1st Grade (Age 6)

Pink, pink, pink. More than anything, Pinkalicious loves pink, especially pink cupcakes. Her parents warn her not to eat too many of them, but when Pinkalicious does . . . she turns pink! What to do? This sparkling picture book, filled with such favorites as pink bubble gum, pink peonies, pink cotton candy, and pink fairy princess dresses, celebrates all things pink while showing that being yourself is best of all.

What will you hear when you read this book to a preschool child? Lots of noise! Children will chant the rhythmic words. They’ll make the sounds the animals make. And they’ll pretend to be the zoo animals featured in the book look at the last page! Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle are two of the most respected names in children’s education and children’s illustrations. This collaboration, their first since the classic Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (published more than thirty years ago and still a best-seller) shows two masters at their best.

Here, ideal for African-American History Month, is a stunningly beautiful book consisting of portraits-in pictures and words-of twenty outstanding African-Americans. The individuals range from historical to contemporary figures, such as the dancer Judith Jamison, and represent diverse fields of endeavor, from the law (Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall) to athletics, science, and more. For each individual, there is a three-page biography by the noted author Tonya Bolden and a striking black-and-white portrait that captures not only the subject’s likeness but is a work of art in itself. A book to inspire, to teach, or to display, with its large trim …

The celebrated author of The Moosewood cookbooks offers deliciously healthy recipes for young chefs in this attractive and kid-friendly cookbook. Each recipe (there are nineteen plus a few extra ideas) has three parts: an adult preparation section, a printed version of the recipe, and a two-page comic-like sequence showing the steps from “Beginning” to “Eat!” Along the way chef Katzen and preschool teacher Henderson share their wisdom about kids in the kitchen, kids being safe, and kids’ relationship with food. Try it all-the food-the kitchen tips-the advice-it’s all delicious-even if it isn’t all as easy as it looks.

Puff, the Magic Dragon is simply one of the most beloved songs of all time—a classic that’s become as much a part of the childhood experience as Mother Goose and fairy tales. Yet singer/songwriter Peter Yarrow and co-composer Lenny Lipton have never allowed a picture book adaptation of this magical tale…until now. With Yarrow’s and Lipton’s blessing, Puff, Jackie Paper, and the land of Honalee finally live on the page. The exquisite package includes a cloth case with a tipped-in illustration and an embossed jacket with foil touches, as well as an exclusive CD featuring not only Puff, but several …

Seeds sprout. Flowers bloom. Bees buzz. Pumpkins grow. Pumpkins decay and return to the earth. Spare lyrical text accompanies vivid close-up photographs showing the life cycle of pumpkins. You’ll also find information about growing your own pumpkins.

The follow-up to the popular Pinkalicious features another full-scale color crisis. Pinkalicious, true to her name, still loves pink, but all her female classmates much prefer black. In fact, these narrow-minded girls have ostracized their former friend. Being blackballed gives Pinkalicious a bad case of the blues. Can she ever recover her hue? A cute story about peer pressure and being yourself.

First Lady Laura Bush and daughter Jenna collaborate in this entertaining picture book about the joys and benefits of reading. At the center of the adventure is Good Day Elementary School student Tyrone. Like many other young boys, restless Ty dreads classroom story time. Things change suddenly, however, when a mysterious disappearance sets Tyrone and his buddies off on an exciting search.