Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall

Something is just not right with Red the crayon.  Everyone tries to help but no matter how hard they try, Red just does not end looking so Red.  In fact Red looks rather blue.  It is not until he meets a new friend, Berry, that he is finally able to see that he is really quite good at making water, blue jeans, blue whales, blueberries, blue birds, etc.  Creatively told with a bit of humor and underlying lesson….you can't always judge a crayon by its paper.  

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye Leaves

Mix it up! by Harve Tullet

From the creator of Press Here, comes another interactive books that kids, and adults though they may not admit it, will love.  Mixing colors and creating new colors while following the directions will have kids rolling just as they were in Press Here.  Kids will return to this book again and again, and despite knowing that they really don't have control of the changes, does not deter them from picking this book up.  

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

I Know a Wee Piggy by Kim Norman

"I know a wee piggy...who wallowed in brown upside down, he wallowed in brown."

And the piggy takes off on a wild trip through the fair with all its COLORS!  Repeating, rhyming text similar to The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.  A great introduction or review of colors in a fun manner that kids will enjoy.  I plan to use this one with the kindergarteners this fall.

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves - bright and colorful!

Blue Chameleon by Emily Gravett

The amazing chameleon....able to change colors....and in this case, shape, to look more like other objects. Fun book with great exposure to colors as well as a discussion about chameleons!

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

10 Hungry Rabbits by Anita Lobel

Ten hungry rabbits are helping Mama Rabbit add to the soup pot for dinner. Each rabbit adds another item which of course is a different color.

"...NINE GREEN peas in a pod...TEN BLACK peppercorns in his pocket..."

Great concept book about colors and numbers as well as vegetables. Simple to read and understand.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Possible flannel board to go along with the book, click HERE.

Everything I Need To Know Before I'm Five by Valorie Fisher

This book has it all! Colors - check. Shapes - check. Numbers - check. An overview of all the basic we work so hard on with our preschool age kids. A great book to keep in the car for the kids when stuck in traffic or waiting for a table or slow service at a restaurant. Reminds me of Denise Fleming's The Everything Book. Would make a great birthday gift for a 3 or 4 year old.


Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves (Bright and colorful though I would not have chosen some of the dolls used throughout the book.)

I Spy With My Little Eye by Edward Gibbs

Is it a nonfiction animal book? Is it a color book? It is BOTH!
"I spy with my little eye...something is red."
"I'm a fox."

With the rhyming "clue" that children will enjoy guessing which animal is "looking at them"....orangutan, fox, lion, etc. Great interactive book that preschoolers and early elementary students will delight in reading.


Text: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Purple Little Bird by Greg Foley

Purple little bird LOVES purple...purple house, purple fence, purple, garden, but something was not quite right. Purple Little Bird decides it is time to go out looking for something new. Along the way he meets Brown Bear, Gray Goat, Yellow Camel, Blue Frog but their homes, though perfect for them, does not work for Purple Little Bird. Then he meets three Pink Possums and they guide him to a PERFECT place for him. This is a great book for those colors that are not always emphasized. Simple text that preschoolers and kindergartners will understand and enjoy.

Penny Loves Pink by Cori Doerrfeld

Penny LOVES pink. Not LIKES it....but LOVES it! Everything is pink in her world (including the front endpages). Then a new baby arrives in the house and....so does BLUE! Throughout the book and Penny's list of pink items she likes, are hints about the upcoming arrival of Parker. Little girls will LOVE this book...perfect intro to all things PINK! Fun!


Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves
endpages: 5 Buckeye leaves

Shout! Shout it Out! By Denise Fleming

Younger kids will love the latest book from Ohio favorite, Denis Fleming. From numbers to colors kids will love the invitation to SHOUT, not that most kids need an invitation!!! It has a certain rhythm to the text that even after reading it, Adam and I were saying the words. Love Denise for my little one!

Story: 5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye Leaves

I Dream of an Elephant by Ami Rubinger

Can't take credit for finding this one...Thanks, Mrs. Horne!! This is a great little gem for preschoolers working on colors and rhyme. The text is set up for the rhyme to be completed by the color name and the 2 page picture spreads are colored in shades of the color. Throughout the book the elephants travel and change to the appropriate color. Great addition to preschool and kindergarten classrooms and homes.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves