Ahoy there, matey! Be yer little one seekin’ books o’ adventure, booty, and excitement? Yaaarrrrr! Set sail on gripping voyages, discover hidden treasures, and learn to talk like a pirate with these captivating books that introduce young readers to a thrilling world of adventure. With engaging illustrations and endearing characters, your child (and you) will enjoy from cover to cover.
How to Be a Pirate by Isaac Fitzgerald and Illustrated by Brigette Barragar
Cece would love to be a pirate. When the boys on the playground tell her she can’t, she asks her Grandpa what it takes to be a real pirate. Grandpa teaches Cece valuable life lessons that build her confidence to be a pirate. It is a beautiful and sweet book, focusing on the positive characteristics pirates share.
How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long and Illustrated by David Shannon
When Jeremy Jacobs goes to the beach with his parents, he happens upon a pirate ship coming in from the sea. While his parents are preoccupied tending to his younger sister and hoisting the beach umbrella, Jeremy throws caution to the wind and joins Captain Braid Beard and his buccaneers. Jeremy quickly learns the ways of the pirates–language, throwing manners to the wind and even gets to play a mighty game of soccer. Will Jeremy adopt this lifestyle or long for his old life with his parents?
Give Me Back My Bones by Kim Norman and Illustrated by Bob Kolar
Learn the names of individual skeletal bones in this fun picture book! In Give Me Back My Bones, a silly pirate skeleton seeks to reunite their bones at the bottom of the sea. With silly poems on each page, help locate the skeleton’s bones to resume the pirate business. This amusing book is perfect for a preschool unit on body parts. Learn the anatomical names of skeleton bones with this playful picture book.
Pirate Chicken: All Hens on Deck by Brian Yanish
Illustrated by Jess Pauwels
Lily is unlike the other chickens; while they roosted, she read; when they pecked, she plotted. Lily dreams of seeing the world, and when pirates capture the chickens, she seizes this opportunity. Quickly adapting to life on the ship, is pirate life the life for Lily? This silly book is reminiscent of Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin’s Click Clack Moo series, and readers will delight in the antics of these quirky chickens! I particularly love the detailed illustrations, including the expressions on the chicken faces and chalkboard drawings explaining Piracy 101.
The Pirates Are Coming by John Condon and Illustrated by Matt Hunt
This is an adorable retelling of the classic story of the boy who called wolf. Tom spends his day on the lookout for pirate ships. Sitting high on a hill, he warns the village of the pirate’s forthcoming arrival, but they fail to show. Will the villagers believe it when pirates do come? I loved the ending; it wasn’t what I had anticipated! It’s an excellent and non-scary pirate book.
Pirates Love Underpants by Claire Freedman & Ben Cort
Enjoy this hilarious tale of pirates seeking the ultimate treasure–pants of gold! Grownups and kids will delight in all the references to underwear and pirate lingo. A great read-aloud, giggles will abound with the silliness that pairs with underwear. It is an excellent pirate book for preschool!
Thank you!
Thanks for stopping by! To keep with the sea-themed storytime, check out these great fish books!
Happy Reading!
XO, Sheryl
Jan Brett
I recently visited the Jan Brett: Stories Near and Far exhibit at the Albany Institute of History and Art. Jan Brett is a phenomenal children’s book author and illustrator. There are over 44 million copies of Ms. Brett’s work in print worldwide. I have loved Ms. Brett’s work since I was a young child. I remember first hearing The Mitten read at my public library’s storytime. In the kid-lit world, Jan Brett’s book The Mitten is synonymous with winter. Come December-January, many preschool or kindergarten classrooms, libraries, and bookstores feature The Mitten in some activity or display.
Jan Brett Exhibit
The exhibit Jan Brett: Stories Near and Far is currently on loan from the Norman Rockwell Museum. This fascinating exhibit showcases Ms. Brett’s illustrations from her extensive career. The show features original, vibrant watercolor illustrations from ten of Brett’s titles and souvenirs from her travels featured in her work.
World Traveler
Throughout the displayed pieces, animals and world cultures play a prominent role. Each book is rich with cultural elements of the country in which the book is set. From the gorgeous chickens dressed in fancy 18th-century Russian formal wear in Cinders, a Chicken Cinderella to the Inuit-styled sleds in The Three Snow Bears it is fascinating to see how Brett weaves her research into her illustrations. For each book, Ms. Brett extensively studied the setting’s art, architecture, and traditions, often traveling to the destination.
Reading Jan Brett’s books is a treat. When reading a Jan Brett book, you can travel the world from your couch! The books feature at least fourteen countries and many American states.
Animal Lover
Jan Brett is a big-time animal lover, and animals are prominent throughout her work. After reading Beatrix Potter’s Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle as a young girl, Brett fell in love with hedgehogs. Hedgehogs frequently appear throughout her work. At the exhibition, there was a hedgehog scavenger hunt for kids! In the exhibit, I lost track; there were so many!! The animals that Brett paints are truly exquisite. I love the details in the color and the tiny lines painted on the animals that give texture to the fur and feathers.
My Favorites
I have read many of Jan Brett’s titles, but not all. My favorite titles by Jan Brett include Mossy, The Mermaid, and The Mitten. The book Mossy is gorgeous!!! It is a tale of an eastern box turtle with a magnificent moss garden growing on her shell. A naturalist takes notice of her unique beauty and displaces Mossy from her home at Lilypad Pond. The Mermaid is also an exceptionally beautiful book, and tells an under-the-sea Goldilocks that takes place off the Japanese coast.
If you get the chance to pick up a Jan Brett book, I highly recommend it. There is much to discover when you admire the illustrations. Look out for the predictive images on the perimeter of the pages, original stories, and fresh retelling of classic tales. This exhibit was a real treat!
I would love to hear your thoughts about the show or these titles! Please post on Instagram and tag me @playgroundlibrarian or on the Playground Librarian page on Facebook!
XO, Sheryl
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There is nothing like a storytime filled with giggles. One of the fastest ways to gauge read-aloud engagement is if you hear laughter at storytime. Choosing funny books is a surefire way to get kids excited about reading, to be active listeners, and get invested in reading more. Books with funny pictures and silly language are enjoyable for the reader and the audience. There is a lot of truth to the adage “laughter is the best medicine.” A funny story makes us feel good. Laughter helps reduce tension and stress, release endorphins, and provide a great bonding experience for both the reader and listener.
*This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you
Blue Hat, Green Hat
Written by Sandra Boynton
Published by Boynton Bookworks
Ages: Baby+
Elephant, Bear, and Moose are all trying on different colored clothes. Turkey tries too, but does so in his way! Oops! This playful book introduces readers to concepts like colors and clothing in a way that will surely bring about giggles! This book has few words, so don’t be surprised if your child memorizes the book. Memorizing a favorite book is a common early literacy skill. When reading the book, point to the word ‘oops,’ and the child can say it. This is a great way to make a word-sound connection.
This book significantly adds to a school or public library’s 400s (language) section. With the simple language, this is an excellent resource for introducing color and clothing vocab to budding language learners.
Tags: Board Books, Animal Humor
That Is Not A Good Idea!
Written by Mo Willems
Published by Balzer + Bray
Ages 3+
A hungry Fox, out for a walk, meets a goose and extends a dinner invitation. Will dinner go as planned? This clever book is full of surprises. If you read this book aloud, it is fun to pause and ask, “is this a good idea?”
This book is illustrated to be reminiscent of an old-timey- silent movie–the words are arranged to look like silent movie cards. I can almost hear the clicking of the projector in my mind!
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
By Mo Willems
Published by Balzer + Bray
Ages 3+
We all know the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears; well, what if instead of bears, Goldilocks wanders into the home of DINOSAURS?! This super funny, unpredictable retelling of the classic fairy tale will amuse kids and adults and leave you in the mood for chocolate pudding.
This book appeals to multiple generations, recounting a traditional tale and adding a surprising, witty twist.
Extension activity: If you were to write a Goldilocks story, what parts of the original story would you change to make it your own? Would it be Golidlocks and the Three Martians? Or, perhaps, Goldilocks and the three sharks? How can you take a classic story (like a fairytale) and change it to make it your own? Please share your creation with me on Instagram @playgroundlibrarian, I would love to read it!
Tags: Fractured Fairy Tale, Dinosaurs, Goldilocks
Pete’s A Pizza
by William Steig
Published by HarperFestival
Ages 2+
We have all had days when we have been disappointed when rain cancels our plans. Pete is no different. Pete is in a bad mood when it rains and he can’t go out to play with his friends. To cheer him up, his parents decide to….make him into a pizza? From the author of Shrek, William Steig, this silly playful book reminds us to make the best with what we’ve got.
Tags: Disappointment, Family Time, Rain, Positive outlook
Mother Bruce
by Ryan Higgins
Published by Disney-Hyperion
Ages 3+
Bruce the Bear is a grump. He is a foodie and likes things to be a certain way. His way. One day he is in for a huge surprise when he goes to the market to buy eggs for his omelet….when the eggs suddenly hatch, a gaggle of goslings thinks that BRUCE is their MOTHER! Uh oh! How will Bruce react?
This book is the first in a series and will be pleasing to both kids and grown-ups!
Tags: Animals, Foodie, Bears, Birds
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Published by HarperCollins
Ages 7+
This classic, whimsical collection of poetry and drawings will surely bring giggles. The ink drawings are full of clever details that are sometimes integrated into the poems themselves, such as in the concrete poem, “Running Giraffe” where the words stretch to look like a giraffe’s neck. Though many poems are silly with unexpected verses and made-up words (I dare you not to laugh!), others, such as “Magic” are heartwarming and inspirational.
These fun poems can be read together or selected individually to align with a storytime theme.
Tags: Humor, Poetry, ink drawings
Truck Full of Ducks
by Ross Burach
Published by Scholastic
Ages 3+
This is a silly story about Bernie’s truck service that delivers ducks. Hilarity ensues when one of the ducks in the truck EATS the directions to their destination. On their journey, the ducks meet lots of people waiting on deliveries, will the ducks find where they are supposed to go? Truck Full of Ducks is full of repetitive words and comical illustrations, making this book a winner for any storytime. The pictures are full of details that will arouse some laughs (duck walking out of the bathroom with toilet paper on his webbed foot).
Great segue for bathtime!
Note: be sure to read the captions on the pictures for extra funny details that are outstanding and full of humor, from the captions on the drawings to the expressive facial features.
Tags: Humor, Rhymes, Repetitive Language, Animal Humor
Happy reading!
XO, Sheryl
Kids love learning about space, so start early by reading these fun books that will inspire curiosity in young readers!
*This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you
Mae Among the Stars
Written by Roda Ahmed
Illustrated by Stasia Burrington
Published by Scholastic
Age 4+
Mae dreams of seeing Earth from space. There are so many obstacles in her way, space is far away, and she has so much to learn. With her parent’s support, Mae knows, “If you dream it, believe in it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.” This beautiful picture book is a wonderful introduction to the life of Mae Jemison, an American engineer, physician, and most famously, the first black woman to travel in space. Mae Among the Stars alludes to the challenges Dr. Jemison faced and overcame to pursue her dreams. This book inspires one to ask, “what are your dreams” and know that anything is possible.
Exploring Space: Astronauts
Written by Colleen Sexton
Published by Bellwether Media
Age 5+
Have you ever wanted to be an astronaut? This book introduces readers to what it takes to soar into space. The photographs show the intense training (three years!) astronauts undergo. Future astronauts will be excited to learn that each astronaut plays different roles on a mission; everyone has a unique job to do! Furthermore, the book includes what life is like up in space.
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Space
Written by Catherine D. Hughes
Illustrated by David A. Aguilar
Published by National Geographic
Ages 3+
An excellent introduction to space for preschool and elementary-age kids. The book is filled with colorful art and photography kids will gravitate to (pun intended). This is a great reference book that will be picked up repeatedly to answer your child’s millions of questions. I love the fact boxes that sprinkle the page that have neat facts. This book is a first purchase for your home or classroom library.
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race
Written by Margot Shetterly
Illustrated by Laura Freeman
Published by HarperCollins
Ages 6+
Based on the New York Times Bestselling book, this beautifully illustrated nonfiction picture book recounts how Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, four African American women scientists worked hard to overcome racism and sexism to help launch astronauts into space.
This book is essential to any classroom, school, or public library. It can be tied into countless lessons, including Engineering, Women’s History, African American History Month, SEL (social, emotional learning) on persistence and collaboration, and nonfiction book features (check out the great timeline in the book).
This book demonstrates that hard work and perseverance can make dreams come true.
If You Had Your Birthday On the Moon
Written by Joyce Lapin
Illustrated by Simona Ceccarelli
Published by Union Square Kids
Ages: 4+
This fun nonfiction book invites readers to imagine what celebrating a birthday on the moon would be like. Lapin introduces readers to historical and scientific facts about the moon and gravity in an engaging, relatable, kid way. For example, Lapin explains that there is no need for a bounce house on the moon, as the lack of gravity would stimulate that sensation.
Cool fact: your birthday would last MUCH longer on the moon than on Earth, because it takes the moon much longer to rotate. Who wouldn’t want their birthday on the moon?
Class Activity Idea: How would your birthday be the same/different on the moon? Use this FREE-lined Venn diagram template I created to compare and contrast. I would love to see what you come up with! Please share it with me on IG @playgroundlibrarian.
Fiction
How to Catch a Star
Written and Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Philomel Books
Ages 3+
Once there was a boy who loved stars very much. One day, he decides he will catch one of his very own. The book recounts how the boy achieves his quest. This is a sweet whimsical tale of a young child chasing his dreams. Jeffers’s illustrations are beautiful; the watercolors are very soothing–perfect for a bedtime story. What most appeals to me in the artwork are the stars–no two stars are identically shaped, nor are the sides equal. Readers who have ever drawn stars can relate to the ones created by Jeffers, just as they may make the connection of seeking a goal others may perceive as unattainable. This book encourages readers to dream, and demonstrates that if you persevere you can make your dreams come true.
Happy Reading!
XO, Sheryl
Living in upstate New York, autumn is the most breathtaking season. Looking at the tree outside my front door, each leaf is multicolored! It is truly spectacular. The temperature is crisp and perfect for trips to the playground!
Here are some great books to get you (and your kids) in the fall frame of mind!
*This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you
Lois Ehlert Classics
I love Lois Ehlert’s books! Ehlert is known for her colorful illustrations, incorporating multiple forms of media, including fabric, leaves, or buttons. You may be familiar with Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, which she illustrated. Leaf Man and Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf are two autumnal-themed classics that are treasures to behold.
Published by Harcourt
Age 3+
Leaf Man is the story of a group of leaves that “go where the wind blows.”
In the book, the leaves travel east, over the fields, above the orchard, forming shapes akin to what is around them (such as a turkey). Ehlert uses leaves to create these shapes and tell the story. One fun feature of the book is the die-cut shape of the pages that illustrate the setting, i.e., soft curves of the marsh and sharp angles of the orchard; like looking at the sky and seeing shapes, Ehlert crafts the leaves into different animals. The endpapers are noteworthy as they offer a visual guide for identifying leaves you might find in your neighborhood.
A fun way to help kids connect with this book is to take a nature walk and collect exciting leaves. Afterward, have fun arranging the leaves for different animals. Once the animals are in place, glue them to bright-colored construction paper to preserve the masterpiece!
Tags: Trees, leaves, shapes, collages, die cut, autumn, farm, prepositions, land types
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Ages 3+
Lois Ehlert incorporates watercolor, wire, and seeds to create a vibrant book showing readers how seedlings grow into beautiful maple trees. The book is told in the voice of a young child and expresses their love and connection to the tree, reminiscent of Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree.
The pictures and writing show how the child shows love toward the tree (peeking out before bed every night and sharing treats with the birds). In addition, readers will learn how trees change over a year. The end of the book includes a glossary about parts of the tree and gives information about how to plant a tree of one’s own.
Tags: Fall, Spring, Trees, Earth Day, Parts of a Tree, Planting, Seasons
Summer Green to Autumn Gold: Uncovering Leaves Hidden Colors
Written by Mia Posada
Published by Millbrook Press ™
Ages 5+
Have you ever wondered why leaves change colors? Or why are the leaves on some trees different colors than the leaves on other trees? Mia Posada’s Summer Green to Autumn Gold is a beautiful nonfiction picture book that explains the scientific process of how the luscious green summer leaves transform into a vibrant rainbow of autumn colors.
Readers will gravitate toward the colorful watercolor and paper collage illustrations. Posada also explains why some trees, such as evergreen, do not change colors. In addition, the book includes excellent examples of nonfiction text features, such as captions, a glossary, and resources for hands-on experiments.
The book provides an age-appropriate, in-depth explanation of the cellular transformations that occur within a leaf during its life cycles.
Leaf Jumpers
Written by Carole Gerber and Illustrated by Leslie Evans
Published by Charlesbridge
Age 3+
When my daughter was younger, her favorite thing to do was make leaf piles. We would visit playgrounds, and instead of going on the slide or swings, she found pleasure in picking up the leaves and putting them in a pile. Why? So she could jump in, of course!
Leaf Jumpers captures this fun tradition in its short and sweet poetic text. This book is fun for an ordinary read-aloud OR invite the kids to act out leaves shaking in the wind, “flutter through the air,” or pretend to rake. Leaf Jumpers is a fun book to inspire interpretive dance and get kids moving during storytime.
Fun extension activity: In the book, illustrations identify what tree typical leaves found in North America belong to. With a grown-up, go for a walk around your neighborhood and find intact leaves. Try and determine what type of tree they came from by comparing the leaf with the illustration in the book.
Tags: Movement, Leaves, Poem
Scarecrow
Written by Beth Ferry and Illustrated by Eric Fan & Terry Fan
Published by HarperCollins
Ages 4+
The book Scarecrow is a rhythmic tale of the unlikely friendship between Scarecrow and a lost baby crow. Scarecrow works all year tirelessly, weathering the seasons, never faltering in his commitment to protecting the crops. Ferry’s Scarecrow makes a beautiful read-aloud and will draw readers to the charming colored pencil detailed illustrations. The fable-like tale exemplifies the core values of loyalty and the value of being a good friend.
Tags: Friendship, animals, birds, seasons, loyalty, Rhyme
Fletcher and the Falling Leaves
Written by Julia Rawlinson and Illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke
Published by Greenwillow Books
Ages 3+
In the book Fletcher and the Falling Leaves, Fletcher, a fox, is concerned when his favorite tree starts to lose leaves. He discovers change comes with beauty. Rawlinson’s writing sprinkles adjectives throughout the book. Fletcher and the Falling Leaves would be a terrific mentor text for teaching adjectives.
With the start of school, there are many changes, summer turns into autumn, and days become shorter and more structured. Ask the child what changes they may be experiencing and how they are feeling, and discuss how we can make the transition easier.
Tags: Change, Seasons, Leaves, Resilience, Transitions
Frederick
by Leo Lionni
Published by Dragonfly Books
Ages 4+
Frederick is a Caldecott Honor-winning book, an annual award for outstanding picture book illustrations by the American Library Association. It was written and illustrated by Leo Lionni. Frederick was first published in 1967 and has been a beloved classic.
It is summer, and Frederick and his family of field mice live inside a stone wall and must prepare for winter. As the rest of Frederick’s family gathers straw, wheat, and nuts for the forthcoming season, Frederick spends his time collecting sun rays and colors for the bleak winter days.
Is Frederick pulling his share? Will stockpiling such intangible items prove as practical and shareable as food? Read the book and find out! Lionni’s gorgeous collage illustrations are a treat for the eyes.
Tags: Mindfulness, Preparation, Seasons, Mice, Community Helper, Family,
Happy Reading!
Xo, Sheryl
I love apple picking! As soon as October rolls around, I am checking out the websites of my favorite orchards to find out when my favorite breed of apple is ready for harvest. The crisp cool air, sweet smell of apples, and culinary ideas swirling through my mind. The beginning of fall. I am so grateful to live in Upstate New York, where there are orchards twenty minutes in every direction from my home. Here are some books to get you into the apple mindset.
*This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Apples by Gail Gibbons
Ages 3+
Gail Gibbons writes excellent nonfiction books for early readers, and now she has started writing board books for our youngest readers. This is a perfect introduction to the annual cycle of the apple tree. The board book is an excellent preschool book about apples.
If reading with older children, check out the unabridged version of Gail Gibbon’s Apples. This edition contains information about the history of apples, how to plant and care for an apple tree, and more.
Tags: Apples, lifecycle, pie, farming,
Ten Apples Up On Top by Theo LeSieg
Ages 2+
Lion, tiger, and dog try to see how many apples they can balance on top of their head while they do their daily fun. Will they let the apples fall? This is a fun counting book with Seussical charm. This book is silly and leaves you in suspense at the end of each page. Will they let the apples drop?
Every apple season, I have fun reading this book with my daughters after we go apple picking. I started taking annual pictures, measuring them in apples. This is a fun extension activity to the book, as it involves counting, measuring, and comparing previous measurements. Apples are not the most accurate measuring tool as each varies in size (my oldest remained the same amount of “apples tall” from one year to the next).
Fun fact: Theo LeSieg is one pseudonym of Theodore Giesel, better known as Dr. Seuss. LeSieg is Giesel spelled backward. Seuss was Mr. Giesel’s middle name. Giesel never earned a medical license or doctorate; he “adopted” that title to please his father, who always wanted him to become a doctor.
Tags: Apples, Animals, Counting
Apples for Everyone Written by Jill Esbaum
Ages 3+
Apples for Everyone is a beautiful informational text that introduces readers to all things apples, including the annual tree cycle, types of apples, Johnny Appleseed, and more.
The National Geographic photographs provide vivid visuals detailing how apples develop and how they are present in our lives. The language in the book is simple and accessible for younger readers.
Tags: Informational text, apples, Johnny Appleseed, Trees, Farms, Orchards
Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins
Ages 3+
The farmer watches the number of apples on his tree as the animals help themselves to a tasty treat. Will the farmer get a chance to try a yummy apple? Kids will have fun with the animal sounds and predictable, repetitive language. Reading tip: While reading, point to the words as you read it, and invite your companion to make appropriate animal sounds and together say “yippee, fiddle-dee-fee!’ Pointing to the terms while reading, them building phonetical awareness of the sound they hear and the letter they see on the page.
Ten Red Apples is a sweet introduction to the concept of subtraction. Find ten apples or colorful pom poms to make a real-world connection with this book. Together, chant “ten apples hanging on the tree, yippee fiddle fee” __________(name of child) “came and ate one. Save some for me!”
Johnny Appleseed written by Jodie Shepherd Illustrated by Masumi Furukawa
Ages 3+
An uplifting folktale of Johnny Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. Johnny Appleseed by Jodie Shepherd highlights the life story of Johnny Appleseed. From early childhood and throughout his life, Johnny Appleseed planted thousands of apple trees to help people grow food during westward expansion.
I love how this book shows how Johnny Appleseed relates to contemporary children, playing with his siblings, enjoying the outdoors, reading under a tree, or helping a hurt animal. Readers can identify with Johnny and may realize that they, too, can contribute to the world through small acts of kindness.
Tags: Helper, Apples, Tree, Planting, Kindness, folktale Westward exapansion
Happy reading!
Xo,
Sheryl