Classic novels/Caldecott books

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. Recommended for ages 9 and up. Set largely in a Paris train station, this novel tells the story of the orphaned Hugo Cabret. Abandoned by his uncle, Hugo lives in the hopes of one day uncovering the mystery of the mechanical figure that he believes holds a note from his father. Relying on his skills to slowly repair the figurine, Hugo uncovers a tale decades old. The illustrations in this novel are astounding, and often tell more about tale than the words do. This book may be good for struggling readers, because though it is quite large the words hold few pages and can be read very quickly. 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, recommended for ages 15 and up. Jane Eyre tells the story of a young orphan who is able to carve a life for herself through hard work and determination. She is able to secure herself the post of a governess for a wealthy gentleman by the name of Mr. Rochester, a man who holds a dark secret. This novel is a love story as well as a mystery, and though the wording can be somewhat difficult to work through, it is much easier than the wording of novels from a similar time. I would highly recommend this title to any high school students that are willing to put the effort into reading a novel from this time period, as it is an intriguing and compelling book. 

 A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka, recommended for ages 3 and up. This story-told entirely in pictures-tells the tale of Daisy, a little white dog whose favorite toy is her red ball. She goes to the park one day and finds a friend to play with, but unfortunately her ball gets destroyed. Daisy is very sad but learns a valuable lesson in the end. This is a great story to help imaginative children, as they can surmise the story without needing to know how to read. I would recommend it for every child.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Recommended for ages 12 and up. A story of good versus evil and the overwhelming need for dignity and justice, this novel speaks to readers of many ages. Having read it when I was in high school, I was amazed by the fact that it still elicited such a reaction from me. This book is an excellent piece of literature that teaches children about kindness and justice in a way they can relate to, as the narrator is only 8 years old. I would encourage anyone mature enough to understand the content to read this book, as there are certain pieces of it that I was able to better understand as an adult, as well as pieces that were unchanged from the time I was 15. 

Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell is a biography of famous environmentalist Jane Goodall. This story is recommended for ages 1 and up. There are few words on every page, but this heartwarming story tells the tale of how Jane knew that she wanted to live outside with the animals from the time she was young. This story teaches children the miracle of nature that happens around them every day, and that they can achieve their dreams-no matter how big. This book is beautifully written and illustrated and I would read it to any child who loves the outdoors and animals. 

The Lion and the Mouse, by Jerry Pinkney.This book is recommended for ages 1 and up, and is told entirely in pictures. Based on the fable by Aesop, it tells the tale of a lion who is kindhearted and spares the life of a mouse, and the favor is returned in kind when trouble arises. This is another title that helps children stretch their imaginations, and is a valuable lesson to learn at an early age-you never know where help is to be found, so be kind to all you meet. 

Jumanji by Chris Van Allsberg. Recommended for ages 6 and up. The story of Peter and Judy who are left home alone by their parents. The two find a board game that brings their imaginations to life-literally. The drawings are done beautifully, and they help to tell a part of the story just as much as the words do. As animals infest the household, children will become as enthralled as adults with Van Allsburg's intricate and enticing drawings. A great story for all ages. 

Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young. The seven blind mice-Red, Green, Yellow, Purple, Blue, Orange and White-discover a mysterious "something" and set out to discover exactly what it is. Though they each discover a part, only teamwork can tell them exactly what the parts mean. Recommended for ages 4 and up, this picture book is a fun and exciting tale that will keep children guessing. 

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Recommended for grades 8 and up. This classic tale of love and revenge was a surprisingly interesting and easy to read, once the lineage and names of characters became apparent. Though it is somewhat difficult to keep track at times (I found myself flipping back and forth a few times) overall the story is an engrossing read. I would recommend this story for older readers-tenth grade and up. Anyone younger may not be able to handle the storyline and wording. 

Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert, recommended for ages 3 and up. This picture book introduces children to colors and shapes as well as animals in a unique way. As the pages turn different faces appear and children can guess the names and shapes they see. This book is incredibly informative without being overwhelming. I highly suggest it for any child that is learning shapes, colors and animals.

Concept Titles

The Z was Zapped by Chris Van Allsburg. Recommended for ages 4 and up. This book is "a play in 26 acts" and contains one large picture of every letter of the alphabet undergoing a fate that matches its name ("The U was abruptly uprooted"). This would be a good title for children just learning the alphabet because it will create strong associations and new vocabulary. I highly enjoyed the illustrations and the story that was told through them.

Senses at the Seashore by Shelley Rotner. For ages 3 and up. "Senses at the Seashore" walks children through the five main senses, and how they may use them at the beach. Accompanied by full page photographs, this is a great book for any child who is learning about the senses, especially for Long Islanders in the summer!

Babar's ABC by Laurent De BrunhoffAge range 4-8 years. This basic ABC book gives children several examples of familiar words (airport, jungle, nest) with pictures of Babar the elephant. The sentences are very basic, which is good for those just starting to form sentences and learn their ABC's. 

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What do you hear? Written by Bill Martin Jr, illustrated by Eric Carle. Recommended for ages 2 and up. The classic picture book by Bill Martin Jr. teaches children about the animals that they would see in a zoo by introducing the noises that they make. This story is very good for children who are young enough to still be learning and imitating animals. The pictures are done in the typical Eric Carle style, very bright and imaginative. I found it to be a great book to read with my two-year old niece. 

Chicka Chicka 1,2,3 by Bill Martin Jr. For ages 3 and up. The sequel to "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" teaches children about numbers. As all the numbers one through 99 begin to climb a tree, children learn to count to twenty and then begin to count by tens. This is a great book for children who are learning to count to 100 because the rhyming keeps it from being too boring or repetitive. 

Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert. Ages 3 and up. This title, while beautifully illustrated, did not seem well suited for children who are still learning the alphabet. While some fruits are easily recognizable, others are difficult to recognize. The fact that there is no story also made it seem like it would not be ideal to hold the interests of children that are reading it. 

Dr. Seuss's ABC by Dr. Seuss. Recommended for ages 2 and up. Dr. Seuss's ABC is an amazing title that works simply because it is so absurd. His fantastic creatures walk children through the alphabet by giving them the letter and then different examples of how to use it. I would highly recommend this title to any parent teaching their child the alphabet, because it allows them to learn different ways to use the letters, and helps expand their imagination. 

Shape by Shape by Suse MacDonald. Ages 3 and up. This book is a great choice for children beginning to learn shapes. Overlapping pages form a face out of different shapes, from diamonds to semicircles-ending in a somewhat familiar face. It is short enough to keep children interested and interacting, and the cutouts on each page allow for kids to become very familiar with the shapes. 

Do Your ABC's Little Brown Bear by Jonathan London. Recommended for ages 3 and up. This book tales the story of Little Brown Bear, who spends the day reciting the alphabet with his father as they play. Every activity that they do corresponds to a letter and helps him get the practice he needs. This is also an excellent teaching tool, as every parent can help teach their child this way. As a bonus, every page holds an extra item that corresponds to the letter, which is a great way to reinforce the lesson.

Rhyming Words by Karen Bryant-Mole. An easy reader book, great for children who are just beginning to read. Mortimer introduces children to words that rhyme, and also has great exercises so that they can learn to sound out which words rhyme. This book is recommended for ages 4 and up.