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Actual Size

Actual Size

By Steve Jenkins 28 pages Children

Danny Says

I have featured a number of books by Steve Jenkins (and his frequent collaborator, Robin Page) in my book talks around the country, and I did not realize that I had never featured him in a single lazy readers’ pick. He is one of my favorite children’s authors, as his books always include wonderful illustrations that educate students on a wide array of subjects, from animals to geography. This book is great because it features illustrations of the actual size of different animals’ claws, wings, etc. Kids love comparing the size of their hands and fingers to the pictures. Lots of fun!
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First Day Jitters

First Day Jitters

By Julie Danneberg 32 pages Children

Danny Says

Every teacher needs to buy this book. A wonderful read-aloud for students to enjoy about Sarah Jane Hartwell’s reluctance to get out of bed and go to school for the first day. The illustrations by Judith Dufour Love brilliantly hide Sarah until the very end, when we learn that she is not a new student but a new teacher. Kids really get a kick out of this book. 
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Kindness Is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler

Kindness Is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler

By Margery Cuyler 48 pages Children

Danny Says

Margery Cuyler has written a number of wonderful children’s books, and I love this one for a variety of reasons. First, her characters have names like Raquelita and Tawana to go along with David (too many children’s books lack the diversity I see in our schools). Second, Sachiko Yoshikawa’s colorful illustrations are vibrant. Most importantly, the book shows kids the importance of kindness and even offers child readers 100 suggestions for random acts of kindness that they can perform.
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I Went to the Party in Kalamazoo

I Went to the Party in Kalamazoo

By Ed Shankman 40 pages Children

Danny Says

I am on an illustration kick this month, as I love Dave Frank’s illustrations (they sort of reminded me of the illustrations for The Beatles's Yellow Submarine) in this fun rhyme that reads like a Dr. Seuss book. Animals, balloons and geographical references spun in a humorous rhyme – all of the elements I like in my read alouds with kids.
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My Big Rig

My Big Rig

By Jonathan London 50 pages Children

Danny Says

Frustrated parents, please take heart: my 2-year-old son rarely pays attention to my read alouds. He does, however, love this cute little picture book about a boy imagining he drives a truck cross country (maybe it is because I add my own truck sound effects). Viviana Garofoli’s pictures captivate while London’s simple story about a boy imagining at play is sure to entice young boys who find it difficult to sit still and pay attention to most books.
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The Grapes Of Math

The Grapes Of Math

By Greg Tang 40 pages Children

Danny Says

I have been recommending Tang’s wonderful books of math riddles for years, and I could not believe it when somebody pointed out that I had never placed any of his books on my Lazy Reader lists. I greatly apologize for the oversight, as Greg Tang is one of those wonderful authors who gets students who are good at math more interested in reading, and students who are good at reading become more interested in math. I use Greg Tang’s books all the time (you should also check out his wonderful book Math-terpieces).
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Yum! Yuck!

Yum! Yuck!

By Linda Sue Park & Julia Durango 36 pages Children

Danny Says

I love books that teach kids a variety of languages, and this one demonstrates how people make different expressions in languages from Danish to Farsi. Little kids love listening to this book read aloud. 
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The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker

By Susan Jeffers 40 pages Children

Danny Says

Jeffers is a wonderful illustrator, and this beautiful book would make a great holiday gift (yes, that is just around the corner; haven’t you been to Costco lately?). One of my favorite memories as an elementary school teacher was watching the enchantment on my students’ faces as I introduced them to Tchaikovsky’s wonderful ballet. This is a mandatory purchase.
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Adventures of the Sky Kids

Adventures of the Sky Kids

By Keven J. Christopherson 58 pages Children

Danny Says

Subtitled “Lost Treasure of Kolob Canyon,” this is a really easy chapter book that boys seem especially drawn to, as it deals with camping, lost treasures and Indians. This reminded me of the simple books I read when I was a cub scout growing up. Why aren’t there more books like this nowadays? I guess I am starting to sound like a reminiscent curmudgeon.
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Pinkalicious

Pinkalicious

By Victoria Kann,Elizabeth Kann 40 pages Children

Danny Says

. I have a daughter who turns four this month, and she loves anything to do with princesses and the color pink. She loves this book about a girl who eats so many pink cupcakes that she turns pink. The only cure is to eat her vegetables. This is one of the most popular books that I read aloud to students right now. A MUST purchase.
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The Alphabet from A to Y With Bonus Letter Z!

The Alphabet from A to Y With Bonus Letter Z!

By Steve Martin,Roz Chast 64 pages Children

Danny Says

I began this month’s list with a Steve Martin recommendation, and I figured I might as well push one of his children’s books. In this delightful alphabet book with illustrations offered by one of my favorite New Yorker cartoonists, Roz Chast, Martin creates zany tongue twisters to entice young readers to learn each letter of the alphabet. Terrific fun that prompts kids to beg for repeated read alouds.
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Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

By Judi Barrett 32 pages Children

Danny Says

One of the most popular read alouds in any classroom or bedroom, Barrett’s delightful tale of the town of ChewandSwallow is sure to interest young children in a place where food literally falls from the sky. This should be in every home library.
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Eliza's Kindergarten Surprise

Eliza's Kindergarten Surprise

By Alice B. McGinty 34 pages Children

Danny Says

This is my four-year-old daughter’s current favorite book to read before bedtime (my wife and I always read at least five picture books before she and her brother go to sleep). A lovely story of a girl who finds different items in her school that remind her of her mother, and she constructs the items into a doll that she keeps in a pocket by her heart. A trick I use to keep my daughter interested in the story is by substituting her name (Kate) for the main character’s name (Eliza). Children tend to enjoy stories more when they read about characters with their names.
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Snoozers

Snoozers

By Sandra Boynton 18 pages Children

Danny Says

Maybe it is because I am a father of two young children, but I think Sandra Boynton is just about one of my favorite authors in the world. Her books are always wonderfully illustrated and filled with funny rhymes and mischief. I’d recommend any books Boynton writes (my children especially love Dinos to Go).
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Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy

Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy

By Matthew Reinhart 6 pages Children

Danny Says

Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda have redefined the pop-up book. Combine 40 pop-ups, Star Wars and tons of trivia and you get a book that every dad (or Star Wars geek) will treasure reading with his children. I know I do!
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