There's a Lion in My Cornflakes by Michelle Robrinson

A free lion?  In a cereal box?  See that?  JUST IGNORE IT!!!  Dan and his brother decide that they simply MUST have a lion and began collecting coupons from the boxes of cereal.  It takes A LOT of boxes of cereal to collect enough coupons for a lion.  Once the boys have sent the coupons in to the cereal, the anxiously await the arrival of their lion.  However when the delivery truck arrives, it is not a lion at all but rather a grizzly bear.  When the boys contact the company their problem only grows.  Will they EVER get the lion they were promised?


Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

Polar Bear's Underwear by Tupera Tupera

You only need to utter the word "underwear" and you will have the attention of any kid between 4 and 12 years old.  Polar bear has lost his underwear.  Polar bear and mouse begin searching for polar bear's missing underwear.  Using a series of cut out pictures, polar bear and mouse find lots of other underwear but not polar bear's.  But why can't they find polar bear's underwear?

Text:  4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

If an Elephant went to school by Ellen Fischer

What would an elephant learn if she went to school?  What about an owl, zebra, or frog?  Would they learn the same as a human kid?  What is important for some animals to learn is not the same as another animal.  Very cute, simply told introduction to what is most important to each animal.

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

You're a Crab! A Moody Day Book by Jenny Whitehead

"Some days you can be a friendly dolphin with a squeeeaky laugh.  Some days you can be a funny clownfish that flips and does somersault."

Everyone, even ocean animals, have good days and bad days.  A fun and colorful introduction to moods that reminds readers that everyone has these moods some days but the next day is a new day and can be totally different.

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

Never Ask a Dinosaur to Dinner by Gareth Edwards

If you have ever considered inviting a dinosaur to dinner, you may change your mind after reading this book.  You might also rethink sharing your toothbrush with a shark, using a tiger as a towel, or letting a barn owl in your bed.  In a hilarious picture book, learn some of the reasons to avoid interacting with various animals, some obvious, some not to obvious.  Kids will enjoy the funny, far fetched book.

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

Melissa's Octopus and Other Unsuitable Pets by Charlotte Voake

Pets are an important part of many families.  Melissa feels the same way about her pet.  However Melissa's pet is a little exotic.  Melissa's pet is an elephant.  What about an octopus as a pet?  Arthur's warthog is beautiful, don't you agree?  But what is the most unsuitable pet?


Text:  4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

Dangerous by Tim Warnes

Mole loved labeling things.  One day he comes across something unusual.  He decides to label this unusual thing in his path.  When that big thing yawns Mole realizes that this unusual thing may just eat him!  This unusual thing is dangerous and soon eats all of Mole's labels!  Mole soon realizes that the words he made might not be the best choices for this unusual creature.  Great use of words - fun describing words.

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

I Don't Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty

Little frog does not want to be a slimy, wet frog.  Little frog would like to be a cat or rabbit or a pig or an owl.  When little frog tells the bigger frog his feelings, the bigger frog has a counter argument for each of little frog's choices.  The big frog, with the help of a badger, is finally able to come up with an argument to convince the little frog that being a frog may be a better choice.  Similar to Piggie and Elephant, kids will love the speech bubbles.

Text:  5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

Barnyard Fun by Maureen Wright

It is April 1st and the sheep, also known as the prankster, is ready to go.  Sheep plays lots of "fun" tricks on his friends, which they are not too happy about.  Then sheep saw horse.  Horse suggested to sheep that his trim might need a trim.  Sheep thinks this is a good idea.  When horse is done with sheep, sheep has quite a surprise waiting for him, much to the delight of the other animals.  Hilarious book which resulted in out loud laughs from the 6 year old at our house.  There are very few books for April Fools Day so this will be a great addition to any collection.

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

If you were a dog by Jamie A. Swenson

"If you were a dog, would you be a speedy-quick, lickety-sloppidy, scavenge-the-garbage, frisebee-catching, hot-dog-stealing, pillow hogging, best-friend-ever sort of dog?"

What if you were a cat?  A fish?  A bird?  What if you were a dinosaur?  With fun, unusual language explore the possibilities of being animals of all kinds.  Complimenting the text are illustrations from Caldecott Medal–winning illustrator Chris Raschka.  

And the 3 1/2 year old…..cracked up through the whole thing…..

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

Boa's Bad Birthday by Jeanne Willis

It is Boa's birthday and he super excited to celebrate with his friends AND of course, see the great gifts they bring him.  Orangutan brings him an ENORMOUS gift....what could it be?  A piano!?!?!  Ummmm, but snake has no fingers!  Boa guesses the NEXT gift he receives will be better.  Monkey brings him a much smaller gift, sunglasses.  Wait.  How can Boa wear these?  He does not have a nose OR ears!  This birthday is NOT turning out how Boa had hoped....and it is not over yet.  Boa's gifts are all "rubbish" until dung beetle arrives.  What could this gift be?  Will this gift be better than the others?  Kids will be amused by Boa's books, and how impractical the gifts are that Boa receives from his friends. 

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves 

Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won

Elephant is grumpy.  He finds a box on his doorstep and in this box is a hat.  He can't be grumpy now and is off to show Zebra.  Zebra is grumpy too until Elephant shares part of his hat.  It continue along this way until Turtle, Owl, Lion and Giraffe also enjoy part of the hat and with each sharing of the hat, each animal is no longer grumpy.  A story of friendship for younger students with simple text.  Happy, un-grumpy illustrations to support the text.

Text:  3 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

Goatilocks and the Three Bears by Erica S. Perl

"Once upon a time there was a kid named Goatilocks."  Sound familiar?  Not Golidlocks but rather Goatilocks.  But when Goatilocks arrives at the Bears' cottage he does not just eat the porridge, he eats the spoon too.  Then Goatilocks moves on to the chairs, again eating it up, as well as the beds, another delicious meal.  When the bear family arrives home, Goatilocks takes off running.  Later feeling guilty about what had happened at the Bears' house, she brings a gift to the family.  Kids will get a kick out of Goatilocks eating everything up.  Good for preschool/kindergarten age though older kids may not find the storyline quite as funny or filled with as many creative changes as expected.

Text:  3 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

A Library Book for Bear by Bonny Becker

Bear and Mouse are back and this time Mouse is trying to convince Bear to go to the library with him.  Bear does not see any reason why he should go to the library.  Bear has seven very nice books at his house:  three about kings and queens, three about honeybees, and one about pickles.  He does NOT need to go to the library.  Bear is quite overwhelmed when they arrive at the library.  Mouse tries to show Bear some possible books, all of which Bear declines.  But Bear overhears the librarian reading a book during story time and something very unexpected happens.  A new -  MUST BUY - for every library.  Great introduction to the library and all it has to offer for anyone, even those that like pickles.

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

Down by the barn by WIll Hillendbrand

Both our kids are fans of Down by the Station so it was only natural for them to love this one too!  Cute illustrations with fun farm theme will delight preschool/kindergarten kiddos and fit nicely with a farm unit.  Familiar rhythm will allow students to quickly learn the new words and enjoy making the animals sounds throughout the book.

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

Churchill's Tale of Tails by Anca Sandu

Churchill's most prized possession is his tail.  He is very proud of his simple, small tail.  Then one day the unimaginable happened, his tail was gone.  He must find his tail.  But no matter what he tried, nothing seemed to be the "just right" tail for him.  WIll he ever find the tail that is meant to be his?  

Text: 4Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

Naughty Kitty! by Adam Stower

Lily has a problem with her pet.  Every time she leaves Kitty alone, catastrophe arrives.  Lily can not seem to figure out how this sweet little kitty could cause so many problems.  Lily knows mom is not going to be happy but what can she do?  Then a bad doggy arrives from next door.  Kitty is able to save the day and Lily realizes just *maybe* Kitty is not as bad as she thought…..

Hilarious follow up to Silly Doggy by Stower.  Lots of drawing conclusions that younger children may not be able to make without some help.

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

If It's Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws by Kim Norman

From the team that created Ten On the Sled, another fun winter time picture book, comes a new winter book as we near winter.  Using If You're Happy and You Know it as a guide, animals friends enjoy winter by throwing snowballs, skiing, skating and making snow angels.  Once the outside coldness is too much for the winter friends, they move inside (sounds good to me) and enjoy some cocoa, an art project and of course, a book!  Very cute addition to your winter time collection!  (I also like that it is not "Christmas" so my students that do not celebrate Christmas can enjoy a seasonal book!)    

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves (some of the rhymes and rythms seems a bit forced)

Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves (adorable friends)  

Ribbit! by Rodrigo Folgueira

A pond, home to a family of frogs, is suddenly altered one day when a pink pig is found sitting on  a rock in the pond.  The frogs have no idea what to do wit this visitor.  Soon the pink pig starts, "Ribbit!"   Other animals soon shows up asking about the visitor.  The go off to ask the chief frog as to why the pink pig is still at their pond.  What will they find out?
Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli

What happens if you swallow a watermelon seed??  Crocodile LOVES watermelon.  He can't wait to CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP on some watermelon.  BUT crocodile swallows a watermelon seed.  Oh no!  What will happen?!?!  Hilariously funny.  Kids will loves the fear of the crocodile....as they too have probably experienced.  Simple text supported by the illustrations which kids must "read".

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves