First Grade Read-Aloud Set

A classic tale of persistence and friendship, A Visitor for Bear provides a great lesson for young readers. The story about a bear who really would like to be left alone and a friendly mouse who won't take no for an answer!

The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane by C.M. Millen tells the story of a young monk in a monastery in the mountains of Mourne. In rhyming verse, Millen describes the life of the monks as they copy text in brown ink onto brown pages. However, Theophane, is enthralled by the beauty and color of the world he sees out his window. One day while out on a walk, Theophane decides to make different colored ink from the plants he loves so much. The colorful creations of Theophane inspire the other monks whose pages become filled with spectacular illuminations. Artist Andrea Wisnewski quaintly captures the beauty and simplicity of monastic life with her unique papercut print and watercolor illustrations.

A House Is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman is a fun-filled poem all about many different kinds of houses. From rabbits in hutches, dogs in kennels, and whales in oceans to corncobs in husks and crackers in cartons, nearly everything can be a house in this rollicking rhyme! The intricately detailed and vibrantly colored illustrations of Betty Fraser bring Hoberman's lyrical lines to life.

In Lyle, Lyle Crocodile by Bernard Waber, Lyle the crocodile lives with the Primm family in East 88th Street in Manhattan. Everyone loves Lyle. Everyone that is except the neighbor, Mr. Grumps, and his cat, Loretta. Mr. Grumps gets so mad at Lyle he finally has him put in the zoo! Lyle's many adventures ultimately lead to an escape, a heroic rescue, and a friendship with Mr. Grumps (and even Loretta!) This rollicking picture book introduces children to memorable characters and also takes them on a visual tour of Manhattan. Young readers are sure to love Lyle the crocodile and all the silly situations he gets himself into.

A Picture Book of Christopher Columbus by David A. Adler tells the story of Christopher Columbus beginning with his birth in 1451 and ending with his death in 1506. This child-friendly biography is perfect for teaching young readers about the life of the navigator who discovered the continent of North America. Illustrations by John and Alexandra Wallner bring the world of Columbus to life and add colorful detail that children will enjoy.

In Katy No-Pocket by Emily Payne, Katy the kangaroo is very sad because she has no pocket for her son Freddy to ride in. She goes to all the other animals trying to find out how to carry Freddy! The crocodiles, monkeys, and lions can't help. Maybe the owl can! The owl tells Katy to go to the city and find a pocket. Katy hops all the way to the city with Freddy hopping behind her. Once she's there a kindly construction worker helps Katy solve her pocket problem. H.A. Rey's iconic brightly-colored illustrations perfectly capture the warmth and whimsy of this classic children's book.

Artist Johanna Westerman has beautifully illustrated the classic bedtime poem by Eugene Field in this edition of Wynken, Blynken, & Nod. In Westerman's watercolor depictions of the poem, three children sail from a Dutch landscape into the sky in a wooden shoe. Throughout the night, the children catch stars and talk to the moon. Finally, the children float down from the sky and into their bed at home where they dream beautiful dreams of sailing through the night sky.

In The Caboose Who Got Loose, Bill Peet tells the story of Katy Caboose in a rollicking rhyme. Katy Caboose is unhappy with her life at the end of the train full of bumps and jolts and billowing smoke. She envies the things she sees passing through the countryside and longs to be like a barn in a field or a cabin alone in the woods. One day, Katy gets jolt off the back of the train and finds the life she's always wanted in a very surprising way!

In The Owl and the Pussycat, Jan Brett provides a fresh interpretation of the beloved nonsense poem by Edward Lear. In a dazzling Caribbean landscape, an owl and a pussycat sail away for a year and a day on a voyage of courtship and love. Jan Brett's exotic islands, colorful marine life, and lush landscapes fill the pages of The Owl and the Pussycat with exquisite detail. Young readers are sure to love this fun and fanciful version of a timeless poem.

The Little Island by Margaret Wise Brown tells the story of the little Island in the ocean. So much happens on and around the island! Fish swim around it, flowers bloom, fog rolls up, and boats sail to it. One day a kitten comes to the island and discovers by talking to a fish that all the land is really one land, even under the water. The spectacular illustrations of Leonard Weisgard perfectly capture the beauty and isolation of the little Island in the ocean.

The Very First Thanksgiving Day by Rhonda Gowler Greene retells in rhyming verse the story of the first Thanksgiving. The breathtaking acrylic paintings of artist Susan Gaber beautifully illustrate the historic celebration of two societies that came together to give thanks for the bounty of the land.

Choo Choo by Virginia Lee Burton tells the story of Choo Choo, a shiny black engine with an engineer, a fireman, and a conductor. One day, when the men are having a coffee break, Choo Choo decides to run away and see what it's like to speed off on her own. Choo Choo startles people and animals everywhere she goes as they run away from the train tracks in fear. Choo Choo's mad dash finally comes to an end on an old, abandoned train track in the forest. Her engineer, Jim, stops a passing Streamliner and goes to save Choo Choo. After her wild ride, Choo Choo is cleaned up and made good as new, but she decides she never wants to run away again.

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg is a Caldecott Medal-winning book that tells how a magical train ride on Christmas Eve takes a boy to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss is a classic Christmas tale about a mean Grinch who lives above the town of Who-ville and hates their joyful celebration of Christmas. In an attempt to ruin the Who's holiday, the Grinch sneaks into their homes and takes all of the stockings, presents, food, trees, ribbons, wrappings, and decorations. As the Grinch prepares to tip the whole lot over a cliff, he hears the sound of the Whos singing merrily. Then, the Grinch realizes he has not stolen Christmas because Christmas is much more than things. This rhyming story by Dr. Seuss about the true Christmas spirit has been a beloved classic of the season for generations and continues to delight young readers today.

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin won the 1999 Caldecott Honor Medal. This unique biographical picture book tells the story of Willie Bentley who grew up on a farm in Jericho, Vermont. Willie loved snow more than anything. He was fascinated by the beautifully intricate designs of snowflakes that he saw under his microscope and began copying images of what he observed in order to share them with the world. One day, his mother and father bought Willie a large camera with a microscope in it that he could use to photograph his snowflakes. Bentley spent years photographing the delicate little snowflakes and sharing their extraordinary beauty with the world. When he died, the town built a monument and a museum in honor of "Snowflake Bentley" who taught them to see the grandeur and mystery in each and every snowflake.

The Moon Shines Down by beloved children's author Margaret Wise Brown takes readers on a trip around the world through rhyming verse. From the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, and England to Africa, Australia, and the Far East, a little koala companion guides young readers through nighttime landscapes as the moon shines down on children all over the world. The bright and bold illustrations of Linda Bleck bring to life the poetic lines based on the classic verse from a children's sampler, "I see the moon and the moon sees me. God bless the moon and God bless me."

Norman the Doorman by beloved children's author Don Freeman tells the story of Norman the mouse who works as a doorman at an art museum. Norman gives tours to all his friends of the lovely things stored in the museum's basement, but he is always careful not to get caught by the upstairs guard. Norman loves creating art as well, and one day he makes a wire sculpture from the leftover parts of a mousetrap. When Norman sees a sign for a sculpture contest being hosted by the museum he eagerly enters his artistic mousetrap creation. Freeman's warm and witty colored pencil illustrations perfectly depict the story of Norman the artistic mouse and the surprising way he wins a contest and befriends a museum guard.

Artist Peter Spier beautifully interprets the American national anthem in this picture book version of The Star-Spangled Banner. Spier's artwork has been meticulously researched and observed, lending it incredible accuracy in addition to its vibrancy and patriotism.

Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books by Kay Winters tells the story of a young Abe Lincoln who loved to learn. Beginning with his birth in the woods of Kentucky, this picture book follows Abe as he learns to read in school, through his family's move to Indiana, the loss of his mother, and his growing up years. Whether in school or working out in the fields, Abe loved to read because it taught him new things about the world. When Abe got older, he moved to a city and continued to read. He learned how to practice law, then how to speak, and eventually he even ran for president. The boy who loved words had turned into a president who used his words to inspire, encourage, and set people free.

White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt describes in lyrical verse the beauty of a snowfall. The postman can tell it looks like snow, the farmer thinks it smells like snow, and the policeman says it feels like snow. Sure enough, the snow starts to fall, and everyone makes preparations. The world transforms under a blanket of snow, and the children revel in the white, bright world making snowmen and snow forts. Slowly, the snow begins to melt and the spring returns to the world with the appearance of the first robin. Roger Duvoisin's award-winning illustrations of this book featuring blue half-tones with pops of yellow and red beautifully depict the snow covered town.

Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola tells the story of Saint Patrick. Patrick lived in Britain during Roman rule, but one day he was captured and sold as a slave in Ireland. During his time as a shepherding slave, Patrick's faith in God grew stronger. Eventually Patrick miraculously escaped and returned to Britain. However, God called Patrick to return to the island he had escaped from as a missionary. This book details through prose and beautiful illustrations the many miraculous events which occurred in the life of Saint Patrick and the lasting impact he had on the land of Ireland.

Doctor DeSoto by William Steig tells the story of Doctor DeSoto, a mouse dentist, who works on the teeth of animals big and small with the help of his wife. However, he does not treat animals that eat mice. One day a fox comes by his office in terrible pain from his tooth. DeSoto is worried but feels he has to treat the poor creature. By working together, DeSoto and his wife find a clever way to outwit the wily fox while still fixing his tooth!

Little Toot by Hardie Gramatky tells the story of a little tugboat who likes playing more than working. When his friends tease him for being frivolous, Little Toot decides he will be a hard-working tugboat like his father, Big Toot. Little Toot looks all over the river for a boat to tug, but they all think he's in the way. When Little Toot gets near the ocean, he sees an ocean liner caught against some rocks in a fierce storm. Little Toot signals with his smokestack and ultimately saves the boat with his quick thinking and tough tugging. After he rescues the boat, Little Toot loves tugging and works just as hard as any tugboat on the river. The lively nautical illustrations by Hardie Gramatky evoke the bustling sense of adventure found in this classic picture book.

Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Polacco tells the story of Babushka and the goose Rechenka. Babushka lives in the country and lovingly paints decorative eggs each year for the Easter Festival in the city. One day during the winter, Babushka goes outside to feed the caribou and discovers a wounded goose. Babushka takes in the goose and nurses her back to health, naming her Rechenka. One day when Rechenka is feeling better, she accidentally knocks over the basket of precious decorative eggs that Babushka had worked on so lovingly. Babushka is heart-broken. However, Rechenka lays beautifully decorated eggs to replace the ones she broke. These eggs are so beautiful that Babushka wins the prize at the Easter Festival. Yet, the last egg contains the biggest surprise of all!

The Glorious Flight by Alice and Martin Provensen tells the fascinating story of Louis Blériot and his flight across the English channel in 1909. This delightful picture book depicts Blériot's first encounter with an airship and his subsequent obsession with designing a working airplane. The humorous structural illustrations bring the world of first-flights and crazy contraptions to life with wit and whimsy.

In the Caldecott-winning book by Verna Aardema, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, the story Mosquito tells Iguana about the farmer's yams unleashes a jungle catastrophe that causes the sun not to rise. The animals' quest to uncover the truth leads the mosquito to have a guilty conscience and continually ask in people's ears if everyone is still mad at him. This rhythmic fable is accompanied by the intricate and vibrant artwork of Leo and Diane Dillon.

Fly High, Fly Low by renowned children's author Don Freeman tells the story of Sid the pigeon and Midge the dove. Sid lives in the lower loop of the letter B in a sign on a building in San Francisco. Sid and Midge love spending time in the park with Mr. Hi Lee who enjoys feeding the birds. Each night, the birds return to their nest in the letter B. However, their happy life is disrupted one day when a group of workmen come to remove the sign from the building. While Sid had already flown off for the day, Midge is still with the nest watching over their two eggs. When the workmen see the nest, they decide to move the letter to a bakery in order to keep it safe for the birds. Midge goes with the sign, but Sid comes home to find no sign, no letter B, no nest, and no Midge! Sid has many adventures in the beautiful city of San Francisco as he searches for his home and his family, but the love birds are reunited at last thanks to the help of an old friend. The colored-pencil illustrations by Freeman take young readers on a spectacular tour of the city of San Francisco as they fly high and low with Sid.

Millions of Cats by Wanda Gág tells the story of a little old man and little old woman who wanted a kitten. The old man went out to find a kitten for his wife, and he found not one, not ten, but millions and billions of cats. Since the old man cannot decide which is the loveliest, he simply brings them all home with him. Having millions of cats does not turn out like the old man thought it might, but in the end the old man and woman end up with the prettiest, most perfect cat for them.

The Storm Book by Charlotte Zolotow describes the sights and sounds of a summer thunderstorm. The lyrical prose of the book is accompanied by the beautiful two-page spread, water-color illustrations of Margaret Bloy Graham.

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton tells the story of Mike and his steam shovel, Mary Anne. Mike and Mary Anne dig all kinds of things from canals and roads, to basements for skyscrapers. When gasoline, electric, and Diesel steam shovels come along, no one wants to use a steam shovel anymore. Mike and Mary Anne find themselves out of work. When Mike learns that the small town of Popperville needs a new town hall, Mike decides to take Mary Anne and go dig the cellar of the new building for the town. When they get to Popperville, Mike and Mary Anne are in for the biggest challenge of their lives! In the end, friendship and hard work prevail in this heart-warming picture book.

A Time to Keep by Tasha Tudor goes month by month through the year describing all the holidays as they were celebrated when a little girl's mother was young. The delicate illustrations by Tudor give life and warmth to the many family gatherings and celebrations recounted in this book.

From the publisher:

Why did Miss Twiggley live in a tree? Why did she send her dog, Puss, out to do the shopping? Why did she always run away and hide when people came to visit? And it was rumored that Miss Twiggley had even more peculiar habits...

Old Miss Twiggley, was friendly with bears. "They shed on the sofa," she said, "but who cares?"

And was it true, as the mayor's wife had heard, that she actually slept in her hat? "Simply disgraceful!" they said. But when a hurricane hits the town and the water rises, everyone is grateful to Miss Twiggley and her tree. Even better, Miss Twiggley herself learns a very important lesson, with a warm and happy ending.

Three very different princes seeking to win the hand of the princess go off into the forest to see who can bring back the most wonderful thing as a gift. Plus, there is pickle-chiffon pie!