February’s reading list was curated for our monthly theme (dinosaurs, time, and travel), stories about friendship and love for Valentine’s Day, and stories about emotions.  Below are links and descriptions from Amazon, but they are not affiliate links.  These books may also be available at your local library or bookstore.

Corduroy by Don Freeman 

A precious teddy bear finds a new home through the kindness of a little girl.  Corduroy was one of the first books inducted into the Indies Choice Book Awards Picture Book Hall of Fame.  The New York Public Library named Corduroy one of the 100 Great Children’s Books from the Last 100 Years.  The National Education Association named Corduroy one of the Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children.  School Library Journal named Corduroy one of the Top 100 Picture Books for the 21st Century.

The Paddington Treasury: Six Classic Bedtime Stories by Michael Bond and R. W Alley

5-Minute Winnie the Pooh Stories (5-Minute Stories) by Disney Book Group 

Join Winnie the Pooh and his friends on a birthday party, help Rabbit find his Good Mood, play with little Roo, and more! With 12 stories featuring Winnie the Pooh and all of your favorite characters from the Hundred Acre Wood, each meant to be read aloud in five minutes, this padded storybook with beautiful illustrations is the perfect fit for bedtime, story time, or anytime!

The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen and Dan Hanna 

Deep in the water,
Mr. Fish swims about
With his fish face stuck
In a permanent pout.

Can his pals cheer him up?
Will his pout ever end?

Bear’s Busy Family by Stella Blackstone and Debbie Harter

As young readers follow Bear around his home, they will learn about all kinds of different household activities! With many first learning themes, an easy-to-memorize rhyming text, and a useful family tree, Bear’s Busy Family offers many opportunities for interactive projects with young children.

I’ve Loved You Since Forever by Hoda Kotb and Suzie Mason 

I’ve Loved You Since Forever is a celebratory and poetic testament to the timeless love felt between parent and child. This beautiful picture book is inspired by Today show co-anchor Hoda Kotb’s heartwarming adoption of her baby girl, Haley Joy.

Every Little Thing: Based on the song ‘Three Little Birds’ by Bob Marley (Preschool Music Books, Children Song Books, Reggae for Kids) by Bob Marley, Cedella Marley , et al.

A beautiful book that brings Bob Marley’s beloved song to life for a new generation: Every family will relate to this universal story of a boy who won’t let anything get him down, as long as he has the help of three special little birds. This cheerful book will bring a smile to faces of all ages—because every little thing’s gonna be all right!

Peanut Butter & Cupcake by Terry Border

What’s a little piece of bread to do when he’s feeling lonely? Find a friend, of course!
And that’s exactly what Peanut Butter tries to do. But sometimes friends are hard to come by, especially when Hamburger has to walk his (hot) dogs, Cupcake is too busy building castles in her sprinkle box, and Egg laughs so hard he starts to crack up! Does Peanut Butter have a soulmate? Young readers will know the answer long before Peanut Butter does and laugh along with each mismatched pairing.

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell and Frane Lessac 

The Cherokee community is grateful for blessings and challenges that each season brings. This is modern Native American life as told by an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation.  The word otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. Beginning in the fall with the new year and ending in summer, follow a full Cherokee year of celebrations and experiences. Written by a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, this look at one group of Native Americans is appended with a glossary and the complete Cherokee syllabary, originally created by Sequoyah.

Little Blue Truck board book by Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry

Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up–that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they’re willing to do whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road.  With a text full of truck sounds and animal noises to read aloud, here is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others.

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson 

A mouse is taking a stroll through the deep, dark wood when along comes a hungry fox, then an owl, and then a snake. The mouse is good enough to eat but smart enough to know this, so he invents . . . the gruffalo! As Mouse explains, the gruffalo is a creature with terrible claws, and terrible tusks in its terrible jaws, and knobbly knees and turned-out toes, and a poisonous wart at the end of its nose. But Mouse has no worry to show. After all, there’s no such thing as a gruffalo. . . .

Friends at School by Rochelle Bunnett and Matt Brown

Follows a typical school day for a group of children, many of them with disabilities, showing how all of them can be included in class activities regardless of their abilities.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein 

Since it was first published fifty years ago, Shel Silverstein’s poignant picture book for readers of all ages has offered a touching interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another’s capacity to love in return.

Dinosaur A-Z: For kids who really love dinosaurs! by Roger Priddy 

A Smart Kids children’s picture book from Roger Priddy, Dinosaur A to Z: For Kids Who Really Love Dinosaurs will take your child through the alphabet to learn fun facts and figures about some of the once-largest creatures to have ever roamed the earth.

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs (National Geographic Little Kids First Big Books) by Catherine D. Hughes and Franco Tempesta

The prehistoric world comes alive with dinosaurs small, big, giant, and gigantic, with stunning illustrations by Franco Tempesta—who illustrated National Geographic Kids The Ultimate Dinopedia. Bursting with fun facts and age appropriate information, each spread features a different dinosaur, along with simple text in big type that is perfect for little kids. Young dino fans will love the interactivity included in every chapter, and parents will appreciate tips to help carry readers’ experience beyond the page.

Oh Say Can You Say Di-no-saur?: All About Dinosaurs (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library) by Bonnie Worth 

Journey through the fascinating world of dinos with this positively prehistoric nonfiction book featuring the Cat in the Hat. Learn about how fossils are formed and found, and get an easy introduction to dinosaurs from the flying Archaeoptyerx to the spiky Ankylosaurus. (And not to fear–the Cat in the Hat will break the names down for easy pronunciation for kids and parents.) Perfect for readers who are crazy about dinosaurs (or even just dino-nuggets) and for any kid who loves learning and science.

Discovery: Rumble with the Dinosaurs! (10-Button Sound Books) by Editors of Silver Dolphin Books

With 10 cool sound buttons, fun facts, full-color illustrations, and much more, this Discovery sound-and-reference book is a unique way for kids to learn about dinosaurs. Kids will love hearing the sounds of the various dinosaurs in this vibrant and interactive book.

East Dragon, West Dragon by Robyn Eversole and Scott Campbell 

Two giant, imposing dragons confront their greatest fears…each other!  East Dragon and West Dragon live on opposite sides of the world. They have never met—and they like it that way. East Dragon is sure that West Dragon’s huge wings mean that he is very, very strong. West Dragon fears that East Dragon’s long, swishy tail means that he is very, very fierce. But when some meddlesome knights start a riff between their two kingdoms, East Dragon and West Dragon are finally forced to come face-to-fire-breathing-face. Might the two dragons finally discover they aren’t so different after all?

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin 

Little kids will relate to the anti-spicy bias and chuckle over Salmieri’s watercolor and gouache cartoon illustrations showing literally boatloads of tacos and all sizes of dragons enjoying their favorite food at pool parties, costume parties and, well, taco parties.

Happy reading!