I Saw an Ant on the Railroad Track by Joshua Prince

Tickity Tack. That's the sound of an ant on a railroad track.

Clickity clack. That's the sound of a train on the railroad track.

What will switchman Jack do?

In this book, cleverly illustrated by Macky Pamintuan, Prince has out-rhymed himself with the ant who is looking for a snack while walking down the track oblivious that he and the train might smack into each other. 

I enjoyed this simple story full of toddler-appropriate suspense.

Mouse Went Out to Get a Snack by Lyn Rossiter McFarland

Awhile ago I was on the prowl for books that would introduce new foods to my children since actually serving new foods is a sure-fire way to breed whiners around here.

I am happy to say we have moved past that stage of toddlerhood.

(*waiting while the cheers subside)

 Mouse Went Out to Get a Snack is a fun tale following a mouse who raids a banquet table.  It not only talks about different types of food (though some are not in a food group at all, like jelly beans) but because he adds one more of each new food to his plate making it a counting book as well. 

By the time he's loaded his plate with delectable choices, children begin to see there's no way he'll be able to eat all of it or carry it back to his hole. The problem is exacerbated, too, by the background presence of a cat. In the end, mouse ends up with what he really wanted in the beginning: a snack.

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.

Mrs. Crump's Cat by Linda Smith

If I'm honest, it took a couple readings of this book to sell me. Not because it was poorly written or illustrated, but because I was worried it contained too many words for my young children and that they would lose interest.

They didn't.

So...I figured when they chose it for a second reading they'd most certainly ditch it when we reached the third or fourth page.

Again, they didn't. 

What an excellent example of how I underestimate my children: they loved this story and were willing to hear every important word.

Mrs. Crump does not want to keep the cat that showed up one day on her doorstep. However, over the course of the next few days she finds herself buying cream and other small 'necessary' things for the cat.  When no one responds to her posted ad, she finds herself happy to keep the cat.

The Lamb Who Came for Dinner by Steve Smallman

In The Lamb Who Came to Dinner, Wolf believes his dinner has just shown up on his doorstep in the form of a small lamb. What he wasn't prepared for was how the little lamb would soon work its way into his heart.

How could he eat a lamb that he was concerned about getting too cold out in the winter night?

This is a wonderful book showing how even the toughest heart can become softened. Illustrated by Joelle Dreidemy.

Ouch by Ragnhild Scamell

When an apple falls onto Hedgehog's prickly back and sticks, it seems as if there will be no way to remove it.

Ouch! is a delightful tale that follows Hedgehog as she asks her animal friends to help her remove the apple -- only to have more items stick to her back. Though it seems there will be no end to Hedgehog's troubles Ouch!, illustrated by Michael Terry, ends on a sweet note.

Where's Pup? by Dayle Ann Dodds

Where's Pup? That's the question that drives this simple book.

In Where's Pup? a circus performer walks through the circus grounds, asking other performers if they've seen his dog. Each one sends him on to another, introducing the reader to the many kinds of acts that make up a circus: jugglers, acrobats, lion tamers and more.

Pierre Pratt's bright illustrations give readers a behind-the-scenes window into the life of a circus.