The MOST important thing you can do to help your child is READ to him/her EVERY day. 

Any books with rhythm, rhyme and repetition are EXCELLENT choices for reading with your child.  Below we compiled a list of our own recommendations.

Kindergarten is a great time for your child to get his/her own library card! 

A great way to search for books that interest your child and/or are at your child’s reading level:
http://bookwizard.scholastic.com/tbw/viewCustomSearchForm.do?RowsPerPageOptions=10&RowsPerPageOptions=50

Or, find a book by searching for other titles that are similar to another book your child enjoys:
http://bookwizard.scholastic.com/tbw/homePage.do

Scholastic Book Recommendations:
http://www.scholastic.com/resources/booklist/sure-to-please-book-recommendations/

http://www.scholastic.com/resources/booklist/great-books-for-beginning-readers/

2011 Notable Children’s Books (title and brief summary below):

Back of the Bus.  By Aaron Reynolds.  Illus. by Floyd Cooper.  Philomel.
A young boy and his mother take a familiar ride on a city bus unaware of the historic event they are about to witness: passenger Rosa Parks refuses to move from her seat.

Big Red Lollipop.  By Rukhsana Khan.  Illus. by Sophie Blackall.  Viking.
Rubina’s excitement over an invitation to a birthday party is dimmed by her mother’s insistence that she take her younger sister Sana with her.

Bink and Gollie. By Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee. Illus. by Tony Fucile. Candlewick.
Dissimilar, yet steadfast friends, celebrate the ups and downs of their daily escapades in three lively chapters that explore compromise, asserting independence, and jealousy. Geisel Award Book

Chalk. By Bill Thomson.  Illus. by the author. Marshall Cavendish.
In this wordless picture book, three young children arrive at the park to find a bag of colored chalk that turns their imaginary drawings into something very real.

City Dog, Country Frog. By Mo Willems. Illus. by Jon J. Muth. Hyperion.
Unleashed on his visit to the country, a dog meets a new friend in frog and together they experience the seasons and the cycle of life.

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin. By Duncan Tonatiuh. Illus. by the author. Abrams.
The universality of childhood experiences is shown through the lives of two cousins, one in the United States and one in Mexico. Belpré Illustrator Honor Book

Fiesta Babies. By Carmen Tafolla. Illus. by Amy C órdova. Tricycle Press.
The simple rhyme scheme is embellished by colorful illustrations of multicultural babies and toddlers celebrating at a local fiesta. Belpré Illustrator Honor Book

Grandma’s Gift. By Eric Velasquez. Illus. by the author. Walker.
This personal tale is based on the author’s special relationship with his grandmother, who influenced his dream of becoming an artist. Belpré Illustrator Award

Hip-Pocket Papa. By Sandra Markle. Illus. by Alan Marks. Charlesbridge.
The papa hip-pocket frog from Australia, who carries his babies in his hip pocket, is introduced with attractive watercolor illustrations.

Interrupting Chicken. By David Ezra Stein. Illus. by the author. Candlewick.
This hilarious story presents Little Chicken and her long-suffering papa, who just wants to get through a bedtime story without his daughter’s  metafictive disruptions. Caldecott Honor Book

In the Wild. By David Elliott. Illus. by Holly Meade. Candlewick.
A joyful collection of brief poems paired with dynamic woodblock prints celebrates favorite animals from every continent.

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! By Grace Lin. Illus. by the author. Little, Brown.
Six vignettes chronicle the daily adventures of identical twins as they get haircuts, make dumplings, perform magic and take a trip to the library. Geisel Honor Book

LMNO Peas. By Keith Baker. Illus. by the author. Beach Lane.
Tiny green peas take readers on a fun, whimsical tour of the alphabet.

Pecan Pie Baby. By Jacqueline Woodson. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Putnam.
Unlike her friends and relatives, Gia is not looking forward to the birth of her first sibling, “that ding-dang baby”.

Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes. By Salley Mavor. Illus. by the author. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Familiar and lesser known nursery rhymes, illustrated with superb needlework and appliqué, create a charming dollhouse of a book.

The Quiet Book.  By Deborah Underwood.  Illus. by Renata Liwska. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Quiet comes in many varieties, from “Sleeping sister quiet” to “First snowfall quiet” to “Right before you yell ‘SURPRISE’ quiet”.  

Rubia and the Three Osos.  By Susan Middleton Elya.  Illus. by Melissa Sweet. Hyperion.
A bouncy, rhyming story about a little golden-haired niña who helps herself to everything in the house of the three bears.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee. By Philip C. Stead. Illus. by Erin E. Stead. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter.
Zookeeper Amos McGee gets the sniffles and receives a surprise visit from his caring animal friends. Caldecott Medal

Tuck Me In! By Dean Hacohen. Illus. by Sherry Scharschmidt. Candlewick.
Readers interact with this deceptively simple good-night book, tucking sweet animals into bed.

We Are in a Book! By Mo Willems. Illus. by the author. Disney/Hyperion. 
Elephant and Piggie discover that someone, the reader, is looking at them in this hilarious, interactive story about the joys of reading and being read. Geisel Honor Book

Yucky Worms.  By Vivian French.  Illus. by Jessica Ahlberg.  Candlewick.
While digging with Grandma in the garden, a child learns why earthworms are so important in helping plants grow.

Mrs. Bentley and Miss Hedlin’s Favorites:

(The Kissing Hand (Great for the first week of school!)
Superhero ABC
Lois Ehlert
Laura Numeroff
     If you Give a Mouse a Cookie
     If you Give a Moose a Muffin, etc.
There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly
Doreen Cronin,
     Giggle, Giggle, Quack, Quack
      Click, Clack, Moo, etc.
Bill Martin, Jr. 
     Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?
     Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You see?
     Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What do you hear? etc.
     Chicka Chicka BOOM BOOM
Rosemary Wells
Kevin Henkes
      Wemberly Worried
       Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse, etc.
Eric Carle 
      The Very Hungry Caterpillar
      The Grouchy Ladybug, etc.
Dr. Seuss 
      Cat in the Hat
      Green Eggs and Ham, etc
Mo Willems
     Elephant and Piggie Series 
     Pigeon Series
David Shannon
    Too Many Toys
     David Goes to School
     No David! etc.

Ian Falconer: Olivia series
Jane O’Connor
     Fancy Nancy Series (leveled readers also avaiable) 

Viorst, Judith: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible No Good, Very Bad Day

Van Allsburg: The Polar Express

Freeman, Don: Corduroy Series
Leveled Readers/Easy Readers
    I Can Read books
    Ready to Read books, etc.