Nona Reads

Written by Watty Piper and illustrated by George & Doris Hauman, this classic tale of choosing to be helpful has been read aloud to children across the nation since the 1920s! From its pages comes the repetition "I think I can! I think I can!" 

Another delightful book by author/illustrator Anna Dewdney, Llama Llama Gram and Grandpa combines some familiar childhood fears, a stuffed animal loss and the perfect solution flawlessly in what is, as expected with Ms. Dewdney's books, a delightful bedtime read.

Written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney, Little Excavator, with all of its construction site excitement, appeals to both girls and boys. Listen along as "Little E" finds his place among the big rigs.

Just a Nap is written and illustrated by Mercer Mayer whose works have long been favorites in our home. Her little critters and their adventures/misadventures are perfect for the preschool set. The stories are simple and contain many normal issues/fears/joys to which kiddos can very well relate. And, as you may have already guesses, this particular story is about naps...rather, a nap....an unwante...

The Very Hungry Caterpillar--written and illustrated by the amazing and inimitable Eric Carle--is an absolute masterpiece. The simple story of an ever-hungrier caterpillar's journey to metamorphosis holds the attention of both young and old. If you have occasion, please look up a hard copy of this as the illustrations are true works of art....and maybe you might even visit the floating exhibit of...

Written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond, If You Give a Moose a Muffin follows in the footsteps of the earlier books in the series and is to be considered an absolute delight. The step-by-step progression leading to the already-guessed eventual end brings you all the way back to the beginning of the story. Truly a pleasure to kiddos and those who are reading to them.

Written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond, If You Give a Moose a Muffin follows in the footsteps of the earlier books in the series and is to be considered an absolute delight. The step-by-step progression and then the eventual end which brings you all the way back to the beginning it’s a pleasure to kiddos and those who are reading to them.

Written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond, If You Give a Pig a Pancake follows in the footsteps of the earlier books in the series and is to be considered an absolute delight. The step-by-step progression and then the eventual end which brings you all the way back to the beginning it’s a pleasure to kiddos and those who are reading to them.

A fun book your kiddos will want to song along with, Loren Long’s “There’s a Hole in the Log on the Bottom of the Lake” has an unexpected ending that will have the grownups smiling.

Written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is an absolute delight when it comes to children’s book. The step-by-step progression and then the eventual end which brings you all the way back to the beginning it’s a pleasure to young adult. Beware, though, as you will end up wanting to be all of the rest of the series. Now.

A give-away from Chick-Fil-A, this little book Duck& Goose is a delight to read. It is a story about wrong assumptions and friendship. Our copy is quite worn from reading so it definitely was worth the cost of lunch out. 

Written in 1950 by Phyllis Krasilovsky and illustrated by Barbara Cooney, this precious little book is worth finding in a used bookstore for yourself. It is a tale teaching the value of doing hard things when they need to be done as letting them pile up can become unsurmountable...without a little intervention. You will enjoy reading it as much as your listeners will enjoy following along to see h...

Giraffes Can't Dance , written by Giles Andreae and illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees, is a delightful newer classic for children that focuses on learning to do things in the way that best suits you. A happy ending and great illustrations make it a book you might want to get for yourself!

Written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, this adorable book is a winner hands down! When something big and loud spooks the toughest animals in the neighborhood, there remains nothing to do but to call Mama Frog.... Come listen and see if you think she is up to the task!

Written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by K.G. Campbell, we stumbled upon this book through the Dolly Parton program for early readers in Tennessee, and are thankul that we did! It's a delightful read about a bossy little miss and a hungry bear cub and what happens when there is only one cookie left.... 

Caldecott Honor recipient Rachel Isadora's I Just Want to Say Good Night is a beautiful sharing of a little girl's good night ritual...from her good night greeting to the goat all the way to her closing words to her favorite book, every parent has lived a similar progression and can smile (now) in understanding. It is a favorite of ours, to be sure. The illustrations make if worth purchasing or ch...

Janell Cannon's Stellaluna is a classic that you definitely want in your repertoire. With the anxiety of being lost resolved by a wee little baby fruit bat, all by herself, this tale has just enough "scare" in it to be fascinating to those kiddos just beginning to address these kinds of fears. A beautiful read made better only with a snuggle!

Written by Lisa Mccourt and delightfully illustrated by Cyd Moore, I Love You, Stinky Face is a statement of determination to love a tot no matter what! Whimsical and magical and delightfully daring, this is a sweet read even for tiny kiddos, especially when paired with a snuggle. Do get the book, though, as the illustrations are paired perfectly with the ideas that you will want to see it for you...

Rebecca Patterson's My No, No, No Day is a delight for parents and kiddos alike as we have ALL had a no, no, no day from time to time. The most delightful part of all? The book ends with a yes, yes, yes day--the note of hope we all need to get through those more difficult times. 

Written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Jen Corace, Little Hoot is a delightful read with humor for children and their adult readers. The unfairness of the life of a little owl is the topic and is a sweet reversal of all that a toddler wants at bedtime--to stay up later!

Written by Joshua Karsh and illustrated by Corey Ohayon, this little book tells a secret about a certain red-headed monster...can you guess it before the last page? A perfect read for toddlers and the rest of the preschool crowd.

On the Night You Were Born , by Nancy Tillman, is a delightful read at bedtime with a wee one cuddled in your lap. It celebrates your listener and shares some of the awe there is to be found in the soul of a child.

An all-time classic children's book, Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat is a spunky, fast-paced book that can tie your tongue into knots and tickle your imagination--all at once. The illustrations are classic Dr. Seuss and do not disappoint. If you don't already have this in your library, it is worth ordering.

If I Were A Kangaroo, written by Mylisa Larsen and illustrated by Anna Raff, is a cuddly read with your toddler(s). Calm and quiet, it perfectly sets the bedtime scene for you and your littles. 

A children's classic, this book gathers no dust on our bookshelves. Written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney, Llama Llama Red Pajama sweetly walks us through bedtime fears--it is as though the writer were a kiddo herself. From Llama Llama's intent listening to his whirlwind of fear, this book hits the mark on a common source of childhood fear and anxiety.