustrations. As children marvel over our heroine’s persistence, they will have fun spotting oodles of rambunctious squirrels.

Meet Rosa and her familia in this bilingual celebration of her favorite tree.

"This is the apple tree, el manzano, that grows near the house where Rosa lives.
This is the sun, el sol, that shines every day on the tree near the house."

Rosa and her family live in a house in the country where an apple tree grows. With short stanzas, interspersed with occasional vocabulary in Spanish, we journey through the year and witness the tree as it changes and develops fruit. We discover what makes the tree grow strong and how the flowers are pollinated. Eventually the apples are fully grown and ready to be picked. On a warm late summer afternoon we join Rosa and her family for a celebratory picnic where a specially-made apple pie takes center stage. This charming story delivers some beginning Spanish vocabulary as well as a lesson in plant life for young readers who will enjoy spending time with Rosa, her dog, Churro, and her entire family. Back matter includes a non-fiction spread showing the cycle from flower to fruit and a simple apple sauce recipe to be made with adult supervision.

Using the same innovative format as his Caldecott Honor winner, Mel Fell, Corey R. Tabor reimagines Aesop's "The Dog and His Reflection" in a clever, charming tale of empathy and generosity.

One day, down by the pond, Simon meets another dog just like him.

And that dog has a bone just like his, only better!

How will Simon ever get him to trade, when the other pup knows all the same tricks...?