Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
When a bus driver goes on a break, he asks readers to keep their eyes on the bus--especially on the blue-eyed pigeon who desperately wants to drive it. The pigeon bargains, pleads, begs, promises, connives, wheedles, and tells tales about previous driving experience. Your young ones will recognize this behavior and may just plead, beg, promise, and wheedle to read this book again and again.
Superhero by Marc Tauss
Meet Maleek, kid, comic-book lover, scientist, and of course, superhero. Maleek dons his superhero costume and goggles, and with his faithful robot sidekick, Marvyn, they spring into crime-fighting action. When all the city's parks and playgrounds disappear, can the "Time-o-Matic-Whenever-Wherever" machine and "Gigundo Juice" help him save the day? This whimsical book helps foster creativity and imagination.
The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster
The kitchen window at Nanna and Poppy's house is, to a little girl, a wondrous magic portal. Important things happen there. It's where love happens, a place to watch the stars, play games, and most important, a place to say hello and goodbye. This portrayal of a deeply loving relationship between grandparents and grandchild celebrates the everyday wonders that define childhood.
Hey Willy, See the Pyramids by Maira Kalman
This book showcases how an artist working in finely tuned collaboration with an author can transform a commonplace story into something magical, highly imaginative, and compelling. A sleepy young boy begs his sister for some bedtime stories before he conks out, and she obliges with tales that mix the banal and the bizarre. Kids may be inspired by these stories to tell their own versions, or to use them as springboards for interpretation.
The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler
In this refreshingly simple yet candid story-verse, tolerance, acceptance, friendship, and self-esteem are explored through the metaphor of "the skin you live in." ("Your butterscotch gold skin,/your lemon tart bold skin;/your mountain high apple pie,/cookie dough rolled skin!"). The underlying theme that we are more than skin color is affirmed throughout this energetically illustrated charmer.
