Tomie dePaola's Mother Goose, illustrated by Tomie dePaola

This very complete Mother Goose collection features over two hundred rhymes. They range from the traditional favorites (Hush Little Baby, Yankee Doodle, Little Miss Muffet, etc.) to the more obscure (Charlie Warlie and His Cow). Kids will love the brilliantly-colored paintings by dePaola, a Caldecott Honor artist.

With its bright, quirky animals and oversized flaps to lift, Peek-a-Moo! is a read-aloud favorite among both babies and preschoolers! Readers play peek-a-boo with a different animal on each page, guessing what it is, then lifting the flap to find out. Each animal has a different sound that becomes part of the peek-a-boo game: Guess who? "Peek-a-moo!" says the cow. "Peek-a-squeak!" says the mouse. The bold, funny illustrations will keep kids laughing.

It's a rainy night, and granny is snoring in her bed. A sleepy boy plops on top of her, then a dog crawls up and dozes off on top of him. Next, a cat leaps up and settles for a snooze, and a teeny mouse jumps to the very top of the slumbering pile. All sleep happily, until a flea bites the mouse: ouch! Wood uses gradual changes in color and perspective, and this gleeful cumulative tale ends in sunshine and play.

Three bears return from a walk and find a little girl asleep in the little wee bear's bed... This retelling of a familiar nursery tale features a warmly appealing bear family and a naughty, gap-toothed Goldilocks.

Rosie, Max, Liam, and Zoe are painting pictures, playing games, and having lunch, but Clarabella the crocodile can't join them. She's busy brushing her teeth—and it takes a loooooong time! After she misses a whole day's worth of fun, her friends surprise her with a giant crocodile-size toothbrush. Tomorrow Clarabella will be able to brush her teeth and have fun, too. Bright, bold, funny illustrations accompany this simple and spirited story that also describes an important daily routine.

Poor Rooster has forgotten how to crow! How does it go again? "Cock-a-Moo-Moo"? "Cock-a-Oink-Oink"? Rooster can't seem to get it right! When all the other animals start to make fun of him, Rooster loses hope. One night, a surprise visitor arrives-- a fox! Can Rooster remember what to say? Parents will love to read this story out loud, and kids will enjoy making animal sounds along with Rooster.

Come Along, Daisy!, written and illustrated by Jane Simmons

"Come along, Daisy," says Mama Duck. But Daisy is too busy watching fish and dancing on lily pads. When she finally looks around, Mama isn't there anymore. Jane Simmons' winsome illustrations perfectly capture the little duck's thrill of exploration in this gentle cautionary tale.

Anansi the Spider uses a strange moss-covered rock in the forest to trick all the other animals, until Little Bush Deer decides he needs to learn a lesson. Kids will enjoy the rhythmic text and colorful illustrations that accompany this traditional West African tale.

Mabela may be the smallest mouse in the village, but that doesn't matter, because her father taught her how to be clever. One day, the cat comes to invite all the mice to join the Secret Cat Society. The mice line up, with Mabela at the front and the cat at the back. They march through the forest, singing the secret cat song and shouting FO FENG! Only clever Mabela figures out that the cat is up to no good... This book also features a song based on the story, as well as a game idea.

Kids will be happy to join Maisy on her trip to the farm. There's so much to do! There are tabs to pull and flaps to lift, and children can help Maisy collect eggs, ride the horses, feed the lambs, and drive the tractor. As always, the amazing Maisy means crayon-bright fun for the very young.
 

Polar Bear wants some quiet time to himself to read and write, but Goose keeps interrupting him! Bear gets more and more exasperated, and finally Goose goes off to make a snack. He returns, snack prepared, and carrying a blanket and a note, which he gives to Bear. The note reads, "You are my splendid friend," and Polar Bear realizes that maybe Goose is a splendid friend, too, after all. He gives Goose a hug, and the two sit down to share the snack. A sweet book about friendship and sharing. A Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor Book.