The Quiet Book

Name of Book:  The Quiet Book Author:  Deborah Underwood Illustrator:  Renata Liwska Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Books for Children ISBN:  978-0547215679 Audience:  Ages 3 and up; may work well as part of an intergenerational conversation. Summary:  This picture book explores the many kinds of “quiet” that we experience throughout our lives. Young animals are seen in [...]

Little Gorilla

Name of Book:  Little Gorilla Author:  Ruth Bornstein Illustrator:  Ruth Bornstein Publisher:  The Seabury Press ISBN:  0816431582 Audience:  Ages 2-4 Summary:  Little Gorilla is small and fuzzy and utterly adorable, as all babies are.  His parents and extended family love him, and so do all the animals in the forest, from Pink Butterfly to Big [...]

Snook Alone

Name of Book: Snook Alone Author: Marilyn Nelson Publisher: Candlewick ISBN: 978-0763626679 Audience: Ages 4-8 Summary: A small dog, Snook, lives on and island with Abba Jacob, a monk. Abba prays, gardens, and tends his hermitage while Snook follows along. They are best of friends. Then one day a storm comes up and leaves Snook [...]

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Title:  Joseph Had a Little Overcoat Author: Simms Taback Illustrator: Simms Taback Publisher: Viking ISBN: 0670878553 Audience: ages 3 and up Summary: Joseph had a little overcoat that was worn and full of holes so he made it into a jacket.  As the jacket continues to wear out it becomes in turn a vest, a [...]

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Name of Book: All Things Bright and Beautiful Author:  Cecil F. Alexander; illus. Ashley Bryan Publisher: Atheneum ISBN: 978-1416989394 Audience: Ages 2-5 Summary:  Cut-paper collages depict scenes of people, animals, and nature that perfectly interpret this wonderful 19th c Irish hymn. Bryan has created a masterpiece in which art and text work together to God’s [...]

On the Night You Were Born

Name of Book: On the Night You Were Born Author: Nancy Tillman Illustrator: Nancy Tillman Publisher:  Feiwell and Friends ISBN: 978-1-250-00292-1 Audience: Ages 1 – Grade 2 Summary:  This books uplifting message to children is that when they are born, they are unique and wonderfully celebrated. The world has never known anyone like them, and [...]

Where Does God Live?

Name of Book:  Where Does God Live? Author:  August Gold Illustrator:  Matthew J. Perlman Publisher:  Skylight Paths Publishing (August 2001) ISBN: 978-1893361393 Audience:  Ages 3 – 6 years Summary:  In this picture book for young children a child ask the parents where God lives and the parents respond by telling the child the multitude of [...]

The Water Hole

Name of Book:  The Water Hole Author:  Graeme Base Illustrator: Graeme Base Publisher:  Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers ISBN: 9780810945685 Audience: Grades Pre-K – 5 Summary:  The Water Hole is a counting book.  As animals from all around the globe gather around the water hole for a drink, the water hole begins to diminish in [...]

The Listening Walk

Name of Book:  The Listening Walk Author:  Paul Showers Illustrator:  Aliki Publisher:  Harper Collins Audience:  Ages 3 – 7 Summary:This is the story of a little girl who, while walking quietly with her father down city streets, a forest trail, a park path, and all around, encounters sounds—whrrring cars, bomping balls, prrroooing pigeons, bzzzing bees, [...]

The Tallest of Smalls

Name of Book:  The Tallest of Smalls Author:  Max Lucado Illustrator:  Maria Monescillo Publisher:  Tommy Nelson: A Division of Thomas Nelson Publishers Audience:  Ages 4 – 10 (but could be used with middle schoolers) Summary:  The Tallest of Smalls is the story of a young boy named Ollie.  Ollie lives in the land of Stilts.  [...]