MY BUSY NOISY DAY
written by Sophie Aggett, illus. by Malgorzata Detner, (Tiger Tales, $14.99, Sept. 2024, ISBN 978-1-6643-5121-9), 16p, Ages 2-5

Children will love to explore this fun, interactive, and rhyming board book that guides them through a busy day of sounds that gr ownups experience. By pressing 26 silver buttons they will enjoy a cell phone ringing, doorbell chiming, keys jingling, car starting, fire engine siren, coins dropping in a parking meter, cash register pinging, birds chirping, lawnmower running, blender mixing and many more. In addition to the fun illustrations, there are instructions and questions at the bottom of each page that make this read-aloud a wonderful educational experience for kids. The on-off switch on the back helps to save the batteries.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Concept, Families, Food, Machines, Rhythm & Rhyme

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DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE
written/illus. by John Hare, (Greenwillow Books, $19.99, Sept. 2024,
ISBN 978-0-06-309323-2), 32p, Ages 3+

Migrating south for the winter, two ducks encounter a goose, then a moose riding on a motorized scooter strapped to a parachute. Seeing a moving train, the ducks and goose decide to catch a ride on top of the caboose, until one forgets to “duck” under a low hanging signal. Determined to keep going, they borrow a truck, drive past a hitchhiking chicken, and become stuck in a mud puddle. Find out how the friendly moose comes to their rescue and flies everyone (including the chicken) on top of his antlers to a beautiful tropical island. Kids will love the clever rhyming words, funny illustrations, and a friendly rescue as they laugh their way to the happy ending.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Friendship, Heroes, Humor, Inventions, Rhythm & Rhyme

CONSTRUCTION SITE: GARBAGE CREW TO THE RESCUE!
written by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illus. by A.G. Ford, (Chronicle Books, $18.99, Sept 2024, ISBN 978-1-7972-2655-12, 48p, Ages 4-7

The mighty Construction Trucks return in a clever rhythm and rhyme story to help clean up and renovate a neighborhood that needs a lot of love. When the Crew arrives to clean up an abused neighborhood, they find old homes in disrepair with heaps of rubbish, garbage, and trash everywhere. Needing help, they call on new friends for assistance —Roll-Off Trucks, Delivery Containers, Side, Rear, and Front Loaders, and Garbage Trucks. Together they set up dumpsters, garbage cans, sort trash, recycle, compost, remove smelly garbage, and transport it away. Now begins the task of refurbishing the old homes. The building team installs windows, doors, and roofs, shores up walls, plant trees, and pave streets. When the crew is finished, the old shabby neighborhood is sparkling clean!
Sherri Duskey Rinker explains in the end notes how renovating a home in Chicago over the years became the basis for this new tale of “old beauty and new life.”
        Themes: Adventure, Friendship, Machines, Rhythm & Rhyme, Series Other Books in the Series: Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site! | Mighty, Mighty Construction Site! | Construction Site on Christmas Night | Three Cheers for Kid McGear | Construction Sire Mission: Demolition | Construction Site: Road Crew Coming Through! | Construction Site: Farming Strong All Year Long

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SOME DOG!
written by Mary Casanova, illus. by Ard Hoyt, (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, $16.00, 2007, ISBN 978-0-374-37133-3), 40p, Ages 4-7

George is a loving, happy, slow, steady, and older Basset Hound, who lives with humans who love him and call him “Some Dog!” He loves to rest on the couch, lounge in the hammock, and ride along in his owner’s fishing boat. When an energetic and enthusiastic stray shows up one day and is named Zippity, George’s life changes drastically. Zippity runs circles around George, brings in the newspaper, jumps from the fishing boat to catch fish, and snores loudly. When a storm blows in, Zippity runs away, and George uses his special tracking nose to rescue the scruffy little dog, who is stuck in muck and terribly frightened. Returning home safely, they now enjoy each other’s company and their own special roles in the family. Kids will love the lessons of acceptance, dedication, and love in this lovely tale, proving that heroes are found in all shapes, sizes, and species.
        Themes: Adventure, Animals, Families, Friendship, Heroes, Values

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I’LL LOVE YOU TILL THE CROCODILES SMILE
written by Kathryn Cristaldi, ills. by Kristyna Litten, (HarperCollins, $18.99, Sept. 2024, ISBN 978-0-06-331551-8), 32p, Ages 4-7

“I will love you till the crocodiles smile / in kayaks coasting single file / past the croc dentist on the swampy Nile.” Featuring jungle animals, the clever rhyming text presents crocodiles kayaking, snakes shaking on zip lines, baby boars snoring in shopping carts, rhinos posing riding on floats, elephants ranting in traffic, sloths crawling in yoga pants, chimpanzees on skies and sneezing, giraffes laughing at knock-knock jokes, and lions roaring just because they can. As the animals settle down to sleep, exhausted from all their activities, the message of love resonates: “I will love you till the crocodiles smile and smile.”
        Themes: Animals, Bedtime, Humor, Rhythm & Rhyme
Other Book in the Series: I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home

THE MAN WHO DIDN’T LIKE ANIMALS
written by Deborah Underwood, illus. by LeUyen Pham, (Clarion Books, $19.99, Sept. 2024, ISBN 978-0-35-856713-4), 40p, Ages 5-7

“Before there was Old MacDonald” there was a cranky, obstinate man who loved his life, but not animals, until one day a cat shows up and refuses to leave. The man soon realizes that the cat enjoys the same things that he does – sleeping in the sun, watching the rain, and eating dinner at 6pm. The cat stays. More animals show up -- a fat cat, a dog who likes gardening and taking walks, ducks who enjoy the bathtub, chickens, goats, ducks, piano playing and board game loving pigs, and the cows. When the neighbors complain, he decides that the animals must leave, but his heart breaks as they file out. Find out how one self-centered man becomes a lover of animals, packs up, and moves to a farm where all the animals now sing “EE-I-EE-I-O.”
        Themes: Animals, Families, Friendship, Heroes, Humor

WINNIE-THE-POOH
written by A. A. Milne, illus. by Ernest H. Shepard, (Aladdin Books, $17.99, August 2024, ISBN 978-1-6659-4768-8), 176p, Ages 7+

Published in 1926, Edward Bear, better known as Winnie-the-Pooh, has been loved by generations of children and parents. Based on the toys of A. A. Milne’s son, Christopher Robin, Pooh is a bear of very little brain and lives in the Hundred Acre Woods, along with his friends, timid Piglet, downcast Eeyore, bossy Rabbit, talkative Owl, Kanga, and Baby Roo.
Ten chapters contain an introduction to “Winnie-the-Pooh and some Bees”, with chapter headings: “Pooh Goes Visiting and Gets into a Tight Place,” “Pooh and Piglet Go Hunting and Nearly Catch a Woozle,” “Eeyore Loses a Tail and Pooh Finds One,” “Piglet Meets a Heffalump,” “Eeyore Has a Birthday and Gets Two Presents,” “Kanga and Baby Roo Come to the Forest, and Piglet Has a Bath,” “Christopher Robin Leads and Expotition to the North Pole,” “Piglet Is Entirely Surrounded by Water,” and “Christopher Robin Gives Pooh a Party and We Say Goodbye.”
Based on the toys of A. A. Milne’s son, Christopher Robin, Pooh is a bear of very little brain and lives in the Hundred Acre Woods along with his friends and has charming and humorous adventures involving bees, honey, a Woozle, Eeyore’s lost tail, a Heffalump, and an Expedition to the North Pole. Readers and listeners will enjoy the introduction by A. A. Milne.
         Themes: Adventure, Animals, Bears, Classics, Friendship, Heroes, Humor
Other books in the Series: The House at Pooh Corner | When We Were Very Young | Now We Are Six

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SHERLOCK BONES AND THE MYSTERY OF THE VANISHING MAGICIAN: A Puzzle Adventure
written by Tim Collins, illus. by John Bigwood, (Buster Books, $6.99, 2023,
ISBN 978-1-78055-921-6), 192p, Ages 7-10

This third book of the series finds detectives Sherlock Bones and Dr. Jane Catson watching a magic show in Berlin. When Dr. Catson volunteers to be hypnotized by the Great Otto, she experiences a strange adventure in Paris before awakening.
As they travel by train to Paris, they share a compartment with a cow, skunk, and hyena, but during the night the Great Otto shows up “in a spot of trouble.” However, sometime during the night he disappears, and the detectives begin to investigate. The other passengers deny seeing the famous magician, until the detective’s suspicions are elevated when they interview a bear and moose. Discover how the great detectives rescue the missing magician and connect him to the theft of a famous painting, the Mona Lemur, from the Museum of Animal Arts. Kids will enjoy the 28 puzzles, games, mazes, and math problems that are woven through the chapters, with answers in the back of the book.
         Themes: Adventure, Animals, Heroes, Humor, Mysteries, Series
Other Books in the Series: Sherlock Bones and the Case of the Crown Jewels #1 | Sherlock Bones and the Curse of the Pharaoh’s Mask #2 | The Horror of the Haunted Castle | Sherlock Bones and the Mischief in Manhattan #4

THE GREAT CATNAPPING
written by Emily Ecton, illus. by Dave Mottram, (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, $17.99, July 2024, ISBN 978-1-6659-4382-6), 240p, Ages 8-12

The animals from the Strathmore Building come together to rescue Walt and the White Cat (Princess Jubilee) from kidnappers when they are snatched from a televised appearance for a fancy cat food at a supermarket opening. The police have no leads, so the animals of Mrs. Food’s apartment, Butterbean the dog, Marco, Polo, and Wallace the rats, Oscar, the bird, Chad, the octopus, Leia the goldfish, and the Second Floor Biscuit, another dog, begin their own crazy rescue mission.
Readers will enjoy the many creative ideas the cats think up to escape the kidnapers, Butterbean and the gang’s carjacking episode, and Madison, the cat’s caretaker, who discovers the identity of the kidnapper.
Filled with charm, heart, heroes, and humorous illustrations, kids will love this crazy and hilarious fourth book in the series and look forward to the next installment.
         Themes: Adventure, Animals, Heroes, Humor, Families, Friendship, Pets, Series Other Books in the Series: The Great Pet Heist | The Great Ghost Hoax | The Greata Vandal Scandal

THE BOOK OF THE KING (The Wormling Book 1)
written by Jerry B. Jenkins/Chris Fabry, (Tyndale House Publishers, $7.99, 2007,
ISBN 978-1-4143-0155-6), 288p,12-15yrs

This first book surrounds a young teen with a destiny to discover and a prophecy to fulfill. However, this tale comes with a disclaimer, “If you are faint of heart and can’t stand bloody battles and cloaked figures in the darkness and invisible creatures, and if you don’t like to cry over a story when someone you love is taken, then perhaps our tale is not for you.” But those readers who appreciate a young man with seemingly no future, a heart for others, loves good over evil, stands up to bullies, and can memorize everything he reads, will thoroughly enjoy this fantasy tale of two realms.
Owen Reeder lives with his uncaring father in their used bookstore, Tattered Treasures. Having been told all his life that he was “Nothing Special”, Owen struggles with problems at school with bullies and at home with a father who talks to hooded strangers in a hidden room below the floorboards of the bookstore. One day a mysterious stranger comes into the bookstore and gives Owen a special book containing prophesies and stories of other worlds and beings (Dragons). The book invigorates and unnerves Owen, but also gives him courage, purpose, and the responsibility of safely delivering it to the King’s Son, somewhere in the lowlands.
So, into another world Owen, now called the Wormling, and Mucker (a little creature that lives inside the book) travel to the lowlands to confront good and evil, visible and invisible. Readers will love this first book in a series of great fantasy tales with Biblical overtones.
         Themes: Adventure, Animals, Families, Fantasy, Heroes, Mysteries, Series
Other Books in the Series: The Sword of the Wormling #2 | The Changeling #3 | The Minions of Time #4 | The Author’s Blood # 5

THE AUTUMN VISITORS
written/illus. by Karel Hayes, (Down East Books, 2015), 32p, Ages 3-7

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DUCK & GOOSE FIND A PUMPKIN
written/illus. by Tad Hills, (Schwartz & Wade Books, 2009 Board), 22p, Ages 2-6

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK’S HALLOWEEN
written by Alice Schertle, illus. by Jill McElmurry, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016), 16p, Ages 3-6

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PENGUIN AND PUMPKIN
written/illus. by Salina Yoon, (Walker Books, 2014), 40p, Ages 3-5

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SIX CREEPY SHEEP
written by Judith Ross Enderle/Stephanie Gordon Tessler, illus. by John O’Brien, (Boyds Mills Press, 1992), 24p, Ages 3-6

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PUMPKIN ISLAND
written/illus. by Arthur Geisert (Enchanted Lion Books, $17.95, Nov. 2018, ISBN 978-1-59270-265-7), 40p, Ages 5-8

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PUMPKIN TOWN!: Or Nothing is Better and Worse Than Pumpkins
written by Katie McKy, illus. by Pablo Bernasconi, (Houghton Mifflin, 2006), 32p, Ages 4-8.

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TURKEY TRICK OR TREAT
written by Wendi Silvano, illus. by Lee Harper, (Two Lions, 2015), 40p, Ages 4-7

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THE SCARECROW’S HAT
written by Jane Yolen, illus. by Bagram Ibatoulline,(Simon & Schuster, 2009), 32p, Ages 4-8

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THE STORY OF JACK O’ LANTERN
written by Katherine Egen, illus. by Brandon Dorman, (HarperCollins, 2010), 32p, Ages 5-8

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THE GHOST OF SIFTY SIFTY SAM
written by Angela Shelf Medearis, illus. by Jacqueline Rogers, (Scholastic Press, 1997), 40p, Ages 4-8

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MERCY WATSON PRINCESS IN DISGUISE
written by Kate DiCamillo, illus. by Chris Van Dusen, (Candlewick Press, 2007), 80p, Ages 6-9.

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SCARLETT ANGELINA WOLVERTON-MANNING
written by Jacqueline K. Ogburn, illus. by Brian Ajhar, (Dial Books, 1994), 32p, Ages 7+

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FEATHERTOP
written by Robert D. San Souci, illus. by Daniel San Souci, (Doubleday Books, 1992), 32p, Ages 8-11

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THE WORST WITCH
written/illus. By Jill Murphy, (Candlewick Press, $14.99, Aug. 2015, ISBN 978-0-7636-7000-9), 280p, Ages 8-12

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GOLDEN & GREY AND THE UNREMARKABLE BOY
written by Louise Arnold, (Margaret K. McElderry Books, $15.95, ISBN 0-689-87586-X), 192p, Ages 10+

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MAGIC DELIVERY
written by Clete Barrett Smith, (Disney-Hyperion, 2014), 288p, Ages 10+

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Over the years, we have researched thousands of children's books, and can recommend some of the best in outstanding children's literature for parents to read aloud and children to read.

Our recommendations must meet certain criteria: fun, creative and imaginative stories, delightful illustrations, and excellent for age appropriate listening and reading. We hope that you enjoyed our recommendations. If you desire further information some of the best in children's literature, please visit our website, www.tchliteracy.com.