Shhh! The Baby’s Asleep
By JaNay Brown-Wood | Illustrations by Elissambura
Published by Charlesbridge
Delightfully noisy family members make it very difficult for big brother to keep the house quiet while the baby naps! Rhyming text, sound effects, and opportunities for characterization and parallel play make this book storytime gold. Top it all off with the opportunity for the repeated, emphatic shushing phrase and you’ve got a must-have book.
Friday Night Wrestle Fest
By J.F. Fox | Illustrated by Micah Player
Published by Roaring Brook Press
Let’s get ready to rumble! Get your best sportscaster voice warmed up, because this hilarious book is a real treat to read aloud! Laugh-out-loud text and bold illustrations pack a punch in this sweet, unexpected, and joyful celebration of imaginative play, and Friday night family shenanigans.
Templeton Gets His Wish
By Greg Pizzoli
Published by Disney Hyperion
Templeton wants his family to leave him alone! When he wishes on a magic mail-order diamond for them to disappear, things seem great...until they’re not. A perfectly paced read aloud with Pizzoli’s signature matter-of-fact humor and timeless illustrations. Kevin McAllister could never.
Behold A Baby
By Stephanie Watson | Illustrated by Joy Ang
Published by Bloomsbury
Step right up folks, and feast your eyes on another fantastic read-aloud! Get your announcer voice tuned up for this gem of a book, in which everyone is awed by the baby...except big brother. A precious twist at the end will warm your heart and put a smile on your face.
Forty Winks: A Bedtime Adventure
By Kelly DiPucchio | Illustrated by Lita Judge
Published by Abrams Kids
Can you imagine having to get 38 children ready for bed? That’s exactly what the Wink parents have to do in this rollicking read-aloud. Children will delight in the masterfully-crafted rhythmic rhyme and demand encores to soak up every adorable detail of the illustrations. Chantable or singable (you can find the melody by yours truly on YouTube!) this one’s a rich and timeless must-read.
The Family Book
By Todd Parr
Published by Little, Brown, and Company
Todd Parr does it again (and again and again!) He has a true gift for explaining things to kids in a simple, endearing manner. This book represents all kinds of families, including big, small, quiet, noisy, some with two moms or dads, or one parent instead of two.