Recommended Reads: Ms. Emma Favourite Picture Books

1 MetroCard, Momma and me. Down 2 flights--to catch the 3. 4 turnstiles, singers 5. A rumble, a screech . . . the train arrives! This bright, young counting book is a delightful trip through the New York City subway system. Hand in hand, child and mother see colorful subway signs and funny passengers, watch trains screeching by, and make new friends.

What would you do if you received an invitation to run a zoo full of huge, scary monsters? The brave little boy in this story leaps at the chance, and although the monsters seem scary at first, he soon has them eating out of the palm of his hand.

Cha-cha with the chimps, rock 'n' roll with the rhino in this funny and very moving story about Gerald the Giraffe who longs to dance - but is laughed off the dance floor. Hilarious illustrations complement Giles Andreae's rollicking rhyme.

In this infectious rhyming read-aloud, Baby Llama turns bedtime into an all-out llama drama! Tucked into bed by his mama, Baby Llama immediately starts worrying when she goes downstairs, and his soft whimpers turn to hollers when she doesn't come right back. But just in time, Mama returns to set things right. Children will relate to Baby Llama's need for comfort, as much as parents will appreciate Mama Llama's reassuring message.

Cats from many different countries may like to do all kinds of strange and exotic things like fly aeroplanes, or sing and dance, or even play the violin but this cat, an ordinary round-the-house cat, likes to hide in boxes.

Beginning with one small turtle and working up to ten twitching rabbits, this well-loved song introduces the numbers one through ten.

After a long day at school, Principal Fred slips into his pajamas to get ready for bed. But something is missing - where is his bear? "I need Bear!" Fred yells as he races down the stairs. He zigs and he zags and he hops across chairs. Follow Principal Fred and his family as they dash and they crash and they search for the principal's favorite stuffed animal. Mixed media illustrations by Donald Wu help bring this bedtime romp to a fitting conclusion.

George was very happy being the scruffiest giant in town. But one day, when he sees a shop stocking giant-size clothes, he decides it's time to update his image. With smart clothes, George is a new man. However, as he goes home, he meets various animals who desperately need his help.

Have you ever heard of gerbils liking marmalade, or bats wearing hats? This title introduces the animal action and helps to find out what animals get up to.

There are red sheep and blue sheep, wind sheep and wave sheep, scared sheep and brave sheep, butwhere is the green sheep? The search is on in this cozy, sheep-filled story from acclaimed author Mem Fox and popular Australian cartoonist Judy Horacek. Complete with sleepy rhymes and bright illustrations, this book is sure to delight children of all ages, from the very young to those just beginning to read.

The horse loves hay, the chickens need feed, the geese munch on corn, the hogs devour slop, the dog eats treats, but the cow loves...COOKIES?

Chicken has some unexpected and exuberant cow visitors who have exciting plans for jumping, dancing, and wiggling on his teeny-tiny couch, and Chicken is none too happy about it. That is until the fun concludes with a quiet, cozy and delicious nap for all!

Uh-oh. Mrs. Wishy-Washy is at it again. Rubbing and scrubbing all the animals on the farm. But this time they aren't standing for it. Duck, Cow, and Pig are leaving mean old Mrs. Wishy-Washy for good! They run away to the big city. But they get lost, wander into a restaurant, and even stumble into a hardware store and get covered in paint! Where is Mrs. Wishy-Washy when they need her? Maybe her farm isn't so bad after all . . .

'I wrote to the zoo to send me a pet'. This classic lift-the-flap book has been a favourite with toddlers ever since it was first published in 1982. Now reissued as a sturdy casebound board book, perfect for little hands!

Two crafty robbers, one tiny ladybird, and a whole farmyard of fun. Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len have a cunning plan to steal the farmer's fine prize cow. The tiny ladybird has a plan of her own.

What is the proper way to ask Mr. Panda for doughnuts? Patiently and politely, Mr. Panda asks the animals he comes across if they would like a doughnut. A penguin, a skunk, and a whale all say yes, but they do not remember to say "please" and "thank you." Is anyone worthy of Mr. Panda's doughnuts? In his debut picture book, Steve Antony has captured a cute panda, delightful animals hungry for doughnuts, and a manners lesson. With the black-and-white animals, plain backgrounds, and brightly coloured doughnuts, Antony's art is bold, striking, and engaging.

A laugh-out-loud snot-tastic new picture book from the author of ALIEN'S CRAZY CHRISTMAS. Little Robot has an itchy nose. "AAAACHOOOO!" Out shoots some sticky, stretchy, gooey green stuff, the like of which has never been seen by robot-kind before. Soon Little Robot's snot makes him famous. He doesn't want to share it with anyone, but, just as he realises there is such a thing as too much snot, all of the other robots start sneezing too!

With cumulative rhymes and sunny ink and watercolor illustrations, this international favorite chronicles the escapades of our hero Hairy and his crew of five kooky canines. In this introductory book in the HAIRY MACLARY series, all the pooches-from big-as-a-horse Hercules Morse to Schnitzel von Krumm with the very low tum-meet their feline match.* Lynley Dodd'#65533;s books have sold over 2 million copies worldwide.

Fresh from his travels in London, our favourite pussy cat is off on another exciting adventure in the most romantic city in the world - Paris. A modern and charming picture book, ideal for reading aloud and for children who are beginning to read for themselves.

A brand new edition of this best-selling classic picture book, produced from re-scanned original artwork, and now endorsed by the world famous Natural History Museum. The cheerful rhyming text is perfect for reading aloud and the images of the dinosaurs are charming and funny. Also included, a pull-out poster in the back of the book showing the dinosaur characters. Originally published in 1994, Dinosaur Roar! by Henrietta and Paul Stickland is now seen as a modern classic, a book that every preschool child will love.

Milo the Magnificent is the world's least magnificent magician. He can't even pull a rabbit out of his hat! When Mr. Popovich gives him one more chance, Milo knows he has no choice- he has to go out and catch a rabbit for his act. Instead, he catches a bear. And the bear promises to help! Into the hat he dives. Milo rides the train home, sure his act will go off perfectly tonight. But when he arrives in his dressing room, he discovers that he left his hat-and the bear!-on the train. Meanwhile, across town, a man in a restaurant has a very familiar hat . . . Can Milo get his hat back in time for his act?

After his bath, the little boy begins his hilarious dash around the house...in the buff! Being naked is great. Running around, sliding down the stairs, eating cookies. Nothing could be better. Unless he had a cape...

Hardly anyone noticed young Sally McCabe. She was the smallest girl in the smallest grade. But Sally notices everything - from the twenty-seven keys on the janitor's ring to the bullying happening on the playground. One day, Sally has had enough and decides to make herself heard. And when she takes a chance and stands up to the bullies, she finds that one small girl can make a big difference.

Miss Merriweather, the head librarian, is very particular about rules in the library. No running allowed. And you must be quiet. But when a lion comes to the library one day, no one is sure what to do. There aren't any rules about lions in the library. And, as it turns out, this lion seems very well suited to library visiting. His big feet are quiet on the library floor. He makes a comfy backrest for the children at story hour. And he never roars in the library, at least not anymore. But when something terrible happens, the lion quickly comes to the rescue in the only way he knows how.

This is what Uncle Flood wants to write with his new pen:The following story is all true.But the pen does not write that sentence. Instead it writes:You have a big nose!Who knows what to do with a pen that has a will of its own?Not Uncle Flood.Not Officer Wonkle.But young Horace has an idea...

Where have all the bedtime stories gone? One dark, dark night in Burrow Down, a rabbit named Eliza Brown found a book and settled down...when a Snatchabook flew into town. It's bedtime in the woods of Burrow Down, and all the animals are ready for their bedtime story. But books are mysteriously disappearing. Eliza Brown decides to stay awake and catch the book thief. It turns out to be a little creature called the Snatchabook who has no one to read him a bedtime story. All turns out well when the books are returned and the animals take turns reading bedtime stories to the Snatchabook.

The chimpanzees of Drabsville are miserable. The wicked mayor won't allow them to have any fun! Playgrounds, trees, and colors other than gray are outlawed in their gloomy town. However, when a traveler named Chutney dares to plant a tree, Drabsville begins to blossom into a colorful land of dancing, playing, and laughing. There's only one name for such a place--Happytown!

It's the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone's just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself. What will the children do once they come? Will they like the school? Will they be nice to him? The school has a rough start, but as the day goes on, he soon recovers when he sees that he's not the only one going through first-day jitters.

By all accounts, this book is a favorite among toddlers and adults alike. Generations will recall their first time reading along as lovable, furry old Grover begs the reader not to turn the page . . . for a monster is at the end of the book! But, of course, the monster is none other than Grover himself. A classic, not to be missed.

When Leo's mom and dad pack him off to fight a dragon, he takes a shield, a sword―and a pile of his favorite books.

But can a story be as mighty as a sword?

Otto lives in a book and is happiest when his story is being read. Otto is no ordinary storybook character: when no one is looking, he comes to life! Otto loves to walk off of his book's pages, but when his book is taken away while Otto is off exploring, the book bear sets off on a grand adventure to find a new home. Except...it's an awfully big world for such a small bear and Otto misses his warm book. Will Otto ever find the perfect home? With sweet, timeless illustrations and a story that will have young readers watching their bookshelves in hopes of spotting wandering book creatures, this charming story is sure to delight book lovers everywhere.

What do monsters eat? The waitress in this restaurant just doesn't have a clue. Monsters don't eat broccoli! How could she think we do?

When the doorbell rings unexpectedly one afternoon, Sophie and her mummy can't imagine who might be there. Much to their surprise, a tiger with a very large appetite has come to tea! What will they tell Daddy when he returns home and finds all the cupboards bare?

And Tango Makes Three is the bestselling, heartwarming true story of two penguins who create a nontraditional family. At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo get the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own.

Get ready to laugh, laugh, laugh, in Richard Scarry's Funniest Storybook Ever! Richard Scarry's classic collection of his funniest stories is back in print! All your favorite Busytown characters are back and getting up to countless silly situations. Whether it's an out-of-control mix-up with Ma Pig's new car, babysitters making accidental exploding fudge, sneaky mice pirates taking over Uncle Willie's ship, or even a talking loaf of bread that baffles Humperdink the Baker and Lowly Worm, young readers will be rolling on the floor with laughter thanks to the hysterical hijinks found in this Funniest Storybook Ever! Note: Includes some stories that also appear in Richard Scarry's Favorite Storybook Ever. Contents: Absentminded Mr. Rabbit Sergeant Murphy and the Banana Thief Speedboat Spike Ma Pig's New Car Mr. Fixit The Three Sitters Tanglefoot The Talking Bread The Three Fishermen The Accident Please Move to the Back of the Bus Uncle Willie and the Pirates The Unlucky Day Rudolf's Airplane Lowly Worm's Birthday

Meet Livingstone Columbus Magellan Crouse, a curious boy who loves to explore! You'd expect boy with a name like Livingstone Columbus Magellan Crouse to explore. But Livingstone Columbus Magellan Crouse doesn't stop there. He comes home with specimens from his travels! First a bug, and then a moose-what will Livingstone Columbus Magellan Crouse show up with next? Curious readers are in for a fun adventure.

A laugh-out-loud funny children's book from the author of 'The Day the Crayons Quit'. 'The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors' reveals the epic tale behind everyone's favourite playground game!

The car trip to Grandma's house is taking forever. 'Are We There Yet?' explores the amazing possibilities of imagination on a long, boring car journey, as time slows down so much that it starts going backwards. Featuring dinosaurs, ancient Egyptians, knights and pirates, this is one amazing journey through the imagination.

You might think a book with no pictures seems boring and serious. Except . . . here's how books work. Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud. Even if the words say . . . BLORK. Or BLUURF. Even if the words are a preposterous song about eating ants for breakfast, or just a list of astonishingly goofy sounds like BLAGGITY BLAGGITY and GLIBBITY GLOBBITY. Cleverly irreverent and irresistibly silly, The Book with No Pictures is one that kids will beg to hear again and again. (And parents will be happy to oblige.)

An unknown painter becomes an overnight sensation when his paintings imitate life too well by quacking, crawling, and erupting all over Paris. The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau is a 1988 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year.

Pigs are smarter than you think! When Megan's dad tells her not to let the pigs out of their pen, curiosity gets the better of her. Why not? Pigs are too dumb to do anything anyway ... or are they? Before she knows it, the pigs are wreaking havoc all over her house, all over her school, and all over town. It's up to her to fgure out how to get them back home. To Megan's surprise, she discovers the animals are much smarter than she realized. Young children everywhere will delight in discovering another bestselling Robert Munsch classic in this board book format, with simplified text.

A story of perseverance and being comfortable in your own skin, perfect for anyone who has ever felt like the odd one out, this is the story one pigeon's big adventure. Most of the time, Gary is just like the other racing pigeons, eating and sleeping and dreaming of adventure. There’s just one thing that separates him from the ordinary pigeons: he can’t fly. When his friends set off in their travel basket, Gary expects to stay at home, organizing his scrapbook of travel mementos and imagining far-off places. But when he accidentally falls into the travel basket and ends up a very long way from home, he discovers that flying might not be the only way to have adventures...

Most pets are cats and dogs, but what happens when a boy wants a different kind of pet, one that doesn’t meow or bark? Bob Staake’s exuberant tale of a little boy and the pet of his dreams will appeal to anyone whose best friends are . . . books! Books make the perfect pets, the boy decides, and chooses a bright red one. When it goes missing, a lively adventure is in store for readers who love a happy ending. Soon kids everywhere will wish for a pet book of their very own.

The book that inspired the Academy Award-winning short film, from New York Times bestselling author and beloved visionary William Joyce. Morris Lessmore loved words. He loved stories. He loved books. But every story has its upsets.      Everything in Morris Lessmore's life, including his own story, is scattered to the winds.      But the power of story will save the day.      Stunningly brought to life by William Joyce, one of the preeminent creators in children's literature, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is a modern masterpiece, showing that in today's world of traditional books, eBooks, and apps, it's story that we truly celebrate--and this story, no matter how you tell it, begs to be read again and again.

Hooray, you're hosting your very first party for dragons! Here's what you'll need- Great big tacos Little bitty tacos Beef tacos Chicken tacos Various extra backup tacos Secret hidden emergency tacos Fruit punch More tacos After all, dragons love tacos. And if you have plenty of tacos, nothing could possibly go wrong at your party. Right?

Are you bored with being so proper? Do you want to have more fun? Mr. Tiger knows exactly how you feel. So he decides to go wild. But does he go too far? From Caldecott Honor artist Peter Brown comes a story that shows there's a time and place for everything...even going wild.

Long long ago, an old magic stone suddenly cracked open after lying in the sunlight and moonlight for thousands of years. From the shell of the stone, a little Monkey was born. Adopted by the Monkey King in the mountain, Little Monkey was very naughty and playful. One day, while playing in a tree, he fell. When the Monkey King tried to save Little Monkey, he was terribly injured. To save the Monkey King, Little Monkey had to journey across the ocean in search of the immortal pill. With helpfrom the Immortal Turtle, the Phoenix, the Dragon King and the Immortal, the Little Monkey gained a powerful body. Could he find his way home to save the Monkey King?

This true children's story is told by a little bonsai tree, called Miyajima, that lived with the same family in the Japanese city of Hiroshima for more than 300 years before being donated to the National Arboretum in Washington DC in 1976 as a gesture of friendship between America and Japan to celebrate the American Bicentennial. From the Book: "In 1625, when Japan was a land of samurai and castles, I was a tiny pine seedling. A man called Itaro Yamaki picked me from the forest where I grew and took me home with him. For more than three hundred years, generations of the Yamaki family trimmed and pruned me into a beautiful bonsai tree. In 1945, our household survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. In 1976, I was donated to the National Arboretum in Washington D.C., where I still live today--the oldest and perhaps the wisest tree in the bonsai museum."

In the year and a half since the flight of the first manned balloon in 1783, an Italian had flown, a Scot had flown, a woman had flown, even a sheep had flown. But no one had flown from one country to another. John Jeffries, an Englishman, and his pilot, Jean-Pierre Blanchard, a Frenchman, want to be the first and set out on January 7, 1785 to cross the English Channel to France. All seems to be going fine until Blanchard takes a nap and Jeffries decides the balloon looks too fat and adjusts the air valve-how hard could it be? Too bad he drops the wrench over the side of the aerial car and with no way to adjust the valve the balloon begins to sink. Jeffries and Blanchard throw as much as they can overboard-until there is nothing left, not even their clothes. Luckily they come up with a clever (and surprising) solution that saves the day.

When two of Moose's letters come loose, he vanishes. Poof! But his best friend, Cow, has an idea: she'll find a G, an L, a U, and an E and glue M-O-O-S-E back together, better than ever! But it's not as easy as it sounds....

The Blues, Reds and Yellows lived in harmony. Reds were the loudest, Yellows the brightest and Blues were the coolest. However when one of the colours proclaims they are the best, discord breaks out and eventually the colours decide to live in different parts of the city. Then one day a Yellow befriends a Blue and they become inseparable, discovering a world of different possibilities and colours.

From the brilliantly talented Arree Chung comes a sweet tale of difference and acceptance. Mixed is a charming and timely story with characterful illustrations and humour.

There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you. There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it's how you look, talk, or where you're from; maybe it's what you eat, or something just as random. It's not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it. Jacqueline Woodson's lyrical text and Rafael Lopez's dazzling art reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway.