“Hello” and “good-bye” are such common words, they are often taken for granted. Aliki, however, presents a fresh look at greetings and partings with all of their attendant meanings. The text and pictures go hand-in-hand to simply and humorously represent potentially complex ideas to young children. Recommended for ages 3-8.

The six-inch high Clock family lives under the floorboards of the kitchen and makes a living “borrowing” things from the humans that live above them. The worst possible thing that could happen happens when the daughter, Arrietty, is seen by a human boy. The two strike up an unusual friendship, and the family soon learns to trust him. But even the best of intentions go awry when the housekeeper starts noticing things gone missing. Recommended for ages 8-12.

Peter’s world turns upside down with the arrival of his new baby sister, Susie. The only thing that’s not painted pink is his old chair. Peter decides to run away, but it doesn’t take him long to realize that growing up has its advantages. Recommended for ages 2-6.

This fun board book will be sure to keep your toddler’s attention. The brightly illustrated pages show a family taking a trip to grandma’s house in their car. The text is a simple and easy to follow for young ears. Included are several cut-out pages to add to the fun. Recommended for ages 1-3.

A twist on the traditional song, a young girl leads a procession of “aunts” on a trip downtown in the rain. The pictures are fresh and inventive, and it is a joy to sing along with the rhyming text. Recommended for ages 2-6.

As a young boy, Ged discovers his magical powers and is sent to school to train as a wizard. In the midst of his schooling, however, Ged accidentally unleashes a horrible shadow upon the world. In order to restore balance, he must hunt down this creature and somehow defeat it. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

This is the first book in the Earthsea Cycle. Others include:

The Tombs of Atuan (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 2)

The Farthest Shore (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 3)

Tehanu (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 4)

Grimes poetic salutation to a newborn child instantly seizes the reader with its universal resonance. Collier’s vibrant illustrations add to the feeling of bounty and joy a new mother and father feel in introducing their child to the wonder and beauty of the world. Recommended for ages 0-3.

This delightful book captures the joy a young boy feels when receives his very first book. The rhyming text and glowing pictures provide a happy glimpse into a toddler’s foundational literary experience. (My 11-month old, who already loves to read, can’t get enough of this book!) Recommended for ages 1-3.

This unique book offers a fun introduction to the complexities of extended family relationships. Keeping it simple, Isadora emphasizes physical characteristics shared by different family members to show how they are related. Large, dynamic, and humorous pictures invite readers to look and compare the family in the book with their own. A family tree, complete with pictures, is included on the end papers. Recommended for ages 3-10.

In Walter’s World of Beauty, Luisa spends her time after school watching her mother work cutting and coloring hair. As her mother’s birthday approaches, Luisa plans a special surprise party for her, inviting all of her mother’s friends and recreating a scene from a photograph where her mother was dancing and happy. For one speical night, Luisa gives her mother the world. Recommended for ages 4-8.