Books For Independent Reading
VERY EASY
- Flannel Kisses
- by Linda Crotta Brennan
Houghton 1997 (32p)
After a snowstorm a brother and sister spend a happy day playing outdoors, eating warm meals, and reading a story before going off to bed.
- We're Making Breakfast for Mother
- by Shirley Neitzel
Greenwillow 1997 (32p)
In this cumulative rebus story, two children and their father prepare breakfast in bed for their mother, but it doesn't turn out quite the way they intended.
- Uno, Dos, Tres: One, Two, Three
- by Pat Mora
(Multicultural)
Clarion 1996 (32p)
At a Mexican market,two sisters shop for a birthday present for their mother in this rhyming counting story. Text in English and Spanish.
- Snazzy Aunties
- by Nick Sharrat
(Multicultural)
Candlewick 1994 (24p)
In rhyming text, a young boy introduces his seven cheerful aunties.
EASY
- Celebrating Families
- by Rosmarie Hausherr
(Multicultural)
Scholastic 1997 (32p)
In this photo essay, eighteen children and their families are featured engaged in everyday activities and talking about their likes and dislikes.
- Pie's in the Oven
- by Betty G. Birney
Houghton 1996 (32p)
Lured by the smell of her baking, everyone gathers at Grandma's house for a piece of her delicious apple pie.
- Big Help!
- by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Clarion 1995 (32p)
Sam's little sister Lucy wants to help him with everything he does.
AVERAGE
Lots of Dads- by Shelley Rotner
(Multicultural)
Dial 1997 (32p)
Color photographs and simple text show dads engaged in activities from working to playing with their children.
- Lots of Moms
- by Shelley Rotner
(Multicultural)
Dial 1996 (32p)
Color photographs and simple text show mothers participating in all kinds of activities with their children.
- Sunday
- by Synthia Saint James
(Multicultural)
Whitman 1996 (32p)
After a delicious breakfast and a trip to church, an extended African American family spends Sunday afternoon together.
- Geraldine First
- by Holly Keller
Greenwillow 1996 (32p)
Geraldine is at her wit's end with her little brother, who insists on copying everything she does.
- A Drop of Rain
- by Wong Herbert Yee
(Multicultural)
Houghton 1995 (32p)
Mistaking drops of rain for a baby's tears, an extended family tries to cheer the baby up.
CHALLENGING
- Rex and Lilly Family Time
- by Laurie Krasny Brown
Little 1995 (32p) also paper
In three brief stories, brother and sister dinosaurs Rex and Lilly plan a surprise for their mother's birthday, hire a robot to help them clean, and try to decide on what kind of pet to get.
- Five Little Monkeys With Nothing to Do
- by Eileen Christelow
Clarion 1996 (32p)
Five bored monkeys help their mama clean the house and pick berries for Grandma Bessie's visit, only to discover a surprise when their grandma finally arrives.
- Anthony Reynoso: Born to Rope
- by Ginger Gordon
(Multicultural)
Clarion 1996 (32p)
Nine-year-old Anthony Reynoso learns to rope and ride Mexican Rodeo style from his father.
- D.W. the Picky Eater
- by Marc Brown
Little 1995 (32p)
D.W., Arthur the aardvark's little sister, finds all sorts of mischievous ways to avoid the food she doesn't like to eat.
SHARED READING
- To the Tub
- by Peggy Perry Anderson
Houghton 1996 (32p)
While his father tries to get him to take a bath, Joe the frog procrastinates by gathering up all of his toys to take with him.
- Cousin Ruth's Tooth
- by Amy MacDonald
Houghton 1996 (32p)
Cousin Ruth is missing her tooth and the whole family tries to help her find it.
BOOKS FOR TEACHERS TO READ ALOUD
- Kele's Secret
- by Tololwa Mollel
(Multicultural)
Lodestar 1997 (32p)
In a story set in Tanzania, a young boy named Yoanes discovers the secret place where his grandmother's most unusual hen is laying its eggs.
- A Ride on Mother's Back
- by Emery and Durga Bernhard
(Multicultural)
Harcourt 1996 (32p)
A look at how people from Guatemala, Bali, West Africa, Thailand, and other countries carry their babies while they work and play.
- Uh-oh! It's Mama's Birthday!
- by Naturi Thomas
(Multicultural)
Whitman 1997 (32p)
Jason spends his allowance on jelly bears and a balloon for his mother's birthday, but when he eats the candy and the balloon floats away, he has only a hug to give his mama, which is the gift she wants most.
- Aunt Isabel Makes Trouble
- by Kate Duke
Dutton 1996 (32p)
As Aunt Isabel tells her niece Penelope a story, Penelope helps to make the story exciting by adding unexpected twists and turns.
- Red Light, Green Light, Mama and Me
- by Cari Best
(Multicultural)
Orchard 1995 (32p)
Lizzie spends a happy day at work with her mother, who is a children's librarian.
NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK
- Feast for Ten
- by Cathryn Falwell
Clarion
- Jonathan and His Mommy
- by Irene Smalls -- Hector
Little
- Eat Up, Gemma
- by Sarah Hayes
Lothrop
- Cubs and Colts and Calves and Kittens
- by Allan Fowler
Childrens
- Tell Me a Story, Mama
- by Angela Johnson
Orchard
- Sheila Rae, the Brave
- by Kevin Henkes
Puffin
- Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers: A Collection of Family Poems
- by Mary Ann Hoberman
Puffin
NOW AVAILABLE AS A BIG BOOK
- Cubs and Colts and Calves and Kittens
- by Allan Fowler
Childrens
- Hazel's Amazing Mother
- by Rosemary Wells
Puffin
- Whose Mouse Are You?
- by Robert Kraus
Scholastic
- Mama, Do You Love Me?
- by Barbara Joosse
Scholastic
- Is Your Mama a Llama?
- by Deborah Guarino
Scholastic
NOW OUT-OF-PRINT
- Am I Beautiful?
- by Else Holmelund Minarik
- A Summer Day
- by Douglas Florian
- The New Baby
- by Emily Arnold McCully
- On a Hot, Hot Day
- by Nicki Weiss