Recommended Books

101 JUMP-ROPE RHYMES - by Joanna Cole. This book makes the game of jump-rope even more fun. Contains a collection of songs and rhymes to help kids keep the beat while they jump.

ALL THE COLORS WE ARE - by Katie Kissinger. This book helps to explain to young children why we all have different skin tones.

CLIFFORD'S THANKSGIVING VISIT - by Norman Bridwell. In this book, the beloved Big Red Dog sets out to visit his mother in the city for Thanksgiving. Along the way he meets with some unexpected obstacles but overcomes them to spend a great holiday amongst food, friends and family.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT - by Joost Elffers and Saxton Freymann. This book is full of activities for parents and young children. Through the authors’ use of brightly colored, clever and adorable food sculptures (cauliflower sheep, pepper people, smiling oranges), young children can explore letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and opposites.

BIG RED BARN - Margaret Wise Brown’s classic children’s book uses a soothing, predictable text as it follows the barnyard animals’ day from morning until the animals go to sleep. Practicing the animal sounds will support phonemic awareness, while labeling the pictures will expand young children’s vocabularies.

ARE YOU MY MOTHER? - In this classic by P.D. Eastman, a baby bird hatched away from his mother searches for her, asking various animals and things, “Are you my mother?” This repetitive phrase will allow the children to soon ‘read’ the book.

ARE YOU MY MOTHER? (SPANISH) - In this classic by P.D. Eastman, a baby bird hatched away from his mother searches for her, asking various animals and things, “Are you my mother?” This repetitive phrase will allow the children to soon ‘read’ the book.

CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG - Children will delight in following the adventures of Clifford, and their imaginations will soar as each page brings another surprise. The colorful illustrations and simple text reinforce the fun of reading and storytelling, and motivate children to tell the story themselves.

FEAST FOR TEN - A great counting book that follows an African-American family from the market to the table as they prepare for dinner.

MY FIRST WORD BOOK - This invaluable book is a first encyclopedia of words for young children and it greatly expands vocabulary. With more than 1000 illustrations and photographs to stimulate young readers, the opportunities for parents to engage children in quality conversation are endless.

GOODNIGHT MOON - A perfect farewell to the day, this classic bedtime book uses gentle language as a little rabbit bids goodnight to everything in his room in a poem. Children can try to find the items that the rabbit mentions in the detailed illustrations or in his/her own room.

GOODNIGHT MOON (SPANISH) - A perfect farewell to the day, this classic bedtime book uses gentle language as a little rabbit bids goodnight to everything in his room in a poem. Children can try to find the items that the rabbit mentions in the detailed illustrations or in his/her own room.

FROM HEAD TO TOE - This wonderful activity book teaches large motor skills and parts of the body as animal characters perform various activities and then ask the child, "Can you do it?" Children are delighted when they too can stomp their feet like the elephant or wiggle like the alligator, gaining confidence and responding "I can do it!" Children also learn how to pay attention to details and follow directions.

THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD - In this timeless tale of determination and perseverance, the little blue engine trudges up a huge hill loaded with toys to deliver to all the good boys and girls. ÒI think I canÉ.I think I canÓ should be a part of every toddlerÕs vocabulary.

THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD (SPANISH) - In this timeless tale of determination and perseverance, the little blue engine trudges up a huge hill loaded with toys to deliver to all the good boys and girls. "I think I can....I think I can" should be a part of every toddler's vocabulary.

THE CARROT SEED - This is a story of patience, faith, and hope about a little boy who plants a carrot seed and is told by everyone that it will not grow. He waits and waits and in the end has a grown a big, beautiful carrot. Children learn the value of patience and of believing in themselves. Many Parent-Child Home Program sites pair this book with the activity of planting a seed and watching and waiting for it to grow.

THE CARROT SEED (SPANISH) - This is a story of patience, faith, and hope about a little boy who plants a carrot seed and is told by everyone that it will not grow. He waits and waits and in the end has a grown a big, beautiful carrot. Children learn the value of patience and of believing in themselves. Many Parent-Child Home Program sites pair this book with the activity of planting a seed and watching and waiting for it to grow.

THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT - An unforgettable fable, this classic teaches children that there are consequences for their actions when Peter is caught disobeying his mother.

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR - In this imaginative tale of a greedy caterpillar who eats his way through various things, including the pages of the book, children learn about the life cycle of caterpillars and butterflies as well as counting and the days of the week.

BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE? - The easy, rhyming and predictable language of this book stimulates interaction and the remarkable artwork is exciting for parents and children. Children love to learn to "read" this book.

PAT THE BUNNY - The original interactive book, Pat the Bunny is a "touch and feel" adventure that introduces young children to the five senses. For 40 years, Parent-Child Home Program sites have used this book as the first book of the Program.

SNOWY DAY - A young boy discovers the quiet wonder of a newly fallen snow and enjoys a series of modest adventures. One of the first children's books to feature an African-American main character, this book features Ezra Jack Keats' celebrated artwork and gentle prose.

A TREE IS NICE - This celebrated book uses simple, pleasant language to discuss all of the reasons that a tree is nice to have around. The illustrations perfectly match what is described in the text.

A TREE IS NICE (SPANISH) - This celebrated book uses simple, pleasant language to discuss all of the reasons that a tree is nice to have around. The illustrations perfectly match what is described in the text.

WHERE'S SPOT? - It's time for Spot to eat dinner and he can't be found. Children will enjoy searching for the adorable pup in this legendary "lift-the-flap" book. The book is a great memory exercise as children must remember what Spot looks like as they search for him and encounter many other animals instead.

WHISTLE FOR WILLIE - A young African-American boy named Peter, Ezra Jack Keats' star from Snowy Day, wishes that he could whistle so that he can whistle for his dog, Willie. He tries all kinds of things to help himself whistle, like spinning around and putting on a grown-up hat, and he finally succeeds.

WHISTLE FOR WILLIE (SPANISH) - A young African-American boy named Peter, Ezra Jack Keats' star from Snowy Day, wishes that he could whistle so that he can whistle for his dog, Willie. He tries all kinds of things to help himself whistle, like spinning around and putting on a grown-up hat, and he finally succeeds.

CORDUROY- A little bear named Corduroy who lives in a department store, decides to replace a lost button on his overalls. A little girl falls in love with him just as he is and takes him home. Children will enjoy Corduroy's adventures in the empty department store and understand the book's subtle lesson in acceptance.

FIVE LITTLE MONKEYS JUMPING ON THE BED - A classic rhythm and rhyme book that young children often learn to "read" themselves. This fun book teaches counting and gently reminds children that there are consequences for mischievous behavior.

FIVE LITTLE MONKEYS JUMPING ON THE BED (SPANISH) - A classic rhythm and rhyme book that young children often learn to "read" themselves. This fun book teaches counting and gently reminds children that there are consequences for mischievous behavior.

IF YOU GIVE A PIG A PANCAKE - A hilarious tale of cause and effect about a pig who is hard to please. The book's creative alliteration makes for an amusing read-aloud.

WHERE IS BABY'S BELLY BUTTON? - A notable "lift-the flap" book that teaches young toddlers body parts, enhances fine motor skills, and encourages parent-child conversation.

PLEASE, BABY, PLEASE - This is Spike Lee and his wife's literary debut about a rambunctious 2-year-old and her weary parents. Children will recognize themselves in the toddler's antics and the repeated refrain is fun for parents and children.

THE GOING TO BED BOOK - A Sandra Boynton original, in this silly bedtime book animals get ready for bed by performing various activities like taking a bath, brushing their teeth, and doing exercises. Full of rhymes and alliteration, this book is as fun for parents to read as it is for children to hear.

IT'S FALL (CELEBRATE THE SEASONS) - A young boy describes the world around him in autumn. The textured cut-paper illustrations bring to life fall's rich colors and stimulate conversation about the season. The book also lists fun fall activities for the entire family.

THIS NEXT NEW YEAR - A Chinese-Korean boy relates how he and his multiethnic friends celebrate the "lunar new year, the day of the first new moon. Children will enjoy the bright colors and the sense of motion and activity as the boy prepares for the holiday.

THE ABSENT-MINDED TOAD - A charming rhyming story about an absent-minded toad who goes to the local market and forgets to buy any of the things he went to buy. Children can relate their own experience of grocery shopping with this colorful tale set in Venezuela.

HELLO WORLD - This book is an introduction to our multicultural world in which children from different countries say "hello" in their native languages from Amharic to Zulu. Each child's smiling face is followed by a greeting, the phonetic pronunciation, and the name of the language. Children are able to "meet" other children from around the world and both parents and children learn to say hello in forty-two languages.

BLACK, WHITE, JUST RIGHT! - A bi-racial little girl celebrates her uniqueness by describing her parents and herself. "Mama's face is chestnut brown/ Papa's face turns pink in the sun/My face is a little dark, a little light....just right!" This book helps to teach young children about accepting and celebrating difference.

RED IS A DRAGON - A young girl has a day of colorful adventures during the Chinese New Year parade. The book describes many articles from Chinese culture and has a fun, rhyming text. This book not only teaches colors but also enriches vocabulary.

BEST WORD BOOK EVER! - A great vocabulary builder, this book follows Kenny and Kathy Bear as they visit various places around town and group objects by theme.

OLD MACDONALD HAD A FARM -This colorful book brings the classic song to life.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A TAIL LIKE THIS? -This award-winning book shows children that animals and insects use their tails and other body parts in very different ways. Vivid cut-paper collage artwork makes the creatures come to life as they share their unique habits.

BABY NOAH: WORLD ANIMALS -A colorful board book featuring photographs of many different animals and the answers to many young children’s basic questions such as where they live, what they eat, and how they play.

BABY BELUGA (Raffi Songs to Read) - This musical book about a baby Beluga whale teaches lessons about taking of one another and protecting the environment.

OTTO GOES TO THE BEACH - Otto is a lovable and silly dog who goes on an adventure to the beach. There he faces many situations that young children can identify with.

1-2-3 TO THE ZOO - Celebrated children's author and illustrator takes us on a numerical adventure to the zoo. This book is great to read before your child's first visit to the zoo!

GREAT BIG BOOK OF CHILDREN'S GAMES - This collection of great games and activities will help get you through rainy and winter days. Most activities combine learning and movement.

SESAME STREET: KIDS' FAVORITE SONGS (CD) - Celebrated children's author and illustrator takes us on a numerical adventure to the zoo. This book is great to read before your child's first visit to the zoo!

ONE WORLD, ONE KID (CD) - This collection of great games and activities will help get you through rainy and winter days. Most activities combine learning and movement.