Read with Me Read online

  How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the U.S.A.

  By Marjorie Priceman. Illustrated by the author. Knopf, 2008. Ages 5–7.

  In How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World, a little girl travels the globe to find the ingredients for her dessert. This time she wants cherry pie for the Fourth of July, but she doesn’t have a bowl or a rolling pin or pot holders or a baking pan. As resourceful as ever, she hops in a cab, boards a boat, takes a bus, and makes use of other modes of transport to tour the country to find clay for her mixing bowl (New Mexico), granite for her pastry board (New Hampshire), cotton for her pot holders (Louisiana). What a trip; what a pie. Next stop: the kitchen, where adults and kids can try out the recipe the little girl used. A map tracking the child’s journey and lots of landmarks in the pictures add to the fun.

  Library Lion

  By Michelle Knudsen. Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. Candlewick, 2006. Ages 4–6.

  You would expect the local library to have books and computers. But a lion? One day a lion enters, walking “right past the circulation desk and up into the stacks” Mr. McBee is annoyed, especially when Lion lets out a tremendous ROAR. His boss, Miss Merriweather, is more open to the visitor. There are, after all, no rules about lions. As long as the lion keeps silent, he’s welcome. To Mr. McBee’s irritation, the lion becomes a library fixture. Then the unexpected happens: the lion roars again.

  Mr. Peek and the Misunderstanding at the Zoo

  By Kevin Waldron. Illustrated by the author. Templar, 2010. Ages 4–6.

  It appears Mr. Peek, the zookeeper, has put on some weight. His tummy protrudes from his favorite uniform jacket! As he makes his rounds he ponders his poundage, feeling more and more sorry for himself as he goes about his rounds. “You’re getting very fat,” he mumbles as he passes the hippo; while walking by the elephant, he mutters about getting old and wrinkled. Unfortunately, his animal charges jump to the conclusion that he’s talking about them. When Mr. Peek discovers he took the wrong uniform jacket off the hook, he’s much relieved, and so are his animals.

  Our Corner Grocery Store

  By Joanne Schwartz. Illustrated by Laura Beingessner. Tundra, 2009. Ages 4–6.

  Saturday is Anna Maria’s favorite day. It’s the day she helps Nonno Domanico and Donna Rosa in their tiny neighborhood market. She likes everything about the day, from her grandfather’s hearty “Buon giorno” when she arrives early in the morning to the shelves piled high with goods, to the vegetables stacked in wooden bins by the door, to the handwritten signs announcing their prices. She loves the ginger cat with the white tummy, and the umbrellas and shoelaces that hang from the market ceiling. During the day she helps out, but she also has time to play with her friend. Even little listeners who have never seen a mom-and-pop store will find the idea cozy and comforting.

  Pizza at Sally’s

  By Monica Wellington. Illustrated by the author. Dutton, 2006. Ages 4–6.

  Sally makes pizza and sells it at her pizzeria. Arriving early every morning, she dons her checkered apron and multicolored chef’s hat and begins making the pies. For the sauce, she chops onions and peppers and adds the tomatoes she grows in the community garden. Then she makes the dough. Finally, with her calico cat and eager children looking on, she pops the pies in the oven. Later…yum, yum, yum! The pictures add to the fun. Sally works busily on each right-hand page, while the text is on the left, inside a pizza-shaped ring of tiny pictures of ingredients and utensils. By the end of the book, everyone will be ready to try Wellington’s pizza recipe.

  Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building

  By Deborah Hopkinson. Illustrated by James E. Ransome. Schwartz & Wade, 2006. Ages 5–8.

  An enthusiastic young boy tells what he sees as he watches the construction of the Empire State Building. What fascinates him the most are the fearless men, the sky boys, who “crawl / like spiders on steel, / spinning their giant web in the sky.” From dizzying heights, they maneuver heavy girders into place until the skeleton is ready to receive its outer skin. Finally, when the building opens in 1931, the boy and his father pay a visit. Excited, they ride the elevator to the top, where they “see what the sky boys have seen” for themselves. A salute to the sky boys of today as well as those of times gone by.

  To the Beach!

  By Linda Ashman. Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott. Harcourt, 2005. Ages 4–6.

  It’s hot; it’s hot; it’s oh so hot! So Mom, Dad, and their five youngsters head for the beach. But Katie forgets the dog, Mama runs off without her beach umbrella, and nobody remembers Baby’s pail. “Hit the brakes! Reverse the car!” is the lively refrain, and by the time the family gathers up everything they’ve forgotten, a storm hits. Will they ever make it to the beach? Nope. When the sun comes out, they opt for a great time in their own backyard.

  The Village Garage

  By G. Brian Karas. Illustrated by the author. Christy Ottaviano, 2010. Ages 4–7.

  The cheerful workers at the Village Garage take on different tasks each season. In spring, they clean up debris left over from winter rain and snow. In summer, they patch the streets and interact with the community at a Fourth of July party. In autumn, they collect leaves with a big machine, and in winter, they plow snowy roads. In between, the workers have a little fun. Kids crazy about vehicles will see some not usually mentioned in picture books as well as plenty they see rolling down their neighborhood streets.

  Around the World

  14 Cows for America

  By Carmen Agra Deedy and Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah. Illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez. Peachtree, 2009. Ages 5–7.

  Naiyomah, a Maasai student visiting New York at the time the twin towers were destroyed, returns to his home in Kenya and describes what he saw. To express their sorrow, the people of his homeland donate fourteen cows, symbols of life to the Maasai, to America. A huge crowd, many in ceremonial splendor, greet the ambassador when he comes to accept the Maasai’s gift, underscoring that compassion and generosity exist despite global boundaries and cultural divides. Parents and children can find out more about the gift and the givers by visiting the book’s website, http://14cowsforamerica.com.

  Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia

  By Jeanette Winter. Illustrated by the author. Beach Lane, 2010. Ages 5–7.

  Luis loves books, and he wants to share them with others in Colombian mountain villages, where books are rare. With two burros (one loaded with books), he starts his journey. His travels take him across rough terrain; bandits accost him. But eventually he reaches a remote village, unloads his precious cargo, and reads a story to the village children before heading home. While this is a celebration of the pleasures of reading, it’s also a reminder of the difference one person can make in the lives of others.

  The Biggest Soap

  By Carole Lexa Schaefer. Illustrated by Stacey Dressen-McQueen. Melanie Kroupa, 2004. Ages 4–6.

  Set in the island nation of Micronesia, this happy, bubbling tale follows an easily distracted child charged with what seems to be a simple errand. Mama sends Kessy to the store for the “biggest piece of laundry soap.” He runs quickly at first, but it isn’t long before his attention turns to what’s happening along the way: his brothers’ games, his uncle at work, his friend with a new camera. He sees the same the people on his way home with the soap, but this time, he stops. His friend needs soap to clean a cut; his brothers need a wash, and his uncle needs soap for his work. By the time he returns home, his soap is only a tiny sliver.

  Bikes for Rent!

  By Isaac Olaleye. Illustrated by Chris Demarest. Orchard, 2001. Ages 4–7.

  This quiet, heartwarming story is set in Nigeria. Lateef longs to join the other boys who ride their bikes around the village, but his parents have no money to spare for bike rental from Babtunde. Not one to give up, he works hard to earn enough to pay Babtunde’s fee. He picks mushrooms and collects fire wood in the village, saving his coins in a jar. When he has enough money, he rents a bike. He cho
oses Babtunde’s new red one, but while riding it he succumbs to the temptation to show off and damages the bike. Babtunde is disappointed and angered by Lateef’s carelessness, but because he recognizes the boy’s regret and admires his perseverance and honesty, he works out a plan for Lateef to make amends.

  The Butter Man by Elizabeth Alalou and Ali Alalou

  The Butter Man

  By Elizabeth Alalou and Ali Alalou. Illustrated by Julie Klear Essakalli. Charlesbridge, 2008. Ages 5–7.

  Framed as a story within a story, this book begins as Baba (“father”) recalls an episode from his childhood in Morocco while he goes about preparing a meal for his impatient daughter, Nora. Baba tells Nora that during a famine, Nora’s grandfather had to travel far away to make enough to buy food for his starving family. The butter was gone, and soon there would be no bread. To help her young son deal with his hunger, Nora’s grandmother tells him to keep an eye out for the Butter Man. He does, and his father returns with needed help. An author’s note provides facts on the geography and culture of Baba’s homeland.

  The Caged Birds of Phnom Penh

  By Frederick Lipp. Illustrated by Ronald Himler. Holiday House, 2001. Ages 4–7.

  Eight-year-old Ary, who lives in pollution-choked Phnom Penh, has heard about places far away where the air is fresh and birds swoop across the sky. Sadly, the only birds she has ever seen belong to the bird vendor, who keeps them caged. Ary’s been told that if she makes a wish and a bird flies free, her wish will come true. She uses her savings to buy a bird, but the bird is too timid to fly. Although Ary is very disappointed, she refuses to give up, and her second bird is different; it flies high and away, free at last, giving Ary hope that someday she will leave too.

  Come Fly with Me

  By Satomi Ichikawa. Illustrated by the author. Philomel, 2008. Ages 4–6.

  Cosmos, a toy plane who lives in Paris, wants to break out of his toy box; it’s just too confining. He wants go to Somewhere (else). The building with the big dome he sees from his window looks like a good destination. So Cosmos and his buddy, a stuffed dog named Woggy, fly off, soaring above buildings and streets of the fabled City of Light, taking in the fresh air and freedom. There’s trouble along the way (a storm and some pesky birds), but as day breaks, they reach their glorious Somewhere.

  The Day of the Dead/El Día de Los Muertos

  By Bob Barner. Translated by Teresa Mlawer. Holiday, 2010. Ages 4–6.

  This bilingual text follows a family through its preparations and celebration of the Day of the Dead, a Mexican festival during which participants honor their deceased ancestors with “offerings of flowers, sugar skulls, and bread.” The English text is rhymed; the translation is not, But no matter which way the text is read aloud, listeners will come away with a real sense of the reason behind this traditional family festival.

  Elephant Dance

  By Theresa Heine. Illustrated by Sheila Moxley. Barefoot Books, 2004. Ages 4–7.

  When Grandfather arrives from India, Ravi asks him about life there. The man describes a sun like “a ferocious tiger” in the sky, snow-covered mountaintops, and elephants decorated for Devali celebrations in brilliantly colored silk howdahs. At the end of the day, Ravi creates an elephant dance on his flute and falls asleep to dreams about an elephant dancing. The scenes alternate between Grandfather’s depictions of his homeland and the boy’s own family life and traditions.

  For You Are a Kenyan Child

  By Kelly Cunnane. Illustrated by Ana Juan. Atheneum, 2006. Ages 5–7.

  Easily distracted, a Kenyan boy shirks his responsibility to watch his family’s herd and wanders off in search of other, more interesting things to do. He has no trouble finding them. There’s a cheeky monkey to chase, a village to visit, and friends to play with before he remembers what he should be doing. Through the words of the child in the story, little listeners will find out about life in a traditional Kenyan village and also learn a few Swahili words; a glossary provides pronunciation clues for adults reading the book aloud.

  Goal!

  By Mina Javaherbin. Illustrated by A. G. Ford. Candlewick, 2010. Ages 5–7.

  Ajani, a South African boy who lives in a dangerous shantytown, is overjoyed when he’s awarded a regulation soccer ball for success at school. No more kicking the cheap ball he and his friends usually use in their game. After his chores he summons his buddies to try out the gift: “When we play, / we forget to worry.” A gang of toughs interrupts their game, but the boy, supported by his friends, uses his knowledge of the game to send the interlopers packing.

  Grandma Comes to Stay

  By Ifeoma Onyefulu. Illustrated with photographs by the author. Frances Lincoln, 2010. Ages 4–6.

  Three-year-old Stephanie, who lives in Ghana, is looking forward to her grandmother’s upcoming visit. When Grandma finally arrives, the two do lots of things together, all captured in photos taken at Stephanie’s home in a modern apartment. They share a book; Stephanie shows off her bike-riding skill; and Grandma demonstrates how to wrap a traditional headdress and tells Stephanie a story about a magical drum. The universality of a loving intergenerational relationship comes through clearly in the pictures, which show scenes familiar to children no matter where they live.

  Happy Birthday, Jamela!

  By Niki Daly. Illustrated by the author. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2006. Ages 4–6.

  Jamela is excited about her upcoming birthday. She goes shopping with her mother and grandmother in the South African city where they live, and she finds the perfect birthday dress. Instead of getting new shoes, though, Mama wants her to wear her sturdy black school shoes; the ones Jamela wants are too expensive. Jamela rebels by decorating her school shoes with beads and sparkles. Mama is angry, but a local merchant loves the shoes and encourages Jamela to make some to sell in the market. Jamela does, and she earns enough money to buy new school shoes as well as the sparkly ones she loves.

  I Lost My Tooth in Africa

  By Penda Diakité. Illustrated by Baba Wagué Diakité. Scholastic, 2006. Ages 4–6.

  Filled with warmth and a sense of the daily life in a far off community, this tale, written when the author was eight years old, is based on what happened to her sister, Amina, when the family left home in Oregon to visit relatives in Bamuko, Mali. Amina has a loose tooth. She wonders if the tooth fairy will visit her if she’s so far away from home. Her father reassures her, telling that if she puts her tooth under her pillow, the African tooth fairy will bring her a chicken. The last picture shows the girl, minus a tooth, holding the bird.

  Kami and the Yaks

  By Andrea Stenn Stryer. Illustrated by Bert Dodson. Bay Otter, 2007. Ages 4–6.

  Kami, a deaf boy who lives with his family high in the mountains of Tibet, spots his father and brother searching unsuccessfully for the family’s yaks. Not convinced they are going in the right direction, the boy sets out alone, making a treacherous climb, further complicated by a violent storm. His hunch proves correct: he finds the animals, one of which is pinned beneath a rock. Now he must climb down the mountain and somehow make his family understand what he has discovered. Bravery and perseverance win out against an extraordinary combination of odds.

  Mirror

  By Jeannie Baker. Illustrated by the author. Candlewick, 2010. Ages 4–7.

  Although this picture book is mostly wordless, it’s still a good book to share with a child. Parallel series of pictures depict the same day in the life of two boys who live far apart: one in a village in Morocco, the other from a city in Australia. Each sets out on a journey with his father on a errand, returning to his family at the end of the day. What the boys have in common is every bit as intriguing as their obvious differences.

  Monsoon Afternoon by Kashmira Sheth

  Monsoon Afternoon

  By Kashmira Sheth. Illustrated by Yoshiko Jaeggi. Peachtree, 2008. Ages 4–6.

  Dadaji (“grandfather”) is a wonderful playmate for his grandson, who is growing up in India. They go to
the swings and race boats. They enjoy watching the peacocks strut about, and they talk together about Dadaji’s childhood. What they don’t like is being scolded by Dadima (“grandmother”) for tracking mud into the house. Clearly love across generations isn’t bound by culture or place.

  My Father’s Shop

  By Satomi Ichikawa. Illustrated by the author. Kane/Miller, 2006. Ages 5–7.

  Mustafa is overjoyed when his father gives him a brightly colored rug for his own. So excited is he that he charges through the Moroccan marketplace with his possession. Attracted by the rug’s bright colors, the rooster cries out, “Kho kho hou houuu.” Then tourists intrigued by the spectacle respond by mimicking the rooster’s cry in their own language. In Spanish, roosters cry “qui-qui-ri-qui”; in English, they call “cock-a-doodle-do”; and so on. A lesson in cultural differences, surprising and uncomplicated.

  My Village: Rhymes from around the World

  Edited by Danielle Wright. Illustrated by Mique Moriuchi. Frances Lincoln, 2010. Ages 5–7.

  Many countries have nursery rhymes or poems for young children lovingly passed down through generations. Wright has assembled twenty-two in this collection, presenting them in both their original languages and in translated versions. The selections, from countries as far flung as Somoa and Switzerland, range from funny to tender to playful to quaint. All are built around subjects—animals, grandfathers, bath time—familiar to children no matter what country they call home.

  New Clothes for New Year’s Day

  By Hyun-Joo Bae. Illustrated buy the author. Kane/Miller, 2007. Ages 5–7.

  A Korean child welcomes the lunar New Year with reverence and eagerness. She will wear new clothes for the occasion. Her elaborate traditional costume has many layers; she must wrap and tie her multicolored jacket correctly, and she must take extra care of her lovely silk pouch, which is said to bring her good luck in the year to come. Bae’s colorful yet delicate pictures show the child’s struggles to get her garment and accessories just right. At the same time they provide intriguing background on how the New Year is celebrated in another culture.