The books listed below are available at the public library. Print Motivation
The books in this category motivate young children to become excited about reading. Some of these books allow children to lift flaps, feel different textures or simply enjoy beautiful illustrations. Others encourage participation through songs, chants, actions and rhymes. Have fun reading these interactive books with your child.
A Dragon On The Doorstep by Stella Blackstone (2005)
All By Myself by Mercer Mayer (1983)
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi Barrett (1970)
Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? By Bill Martin Jr. (2007)
Ballerina by Peter Sis (2001)
Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton (1993)
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. (1967)
Chicken Cheeks by Michael Ian Black (2009)
Chickens To The Rescue by John Himmelman (2006)
Clip Clop by Nicola Smee (2006)
David Gets In Trouble by David Shannon (2002)
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell (1982)
Five Little Ducks by Dan Yaccarino (2005)
Five Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed by Eileen Christelow (1989)
Five Little Monkeys Sitting In A Tree by Eileen Christelow (1991)
From Head To Toe by Eric Carle (1997)
Frosty The Snowman by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins (NA)
Hippo Has A Hat by Julia Donaldson (2006)
I Heard A Little Baa by Elizabeth MacLeod (1998)
I Know A Rhino by Charles Fuge (2002)
I Went Walking by Sue Williams (1989)
If You Give A Pig A Party by Laura Numeroff (2005)
Jingle Jingle by Nicola Smee (2008)
Let’s Go Visiting by Sue Williams (1998)
Mama, Where Are You? by Diane Muldrow (2007)
Maybe A Bear Ate It! by Robie H. Harris (2008)
Merry Christmas Mouse by Laura Numeroff (2007)
Monkey Puzzle by Julia Donaldson (2000)
Moose In A Maple Tree, The All Canadian 12 Days Of Christmas by Troy Townsin (2008)
No David! by David Shannon (1998)
Never Take A Shark To The Dentist by Judi Barrett (2008)
One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root (2001)
One Ted Falls Out Of Bed by Julia Donaldson (2004)
Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett (2006)
Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. (2003)
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr. (1991)
Read Me A Book by Barbara Reid (2003)
Red is Best by Kathy Stinson (1982)
Sing A Song Of Mother Goose by Barbara Reid (1987)
Soon Baboon Soon by Dave Horowitz (2005)
Tea For Ruby by Sarah The Duchess Of York Ferguson (2008)
Ten Little Fish by Audrey Wood (2004)
That’s Not My Puppy by Fiona Watt (1999)
That’s Not My Bunny by Fiona Watt (2005)
The Bear On The Bed by Ruth Miller (2002)
The Cheerios Animal Play Book by Lee Wade (1999)
The Cheerios Play Book by Lee Wade (1998)
The Doghouse by Jan Thomas (2008)
The Grumpy Morning by Pamela Duncan Edwards (1998)
The Napping House by Audrey Wood (1984)
The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle (1990)
The Wheels On The Bus by Maryann Kovalski (1987)
We’re Going On A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen (1989)
When The Elephant Walks by Keiko Kasza (1990)
Where’s Spot? By Eric Hill (1980)
Who Ate All The Cookie Dough? by Karen Beaumont (2008)
Whose Tail? By Sam Lloyd (2004)
Wiggle by Doreen Cronin (2005)
Letter Knowledge
The books in this category assist children in learning letters and sounds. These books also expose children to vocabulary associated with a variety of themes.
A Is For Annabelle, A Doll’s Alphabet by Tasha Tudor (1954)
ABC Of Canada by Kim Bellefontaine (2002)
ABC Safari by Karen Lee (2007)
Agent A To Agent Z by Andy Rash (2004)
Alphabet Ice Cream by Sue Heap and Nick Sharratt (2006)
Alphabears, An ABC Book by Kathleen Hague (1984)
Alphabeep, A Zipping, Zooming ABC by Debora Pearson (2003)
Alphabet Explosion by John Nickle (2006)
Alphabet House by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace (2005)
Animal Antics From A To Z by Anita Lobel (2005)
Bruno Munari’s ABC by Bruno Munari (2003)
C Is For Caboose by Chronicle Books (2007)
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. (1989)
Cleo’s Alphabet Book by Stella Blackstone (2003)
Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack, An Alphabet Adventure by Doreen Cronin (2005)
Clifford’s ABC by Norman Bridwell (1983)
Curious George’s ABCs by Houghton Mifflin Company (1998)
Dog’s ABC, A Silly Story About The Alphabet by Emma Dodd (2000)
Dr. Seuss’s ABC by Dr. Seuss (1963)
Eating The Alphabet by Lois Ehlert (1989)
Firefighters A to Z by Chris L. Demarest (2000)
Food ABC, An Alphabet Book by Amanda Doering (2005)
Gross Alphabet Snacks by Harriet Isecke (2008)
Jeepers Creepers, A Monstrous ABC by Laura Leuck (2003)
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready For Kindergarten by Joseph Slate (1996)
Miss Bindergarten Has A Wild Day In Kindergarten by Joseph Slate (2005)
Miss Spider’s ABC by David Kirk (1998)
My Little Sister Hugged An Ape by Bill Grossman (2004)
Mrs. McTats And Her Houseful of Cats by Alyssa Satin Capucilli (2001)
On Your Toes, A Ballet ABC by Rachel Isadora (2003)
The Icky bug Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta (1986)
Shiver Me Letters A Pirate ABC by June Sobel (2006)
Superhero ABC by Bob McLeod (2006)
T Is For Tugboat by Chronicle Books (2008)
The Animal ABC by Leslie Baker (2003)
The Bouncing, Dancing, Galloping ABC by Charlotte Doyle (2006)
The Letters Are Lost by Lisa Campbell Ernst (1996)
Thomas’s ABC Book by Kenny McArthur (1998)
Toot And Puddle, Puddle’s ABC by Holly Hobbie (2000)
Twenty-Six Princesses by Dave Horowitz (2008)
Z Is For Zamboni, A Hockey Alphabet by Matt Napier (2006)
Zoopa An Animal Alphabet by Gianna Marino (2005)
26 Big Things Small Hands Do by Coleen Paratore (2008)
Phonological Awareness
The books in this category provide children with the opportunity to have fun with words and sounds. Many of the books are filled with rhymes. All of the books use words and sounds in fun and creative contexts.
All Aboard The Dinotrain by Deb Lund (2006)
Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson (2007)
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson (2002)
Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson (2003)
Bear Stays Up For Christmas by Karma Wilson (2004)
Bear’s New Friend by Karma Wilson (2006)
Betsy B. Little by Anne McEvoy (2009)
Beware Of Tigers by Dave Horowitz (2006)
Commotion In The Ocean by Giles Andreae (1999)
Dance By The Light Of The Moon by Joanne Ryder (2007)
Dino Sailors by Deb Lund (2003)
Dinosaur Roar by Paul and Henrietta Strickland (2004)
Down By the Bay by Raffi (1987)
Down By The Cool Of The Pool by Tony Mitton (2001)
Drumheller Dinosaur Dance by Robert Heidbreder (2004)
Edward The Emu by Sheena Knowles (1988)
Edwina The Emu by Sheena Knowles (1996)
Fire! Fire! Said Mrs. McGuire by Bill Martin Jr. (1971 & 2006)
Fox in Socks by Dr. Suess (1965)
Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London (1992)
Froggy Plays In The Band by Jonathan London (2002)
Froggy Plays T-Ball by Jonathan London (2007)
Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae (2001)
Goodnight Goon by Michael Rex (2008)
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (1947)
Goodnight Sweet Pig by Linda Bailey (2007)
Gracie’s Baby Chub Chop by Gillian Johnson (2004)
Halloween Night by Marjorie Dennis Murray (2008)
How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food? by Jane Yolen (2005)
How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? by Jane Yolen (2003)
How Do Dinosaurs Go To School? By Jane Yolen (2007)
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? By Jane Yolen (2000)
I Got Two Dogs by John Lithgow (2008)
I’m Gonna Like Me, Letting Off A Little Self-Esteem by Jamie Lee Curtis (2002)
In The Small Small Pond by Denise Fleming (1993)
Is your Mama a Llama? By Deborah Guarino (1989)
Jamberry by Bruce Degen (1983)
Jillian Jiggs by Phoebe Gilman (1985)
Late For School by Stephanie Calmenson (2008)
Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney (2005)
Looking For A Moose by Phyllis Root (2006)
Love Ruby Valentine by Laurie Friedman (2006)
Monkey Among Us by Dave Horowitz (2004)
Mouse Mess by Linnea Riley (1997)
My Backpack by Eva Bunting (1997)
My Sister Gracie by Gillian Johnson (2000)
Noisy Nora by Rosemary Wells (1973)
Rufus And Friends Rhyme Time by Iza Trapani (2008)
Rumble In The Jungle by Giles Andreae (1997)
Schnitzel Von Krumm’s Basketwork by Lynley Dodd (1996)
Schnitzel Von Krumm, Dogs Never Climb Trees by Lynley Dodd (2002)
Schnitzel Von Krumm Forget-Me-Not by Lynley Dodd (1996)
Sheep In A Jeep by Nancy Shaw (1986)
Sheep On A Ship by Nancy Shaw (1989)
Sheep Out To Eat by Nancy Shaw (1992)
Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner (2005)
Sometimes I Like To Curl Up In A Ball by Vicki Churchill (2003)
Super Duck by Jez Alborough (2008)
The Aunts Come Marching by Bill Richardson (2008)
The Juggling Pug by Sean Bryan (2008)
The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing (2002)
The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill (2002)
The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz (2005)
The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland (2008)
The Wonderful Pigs Of Jillian Jiggs by Phoebe Gilman (1988)
There’s a Wocket in My Pocket by Dr. Suess (1974)
Time For Bed by Mem Fox (1993)
Train Goes Clickety-Clack by Jonathan London (2007)
What The Ladybird Heard by Julia Donaldson (2009)
Vocabulary
The books in this category are full of wonderful words. Some of these books introduce children to vocabulary associated with themes such as travel, animals, art and music. Others use words to colourfully describe people and places in the story. All of the books will help to expand your child’s vocabulary.
A Visitor For Bear By Bonny Becker (2008)
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish (1963)
Animal Strike At The Zoo. It’s True! By Karma Wilson (2006)
Babar’s World Tour by Laurent De Brunhoff (2005)
Big Words for Little People by Jamie Lee Curtis (2008)
Bonjour Butterfly by Jane O’Connor (2008)
Boy Soup by Loris Lesynski (1996)
Buckamoo Girls by Ellen A. Kelley (2006)
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes (1991)
Clancy With The Puck by Chris Mizzoni (2007)
Crocs! by David T. Greenberg (2008)
Dinosaurs Love Underpants by Claire Freedman (2008)
Dogabet by Dianna Bonder (2007)
Daddy Goes To Work by Jabari Asim (2006)
Eliot Jones Midnight Superhero by Anne Cottringer (2008)
Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor (2006)
Fancy Nancy And The Posh Puppy by Jane O’Connor (2007)
Gifts by Jo Ellen Bogart (1994)
Hieronymus Betts And His Unusual Pets by M. P. Robertson (2005)
How I Became A Pirate by Melinda Long (2003)
Horse by Malachy Doyle (2008)
I’m A Manatee by John Lithgow (2003)
I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff (2004)
I Will Not Ever Never Eat A Tomato by Lauren Child (200)
If I Were A Lion by Sarah Weeks (2004)
Kangaroo’s Cancan Café by Julia Jarman (2007)
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes (1996)
Martha and Skits by Susan Meddaugh (2000)
Martha Blah Blah by Susan Meddaugh (1996)
Martha Calling by Susan Meddaugh (1994)
Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh (1992)
Martha Walks the Dog by Susan Meddaugh (1998)
Micawber by John Lithgow (2002)
Michael Recycle Meets Litterbug Doug by Ellie Bethel (2009)
Mihalia Mouse Goes To College by John Lithgow (2007)
Mind Your Manners B. B. Wolf by Judy Sierra (2007)
Move! By Steve Jenkins and Robin Page (2006)
Mr. Murray And Thumbkin by Karma Wilson (2004)
Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! By Candace Fleming (2002)
Never, Ever Shout In A Zoo by Karma Wilson (2004)
Noises At Night by Beth Raisner Glass and Susan Lubner (2005)
My Life As A Chicken by Ellen A. Kelley (2007)
One Watermelon Seed by Celia Barker Lottridge (2008)
Perfectly Martha by Susan Meddaugh (2004)
Pirate Pete’s Talk Like A Pirate by Kim Kennedy (2007)
Princess Me by Karma Wilson (2007)
Room On The Broom by Julia Donaldson (2001)
Sleep, Black Bear Sleep by Jane Yolen (2007)
Someday by Eileen Spinelli (2007)
The Dog Who Could Dig by Jonathan Long (1992)
The Flower Ball by Sigrid Laube (2005)
The King’s Taster by Kenneth Oppel (2008)
The Knight Who Was Afraid Of The Dark by Barbara Shook Hazen (1989)
The Pirates Of Captain McKee by Julie Lawson (1996)
The Red Shoes by Eleri Glass (2008)
The Remarkable Farkle McBride by John Lithgow (2000)
The Magic Paintbrush by Julia Donaldson (2003)
Thesaurus Rex by Laya Steinberg (2005)
Things That Are Most In The World by Judi Barrett (1998)
Today I Feel Silly And Other Moods That Make My Day by Jamie Lee Curtis (1998)
What Will I Be? By Dawne Allette (2006)
Wild About Books by Judy Sierra (2004)
You See A Circus, I See… by Mike Downs (2005)
Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss (1995)
47 Beavers On The Big Blue Sea by Phil Vischer (2006) Narrative Skills
The books in this category are filled with wonderful stories. Each book follows a narrative structure which conveys a clear beginning, middle and end. Often the characters in the stories are faced with a problem which they must somehow resolve. A Pocket For Corduroy by Don Freeman (1978)
A Very Unusual Dog by Dorothy Joan Harris (2004)
Amos’s Sweater by Janet Lunn (1988)
Bagels From Benny by Aubrey Davis (2003)
Baghead by Jarrett J. Krosocz (2002)
Best Cow In Show by Andy Cutbill (2009)
Best Friends by K.T. Hao (2007)
Big Sarah’s Little Boots by Paulette Bourgeois (1987)
Bread And Jam For Frances by Lillian Hoban (1964)
Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin (2000)
Clifford Goes To Dog School by Norman Bridwell (2002)
Cookie’s Week by Cindy Ward (1988)
Corduroy by Don Freeman (1968)
Crictor by Tomi Ungerer (1958)
Curious George And The Birthday Surprise by H.A. and Margaret Rey (2003)
Curious George Visits A Toy Store by H.A. and Margaret Rey (2002)
Dog Breath! The Horrible Terrible Trouble With Hally Tosis by Dav Pilky (1994)
Duck On A Bike by David Shannon (2002)
Fred Stays With Me! By Nancy Coffelt (2007)
George And Martha, The Complete Stories Of Two Best Friends by James Marshall (1997)
Goldilocks And The Three Bears retold by Candice Ransom (2002)
Harry The Dirty Dog by Gene Zion (1956)
Hero Cat by Eileen Spinelli (2006)
How To Catch A Star by Oliver Jeffers (2004)
I Want My Light On! By Tony Ross (2007)
Imogene’s Antlers by David Small (1985)
It’s A George Thing by David Bedford (2008)
Jack And The Beanstalk by Carol Ottolenghi (2002)
Josephine Wants To Dance by Jackie French (2006)
Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes (2004)
Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! By Kyle Mewburn (2006)
Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen (2006)
Little Red Riding Hood retold by Candice Ransom (2002)
Lost And Found by Oliver Jeffers (2005)
Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McClosky (1941)
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans (1939)
Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton (1967)
Mole’s In Love by David Bedford (2009)
No Roses For Harry by Gene Zion (1958)
Not So Loud Oliver by Tony Maddox (2003)
Omar On Board by Maryann Kovalski (2005)
Once There Was A Christmas Tree by Jerry Smath (2005)
One Winter’s Day by M. Christina Butler (2006)
Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann (2006)
Roger The Jolly Pirate by Brett Helquist (2007)
Rosie To The Rescue by Bethany Roberts (2003)
Sammy Salami by Jerry Smath (2007)
Sammy And The Dinosaurs by Ian Whybrow (1999)
Sheila Rae, The Brave by Kevin Henkes (1987)
Stanley’s Party by Linda Bailey (2003)
Stick Man by Julia Donaldson (2008)
Take Care Good Knight by Shelley Moore Thomas (2006)
That’s Hockey by David Bouchard (2002)
The Bears We Know by Brenda Silsbe (2009)
The Best Pet Of All by David LaRochelle (2004)
The Biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll (2005)
The Cow That Laid An Egg by Andy Cutbill (2006)
The End by David LaRochelle (2007)
The Enormous Potato retold by Aubrey Davis (1999)
The Fox And The Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson (2006)
The Gingerbread Man retold by Catherine McCafferty (2002)
The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst (2006)
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson (1999)
The Gruffalo’s Child by Julia Donaldson (2004)
The Gulps by Rosemary Wells (2007)
The Hippo-Not-Amus by Tony and Jan Payne (2003)
The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier (1979)
The Little Red Hen retold by Carol Ottolenghi (2002)
The Mitten, A Ukrainian Folktale by Jan Brett (1989)
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister (1992)
The Smartest Giant In Town by Julia Donaldson (2002)
The Snail And The Whale by Julia Donaldson (2003)
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (1962)
The Stray Dog by Marc Simont (2001)
The Subway Mouse by Barbara Reid (2005)
The Three Bears’ Christmas by Kathy Duval (2005)
The Three Bears’ Halloween by Kathy Duval (2007)
The Three Little Pigs retold by Patricia Seibert (2002)
The Two Sillies by Mary Ann Hoberman (2000)
The Wolf’s Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza (1987)
Walter The Farting Dog by William Kotzwinkle (2001)
What Pet To Get by Emma Dodd (2006)
When Dinosaurs Came With Everything by Elise Broach (2007)