CHRISTMAS IN THE MANGER

A cute board book for babies and toddlers - with artwork by the illustrator of the IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE books, Felicia Bond:

CHRISTMAS IN THE MANGER by Nola Buck.  Sweet and gentle telling of the Nativity story for the very youngest, a "pat and peek" book with a rhyming text from the point of view of the animals, shepherds, Mary and Joseph.  The last line is so sweet,

"I am the baby asleep in the hay, and I am the reason for Christmas Day".

HELEN OXENBURY'S BOOKS FOR BABIES, TODDLERS, AND PRESCHOOLERS

Helen Oxenbury was one of the first children's book author/illustrators to design board books for babies and toddlers.  It must be that thoughtful attention to detail that makes her illustrations of young ones so authentic and appealing.  We especially liked her TOM AND PIPPO series and her illustrations in the book WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT, by Michael Rosen.  Here are some more of her wonderful books:

BABY AND TODDLER BOARD BOOKS (a few of her many titles)
I SEE



I TOUCH



HELPING



SAY GOODNIGHT



CLAP HANDS



TICKLE, TICKLE




TOM AND PIPPO SERIES (Ages 2-5)
In this series for toddlers and preschoolers, young Tom and his constant companion - stuffed monkey animal friend, Pippo - have many simple, sweet adventures that are just right for the youngest book lovers.
"Oxenbury understands her audience; young people as well as adults will find pleasure in repeated readings of these unassuming gems, and no one will be able to resist the facial expressions and postures of the long-suffering Pippo," (Ellen Fader, from Horn Book).  There are about 15 titles, most are out of print, but can be found at the library or used, on Amazon.

Tom and Pippo See the Moon, Tom and Pippo Read a Story, Tom and Pippo in the Snow,Tom and Pippo and the Dog, Tom and Pippo Go for a Walk, Tom and Pippo Go Shopping,Tom and Pippo Make a Mess,

Tom and Pippo in the Garden, Tom and Pippo and the Washing Machine, Tom and Pippo and the Bicycle,

Tom and Pippo Make a Friend, At Home with Tom and Pippo, Pippo Gets Lost, Tom and Pippo on the Beach, Tom and Pippo's Day

PICTURE BOOK
WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT, by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury.  "We're going on a bear hunt.  We're going to catch a big one. What a beautiful day!  We're not scared."  My kids absolutely loved this book!  Oxenbury's pictures are so endearing and bring the text to life.  Great read aloud!  (Ages 4-8)

FUN WITH NUMBERS AND COUNTING

Whether you are sending kids off to preschool, or will have them home with you, these books make counting and numbers fun for children ages 4-8.  (Some are even fine for little ones 2 and up.)  Summer is drawing to a close - it's time to get those little brains thinking and math juices flowing!

COUNTING:

Anno's Counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno (ages 4-8).  Beautiful watercolors on pages full of symmetry and things to be counted.

Anno's Mysterious Multiplying Jar by Masaichiro and Mitsumasa Anno - father/daughter authors/illustrators.  Again, gorgeous watercolors - this time with factorials on each page.

Anno's Counting House by Mitsumasa Anno (ages 4-8).  In this book of counting, children will be introduced to algebraic concepts, as they practice all the combinations of numbers that add up to 10.

Count! by Denise Fleming (ages 2-6)  Young children will enjoy the brightly colored animals, as they count them from 1-10 and then by 10's to 50.

Counting Wildflowers by Bruce Mcmillan (ages 4-8).  Number concepts from 1-20 are shown in beautiful and colorful photographs of wildflowers (which are captioned to identify the common name of the flowers.)

Each Orange Had 8 Slices by Paul Giganti (ages 4-8).  This book is a great introduction to mathematics!  Kids will have fun using patterning, multiplication, and creative thinking!

Roar!: A Noisy Counting Book by Pamela Duncan Edwards, illustrations by Henry Cole (ages 2-7).  A lion cub in Africa is looking for someone to play with, but the animals are afraid of him.  Fun rhyming text and cute pictures in this counting book.

Splash!  by Ann Jonas (ages 3-8)  A simple story that helps kids see the results of adding and subtracting as creatures enter and leave a backyard pond.

BACKWARDS COUNTDOWN:

Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang (ages 2-6).  A bedtime counting book, in which a father and daughter do a backwards countdown to bedtime.

The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins (ages 4-8).  A plateful of cookies begins to disappear, each time the doorbells rings and visitors arrive.

NUMBER RECOGNITION:

Arlene Alda's 1 2 3: What Do You See? (ages 4-8).  In this counting book, each number is shown in whimsical color photographs.

City by Numbers by Stephen T. Johnson (ages 4-8).  Wordless book, with photo-realistic paintings of hidden numbers in city scenes.

Look Whooo's Counting by Suse MacDonald (ages 4-8).  Cut-paper illustrations, with numbers incorporated into the pictures and added to an owl's wings.

These books were recommended on http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/book-themes.htm.  It's a good website that has lots of crafts, activities, and recipes for use by parents and teachers of preschoolers.  Books and activities are arranged by theme.