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Annotated Book List provides a Reach Out and Read's recommended books to read to young children as well as resources for parents.
Download the Annotated Book List. (PDF)
Recommended books for adults on reading aloud selections and techniques:
 Fox, Mem. Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever. New York: Harcourt, Inc., 2001.
Haas, Monty and Laurie Joy Haas. Read it Aloud! A parent's guide to sharing books with young children. Natick, MA: The Reading Railroad, 2000.
Hearne, Betsy, with Deborah Stevenson. Choosing Books for Children: A Commonsense Guide. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1999.
Lewis, Valerie V. and Walter M. Mayes. Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children: A Lively, Opinionated Guide. New York: Avon, 1999.
Lipson, Eden Ross. New York Times Parent's Guide. 3rd ed. New York: Times Books, 2000.
Trelease, Jim. The Read-Aloud Handbook. New York: Penguin Books, 2001.
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Academic books on early literacy:
Adams, M. J. Beginning to read: Thinking and learning about print. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1990.
Bridges to Literacy: Children, Families and Schools, ed. by David K. Dickenson. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 1994.
Emerging literacy: Young children learn to read and write, ed. by Strickland, D. S. and L. Mandel Morrow. Newark, DE: International Reading Association, 1989.
Handbook of Early Literacy Research, Vol. 2, ed. By David K. Dickenson and Susan B. Neuman. New York, NY: The Guilford Press, 2006
Marcus, L. Dear genius: The letters of Ursula Nordstrom. New York: Harper Collins, 1998.
National Research Council. Starting out right: A guide to promoting children's reading success. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1999.
Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children, ed. by Catherine E. Snow, M. Susan Burns, and Peg Griffin. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1998.
Perspectives on Language and Literacy: Beyond the Here and Now, ed. by Sarah W. Beck and Leslie Nabors Olah. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Educational Review, 2001.
Schickedanz, J. A. Much more than the ABCs: The early stages of reading and writing. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), 1999.
Spitz, E. H. Inside picture books. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1999.
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Young Infants: 6-18 months
Snapshot Soft-to-Touch Board Books: DK Publishing
Colorful photos capture the expressions and moods of a group of babies as they engage in familiar activities.
Padded covers and durable pages make these books a perfect choice for little hands. Truly beautiful books for
infants.
Chunky Board Books: Random House
Infants and toddlers will immediately reach for these easy to hold board books. Designed for even the smallest
hands, these books hold up to the pulls and tugs of babies. The Sesame Street books in this series are very popular.
Wee Pudgy Board Books: Putnam
These durable board books fit easily into small hands and with its delightful photos of babies; they are a good
choice for the youngest babies and toddlers. The “Soft as a Kitten” book is especially popular with babies.
Babyfaces Series by Roberta Grobel Intrater: Scholastic
Babies love to look at other babies and these adorable and candid photos of babies are sure to please both parents
and children. Favorite books are “SMILE!” and “Peek-A-Boo!”. These sturdy books are available
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Young Toddlers: 12-24 months
The Talk About Series by Debbie Bailey, photo illustrated by Susan Huszar: Firefly Press
This series of multicultural board books is ideal for a wide age range of children. Children love the colorful photos
and simple, easy to follow text. These books are also available in Spanish.
Snapshot Concept Board Books: DK Publishing
Bright color photos of familiar objects attract the attention of all children. Parents, using these durable board books,
have the opportunity to talk about colors and counting with their children. Appropriate for infants, toddlers and
young preschoolers.
Zoo’s Who Board Books by Alan Benjamin: Simon & Schuster
Wonderful photos of a wide variety of animals in these small board books will fascinate babies. Children will enjoy
learning the names of the animals and making animal noises as they look at the photos.
My First Look at Books Series: Random House
Adults and young children are drawn to these colorful pages filled with familiar and interesting objects that
encourage verbal interaction. A sturdy book, perfect for toddlers’ enthusiastic handling.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown: HarperCollins
A familiar and beloved bedtime classic, children love having this book read over and over at bedtime. Children
enjoy memorizing the simple, repetitive and rhyming text and saying the familiar words along with their parents.
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Toddlers: 24-36 months
Snapshot Big Picture Paperbacks: DK Publishing
Full of oversize photos of everything from trucks to animals, these books speak to the interests of young children.
The text is simple and the concepts familiar to children. These books are a great choice for reading aloud!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle: Putnam
This classic, celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary in 1994, depicts with witty text and great illustrations the
increasing appetite of a metamorphosing caterpillar. The beautiful butterfly is glorious to behold. Children love to
memorize this book!
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed: Eileen Christelow: Houghton Mifflin
No more jumping on the bed! What happens when those five little monkeys just won’t stop jumping on the bed?
Read to the end and find out who’s the biggest monkey of all.
Truck by Donald Crews: Greenwillow
This wordless picture book appeals to children fascinated by vehicles. This beautifully illustrated pictures take
readers on a journey filled with interesting sights. A great book for toddlers and older children.
Freight Train by Donald Crews: Mulberry Books
For every child who loves trains, this wonderful book uses vivid illustrations and simple text to name the cars and
show the train in motion. A Caldecott Honor Book, this book is fun for all ages.
Where’s Nicky by Cathryn Falwell: Clarion Books
Nicky is playing a familiar hide-and-seek game and readers are invited to find him! The first book in a series of
Nicky stories, it is illustrated with bright colors and interesting objects.
Mary Had a Little Lamb by Sarah Josepha Hale, photo-illustrated by Bruce McMillan: Scholastic
Really nice photos of an African American girl and a real little lamb, doing all the things mentioned in the poem.
Easy rhyming reading, familiar words, a familiar tune behind them to keep things moving along, and lots of cuddly
animals--This would work for toddlers and older children as well.
Rain Feet by Angela Johnson. Illustrated by Rhonda Mitchell: Orchard Books
A young black child in bright yellow rain gear, explores his neighborhood by jumping and stomping in puddles. This
sturdy board book will appeal to adventurous toddlers!
Jump Frog Jump! by Robert Kalin: Greenwillow
Young children love the action and simple rhyming of this animal story. It’s a cumulative tale (this is the turtle that
ate the snake who swallowed a fish... ) and one that children will love to recite along with you.
Over in the Meadow by Ezra Jack Keats: Viking
Over in the meadow are where all the animals are swimming, diving, buzzing and more. This charming verse is a
perfect bedtime story with its gentle story of animal mothers and their offspring.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. Illustrated by Eric Carle: Holt
A favorite book with rhythmic text and brightly colored, it’s filled with familiar animals with a review of all the
animals at the end. Children will love the appealing predictable rhyme.
Early Morning in the Barn by Nancy Talfuri: Mulberry Books
A newly hatched chick explores the barnyard with all its sights and sounds of farm life. The illustrations are fresh
and endearing and children will enjoy naming the animals as you turn the pages.
Have You Seen My Duckling? by Nancy Talfuri: Mulberry Books
This charmingly illustrated book features an independent young duckling, whose mother Searches diligently for him
throughout their woodland home.
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Preschoolers: 3-5 years
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans: Viking
“In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines” and the bestloved
one is Madeline! A favorite of children for decades, the story of an adventurous little girl is a perfect for
children 4 years and older.
Animal Tracks written and illustrated by Arthur Dorros: Scholastic
A guessing game format is used to explore the animal community in the forest. Children can become detectives in
their own backyards by using the directions in the book for making track tracings and looking for animals.
A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman: Viking
Corduroy, a little bear, gets lost at the Laundromat but the happy ending reunites Corduroy with Lisa, the little girl
who loves him. A story as heartwarming as the first book, Corduroy, when Lisa and corduroy first meet. Jamaica
Tag-Along by Juanita Havill: Houghton-Mifflin
Jamaica, a little girl upset about not being included in her big brother's basketball game, is building a sand castle
when a younger boy asks to play with her. This time Jamaica is the older child-what is she going to choose to do?
Chickens Aren’t The Only Ones by Ruth Heller: Scholastic
A great first science book, this book is about animals that lay eggs. Set to rhymes with captivating illustrations,
children learn about different animals and the kind of eggs each lays.
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Caroline Binch: Dial
A little girl with a strong imagination, imagines herself right into the lead role in her school’s production of “Peter
Pan,” even though some classmates say Peter Pan can’t be a girl, or can’t be black. Grace is an unforgettable girl!
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats: Scholastic
A beautiful book about the simple pleasures of playing in the snow and coming home to a warm house. A perfect
book to read together on a winter’s night.
Leo The Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus: Scholastic
Leo, a baby lion, is anxious to grow up and everyone is watching for signs of “blooming”.
The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate The Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble: Dial
Children love this wild tale of a child’s class trip to a farm and the unexpected animal found there!
Curious George by H.A. Rey: Houghton Mifflin
A timeless classic, this story of a mischievous monkey appeals to all children. George, like a small child, is so curious
that he sometimes can’t help but get into trouble exploring his world. Join George and the Man in the Yellow Hat
in his many adventures!
Gregory, The Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat: Scholastic
Gregory, a young goat, doesn’t like to eat goat food! His parents fuss and fret about Gregory odd eating habits but
when his parents come up with a clever plan, it’s not long before Gregory is eating shoes and tin cans just like his
parents! A humorous look at eating and trying new foods.
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? Dr. Seuss: Random House
The remarkable Mr. Brown can make marvelous sounds and you are invited to do so too! Amazing noises from the
pop of a cork to the boom of thunder are just a few of the noises Mr. Brown can do!
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst: Simon & Schuster
Any child who has had a frustrating day, when nothing seemed to go right, will understand just how Alexander
feels. This humorous story about Alexander’s day when everything goes wrong. shows children that everyone has
hard days.
A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams: Scholastic
A touching and compelling story of a mother and child struggling to overcome a family house fire. The daughter
saves up money to buy her mom a chair. This book has received numerous honors and is a great choice for reading
aloud.
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Multicultural Books
This Is the Way We Go to School by Edith Baer, illustrated by Steve Bjorkman: Scholastic
Children all around the world go to school in different ways, on skis in Norway, by train in Kenya, by bicycle in
China. The drawings are charming, the rhyming narrative easy to read (“Carlos takes the town in stride/Luz prefers
the countryside.”). Maps of the world and extra information available at the end of the book for children who want
to know where the various scenes are set.
Saturday at the New You by Barbara E. Barber. Illustrated by Anna Rich: Lee & Low
Saturdays are special because it’s the day that Shauna helps Momma at her hair salon, The New You. And it’s
Shauna to the rescue when a problem arises with one of the customers.
The Mud Pony retold by Caron Lee Cohen. Illustrated by Shonto Begay: Scholastic
In this retelling of a traditional Skidi Pawnee folktale, a young Native American boy longing for a pony makes one
out of mud, falls asleep, and dreams his pony is alive. Upon waking, he finds his pony is his spirit guide in life.
Beautiful illustrations document the boy’s growth into adulthood.
The Legend of The Bluebonnet by Tomie De Paola: Putnam
A Comanche legend about a little girl’s sacrifice and how she is remembered each year when bluebonnet flowers of
Texas bloom in the spring.
The Legend of The Indian Paintbrush by Tomie DePaola: Putnam
A captivating retelling of a Great Plains legend. A young Native American Indian artist has a dream vision that is
fulfilled as the story unfolds.
Josephine’s Imagination: A Tale of Haiti by Arnold Dobrin: Four Winds
An atmospheric and delightful story set in the Haitan marketplace. The young daughter of a broom seller, creates
dolls by turning several of her mother’s brooms into dolls. These are magic dolls and chaos soon follows!
Everybody Cooks Rice by Nora Dooley: Scholastic
As Carrie looks for her brother to fetch him home for supper, she tastes a little of each of her neighbors’ delicious
meals - Haitian, Vietnamese, Puerto Rican, Indian and more - and discovers that they all cook with rice. Recipes
included!
Li’l Sis and Uncle Willie by Gwen Everett and Paintings William H. Johnson: Hyperion
The life story of African American painter William H. Johnson is illustrated with his paintings from the Smithsonian.
This book is an excellent source of African American culture and history.
Anancy and Mr. Dry-Bone by Fiona French: Little, Brown
Anancy and Mr. Dry-Bone are traditional characters from African and Caribbean folktales. Anancy, a trickster,
competes with wealthy Mr. Dry-Bone for Miss Louise’s hand in marriage. Who will win her over? This richly
illustrated book is full of suspense and humor.
Family Pictures written and illustrated by Carmen Lomas Garza: Children’s Book Press
Warm illustrations and touching descriptions of the author’s grandmother’s house, a fair in Reynosa, and a birthday
party, draw the reader into life in Mexico.
Iktomi and the Boulder by Paul Goble: Orchard
An exciting Plains Indian story about Iktomi, a popular character in Indian folklore, who is making mischief again.
Iktomi’s foolish ways will intrigue young children!
Joshua’s Masai Mask by Dakari Hru. Illustrated by Anna Rich: Lee & Low
After having adventures with a Masai mask given to him by his uncle, Joshua discovers the joy of just being himself.
Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara Joosse: Scholastic
A beautiful rhyming story with descriptions of Inuit life and arctic animals, this tale of a mother’s love appeals to all
children.
Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree by William Miller. Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu:Lee & Low
The true story of author, Zora Neale Hurston, who as a young girl, learned about hope and strength from her
mother.
Bread, Bread, Bread by Ann Morris: Mulberry
A multicultural tale of the meanings, traditions and uses for bread around the world. Photos highlight a variety of
cultures and practices. This is the perfect book for exploring the richness of the world around us!
Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger, illustrations by Michael Hays: Simon & Schuster
Pete Seeger's famous South-African ballad about a boy and his magician father as they struggle with a giant
terrorizing their village. Young readers will enjoy seeing the boy and his father working to defeat the terrible giant.
Dancing Teepees: Poems of American Indian Youth selected by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve with art by Stephen Gammel: Holiday House
This collection of traditional and contemporary Native American poetry, including poems such as an Osage prayer
and a Hopi lullaby, will capture the hearts and minds of young readers.
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe: Mulberry
An African Cinderella story, this tale is guaranteed to captivate readers of all ages. Filled with rich illustrations and
strong characters, this is a book to treasure.
Angel Child, Dragon Child by Michele Maria Surat: Scholastic
Ut, a young child who recently immigrated from Vietnam, struggles courageously to adjust to her new life and new
school as she longs for her mother who had to stay behind in Vietnam.
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Books available in Spanish
My Colors/Mis Colores by Neil Ricklen: Little, Brown
A beautifully photographed board book full of brightly colored pictures of familiar objects with both the Spanish
and the English words given for each color. Other books in this series include counting and alphabet books.
Is Your Mama a Llama?/¿Tu mamà es una llama? by Deborah Guarino: Scholastic
A baby llama, looking for his mama, asks other animals along the way for help. This is an appealing book for young
children with its depiction of baby animals and it’s delightful ending.
With My Brother/Con Mi Hermano by Eileen Roe: Simon & Schuster
A young boy describes his life with his older brother and the time they spend together. An enjoyable look at one
boy’s loving relationship with an older sibling.
Is it Dark? Is it Light? by Mary Lankford: Scholastic
Two young children, curious about their world, ask questions about what they see. A great book for learning
opposites and names of things.
Taking a Walk/Caminado by Rebecca Emberly: Little, Brown
An exciting walk in a neighborhood full of sights and sounds. Children will enjoy following the familiar words and
recognizing familiar sights from their own neighborhoods.
Arroz Can Leche: Popular Songs and Rhymes from Latin America selected and illustrated by Lulu Delacre: Scholastic
Children’s songs and rhymes from Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Argentina, presented in Spanish with graceful English
translations, are illustrated with cheerful scenes of children at play. Instructions for the games are also included.
Abuela’s Weave/El Tapiz de Abuela by Omas S. Castaneda. Illustrated by Enrique O. Sanchez. Searched by Aida E. Marcuse: Lee & Low
A girl in Guatemala learns about family tradition from her grandmother as the words and soft watercolors transport
readers to a small Guatemalan village market.
Bein’ With You This Way/L’Alegria De Ser Tu Y Yo. By W. Nikola-Lisa. Illustrated by Michael Bryant: Lee & Low
A playground rap that introduces young readers to the idea people can be different and the same.
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Alphabet Books
Guinea Pig ABC by Kate Duke: Dutton
A troupe of appealing guinea pigs illustrate the alphabet to the delight of readers!
Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert: Harcourt
With luscious and lavish illustrations, the author covers the alphabet from apricots to zucchini. There is even a
glossary of fruits and vegetables in back for hungry readers to savor!
The Butterfly Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta: Charlesbridge
Butterflies flutter on the pages as readers learn the alphabet and discover fascinating facts about butterflies.
The Dinosaur Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta: Charlesbridge
It’s an A-Z delight of dinosaurs! Learn dinosaur names and facts in this informative alphabet book.
The Icky Bug Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta: Charlesbridge
The ickiest looking bugs creep and crawl through the alphabet to the delight of young readers!
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Counting Books
Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang: Puffin
This brightly illustrated book is perfect for bedtime reading. A young girl and her father count down to bedtime
using objects in her bedroom.
Fish Eyes by Lois Ehlert: Harcourt
This counting book, with its gorgeous tropical fish and deep blue background, is a showstopper! The “see through“
fish eyes will delight children as they learn to count.
Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell: Houghton Mifflin
A lively counting book about a family shopping and preparing a meal together. Rhyming sentences that count up
to ten (“five empty cans/six pots and pans”) are a delight to recite and the colorful scenes will appeal to everyone.
Joe Can Count by Jan Ormerod: Mulberry Books
A little boy counts animals, one to ten, ending up with his very own puppy. A delightful counting book for young
children.
Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh: Harcourt
Clever mice elude a snake in this colorful counting book that counts to 10 and then, as the mice escape, counts
down from 10 to 0.
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