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Here are my top ten books for children ages birth to five. I absolutely love children’s books. They often have beautiful artwork and illustrations along with sometimes a very profound message. I have used children’s books many times in my trainings for leadership and with teachers. As a result I have been able to share my love of children’s literature along with early learning.

The ten books I have chosen for this are some of my favorites from my years in the classroom, my years as a parent and grandparent and my years as a trainer and mentor. However, it was extremely difficult to choose just ten so I may need a sequel!

*My Top Ten Books For Children Ages Birth to Five

1. Wise Brown, Margaret. Good Night Moon. (HarperCollins, 1947) A short poem of goodnight wishes from a young rabbit preparing for, or attempting to postpone, his own slumber. Another all time favorite.
2. Keats, Ezra Jack. The Snowy Day. (Puffin Books, 1976) Everyone’s favorite! Which is a simple tale about a boy waking up to discover that snow has fallen during the night. As a result, he must go outside and explore!
3. Moon, Nicola. Lucy’s Picture. (Dial Books for Young Readers, 1995) This story takes place when Lucy’s class gets ready “to do some painting,” Lucy asks to work instead on a collage for her grandfather. Due to Lucy’s creativity the entire class gets a lesson in diversity.
4. Parnell, Peter & Justin Richardson. And Tango Makes Three. (Simon & Schuster, 2005) This tale is based on a true story about a charming penguin family living in New York City’s Central Park Zoo.Therefore, it will capture the hearts of penguin lovers everywhere.
5. Rosa-Casanova, Sylvia. Mama Provi and the Pot of Rice. (Simon & Schuster, 1997) When her granddaughter is sick, Mama Provi makes a big pot of arroz con pollo for her and sets off on the journey from her first-floor apartment to Lucy’s eighth floor home in the same building. However, on each floor Mama Provi trades a bit of rice for a new type of food.
6. Seeger, Pete Abiyoyo. (Simon & Schuster, 2001) Based on a South African lullaby and folksong, a ukulele-playing boy and his magician father are always getting into mischief, so they are banished to the edge of town. There they have an opportunity to redeem themselves when Abiyoyo, a horrible people eating giant approaches the village. As a result, they are welcomed back into the town.
7. Smith, Jada Pinkett. Girls Hold Up This World. (Scholastic, 2005) Smith celebrates the inner strength of women and girls in this short photo-essay with a rhyming text. Even more stunning because of the beautiful illustrations.
8. Smith, Cynthia Leitich. Jingle Dancer. (Morrow Junior Books, 2000) While watching a video of her Grandma Wolfe perform a jingle dance, Jenna is determined to dance at an upcoming powwow. As a result she learns about her family and culture.
9. Tarplay, Natasha Anastasia. I Love My Hair! (Little, Brown & Company New York, 1998)  A young African-American girl describes the familiar mother-daughter nightly ritual of combing the tangles out of her hair.
10. Williams, Vera B. A Chair for my Mother. (Mullberry Books, 1982) A young girl tells how she, her mother, and her grandmother save up all their spare coins in a big glass jar toward the day when they will buy a much-needed easy chair. Therefore, showing how families work together for a goal.

Don’t forget to read my post on assessing children’s literature here!