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Reading Ideas for Children The Gleason Public Library children's librarians have compiled a nice starting list of books for some of our youngest readers. If you have a favorite, let us know. Coping with Loss Nursery Rhymes, Fingerplays & Songs Picture Books for the Very Young (6 months - 2 years) Picture Books for Twos and Threes Sure-Fire Hits to Read Aloud to Fours, Fives and Sixes Firefighters Princess Sports Picture Books Elementary school-age reading list, Carlisle Public Schools Award Winners Newbery Medal Winners and Honor Books, 1922-Present Caldecott Medal Winners and Honor Books, 1938-Present Internet Safety Links Netsmartz Online Resources for Parents and Children from the American Library Association Parenting Links 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know Reading Rockets Early Literacy from Zero to Three

At first glance, a picture book seems to be a very simple thing: typically 32 pages in length, designed for small children, colorful with cartoon-like renderings of characters, tell a simple story. But good picture books are actually carefully designed to use deliberate narrative devices, meaningful illustrations, and design elements that compliment the tone and mood of the book. Four recent additions to the children's picture book collection at the Gleason Public Library are fine examples of this definition.

Scoot by Carloyn Falwell is the simple story of six turtles sunning themselves down at the pond. The charm of this book is in the details. Each illustration is a beautifully crafted collage rendered in cut and torn paper elements, stamped paint, and natural elements such as tree bark and wasp nest. Varying font sizes convey action and movement and the tone of the book: lazy, sunny, and warm.

Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton is a treat both visually and as a story. Splat is a worried young cat headed out for his first day of school to learn what cats do. Splat brings his pet mouse Seymour along for moral support and everything seems to be going great until he learns that chasing mice is one of the many wonderful things that cats do. When Seymour escapes, hi-jinks ensue. Be sure to spend some time examining the detailed drawings that show Splat perpetually startled with his gorgeous stand up hair, wide-eyed expressions, and humorous details.

Kevin Henkes Old Bear is a reprint of the gentle story about the dreams of an aging bear has while hibernating. Using vivid watercolor illustrations, the book creates a dream like sense of each season: spring is pinks and purples; summer blue and green; fall is red, orange, and brown; and winter is shades of blue and white. When Old Bear finally awakens, it's to a fully technicolor spring.

Not only will readers of all ages enjoy the illustrations in Turtles Penguin Day by Valerie Gorbachev, they will also appreciate the humor. Father Turtle reads Little Turtle a bedtime story about penguins leading Little Turtle to decide that he wants to be a penguin. This is a delightful tale of imagination and creativity as Little Turtle's enthusiasm draws in his teacher and classmates to create a penguin themed day at school. The story ends with another bedtime story, this time monkeys ...

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