Please click on any book to learn more about it!

Newborn

Black on White
Tana Hoban
Harper Collins Publishers (0-688119-18-2)
Share these familiar shapes with your baby. It is never too early to look and talk together!
Read to Your Bunny
Rosemary Wells
Scholastic Inc. (1999; 0-590302-84-1)
From bestselling author/illustrator Rosemary Wells comes a charming, rhyming story that children will want to hear again and again. An invitation for parents and children to read together every day, t…
Kite in the Park
Lucy Cousins
Candlewick Press (1992; 1-564020-31-2)
A wordless picture book on cloth pages featuring objects found in the park, including a tree, dog, and ball.
Welcome Baby! Baby Rhymes for Baby Times
Stephanie Calmenson
Harper Collins Publishers (2002; 0-688177-36-0)
From morning kisses to playing in the tub, celebrates the life and simple joys of toddlers as they go about their diverse adventures of discovery.
The Baby's Game Book
Isabel Wilner (EDT)
Harpercollins Childrens Books (2000; 0-688159-16-8)
Rhymes, illustrations, and instructions present a variety of simple games to play with babies, including foot tapping, knee rides, finger play, peek-a-boo, and tickle games.
A Child's Treasury of Nursery Rhymes
Kady MacDonald Denton
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2004; 0-753451-09-3)
An illustrated collection of nursery rhymes, action rhymes, and songs divided into sections focused on four different age groups.
Hen on the Farm
Lucy Cousins
Candlewick Press (1992; 1-564020-32-0)
A wordless picture book on cloth pages featuring things found on the farm.
Box of Animal Crackers
Jane Dyer
Hachette Book Group USA (0-316196-87-8)
Jane Dyer's bestselling anthology, Animal Crackers, in a boxed set of three board books. Appealing watercolors accompany selections that range from Mother Goose classics to contemporary poems in…
My Very First Mother Goose
I Opie
Candlewick Press (1996; 1-564026-20-5)
Charming watercolor illustrations enhance a delightful collection of sixty classic Mother Goose rhymes, including "Hey Diddle, Pat-a-Cake, Little Jack Horner" and many others.
What Is That ?
Tana Hoban
Harper Collins Publishers (1994; 0-688129-20-X)
High contrast white pictures on black background. Perfect for newborns.
Sweet Dreams
Kaori Watanabe
Scholastic Inc. (2003; 0-439537-71-1)
A lovable, snuggable cloth book. Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, the cover of this adorable cloth book is made of the popular Taggies blanket. In addition, each colorful interior spread …

2 months

Where Does the Brown Bear Go
Nicke Weiss
Greenwillow (0-688078-62-1)
When the lights go down on the city street and the sun sinks far behind the seas, the animals of the world are on their way home for the night.
Very Hungry Caterpillar  (Board Edition)
Eric Carle
Penguin USA (1994; 0-399226-90-7)
One sunny Sunday, the caterpillar was hatched out of a tiny egg. He was very hungry. On Monday, he ate through one apple; on Tuesday, he ate through three plums--and still he was hungry. Strikingly bo…
Time for Bed
Mem Fox
Harcourt Childrens Books (1997; 0-152010-66-1)
As darkness falls parents everywhere try to get their children ready for sleep.
Hush Little Baby
Sylvia Long
Chronicle Books (2002; 0-811822-90-7)
A gentle revision of the familiar lullaby follows a mother rabbit's soothing promises to show her baby such non-material natural wonders as a hummingbird and the evening sky.
Playtime Rhymes
Priscilla Lamont
Penguin USA (1998; 0-789428-61-X)
Introduces more than twenty different rhymes and songs--both old favorites and new offerings--with photographs of easy-to-learn, coordinated hand actions so children can act along with the songs…
Animal Play
Simms Tabak
Chronicle Books (1-929766-82-3)
Cloth book with colorful animals, different textures and a squeaker.

4 months

Baby Faces
Dk Pub
Dorling Kindersley LTD (1998; 0-789436-50-7)
Soft-to-Touch and full of crisp color photographs, this book captures the expressions and moods of babies throughout their busy days. The soft-padded format makes the book safe and easy for little han…
Baby! Talk!
Penny Gentieu
Random House, Inc. (0-517800-79-9)
Large, adorable photographs and simple text present a group of babies finding their feet, playing pattycake, eating, hugging, and more, in a sturdy board book which introduces the expressions an…
Wow! Babies
Penny Gentieu
Random House, Inc. (2000; 0-517709-63-5)
A collection of expressive, full-color portrait photographs explores the various moods, emotions, and events in a baby's busy day.
Baby Faces - S&S
Margaret Miller
Simon & Schuster (1998; 0-689819-11-0)
Photographs of babies expressing different emotions emphasize the looks on their faces.
Baby Pets
Margaret Miller
Simon & Schuster (2003; 0-689853-13-0)
Close up photos of babies cuddling up with various pets--goldfish, guinea pig, dogs, bunny and bird.
Peek-a-boo
Roberta Intrater
Scholastic Inc. (1997; 0-590058-96-7)
Each page is filled with color photos of toothy grins and yawns, bright eyes, pouts, and tears. Toddlers love looking at other children and these titles hold plenty of interest for them.
Bear and Ball
Cliff Wright
Chronicle Books (2004; 0-811848-19-1)
This charming rhyming story coupled with classic- style illustrations gently introduces young readers to the concept of opposites.

6 months

Pat the Bunny
Edith Kunhardt Davies
Macmillan (1990; 0-307120-00-7)
Gives children opportunities to touch a rabbit, smell flowers, look in a mirror, and participate in other activities enjoyed by Paul and Judy.
Noisy Farm
Dorling Kindersley LTD (0-756609-87-9)
Small children can lift the flaps to discover the noises made by a variety of farmyard animals.
Baby Duck and the Cozy Blanket
Amy Hest
Candlewick Press (2002; 0-763615-82-X)
Separated from her beloved blanket when her mother decides to wash it, Baby Duck is very sad until she receives her freshly washed and extremely cuddly blanket just before bedtime, in an adorabl…
Baby's World: L&E Splish Splash
Dorling Kindersley LTD (0-789488-29-9)
Bright touch and feel book about bathtime.
Peek-a-Boo
Jan Ormerod
Penguin USA (1977; 0-525459-36-7)
Author/illustrator Jan Ormerod introduces a crowd of darling toddlers in this delightful oversized board book with moving parts that shows just enough of a baby's world to make young readers fee…
Peek-a-WHO?
Nina Laden
Chronicle Books (0-811826-02-3)
Colorful pictures and simple rhyming texts help children guess what's peeking through the die-cut windows in this fun board book. The anticipation of what's hiding on the next page and the brigh…

9 months

Stories and Fun for the Very Young
S Hughes
Penguin USA (1998; 0-763605-75-1)
A collection of stories, poems, songs, and pictures by some of the world's most acclaimed children's authors and artists includes works by Helen Oxenbury, Iona Opie, Rosemary Wells, Marc Brown, …
I Went Walking
Sue Williams
Harcourt Trade Publishers (1996; 0-152007-71-7)
A board book edition of a classic picture book features lively watercolor illustrations in a tale that finds a menagerie of familiar barnyard animals who gather together for a parade.
Each Peach Pear Plum
Janet Ahlberg
Penguin USA (1999; 0-670287-05-9)
Tom Thumb, Jack and Jill, Baby Bunting, and a host of other familiar nursery-rhyme characters hide among colorful pictures, and young children are challenged to find them as the story unfolds.
I Love You Sun, I Love You Moon
Karen Pandell
Penguin USA (0-399226-28-1)
For the youngest child comes an exuberant, comforting text with adorable, childlike illustrations that allows children to discover the world around them and find their places within it.
Clap Hands
Helen Oxenbury
Simon & Schuster (0-689819-84-6)
A toddler learns to play hand-clapping games.
Freight Train
Daniel Crews
Harper Collins Publishers (1978; 0-688149-00-6)
The train rolls along slowly at first, slowly enough to count the cars, to name their colors, and identify their functions, until it starts to pick up speed.
Who Said Moo?
Simms Tabak
Chronicle Books (1996; 1-929766-47-5)
This deceptively simple, excitingly illustrated board book is based on a telling theme- that every animal has its own distinct sound. The text is perfectly targeted to the youngest children, who…
Helen Oxenbury's Big Baby Book
Helen Oxenbury
Candlewick Press (2003; 0-763620-16-5)
Large board book with simple pictures depicting "I can", "I see", "I touch" and "I hear".
I Hear
Helen Oxenbury
Candlewick Press (1995; 1-564025-48-9)
A simple book in which a baby listens to a bird sing, a dog bark and a clock tick.

12 months

Old MacDonald
Amy Schwartz
Scholastic Inc. (0-590461-89-3)
The inhabitants of Old MacDonald's farm are described, verse by verse, including his tractor and his neighbors, in a picture book that includes music for the sing-a-long on the last page.
Five Little Ducks
Raffi
Random House, Inc. (1999; 0-517800-57-8)
In a board-book version of a silly song, two children imagine their mothers asking, "Did you ever see a goose kissing a moose, a fly wearing a tie, or llamas eating their pajamas down by th…
Duckie's Splash
Frances Barry
Candlewick Press (0-763628-97-2)
Brilliant hues, simple shapes, and a splashy pop-out surprise draw the youngest of readers to this clever concept book about actions and their opposites.
Wheels on the Bus
Raffi
Random House, Inc. (1998; 0-517709-98-8)
A picture-book version of Raffi's popular song follows the sights and sounds of the bus, its driver, and its passengers as they make their way around the town.
Lunch
Denise Fleming
Henry Holt (1996; 0-805056-96-3)
An incredibly ravenous mouse hungrily munches his way from page to page of a pulp paper art picture book and follows his encounters with a green pea, orange carrot, and red apple.
Barnyard Banter
Denise Fleming
Henry Holt (1994; 0-805065-94-6)
As a new day dawns on a boisterous farm, the animals realize that Goose is missing, and youngsters can join in the clucking, mucking, mewing, and cooing as the animals search for Goose.
Spring Is Here
Taro Gomi
Chronicle Books (1999; 0-811823-31-8)
A calm and charming book in which each page leads to the next stage through the seasons. Deceptively simple the simple words and bright illustrations encourage comparisons and imagination.
Baby's Busy World
Dawn Sirett
Dorling Kindersley LTD (0-756610-18-4)
Featuring all the things that babies love to do, from playing peekaboo to tickling tummies and counting toes, Baby's Busy World is sure to become a child's favorite point and say book. Touching …
Hug
Jez Alborough
Candlewick Press (2000; 0-763615-76-5)
Bobo the chimp seeks hugs among various jungle animals and their young, but he does not get what he wants until he is reunited with his own parent.

15 months

Dear Zoo
Rod Campbell
Simon & Schuster (1999; 0-689825-49-8)
In an amusing tale, the zoo is trying to fulfill a request and so sends animal after animal to the person who asked for a pet, yet one after another, they get sent back until just the right pet …
Where is Maisy's Panda?
Lucy Cousins
Candlewick Press (0-763607-53-3)
Maisy has lost her fovorite toy. Lift the flaps as Maisy searches throughout the house looking for her Panda.
Where's Spot?
Eric Hill
Penguin USA (0-399240-46-2)
Offers to a new generation of toddlers a fun-filled tale as Sally and her mother search all over the house to locate Spot, their cherished little puppy.
Everything Book
Densie Fleming
Macmillan (0-805062-92-0)
Colorful and fun, this book has something for everyone--ABC's, colors, shapes, nursery rhymes, finger games..and more!
Cows Going Past
Bruce Balan
Penguin USA (2005; 0-803729-02-2)
Come along for a ride and see the most entertaining, surprising cows you could ever imagine. Cows fishing, cows playing mini golf, cows mowing the lawn. . . .There are plenty of amusements in th…
Where is Maisy
Lucy Cousins
Candlewick Press (1999; 0-763607-52-5)
Help Maisy the mouse find her hiding place by lifting the flaps.A happy board book by an award- winning author/illustrator follows the adventures of the popular mouse and invites youngsters to li…

18 months

Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You
Dr. Seuss
Random House, Inc. (1996; 0-679882-82-0)
An introduction for toddlers to the wonderful world of sounds, Seuss style, contains a plethora of onomatopoeic sounds including a cow's moo, the sizzle of frying eggs, and the "boom boom b…
Runaway Bunny
Margaret Wise Brown
Harper Collins Publishers (0-060207-65-5)
A little rabbit who wants to run away tells his mother how he will escape, but she is always right behind him.
Gossie (Board Edition)
Olivier Dunrea
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2006; 0-618747-91-5)
Meet Gossie, a small yellow gosling who loves to wear bright red boots every day. One morning Gossie can't find her beloved boots. She looks everywhere for them: under the bed, over the wall, even in …
Ten in the Bed
David Ellwand
Chronicle Books (2000; 1-929766-49-1)
One by one nine bears fall out of bed when the littlest bear says "Roll over!"
Fiddle-I-Fee
Melissa Sweet
Hachette Book Group USA (2002; 0-316758-61-2)
In this cumulative nursery rhyme and folk song, a parade forms when several farm animals join a boy as he dances around the farmyard feeding the animals.
Clap Your Hands
David Ellwand
Chronicle Books (2001; 1-929766-50-5)
Playful teddy bears demonstrate ways to show "if you're happy" to the words of a familiar song.
Polar Bear Night
Lauren Thompson
Scholastic Inc. (2004; 043949524)
After wandering out at night to watch a magical star shower, a polar bear cub returns home to snuggle with her mother in their warm den.

24 months

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Bill Martin
Henry Holt (1996; 0-805047-90-5)
Children see a variety of animals, each one a different color, and a teacher looking at them.
Napping House
Audrey Wood
Harcourt Trade Publishers (1984; 0-152567-08-9)
In this cumulative tale, a wakeful flea atop a number of sleeping creatures causes a commotion, with just one bite.
Llama, Llama Red Pajama
Anna Dewdney
Penguin USA (2005; 0-670059-83-8)
When Mama Llama tucks her in for the night and leaves the room, Baby Llama suddenly starts to get nervous and so bellows, hollers, and screams for her return in this lively picture book with simple te…
Snowy Day
Ezra Jack Keats
Penguin USA (0-670654-00-0)
The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day.
Do Like a Duck Does
Judy Hindley
Candlewick Press (2002; 0-763616-68-0)
Mama Duck has a sneaking suspicion that the furry brown creature trailing behind her babies and impersonating a duck is not a duck at all, in a rollicking story filled with vibrant illustrations…
Mr. Gumpy's Outing
John Burningham
Macmillan (2001; 0-805066-29-2)
As Mr. Gumpy enjoys a summer day on his small boat, he is accompanied by children, a rabbit, a cat, and a wealth of other animals, and soon the boat sinks causing everyone to fall into the water…
Barn Cat
Carol Saul
Hachette Book Group USA (1998; 0-316761-13-3)
Barn cat pays no attention to the parade of crickets, swallows, puppies, and butterflies from 1 to 10 that passes by. What is she looking for? Young readers will delight in the up-close hand-col…

3 years

Harry the Dirty Dog
Gene Zion
Harpercollins Childrens Books (1976; 0-060268-65-4)
When a white dog with black spots runs away from home, he gets so dirty his family doesn't recognize him as a black dog with white spots.
Hat for Minerva Louise
Janet Morgan Stoeke
Harper Collins Publishers (0-525453-28-8)
Minerva Louise, the irrepressible little hen, sets out on an adventure on a cold, snowy day, but she soon discovers that she needs to find something to keep her warm.
Go Away, Big Green Monster!
Ed Emberley
Little Brown & Co. (1993; 0-316236-53-5)
A scary green monster begins to disappear, piece by piece and page by page, in a die-cut picture book that lets youngsters take control of the monsters in their lives.
Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!
Candace Fleming
Simon & Schuster (2002; 0-689831-52-8)
After planting the garden he has dreamed of for years, Mr. McGreely tries to find a way to keep some persistent bunnies from eating all his vegetables.
Owen
Kevin Henkes
Harper Collins Publishers (1993; 0-688114-49-0)
Owen loves his fuzzy blanket with all his heart and outwits all suggestons for giving it up. When it's time to go to school, Owen's mother finds a solution that makes everyone happy. Funny and…
My Friend and I
Lisa Jahn-Clough
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (0-395935-45-8)
A young girl makes friends with the new boy next door. They fight over, and break, a toy. The simple solution mends the toy and the relationship.
And Here's to You !
David Elliot
Candlewick Press (2004; 0-763614-27-0)
A rhyming celebration of all sorts of creatures, from the Feather People (birds) to the Dreaming People (dogs) and even the People People.
Go, Dog, Go!
P.D. Eastman
Random House, Inc. (1961; 0-394800-20-6)
Different kinds of dogs drive cars, wear hats, run around in mazes, and even have wild parties in treetops.

4 years

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?
Jane Yolen
Scholastic Inc. (2000; 0-590316-81-8)
Mother and child ponder the different ways a dinosaur can say goodnight, from slamming his tail and pouting to giving a big hug and kiss, in a picture book featuring ten sleepy dinosaurs which …
Dog Blue
Julie Markes
Candlewick Press (0-763624-76-4)
Fetching illustrations enliven this tale of a boy who loves dogs and the color blue--and finds a creative way to make his fantasies come true
Turtle Splash
Cathryn Falwell
Harper Collins Publishers (2001; 0-060294-63-9)
As they are startled by the activities of other nearby creatures, the number of turtles on a log in a pond decreases from ten to one.
How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?
Jane Yolen
Scholastic Inc. (2003; 0-439241-00-6)
Offers preschoolers a colorfully illustrated, read- aloud tale about a frightened dinosaur who finally overcomes his fears and visits the doctor where he gets the treatment he needs to be made we…
Adventures of Bert
Allan Ahlberg
Macmillan (2001; 0-374300-92-5)
In an appealingly offbeat combination of spunky text and sprightful illustrations, cheerful, enthusiastic Bert manages to get involved in many unplanned adventures.
Bill Grogan's Goat
Mary Ann Hoberman
Hachette Book Group USA (2002; 0-316362-32-8)
Bill Grogan's goat has an appetite for clothes that leads to a wild train adventure with an engineer and some rowdy barnyard animals.
Giraffes Can't Dance
Giles Andreae
Scholastic Inc. (2001; 0-439287-19-7)
At the jungle dance, animals laugh at Gerald the giraffe. They are amazed when he dances to his own tune.

5 years

Look Alikes Jr
Joan Steiner
Hachette Book Group USA (1999; 0-316813-07-9)
Simple verses challenge readers to identify the everyday objects used to construct eleven three- dimensional scenes, including a house, kitchen, bedroom, school bus, train, farm, and rocket.
Katy and the Big Snow
Virginia Lee Burton
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (1974; 0-395181-55-0)
Geappolis is hidden under a blanket of snow until a red crawler tractor saves the day
Raising Readers 5 Stories from Maine
Dial Books for Young Readers (2006; 9780803732)
Created just for the children in the Raising Reader program, this anthology pulls together five stories from five Maine authors and illustrators. With so many talented children’s book creators …
The Seven Silly Eaters
Mary Ann Hoberman
Harcourt Childrens Books (2000; 0-152000-96-8)
A family of picky eaters includes Peter, who wants nothing but milk; Lucy, who refuses everything but lemonade; and Jack, who will only eat applesauce, in a story that follows a harried Mrs. Pet…
Caps for Sale
Esphyr Slobodkina
Harpercollins Childrens Books (1987; 0-201091-47-X)
A band of mischievous monkeys steals every one of a peddler's caps while he takes a nap under a tree.
Which Would you Rather Be
William Steig
Harper Collins Publishers (2002; 0-060296-53-4)
When two inquisitive children meet up with a clever bunny, they are challenged to compare different things and then pick the best one that suits them.
Raising Readers, A Collection of Stories from Maine
Candlewick Press (2005; 0-763629-02-2)
The last book children will receive from the Raising Readers Program at age 5. Written and illustrated by Maine residents, it includes a detachable card certifying that this child was raised to…
Raising Readers | P.O. Box 17826 | Portland, Maine 04112 | Phone: 1-800-397-3263
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