Big Sister, Little Sister by LeUyen Pham

I fell in love with Big Sister, Little Sister because I am a big sister and I have a little sister. This book captures so much of what that experience is like. 

Pham goes between their two perspectives both in simple statements and amazing pictures.

According to the big sister, she is always right and always looks out for her little sister.  However, according to the little sister, she is always right and she doesn't need looking after. It was fun to hear my boys (big brother, little brother) identify with these girls in their sibling roles.

Pham's style of illustrating gives life to all of the facial expressions and body language that accompany interactions between sisters. Or siblings, period.

If you are a sister or have daughters or know what it means to have/be a sibling, this book is a gem.

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty

Now that all three of my kids are older, I don't have the regular pleasure of reading picture books aloud.

I still love them.

Two nights ago I read Ada Twist, Scientist aloud to a friend's daughter,  three-year old Lily. I love that it encourages children to ask questions in order to understand their world. That's what a good scientist does, right?

As any good picture book should do, David Roberts' illustrations made Lily ask questions and look for clues in order to answer some of the questions Ada Twist asks within the story.

There are a fair amount of words (great vocabulary, too!) but even with Lily at age three, there was plenty to spur excellent conversation about the basics of what it means to be a scientist.





Andrea Beaty and David Roberts have other books about children pursuing career interests. Check out these titles as well:

The Friend by Sarah Stewart

There have only been a handful of books that have caused me to actually shed physical tears while trying to read them aloud to my children. The Friend is among them.

I wish I knew more about the story behind this story--about the daughter of a rich couple who is left with the family housekeeper for a week. Beautifully illustrated by Stewart's husband David Small, we see how the older black woman loves the precocious girl left in her care. After each day's tasks - which the girl 'helps' perform - they walk down to the shore to rest and play.

Starry Safari by Linda Ashman

With bright pictures by Jeff Mack, Ashman's Starry Safari is a trip worth taking. 

A young girl whisks herself into Africa, encountering wild animals and dangers as she bumps along in her orange jeep. Nothing compares to the biggest threat of all: the safari ranger. When her dad comes in to tuck her in, pre-K readers will appreciate the imaginative leap both the author and the little girl have made together.

I like this book, too, because the main character is a brave girl - a nice find among the host of adventure stories that can be found catering to boys in children's literature.

Ian Falconer - Olivia books

Olivia is not your ordinary pig of children's literature. She dreams big and loves to wear red. Her mother tells her, "You know, you really wear me out. But I love you anyway," to which Olivia replies, "I love you anyway, too."

Precocious and quite possibly a foreshadowing of what my own daughter will be like in a few years given her current 2-yr old personality. I would be afraid except Falconer has made Olivia see her world in such large terms, which I adore as a general world-view.











After her stellar introduction to the world, Olivia has gone on in other books to do many things:

Olivia Saves the Circus

Olivia Counts

Olivia and the Missing Toy

Olivia Forms a Band

Olivia Helps with Christmas

Olivia Goes to Venice

Olivia and the Fairy Princess


If you haven't introduced your children to Olivia, you should.