#earlyreaders

The Ugly Five
Description

'Morning had dawned on the African plain.
The lion lay grooming his glorious mane.
The kudu looked cool and the rhino looked fine.
The bright pink flamingos looked simply divine.
The zebra looked graceful; the leopard look great.
 

Oh what a picture of beauty - but wait!'

Who's that singing on the savannah?

The wildebeest, warthog, vulture, hyena and marabou stork swagger proudly across the savannah, rejoicing in their ugliness - and delighting their babies, who think they're perfect just the way they are.

Inspired by the real-life Ugly Five safari animals, this gorgeous picture book is a celebration of animals who are often rather unloved.

Author: Julia Donaldson Illustrator: Axel Scheffler AgeGroup: 3-5 Genre: Early Readers, Picture Books
The Baddies
Description

The Baddies are the meanest, nastiest ghost, witch and troll in the land. They just adore being bad, and fight over who is the worst. When a little girl moves into a nearby cottage, the Baddies can’t wait to scare her out of her wits. But baddies don’t always get their way ……

Author: Julia Donaldson Illustrator: Axel Scheffler AgeGroup: 3-5 Genre: Early Readers, Picture Books
Fry Bread
Description

Told in lively and powerful verse by debut author Kevin Noble Maillard, Fry Bread is an evocative depiction of a modern Native American family, vibrantly illustrated by Pura Belpre Award winner and Caldecott Honoree Juana Martinez-Neal.

Fry bread is food.
It is warm and delicious, piled high on a plate.

Fry bread is time.
It brings families together for meals and new memories.

Fry bread is nation.
It is shared by many, from coast to coast and beyond.

Fry bread is us.
It is a celebration of old and new, traditional and modern, similarity and difference.

Author: Kevin Noble Maillard Illustrator: Juana Martinez-Neal AgeGroup: 3-5 Genre: Early Readers, Picture Books
Each Kindness
Description

Each kindness makes the world a little better

This unforgettable book is written and illustrated by the award-winning team that created The Other Side and the Caldecott Honor winner Coming On Home Soon. With its powerful anti-bullying message and striking art, it will resonate with readers long after they've put it down.

Chloe and her friends won't play with the new girl, Maya. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her friends, they reject her. Eventually Maya stops coming to school. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship, and thinks about how much better it could have been if she'd shown a little kindness toward Maya.

Author: Jacqueline Woodson Illustrator: E. B. Lewis AgeGroup: 6-8 Genre: Early Readers, Fiction
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon
Description

Be yourself like Molly Lou Melon no matter what a bully may do.

Molly Lou Melon is short and clumsy, has buck teeth, and has a voice that sounds like a bullfrog being squeezed by a boa constrictor. She doesn't mind. Her grandmother has always told her to walk proud, smile big, and sing loud, and she takes that advice to heart.

But then Molly Lou has to start in a new school. A horrible bully picks on her on the very first day, but Molly Lou Melon knows just what to do about that.

Author: Patty Lovell Illustrator: David Catrow AgeGroup: 3-5 Genre: Early Readers, Picture Books
Our Class is a Family
Description

Teachers do so much more than just teach academics. They build a sense of community within their classrooms, creating a home away from home where they make their students feel safe, included, and loved.

With its heartfelt message and colorfully whimsical illustrations, “Our Class is a Family” is a book that will help build and strengthen that class community. Kids learn that their classroom is a place where it’s safe to be themselves, it’s okay to make mistakes, and it’s important to be a friend to others. When hearing this story being read aloud by their teacher, students are sure to feel like they are part of a special family.

Author: Shannon Olsen Illustrator: Sandie Sonke AgeGroup: 3-5 Genre: Early Readers, Picture Books
The Name Jar
Description

A heartwarming story about the new girl in school, and how she learns to appreciate her Korean name.

Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what happens when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious about fitting in. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she decides to choose an American name from a glass jar. But while Unhei thinks of being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, nothing feels right. With the help of a new friend, Unhei will learn that the best name is her own.

Author: Yangsook Choi Illustrator: Yangsook Choi AgeGroup: 6-8 Genre: Early Readers, Fiction, Picture Books
Those Shoes
Description

All Jeremy wants is a pair of those shoes, the ones everyone at school seems to be wearing. Though Jeremy’s grandma says they don’t have room for "want," just "need," when his old shoes fall apart at school, he is more determined than ever to have those shoes, even a thrift-shop pair that are much too small. But sore feet aren’t much fun, and Jeremy soon sees that the things he has — warm boots, a loving grandma, and the chance to help a friend — are worth more than the things he wants.

Author: Maribeth Boelts Illustrator: Noah Z. Jones AgeGroup: 3-5 Genre: Early Readers, Picture Books
What If We Were All The Same!
Description

Would you believe that being different is something to be celebrated? In What If We Were All The Same!, readers are transported to a world full of vibrant colors and characters that embrace our differences. From the bright red hair of one child to the wheelchair of another, no two people are the same! People are not the same, animals are different, and so is our food! Readers will learn that our world has variety and diversity; we all have unique qualities that make us special - no two people are the same, and that's something to be celebrated! We can be friends with many different people!

With fun rhymes and vivid illustrations, this book is a must-have for parents and teachers alike.

What If We Were All The Same! is fun-filled with rhymes and colorful illustrations. It brings attention to tough topics children can understand. Bonus discussion questions for teachers added.

Author: C M Harris Illustrator: Ashlynn Feather AgeGroup: 3-5 Genre: Early Readers, Picture Books