Oh, the places you’ll go! Every year schools across the country celebrate National Read Across America Day, designated by the National Education Association as a day to celebrate the gift of literature in observance of Dr. Seuss’ birthday. We referenced the for some of their top picks for children's books.
Our list has something for all ages so please take a look. Most of these selections can also be read for free online using Google Books.
Head over to either library with your youngsters and get reading:
-“Bear Snores On” by Karma Wilson: This book has won numerous awards and earned New York Times- and Publishers Weekly-bestseller status in the children's picture book category. While all of the animals of the forest slowly make their way out of the cold to get warm in Bear’s cave, brew tea and make food, Bear continues to hibernate and snore away.
-“Bark George” by Jules Feiffer: A humorous journey unfolds for George the Dog as his mother chides him until he learns to bark properly. But George won’t go “arf” until after he “oinks”, “quacks” and “moos” a few times.
-“King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub” by Audrey and Don Wood: In this Elizabethan-styled tome, all the members of Bidgood’s court try to drag him out of his bubbly tub, but instead get drawn in to “do battle” with the king using toy ships and warriors, among other adventures.
-“Tikki Tikki Tembo” by Arlene Mosel: If you haven't already read this classic, you may have heard someone chant the deliriously long name of its Chinese protagonist: “Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo”, by now a famous refrain the world of nursery schools.
-“Growing Vegetable Soup” by Lois Ehlert: In this highly colorful book, Ehlert chronicles the growth of a vegetable garden culminating in “the best soup ever.” An invisible narrator details the whole process from preparing the tools, digging holes for the seeds, weeding plants, picking vegetables, washing, chopping, cooking and finally savoring the homemade soup while planning to grow more next season.
BONUS PICK--“Horton Hears a Who!” by Dr. Seuss: No list would be complete without a veritable selection from the man himself! Seuss’ second book featuring Horton the Elephant, the first being Horton Hatches the Egg, teaches the invaluable lesson that “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”
