Simon and the Better Bone by Corey R. Tabor*

 Based off of Aseop's "The Dog and His Reflection"

Simon discovers a bone and is quite pleased with it. As he walks by the pond, he spies another dog with a bone. This bone appears better.  The rest of the story shares how Simon interacts with the other dog. It concludes sweetly. My favorite illustration is the last one-because of what the reader will infer. I also love how the reader must orient/hold the book to read it.

*Highly recommend. I hope Mr. Tabor continues to write & illustrated clever picture books!

-Borrowed from the library.

Whose Knees Are These? by Jabari Asim illustrated by LeUyen Pham*

 An adorable board book that will cause the reader and child to interact!

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

See the . . . by David LaRochelle illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka*

 These two books will make beginning/transitional readers laugh and enjoy reading! 

In See the Cat -Three Stories About a Dog- a dog is depicted who objects that the writer is narrating about a cat. The writer and dog negotiate throughout the book. Simple words but an enjoyable plot that will engage readers. An Award-winner

In See the Dog-Three Stories About a Cat-the cat substitutes for the dog as the main character and protests the different actions she must perform.

To build stamina and fluency, a parent or older sibling could read the "book"parts and the reader could read the dog or cat words.

Strategy/skill-building stamina, fluency

*Highly recommend both books.

-Borrowed from the library.

My Car by Byron Barton*

A man shows readers his car, how he takes care of it and how he drives carefully.  I love the "surprise" ending!
A great book for building schema for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.
This book could also be a good one to introduce the concept of a diagram.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Itsy Bitsy Snowman by Jeffrey Burton illustrated by Sanja Rescek*

A sweet adorable board book!
This fractured version of the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" invites babies and toddlers to experience a winter wonderland with a snowman.
Rhyming text.
*Highly recommend.
Borrowed from the library.

Who Ate All the Cookie Dough? by Karen Beaumont illustrated by Eugene Yelchin

In a rhythmic  and rhyming fashion, Mama Kangaroo is trying to discover who ate her cookie dough.  She asks various animals respond with, "I don't know, It wasn't me.  Maybe . . .".
Fun twist to "who took the cookie from the cookie jar".
Check out Ms. Beaumont's book Move Over, Rover!.
Illustrator is same man who wrote and illustrated Breaking Stalin's Nose (which I highly recommend).

There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow! by Lucille Colandro illustrated by Jared Lee

Read this one on a snowy day.
Strategy: predicting

20 Big Trucks in the Middle of the Street by Mark Lee illustrated by Kurt Cyrus

An ice cream truck breaks down in the middle of a boy's street.  Truck after truck stops and a major traffic jam occurs!
A bird's eye view offers the reader an opportunity to count all twenty trucks.
The numerals are included in the sentences but are not in big font.  The adult reader must point out or have the listener point to the numbers if numeral recognition is one's goal.
On a positive note, there are not many books out there that count up to twenty.
The book is a bigger a size than most picture books so it is a good choice for story time.

A Smidgeon of Pigeon books by Mo Willems

Short board books featuring the Pigeon.  Short but full of personality and humor.
The Pigeon has lots of attitude which makes me not like him as much as Elephant and Piggie!  He reminds me of an egocentric toddler . . .that is why he is funny too!
Two books we read in this little series:  The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!     
                                                            The Pigeon Loves Things That Go!  (guest star: the duckling!)

Ol' Mama Squirrel by David Ezra Stein

Very funny!  A very protective mama squirrel.  Any mother can relate and kids will enjoy her antics!