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Written By: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrated By: E.B. Lewis
The Other Side
Summary:
Two girls, one white and one black, gradually get to know each other as they sit on the fence that divides their town.
Rating: 4 ****
A story of friendship and breaking down barriers. At times the words read a bit awkward, but maybe that was the point.
Age 5 reading list friendship segregation
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By: Patricia Polacco
Thunder Cake
Summary:
Grandma finds a way to dispel her grandchild’s fear of thunderstorms.
Rating: 3 ***
A sweet story about how to turn a child’s fear into something special that only a Grandma could manage.
Age 5 reading list fear storms
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Written By: Julie Fogliano
Illustrated By: Erin E. Stead
and then it’s spring
Summary:
Simple text reveals the anticipation of a boy who, having planted seeds while everything around is brown, fears that something has gone wrong until, at last, the world turns green.
Rating: 3 ***
The book explains how the earth starts all brown, but as seeds and rain come, slowly the earth turns green with spring.
Age 4 reading list gardening spring
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Written By: Cecil Castellucci
Illustrated By: Julia Denos
Grandma’s Gloves
Summary:
When her grandmother, a devoted gardener, dies, a little girl inherits her gardening gloves and feels closer to her memory.
Rating: 3 ***
A story about how a little girl learns about death when her grandmother passes away and learns about a way to keep her memory alive by continuing to do something they enjoyed doing together.
Age 5 reading list death grandparents
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Written By: George Shannon
Illustrated By: Sam Williams
Busy in the Garden
Summary:
A collection of short poems and riddles about planting seeds, watching garden vegetables dance, and growing jack-o-lanterns.
Rating: 3 ***
A series of poems about life in the garden and what happens there.
Age 4 reading list poetry
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By: Tomie dePaola
Strega Nona Takes a Vacation
Summary:
Strega Nona sends home gifts of candy and bubble bath while on vacation, but when Bambolona grabs the candy, Big Anthony is left with a lot of bubbles.
Rating: 3 ***
Another fun Strega Nona story, but this time Big Anthony is not the culprit.
Age 4 reading list vacations
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Written By: Jacqueline Davies
Illustrated By: Lee White
The House Takes a Vacation
Summary:
While the Petersons are away, their house decides to take a trip to the sea to watch the “Dance of the Sunlight,” despite some groaning from the chimney and the basement’s refusal to rise to the occasion.
Rating: 3 ***
In this silly story, the family who lives in the house goes on vacation, so the components of the house decide to go on one too. Kids will love how all of the doors, windows, roof and other elements have personalities that interact throughout the book.
Age 4 reading list home vacations
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Jane Cabrera
Row Row Row Your Boat
Summary:
In this expansion of a familiar song, the occupants of a rowboat enjoy seeing and making the sounds of different jungle animals.
Rating: 5 *****
Kids will love to sing all of the wacky animal versions to this favorite song.
Age 2 reading list songs
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Brian Floca
Locomotive
Summary: Learn what it was like to travel on the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s.
Rating: 3 ***
Interesting, but a little dry and long for a picture book.
Age 4 reading list trains
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Written By: William Kotzwinkle
Illustrated By: Audrey Colman
Walter the Farting Dog Goes on a Cruise
Summary: Because his farts create unpleasantness for everyone on a cruise ship, Walter the dog continues the journey in a lifeboat, but when the ship’s computer crashes, causing the liner to drift, Walter again proves himself a hero.
Rating: 4 ****
A rare book about the very funny subject of farting.
Age 5 reading list farting
