1000 Books Before Kindergarten

How to Catch a Monster meets Mel Fell in this sweet and not-too-spooky picture book about a monster who must face his fears to help his friend look for her missing pet.

Seth the monster is supposed to be scary. Instead, he’s the one who’s scared…of almost everything. His family says he’ll grow out of it, but he’s not so sure. And when his best friend Ruthie’s turtle goes missing, Seth joins the search but worries he’ll be too frightened to be of any help.

The hunt for Flash the turtle takes them across a river, through dark woods, and into a haunted house. Seth still struggles with feeling afraid until he realizes Ruthie is worried, too! No longer alone in his fear, Seth may finally be able to find his courage and monster up for the sake of his friend.

For fans of Richard Scarry, join two friends on a hilarious adventure through an animal city as they embark on a topsy-turvy journey to find each other.

Leo and Kimbo are best friends. Despite living on opposite sides of the city, they meet almost every day. But today is a very special day: it's Kimbo's birthday!

Leo decides to surprise his friend with a birthday present and so heads off to meet up with Kimbo across the busy city. But little does Leo know that Kimbo is headed to Leo's house! Will they ever get to celebrate together?

There is so much to see in this zany city: there's a bug parade, a shop selling rhymes, a busy bakery selling cream puffs and ice cream, a Robo-Dog dancing in the park, and so much more!

From the creators of No. 5 Bubblegum Street, featuring artwork that "share[s] the bright hand-drawn style of beloved Scarry characters" (The Times), join the friends as their paths get tangled and the city takes them on an adventure. Will they ever get to celebrate together?

There is so much to see in this vibrant city! Come along and join the adventure!

 

For readers ages 3-7, this is a stunningly illustrated celebration of tolerance, togetherness, and the power of community.

Little Red is delighted when he discovers a beautiful tree--and he wants to keep it all to himself! But he soon realizes he is not alone in the tree. Birds stop by to rest on its branches during a long flight. An elephant uses the tree's rough bark to scratch its back. And with all of the other animals, bugs, and birds that call the tree home, it's just too noisy for Little Red! He decides to set out to find ANOTHER tree, just for himself--but when he has a scary run-in with a leopard, Little Red learns the value of sharing, community, tolerance, and friends who have your back.

Life is a collection of big and little moments, and all are celebrated in this vibrant, moving keepsake—a perfect gift for graduations or other notable events.

A moment is made when everything that came before meets what is happening now. Each moment is new. It’s a song and how you hear it. It’s a sunny day and how you feel it.

In this exhilarating and meaningful book, all the happenings in a person’s life—the brave ones, the peaceful ones, the nervous, proud, and grateful ones—combine to make us who we are and to light the way to what’s next. It’s just the right read for a child who’s about to graduate from kindergarten, celebrate a birthday, or move to a new home, or even for a teenager on their way to college. Like Oh, the Places You’ll Go and The Wonderful Things You Will Be, this cherishable book brings joy and inspiration.

A young boy's disappointing birthday party gets turned upside down with a blast from the prehistoric past in this hilarious, dino-mite picture book adventure.

Jake loves dinosaurs, so with his birthday coming up, he knows just what kind of party he wants — a dinosaur sleepover! Dino games, dino balloons, dino cake. Dino everything! But when the big day arrives, his friends all come down with the flu, and the party seems to be on the edge of extinction.

Then, in the middle of the night, Jake hears a strange noise and goes to investigate. To his surprise, he finds some prehistoric party guests right there in his living room! They've invited themselves in to make sure Jake has a birthday he'll never forget —just don't tell the T-Rex!

An unforgettable birthday tale with huge laughs and heart, this newest picture book from acclaimed author Linda Bailey celebrates friendship, inclusion and fun – and is brought to life with magnificent, cinematic artwork from award-winning animation director and illustrator Joe Bluhm.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The Grumpy Monkey series returns with a celebration of relationships between mothers and their children. Grumpy Monkey offers to babysit the little animals in the jungle but when things go haywire, help comes from an unexpected source. Includes two bonus pages of stickers!

When Jim Panzee offers to step in as a temporary mom, he thinks, It will be fun. How hard can it be? But when he’s immediately bombarded with a chorus of needs such as “Carry me, mommy,” and “I’m hungry.” Grumpy Monkey doesn’t know what to do first.

He tries his best but when the baby animals start falling out of a tree, Jim is completely overwhelmed. That’s when his mom swings down, picks him up, calms the baby animals, and makes everything right. Jim understands and appreciates the power of parenting and the unconditional love his mom has for him.

Two pages of full-color stickers are included for extra fun!

A funny and adorable picture book about two friends going on an adventure and about meeting anxiety with resilience, an open mind and extra toilet paper.

Warm and Fuzzy are best friends.

Warm wants to go on an adventure, but Fuzzy isn't sure.
What if it's scary? What if it's really cold or super hot? What if there are no bathrooms, or worse: no toilet paper!

Warm says they have everything they need, but Fuzzy is worried.
Should they bring snacks? A sensible change of clothes? Toilet paper?

Warm knows where to go, but Fuzzy has questions.
Have they been there before? Will there be people there? Should they bring gifts? Or toilet paper??

This reassuring story explores themes of resilience, patience, bravery and anxiety in a gently humorous and familiar way. It will remind worriers of all ages that no matter how big or small the adventure, they have it in themselves to meet it. Even if it means bringing their own toilet paper.

In this powerful and inspiring picture book, a deaf girl stands up for herself and takes off her shoes while dancing at her Carnival performance so she can feel the music through her bare feet.

Cesaria is going to perform for the seaside Carnival. She skips past the beach barefoot, dressed in her favorite peacock leotard.

But when her dance director tells her she must put on her shoes to go on stage, Cesaria signs, “Peacocks don’t wear shoes!”

You see, Cesaria hears the music through the soles of her feet, but no one seems to understand...

...That is, until all the dancers take off their shoes, and learn to feel the music, just like Cesaria.

Cesaria Feels the Beat is a lyrical and heartfelt story about deafness, community, and Carnival.

An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller
A #1 Indie Bestseller

With stunning illustrations and an inspiring, universal message, The Yellow Bus from #1 New York Times bestselling Loren Long is a tender and hopeful modern classic -- the perfect choice for holiday gift-giving that will bring joy to every bookshelf.

There is a bright yellow bus who spends her days driving. She loves carrying children from one important place to another. Every morning they climb in... Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, giggle, giggle-patter. And they fill her with joy. 

As time passes, things change. The Yellow Bus gets a new driver, a new route, and new passengers, young and old. Until one day the driving stops for good, and the Yellow Bus is left on her own. And yet, no matter where she is, the Yellow Bus still finds joy and discovery in the world around her. 

With stirring black-and-white artwork and powerful pops of color, The Yellow Bus is a story that spans generations with an enduring and poignant message about new beginnings, happiness, and hope. Perfect for fans of Oh, The Places You'll Go and The Wonderful Things You Will Be, this beautifully-illustrated tale celebrates the winding road of life with warmth and wonder.

Praise for The Yellow Bus:

A New York Times Best Book of the Year
An NPR Best Book of 2024
A New York Magazine Best Book of 2024
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2024
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2024
A Booklist Editors Choice Pick

“With shades of The Giving Tree — its sweep and bittersweetness, but none of the greed — The Yellow Bus emphasizes service over self sacrifice. It functions as a sweet and speedy bedtime story, but a peek under the hood reveals a powerful engine.” –The New York Times Book Review

"A profound meditation on the passage of time. When the ride is over, readers will emerge feeling wiser, kinder and, like the title character, filled with joy." – NPR

"Echoes of The Giving Tree and other stories that mark the bittersweetness of accepting the change that comes with time." – New York Magazine

★ "A must-purchase, this book will leave readers looking at objects around them differently long after its covers are closed." — School Library Journal, starred review

★ "A moving contemplation on the passage of time, The Yellow Bus skillfully drives home the joys of a well-lived life of purpose." — Booklist, starred review

★ "All kids will benefit from the added introspection of the seemingly mundane in the world around them." — BCCB, starred review

From bestselling mother-son duo Surishtha Sehgal and Kabir Sehgal comes an upbeat rhyming picture book counting backwards from twenty to one delicious Indian and South Asian treats.

Off to the market for a tasty bite, Dada and Sona shop for tonight!

From twenty ladoos to sixteen mangoes to ten butter naan to seven samosas, the market is full of endless scrumptious snacks to sample. Dada and Sona stock up on all the goodies in preparation for a special surprise. Readers familiar with the foods featured and those looking for new favorites will find their tummies rumbling!