Book List
Title & Brief Description
Where the Wild Things Are
A timeless story about imagination, emotions, and unconditional love.
The Snowy Day
Celebrates curiosity and the wonder of a child's first snowy adventure.
Owl Moon
Beautiful language introduces children to patience, nature, and family traditions.
A Sick Day for Amos McGee
A gentle story about friendship, kindness, and caring for others.
Last Stop on Market Street
Encourages gratitude and seeing beauty in everyday life.
Hello Lighthouse
A Caldecott Medal winner celebrating perseverance and life by the sea.
The Rabbit Listened
Demonstrates empathy and the importance of listening.
The Dot
Inspires creativity and confidence through trying something new.
The Most Magnificent Thing
Teaches perseverance and problem-solving through trial and error.
Journey
A wordless adventure that encourages storytelling and imagination.
Award-Winning Picture Books
Humor & Read-Aloud Favorites
Title & Brief Description
The Book with No Pictures
A laugh-out-loud read-aloud that proves words alone can be hilarious.
Dragons Love Tacos
A silly story filled with dragons, tacos, and surprises.
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Invites children to participate in the storytelling.
Interrupting Chicken
A playful introduction to storytelling and narrative.
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
Clever farmyard humor with memorable characters.
Officer Buckle and Gloria
Funny while emphasizing teamwork and friendship.
Giggle, Giggle, Quack
More hilarious farm adventures.
I Want My Hat Back
Dry humor and clever visual storytelling.
There Is a Bird on Your Head!
A simple, funny early reader that builds confidence.
We Don't Eat Our Classmates
Helps children navigate friendships with humor.
Friendship & Character
Title & Brief Description
Frog and Toad Are Friends
One of the finest early readers ever written about friendship.
Enemy Pie
Shows how friendships can grow through understanding.
Have You Filled a Bucket Today?
Encourages kindness through everyday actions.
The Invisible Boy
Teaches inclusion and empathy.
Strictly No Elephants
Celebrates acceptance and welcoming others.
Bear Says Thanks
A warm story about gratitude and generosity.
Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed
Demonstrates how one kind act can inspire many others.
A Chair for My Mother
Explores family resilience and generosity.
The Kissing Hand
Offers reassurance for new experiences and separations.
Owen
Encourages growing independence while honoring comfort.
A grandparent's "Top 20" starter library
If you were building a home library from scratch, these 20 books provide an exceptional foundation:
Where the Wild Things Are
The Snowy Day
Owl Moon
Frog and Toad Are Friends
Mercy Watson to the Rescue
Charlotte's Web
Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark
Ada Twist, Scientist
Rosie Revere, Engineer
The Rabbit Listened
Last Stop on Market Street
The Dot
The Most Magnificent Thing
The Book with No Pictures
Dragons Love Tacos
Nate the Great
Henry and Mudge: The First Book
Over and Under the Pond
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Winnie-the-Pooh
Together, these books offer a rich blend of humor, adventure, emotional growth, scientific curiosity, poetry, and early independent reading—an ideal foundation for nurturing both literacy skills and a lifelong love of books.