The Snow Rocket by Derek Anderson

Romeo (a penguin) and Lou (a polar bear) create a snow rocket one day which actually blasts off and takes them to a different planet (really a city on earth).  Preschoolers and young elementary readers will giggle as the pair make incorrect assumptions about what they see in the city.
The two friends must figure out a way to return to their beloved home.
My four year old asked, "But do polar bears live where penguins live? (He had just learned about the Arctic and Antarctica in preschool)"  I had not even thought about the fact that the two creatures live at opposite poles!  He then said, "Why did the author do that?".
So this "incorrect" character combination may lead to a good discussion about where these animals live and the liberties authors are allowed to take when they write a story!
Strategies: the importance of correct schema to understand, inferring

It's Raining by Gail Gibbons

In her typical format and style, Ms. Gibbons shares about why it rains and different cloud types and the weather they bring.
Any time one studies a nonfiction topic, one can count on Ms. Gibbons' book to offer great information!
She has written over fifty books!!

The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock illustrated by Mary Grandpre*

"The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art"
Ms. Rosenstock is amazing.  She created a very interesting story via dialogue and carefully selected true events.
Vasily Kandinsky started revolution in the art world with by painting abstractly.
More information about him is in the back along with prints of his actual work.
Mr. Kandinsky also had a genetic condition called synesthesia which allowed him to hear colors and see sounds in color.
Strategies: synthesizing, main idea, theme
*Highly recommend.

Rotten Teeth by Laura Simms illustrated by David Catrow

Shy Melissa Hermann does not know what to bring in for show and tell.  When her brother, Norman, recommends the jar of their dentist's father's teeth, show and tell becomes quite exciting in first grade!! Melissa also discovers an important gift she has and is never the same!

Taking Care of Mama Rabbit by Anita Lobel

One morning Mama Rabbit does not arise from bed.  This action, of course, worries her ten rabbit children.  In their individual ways, each one tries to make her feel better so by the time the father comes home with medicine, it is no longer needed.
Most children can relate to a time when a parent or caregiver is not well.
A great book to celebrate family and helping one another!
Strategy: connections

Hi, Koo! A Year of Seasons by Jon J. Muth*

Koo, a panda bear, celebrates all the seasons via twenty-six Haiku.
For some extra fun, Mr. Muth created an "alphabetical path" through the book.  In each haiku is a capitalized letter and the letters appear in alphabetical order.
*Highly recommend.

Nest by Jorey Hurley*

A beautiful book perfect for sharing.
The illustrations fill the page with one simple word per page.  The book shares the story of a robin family in one year.
The author informs the reader more about robins and why she wrote the book in the back.
Strategies: predicting, inferring
*Highly recommend