​Attack of the Underwear Dragon
Written by Scott Rothman
Illustrated by Pete Oswald
Age Level: 3 - 6
Grade Level: PS – 2

Oh my, a story starring an underwear dragon! When I saw the cover, I knew I had to read it, and kids would too. Underwear is always funny!
 
The dragon is the story villain, and its unlikely hero, Cole. His dream, to become the assistant knight to Sir Percival. Cole gets the job and learns all the skills he needs to someday become a knight at King Arthur’s court. Life is wonderful until the Underwear Dragon strikes. He defeats every knight at court, and Cole is the only one left. Can an assistant knight save the day? If you want an answer, you’ll have to read this story.
 
PS-This book is so good it has a sequel…The Return of the Underwear Monster. I hope it’s at my local library.

Z is for Moose
Written by Kelly Bingham
Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky
Age Level: 2 - 7
Grade Level: PS - 2

This is the most unusual ABC book I’ve ever seen…It’s so fun! Zebra directs the story,and his friend Moose has to get a letter. But when Moose sees M given away, that’s when the story hits the fan; I mean the fun. Follow Zebra and Moose through this story to see if they can find a happy ending. Note—as the antics increase, so does the fun!

​The Day God Made You
Written by Rory Feek
Illustrated by Malgosia Piatkowska
Age Level: Baby - 4
Grade Level: PS and up

Nothing’s better than a rhyming picture book, and that’s true for this one too. It’s written simply, but it has a big message the author and illustrator deliver—That everything happens, the good and the bad, and that God knew all of it before you were born.

Each one of us is unique. No one will ever be exactly like you. That goes for the way you look, to the things you do. There’s no one like you. The most surprising part, this picture book was written by a Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter, Rory Feek. There’s nothing better than reading a book that tells a child that they’re unique and special, and that God made them that way.

​The Water Princess
Written by Susan Verde & Georgie Badiel
Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Age Level: 4 - 8
Grade Level: K - 3

​If you want to travel to Africa and understand what it’s like to live without easy access to clean water, this is the book for  you. I read it aloud to a 4th grade classroom. They were so interested, I didn’t hear a sound, not even a pin drop. It says something wonderful about the text and illustrations.
 
This story was inspired by Georgie Badiel so it’s a work of fiction, but it gives kids a real look at what water scarcity means, especially for women and girls. They walk all day, every day to get water that’s not even clean. Georgie made the walk whenever she visited her grandmother, but that roundtrip took all day. It also shows what they had to do to drink dirty water. Before the princess could take a sip, her mother boiled the water first. In the US, we only boil when there’s a problem at the water treatment plant.
 
This is one of the best books I’ve read to help kids understand the importance of clean sustainable water. Don’t forget to check out the back matter!

​The Day You Begin
Written by Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrated by Rafael Lopez
Age Level: 5 - 8
Grade Level: K – 3

Have you ever looked around and seen yourself as less? That’s exactly what the main character in this story does. Follow her and learn how she accepts that she’s different. And that she’s just as worthy as the people she meets.
 
How do you learn  to do that? It all starts the day you begin to see yourself as worthy, with something to contribute. I loved this book, and I would have put it in my classroom library when I was still teaching. All kids need to begin . . . to see themselves as worthy. Grown-ups too!

​Giant Island
Written by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Doug Keith
Age Level: 5 - 7
Grade Level: K - 2

This book is magical! Imagine taking a trip to a tiny island, then discovering there’s more to the island than meets the eye. As the kids explore the caves and coves of Giant Island, they discover the truth. The island is a disguise for a real, live giant! When you add the words of Jane Yolen to the illustrations of Doug Keith, you get an incredible picture book. Need proof? Just check out the cover!

​Find the Tooth Fairy
Written by Jean Reagan
Illustrated by Lee Wildish
Age Level: 4 – 6
Grade Level: PS – 1

If you’re a fan of Jean Reagan and her How to books, like babysitting grandpa, you’ll love this one too. It’s all about what happens when a loose tooth comes out at Grandpa’s. This is KEY . . . no kid wants to miss  the tooth fairy or cash under the pillow. An added plus – it’s a Step 2 reader with short sentences that will help your child build vocabulary and learn to sound out new words. 

​Wombats Are Pretty Weird
Written & Illustrated by Abi Cushman
Age Level: 4 – 8
Grade Level: PS – 3

This is the kind of book I love – it’s fun AND clever! I can tell from the front cover. It’s the kind of book an illustrator could imagine and write. Check out the story with its illustrations, the side comments from the characters, and the sidebars of information. My favorite part – the snake – he’s comic relief. Don’t forget to check out the back matter with facts about the three kinds of wombats, a glossary, further reading, and a hunt for Australian animals hidden in the illustrations. Here’s hoping you find time to hunt down this book!

​Palace of Books
Written & Illustrated by Patricia Polacco
Age Level: 4 - 8
Grade Level: PS - 3

This is a beautiful book, with a story full of hope and heart. How do you cope when you have to leave the place you love? A city will never feel like home to Patricia. She misses the farm, and that makes school even harder. Until she finds Ms Creavy and her library. She introduces Patricia to art books, and eventually the Audubon Room. It changes her life, and Patricia becomes the first member of the new Audobon Society at school.

The Bake Shop Ghost
Written by Jacqueline K. Ogburn
Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
Age Level: 4 - 7
Grade Level: PS - 3

What do you do if you’ve saved up to buy a bakery and it’s haunted? That’s the problem Annie Washington discovers after she buys her dream business. Cora Lee is a ghost, and she can’t let anyone else bake in her shop. Then Annie comes along and refuses to leave. When she asks how to stop the haunting, her ghost answers, bake a cake that’s so good she tears up. Can Annie do it? You’ll have to read to find out, but this ghost story is like a yummy slice of cake!