2011 Burlington Twp. Schools’
Summer Reading Selections
Students Entering Kindergarten
Consider some of the following books
when making your summer reading
selections…
Brown Bear, Brown Bear,
What Do You See?
by Bill Martin Jr.
A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse,
and a soft yellow duck-- all parade across the pages of this
delightful book. Children will immediately respond to Eric
Carle's flat, boldly colored collages. Combined with Bill
Martin's singsong text, they create unforgettable images of
these endearing animals.
Count and See
by Tana Hoban
There are things to count all around you. If you
look. And think. And see. Tana Hoban does — and
so will the youngest reader who accompanies her
through this book. Exciting photographs —
reinforce by the number as word, as numeral, and
as model set — show you how to count what you
see, and make what you see count.
Chicka Chicka Books
by Bill Martin Jr.
One-hundred-and-one numbers climb the apple tree in this
bright, rollicking, joyous book for young children. As the
numerals pile up and bumblebees threaten, what’s the number
that saves the day? (Hint: It rhymes with "hero"!) Read and
count and play and laugh to learn the surprising answer. In this
lively alphabet rhyme, all the letters of the alphabet race each
other up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh, no
-- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!
Chrysanthemum
by Kevin Henkes
She was a perfect baby, and she had a perfect name.
Chrysanthemum. When she was old enough to appreciate
it, Chrysanthemum loved her name. And then she started
school. "I'm named after my grandmother," said Victoria.
"You're named after a flower." Chrysanthemum wilted.
Life at school didn't improve. In fact, it got worse. Then
the students were introduced to their music teacher, Mrs.
Twinkle. Mrs. Delphinium Twinkle.
And suddenly, Chrysanthemum blossomed....
On Mother’s Lap
by Ann Herbert Scott
The furnishings are few in this chilly Eskimo dwelling, but when
Michael jumps in Mother's lap, the love between them warms
the room, as ``back and forth, back and forth, they rock.''
Michael runs to get Dolly, then his carved boat, a reindeer
blanket and even his puppy: the small rocking chair is full. When
Baby cries, Mother insists there's room for her too, but
Michael pouts and hides. All of them end up back in the chair,
crowded but cozy; Michael admits, ``It feels good.'' It makes
a reassuring point for little ones, who need to know that a
mother's love is an expandable quantity.
Go Away, Big Green Monster
by Ed Emberley
Die-cut holes in the cover reveal the "two big yellow eyes"
of the title hobgoblin in Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed
Emberley (first published in 1992). The sturdy laminated
pages that follow also have die-cuts that show the monster's
fleshy "long bluish-greenish nose," "a big red mouth with
sharp white teeth" and more. But the text gives readers the
confidence ("You don't scare me!") to take away its scary
features with each succeeding page turn until he's gone-"and
don't come back! Until I say so." A fun way to conquer
fears.
Don’t Let The Peas Touch
by Deborah Blumenthal
Annie's sister Sophie won't eat her peas. Sophie's
sister Annie is a know-it-all. Annie's sister Sophie
refuses to be quiet. Sophie's sister Annie can't stop
being bossy. In these three linked short stories, the
two girls work out solutions to their differences and to
common childhood problems -- foods touching on a
plate, the difficulty of being quiet, the desire for a
pet -- with wit, empathy, and moments every parent
and child will recognize.
Each Peach, Pear, Plum
by Allen Ahlberg
In this book
With your little eye
Take a look
And play "I spy”
This interactive book invites young children to play the
classic "I spy" game. The rhymed verses give
youngsters clues about who to look for in the detailed
illustrations. Little ones will be delighted when they spy
Tom Thumb, Jack and Jill, The Three Little Bears and
many other nursery rhyme characters hiding in the
pictures.
Goodnight Moon
by Margaret W. Brown
A little rabbit bids goodnight to each familiar thing
in his moonlit room. Rhythmic, gently lulling words
combined with warm and equally lulling pictures
make this beloved classic an ideal book.
Grandmother and I
by Helen W. Buckley
Grandmother and I are sitting on the big chair, rocking.
We rock back and forth, and back and forth. Other people
have laps for sitting on and backs for riding on. But when
you have a cold or lighting is coming, nothing feels quite as
right as rocking on Grandmother's lap, listening to the little
tunes that she hums.
What’s Up, Duck?
by Tad Mills
Little siblings of Duck and Goose fans rejoice! The stars of
the bestselling Duck & Goose and Duck, Duck, Goose return
in this board book for preschoolers, this time, to introduce
basic opposites. Goose carries an oh so-heavy log, while duck
easily balances a light-as-a-feather feather. Thistle is one
fast bird, but Goose is slooo-w. And when Duck is sound
asleep, Goose is wide awake.
The Imaginary Garden
by Andrew Larsen
Theodora loved her grandfather's old garden. His new
apartment's balcony is too windy and small for a garden. But
what appears to be a drawback soon leads to a shared burst of
creativity as Theo and her Poppa decide to paint a new garden.
As they work side by side -- sowing seeds with brushes and
paint -- a masterpiece begins to take shape that transforms
the balcony into an abundant garden. When Poppa goes away on
holiday, Theo helps nurture the garden and it begins to take on
a life of its own. This garden grows not from soil but from
love, imagination and creativity. Readers will marvel at each
stage of this fertile garden as it grows from seed to full
flower, revealing the power of art to enrich our lives.
Harry the Dirty Dog
by Gene Zion
Harry is a white dog with black spots who loves
everything . . . except baths. So one day before bath
time, Harry runs away. He plays outside all day long,
digging and sliding in everything from garden soil to
pavement tar. By the time he returns home, Harry is so
dirty he looks like a black dog with white spots. His
family doesn't even recognize him!
Chickens Aren’t The Only Ones
by Ruth Heller
In this nonfiction picture book, Ruth Heller gives us egglayers rare and common. While most of us would have
answered affirmatively to the question "Does this
particular animal lay eggs?", we would not have been quick
to list animals such as spiders, octopuses, and sharks. The
book makes an excellent introduction to a study of eggs
and egg-layers, an adjunct to a farm theme, or just a
wonderful book for browsing.
Messy Bessy
Where’s My Homework?
by Harriet Ziefert
Bessie is trying to get ready for school, but her room is so
messy she can't find anything! Will she locate her keys,
her books, and her permission slip, and still get to school
on time? Finding the missing objects amidst all the clutter
of Bessie's messy room is a game that school-age children
will relish. Roger De Muth's enchantingly detailed
illustrations of Bessie's messy home will have readers
eagerly helping Bessie find everything she needs to start
her day.
Little Blue and Little Yellow
by Leo Lionni
Little blue and little yellow share wonderful adventures.
One day, they can't find one another. When they finally
meet, they are overjoyed. They hug until they become
green. But where did little blue and little yellow go? Are
they lost?
Letting Swift River Go
by Jane Yolen
Yolen's gently poetic text tells how the young Sally Jane
witnesses the forming of the Quabbin Reservoir in western
Massachusetts and, thereby, the unavoidable drowning of her
Swift River valley town. Gradually the streets she traveled and
the homes she played in are covered by water for the hungry
city's (Boston's) needs. Since young readers caring about Sally
Jane will see this plight through her eyes, they are sure to grasp
the plot's historical relevance. But the author is telling more than
a personal or even a regional story here. Sally Jane's mother's
words at the book's end, recalled when the girl and her father
are in a boat on the now-filled reservoir--``You have to let
them go, Sally Jane''--speak wisely to all of us about our pasts.
One, Two, Three to the Zoo
by Eric Carle
Joyously colored animals, riding on a train to the zoo, offer
youngsters a first introduction to numbers, number sets,
addition and counting in this paperback reissue of Eric
Carle's first picture book. A gatefold spread at the back of
the book, featuring the whole wonderful animal train, adds
to the fun!
The Biscuit Series
by Allyssa Capucilli
Let Biscuit introduce your child to the joys of independent
reading. The little puppy's gentle nature and playful ways
have made I Can Read® Biscuit books favorites with over
a million emergent readers.
Jesse Bear What Will You Wear?
by Nancy Carlson
This lilting poem follows Jesse Bear and the things that he
wears throughout the day. In the morning, he dons "my shirt
of red pulled over my head," while at noon his apparel is
"carrots and peas / And a little more please." Night time
brings "sleep in my eyes / And stars in the skies / Moon on
my bed / And dreams in my head." Degen's cheerful
illustrations help capture the playful interaction between
toddlers and parent.
The Dog From
Arf! Arf! Arf! to ZZZZZ
by The Dog Artist Collection
Take a peek inside -- the dogs in this book are unlike any
dogs you have ever seen. Who can resist page after page
of these adorable pups? It's impossible not to have a
favorite. Is it the tiny Shih Tzu or the big, fluffy
Shetland sheepdog? This noisy alphabet book of dog sounds
and commands will appeal to the dog lover in everyone.
The Little Engine That Could
by Watty Piper
Everyone loves The Little Engine That Could, that classic
tale of the determined little engine that, despite its size,
triumphantly pulls a train full of toys to the waiting
children on the other side of a mountain.
Now the great Loren Long (Mr. Peabody's Apples) has
brilliantly re-illustrated this classic story, bringing it
exuberantly to life for today's child. Get on board for
the publishing event of the year.
Gone Wild
by David McLiman
Feast your eyes on these amazing creatures before they
disappear. This stampede of wild animals, from Chinese Alligator
to Grevy's Zebra, are so rare, they're all endangered. David
McLiman's bold and playful illustrations transform each letter
into a work of art, graphically rendered with animal
characteristics. Scales, horns, even insect wings transform the
alphabet into animated life.
Once you take this eye-opening safari, you'll never look at
letters or animals with the same way again. A striking work of
art and a zoological adventure, "Gone Wild" is sure to be loved by
children and adults alike.
The Rainbow Fish
by Marcus Pfister
Rainbow Fish will enchant even the youngest child with his
silver scales and heart of gold in this award-winning book
about the beautiful fish who learned to share his most
prized possession.
The Shape of Things
by Dayle Ann Dodds
A square is just a square until it becomes a house in this
clever book. A circle becomes a spinning ferris wheel, and
when you add some string and a tail to a diamond shape, it
becomes a kite flying high in the sky! With sprightly rhymes
and energetic illustrations filled with hidden shapes, Dayle Ann
Dodds and Julie Lacome reveal that shapes are everywhere.
Encouraged by this entertaining introduction to an important
first concept, young children will eagerly begin to identify
shapes in the world around them.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
by Eric Carle
A caterpillar hatches out of his egg and is very hungry. On
his first day, he eats through one piece of food; on his
second, two, and so on. Little holes cut in the pages allow
toddlers to wiggle their fingers through the food, just like
the caterpillar. Vivid and colorful illustrations and ingenious
layered pages help preschoolers learn the days of the week,
how to count, and how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly.
You may have tangible wealth untold:
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be–
I had someone who read to me.
by Strickland Gillilan
**Special thanks to our BTHS students who read the synopses,
which were featured on Barnes and Noble and Amazon websites.