6. Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Out for a ride on her broomstick with her cat, a friendly witch agrees to let a dog, bird, and frog all hitch a ride. Her kindness is rewarded when her animal friends team up to save her from a hungry dragon. Cleverly rhymed and perfectly paced, Room on the Broom is one of those books you won’t mind reading over and over.
7. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak
When a young raccoon struggles to say goodbye to his Mommy at school, the mother kisses his hand so he can take her love with him wherever he goes. This tender story, with its clever balm for separation anxiety, will help both you and your child during rocky times.
8. Knuffle Bunny, Too by Mo Willems
Trixie is so excited to share her new stuffed bunny at Pre-K until a classmate shows up with the exact same stuffed animal, spoiling the moment. Their teacher confiscates the bunnies from the squabbling girls until the end of the school day, causing an accidental mix-up that won’t be resolved until 2:30 a.m. by some very tired daddies and determined little girls.
9. Olivia by Ian Falconer
A strong-willed piggie named Olivia really wears her parents out, but they love her anyway. Sound familiar? Kids will get a kick out of seeing Olivia try on every outfit in her closet, resist her nap, and get a time-out for painting on the walls (forgive her, she was only trying to copy the Jackson Pollack at the museum!).
10. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Harold’s big imagination and trusty purple crayon allow him to draw his own adventure and find his way out of danger. For instance, when his drawing hand shakes, a wiggly line becomes ocean waves, so he must quickly sketch a sailboat and climb aboard. This timeless classic, written more than 60 years ago, is captivatingly original and may lead to some cool artwork, so keep your crayons handy.
