A box is just a box . . . unless it’s not a box. From mountain to rocket ship, a small rabbit shows that a box will go as far as the imagination allows.

Rating: 4 ****

The cover itself is great because it looks and feels like a cardboard box. On every other page it shows the rabbit in relation to the box and on the next thing what the box is imagined to be. The sad thing is my son now looks at the first page and says what it’s supposed to be.

Suggested Activity: Play with a cardboard box of your own and try to think of all of the great things it could be.

Sylvie, a rabbit, and True, a water snake, are best friends. They live together in a small apartment on a quiet street in a big city. Like a lot of best friends, Sylvie and True are different in many ways. Sylvie sleeps in a bed; True sleeps in the bathtub. Sylvie leaves the apartment by going through the door and down the stairs; True slides out the window and down a drainpipe. But, of course, they have things in common, too – they both love food and bowling – and together they make quite a team. Told in four short and easy-to-read chapters, this is a sweet and funny story about the give-and-take of friendship.

Rating: 4 ****

This book does a good job demonstrating the everyday friendship. How sometimes they get along and other times are misinterpreted and other times help out.

This concept book focuses on sibling bonding of the two-to-four year old with the new baby in the family. Told in the voice of the big brother or sister, close-up photos show the two siblings together doing what each does best, such as drinking from bottle versus from a cup, or giving a toothless gummy smile versus a big toothy grin. It’s a nice mix of diverse children of both genders. Here is an upbeat book that helps preschool siblings feel special and important as it promotes a loving relationship.

Rating: 5 *****

A nice book to show the positive relationship your child can have as the old sibling.

A true classic with a timeless message, this story about a docile bull who would rather smell flowers than engage in the bullfights in Madrid is now packaged with a compact disc featuring a professional reading of the unabridged story.

Rating: 5 *****

Ferdinand stays tried and true to who he is no matter how much they provoke him. This is a nice story focusing on individuality.

“One day a little girl said to her little brother-Do you know what I’ll do when the flowers grow again? I’ll pick you a bunch and you’ll be happy.” So begins this lyric narrative, as a child describes her love for her brother by listing all the things she will do for him.

Rating: 5 *****

This is a really sweet book because it focuses on the love between siblings instead of the tension.

A highly diverting picture book about an agreeable pet boa constrictor that earns the affection and gratitude of a French village. Crictor the boa constrictor, lives with Madame Bodot. He is a very helpful pet, especially when there are burglars in the neighborhood.

Rating: 5 *****

This book is really cute because it’s a little bit offbeat. Who would think of an elderly lady as having a snake for a pet?

Lyle the crocodile lives in a house on East 88th Street in New York City. He likes it there, and his hosts, the Primms, like having him around–he helps young Joshua with his homework, jumps-rope with the neighborhood kids, and browses through antique shops with Mrs. Primm. Much to the affable reptile’s dismay, however, he makes his neighbor’s cat Loretta crazy, which in turn makes Mr. Grumps, Loretta’s owner, even crazier. One day, Mrs. Primm and Lyle are shopping, when Lyle–through no real fault of his own–ends up infuriating department-store bigwig Mr. Grumps who turns red and blue and purple with rage. This unfortunate eruption lands the rollicking reptile in the Central Park zoo where Lyle fights back his crocodile tears. In an elaborate sequence of events, Lyle finds himself back with the Primms on East 88th Street, a neighborhood hero, and, startlingly, even a friend of the mistrustful cat Loretta.

Rating: 5 *****

How anyone could not like Lyle is beyond me. This is a good book to teach that you can’t please everyone and just be the best person you can be.

There’s never been another dog as delightful — or dirty — as Harry. Whether he’s a white dog with black spots, or a black dog with white spots, Harry is sure to steal your heart (and your scrub brush, too, if you’re not careful).

Rating: 4 ****

There’s not much to this story. It’s actually kind of sad because the family doesn’t even recognize the dog when it’s all dirty.

Four children play in the moonlight before bedtime on a soft summer night.

Rating: 5 *****

The children’s actions are almost like a poem with lines such as “We climb the tree, just to be in a tree at night.”

A retelling of the traditional tale of how a boy’s lost mitten becomes a refuge from the cold for an increasing number of animals.

Rating: 5 *****

An adorable story about how there’s always room for one more, at least to a point.