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1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up
AGE 0-3
Bedtime for Frances
AUTHOR: Russell Hoban
ANNOTATION:
Frances finds it difficult to go to sleep with the strange noises and menacing shapes that seem to fill her room after dark. For preschool-grade 2. 1960.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
- DB 55972 - Read by Laura Giannarelli. Reading time: 12 minutes.
Elmer
AUTHOR: David McKee
ANNOTATION:
Elmer is not gray like all the other elephants in his herd. Elmer is a patchwork of beautiful, brilliant colors, and he hates it! He hates it because the other elephants laugh and tease him day after day. When Elmer devises a way to look like all the other elephants, he and they learn to appreciate individual differences. For preschool-grade 2. 1989.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
- RC 34857 - Read by Laura Giannarelli.
Goodnight Moon
AUTHOR: Margaret Wise Brown
ANNOTATION:
A little bunny already tucked into his bed says goodnight to the familiar things in his room as the light dims gently until all is dark. For grades K-3. 1947.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
Lavender's Blue
AUTHOR: Kathleen Lines
ANNOTATION:
A distinctive collection of traditional nursery rhymes from England. For adults to share with children from preschool-grade 2. 1954.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
- RC 22661 - Read by Phyllis Dorflinger.
The Little Engine That Could
AUTHOR: Watty Piper
ANNOTATION:
When a train carrying good things for children breaks down, only the little engine offers to help, and everyone wonders if she can pull the train over the mountain. For preschool-grade 2. 1930.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
- DB 32652 - Read by Barbara Rappaport. Reading time: 5 minutes.
- BR 02259 - PRINT/BRAILLE - 1 volume.
- BR 12016 - PRINT/BRAILLE - 1 volume.
Make Way For Ducklings
AUTHOR: Robert McCloskey
ANNOTATION:
Five helpful Boston policemen stop busy city traffic so that Mrs. Mallard can move her family of eight ducklings from their island in the Charles River to their new home in the Public Garden. For grades K-3. Caldecott Medal 1942. 1941.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
Owl Babies
AUTHOR: Martin Waddell
ANNOTATION:
Three baby owls wake in the night to find their Mommy GONE! Will she come back soon? For preschool-grade 2. 1992.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
- BRC00808 - 1 volume.
The Runaway Bunny
AUTHOR: Margaret Wise Brown
ANNOTATION:
A little rabbit who wants to run away tells his mother how he will escape, but she is always right behind him. For preschool-grade 2. 1942.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
AUTHOR: Eric Carle
ANNOTATION:
A hungry caterpillar eats holes through plums, cheese, sausage, and other food and gets a stomach ache. Then something wonderful happens to the fat caterpillar. For grades K-3. 1969.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
AUTHOR: Michael Rosen
ANNOTATION:
Delightful retelling of an action-packed chant that tells the story of a brave young family who set out to hunt a bear. They go through long grass–“swishy swashy!” And through a river–“splash splosh!” Through the mud–“squelch squerch!” And through the forest–“stumble trip!” Through a snowstorm–“hoooo woooo!” And into a long, narrow, gloomy cave. For preschool-grade 2. 1989.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
- DB 34744 - Read by Jon Beryl. Reading time: 4 minutes.
BOOKS NOT AVAILABLE IN ANY FORMAT
- //Alvin Says Good Night// (1996) by Ulf Lofgren
- //The Baby's Catalogue// (1982) by Allan Ahlberg
- //Bathwater's Hot// (1985) by Shirley Hughes
- //The Bear Went Over the Mountain// (1999) by John Prater
- //Bunny Bath// (1990) by Lena Anderson
- //Dear Zoo// (1982) by Rod Campbell
- //Each Peach Pear Plum// (1978) by Allan Ahlberg
- //The Elephant and the Bad Baby// (1969) by Elfrida Vipont
- //Fly, Little Bird// (1977) by Francesco Tullio Altan
- //Good Dog, Carl// (1985) by Alexandra Day
- //Good Night, Alfie Atkins// (1972) by Gunilla Bergstrom
- //Handa's Surprise// (1994) by Eileen Browne
- //Humphrey's Corner// (1999) by Sally Hunter
- //Julian the Rabbit// (2001) by Nicoletta Costa
- //Kipper// (1991) by Mick Inkpen
- //Little Brown Bear// (1975) by Claude Lebrun
- //Little Spook's Baby Sister// (1977) by Inger Sandberg
- //Maisy Goes to Playschool// (1992) by Lucy Cousins
- //Meg and Mog// (1972) by Helen Nicoll
- //Miffy// (1963) by Dick Bruna
- //Mr. Grumpy's Outing// (1970) by John Burningham
- //Pat the Bunny// (1940) by Dorothy Kunhardt
- //Rosie's Walk// (1968) by Pat Hutchins
- //Thomas the Tank Engine// (1946) by Rev. W. Awdry
- //Three Railway Engines// (1945) by Rev. W. Awdry
- //Tickle, Tickle// (1987) by Helen Oxenbury
- //Where's Spot?// (1980) by Eric Hill
AGE 3+
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
AUTHOR: Beatrix Potter
ANNOTATION:
All about the famous rabbit family: Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and especially Peter, who disobeys Mother Rabbit's order to stay out of Mr. McGregor's garden. For Preschool-grade 2. 1902.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher
AUTHOR: Beatrix Potter
ANNOTATION:
Mr. Jeremy Fisher, a frog, encounters some problems when he goes fishing. For Preschool-grade 2. 1906.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
AUTHOR: Beatrix Potter
ANNOTATION:
Jemima the duck is a simpleton, and in trying to establish her nest in a secluded place, she very nearly falls victim to a foxy gentleman. For preschool-grade 2. 1908.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
Winnie-the-Pooh
AUTHOR: A.A. Milne
ANNOTATION:
Winnie-the-Pooh is a lovable little bear who is always getting himself into trouble. On a visit to Rabbit, greedy Pooh eats so much that he gets stuck in Rabbit's hole and has to stay there a week until he gets thin again! For grades 2-4. 1926.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
- DB 48132 - //The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh// - Read by Jack Fox. Reading time: 2 hours, 49 minutes.
- BR 16417 - //The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh// - 2 volumes.
- DB 56966 - (SPANISH) //Winny de Puh//
- RC 13967 - //The World of Pooh: The Complete Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner// - Read by Yvonne Fair Tessler.
- BR 07883 - //The World of Pooh: The Complete Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner//
The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant
AUTHOR:
ANNOTATION:
Babar, a young elephant, leaves the jungle to live in Paris. When he returns home he is proclaimed king of the elephants. For Preschool-grade 2. 1931.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
The Story of Ferdinand
AUTHOR: Munro Leaf
ANNOTATION:
Ferdinand, a bull who prefers to sit and smell the flowers, is mistakenly thought to be the most ferocious bull in Spain. He is carted off to the arena for a bullfight, but a surprise awaits the spectators. For grades K-3. 1936.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
Little Toot
AUTHOR: Hardie Gramatky
ANNOTATION:
Although Little Toot comes from a famous family of hard-working tugboats, he himself hates work and is scared of the ocean. One day Little Toot happens into an ocean storm with a stranded ocean liner and surprises everyone. For grades K-3. 1939.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
- DB 40469 - Read by Andy Chappell. Reading time: 11 minutes.
Madeline
AUTHOR: Ludwig Bemelmans
ANNOTATION:
Mischievous Madeline, the nonconformist in a Paris convent school, makes an adventure out of having appendicitis. For preschool to grade 2. 1939.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
AUTHOR: Virginia Lee Burton
ANNOTATION:
Mike Mulligan remains loyal to his steam shovel, Mary Anne, against the threat of the new gas and diesel-engine contraptions and digs his way to a surprising and happy ending. For grades K-3. 1939.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
Curious George
AUTHOR: Margret Rey
ANNOTATION:
Curious George, a very curious little monkey, has such difficulty adjusting to city life that he keeps himself and his owner in one scrape after another. For preschool-grade 2. 1941.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
The Little House
AUTHOR: Virginia Lee Burton
ANNOTATION:
The story of a pretty little house built for a family by a man who never wanted it to be sold. The seasons and the years pass, and gradually a city surrounds the little house until it is rescued in a wonderful way. For grades K-3. Caldecott Medal. 1942.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray
AUTHOR: Hildegarde H. Swift
ANNOTATION:
After the beacon atop the George Washington Bridge is installed, the little lighthouse fears he will no longer be useful, until an emergency arises. For grades K-3. 1942.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
Eloise
AUTHOR: Kay Thompson
ANNOTATION:
Six-year-old Eloise describes her escapades at the Plaza Hotel in New York where she lives with her nurse Nanny, her dog Weenie, and her turtle Skipperdee. For grades 2-4 and older readers. 1955.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
- RC 49221 - Paired with //Eloise in Paris// - Read by Laura Giannarelli.
Harry, the Dirty Dog
AUTHOR: Gene Zion
ANNOTATION:
Harry buries his scrubbing brush and spends a glorious day getting dirty before he finally realizes that soap has its uses, after all. For preschool-grade 2. 1956.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
The Cat in the Hat
AUTHOR: Dr. Seuss
ANNOTATION:
A story in rhyme tells about two bored children sitting at home on a rainy day while their mother is out. Then the Cat in the Hat arrives on their door mat to show them good fun with his tricks and games. For grades K-3. For grades K-3. 1957.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
A Bear Called Paddington
AUTHOR: Michael Bond
ANNOTATION:
On a London railway platform a family finds Paddington, a Peruvian bear with a “Please look after this bear” sign around his neck, so they adopt him immediately and discover more excitement than they can handle. For grades 3-6. 1958.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
- DB 26425 - Read by Burt Blackwell. Reading time: 2 hours, 34 minutes.
Green Eggs and Ham
AUTHOR: Dr. Seuss
ANNOTATION:
In this rhyming story, Sam-I-am follows his companion everywhere, begging him to taste a dish of green eggs and ham. For preschool-grade 2. 1960.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
Clifford, the Big Red Dog
AUTHOR: Norman Bridwell
ANNOTATION:
Emily Elizabeth has a big red dog - the biggest, reddest dog on her street - and his name is Clifford. Clifford is so big that when he runs after cars, he catches them in his mouth, and his doghouse is bigger than Emily Elizabeth's house. For preschool-grade 2. 1963.
AVAILABLE FORMATS:
- DB 78605 - IN PROCESS
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BOOKS NOT AVAILABLE IN ANY FORMAT
- //Mother Goose// (1881) by Kate Greenaway
- //Marigold Garden// (1885) by Kate Greenaway
- //The Jolly Aunt// (1891) by Lothar Meggendorfer
- //Peter in Blueberry Land// (1901) by Elsa Beskow
- //The Story of the Root Children// (1906) by Sibylle von Olfers
- //The Children of the Forest// (1910) by Elsa Beskow
- //Clever Bill// (1926) by William Nicholson
- //The Story About Ping// (1933) by Marjorie Flack
- //Blinky Bill// (1933) by Dorothy Wall
- //Orlando// (1938) by Kathleen Hale
- //My Naughty Little Sister// (1952) by Dorothy Edwards
- //Moomin, Mymble and Little My// (1952) by Tove Jansson
- //Martine// (1954) by Gilbert Delahaye
- //The Cow Who Fell in the Canal// (1957) by Phyllis Krasilovsky
- //Little Blue and Little Yellow// (1959) by Leo Lionni
- //Go, Dog, Go// (1961) by P.D. Eastman
- //The Berenstain Bears// (1962) by Stan & Jan Berenstain
- //Ivor the Engine// (1962) by Oliver Postgate
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