More ainmal stories

Eat Like a Bear

By April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Steve Jenkins

Jenkins is a wonderful illustrator and this book is no exception. The brown bear goes through the four seasons eating ants, berries, fish, and clover. Not for the squeamish, this simple text has the bear chasing an elk and chomping on the dried up hide of a dead bison. For all those who think we have too many stories for children about cuddly bears, this is the antidote!

The Tiger Cubs and the Chimp

By Bhagavan Antle and Thea Feldman, photographs by Barry Bland

A photo-biography of Amjana the chimp and how she helped raise two baby tigers at an animal preserve. The text is simple and to the point, but the photographs are amazing. There is an author’s note with information about the preserve and how it was founded.

Maria had a Little Llama

By Angela Dominguez

The traditional nursery rhyme is rewritten here with Maria and Llama substituted for Mary and lamb. Each page has cartoon style illustrations along with the text in both English and Spanish. A great book for a bilingual classroom, or any classroom that wants to increase their exposure to other cultures.

How to Hide a Lion

By Helen Stephens

Whimsical, playful and downright fun! How to Hide a Lion is just right for your 2 to 5 year old who has an overactive imagination! Iris successfully hides a lion who has come to town to buy a hat, but he is eventually found. What happens next? Shh! I won’t tell, but the lion lives up to Iris’ high opinion of him!

The Crocodile and the Scorpion

By Rebecca and Ed Emberley

The team that brought us the Ten Little Beasties is back with the tale of the crocodile and the scorpion. Neither of these animals is likable, nor do they have any redeeming qualities. They bite and sting, have small brains, and as it turns out, they both go back on their word. Needless to say, there is no happy ending for this pair. But, the bright blue and green paper overlay illustrations will entertain many a child (and adult) as the story is told time and again.

Three for the Snow

The big snow on the east coast has inspired this post about two snow books for young children. Both are worth sharing in the winter months. Bundle up!

Big Snow by Jonathan Bean

David really wants it to snow. He helps his mother makes cookies, clean the bathroom and change the sheets, but in between it all, he is thinking of and checking for snow. The Big Snow comes while he is napping, but when Dad gets home, they all go out to explore the snow. David and his family have chubby cartoon faces and curly black hair to go along with their brown faces. If you are looking for stories with African American families, this is the book for you. Delightful!

One-Dog Sleigh by Mary Casanova, pictures by Ard Hoyt

A little blond girl hitches up her sleigh to go for a ride in the snow with her dog. Along the way, the house that jack built fashion, she is joined by a squirrel, an owl, a lynx, a deer, a bear and a mouse, they encounter a blizzard and stop to play in the snow. The language is sometimes rhyming and always delightful. Share this one for the pure fun of it!

When It Snows by Richard Collingridge

Bug blue eyes, snug warm cap, bundled up with a bear, a little boy is overcome by the magic of snow and takes an imaginary journey through the land of snowmen, the queen of the poles and ends up in his living room, in front of the fire reading a good book. Who doesn’t want to read a book on a cold, snowy day?

A Bird, a Cat, a Moose and two Elephants

Hello, My name is Ruby by Philip C. Stead

Ruby is a young yellow bird looking for friends. Along the way, she meets other birds, giraffes, elephants and penguins. She finally meets She also finds out something about herself that she didn’t know. Stead’s illustrations will look familiar as the birds are very similar to those found in A Home for a Bird and Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat. But, in this case, familiarity does not breed contempt, as they are still set in amazingly calm, peaceful backgrounds that make you want to jump in the book and become friends with Ruby. 

City Cat by Kate Banks, Pictures by Lauren Castillo

City Cat starts out in Rome and travels across Europe to Paris, London, Amsterdam and Venice to name just a few of the splendid cities where she roams. Each city is depicted with famous landmarks, all being surveyed by a savvy City Cat. The story is told in free verse using many poetic, lyrical devices making it fun to read and easy to listen to. This book can be used in so many ways in the classroom. A purr-fect read-aloud!

A Moose that Says Mooooooo by Jennifer Hamburg, Pictures by Sue Truesdell

A silly rhyming book that imagines a zoo where “The zebra would put on a dress and a cape, wear really tall shoes and then dance with an ape.” If this makes no sense at all, that’s okay because the pictures are equally silly, but delightful to those under 8. Just sit back and enjoy!

 

Elephant’s Story by Tracey Campbell Perason

Gracie loses her book and Elephant finds it. A whimsical story of mixed up letters and a new-found friend. Anyone who loves elephants and books will love this story.

Elecopter by Michael Slack

What happens when you combine an elephant with a helicopter? You get a little blue “Elecopter” ready to save the animals in the forest from everything including the dreaded forest fire. A sweet little elephant who can fly! Who knew it could be this much fun?