Books for Babysitters

Looking for books to read aloud?
Try some of these great picture books!

Poetry and Nursery Rhymes
Randolph Caldecott. The House that Jack Built. (British; 1878)
Paul Fleischman. Joyful Noise. (American; 1988)
Edward Lear. Book of Nonsense. (British; 1846)
A. A. Milne. Now We Are Six. (British; 1927)
A. A. Milne. When We Were Very Young. (British; 1924)
Iona Opie and Rosemary Wells. Mother Goose’s Little Treasures. (American, 2007)
Jack Prelutsky. The New Kid on the Block. (American; 1984)
Cynthia Rylant. Good Morning Sweetie Pie and other Poems for Little Children. (American; 2001)
Shel Silverstein. Where the Sidewalk Ends. (American; 1974)
Robert Louis Stevenson. A Child’s Garden of Verses. (Scottish; 1885)

2-years-old and up
Jez Alborough. Hug.  (American; 2000)
Judi Barrett. Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing. (American; 1970)
Quentin Blake. Clown. (British; 1995)
Norman Bridwell.   Clifford, the Big Red Dog. (American; 1963)
Raymond Briggs. The Snowman. (British; 1978)
John Burningham. Avocado Baby. (British; 1982)
Virginia L. Burton. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. (American; 1939)
Byron Barton. Machines At Work. (American; 1987)
Paulette Bourgeois. Franklin in the Dark. (Canadian; 1986)
Margaret W. Brown. Goodnight Moon. (American; 1947)
Eve Bunting. You Were Loved Before You Were Born. (Irish; 2008)
Eric Carle. The Very Hungry Caterpillar. (American; 1969)
Eric Carle. The Tiny Seed. (American; 1987)
Donald Crews. Freight Train. (American; 1978)
P.D. Eastman. Are You My Mother? (American; 1960)
Ed Emberley. The Wings on a Flea. (American; 2001)
Marjorie Flack. The Story about Ping. (American; 1933)
Don Freeman. Corduroy. (American; 1968)
Paul Galdone. The Gingerbread Boy. (American; 1975)
Paul Galdone. Three Little Kittens. (American; 1986)
Hardie Gramatky. Little Toot. (American; 1939)
Kevin Henkes. My Garden. (American; 2010)
Eric Hill. Where’s Spot? (British; 1980)
Shirley Hughes. Olly and Me 1 2 3. (British; 2009)
Pat Hutchins. Rosie’s Walk. (British; 1968)
Barbara M. Joose. Mama, Do you Love Me? (American; 1991)
Barbara M. Joose. Papa, Do you Love Me? (American; 2004)
Robert Kraus. Herman the Helper. (American; 1987)
Robert Kraus. Milton the Early Riser. (American; 1972)
Munro Leaf. The Story of Ferdinand. (American; 1936)
Leo Lionni. Little Blue and Little Yellow. (American; 1959)
Leo Lionni. Pezzettino. (American; 1975)
Bill Martin, Jr. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (American; 1967)
Bill Martin, Jr. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. (American; 1995)
Robert Munsch. Love You Forever. (Canadian; 1986)
Beatrix Potter. The Tale of Peter Rabbit. (British; 1902)
Richard Scarry. What Do People Do All Day? (American; 1968)
Maurice Sendak. Where the Wild Things Are. (American; 1963)
Dr. Seuss. Green Eggs and Ham. (American; 1960)
Dr. Seuss. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. (American; 1960)
David Shannon. No, David! (American; 1988)
Kathy Stinson. Red is Best. (Canadian; 1982)
Nancy Tafuri. Have You Seen My Duckling? (American; 1984)
Nancy Tafuri. I Love You, Little One. (American; 1988)
Tresselt, Alvin. The Mitten. (American; 1964)
Bernard Waber.  Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. (American; 1965)
Rosemary Wells. Noisy Nora. (American; 1973)
Brian Wildsmith. Brian Wildsmith’s ABC. (British; 1962)
Brian Wildsmith. Brian Wildsmith’s Farm Animals. (British; 2001)
Vera B. Williams. “More More More,” Said the Baby. (American; 1990)

5-years-old and up
Verna Aardema. Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears. (American; 1975)
Allan Ahlberg. The Jolly Postman. (British; 1986)
Jez Alborough. Some Dogs Do. (British; 2003)
Harry Allard. Miss Nelson is Missing! (American; 1977)
Antonia Barber. Mousehole Cat. (British; 1990)
Judi Barrett. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. (American; 1978)
Graham Base. Animalia. (Australian; 1986)
Byrd Baylor. Everyone Needs a Rock. (American; 1974)
Beaumont, Karen. I Aint Gonna Paint No More! (American; 2005)
Ludwig Bemelmans. Madeline. (American; 1939)
Raymond Briggs. Father Christmas. (British; 1973)
Jeff Brown. Flat Stanley. (American; 1964)
Marcia Brown. Stone Soup. (American; 1947)
John Burningham. Come Away from the Water, Shirley. (British; 1977)
Virginia Lee Burton. The Little House. (American; 1942)
David Cali. I Love Chocolate. (Italian; 2009)
Eric Carle. Draw Me A Star. (American; 1992)
Eric Carle. Pancakes, Pancakes! (American; 1970)
Barbara Cooney. Chanticleer and the Fox. (American; 1958)
Donald Crews. Freight Train. (American; 1978)
Donald Crews. Truck. (American; 1980)
P. D. Eastman. The Best Nest. (American; 1968)
Don Freeman.  A Pocket for Corduroy. (American; 1978)
Don Freeman. Quiet! There’s a Canary in the Library. (American; 1969)
Paul Galdone. The Little Red Hen. (American; 1973)
Wanda Gag. Millions of Cats. (American; 1929)
Kevin Henkes. Owen. (American; 1993)
Amy Hest. Off to School, Baby Duck! (American; 1999)
Russell Hoban. A Baby Sister for Frances. (American; 1977)
Russell Hoban. Bread and Jam for Frances. (American; 1992)
Mary Ann Hoberman. A House is a House for Me. (American; 1978)
Crockett Johnson. Harold and the Purple Crayon. (American; 1955)
Ezra Jack Keats. The Snowy Day. (American; 1962)
Judith Kerr. The Tiger Who Came to Tea. (American; 1968)
Robert Kraus. Leo the Late Bloomer. (American; 1971)
Robert Kraus. Whose Mouse are You? (American; 1970)
Ruth Krauss. The Carrot Seed. (American; 1973)
Leo Lionni.  A Colour of His Own. (American; 2003)
Leo Lionni. Swimmy. (American; 1963)
Arnold Lobel. Frog and Toad are Friends. (American; 1970)
Arnold Lobel. Frog and Toad Together. (American; 1972)
James Marshall. George and Martha. (American; 1972)
Robert McCloskey. Blueberries for Sal. (American; 1948)
Robert McCloskey. Make Way for Ducklings. (American; 1941)
David McPhail. Pig Pig Grows Up. (American; 1985)
Robert Munsch. The Paper Bag Princess. (Canadian; 1980)
Robert Munsch. Thomas’ Snowsuit. (Canadian; 2007)
Laura J. Numeroff. If You Give A Mouse a Cookie. (American; 1985)
Peggy Parish. Amelia Bedelia. (American; 1963)
Michael Rosen. Red Ted and the Lost Things. (British; 2009)
Cynthia Rylant. All in a Day. (American; 2009)
Cynthia Rylant. The Stars Will Still Shine. (American; 2005)
Dr. Seuss. The Cat in the Hat. (American; 1957)
Dr. Seuss. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (American; 1990)
David Shannon. David Gets in Trouble. (American; 2002)
David Shannon. David Goes to School. (American; 1999)
Shel Silverstein. The Giving Tree. (American; 1964)
William Steig. Amos and Boris. (American; 1971)
Nancy Tafuri. Spots, Feathers and Curly Tails. (American; 1988)
Nancy Tafuri. What the Sun Sees. (American; 1997)
Tomi Ungerer.  Crictor. (French; 1958)
Alison Uttley. The Squirrel, the Hare and the Little Grey Rabbit. (British; 1929)
Rosemary Wells. Morris’s Disappearing Bag. (American; 1975)
Rosemary Wells. My Kindergarten. (American; 2004)
Brian Wildsmith. Birds. (British; 1967)
Brian Wildsmith. Wild Animals. (British; 1967)
Margery Williams. The Velveteen Rabbit. (British; 1922)
Charlotte Zolotow. Over and Over. (American; 1957)
Charlotte Zolotow. The Seashore Book. (American; 1992)

6-years-old and up
Anno. Anno’s Counting Book. (Japanese; 1977)
Edward Ardizzone. Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain. (British; 1936)
Barbara Bottner. Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I don’t). (American; 2010)
Jean de Brunhoff. The Story of Babar. (French; 1931)
Eric Carle. A House for Hermit Crab. (American; 1987)
Eric Carle. The Mixed-up Chameleon. (American; 1984)
Tomie DePaola. Strega Nona. (American; 1975)
Roger Duvoisin. Petunia. (American; 1973)
Paul Galdone. The Magic Porridge Pot. (American; 1976)
Marie-Louise Gay. Rainy Day Magic. (Canadian; 1987)
Russell Hoban. Best Friends for Frances. (American; 1969)
Munro Leaf. The Story of Ferdinand. (American; 1936)
Leo Lionni. An Extraordinary Egg. (American; 1994)
Robert Munsch. David’s Father. (Canadian; 1983)
Robert Munsch. Mortimer. (Canadian; 1985)
Daniel Pinkwater. Bear’s Picture. (American; 2008)
Margret and H.A. Rey. Curious George. (American; 1941)
Cynthia Rylant. Night in the Country. (American; 1986)
Maurice Sendak. Chicken Soup with Rice. (American; 1962)
Dr. Seuss. Green Eggs and Ham. (American; 1960)
Esphyr Slobodkin. Caps for Sale. (Russian; 1938)
Chris Van Allsburg. The Polar Express. (American; 1985)
Judith Viorst. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. (American; 1972)
Lynd Ward. The Biggest Bear. (American; 1952)
Rosemary Wells. Emily’s First 100 Days of School. (American; 2000)
Rosemary Wells. Yoko. (American; 1998)
Brian Wildsmith. Fishes. (British; 1968)
Taro Yashima. Umbrella. (Japanese; 1958)
Jane Yolen. Owl Moon. (American; 1987)
Gene Zion. Harry and the Lady Next Door. (American; 1960)
Gene Zion. Harry the Dirty Dog. (American; 1956)
Charlotte Zolotow. William’s Doll. (American; 1972)

7-years-old and up
Harry Allard. Miss Nelson is Missing. (American; 1977)
Judith Barrett. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. (American; 1978)
Ludwig Bemelmans. Madeline in London. (American; 1961)
John Burningham. Mr. Gumpy’s Outing. (British; 1971)
Ann Blades. Mary of Mile 18. (Canadian; 1969)
Anthony Brown. A Walk in the Park. (British; 1977)
Ilene Cooper. The Golden Rule. (American; 2007)
Tim Egan. Dodsworth in London. (American; 2009)
Paul Galdone. The Three Billy Goats Gruff. (American; 1973)
Paul Goble. The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses. (British; 1978)
M. B. Goffstein. Family Scrapbook. (American; 1978)
M. B. Goffstein. Me and My Captain. (American; 1974)
M. B. Goffstein. Neighbors. (American; 1979)
Karen Hesse. Come On, Rain! (American; 1999)
Russell Hoban.  A Bargain for Frances. (American; 1970)
Russell Hoban. Bread and Jam for Frances. (American; 1964)
Syd Hoff. Danny and the Dinosaur. (American; 1958)
Rachel Isadora. Hansel and Gretel. (American; 2009)
Rachel Isadora. The Ugly Duckling. (American; 2009)
Ezra Jack Keats. Peter’s Chair. (American; 1967)
Ezra Jack Keats. Whistle for Willie. (American; 1964)
Steven Kellogg. Best Friends. (American; 1986)
Steven Kellogg. Pinkerton, Behave! (American; 1979)
Dayal Khalsa. I Want a Dog. (Canadian; 1987)
Leo Lionni. Frederick. (American; 1967)
Arnold Lobel. Days with Frog and Toad. (American; 1979)
Arnold Lobel. Frog and Toad All Year. (American; 1976)
David McPhail. Mole Music. (American; 1999)
Robert Munsch. 50 Below Zero. (Canadian; 1992)
Jon Muth. Zen Shorts. (American; 2005)
Helen Recorvits. My Name is Yoon. (American; 2003)
Cynthia Rylant. The Relatives Came. (American; 1985)
Maurice Sendak. Where the Wild Things Are. (American; 1963)
Dr. Seuss. The Lorax. (American; 1971)
Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. Nate the Great. (American; 1972)
Peter Spier. Peter Spier’s Rain. (American; 1982)
William Steig. Doctor De Soto. (American; 1982)
Chris Van Allsburg. Jumanji. (American; 1981)
Judith Viorst. Rosie and Michael. (American; 1974)
Bernard Waber. The House on East 88th Street. (American; 1962)
Bernard Waber. Lovable Lyle. (American; 1969)
Bernard Waber. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. (American; 1965)
Bernard Waber. Ira Sleeps Over. (American; 1972)
Barbara Williams. Albert’s Toothache. (American; 1974)
Jane Yolen. All Those Secrets of the World. (American; 1991)

8-years-old and up
Allan Ahlburg. Previously. (British; 2007)
Anno. Anno’s Journey. (Japanese; 1977)
Anno. Anno’s Mysterious Multiplying Jar. (Japanese; 1992)
Eve Bunting. Walking to School. (Irish; 2008)
Barbara Cooney. Miss Rumphius. (American; 1982)
Sharon Creech. A Fine, Fine School. (American; 2001)
Joanna Galdone. Tailypo: A Ghost Story. (American; 1977)
Marilyn Helmer. Fog Cat. (Canadian; 1998)
Leo Lionni. Matthew’s Dream. (American; 1991)
Leo Lionni. Tico and the Golden Wings. (American; 1971)
Arnold Lobel. Ming Lo Moves the Mountains. (American; 1982)
Patricia McKissack. Goin’ Someplace Special. (American; 2001)
Robert Munsch. A Promise is a Promise. (Canadian; 1992)
Jon Muth. Zen Ties. (American; 2008)
Bill Peet. The Ant and the Elephant. (American; 1972)
Bill Peet. The Caboose Who Got Loose. (American; 1971)
Bill Peet. Chester the Worldly Pig. (American; 1965)
Bill Peet. Fly Homer Fly. (American; 1969)
Cynthia Rylant. When I Was Young in the Mountains. (American; 1982)
Peter Spier. Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent. (American; 1975)
William Steig. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. (American; 1969)
William Steig. Brave Irene. (American; 1986)
Sarah L. Thomson. Imagine a Day. (American; 2005)
Sarah L. Thomson. Imagine a Night. (American; 2003)
Sarah L. Thomson. Imagine a Place. (American; 2008)
Chris Van Allsburg. The Polar Express. (American; 1985)
Judith Viorst. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. (American; 1972)
Bernard Waber. Courage. (American; 2002)
Rosemary Wells. Streets of Gold. (American; 1999)
David Wiesner. Flotsam. (American; 2006)
Vera Williams. A Chair for My Mother. (American; 1982)
Jacqueline Woodson. The Other Side. (American; 2001)
Tasho Yashima. Crowboy. (Japanese; 1955)

9-years-old and up
Byrd Baylor. If You Are a Hunter of Fossils. (American; 1984)
Shirin Yim Bridges. Ruby’s Wish. (American; 2002)
David Cali. The Enemy: a Book About Peace. (Italian; 2009)
Leo and Diane Dillon. Jazz on a Saturday Night. (American; 2007)
Mordicai Gerstein. The Man Who Walked Between the Towers. (American; 2003)
Roberto Innocenti. Rose Blanche. (Italian; 1985)
Dayal Khalsa. Tales of Gambling Grandma. (Canadian; 1986)
Jon Muth. The Three Questions. (American; 2002)
Linda Sue Park. The Firekeeper’s Son. (American; 2004)
Patricia Polacco. Thank you Mr. Falker. (American; 1998)
Peter Reynolds. The Dot. (American; 2003)
Peter Reynolds. Ish. (American; 2004)
Peter Reynods. So Few of Me. (American; 2006)
Cynthia Rylant. Cat Heaven. (American; 1997)
Cynthia Rylant. Dog Heaven. (American; 1995)
Satoshi Kitamura. Stone Age Boy. (Japanese; 2007)
James Rumford. Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad. (American; 2008)
Allen Say. Grandfather’s Journey. (American; 1993)
Alice Schertle. We. (American; 2007)
Jon Scieszka. Math Curse. (American; 1995)
Uri Shulevitz. How I Learned Geography. (American; 2003)
Shaun Tan. The Red Tree. (Australian; 2003)
David Wiesner. Tuesday. (American; 1987)
Jeanette Winter. Nasreen’s Secret School. (American; 2009)
Jacqueline Woodson. Show Way. (American; 2005)
Paul Yee. Ghost Train. (Canadian; 1996)
Paul Yee. Roses Sing on New Snow. (Canadian; 1991)
Jane Yolen. Encounter. (American; 2002)

[This page may be copied for use with students if the following credit is provided: ©2010 Sophie Rosen.]

Recommendations!

Aaron’s Hair by Robert Munch is a very good picture book. This book is about wanting to be different then everyone else. Aaron seems to want to be different so he changes her hair. Next day at school everyone comes to school with the same hair style. So the next day Aaron shows up with a different hair style. The same thing happened again. It happened for two more days until Aaron had enough. He yelled to everyone “Tomorrow I am shaving my head!” . So the next day everyone comes to school with a shaved head. Except Aaron. Everyone was furious. (Brooke)

Morris, Richard. Bye-Bye, Baby! Walker and Co., 2009.
Felix is not pleased about having a younger sister. She is nothing but trouble. She should be taken back, he says, and during a trip to the zoo he imagines all the ways she could disappear. But in the car, on the way home, as he is crying disconsolately,  his little sister reaches over from her car seat and hands him his little grey donkey, Poncho. And Felix, comforted, decides she can stay after all.  Illustrated with pen and ink with watercolor and gouache, this gentle picture book is sure to bring sympathetic smiles to readers of all ages. (Ms. Rosen)

Egan, Tim. Dodsworth in New York. Houghton Mifflin, 2007.
Egan, Tim. Dodsworth in Paris. Houghton Mifflin, 2008.
Egan, Tim. Dodsworth in London. Houghton Mifflin, 2009.
These amusing little chapter books for beginning readers describe the unplanned adventures of Dodsworth as he roams famous cities and sees famous sites accompanied by a duck who has run away from home. Older students could use the books as models for writing their own stories about cities, countries and cultures around the world and throughout time.

 

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