Book List

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Infant and Toddler

Animal Friends: A Global celebration of Children and Animals, by Maya Ajmera and John D. Ivanko, Global Fund for Children, 2005. Smiling children from all over the world show off their animals in full color photographs in this charming board book.

Baby Dance, by Ann Taylor, illustrated by Marjorie van Heerdens. An African-American father comforts his baby daughter. The illustrations capture the energy and joy of their dancing and singing their way through the poem.

Because of You, by B.G. Hennessy, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata, Candlewick, 2005. "Each time a child is born, the world changes." Hennessy demonstrates how young children help, and are helped by, the people in their lives; grow and learn; and teach others.

Global Babies,The Global Fund for Children, Charlesbridge Publishing, 2007.
A joyful celebration of our global heritage; babies look at faces of other babies who are from different cultures

Hush Little Baby, by Sylvia Long. Chronicle Books, 1997. Sylvia Long rewrote the traditional words to the lullaby to emphasize that giving is not about commercial value. Instead of a diamond ring, Mama gives her baby the gift of wonder and enthusiasm.

I Love You, Little One, by Nancy Tafuri, Cartwheel Books, 2000. The ability to give to others and show kindness and caring starts when children receive this kind of love first. This special story uses poetic narrative to describe how deeply mothers in their burrows, meadows and log homes each love their little ones.

Whoever You Are, by Mem Fox, illustrated by Leslie Staub, Libros Viajeros, 2007.
A beautifully illustrated bilingual book that relays the message that no matter how different we all are, we are all the same in many ways...we all smile, laugh, hurt, cry, and experience joy, love, and pain the same way.

Preschool

A Cool Drink of Water, by Barbara Kerley, The National Geographic Society, 2002. Stunning pictures that will inspire discussion of natural resources and the world around us.

Bubba and Beau Meet the Relatives, by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by Arthur Howard, Harcourt, 2008. Another hilarious Bubba and Beau book about, friendship and family – Texas trailer park style.

Cooper’s Tale, by Ralph Da Costa Nunez, illustrated by Madeline Simon, Cooper, a mouse becomes homeless and develops a friendship with three homeless children that change all their lives.

The Little Brute Family, by Russell and Lillian, Hoban Yearling Books, July 1992. A story about an adorable family of brutes who instead of saying “please” or “thank you”, they kick and yell and punch and shove. Then one day everything changes.

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, North-South Books, Inc.1992. A beautiful, sparkling fish learns the importance of sharing.

Rainbow Fish to the Rescue, by Marcus Pfister. North-South Books, Inc., 1995.
In this sequel to the best-selling first Rainbow Fish story, our protagonist passes on what he's learned about sharing friendship and reaching out to others outside your circle.

Swimmy, by Leo Lionni Knopf, Dragonfly Books; Reissue edition, 1992. A lesson in the value of pulling together with others to get big things done.

The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein, HarperCollins Publishers, 1999.
A quintessential book about compassion, this moving story relates the tale of an apple tree that loves a boy so deeply she literally gives everything she can to meet his needs and make him happy.

The Lady in the Box, by Anne McGovern, illustrated by Marni Backer, Turtle Books, 1997. Two children help a homeless woman by providing food and warm clothing.

Young Readers

A Chair for My Mother, by Vera B. Williams. Turtleback Books, 1994. A beautifully illustrated book about love and family; a little girl works and saves money to give her mother a chair after most of what they owned was lost in a fire.

The Brand New Kid, by Katie Couric, Doubleday/Random House Inc., 2000. This story explores kids' ostracizing a new boy who looks different. Adults can use this book to talk to children about how they treat others who are different and how to welcome new school-mates.

How to Behave and Why, by Munro Leaf, Universe, 2002. A 1946 classic that gives children basic advice on developing good character.

A Shelter in our A Car, by Maria Teste, illustrated by Karen Ritz, Children’s Book Press, 2004. Eight-year-old Zettie and her mother, left Jamaica in search of education and a better life in America, and now live in an old car. The story shows how family love thrives, regardless of where you live.

The Quiltmaker's Gift, by Jeff Brumbeau, illustrated by Gail de Marcken, Orchard Books, 2001. There is magic in the fable and captivatingly beautiful illustrations about the unhappy king who cannot get enough and the quiltmaker whose happiness comes from giving.

The First Thing My Mama Told Me, by Susan Marie Swanson, illustrated by Christine Davenier, Harcourt Trade Publishers, 2002. A beautiful book about an adoring family and daily life. A great quiet time book that will always inspire great conversations about a child's warm family memories and the "good old days."

The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss ( Theodor Seuss Geisel), Random House Books for Young Readers, 1971. A rhyming account of an ecological crisis in the Truffula forest that gives the message about environmental destruction.

The Teddy Bear, by David McPhail, Books for Young Readers, 2002. A little boy loses a loved one and learns about loss, compassion and giving. A warm, beautiful, and thought provoking book to read and talk about together.

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas,
Kane/Miller Book Publishers, 1995. This boy with four names lives next door to a nursing home and has made friends with the residents.

School age

City Green, by Dyanne Disalvo-ryan, Harper Collins, 1994. The story about a girl who works with her neighbors to turn a vacant city lot into a garden Over the course of the story a grumpy old man changes because of the garden.

Frida, by Jonah Winter and illustrated by Ana Juan. Arthur A. Levine Books; Library Binding edition, 2002. Children will be touched and inspired by this sensitive, warm biography about artist Frida Kahlo's challenging early life.

If the World Were a Village: A Book about the World's People, by David Smith, illustrated by Shelagh Armstrong, Illustrator, Kids Can Press, Ltd., 2002. The author presents an intriguing concept to help children better understand the significance of global population growth.

Kids Care!: 75 Ways to Make a Difference for People, Animals & the Environment, by Rebecca Olien, Williamson Kids Can Series, 2007. The immediate goal of Kids Care! is to inspire ideas and help children formulate a plan of action.

Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed, by Emily Pearson, Gibbs Smith, 2002.
A feel-good story that shows the interconnectedness of the world and inspires and celebrates a world full of ordinary deeds!

Peace One Day, by Jeremy Gilley and Karen Blessen, GP Putnam and Sons, 2005.
An inspiring story of a man who demonstrated that one person can make a difference in the world.

Random Acts of Kindness, by Daphne Rose Kingma and Dawna Markova
Conari Press; Updated edition, 2002. This is a great inspirational book that gives practical ideas for how to spread kindness in the world.

Starting with Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Aladin, 2004. A prequel to a terrific series of Alice books about the very real Alice's journey through middle childhood.

The Giving Book: Open the Door To a Lifetime of Giving, Watering Can Publishing, 2004. This interactive book helps children think about their wishes and dreams for the world, and how their actions can make those dreams come true.

The Worry Stone, by Marianna Dengler, Rising Moon, 1996. A folktale in the spirit of the peaceful Chumash tribe of California this beautiful story is about an elderly lady who shares her heritage and stories with an unhappy little boy who she meets in the park.