Ages 4 to 6
- Crictor
- by Tomi Ungerer
1958
A surefire scenario—old lady gets boa constrictor as pet—is milked for all it's worth. It's hard to imagine any comical situation a snake could get into that doesn't play out in these pages.
- Amos & Boris
- by William Steig
1971
A whale saves the life of a near-drowned mouse, and the unlikely pair become the closest of friends. It's a touching surprise when, years later, the mouse gets to return the favor.
- The Giant Jam Sandwich
- by John Vernon Lord
1972
Every page holds the unexpected in this funny and clever story of one town's remarkably original (and downright silly) plan to rid itself of an invading wasp swarm.
- The Gruffalo
- by Julia Donaldson
1999
It's a blast to watch an unflappable mouse fast-talk her way out of troublesome situations by inventing a beast. Imaginative with a smart sense of humor, this is a crowd-pleaser for all ages.
- Ira Sleeps Over
- by Bernard Waber
1972
The dialogue is so realistic, it's as if Waber has simply transcribed real conversations between kindergarteners navigating their first sleepover. You don't just read this book aloud—you perform it.
- Nimby
- by Jasper Tomkins
1982
A misfit cloud decides to leave his stuffy, amorphous old brethren behind to seek out a life in which he can take whatever shape he likes and find kindred spirits.
We're sad to report that this book is out of print. Look for used copies on sites like Amazon.
- Mole Music
- by David McPhail
1999
In this tribute to the transformative power of music, the protagonist remains unaware of all the lives he touches with his violin playing; readers must look to the artwork for the full story.
- The Scrambled States of America
- by Laurie Keller
1998
The 50 states switch places with one another just to, you know, mix things up a bit. But Minnesota gets a sunburn in Florida, and Kansas is lonely in the middle of the Pacific.
- That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown
- by Cressida Cowell and Neal Layton
2007
The loony tale of a tyrannical queen who sends armies, navies, and finally elite spy teams to capture a girl's irreplaceable well-loved stuffed rabbit.
- Miss Esta Maude's Secret*
- by W. T. Cummings
1961
Before Ian Falconer used red, white, and black, Cummings applied the simple palette in this story of a teacher who secretly loves race cars.
*We're sad to report that this book is out of print. Look for used copies on sites like Amazon.com.
- How I Became a Pirate
- by Melinda Long
2003
Jeremy Jacob absconds to a pirate ship with no spinach or toothbrushing rules and hopes to stay forever—until he realizes pirates don't get tucked in.
- The Rainbow Goblins
- by Ul de Rico
1978
This mesmerizing, eerie myth about color-eating fiends out to leach all the hues from the rainbow is illustrated with such lush, beautiful paintings, you'll fear the villains might devour the book itself.
Next Page: Books for Ages 6 and up
