A child’s first years are formative in their development of literacy, and parents and caretakers have a crucial role to play. Reading aloud with your child builds phonological awareness and expands their understanding of the world around them. By reading with your child, you are also strengthening important early literacy skills and sowing the seeds of a lifelong love for reading.
Our Early Literacy librarians have selected these picture books for you and your child to read together. They feature catchy rhymes, lift-the-flap surprises, and funny, relatable stories that are perfect for beginner readers. We hope that you will discover some new favourites to enjoy as a family!
When Sadness Is at Your Door
Author: Eva Eland
Publisher: New York: Random House Children’s Books, 2019
Call No.: English ELA
(This book is also available on eReads at www.nlb.gov.sg.)
Summary: In “When Sadness Is at Your Door,” Eva Eland brilliantly approaches this feeling as if it is a visitor. The beauty of this approach is in the respect the book has for the feeling, and the absence of a narrative that encourages the reader to "get over" it or indicates that it's "bad," both of which are anxiety-producing notions. Eva Eland's debut picture book is a great primer in mindfulness and emotional literacy, perfect for kids navigating these new feelings – and for adult readers tackling the feelings themselves!
The Goose Egg
Author: Liz Wong
Publisher: New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2019
Call No.: English WON
(This book is also available on eReads at www.nlb.gov.sg.)
Summary: Henrietta likes her quiet life. But everything changes when she bumps her head and winds up with a goose egg. Henrietta tries to return the baby goose to the nest, but her flock has flown. It's up to Henrietta to raise her. Goose isn't anything like Henrietta. She's flappy, and noisy, and exhausting. But Henrietta raises that goose right, teaching her to swim, and to honk, and to fly. When Goose flies off with the other geese, Henrietta is so proud! And then … lonely. But the love you give has a way of coming back to you. And Henrietta has a wonderful surprise in store…
The Brilliant Oil Lamp
Author: Quek Hong Shin
Publisher: Singapore: Epigram Books, 2019
Call No.: English QUE
Summary: Join Asha and her friends from The Amazing Sarong and The Incredible Basket, as she moves from her cosy shophouse to a housing estate in Toa Payoh. The buildings are tall, the apartments are new. Asha's home even has electric lights! Her family begins the rites of blessing for their new home using a beautiful oil lamp. Suddenly, the power is cut and everything goes dark. But Asha has an idea—why not share the lamp's light with their new neighbours? The children also have fun with shadow play, and even light sparklers with the lamp. See how one brilliant light brings new and old friends together.
My Heart
Author: Corinna Luyken
Publisher: New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2019
Call No.: English LUY
(This book is also available on eReads at www.nlb.gov.sg.)
Summary: My heart is a window. My heart is a slide. My heart can be closed...or opened up wide. Some days your heart is a puddle or a fence to keep the world out. But some days it is wide open to the love that surrounds you. With lyrical text and breath-taking art, My Heart empowers all readers to listen to the guide within in this ode to love and self-acceptance.
Perfect
Author: Max Amato
Publisher: New York: Scholastic Press, 2019
Call No.: English AMA
(This book is also available on eReads at www.nlb.gov.sg.)
Summary: In this funny and light-hearted picture book, a fussy eraser tries to keep the pages clean by erasing the scribbles of a mischievous pencil. But before long, the eraser discovers what can happen when two opposing forces come together to have fun. With humor and a keen eye for play, Max Amato crafts a delightful story that reveals the joys of collaborative imagination.
Sweety
Author: Andrea Zuill
Publisher: New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2019
Call No.: English ZUI
Summary: Sweety is awkward, even for a naked mole rat. She has protruding front teeth, thick glasses, and some very unusual hobbies, including interpretive dance and fungus identification. She's intense and passionate—and her peers don't always get her. But surely there are other mushroom lovers out there? As Sweety sets out to find them, she comes to realize—with a little help from her cool Aunt Ruth—that being Sweety is actually pretty awesome. With heart and humor and a whole lot of charm, Andrea Zuill delivers a story about learning to embrace everything that makes you you—and that's something many kids are going to relate to.
Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug
Author: Jonathan Stutzman
Publisher: San Francisco, California: Chronicle Books, 2019
Call No.: English STU
Summary: Tiny T. Rex has a HUGE problem. His friend Pointy needs cheering up, and only a hug will do. But with his short stature and teeny T. Rex arms, is a hug impossible? Not if Tiny has anything to say about it! Join this plucky little dino in his very first adventure-a warm and funny tale that proves the best hugs come from the biggest hearts.
A Parade of Elephants
Author: Kevin Henkes
Publisher: New York, NY: Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2018
Call No.: English HEN
Summary: Up and down, over and under, through and around . . . five big and brightly colored elephants are on a mission in this picture book for young children by Caldecott Medalist Kevin Henkes. Where are they going? What will they do when they get there? It's a surprise! With a text shimmering with repetition and rhythm, bright pastel illustrations, large and readable type, and an adorable parade of elephants, Kevin Henkes introduces basic concepts such as numbers, shapes, adjectives, adverbs, and daytime and nighttime. A Parade of Elephants is an excellent choice for story time as well as bedtime sharing.
Pencil Dog
Authors: Leigh Hodgkinson
Publisher: London: Simon & Schuster, 2019
Call No.: English HOD
Summary: A beautifully told, poignant story about memory, remembrance, and how those we love live on in us. This thought-provoking story centres on a little girl who has a pencil dog as a companion. Pencil Dog is imaginative, creative, and always able to turn a rainy day into a time of sunshine. But as time goes on, Pencil Dog gradually grows smaller and smaller, and his drawings become confused.
Dreamers
Author: Yuyi Morales
Publisher: New York: Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2018
Call No.: English 818 MOR
Summary: In 1994, Yuyi Morales left her home in Xalapa, Mexico and came to the US with her infant son. She left behind nearly everything she owned, but she didn't come empty-handed. Dreamers is a celebration of what migrantes bring with them when they leave their homes. It's a story about family. And it's a story to remind us that we are all dreamers, bringing our own gifts wherever we roam. Beautiful and powerful at any time but given particular urgency as the status of our own Dreamers becomes uncertain, this is a story that is both topical and timeless.
The summaries and book covers are the copyright of the respective publishing companies.