Miss Nelson is Missing

Miss Nelson is Missing
by Harry Allard, illustrated by James Marshall

Miss Nelson is the sweet and nice teacher in the school. She never yells and she gives the easiest assignments. Even though she is so nice, the children in Room 207 does not listen to her.

One day, when she doesn't turn up in class. Instead, the children meets Miss. Viola Swamp, an ugly and mean teacher dressed in black and white makeup. She puts them to work, yells at them, and makes them do tons and TONS of homework. They starts to miss Miss Nelson. After a while Miss Nelson is back and the class really appreciates her and is obedient and nice to her.

Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

by Judith Viorst, Illustrated by Ray Cruz

This is a story about a boy who had a really bad day. Nothing at all was right. Everything went wrong. At the end of the day, his mommy consoles him by saying that some days are like that for other people too!

Swimmy

Swimmy
by Leo Leonni
Caldecott Honor (1964)

Swimming is a black little fish in a school of red fish. He devises a plan to camouflage himself and his new friends.

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ear

by Verna Aardema

Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon


This is an african folktake about a mosquito who boasts to an Iguana about digging yams that were almost as big as he was. The irrirated Iguana snapped grumpily and stuck two sticks in into his ears. This sets off a chain of events that leads to the death of a little owlet. A jungle conference was held to find out who was the culprit, and finally they found out that it was the mosquito. Meanwhile the mosquito listened to it all from a nearby bush and is guilt-striken. To this day she goes about whining in people's ears: "Zeee! Is everyone still angry at me?" When she does that, she gets an honest answer.... KPAO! :)

Strega Nona

Strega Nona
by Tomie de Paola
Caldecott Honor (1976)

Strega Nona lives in a small cottage in Calabria, Italy. She is a good witch that cures the townspeople of their ailments, warts, and headaches. Anthony is hired by Strega Nona to help out. She gives him very strict instructions on what he is required to do, and what he is forbidden to do... "The one thing you must never do is touch the pasta pot". Anthony sees the witch conjur delicious cooked pasta fully formed from the pot and tries to do the same. But he didn't quite catch the way to make the pasta. He could make the pot make pasta, but couldn't make it stop! The pasta flowed all over town. Strega Nona arrives in time to put a stop to the mess. The witch punishes Anthony by asking him to eat up all the pasta!

Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs

Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs
by Tomie de Paola

Tommy had two Nanas. Nana upstairs is the great grandma who is 94 years old; Nana downstairs is grandma. He loves to bewith his two nanas. One day, nana upstairs dies and Tommy was sad but learns to cope with it. A long time later, grandma dies too. Tommy thought to himself : "Now, you are both upstairs."

George and Martha

George and Martha

by James Marshall

Simple friendship story about two funny hippos. Martha makes split pea soup again and again for George, thinking that he likes it. In fact, George hates it and is thinking of how to tell Martha without hurting her feelings!

Leo the Late Bloomer

Leo the Late Bloomer

by Robert Kraus

Leo is not doing what the rest of the children are doing... he isn’t reading, or writing, or drawing, or even speaking. His father is worried but Leo’s mum knows her son will do all those things, and more, when he’s ready.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
by Eric Carle

A little caterpillar pops out of his egg, starts to look for food through the days of the week until he becomes a big, fat caterpillar. He builts a cocoon and stays inside for more than 2 weeks and transforms into a beautiful butterfly!

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

by William Steig

Caldecott Medal (1970)

The magical story of Slyvester the donkey whose hobby is collecting pebbles.

On a rainy day, Sylvester finds a magic pebble that can make wishes come true. On his way home, he sees a lion. Startled, Sylvester unthinkingly wishes he were a rock. Although safe from the lion, Sylvester cannot hold the pebble to wish himself into a donkey again. His worried parents search everywhere for him but just couldn't find him. He gets his chance to make another wish when the magic pebble is placed on his back. He is reunited with his dear family.

Corduroy

Corduroy
By Don Freeman
Published in 1968

This is a heartwarming story of a bear who lived in a department store, waiting for an owner to pick him up. He gets lucky when a little girl, Lisa, set her eyes on him and brings him home. His dreams comes true and he is in the loving care of the little girl. I like this story.

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

by Maurice Sendak

Published in 1963

This is how I got to read this book. Yesterday, I went to the WRL , which was the wrong training venue for the "Children's Literature - Classics". Another colleague of mine, Soo Chin, also got the wrong venue and we both took a by cab to TPPL where the course was held. In the taxi, Soo Chin said I could read this book, which was on this course's reading list. My first reaction was "This is definitely a boy's book! They would love this!".

This is the adventure of Max, a mischievous young boy who dons his wolf suit and gets into mischief. His mom sends him to bed without supper. Soon his imagination runs wild...his room is transformed into a forest bordering a vast sea. He sets sail for the land of the Wild Things and rules as their King. Soon he is homesick and is somehow transported back to his room, where his supper is waiting for him.

Winner, 1964 Caldecott Medal

Notable Children's Books of 1940–1970 (ALA)

1981 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Illustration

1963, 1982 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book)

Best Illustrated Children's Books of 1963, 1982 (NYT)

A Reading Rainbow Selection

1964 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award

Children's Books of 1981 (Library of Congress)

1981 Children's Books (NY Public Library)

100 Books for Reading and Sharing 1988 (NY Public Library)

Caps For Sale

Caps for Sale by Esphy Slobodkina

This is a story of a hat peddler, selling caps from a tall, tottering pile on his head. One morning, unable to sell a single cap, he sits under a tree to relax and falls asleep. When he wakes up, he finds that the tree is full of cap-wearing monkeys. He tries to recover his lost caps without success at first. He finally throws down his hat in exasperation and the monkeys follows suit. He got back all his caps!

The Bridge is Up

The Bridge is Up by Babs Bell

Published in 2004

The bridge is up and various vehicles, from a car, to a motorcycle has to wait! When the bridge finally comes down..."nobody has to wait!" Ignatius as a toddler loved this book which I borrowed from the Marine Parade Library. Great fun and definitely will delight boys.

Madeline

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

I read this book to the children at one of the storytelling sessions at Diamond Fengshan RC without realising it was a classic! It is about a girl who lived in an old house in Paris covered with vine, with twelve little girls in two straight lines. They left the house at half past nine and the smallest one was Madeline!

The book was first published in 1939 and won an Caldecott Honor (1940).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeline

Millions of Cats

Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag

The tale of elderly couple who were lonely. The wife wants a cat and so the husband went in search of one but found many cats. In the end, they managed to find the perfect cat.

This booked was awarded the Newbery Honor (1929). It is the oldest American picture book still in print. It also won he Lewis Carroll Shelf Award (1958).

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

by Beatrix Potter

Mummy Rabbit tells her four bunnies, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and Peter not to go into Mr. McGregor's garden. Peter, the mischievious one, decides to check out the garden and have to learn things the hard way. He comes back sick, is given medicine and has to go to bed early!

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do you See?
by Bill Martin Jr, Pictures by Eric Carle

Suitable for 6 months onwards
This is one of Ben's favourite book. I have read the book countless times to him! Simple to understand, and easy to read! Children would like the colourful pages and lovely animals.