FROM SARAH:

Grown-ups always know best. Or do they? This classic handles courage and coming into one's own in a lovely, inspiring, respectful way. My boys especially loved it.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Jonathan sets out to get a large pot from his aunt for a family Christening celebration, trekking over Hemlock Mountain. At least he won’t encounter any bears … right?

FROM SARAH:

The book that turned me into reader in the 3rd grade. I love this book! The audiobook is also especially well done, as is the movie.

Wonderful on audio (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she's just a nuisance. She expects school to be different but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a menacing, kid-hating headmistress. When Matilda is attacked by the Trunchbull she suddenly discovers she has a remarkable power with which to fight back. It'll take a superhuman genius to give Miss Trunchbull what she deserves and Matilda may be just the one to do it!

FROM SARAH:

An absolute delight to read aloud, this rollicking tale of that sleepy bear and his friends is sure to please your small reader. Karma Wilson's text is just perfect!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Bears's cave fills with animal friends as he sleeps in this classic book from New York Times bestselling team of Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman.

FROM SARAH:

You either enjoy Roald Dahl or you don't... and this book is as good a place to find out which camp you belong in. Heads-up, I'm a fan of most of Dahl's books, but when I read them aloud, I tend to modify some of the language. 😅

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Sophie and BFG (a bone-crunching giant) are the only ones who can save the children of England, but they’ll have to battle a lot of mean giants to keeps everyone safe.

FROM SARAH:

If you're going to Maine anytime soon, pair reading this book with a trip to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, where you can see Nancy Schön's sculpture of Sal's Bear. This charming story of a girl and a bear cub both collecting blueberries is a timeless classic. Every home library needs it.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Sal goes blueberry picking with mama, but it turns out a mama bear and baby bear had the same idea. Wait - will the right babies go home with the right mamas?

FROM SARAH:

Frog and Toad, need I say more? Worth owning. Obviously. :)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Celebrate the power of friendship with all four of the beloved Frog and Toad I Can Read stories by Arnold Lobel—now in one volume! This treasury includes the complete art and text from four classics: Frog and Toad Are Friends, Frog and Toad Together, Frog and Toad All Year, and Days with Frog and Toad.

FROM SARAH:

Whether an early reader can get better than Little Bear is up for debate. My opinion holds: these books are perfection.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

To celebrate Little Bear's thirty-fifth anniversary, three paperback editions in the series—Little Bear, Father Bear Comes Home, and Little Bear's Visit—have been slipcased in a boxed gift set for a whole new generation of children.

FROM SARAH:

You might remember this one from your own childhood, and it still holds the same appeal! A fabulous read-aloud.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In this Caldecott Medal winner, Mosquito tells a story that causes a jungle disaster.

FROM SARAH:

Goodness, I just love Julie Fogliano's writing, and this is one of my favorites! Check your library to see if they have it.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Following a snow-filled winter, a young boy and his dog decide that they've had enough of all that brown and resolve to plant a garden.

FROM SARAH:

A classic from Leo Lionni!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Deep in the sea lives a happy school of fish. Their watery world is full of wonders, but there is also danger, and the little fish are afraid to come out of hiding . . . until Swimmy comes along. Swimmy shows his friends how—with ingenuity and team work—they can overcome any danger.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Where the Wild Things Are is fifty years old! Maurice Sendak's Caldecott Medal-winning picture book has become one of the most highly acclaimed and best-loved children's books of all time. A must for every child's bookshelf.

FROM SARAH:

My kids all l-o-v-e-d this book as a read-aloud so much, we read it more than once! The chapters are short, there are plenty of Peter Brown's excellent illustrations to keep you company, and you'll just fall in love with Roz and her wild adventures. Highly recommended. Also wonderful on audio (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Can a robot survive in the wilderness?

When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is--but she knows she needs to survive.

As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home--until, one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her.

FROM SARAH:

My favorite Janet Stevens book, hands-down. This one is such a delightful trickster tale! A fabulous example of a book I don't mind reading aloud again and again.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Once a upon a time, there was a lazy Bear and a clever Hare. Bear had lots of money and lots of land but all he wanted to do was sleep. Hare had nothing but hungry children, so he came up with a plan to convince Bear to split his land down the middle—tops and bottoms. Hare can work all day and Bear can sleep.

FROM SARAH:

One of the sweetest stories of friendship there is! You'll absolutely love this Caldecott-winning tale - it makes the perfect read-aloud for the whole family.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Friends come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In Amos McGee's case, all sorts of species, too! Every day he spends a little bit of time with each of his friends at the zoo, running races with the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading bedtime stories to the owl. But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it's time they returned the favor.