Book List: Books About Trees

It’s hard to imagine our world without trees. Silent and towering, they give us far more than we give them. Our children have a natural fascination with trees, from the time they are very young. This week we celebrate these magnificent plants with a list of books that we hope will inspire and cultivate awe and the desire to give trees the care and love they deserve.

Trees by Carme Lemniscates

Lemniscates’ stunning illustrations are the star of this book for young children. Infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children will enjoy the simple text and the basic plot of trees changing during different seasons. 

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert

This book has been loved by generations of children. In lieu of more typical illustrations, Ehlert utilizes interesting materials to create collage on each page. Children will learn important factual information about the lives of trees, specifically within the context of the narrator’s beloved sugar maple. 

Maple by Lori Nichols

Maple is the name of a young girl, but it is also the type of tree her parents planted in celebration when she was born. Maple and her tree grow up together, and as an only child, her tree often serves as a trusted companion. Maple does not remain an only child forever, and her trusty tree helps ease her into sisterhood (with baby Willow).

Who Will Plant a Tree? by Jerry Pallotta, illustrated by Tom Leonard

Renowned children’s author Jerry Pallotta created this book to teach young children how many living things unknowingly help plant seeds. Tom Leonard’s illustrations help convey the various ways seeds might hitch a ride: stuck to fur or feathers, buried, dropped, pushed along in the water, and (much to children’s delight) pooped out. 

The Lumberjack’s Beard by Duncan Beedie

This adorable book will have readers giggling for sure, but it also conveys an important message. A lumberjack inadvertently displaces several animals from their homes, and after inviting them to live in his beard for a while, he experiences a change of heart and goes about righting his wrongs.

The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest by Lynne Cherry 

A young man enters the rain forest intent on cutting down a kapok tree. Lulled to sleep by the heat of the jungle, he rests against the tree’s trunk for a nap. While he sleeps, various animals whisper their pleading requests that he reconsider. When he awakes, finding himself surrounded by those he dreamed about, he decides to leave the tree (and all those who rely on it) alone. 

Wangari’s Trees of Peace: A True Story From Africa by Jeannette Winter

Wangari grew up “...under an umbrella of green trees in the shadow of Mount Kenya in Africa.” She was fortunate enough to have an excellent education, eventually traveling to the United States to earn degrees in biology and science (as well as advanced degrees in Germany and Kenya). Upon returning home to Kenya, she was shocked to find the trees she once loved had vanished. Ignoring the naysayers, she taught the women of Kenya to plant one tree at a time, creating economic independence for families and restoring the natural state of her beloved nation.

The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins, illustrated by Jill McElmurry

Born in the mid-nineteenth century, Kate Sessions adored trees. She grew up surrounded and inspired by them. She attended UC Berkeley, where she was the first woman to receive a degree in science. A move to San Diego, which was mostly barren in terms of trees at the time, inspired her life’s work. With the cooperation of city officials she began planting a wide variety of trees, some of which remain to this day. Sessions transformed both the landscape of the city and the perspectives of its people.

Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Trees by Patricia Daniels

Created specifically for children, this field guide is filled with enticing illustrations, diagrams, photographs, and helpful information. Beginning with some important general information about trees, the book covers a wide variety of the more popular trees one might encounter. Created by Daniels for National Geographic Kids, this book is an excellent option for kindergarten and early lower elementary children.

Peterson Field Guides to Eastern Trees and Western Trees

Peterson’s field guides are, in our opinion, some of the best available. If your child is interested in trees, or if you would like to try identifying some near you, these books will prove to be invaluable. Montessori children are accustomed to classifying and identifying various organisms due to their in-depth study of biology; field guides are an excellent resource to support curious learnings and those who love nature.

Book List: Math Books for Children of All Ages

In Montessori schools, children tend to really love math. It’s no wonder, with gorgeous materials created to appeal to their senses and developmental stages. One fun way parents can support their children’s love of math is by reading to them about it. This month we have curated a list of books that will appeal to children of all ages, whether they are learning to count or discovering the magic of Pi. Check out these titles and let us know what you think!

Numbers by John J. Reiss

There are some iconic early counting books out there, but if you’re looking for something fresh to inspire a love of numbers, check out this beautiful little book. With bold illustrations and sturdy pages, children can learn to count to ten and beyond (there’s even a page for 1000!).

How Much Is a Million? by David M. Schwartz, illustrated by Steven Kellogg

Is your child ready to expand their understanding of place value? Are you looking for a way to help them conceptualize larger numbers? This charming book is both fun and educational, giving kids concrete ways to visualize one million. How tall are a million children? How long does it take to count to a million? How much water would a million goldfish need? Find the answers to these questions and more!

The Grapes of Math by Greg Tang, illustrated by Harry Briggs

Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing are important skills for all young children to learn. Finding different ways to look at groups of numbers can make operations work a breeze. The Grapes of Math uses clear illustrations and catchy rhymes to challenge children to find new ways to count larger numbers. Your child is sure to have fun figuring out these math riddles with you.

One Hundred Hungry Ants by Elinor J. Pinczes, illustrated by Bonnie MacKlain

Everyone loves a picnic, including ants! In an attempt to get to the food as soon as possible, the ants keep rearranging themselves into different groups. Two lines of 50 is surely faster than one line of 100, right? What about five lines of 20?

Measuring Penny by Loreen Leedy

Lisa’s teacher asks the class to go home and measure something. What could be more fun than measuring your pet dog? This book discusses multiple standard units, nonstandard units, comparisons, and a myriad of ways to measure. Lisa and Penny have fun at the park, where there are plenty of other dogs to measure, too!

The Lion’s Share: A Tale of Halving Cake and Eating It Too by Matthew McElligott

An ant attends the Lion’s annual fancy dinner, along with a number of other animals. The sweet ant is shocked by the terrible behavior of the other guests. Beyond their awful table manners, they divide a cake with no regard for fairness (although they do give readers a great lesson about fractions along the way!). When the ant offers to bake the king a cake, the other animals try to outdo her, with each doubling the offer of cakes. Kids will be amazed and amused!

Math Curse by Jon Sciezka, illustrated by Lane Smith

What would you do if your math teacher told you that basically everything in life could be a math problem? If you’re the main character in this book, you might feel like you have a math curse. When life is suddenly numbers, fractions, and word problems, how can you possibly think about anything else? When even the character’s dreams become math problems, they realize they have to find a solution.

Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi by Cindy Neuschwander, illustrated by Wayne Geehan

When Sir Cumference has a stomach ache, his son Radius runs off to find some medicine. He accidentally turns his father into a dragon, and finds a mysterious mathematical poem to help him undo the magic. While searching for answers, Radius sees circles everywhere, but he needs to figure out how to measure circumference in order to save his dad. He does, of course, and what better way to celebrate than with some pie?

The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos by Deborah Heiligman, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Young Paul did not live his life like most people. He struggled with seemingly simple tasks, yet he was always thinking about math. As a four-year-old, he enjoyed mentally calculating how many seconds old people were. This story highlights the fact that there is a place in this world for all of us. The genius of this one boy was realized as he traveled the world collaborating with other mathematicians.

What’s Your Angle, Pythagoras? by Julie Ellis, illustrated by Phyllis Hornung

While we don’t actually know anything about the childhood of the famed Pythagoras, Ellis imagines the types of mischief (and learning!) he may have gotten up to. Curiosity can lead us in many different directions, and Pythagoras goes on a voyage with his merchant father. His passion for buildings leads him to learn about angles, and how a knotted rope helped early builders calculate precise measurements. He explores some more, and uses patterned tiles to discover the concept of squaring.  

Book List: Housebound Edition

Hello dear families. We are sending out our love and support during this challenging time. We know you are stuck at home, but we hope you have found some beautiful moments or ways to make it work. In lieu of our regular book list this month, we created one that may be helpful in this unique situation. The list consists of two parts: books that may be helpful in content if you are so inclined to order them online and prefer physical books, and sources for ebooks for children. 

Books About Health and Viruses

Germs Are Not for Sharing by Elizabeth Verdick, illustrated by Marieka Heinlen

Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, Germs Are Not for Sharing has simple text and clear illustrations that teach and remind little ones what they should do when they are sick. For example, “Cough, cough, cough! What do you need to do? Turn your head away. Cough into your sleeve.” 

A Germ’s Journey by Thom Rooke M.D., illustrated by Anthony Phillip Trimmer

Ideal for lower elementary-aged children, Trimmer’s mischievous-looking green germ character, combined with Rooke’s clear explanations give kids a better sense of how we spread germs to one another and what they do in our bodies. Perfect for giving information to children who are curious to learn more about why we are self-isolating and how our immune systems work to protect our bodies, this book couldn’t be more timely.

Microbiology: It’s a Small World! By Simon Basher, illustrated by Dan Green

For the science lovers: Basher’s book gets into descriptions of various microbes. Striking drawings will appeal to kids, as will more information than they will find in a typical storybook. From the first discoveries of bacteria, to how our bodies defend themselves against germs, and facts about a variety of microbes, there is plenty of fascinating information to satisfy curious kids.

Books About Emotions and Compassion

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

Our children are undoubtedly missing friends and family. We can help them remember the unwavering connections of love with this sweet book. When two children are frightened by a thunderstorm and unsure about their mother’s request that they return to bed, she teaches them about the invisible strings that connect us all.

Have You Filled Your Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud, illustrated by David Messing

While this book was written with children in mind, the message is for everyone. Even the most peaceful of families is likely getting a little stir-crazy right about now. Learn how to fill your bucket and how you can help others with their own. It’s helpful to stop and remember that our thoughts and actions can have profound effects on ourselves and those around us.

Peace Is An Offering by Annette LeBox, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin

Peace Is An Offering blends beautiful illustrations with an even more beautiful message. The book reminds children that even small acts of kindness make a really big difference in the lives of those around us. It does touch on tragedy without being overly graphic or upsetting. For example, there is mention of needing a home, towers falling, and losing a loved one. We recommend watching a video of the book being read aloud in YouTube if you unsure whether the story would be right for your child.

Free Ebook Sources for Children

hoopla | streaming audiobooks, music, video & ebooks

Hoopla runs in connection with public libraries. Check with your local library to see if you have access. (Bonus: There’s plenty of great titles for adults as well!)

Amazon’s Top 100 Free Kindle Books

This list is updated each hour to reflect the most popular books downloaded by users. You may be surprised by what you can find at no cost!

International Children’s Digital Library

This site contains thousands of titles in a multitude of languages. Readers get to look at high-quality scans of actual books pages, which can be a refreshing treat when it comes to ebooks.

Barnes & Noble Free eBooks for Kids

The store boasts more than 5000 titles geared toward a range of ages. Another added benefit is the ability to sort through various categories of interest, so  you’re not just scrolling through a muddle of books that won’t interest you child.

As always, we love to hear your feedback. Whether you end up checking out one of the recommendations and want to share your thoughts, or if you have another book or resource you think the families of our community would appreciate, please feel free to reach out.

Happy reading!

Book List: Cultivating Resilience

We love books, and we know your children do, too. That’s why each month we bring you a fresh list of ten titles that center on different themes. This month we’re thinking about resilience. Teaching our children to stick with it when a task seems challenging is a lesson that takes years to impart. One way is to encourage them when they are faced with real-life difficulties. Another is to share stories of people who have overcome their own. If you’re interested, talk to your child about what resilience means, then discuss how the people in these biographies pushed through their own challenges to find success and happiness. (Click on the book images to go to that book’s page on Amazon.)

Lighter Than Air: Sophie Blanchard, the First Woman Pilot by Matthew Clark Smith, illustrated by Matt Tavares

This lovely book tells the tale of Sophie Blanchard, a generally overlooked figure in history who happened to be the first female pilot. Other women had taken to the skies previously, but she holds the distinction of being the first waoman to fly a balloon solo and steer its course. This is a great tale of overcoming boundaries and following childhood dreams.

Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story From the Underground Railroad by Ellen Lavine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson

When we think of the underground railroad, our most common idea of what people went through involved traveling from house in the darkness of night. There were other ways, however, that people utilized to reach the freedom of the north. Henry sought the help of two trusted friends and mailed himself to freedom in a wooden box. Two notes of importance: this book is best for children in elementary grades and above, as it discusses complex racial issues that younger children are not developmentally ready for. There is one page on which the author describes Henry’s slave master as “good”. We assume the author meant good in a relative sense, but we think it would be advisable to stop on this page and have a discussion with your child about whether any slave master can really be a “good” one. Nevertheless, this book is an incredible tale and Henry’s story is an important one to pass on to younger generations.

Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark, illustrated by Katy Wu

Grace was resilient from a young age, and continued to be so throughout her life. The book discusses her trouble putting together an alarm clock she took apart as a child, which led her to disassemble seven clocks in order to learn enough about the to fix the original one. Wallmark tells of her trouble passing Latin (which prevented her from entering college initially) and the work she put in to pass the course and reach her goals. In a male-dominated world, her peers focused on studies such as how to be a good wife and mother, while Grace studied math, sought out adventures, and spent more than a year convincing the Navy to allow her to join (even though she was considered too old and skinny by their standards). Hopper went on to be a pioneer of computer coding, and her work is influential even today.

A Boy and a Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz, illustrated by Catia Chien

This autobiography tells the incredibly moving tale of a young boy faced with stigma and driven by passion. Rabinowitz grew up as a stutterer, and was misunderstood at school. The only time he felt truly at ease was when he was with animals, and especially when he was able to visit a jaguar at the Bronx Zoo. Saddened by her bare enclosure, he promised her he would work to change that one day. As an adult, he beat the odds and became a scientist who fought for conservation, eventually helping to create the first and only jaguar preserve.

Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating, illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens

As a young girl, Eugenie would stare at the sharks in the aquarium and marvel at the intelligence and beauty of the creatures most people thought were anything but. While her mother supported her dreams, most of society did not; she was encouraged to be a secretary or a housewife, but not an ocean explorer. As you might imagine, she worked hard to achieve her goals. During the course of her career, Clark discovered new species, debunked long-held assumptions about sharks, and became a strong advocate for conservation.

John Muir and Stickeen: An Alaskan Adventure by Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff, illustrated by Karl Swanson

Muir is famous for his adventures, but this book zooms in on the events of one particular day. Accompanied by Stickeen, a friend’s dog, he set off to trek across an Alaskan glacier. Stickeen was no ordinary dog; he refused affection from humans and had a sense of adventure that rivaled that of Muir’s own. Faced with treacherous conditions and fading sunlight, the pair stuck together and found a way safely back to camp.

The Girl Who Ran: Bobbi Gibb, the First Woman to Run the Boston Marathon by Frances Poletti and Kristina Yee, illustrated by Susanna Chapman

Bobbi loved to run, but as she grew older she found herself surrounded by people who told her she shouldn’t - including her own parents. She dreamed of running in the Boston marathon, so she set off from home to train across the country where no one could tell her not to. When she finally sent in her registration it was denied, so she put on a disguise, snuck into the race, and made history.

The East-West House: Noguchi’s Childhood in Japan by Christy Hale

Noguchi spent his boyhood feeling caught between two worlds. His American mother brought him to Japan as a young child so that they could live with his father. They soon realized his father had another family, and Noguchi and his mother went off on their own. Never quite feeling like he belonged in Japan, though also feeling out of place among Americans, he struggled to find his path. When he was 8 years old he designed and oversaw the construction of his family’s new home, sparking a creative interest that would fuel the eventual career of this famous artist.

Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson

The second book on our list illustrated by Nelson, he is also the author of this title. The book begins with Mandela’s boyhood, and how he was sent away from his home so that he might have a good education and more opportunities in life. Readers learn about how he became a lawyer and fought for justice among South Africans, eventually ending up imprisoned because of his work to fight the apartheid. Though so much of this book focuses on Mandela’s struggles, it does so in a way that is accessible for children, and the story does highlight the support he received from the people of his country and his triumphant rise to lead South Africa later in his life.

Happy Reading!

A Book List for Budding Botanists

Where would we be without plants?  Botany is a major area of study in the Montessori curriculum, and children everywhere are fascinated by the magic of seeds, flowers, and growing plant life.  Interested in finding some books to support this learning?  Check out these ten titles and let us know what you think! (Click on the book images to go to that book’s Amazon page)

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

Against all odds, a tiny seed travels and grows to become a gorgeous flower.  This delightful children’s classic covers factual topics within a storytelling format.  Though many seeds may set out on their journey, few grow to complete their life cycle.  

My Garden by Kevin Henkes

A little girl daydreams as she helps her mother in the garden.  She imagines that in her garden, she wouldn’t have to worry about rabbits eating the lettuce because the rabbits would chocolate and she could eat them.  The tomatoes would be as big as beach balls and the carrots would be invisible (because she doesn’t like carrots).

From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons

This fantastic nonfiction text helps children understand the basics of seeds and flowers.  It’s bright illustrations, clear diagrams, and informative text covers topics like the parts of a flower, pollination, how seeds travel, and the stages of growth.

How a Seed Grows by Helene J. Jordan, illustrated by Loretta Kropinski

This sweet book shows two children as they plant a dozen bean seeds and observe throughout their growth.  While the book gives clear directions on how to repeat the experiment, children can learn a lot just from reading.  If you would like to follow along with the steps, gather some bean seeds, a bit of soil, and a dozen egg shells.

The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds by Joanna Cole, illustrated by Bruce Degen and John Speirs

Fans of the Frizz won’t be disappointed with this title!  The class has grown their own garden and goes on an adventure, with the bus first turning into a ladybug to get an up-close look at a flower.  They then shrink down to the size of a grain of pollen, hitching a ride on the leg of a bee and traveling down a pollen tube to learn how seeds are made.

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

A book that may inspire both you and your child, Miss Rumphius is a classic that everyone should read.  Little Alice grows up, travels the world, comes home to live by the sea, and sets out to do the most difficult thing of all: do something to make the world more beautiful.  Almost by accident she discovers that planting lupine seeds around her town is just the act of beauty she had been searching for.    

Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas by Cheryl Bardoe, illustrated by Jos. A. Smith

For children in upper elementary, middle school, and perhaps even beyond, this picture book tells the story of how humble friar Gregor Mendel founded our scientific understanding of genetics.  Using pea plants, Mendel discovered how traits play an important part in biology.  While the importance of his work was not recognized until after his death, it played a major part in our understanding of the world.

A Weed is a Flower by Aliki

This book begins by describing the unfortunate beginnings of Carver’s life, including being born into slavery and taken by night raiders.  Following abolition, Carver lived with his former owners for a number of years, and it was during this time that he cultivated a love for plants.  His curiosity and desire to further his education led him to work hard throughout his life, eventually becoming a professor at the Tuskegee Institute.  It was here that Dr. Carver learned much about plants and attempted to impart his findings on the farmers of Alabama.  He advocated for crop rotation as a means of long-term soil care, and studied crops such as sweet potatoes and peanuts to find ways to make them more useful and appealing to farmers and consumers.

Who Was Beatrix Potter? by Sarah Fabiny

Did you know that Potter not only wrote charming children’s books, but she was also a conservationist?  During a time when women’s studies in science were not taken seriously, Potter worked to find ways to make her findings heard.  She adored animals and plants, and strove to find ways to preserve nature for generations to come.

Treecology by Monica Russo, photographs by Kevin Byron

Detailed, informative, and engaging, this book delivers a combination of facts and activities that children can try to learn about trees.  It received an honorable mention for the National Outdoor Book Awards and was named a 2017 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12.  While all children will enjoy this book to some extent, those who are in grades 3 and above would likely get the most out of it.

As always, we would love to hear your feedback after reading some of these books.  We would also love to hear about any others you think should be on the list!  Happy reading!

Author Spotlight: Mo Willems

Mo Willems: you either already know and love this author, or you know and love this author’s work and just don’t know him by name.  Best known for his creation of an ornery but lovable pigeon, Willems has written far too many books for us to list all of them individually here.  So, if you and your family are looking for a new author/illustrator to love, look no further! Click on the book images to go to that book’s page on Amazon.

The Pigeon Series

It’s rare to meet a parent who is not familiar with this character, but if you’re not, you’re in luck!  Pigeon (like many children) has strong feelings about what he wants to do in life.  He also has a keen sense of fairness, and often thinks life isn’t fair for him.  Children relate joyfully to this small blue bird who just wants to experience the world on his own terms but is often told he cannot.  There are nine books in this series, but we will highlight a couple of our favorites here:

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

After a bus driver parks and needs to step away for a few minutes, our friend the pigeon begs the reader to let him drive.  He pleads, bargains, and tries every strategy he can think of to sway our minds (obviously without any luck).

The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? by Mo Willems

Sweet, charming Duckling is given a cookie as a treat.  Pigeon, of course, is exceedingly jealous and is quite vocal in expressing his feelings.  Duckling patiently lets Pigeon speak, and near the end of the story offers to give the cookie to Pigeon (though not for the reason you might think!).

The Knuffle Bunny Series 

Many children have a stuffed animal that is special to them, and Trixie is no different.  The child in the stories is named after Willems’ own daughter, Trixie, who adores her stuffed rabbit: Knuffle Bunny.  This three-book series grows along with Trixie, but you might want to start with the first book:

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems

Trixie is a toddler who has not yet started to talk.  Waving goodbye to Mom, she and her dad take a walk to the local laundromat.  It is here that Trixie’s dad mistakenly tosses Knuffle Bunny, Trixie’s beloved stuffed rabbit, into a washing machine.  She doesn’t have the words to tell him what’s wrong, so she expresses her strong feelings like any toddler would: with increasing intensity!  The pair arrive home and Mom notices the missing Knuffle Bunny, which sends Trixie and Dad back to the laundromat.  The ending is what you might expect, but with a fun twist!

The Elephant and Piggie Series

Piggie and Elephant Gerald are the best of friends.  In this 25-book series, the pair dialogue their way through exactly the types of scenarios children are faced with each day.  Here are just a few:

Are You Ready to Play Outside? by Mo Willems

Gerald and Piggie have big plans for a day of playing outside.  As Piggie imagines all they might do and they go to head out, raindrops begin to fall.  Luckily, elephants are good friends who have a knack for making rainy days fun.

Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems

While he is alone one hot day, Gerald buys himself an ice cream cone.  Just as he is about to take his first bite, he wonders if he should find Piggie to share it with her.  This sets off a chain of thoughts in his mind, alternating between generous and self-serving.  As with many of Willems’ books, the ending is not what readers might expect!

Waiting is Not Easy! by Mo Willems

Piggie has a special surprise to share with Gerald.  Unfortunately, patience is not a characteristic Gerald has fully developed just yet.  Piggie is gentle and encouraging as the two wait for time to pass and the surprise to reveal itself.

Cat the Cat Series

These books are perfect for new readers or for babies and toddlers who love being read to.  Simple text, simple illustrations, and loveable characters grace the pages of these four books.  Here are a couple we enjoy:

Cat the Cat, Who Is That? by Mo Willems

In this introductory book we are introduced to Cat the cat and all her animal friends.  Their names are quite predictable as one might imagine, and young children love the patterned text.

Time to Sleep, Sheep the Sheep! by Mo Willems

With minimal text and adorable illustrations, Cat the cat and her friends get ready for bedtime.  They smile joyfully as Cat reminds them to get ready, and respond by brushing their teeth, taking a bath, gathering bedding, and so on.

Solo Books

Willems has lots of non-series books as well.  While, again, there are far too many to list here, check out these favorites!

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems

In Naked Mole Rat’s world, everyone is naked all the time.  Secretly, he adores wearing clothes of all kinds.  When the other mole rats discover this, the whole community is faced with change.

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems

In this ridiculous twist on the classic Goldilocks tale, the dinosaurs are intentionally trying to lure a tasty child into their home.  Luckily, this (pluckier version of ) Goldilocks figures out their plan in the nick of time.

That Is NOT a Good Idea! by Mo Willems

A mischievous fox invites an innocent goose to dinner.  Written and illustrated in a style similar to an old silent film, our goose heroine proves she’s not nearly as naive as we feared.

Nanette’s Baguette by Mo Willems

If your child loves fresh bread, independence, or words that rhyme with baguette, this one is for them!  Nanette’s mother sends her off to the bakery for first time by herself to buy a baguette, but who among us can resist the delectable smell of a freshly baked loaf? (Certainly not Nanette!)

***Special insider’s secret: The Pigeon appears in every single one of Mo Willems’ books.  Sometimes you have to look very closely, but it can be quite a fun game for children!  Enjoy!