Pick of the Decade 1995-2005: Kindergarten

Picture Books

Alborough, Jez. My Friend Bear , 1998.

Eddie is at home and the bear is in the forest. Both are lonely with only their teddies to talk to, but when they meet in the woods, they find a way to become friends. (See also: Where's My Teddy? and It's the Bear! )

Alborough, Jez. Hug , 2000.

Bobo the chimp is looking for a hug from a variety of jungle animals but finds it from his very own parents.

Appelt, Kathi. Bubba and Beau, Best Friends , 2002.

In Texas , brand-new baby boy Bubba and brand-new puppy Beau, are best friends enjoying a variety of adventures together. (Sequels: Bubba and Beau Go Night-Night and Bubba and Beau Meet the Relatives .)

Appelt, Kathi. Watermelon Day , 1996.

When Jesse finds a watermelon in the corner of the garden, she agrees to wait for it to ripen and eagerly anticipates the time when she can indulge in its deliciousness.

Asch, Frank. Baby Bird's First Nest , 1999.

Baby Bird is too young to fly, so when she falls out of her nest, she cannot fly back. With the help of her new friend, Little Frog, she discovers that there are a lot of things she can do. (See also: Moon Bear ; Mooncake ; Bear's Bargain ; Bear Shadow ; Moongame ; Moondance ; Moonbear's Friend ; Moonbear's Pet ; and Moonbear's Dream .)

Asch, Frank. The Sun Is My Favorite Star , 2000.

A young boy's day begins when the sun wakes him in the morning and as the hours pass by, the boy appreciates all the ways of his favorite star.

Base, Graeme. The Water Hole , 2001.

Ten different animals from ten different countries come to drink at the water hole, which diminishes with each set of visitors, until a single drop of water begins the cycle all over again.

Blackstone, Stella. There's a Cow in the Cabbage Patch , 2001.

A rhyming text details the antics of farm animals that are all out of place.

Bonning, Tony. Fox Tale Soup , 2001.

In this imaginative retelling of Stone Soup , Fox stops by the barnyard and convinces all the animals to "contribute" to his concoction.

Bradby, Marie. Once upon a Farm , 2002.

Using poetic prose, an African-American boy describes life on the farm.

Brett, Jan. Gingerbread Baby , 1999.

This original version of the classic cookie's misadventure has twists of its own. (See also: Goldilocks and the Three Bears ; The Mitten ; and The Town Mouse, Country Mouse . )

Brimner, Larry. The Littlest Wolf , 2002.

Little Wolf is discouraged because he is the smallest one in his pack, until Big Gray shows him that he is just right.

Browne, Anthony. Willy the Wizard , 1995.

Willy loves to play soccer, but no one picks him to be on his or her team until he gets a pair of magic shoes. (See also: Willy the Champ ; Willy the Wimp ; Willy and Hugh ; Willy the Dreamer ; and Willy's Pictures . )

Bunting, Eve. Sunflower House , 1996.

Told in rhyming verse, this book relates the story of a boy who plants a circle of sunflower seeds. He tends them throughout the summer as they grow into a living playhouse.

Bunting, Eve. Little Bear's Little Boat , 2003.

Little bear has fun going out on the lake in his little boat that is just the right size for him. One day he finds the boat is too small and he must make a decision about its future.

Bunting, Eve. Whales Passing , 2003.

A young boy and his father stand on a cliff and watch a pod of orcas swimming by. As they go the boy imagines the conversations the whales could be having.

Buzzo, Toni. Dawdle Duckling , 2003.

Dawdle Duckling delights in daydreaming, exploring and playing, even though Mama Duck keeps trying to get him to follow along with his siblings. (Sequel: Ready or Not Dawdle Duckling .)

Carle, Eric. "Slowly, Slowly, Slowly," Said the Sloth , 2002.

A procession of rainforest animals chides the sloth for being lazy, but the sloth extols the benefits of taking his time. (See also: The Very Hungry Caterpillar ; The Very Busy Spider ; The Grouchy Ladybug ; The Very Quiet Cricket ; From Head to Toe ; and Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? )

Carle, Eric. 10 Little Rubber Ducks , 2005.

A brand-new batch of rubber ducks is loaded onto a ship and sent off to be delivered to children everywhere. But when a storm strikes, 10 little ducks are tossed into the sea and swept away in 10 different directions -- with some wonderfully unexpected adventures along the way.

Carlstrom, Nancy White. Guess Who's Coming, Jesse Bear? , 1998.

The ever-effervescent Jesse Bear looks forward to having a special visitor until her finds out that it is his bossy cousin. (See also: Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? ; Better Not Get Wet Jesse Bear ; It's About Time, Jesse Bear ; How Do You Say It Today, Jesse Bear? ; Happy Birthday Jesse Bear ; Let's Count It Out, Jesse Bear ; Where Is Christmas, Jesse Bear and Climb the Family Tree, Jesse Bear ).

Carr, Jan. Big Truck and Little Truck , 2000.

Big Truck and Little Truck work together on the farm and regularly haul produce to market. When Big Truck is sidelined for repairs, Little Truck must make the journey alone.

Chitwood, Suzanne Tanner. Wake up, Big Barn! , 2002.

This onomatopoetic and rhythmic text relates the happenings on the farm from sunup to sundown.

Chodos-Irvine, Margaret. Ella Sarah Gets Dressed , 2003.

Ella Sarah asserts her independence by selecting a striking outfit of her own.

Cooke, Trish. Full, Full, Full of Love , 2002.

Jay Jay, an African-American boy, spends Sunday at his grandmother's house.

Crunk, Tony. Grandpa's Overalls, 2001.

Grandpa's overalls develop a will of their own, jump off their peg and lead everyone on a merry wild goose chase.

Dallas-Conte, Juliet. Cock-a-Moo-Moo , 2001.

When Rooster forgets how to crow he attempts to wake the other barnyard animals with an assortment of mixed-up farm animal sounds.

dePaola, Tomie. Meet the Barkers , 2002.

Twin pups Moffie and Morgie are excited to be starting school. Once there, they discover they are each good at different things. (Sequels: A New Barker in the House and Trouble in the Barkers' Class .)

Dillon, Leo and Diane. Rap a Tap Tap , 2002.

This jazzy tribute to African-American tap dancer, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, taps out a rhythm all over town.

Dyer, Jane. Little Brown Bear Won't Go to School , 2003.

Little Brown Bear decides he would rather get a job than go to school, but after several false starts he concludes that school is just the right job for him. (See also : Little Brown Bear Won't Take a Nap .)