Staff reviews: Picture books for preschoolersLike this list

94 items

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• The Wolf in Underpants

  Lupano, Wilfrid, 1971-

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  An entire forest of woodland creatures live in fear of Wolf. His threats are in the newspaper and discussed in town meetings. Is Wolf actually dangerous, or is his chilly behind just making him grumpy? I bet you can guess. Owl’s knitting skills to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Drawn Onward

  Nayeri, Daniel

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  A boy, struggling with the loss of his mother, embarks on a quest as he has question that he needs to be answered. Written in a palindrome and with every page filled with intricate designs with marvelously illustrated panels of his quest, this is a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• This Is How We Play

  a Celebration of Disability and Adaptation

  Slice, Jessica

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  Everyone likes to play! How we play will look different for some people, especially people who live with disabilities. This book does a great job of depicting a wide variety of people experiencing different disabilities in various forms of play.…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Vernon Is on His Way

  Small Stories

  Stead, Philip Christian

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  The gentle stories in this picture book are perfect for readers looking for something quiet and heartwarming. Vernon is a toad who misses his friend Bird, and his other forest friends try to cheer him up in their own ways. It is a charming story of…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Rabbit Listened

  Doerrfeld, Cori

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  I'm always impressed when a picture book is able to simplify and convey a complex and/or difficult topic. The subject addressed here is how to support someone whose world has come crashing down. This is an excellent book for ages 3 and up. It would…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• ABC and You and Me

  Luyken, Corinna

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  Just when you think you've seen all that alphabet books can do, there comes ABC and You and Me, which features pairs of kids and grown-ups making the letters of the alphabet with their bodies. I could see this book inspiring creative movement…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Great Get-together

  Coleman, K. R.

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  For me, this is the most anticipated picture book of the season, and it delivers! One of my favorite illustrators Cori Doerrfeld lends her artistry to a Minnesota State Fair story. If you're already missing the fair, or are taking kids for the first…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Amara's Farm

  Brown-Wood, JaNay

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  Amara needs your help to find her pumpkins! Preschoolers are invited to compare and contract different fruits and vegetables in this interactive picture book. The art is full of warm colors and lots of great detail to keep kids engaged in the hunt…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Chickadee

  Criminal Mastermind

  Silvie, Monica

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  Who is that strange masked bird singing "Chicka-dee-dee-dee?" It's Chickadee! Learn fun facts about black-capped chickadees while Chickadee forms a plan to find enough food to survive the winter. - Rebecca M., Maple Plain Library

• Iguana Be a Dragon

  Frost, Maddie

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  Iguana was just invited to his first pool party, and it's at Cheetah's house! But can he overcome his self-doubt and join the other amazing animals? This sweet and silly story about being yourself is told with delightful comic book-style…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Wave

  Charlton, Tyler

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  This is a great picture book I heard about at the Minnesota Library Association's annual conference. The book helps with social emotional learning and talks about how sometimes we can be taken over by powerful emotions, specifically depression…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Hat Tricks

  Kitamura, Satoshi

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  Look closely and you might be able to guess what Hattie the magician will pull out of her hat, though she may surprise you! This interactive book is a fantastic read-aloud for the preschool crowd who will enjoy the silly surprises. Readers who take…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Girl and the Wolf

  Vermette, Katherena, 1977-

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  The classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood gets a remake in this gentle story. Instead of the villain, this wolf acts as a mentor to a young girl lost in the woods, helping her see that she already possesses the knowledge and understanding of the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• ¡Vamos!

  Let's Go Eat

  Raúl the Third, 1976-

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  Bright and busy illustrations reminiscent of Scarry's Busytown books introduce young audiences to the delicious world of food trucks. As Little Lobo and his amigos put together a delicious meal for a group of luchadores, preschool and early…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Marwan's Journey

  Arias, Patricia de

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  This is the story of Marwan. He is taking a journey across the desert from his homeland to an unknown land, fleeing a war. It is told in beautiful poetic language and accompanied by stunning illustrations. A fantastic book about the immigrant/…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• An Excessive Alphabet

  Avalanches of As to Zillions of Zs

  Barrett, Judi

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  The experienced picture book team behind Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs created this colorful, imaginative journey from A to Z. There is no story here, but instead an occasion for conversation between parent and child. Each page is an opportunity…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Lost. Found.

  Arnold, Marsha Diane

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  Just two words tell the story one lost scarf and an entire cast of forest characters. Each animal, some in pairs or trios, discover the abandoned red scarf with glee: "Found." With no other words, pre-readers can practice telling you the story of…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Count the Monkeys

  Barnett, Mac

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  This is a wonderfully humorous book for sharing. Counting monkeys becomes increasingly difficult. "We're never going to count the monkeys!" is repeated throughout for opportunities for audience participation. When children are encouraged to…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• And the Cars Go...

  Bee, William

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  With great illustrations, clever text and featuring different types of transportation, this book is sure to be a hit with almost everyone, and would be perfect for a transportation-themed storytime. From a race car to a wood-paneled station wagon to…Read moreRead more of this annotation