Practical Poppins

There are so many great books in the world, I couldn’t possibly list them all, but here’s a few to get you started.

I’ve separated them into age categories for those of you who might be looking for age-specific books; however, I’ve read most of these books to all ages, and would recommend most of them for any age/gender. After all, some kids are early & agile readers, and some are not; but all kids love to be read to. (Even those big 10yr-olds who might say otherwise, but will happily snuggle up at reading time!)

ps. This is an ever-growing list- I’m sure I’ve missed some great ones, and I’m always reading new books. So, feel free to check back every few weeks to see the new additions!

Infant & Toddler

(Ages 0-3)

• Indestructible Books! (These are amazing for infants and teething toddlers. Trust me.)

• Press Here, By Herve Tullet

• Mix It Up!, By Herve Tullet

• Say Zoop!, By Herve Tullet

• The Foot Book, By Dr. Seuss

• One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish,  By Dr. Seuss (any Dr. Seuss, really!)

• Moo, Baa, La La La, By Sandra Boynton

• Blue Hat, Green Hat, By Sandra Boynton (All the Boynton books are amazing.)

• Goodnight, Gorilla, By Peggy Rathmann

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar, By Eric Carle

• Bear Snores On, By Karma Wilson

• Egg, By Kevin Henkes

• Color Dance, By Ann Jonas

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, By Bill Martin Jr.

• We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, By Helen Oxenbury

• Not A Box, By Antoinette Portis

• Not A Stick, By Antoinette Portis

• Corduroy, By Don Freeman

• The Napping House, By Audrey Wood

• Harold and the Purple Crayon, By Crockett Johnson

• ABC, By Dr. Seuss

• Tuesday, By David Wiesner

• Where is the Green Sheep?, By Mem Fox

• Where is Baby’s Belly Button?, By Marion Dane Baver

Preschool

(Ages 3-6)

• Elephant and Piggie series, By Mo Willems

• Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (+ series), By Mo Willems

• The Snurtch, Words by Sean Ferrell, Pictures by Charles Santoso

• Today I Feel Silly & Other Moods That Make My Day, By Jamie Lee Curtis, Illustrated by Laura Cornell

• There’s No Such Thing as a Dragon, By Jack Kent

• Sweet Dreamers, By Isabelle Simler

• The Second Sky, By Patrick Guest, Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley

• a greyhound A Groundhog, Written by Emily Jenkins, Illustrated by Chris Appelhans 

• The OK Book, By Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenfeld 

• Duck! Rabbit!, By Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenfeld

• Monkey Time, By Michael Hall

• Little i, By Michael Hall

• Are You My Mother?, By P. D. Eastman

• The Book With No Pictures, By BJ Novak

• Squish Rabbit, By Katherine Battersby

• Don’t Copy Me!, By Jonathan Allen

• This Is Not My Hat, By Jon Klassen

• Stick and Stone, By Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld

• The Most Magnificent Thing, By Ashley Spires

• How To, By Julie Morstad

• I Walk With Vanessa- A story about a simple act of kindness, By Kerascoet

• Pool, By JiHeyon Lee

• Square, By Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen 

• Circle, By Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen 

• Triangle, By Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen

• Windblown, By Édouard Manceau 

• Wait, By Antoinette Portis

• Bread and Jam for Frances, By Russel Hoban, Pictures by Lillian Hoban

• The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners, By Stan Berenstain

• The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies, By Stan Berenstain

• The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble With Chores, By Stan Berenstain

• Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn, By Kenard Pak

• Please, Mr. Panda / For Favor, Sr. Panda, By Steve Antony

• When I Was Little: A Four-Year-Old’s Memoir of Her Youth, By Jamie Lee Curtis, Illustrated by Laura Cornell

• Inch By Inch, By Leo Lion

• Unplugged, By Steve Antony

• Rude Cakes, By Rowboat Watkins

• Bernice Gets Carried Away, By Hannah E. Harrison

• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, By Judith Viorst, Illustrated by Ray Cruz

• You Are (Not) Small, By Anna King, Illustrated by Christopher Weyant

• Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp!, a sonic adventure by Wynton Marsalis, Illustrated by Paul Rogers

• My Heart Is a Compass, By Deborah Marcero

• Listen To Our World, By Bill Martin Jr. & Michael Sampson, Illustrated by Melissa Sweet

• Little Green Peas, a BIG book of colors, By Keith Baker

• ABC Dream, By Kim Krans

• Underwear! By, Jean Harney

• Am I Yours?, By Alex Latimer

• The Cutest Thing Ever, By Amy Ignatow, Illustrated by Hsinping Pan

• You Can Do It, Bert!, By Ole Könnecke

• How To Cheer Up Dad, By Fred Koehler

• Ten Little Caterpillars, By Bill Martin Jr., Illustrated by Lois Ehlert 

• Strictly No Elephants, Written by Lisa Mantchev, Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo

• Grumpy Monkey, By Suzanne Lang, Illustrated by Max Lang

Primary School

(Grades K-3)

• Bob Books: Set 1, Beginning Readers, By Bobby Lynn Maslen, Illustrated by John R. Maslen (There are many sets of the Bob Books, and all are great. Very helpful for beginning readers!)

• The Black Book of Colors, By Menena Cottin & Rosanna Faría 

• Rosie Revere, Engineer, By Andrea Beatty, Illustrated by David Roberts

• Iggy Peck, Architect, By Andrea Beaty, Illustrated by David Roberts

• Ada Twist, Scientist By Andrea Beatty, Illustrated by David Roberts

• Jack (Not Jackie), Words by Erica Silverman, Pictures by Holly Hatam

• The Day You Begin, By Jacqueline Woodson, Illustrated by Rafael Lo'pez

• A Million Dots, By Andrew Clements, Illustrated by Mike Reed

• Worm Loves Worm, By J. J. Austrian, Illustrated by Mike Curato

• A Family is a Family is a Family, By Sara O’Leary, Illustrated by Qin Leng

• This Plus That- Life’s Little Equations, By Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Illustrated by Jen Corace

• Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress, By Christine Baldacchino, Pictures by Isabelle Malenfant

• When Sadness is at Your Door, By Eva Eland

• Sulwe, By Lupita Nyong’o, Illustrated by Vashti Harrison

• Remembering Crystal, By Sebastian Loth

• Teddy’s Favorite Toy, By Christian Trimmer, Illustrated by Madeline Valentine

• Carl and the Meaning of Life, By Deborah Freedman

• A Most Unusual Day, By Sydra Mallery, Illustrations by E.B. Goodale

• Dad And The Dinosaur, By Gennifer Choldenko and Dan Santat

• The Good Egg, By Jory John and Pete Oswald

• We don’t eat our classmates!, By Ryan T. Higgins

• Red- A Crayon’s Story, By Michael Hall

• Alma and How She Got Her Name, By Juana Martinez-Neal

• Under My Hijab, By Hena Khan, Illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel

• A Friend For Henry, By Jennifer Bailey, Illustrated by Mika Song

• Festival Of Colors, By Kabir Sehgal & Surishtha Sehgal, Illustrated by Vashti Harrison 

• Little Red Henry, By Linda Urban, Illustrated by Madeline Valentine

• Oliver, By Birgitta Sif

• The Museum, Story by Susan Verde, Art by Peter H. Reynolds

• Not All Princesses Dress In Pink, By Jane Yolen & Heidi E. Y. Stemple, Illustrated by Anne-Sophie Languetin

• Squashed in the Middle, By Elizabeth Winthrop and Pat Cummings

• Leonardo the Terrible Monster, By Mo Willems

• Is That You, Eleanor Sue?, By Tricia Tusa

• I Am Going!, by Mo Willems

• All Are Welcome, By Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman

• There is a Bird On Your Head!, by Mo Willems

• You Will Be My Friend!, By Peter Brown

• My Teacher is a Monster!, By Peter Brown

• Squashed in the Middle, By Elizabeth Winthrop, Illustrated by Pat Cummings

• Horton Hears a Who!, By Dr. Seuss

• Horton Hatches the Egg, By Dr. Seuss

• The Day the Crayons Quit, By Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers

• The Day the Crayons Came Home, By Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers

• Maybe Something Beautiful (How Art Transformed A Neighborhood), By F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell, Illustrated by Rafael López

• Sergio Makes a Splash!, By Edel Rodriguez

• Orion and the Dark, By Emma Yarlett

• The Itchy Book, By LeVyen Pham

• Me…Jane, By Patrick McDonnell

• The Dark, By Lemony Snickett, Illustrated by Jon Klassen

• Silly Street, By Jeff Foxworthy, Illustrated by Steve Björkman

• The Music Teacher from the Black Lagoon, By Mike Thaler, Pictures by Jared Lee

• Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band, By Kwame Alexander, Illustrated by Tim Bowers

• Dude!, Word by Aaron Reynolds, Art by Dan Santat

• The Word Collector, By Peter H. Reynolds

• Ish, By Peter H. Reynolds

• Idea Jar, By Adam Lehrhaupt and Deb Pilutti

• If You Give A Pig A Pancake, By Laura Numeroff, Illustrated by Felicia Bond

• Happy In Our Skin, By Fan Manuskin, Illustrated by Lauren Tobia

• Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew (series), By Carolyn Keene, Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan

• Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket, By Barbara Park Illustrated by Denise Brunkus

• Junie B. Jones Toothless Wonder, By Barbara Park, Illustrated by Denise Brunkus

• I Spy (A book of picture riddles), Photographs by Walter Wick, Riddles by Jean Marzollo

• Margaret And The Moon- How Margaret Hamilton Saved The First Lunar Landing, By Dean Robbins, Illustrated by Lucy Knisley 

• The Girl With A Mind For Math- The Story of Raye Montague, Written by Julia Finley Mosca, Illustrated by Daniel Rieley 

• The Watcher- Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps, By Jeanette Winter

• The Rabbit Listened, By Cori Doerrfeld

• The Dot, By Peter H. Reynolds

• Love Is Love, Written by Michael Genhart, PhD, Illustrated by Ken Min

• Because, Score by Mo Willems, Performance by Amber Ren

• Fancy Nancy The Dazzling Book Report, By Jane O’Connor, Pictures based on the art of Robin Preiss Glasser (1st reader)

• Fancy Nancy Spectacular Spectacles,  By Jane O’Connor, Pictures based on the art of Robin Preiss Glasser (1st reader)

• Amelia Bedelia Gets a Break, By Herman Parish, Pictures by Lynn Avril (1st reader)

• Amelia Bedelia Tries Her Luck, By Herman Parish, Pictures by Lynn Avril (1st reader)

• Forever or a Day, By Sarah Jacoby

• if i was the sunshine, By Julie Fogliano and Loren Long

• Zombies Don’t Eat Veggies!, By Megan Lacera & Jorge Lacera, Illustrated by Jorge Lacera

• Music for Mister Moon, Written by Philip C. Stead, Illustrated by Erin E. Stead

• The Fun Book Of Scary Stuff, By Emily Jenkins, Pictures by Hyewon Yum

• The Chicken Squad- the first misadventure, By Doreen Cronin, Illustrated by Kevin Cornell

• The Chicken Squad, Dark Shadows - Yes, Another Misadventure, By Doreen Cronin, Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin, Cover by Kevin Cornell

• Luna & Me (The True Story of a Girl Who Lived in a Tree to Save a Forest), By Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw

• Little People, Big Dreams- Marie Curie, Written by Ma Isabel Sánches Vegara, Illustrated by Frau Isa, Translated by Emma Martinez

• Yellow Kayak, By Nina Laden, Illustrated by Melissa Castrillon

• Lines, By Suzy Lee

• Infinity and Me, Written by Kate Hosford, Illustrations by Gabi Swiatkowska 

• The Cow Who Climbed A Tree, By Gemma Merino

• The Crocodile Who Didn’t Like Water, By Gemma Merino

• First Grade Dropout, Written by Audrey Vernick, Illustrated by Matthew Cordell

• Jacob’s Room to Choose, By Sarah and Ian Hoffman, Illustrated by Chris Case

• Tomorrow Most Likely, Words by Dave Eggers, Pictures by Lane Smith

• Leo a ghost story, By Mac Barnett, Pictures by Christian Robinson 

• Rock What Ya Got, By Samantha Berger, Illustrated by Kerascoët

• Shark Lady- The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Kceans Most Fearless Scientist, Written by Jess Keating, Illustrations By Marta Álvarez Miguéns 

• The Doctor With An Eye For Eyes- The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath, Written by Julia Finley Mosca, Illuatrated by Daniel Rieley

• It Feels Good To Be Yourself (A Book About Gender Identity), Written by Theresa Thorn, Illustrated by Noah Grigni

• She Persisted (13 American women who changed the world), Written by Chelsea Clinton, Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger

• Extra Yarn, By Mac Barnett, Illustrated by Jon Klassen

• You’re Snug With Me, By Chitra Soundar & Poonam Mistry

• Where Are You From?, By Yamile Saied Méndez, Illustrated By Jaime Kim

• My Brother Otto, By Meg Raby, Illustrations By Elisa Pallmer 

• Nadia The Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still, By Karlin Gray, Illustrated by Christine Davenier 

• Art And How It Works (An introduction to art for children), Written by Ann Kay

• Brave Molly, By Brooke Boynton-Hughes

• The Tide, By Clare Helen Welsh, Illustrated by Ashling Lindsay

• The Hueys in The New Sweater, By Oliver Jeffers

• Charlotte The Scientist Finds A Cure, Written by Camille Android, Illustrated by Brianne Farley

• Ask Me, By Bernard Waber, Illustrated by Suzy Lee 

• Kate Who Tamed The Wind, Words by Liz Garton Scanlon, Illustrations By Lee White

• This Is How We Do It- One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from around the World, By Matt Lamothe

• The Girl Who Thought In Pictures- The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin, Written by Julia Finley Mosca, Illustrated by Daniel Rieley 

• You Can’t Do That, Amelia!, By Kimberly Wagner Klier, Illustrations by Kathleen Kemly 

• Pocket Full Of Colors- The magical world of Mary Blair, Disney artist extraordinaire, By Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville, Illustrated by Brigette Barrager 

• Swarm Of Bees, By Lemony Snicket, Art by Rilla Alexander 

• This Moose Belongs To Me, By Oliver Jeffers

• Keith Haring- The Boy Who Just Kept Drawing, By Kay A. Haring, Illustrated by Robert Neubecker

• The Vast Wonder Of The World - Biologist Ernest Everett Just, By Mélina Mangal, Illustrated by Luisa Uribe

• Sonia Sotomayor a judge grows in the Bronx- la juez que creció en el Bronx, By Jonah Winter, Illustrated by EdelnRodriguez

• Joan Proctor, Dragon Doctor (The Woman Who Loved Reptiles), By Patricia Valdez, Illustrated by Felicita Sala

• Emma Dilemma, By Kristine O’Connell George, Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter 

• French Toast Sundays, By Gloria Spielman, Illustrated by Inbal Gigi Bousidan

• Franny’s Father Is A Feminist, Written by Rhonda Leet, Illustrated by Megan Walker

• My Brother Charlie, Written by Holly Robinson Peete & Ryan Elizabeth Peete with Denene Millner, Pictures by Shane W. Evans 

• Say Something, By Peter H. Reynolds

• Giraffe Problems, By Jory John, Illustrated by Lane Smith

• Thank You, Omu!, By Oge Mora

• Frankencrayon, By Michael Hall

Primary School/Tweens

(Grades 4-8)

Teens

(Grades 8-12)

GrownUps