Valerie Kohler, owner of the Blue Willow Bookshop, hand picks books to foster the love of reading in children of all ages. For more of her faves, visit www.BlueWillowBookshop.com.
Baby/Toddler
Neon Leon by Jane Clarke
Illustrated by Britta Teckentrup
Leon the neon chameleon needs to find a place where he can fit in. This is a great read aloud that encourages audience participation. Such fun!
Something Smells by Blake Liliane Hellman
Illustrated by Steven Henry
Elliot has 2 problems: his mom won’t let him keep wearing his favorite costume and something stinks in his house! Laugh-out-loud funny, this is sure to become a favorite read-aloud story.
Two Problems for Sophia by Jim Averbeck and Yasmeen Ismail
Sophia finally has her One True Desire – her pet Giraffe, Noodle, but Noodle’s snoring keeps the whole family awake. Sophia solves the problem beautifully!
Emerging Readers:
What Will Fat Cat Sit On? by Jan Thomas
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Work your way through the barnyard as we discover what fat cat will sit on. (Fortunately, he finds a chair)
Ballet Cat What’s Your Favorite Favorite? By Bob Shea
Ballet Cat and Goat put on a ballet and magic show for Grandma, each hoping she’ll choose their act as her favorite. What’s Grandma to do?
Tweens:
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Scholastic Publishing September 2017
In this store favorite, three refugee stories, realistically told, help put a face and story to issues in the news of today.
The Penderwicks At Last by Jeanne Birdsall
Knopf for Young Readers July 2018
The Penderwicks family’s story is coming to an end. Read the whole series and fall in love with their adventures. A great read aloud for the family.
Teens:
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Harper Teen March 2018
Told in captivating verse, this story of a teen struggling to find her identity as a first generation American will steal your heart.
American Panda by Gloria Chao
Simon Pulse February 2018
Mei Lu heads to MIT to study premed, trying to live up to her parents’ expectations. It’s heartwarming and slyly funny.
