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The purpose of this list is to share the books I had chosen in my librarian career as some of my favorites to share with K students, although they’re great wonderful for older kids too. I am sharing the books here for my piano students to use as part of the Summer Piano Studio Program which will earn them spins of the prize wheel… Ask for details!
The Boat by Monique Felix
A mouse trapped inside a book makes a boat out of paper and goes sailing.
Crankee Doodle by Tom Angleberger
Many know the song “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” but few understand it. This unapologetically silly picture book reveals the legendary ride to town—and the whole macaroni thing—was actually the work of Mr. Doodle’s overeager pony. Mr. Doodle doesn’t want any pasta or even a trip into town. No wonder he’s so cranky!
Zoom by Istvan Banyai
Open this wordless book and zoom from a farm to a ship to a city street to a desert island. But if you think you know where you are, guess again. For nothing is ever as it seems in Istvan Banyai’s sleek, mysterious landscapes of pictures within pictures, which will tease and delight readers of all ages.
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett
Sam and Dave are on a mission. A mission to find something spectacular. So they dig a hole. And they keep digging. And they find . . . nothing. Yet the day turns out to be pretty spectacular after all.
Pirate, Viking and Scientist by Jared Chapman
Scientist forms a hypothesis, conducts an experiment, observes his results, and tests his subjects again and again until he discovers the perfect formula for friendship.
I Will Never Not Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child
There are many things Lola won’t eat, including — and especially —tomatoes. Or will she? Two endearing siblings star in a witty story about the triumph of imagination over proclivity.
The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc
One autumn day, a lion finds a wounded bird in his garden. With the departure of the bird’s flock, the lion decides that it’s up to him to care for the bird. He does and the two become fast friends. Nevertheless, the bird departs with his flock the following autumn. What will become of Lion and what will become of their friendship.
Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman
The Bunny family has adopted a wolf son, and daughter Dot is the only one who realizes Wolfie can–and might–eat them all up! Dot tries to get through to her parents, but they are too smitten to listen.
Animalia by Graeme Base
Animalia is a vast puzzle, built with color and filled with creatures.
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
While out exploring one day, a little boy named Liam discovers a struggling garden and decides to take care of it. As time passes, the garden spreads throughout the dark, gray city, transforming it into a lush, green world.
Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert
An escaped house cat encounters twelve common birds in the backyard but captures only feathers for lunch.
Little Roja Riding Hood by Susan Elya
While Roja picks flowers on the way to her grandma’s, a mean wolf sneaks away with her cape to surprise Abuelita. But Grandma’s no fool and Roja’s no ordinary chica.
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17. Take Away the A by Michael Escoffier
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20. How My Parents Learned to Eat by Ina Friedman
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26. Mr. George Baker by Amy Hest
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29. Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores by James Howe
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34. Bears by Ruth Krauss
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37. Mole Music by David McPhail
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36. Tiptop Cat by Roger Mader
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42. The Dot by Peter Reynolds
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43. Blizzard by John Rocco
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27. How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills
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28. Happy by Mies Hout
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30. Art Dog by Thacher Hurd
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32. The Wolf’s Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza
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35. The Red Book by Barbara Lehman
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40. The Ugly Duckling by Jerry Pinkney
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44. The Dark by Lemony Snicket
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38. Take Me Out to the Yakyu by Aaron Meshon
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31. There Was a Tree by Rachel Isadora
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33. Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen
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39. The Three Questions by Jon Muth
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41. Yo! Yes? by Christopher Raschka
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46. Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard
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49. Help! We Need a Title! by Herve Tullet
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50. Mailing May by Michael Tunnell
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47. Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylor
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45. Pete’s a Pizza by William Steig
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48. The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugenios Trivizas
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1. Cork and Fuzz by Dori Chaconas
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4. Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same by Grace Lin
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7. Poppleton by Cynthia Rylant
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9. Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman
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12. Extraordinary Warren Saves the Day by Sarah Dillard
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2. Iris and Walter by Elissa Guest
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3. Houndsley and Catina by James Howe
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5. Pearl and Wagner: Two Good Friends by Kate McMullan
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10. Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole by Wong Yee
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11. Benjamin Bear in Bright Ideas by Philippe Coudray
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13. Okay, Andy! by Maxwell Eaton
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14. Barry’s Best Buddy by Renee French
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6. Little Bear by Else Minarik
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8. Monkey and Elephant go Gadding by Carole Schaefer
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15. Benny and Penny in Just Pretend by Geoffrey Hayes
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18. The Meeting by Brigitte Luciani
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16. The Big Wet Balloon by Liniers
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17. Scribbles and Ink: The Contest by Ethan Long
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19. BirdCatDog by Lee Nordling
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20. Mr. Ball Makes a To Do List by Michael Townsend
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26. How to Clean a Hippopotamus | 591.785 Jen
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29. What’s Your Favorite Animal? | 743.9432 Wha
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34. The Empty Pot | 398.20951 Dem
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37. Beautiful Blackbird | 398.2096 Bry
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36. Issun Bôshi | 398.20952 Iss
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42. The Bug in Teacher’s Coffee | 811 Dak
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43. The Friendly Four | 811 Gre
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27. One Tiny Turtle | 597.928 Dav
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28. Owen & Mzee | 599.635 Hat
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30. When Stravinsky Met Nijinsky | 781.556092 StrS
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32. Rapunzel | 398.20943 Zel
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35. Lon Po Po | 398.20951 You
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40. Snow White and Rose Red | 398.22 Geo
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44. Hamsters, Shells and Spelling Bees | 811 Ham
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38. Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock | 398.2096 Kim
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31. The Bremen Town Musicians | 398.20943 Gri
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33. Never Say a Mean Word Again | 398.20946 Jul
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39. The Talking Eggs | 398.20975 San
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41. My Village | 808.81 Wri
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46. Casey at the Bat | 811 Tha
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49. My Shadow | 821.8 Ste
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50. One Leaf Rides the Wind | 895.6 Man
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45. Fireflies at Midnight | 811 Sin
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48. Hi, Koo! | 811.6 Mut
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21. Biblioburro | 020.92 SorW
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22. Martin’s Big Words | 323.092 KinR
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23. Mama Miti | 333.72092 MaaN
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24. All the Water in the World | 551.48 Lyo
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25. Guess What is Growing Inside this Egg | 591.468 Pos
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Thought Provoking Reads 