Baby Preschool Books

I use these flashcards in my sign language classes I teach to babies, toddlers, children, adults, and special needs. Children love them, the cards have cute illustrations which keeps their interest.

I first purchased sets I and II for my first great-grandson. He's now two and still uses many of the signs his mom and dad taught him from these cards. He was able to ask for things long before he talked. And it's so darned cute to watch him. I also purchased sets I and II for my newest great-granddaughter because they were so successful with my first great-grandie. I highly recommend these cards as a wonderful teaching aid.

I purchased these flash cards to help my family learn ASL as I have two hard of hearing children who are learning at school. The children like the pictures and often look through them on their own practicing the signs. My one complaint is that some of them have been simplified to be easier for small children with poor motor skills and the card does not show the correct sign.

These cards are great for learning basic signs with your kids. Older kids learn fast from the cards, and toddlers enjoy them too, but be sure to laminate them because they bend and tear easily in toddlers' hands. The pictures can also be used for communication before the signs are memorized because a child can point to what they want by finding the picture card.

These cards are excellent. Cards are big and instructions in back SIMPLE! I have started using some of the signs with my 6 month old and she is already signing back! Love it!

It's very short, only a few sentences per spread.

It's just not very *interesting* to me. Not as funny or catchy as most of her books.

But if you're trying to read to a baby or young toddler, you need all the short books you can get, and this one will fit the bill.

You can't go wrong with these Sandra Boynton books. My child loved these and were a great entry into reading. A child can recognise the relationship between the pictures and the words as you read to them. It sets them up nicely for a lifetime love of books.

I think I should have bought this for my 2 year old son earlier, before he discovered most of his body parts because he doesn't seem too interested in this book. It's too bad because I really like it.

Sandra Boynton is the heir apparent to Dr. Seuss with her funny, unique style of cartooning as well as her sing-song, wacky rhyming texts. This little book about three horned monsters describing themselves from the horns on the top of their heads, down to their toes is yet another winner from Sandra.

My two year-old loves all of her books and the sillier the better. I often have to read them four or five times in a row before I can switch to another book. Fantastic!

This wonderful Boynton book leads us through all the different parts of out bodies with three monsters. The book covers our horns (What did you say? You don't have horns? All the more power to ya!), head, ears, mouth, feet, toes, nose, eyes, tummy, belly button, back, tail (You don't have one of these either? You do have a tailbone at least don't you? Yes? Good. I was beginning to worry about you. I have a tail.), arms, legs, hands, fingers, teeth and tongues. Each time a body part is mentioned, the monsters are there to show theirs off. The monsters are, like any Boynton creature, as cute as can be. I especially like their big grins that show off their teeth. Like other Boynton books, the words rhyme and flow nicely. I like this one a lot, even if it isn't one of my absolute favorite Boynton books.

Loggie-log-log-log

This book has so many great ideas. I love the snippets of helpful tips, other resources and good ideas on the sides. I would recommend this book to all new teachers!!!

Since I am somewhat new to the teaching profession, I was looking for all of the resources I could get!! I came across this book, and I really like the way that it's set up. It is simply written, and broken up into organized bullets in each section!

There are chapters containing subjects such as: Countdown to the first day, the first day, the first month, the first year, the end of school. Within those sections, you have things like classroom procedures and rules, student helpers, lesson plans, substitutes, working with parents, learning centers, assessment, and everything else that you could imagine!

I loved the "helpers" on the sides of the pages! Seymour Books gives you resources for more reading!
Sir Chalott gives you webpages!
Uneeda Halt comes around to make sure that you do the most important things first!
Pierre Tutor directs you to the person you need to talk to when it comes to site-specific info, mentoring, and peer coaching!
Mia First encourages you to take time for yourself and to relax!!

At the very end, there are reproducible pages for behavior charts, progress reports, behavior bucks, and agenda chart icons! (reading together, art, music, library, drama, ABC's, etc) There are also helper chart icons so you can copy and laminate for class jobs! I have always loved scholastic books and I highly recommend this one for new classroom teachers grades K-4!
Diane (kindergarten teacher)

I have seen many books written for beginning teachers and this is the best for many reason, one is the site for addition information and various general guide and tips. There is no book to compare!

It was the exactly the book I was looking for with great info on where to find stuff for your classroom, classroom management tips and what information you need to file. If you need a book to guide you through the process of creating your very first classroom, this is the book!

I received this book as a baby gift when my daughter was born. It was my favorite book to read her as an infant, she seemed mesmerized by the bright pictures even when she was only a few months old. The illustrations are bright and beautiful. Now as a toddler, she still loves to read it, making the "shhhh" motion and clapping and giggling at the "suprise" at the end. We own the board book version and even so our pages show a lot of wear. I think this book is so wonderful for babies that I have purchased several copies as baby gifts as well.

I will note, if you're looking for the perfect ABC book to teach your preschooler his/her alphabet, this probably isn't the book you want. The letters are a little curly-que and only capitol letters are shown. However, it a great book for introduction to the alphabet and is very entertaining for children. I also recommend purchasing the board book version on its own (not as part of the set). The board book is much sturdier and the books in the set are a bit more abbreviated in their illustrations--which to me are the best part of this series. Of course the hardcover version has paper pages, which is impractical for a toddler to whom this book is well-suited.

Wonderful book and highly recommended!

i bought this for my 14 month old daughter and she loves it!! although she is a fan of the miss spider tv show too. her big brother, 6 years old reads it to her which i love to see. it is colorful and not too big so i can take it in my bag when we go out and she can hold it herself. nicole

My kids love this engaging abc book. Its artwork is beautiful, and its bug theme is fun. My son learned the whole upper case alphabet (at the age of 3) just from having this book read to him (he wanted it again and again).

Even after almost three years, I still love to read and re-read these books to my girls. David Kirk's artwork is rich and deeply textured and the words are not your usual fare ("K" is for "Katydid"), roll of the tongue, and, in my experience, pique children's interest -- I particularly love introducing my girls to "hummingbirds hide inside irises" and "jumping june bugs kiss katydids" His books are where poetry meets art for the under five set. Added plus: I get a break from chanting "Brown, Bear"! For this alone I am grateful.

This is a great book for a young child. The bright illustrations and the engaging text have kept my son entertained for many months, and he in turn has kept me entertained, as he fandangos with the fireflies, kisses the katydid and laughs with the ladybugs.
At least as important as the entertainment is the fact that at 22 months, my son is learning to recognize the letters of the alphabet and the different sounds that they make, and he has been exposed to words, like fandango, that probably would not have come up in our every day world.

When I was a working librarian, I read this books (and the others)to my storytimes. When I retired I started to volunteer in an inner city school. I was not certain how the children would react to the book. I am now in my sixth year reading to Preschool, Kindergarten and First Grade. They hear the first four books each year and they always ask me to repeat the books. The line about "no one had ever asked him to come in" always gets a great response. I think everyone should read these McDuff books. So many classes can't be wrong!

Dear old Rosemary Wells. If you've ever read her books about that famous bunny Max or classic titles like, "Morris' Disappearing Bag" then you know that her stories, while disjointed, can often be truly charming works of preschool art. So when I discovered the McDuff books (written by her but illustrated by someone else entirely) I was ill at ease. I mean, Wells draws such cute little bunnies. How could anyone else adapt to her words? On reading the first book of the McDuff series, "McDuff Moves In", I was amazed to find myself suddenly on the oposte side of the fence. The pictures in this book are really quite charming. From the cute little Scottie named McDuff to the 1950s setting, visually this story's a charmer. But strange as it may seem, Wells's words are out-of-place here. Though a brief tale with little in the way of plot, somehow this book is not as direct or understandable as it might be. A pity.

On our first view of little white McDuff, he's sitting in the back of a city pound truck. After a providential bump in the road and a quick escape, the solitary doggy goes down a nice suburban street in search of food and shelter. Door number one at the first house growls at him. Door number two at the second house hisses at him. But door number three at the third house is just right. There, a friendly couple take him in, feed him, give him a bath, then decide they haven't room for a doggy. Fortunately an attempted car ride to the pound proves that maybe this couple has grown a bit attached to their shaggy new friend. Happy ending and shortbread biscuits for all.

The book bears a striking resemblance to Lyn Rossiter McFarland's subsequent similarly plotted picture book, "Widget". The difference, however, is that "Widget" is the stronger story. Though I was with "McDuff" through the beginning, about the time he stumbles on the kindly couple I found my eyebrows slowly beginning to lift. For example, when McDuff appears outside the third home, the book says the following: "Somebody opened the door and asked him to come in. It was Lucy. 'This is Fred', said Lucy". Looking at the picture of both Fred and Lucy staring at the pup on their porch, I naturally assumed that now the dog was named Fred. Not so much. The text and the pictures don't mesh particularly well either. When the book says that Fred checks McDuff's collar, the picture shows Fred sitting on a chair with McDuff hiding underneath. Plus the language is oddly stilted. It ends with the words, " 'How happy we are!', they said in their dreams", which is half an inch shy of hokey and a sneeze away from outright saccharine. I don't think I'm conveying the book's inability to tell its story convincingly to you. Nevertheless, I strongly urge you to flip through this story long before you decide to buy it. Long before.

Which is not to say that the pictures don't almost make up for its narrative flaws. Illustrator Susan Jeffers has a Caldecott Honor Award under her belt and it shows. From Lucy's painted toenails and felt hat spotted bathrobe to the image of the three new friends happily munching on McDuff's shortbread biscuits at the tale's end, this book seeks to enchant. Seeks and, were it not for the words, would succeed. I loved the fabulous 40s-50s decor. I liked the scared little McDuff turning into a confident happy pup in a loving home. I liked how realistic these images were and how original the setting became. Obviously if Rosemary Wells had illustrated this tale herself she would've done it in an entirely different way. It's just her own bloody good luck that she found herself paired with such a supremely talented artist.

So it's entirely up to you. "McDuff Moves In" has much in its favor and much against it as well. Personally, I suggest that if you are looking for a tale of a cute little white Scottie finding a home then you should seek out "Widget" by Lyn Rossiter McFarland forthwith. If, however, you're a fan of the period picture book genre and you like Susan Jeffers's work, "McDuff" may be a great choice for you and yours. It is not Rosemary Wells's best writing and the story is pretty touch n' go. Still, there are things to recommend it. Definitely give it a trial run.

I am a 2nd grader at Anna Merritt Elementary School. My name is Ashleigh. I have been reading books by Rosemary Wells. My favorite book is McDUFF MOVES IN because it makes me feel happy when McDuff finds a home.

I own this book, as well as others in the series. They are just great! My mom owns a Westie, perfectly named Duffy(he got the name before we new about the books), and the illustrator captures the essence of the Westie. Every picture is perfectly drawn to show the character of a Westie. I love the author as well. I have been a teacher and have always read Ms. Wells' books to my students and the McDuff series is loved by all. McDuff moves in is just a fun book to read and I recommend it to all ages.

I am a 2nd grader. My name is Ashleigh. I have been reading books by Rosemary Wells. My favorite book is McDUFF MOVES IN. I like this book because it makes me feel happy when McDuff finds a home.

My 4 yo and I stumbled on this at the library and now we are buying for friends. We use it also when one of us is getting grumpy- we say, "let's get out of our grumpy bird mood" just like the bird in the book.

Works more often than not.
You should buy this book!

My kids are 6 and 3 and this book is a favorite in our house. Great artwork and adorable story!

I bought this book for my 3 year old daughter and it INSTANTLY became a favorite. She had the pages memorized within weeks and laughs out loud everytime she reads it. (and so do I!)
I highly recommend it!

This book is adorable! The story is cute and the artwork is very nice to look at, with the cartoon characters overtop of photographs.

It's such a wonderful story about having a bad day and how important friends are to walk beside us when we are not in the best of moods. Highly recommend.

My daughter loves reading these Usborne phonics books. The story is fun and the illustrations are cute.

my son loves this book he wants to read it over and over and is now trying to read it on his own. he loves the suprise ending...

This is a great series of books! My 19 month old son picks this and the snowman one to read ALL the time. Love them!

My son loves tractors! This one is great because the tractor pitures are very big and the book itself is short and sweet! (the way I like them!)

My one year old grandson who lives next door to us loves to be read to. He loves this book and can't wait for you to turn the page so he can "feel" each part. His favorite thing to do each afternoon is go for a tractor ride with his Paw Paw, so having a book about a tractor is really cool.

My son (11 months) absolutely loves this line of books. And even my daughter (3 1/2) enjoys them! Great for sensory skills...and fun to read.

Bought this for my son when he was 16mos old and he loved it. He still has to read it over and over. It's one book I recite to him in the store and when we come home he runs to his room for it.

My grandson makes me read it to him over and over and over. He loves this book!!

I bought this book for my three year old who LOVES fire trucks. Although he does love it, it is a bit small and seems geared toward age 1-2. It is a very short book, just a few pages, and very small for the price. The size is clearly listed on the page, but I wasn't prepared for how small it actually was. Still a cute and entertaining book my son enjoys looking at the pictures and feeling the front grill of the fire truck.

If your son/daughter is in to firetrucks,this is the book. My two-year old son is bananas over this book. He looks at it all the time and loves rubbing his hands over the textures on each page. The pictures are great and realistic. This is a must-have for the (2-year old) firetruck ethusiast! He/she will have blast with this book.

ISBN 0448102129 - Since the writing isn't new, any review of this book can really only be about the way it's packaged, and this Pudgy book is nicely - not amazingly, but nicely - packaged.

Includes The Cat and the Fiddle, Humpty Dumpty, Little Boy Blue, Mary had a Little Lamb, Jack and Jill, Little Miss Muffet, The Old Woman in a Shoe, and Wee Willie Winkie. Cute images illustrate each rhyme and each image and rhyme set takes up 2 facing pages.

Richard Walz's illustrations are good, but they lack the sort of bright colors and eye-catching features that tend to attract young not-yet-reading "readers". The pages are sturdy and the book itself is small, making it a good size for tiny hands. Better than average, not as good as fantastic, the one thing you should know before you buy it is this - what's a tuffet?

Cute little book filled with many classic nursery rhymes. There are eight total and the illustrations are also cute and pretty colorful.