Early Years (ages 2-6)

Celestine, Drama Queen

From the day she danced out of her shell, Celestine knew she was born to be a star! She dresses herself carefully every day, prefers to eat only pink food, and insists on wearing a tiara at all times — as all good stars should. The school play is the perfect chance to show the world just how special she is, and she has a secret role that not even her family knows about. But will a sudden case of stage fright keep her from making her grand debut? No matter how the play ends, she\’ll always be a star to her family.

Rita and Whatsit at the Beach

Rita and Whatsit are off to the beach. Rita is looking forward to flying her kite, building a sand castle and sneaking up on Whatsit. Whatsit is looking forward to chasing crabs eating sugary things and lying in the sun. The day doesn’t go quite like that it’s much more fun.

The Magic Hat

One fine day, from out of town–and without any warning at all–a magic hat appears in the sky. It tumbles and bounces through the air and makes magic wherever it lands. Everyone is delighted as, one by one, the townspeople are transformed into giant playful animals. And then a wizard arrives.

Little Beauty

With his hyper-realistic artwork full of striking detail, the award-winning Anthony Browne tells a story of an unlikely friendship.Once there was a very special gorilla who had almost everything he needed. There was only one thing he didn’t have: a friend. With no other gorillas at the zoo, the keepers try something new. Will the gigantic ape strike a bond with another sort of creature, one as tiny and innocent as a kitten? Sparked by the story of a real gorilla who learned to sign, LITTLE BEAUTY is a celebration of a most surprising friendship.

Yo! Yes (Caldecott Honor Book)

With a mere 19 words (yo appears twice, yes six times) the author/artist of Charlie Parker Played Be Bop presents a spirited conversation on a city sidewalk that is, in itself, a complete drama. Two boys meet as strangers. One hails the other, who is cautious. The first persists. The other responds. Gradually they begin to talk and end up as friends. Full color. 1994 Caldecott Honor Book.

La Mariposa

In his first year of school, Francisco understands little of what his teacher says. But he is drawn to the silent, slow-moving caterpillar in the jar next to his desk. He knows caterpillars turn into butterflies, but just how do they do it? To find out, he studies the words in a butterfly book so many times that he can close his eyes and see the black letters, but he still can’t understand their meaning. Illustrated with paintings as deep and rich as the wings of a butterfly, this honest, unsentimental account of a schoolchild’s struggle to learn language reveals that our imaginations powerfully sustain us. La Mariposa makes a subtle plea for tolerance in our homes, our communities, and in our schools.

This book has been included in WOW’s Language and Learning: Children’s and Young Adult Fiction Booklist. For our current list, visit our Booklist page under Resources in the green navigation bar.

Little Apple Goat

Little Apple Goat is ordinary in every way — except for one. Instead of munching on oats or grass or laundry left on the line, she prefers to eat fruit from the orchard. But one stormy night, all of the fruit trees in the orchard are destroyed. The trunks are chopped down and the land is cleared. The farm animals cannot imagine life without the orchard, and Little Apple Goat doesn’t know how she will manage without her fruit. But time passes, and something mysterious begins to happen on the farm . . . Sweet, colorful illustrations bring to life this clever tale that will charm young readers and also introduce them to the changing seasons.

Max’s Dragon

Max is looking for words that rhyme. His dragon is in his wagon – or was, for now its tail has left a trail, which Max follows. He finds an umbrella on the ground— “Found, ground,” he says, while his older brothers mock him for believing in dragons and sitting under an umbrella when it isn’t even raining. But Max believes in possibilities—and when he can show his brothers not only a dragon in the stormy clouds but also a dinosaur, they begin to come round. When Max demonstrates the power of his rhyming words to tame the dinosaur and the dragon and make the rain come, he wins them over completely.

Three Little Ghosties

How much trouble could three harmless little ghosties get into in one night? Plenty! These silly spirits love boasting to each other about who is the scariest. Ghouls, witches, and even a neighborhood ogre all find themselves at the mercy of these naughty ghosties, who spook them with a “woooo, woooo, woooo, BOOOO!” But when the ghosties decide to scare some boys and girls for a change, who will get the biggest fright of all?
    This bouncing, rhyming tale by Pippa Goodhart is just the antidote for bedtime jitters and Anna-Laura Cantone’s perfectly spooky illustrations will inspire nothing but giggles. Look inside—if you dare!