Books - PreK

4 years & up. On a bright, sunny day, a young black girl heads to the park and gathers a lively group of friends for an afternoon filled with fun and classic playground games. As they laugh and play, the kids come to realize that, despite their differences, whether it's curly or straight hair, light or dark skin, brown or blue eyes, they share so much in common. The vibrant illustrations bring to life a dynamic cast of characters who revel in the simple, shared delight of spending time together under the sun. 32 pages.

3 years & up. A charming picture book about a girl and her very best friend, who happens to be a dog. The girl has a wonderful idea. She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing. She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. But making her magnificent thing is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets really, really mad. She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But after her dog convinces her to take a walk, she comes back to her project with renewed enthusiasm and manages to get it just right. 32 pages.

3 - 5 years. Nancy Carlson's reassuring picture book about getting ready for kindergarten is now available in a Spanish-English edition-and to a whole new audience of young children. The simple, comforting text and big, bright illustrations will ease first-day-of-school jitters and help make the early days of kindergarten exciting and fun. Bilingual hardcover. 32 pages.

4 years & up. Sunflowers all in a circle make a sunflower house. But when summer is over and the enormous flowers fade and fall, the sunflower house is gone forever. Or is it? A charming tale about inventive children who plant some summer fun. 32 pages.

To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig, she's a porcine wonder. And to the portly and good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery-toasty feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them. This is not, however, so good for the Watsons' bed. BOOM! CRACK! As the bed and its occupants slowly sink through the floor, Mercy escapes in a flash "to alert the fire department," her owners assure themselves. But could Mercy possibly have another emergency in mind, like a sudden craving for their neighbors' sugar cookies?

4 years & up. By the warmth of a campfire beneath a starry night sky, a Navajo youth named Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses listens to the tale of his birth from his grandfather. Although blind, the boy learns that he has the strength to cope with his condition and meet any challenge that comes his way.

3 years & up. The horse wants to go for a ride, the cow wants to eat some grass, and the sheep wants to run in the meadow but where is the very busy spider? You'll have to lift the flap to find out. 24 pages.

5 - 8 years. On Katy's birthday, all of her animal friends come to the party dressed in clothes of different colors. Paperback. 32 pages.

3 years & up. When Henny Penny becomes convinced the sky is falling, she sets off to warn the king, joined by a group of easily persuaded friends. Along the way, they encounter a clever fox with a plan. Filled with playful, tongue-twisting rhymes, rich illustrations, and an unexpected ending, this entertaining retelling of a classic tale is perfect for reading aloud and sharing with young children.

4 - 8 years. A heartwarming true story of two penguins who create a nontraditional family. At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo get the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own. Hardcover. 32 pages.

4 years & up. A one to ten counting book set in a lively garden. This playful counting book introduces readers to a garden and the animals that live there. Sing and clap to the tune of Over in the Meadow, while searching for the hidden numbers on each page! 32 pages.

6 - 9 years. Narwhal is a happy-go-lucky narwhal. Jelly is a no-nonsense jellyfish. The two might not have a lot in common, but they do they love waffles, parties, and adventures. Join Narwhal and Jelly as they discover the whole wide ocean together. A wonderfully silly early graphic novel series featuring three stories. In the first, Jelly learns that Narwhal is a really good friend. Then Narwhal and Jelly form their own pod of awesomeness with their ocean friends. And finally, Narwhal and Jelly read the best book ever -- even though it doesn't have any words...or pictures! Paperback. 64 pages.

4 years & up. Tommy enjoy visiting his grandmother and great-grandmother, but he must learn to copy when he experiences the loss of someone he loves. This gentle story supports discussions about family, memory, and coping with grief.

4 years & up. Six paleontologists search for bones. When they find them, they dig them up, wrap them, and load them on a truck, bound for the museum. With simple text and vibrant illustrations, young readers explore the process of finding and assembling bone fossils. Hardcover. 32 pages.

3 - 5 years. Can you bite your mom? No! What can you bite? An apple! Karen Katz's books are a must-have for every new mom and dad because they focus on how toddlers grow up and become more social. Paperback. 24 pages.

A bright, science-minded boy goes to the beach equipped to collect and examine flotsam, anything floating that has been washed ashore. Bottles, lost toys, small objects of every description are among his usual finds. But there's no way he could have prepared for one particular discovery: a barnacle-encrusted underwater camera, with its own secrets to share...and to keep. Hardcover. 40 pages.

4 years & up. Simple text and colorful cut-paper illustrations combine in a celebration of the beauty and usefulness of water that depicts such objects as a rainy day, steam cooking, and ice cubes.

2 years & up. In this enchanting tale, a very old man sets out to find the prettiest cat in the world for his wife, only to return home with millions of cats to choose from! A beloved American classic and widely recognized as the first modern picture book, this timeless story delights readers with its charming illustrations and memorable tale.

3 years & up. Explore the animal alphabet from Angel Fish to Zebra in this silly, rhyming romp! There are lots of fabulous verses and eye-popping illustrations. Filled with fun animal facts, "ABC Animal Jamboree" is a read-aloud classic little ones will love! Paperback. 32 pages.

3 years & up. Bring the classic tale of the Gingerbread Boy to life with this delightful retelling of a beloved nursery rhyme. Featuring colorful, engaging illustrations and clever, playful text, this charming story invites young readers to follow the Gingerbread Boy on his exciting adventure. A fun way to introduce children to traditional nursery rhymes while encouraging early literacy, language development, and a love of storytelling.

4 - 7 years. A modern classic that no child should miss. Mike and his trusty steam shovel, Mary Anne, dig deep canals for boats to travel through, cut mountain passes for trains, and hollow out cellars for city skyscrapers -- the very symbol of industrial America. But with progress come new machines, and soon the inseparable duo are out of work. Mike believes that Mary Anne can dig as much in a day as one hundred men can dig in a week, and the two have one last chance to prove it and save Mary Anne from the scrap heap. What happens next in the small town of Popperville is a testament to their friendship, and to old-fashioned hard work and ingenuity. Paperback. 48 pages.

3 yeas & up. Animals in the wild use all kinds of methods to protect themselves from their enemies. Using dynamic and intricate cut-paper collages, author Steve Jenkins explores the many fascinating and unique defense mechanisms creatures use to escape from danger.

4 years & up. Help young children discover what makes each of us unique and what connects us all. Elmo and his Sesame Street friends introduce children to the idea that while people may look different, come from different backgrounds, or have different ways of doing things, we all share many of the same needs, feelings, and experiences.

3 years & up. One winter morning, Lina wakes up to silence. It's the sound of snow! The kind that looks soft and glows bright in the winter sun. But as she walks to her grandmother's house to help make the family recipe for warak enab, she continues to listen. As Lina walks past snowmen and across icy sidewalks, she discovers ten ways to pay attention to what might have otherwise gone unnoticed.