June Booklist Recommendations

The following books are what’s covered in our preschool & daycare program, as well as Director Alice’s “Play & Learn with Alice” virtual class.

Little Puppy and the Big Green Monster by Mike Wohnoutka “Who wants to play?” wonders Little Puppy. Everyone is either too busy, too lazy, too mean, or too boring. Then Little Puppy spies Big Green Monster reading on a bench. “I will play with him!” he declares. Big Green Monster has no interest in playing games or being friends with Little Puppy. He escapes to the peace and quiet of his bathtub. But when Little Puppy follows him home and takes a scary tumble, Big Green Monster immediately comes to the rescue–and finds that there might just be a place for this tiny dog in his giant heart.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Puppy-Big-Green-Monster/dp/0823434486

My Dog Needs Me by Jane Cottrell My dog needs food. My dog needs water. My dog needs exercise. My dog needs me! Teach little ones the importance of caring for their precious pups with this adorable picture book title! They will enjoy learning about all the ways they can love and look after their furry friends!

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/My-Dog-Needs-Me-Pet/dp/1486713084

Cats & Dogs by Flowerpot Press Cuddly kitties and cute puppies are the focus of this sweet board book that teaches little one’s simple vocabulary while entertaining them with the adorable photographs.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cats-Dogs-Flowerpot/dp/1486715826

Hide-and-Seek Pets by May Harte Your youngest readers will love the hide-and-seek format as they learn about the everyday topic of this durable book.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hide-Seek-Pets-Books/dp/1404228152

My Puppy Patch by Theo Heras It’s a big day for Patch the puppy as her girl decides to take her for her first walk outside of the yard. Patch needs to learn her manners, but the playful pup is sometimes too excited to listen! With patience and perseverance, Patch’s girl guides her new canine companion through basic commands including “sit,” “stay,” and “down,” making sure to dole out plenty of treats and belly rubs for a job well done along the way.

This delightful story from author, performer, and children’s librarian Theo Heras is a great introduction for young children about caring for and training a puppy, complemented by Alice Carter’s warm, inviting illustrations and a sturdy format complete with padded cover.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/My-Puppy-Patch-Theo-Heras/dp/1772780804

Olga the Cloud and the Puppy by Nicoletta Costa It’s a happy puppy! Olga the Cloud helps out a happy little puppy who is having fun playing on the grass. When the puppy is too tired to keep playing, Olga comes along to bring a little refreshment.

This book is part of the Olga the Cloud series. Each 12-page story features the charming cloud in simple situations, perfect for teaching babies and toddlers. Olga the Cloud stories were originally published in Italian and are now brought to English audiences in ebook editions.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Olga-Cloud-Puppy-Nicoletta-Costa-ebook/dp/B07DCZ5BP3

Zombies Don’t Eat Veggies by Megan Lacera Mo Romero is a zombie who loves nothing more than growing, cooking, and eating vegetables. Tomatoes? Tantalizing. Peppers? Pure perfection! The problem? Mo’s parents insist that their niño eat only zombie cuisine, like arm-panadas and finger foods. They tell Mo over and over that zombies don’t eat veggies. But Mo can’t imagine a lifetime of just eating zombie food and giving up his veggies. As he questions his own zombie identity, Mo tries his best to convince his parents to give peas a chance.

Super duo Megan and Jorge Lacera make their picture-book debut with this sweet story about family, self-discovery, and the power of acceptance. It’s a delectable tale that zombie and nonzombie fans alike will devour.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Zombies-Dont-Veggies-Megan-Lacera/dp/1620147947

The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons What are vegetables, anyway? Give kids the 411 on veggies with this richly illustrated introduction to produce! Peppers, beans, corn, and peas! Nonfiction superstar Gail Gibbons lays out the basics of veggies with colorful watercolors and straightforward text. Learn how they grow, how they get to stores, and how many kinds there are–and learn some weird trivia, too!

Diagrams, cross sections, and illustrations get kids up close and personal with glossy red peppers, plump orange pumpkins, delectable little peas, and dozens of other vegetables in this essential primer on the subject.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Vegetables-We-Eat-Gail-Gibbons/dp/0823421538

Pizza-Pie Snowman by Valeri Gorbachev One snowy day, Pinky is heading to town to get a pizza for himself and his mother. He must run quickly so he doesn’t forget: mushrooms, mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes, onions and peas.

When the Squirrel boys try to sidetrack him, Pinky becomes annoyed and kicks the tree they’re in. The snow from the branches falls down, and Pinky, not knowing it, looks like a snowman.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pizza-Pie-Snowman-Valeri-Gorbachev/dp/0823436543

Broccoli for Breakfast by Matilda James What will Spencer choose for his birthday breakfast? His mother pulls out all the stops, baking and cooking his favorite treats, but is it what he wants? This charming and funny picture book teaches listening and communication skills with love and humor.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Broccoli-Breakfast-Matilda-James-ebook/dp/B07DD1CSB7

Pat-a-Cake by Hazel Quintanilla Sing along to the time-honored nursery rhyme, Pat-a-Cake, illustrated for very young children by Hazel Q. A baking bear takes on the task of making a special cake in this reimagined version of the traditional rhyme. Nursery rhymes are the classic introduction for babies and young children to the idea of storytelling. While delighting in the rhyming words and appealing illustrations, children are boosting their language development and learning social skills. This sturdy board book is designed to withstand lots of love and learning, making it a wonderful addition to baby’s first library.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pat-Cake-Hazel-Nursery-Rhymes/dp/1486716709

No Kimchi For Me! by Aram Kim Yoomi hates stinky, spicy kimchi―the pickled cabbage condiment served at Korean meals. So her brothers call her a baby and refuse to play with her.

Yoomi is determined to eat kimchi. She tries to disguise it by eating it on a cookie, on pizza, and in ice cream. But that doesn’t work. Then Grandma shows Yoomi how to make kimchi pancakes. This story about family, food, and a six-year-old “coming of age” has universal themes, and at the same time celebrates Korean culture. A kimchi pancake recipe and other back matter are included.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/No-Kimchi-Me-Aram-Kim/dp/0823437620

Yummy! Good Food Makes Me Strong! by Shelley Rotner, Sheila M. Kelly Full of colorful photographs of kids growing, preparing, and eating healthy, wholesome meals, Yummy! inspires young readers to make healthy choices. Nutritious meals full of fresh produce, protein, dairy and grains are pictured, along with kids helping in the kitchen–and having a good time eating what they’ve made, too!

Healthy food choices set kids on the right track to succeed, giving them the energy to get out and play. Aligned with USDA’s MyPlate standard for nutrition, Yummy! also offers tips for parents on preparing healthy meals, substituting in nutritious ingredients for high-sugar treats, and getting kids involved in their food choices.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Yummy-Good-Food-Makes-Stong/dp/082342426X

Yummy ABC’s by Yanitzia Canetti From “avocado” to “zucchini,” each letter in this book looks good enough to eat! Rhyming text and appetizing photographs teach children the letters of the alphabet and their sounds. This delicious title will leave children hungry for learning! Includes a glossary and four pages of fun facts about the foods mentioned in the text.

The book is currently out of stock on Amazon.

Hungry Fox and the Midnight Pies by Jeff Dinardo When Fox smells yummy pies, will he use common sense or will his senses get him in trouble? Personal Health: The Five Senses.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Yummy-Good-Food-Makes-Stong/dp/082342426X

Food / Comida by Xist Publishing Eat your way around the world with these crisp and colorful photos of food.

Babies and toddlers will love the simple and colorful photos while budding chefs can use the images to plan their next culinary treat.

Used as a jumpstart for interaction, Discover Series Picture Books are a great way to introduce new images, words and ideas to babies and toddlers. Bilingual Discover Series books feature both English and Spanish words to introduce language learners to new vocabulary. Each page features a professionally photographed object with a simple title beneath it.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Food-Comida-Bilingual-Spanish-English/dp/153240333X

Where Does Our Food Come From? by Bobbie Kalman Grains, vegetables and fruits, meat, eggs, and dairy foods where do these different food groups come from? Children will discover such things as how grains are grown in fields, why vegetables are so good for us, where certain fruits grow, and the importance of pollination. A special section features two natural sweeteners honey and maple syrup and another section gives children suggestions for eating healthy foods, such as beans of all kinds and foods made with whole grains.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Does-Food-Come-World/dp/077879590X

Choose Good Food!: My Eating Tips by Gina Bellisario Lucas is a picky eater. But he’s excited to go to the supermarket. Today, he gets to choose food for lunch. Lucas’s dad helps him learn about the five food groups. Lucas finds out what foods are healthful. And he prepares a tasty snack!

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Choose-Good-Food-Cloverleaf-Healthy/dp/1467723940

I Love You, Daddy by Jillian Harker Little Bear is ready for some grown-up adventures—at least, Daddy Bear thinks so. But they sooon discover that Little Bear needs a helping hand. And who can help out better than Daddy Bear?

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Love-You-Daddy-Jillian-Harker/dp/1405437812

Where Will We Go Today Daddy by Rosalind Avis A little imagination can turn a day of chores and errands into a great adventure!

Follow this dad and his little one into the world of make-believe as they climb a mountain, go on safari, and much more.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Will-Today-Daddy-Childrens/dp/1680520628

My Daddy is a Pretzel by Baron Baptiste Twist your way into this story that introduces both yoga and professions. The nine yoga poses show how the practice of yoga relates to everyday life, and encourages readers to stretch both their bodies and their minds. There are tips about practice and preparation, yoga life, and having the right attitude.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/My-Daddy-Pretzel-Baron-Baptiste/dp/1846868998

Daddy Loves You! by Helen Foster James Told in charming verse with signature bunny characters, this book celebrates the unique relationship a father has with his child.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Daddy-Loves-Helen-Foster-James-ebook/dp/B07TGFPN5Q

Brain Food: Shopping with Daddy by Harriet Ziefert Kids and their father banter cheerfully up and down the grocery store aisles and finish up the chore with a delicious treat.

Available on EPIC Book.

Elmo ‘n’ Daddy by Michael P. Fertig Elmo loves spending time with his father. Elmo loves baseball, too! So what could be better than a day with Daddy at the ballpark?

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Elmo-Daddy-Sesame-Street-Play-ebook/dp/B006JAM0VC