The Preschooler’s Busy Book (27 page)

The following books are suggested for children up to age eight (many are loved by much older children, too), either for reading by or to the child.
This list has been compiled from several sources.
Timeless Classics
, published by the National Endowment for the Humanities, is a compilation of tried-and-true titles.
These are books published in 1960 or earlier that have been the favorite of at least one previous generation.
Another source is
Reading for the Love of It
by Michele Landsberg (1987, Prentice Hall Press/a division of Simon & Schuster, New York; reprinted by permission of the publisher), an excellent guide to the best books for children of all ages.
A final source is the bookshelves in my own children’s rooms, favorite volumes that have been read over and over and over again.

Aardema, Verna.
The Vingananee and the Tree Toad; Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears

Aesop.
Aesop’s Fables

Ahlberg, Janet and Allen.
Each Peach Pear Plum

Alderson, Sue Ann.
Bonnie McSmithers, You’re Driving Me Dithers

Allen, Jeffrey.
Mary Alice, Operator Number Nine

Atwater, Richard and Florence.
Mr.
Popper’s Penguins

Bemelmans, Ludwig.
Madeline series

Brooke, Leslie L.
Johnny Crow’s Party

Brown, Margaret Wise.
Goodnight Moon

Brunhoff, Jean de.
The Story of Babar

Burningham, John.
Cannonball Simp; Harquin, the Fox Who Went Down to the Valley; Would You Rather?

Burton, Virginia Lee.
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel; The Little House

Caldicott, Randolph.
Hey, Diddle Diddle

Clifton, Lucille.
Don’t You Remember?

Crowther, Robert.
The Most Amazing Hide-and-Seek Alphabet Book

Dalgleish, Alice.
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain; The Courage of Sarah Noble

Eastman, P.D.
Are You My Mother?; Go, Dog, Go

Flack, Marjorie.
The Story about Ping

Freeman, Don.
Corduroy

Gag, Wanda.
Millions of Cats

Godden, Rumer.
The Mousewife

Goffstein, M.B.
Our Snowman

Grahame, Kenneth.
The Reluctant Dragon

Haywood, Carolyn.
Betsy series

Hoban, Russell.
Bread and Jam for Frances

Hutchins, Pat.
Rosie’s Walk

Jonas, Ann.
The Trek

Keats, Ezra Jack.
Goggles!

Kellogg, Steven.
The Island of the Skog

Kipling, Rudyard.
Just So Stories for Little Children

Kovalski, Maryann.
Brenda and Edward

Kraus, Robert.
Herman the Helper; Whose Mouse Are You?

Leaf, Munro.
The Story of Ferdinand

Lear, Edward.
The Book of Nonsense

MacDonald, Betty.
Mrs.
Piggle-Wiggle

Marshall, James.
George and Martha

McCloskey, Robert.
Blueberries for Sal; Make Way for Ducklings

McDermott, Gerald.
Papagayo, the Mischief-Maker

Meyer, Mercer.
Little Critter series

Milne, A.A.
The House at Pooh Corner; Now We Are Six; When We Were Very Young; Winnie-the-Pooh

Minaruk, Else Holmelund.
Little Bear

Mosel, Arlene.
The Funny Little Woman; Tikkie Tikki Tembo

Munsch, Robert.
Love You Forever; The Paperbag Princess

Nicoll, Helen.
Meg and Mog

Ormerod, Jan.
Moonlight; Sunshine

Perrault, Charles.
Cinderella

Pinkwater, Manus.
Three Big Hogs

Potter, Beatrix.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Rey, H.A.
Curious George series

Segal, Lore.
Tell Me a Mitzi; Tell Me a Trudy

Selden, George.
The Cricket in Times Square

Sendak, Maurice.
Where the Wild Things Are

Seuss, Dr.
Green Eggs and Ham; The Cat in the Hat; The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins

Shulevitz, Uri.
One Monday Morning

Stamm, Claus.
Three Strong Women

Steig, William.
Brave Irene; Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Stevenson, James.
Could Be Worse!

Stevenson, John.
Clams Can’t Sing

Stevenson, Robert Louis.
A Child’s Garden of Verses

Viorst, Judith.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Waber, Bernard.
Lyle the Crocodile series

Wagner, Jenny.
The Bunyip of Berkeley’s Creek

Wallace, Ian.
Chin Chiang and the Dragon’s Dance

Watson, Clyde.
Applebet, an ABC

Wells, Rosemary.
Noisy Nora

Wildsmith, Brian.
Cat on the Mat

Williams, Jay.
Everyone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like

Williams, Margery.
The Velveteen Rabbit

Williams, Vera B.
Cherries and Cherry Pits

Wood, Audrey.
Sid and Sol; The Napping House

Wynne-Jones, Tim.
Zoom at Sea

Yeoman, John.
The Wild Washerwoman

Yorinks, Arthur.
Hey, Al

Zemach, Harve.
The Judge

Zion, Gene.
Harry the Dirty Dog

Zolotow, Charlotte.
Mister Rabbit and the Lovely Present

This book is a combination of personal experience, contributions from friends and family, and ideas and information gathered from the books and government publications listed below.

Baby Games
, by Elaine Martin, Stoddart Publishing, 1988.

Becoming a Nation of Readers: What Parents Can Do
, by D.C.
Heath and Company and the U.S.
Department of Education, 1988.

Celebrating Kwanzaa
, by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith, Holiday House, 1993.

Children’s Art & Crafts
, by Nancy Lewis Bartlett, The Australian Women’s Weekly Home Library, Australian Consolidated Press, 1991.

Creative Family Times
, by Allen & Connie Hadidian, Will & Lindy Wilson, Moody Press, 1989.

Dance and Your Child
, by The National Dance Association and The National Endowment for the Arts, 1991.

Family Math
, by Stenmark, Thompson and Cossey, University of California, 1986 (For information contact: Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California Berkeley, CA 94720 Attn: FAMILY MATH).

Feed Me!
I’m Yours
, by Vicky Lansky, Meadowbrook Press, 1974.

From Words to Stories, Teachers and Writers Collaborative and The National Endowment for the Arts
, 1991.

Hanukkah Book, The
, by Marilyn Burns, Fourwinds Press, 1981.

Help!
I Have a Preschool Child!!!
, by Kandi Arnold, Andrea Devin, Dale Sprowl, Garborg’s Heart ’N Home, 1990.

Help Your Child Become a Good Reader
, by U.S.
Department of Education.

Helping Your Child Learn Geography
, by U.S.
Department of Education, 1990.

Helping Your Child Learn Math
, by U.S.
Department of Education, 1993.

Helping Your Child Learn to Read
, by U.S.
Department of Education, 1993.

Honey for a Child’s Heart
, by Gladys Hunt, Zondervan, 1989

Jewish Holidays
, by Susan Gold-Purdy, J.B.
Lipincott Company, 1969.

Kwanzaa
, by Deborah M.
Newton Chocolate, Children’s Press, 1990.

Learning about Fall and Winter Holidays
, by Jeri A.
Carroll and Candace B.
Wells, Good Apple Inc., 1988.

Light Another Candle
, by Miriam Chaikin, Clarion Books, 1981.

Lollipop Grapes & Clothespin Critters
, by Robyn Freedman Spitzman, Addison-Wesley Publishing, 1985.

Mother’s Almanac, The
, by Marguerite Kelly and Elia Parsons, Doubleday, 1975.

Mother’s Manual for Summer Survival, A
, by Kathy Peel and Joy Mahaffey, Focus on the Family Publishing, 1989.

Music and Your Child’s Education
, by The Music Educators National Conference and The National Endowment for the Arts, 1991.

Papier-Mâché Artistry
, by Dona Z.
Meilach, General Publishing, 1971.

Prime Time Together … With Kids
, by Donna Erickson, Augsburg Fortress, 1989.

Rainy Day Activities for Preschoolers
, by Ann Marie Connolly and Helen Gibson, Mercer Island Preschool Association, 1988.

Read-Aloud Handbook, The
, by Jim Trelease, Penguin Books, 1995.

Reading for the Love of It
, by Michele Landsberg, Prentice Hall Press, 1987.

Seven Days of Kwanzaa, The
, by Angela Shelf Medearis, Scholastic Inc., 1994.

Sunset Children’s Crafts
, Lane Publishing Co., 1976.

Theater and Children
, by the American Alliance for Theater and Education and The National Endowment for the Arts, 1991.

Timeless Classics
, by the National Endowment for the Humanities, 1991.

What to Do After You Turn Off the TV
, by Frances Moore Lappé, Random House, 1985.

You Can Help Your Young Child Learn Mathematics
, by the U.S.
Department of Education, 1991.

Your Baby & Child From Birth to Age Five
, by Penelope Leach, Random House, 1989.

Your Child and the Visual Arts
, by The National Art Education Association and The National Endowment for the Arts, 1991.

The United States General Services Administration makes available many free and low-cost federal publications of consumer interest, including many on learning activities and parenting.
For a free catalog write to: Consumer Information Center-2C, P.O.
Box 100, Pueblo, Colorado 81002.

“When you are dealing with a child, keep all your wits about you, and sit on the floor.”
—Austin O’Malley

Activities

Planning Your,
7

Activity Advent Calendar,
309

Activity Planner,

Weekly,
14

Add-On Stories,
104

Advent Calendar

Activity,
309

Candy,
310

African

Animal Necklace,
344

Beads,
343

Aggression Cookies,
65

Air Painting,
188

Alphabet

Book,
117

Connect-the-Dot,
119

Cookies,
66

Match-Up,
115

Playdough,
115

Puzzle,
114

Animal

Charades,
48

Pancakes,
74

Appendices,
349–377

Apple Shapes,
60

Arts and Crafts,
169–262

Avocado Tree,
147

Backyard

Camping,
93

Picnic,
94

Baked Pumpkin Seeds,
299

Baker’s Box,
3

Baker’s Clay,
358

Bakery,
167

Balancing Board,
47

Balloon Painting,
191

Banana Balls,
63

Barber Shop,
164

Bark Drawing,
182

Basic Botany,
144–148

Basic Craft Recipes,
349–365

Bath Paints,
23

Bean Bag Toss,
50

Beauty Salon,
165

Beep,
105

Bells, Christmas,
328

Berry Picking,
102

Best Books for Young Children,
370

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World,
72

Binoculars,
241

Bird Feeder,
257

Birthday

Cake,
268

Celebrations,
264–269

Time Capsule,
266

Blindfold Drawing,
182

Blocks

Ice,
97

Rhythm,
151

Sandpaper,
154

Botany, Basic,
144–148

Bread Clay,
361

Brownies, Fantastic Fudge,
77

Bubble

Painting,
189

Pipe,
89

Solution,
90

Busy Bag,
5

Busy Box,
4

Butterfly, Egg Carton,
250

Calendar, Math,
131

Camping

Backyard,
93

Indoor,
44

Candy Advent Calendar,
310

Cards,
134

Caribean Fruit Punch,
347

Carpet Raceway,
43

Carrots and Beets,
146

Charades, Animal,
48

Chase the Pepper,
64

Chinese Lantern,
220

Chocolate

Cake,
268

Chip Cookies,
72

Frosting,
269

Pizza Pie,
78

Christmas,
308–331

Bells,
328

Card Holder,
329

Card Puzzles,
326

Chain,
324

Cloves,
318

Countdown,
315

Dough Ornaments,
311

Giving,
318

Place Mats,
313

Rubbings,
324

Tree Picture,
321

Tree, Rice Krispie,
325

Circle Bear,
225

Circle Dances,
159

Clay,
358–362

Baker’s,
358

Bread,
361

No-Bake Cookie,
360

No-Bake Craft,
360

Clean Coins,
19

Clothespin Crayons,
175

Cloud Watching,
143

Coat Rack,
260

Coffee Can Canisters,
243

Coin and Stamp Collecting,
142

Colored Playdough,
356

Colorful Creative Salt,
364

Colors, Nature,
177

Condensed Milk Paint,
351

Connect the Dots,
118

Alphabet,
119

Cookie Cutter Cards,
235

Cookie Cutouts,
70

Cookies

Aggression,
65

Alphabet,
66

Chocolate Chip,
72

Hanukkah,
334

Holiday,
320

Paintbox,
68

Senegalese,
348

Cornstarch Fingerpaint,
353

Count the Coins,
24

Counting,
127

Craft Cupboard,
9

Craft Recipes,
349–365

Crafts and Other Fun Things to Make,
233–262

Crayon

Clothespins,
175

Melt Prints,
207

Rainbow,
174

Rubbings,
178

Stained-Glass,
173

Crazy Can,
6

Activities for,
366

Crepe Paper Egg Dye,
289

Crunch and Munch,
80

Cupcakes, Snow-Topped,
75

Cutting and Pasting,
219–232

Dance, Music, and Drama,
149–168

Dentist,
168

Detergent Poster Paint,
350

Dictionary Zoo,
116

Dip and Dye

Eggs,
293

Snowflakes,
317

Dipping,
185

Doll

Closet,
40

Felt,
107

Paper Chain,
258

Dramatic Play,
160–168

Draw a Map,
139

Drawing,
172–182

Dreidel,
335

Dreidel Games,
336

Drippy Painting,
188

Easter,
281–294

Bunny Ears,
283

Bunny Mask,
285

Egg, Papier-Mâché,
286

Grass,
284

Edible Necklace,
109

Egg

Decorating,
287–294

Dye,
288–290
,
365

Papier-Mâché,
286

Yolk Paint,
352

Egg Carton

Butterfly,
250

Flowers,
255

Spider,
302

Eggshell Mosaic,
231

Encouragement,
13

Eyedropper Painting,
193

Exercise Class,
158

Face Paint,
351

Fan

Homemade,
235

Rainbow,
237

Fantastic Fudge Brownies,
77

Favorite Foods,
232

Feather Headband,
253

Felt Doll,
107

Find the Letter,
118

Finger Jell-O,
85

Fingerpaint,
353–354

Fingerpaint Prints,
206

Fingerpainting,
186

Fishing,
45

Flag

Kwanzaa,
342

United States,
296

Flannel Board,

Portable,
110

Flour

Drawing,
58

Fingerpaint,
354

Flour-Based Poster Paints,
350

Flower Tinting,
148

Foil Wrapping Paper,
229

Follow the Leader,
49

Food Coloring Egg
Dye,
290

Food Count,
129

Foot Painting,
192

Footprints and Hand-prints, Plaster,
213

Fourth of July,
295–297

Framed Flowers,
240

Friends Far & Near,
271

Fruit and Vegetable Printing,
200

Fruit Kebabs,
57

Fruit Rub,
178

Fudgy Chocolate Frosting,
269

Fun with

Weights,
38

Words,
104

Funny Face,
221

Gadget Printing,
202

Garlic Clove,
145

Gelatin Recipes,
85–86

Geography,
135–143

Gift Wrap,

Homemade,
314

Gifts for Kids to Make and Give,
368–369

Gingerbread People,
226

Give Me an “A”,
120

Glitter

Balls,
315

Shapes,
133

Glowing Pumpkin Drawing,
301

Glue,
362

Glue and Paste,
362–363

Go Fish,
52

Graham Wafer House,
312

Green Hats,
279

Grocery Store,
166

Growing Plants,
145

Guessing Bag,
106

Guitar, Milk Carton,
155

Halloween,
298–302

Chain,
299

Face Paint,
352

Hand and Footprints,

Plaster,
213

Hand Drawings,
180

Hand Puppets,
38

Hanukkah,
332–338

Cookies,
334

Happy Face Sandwich,
62

Heart

Necklace,
274

People,
274

Window Decorating,
275

Help!
I Have a Preschooler!,
1

Hide and Seek,
45

Hide the Shamrock,
280

Holiday

Activities,
270–348

Cookies,
320

Homemade

Face Paint,
351

Fan,
235

Gift Wrap,
314

Paste,
363

Peanut Butter,
60

Silly Putty,
212

Hopscotch,
95

Hospital,
163

Hotter/Colder,
42

I Love You Because,
33

I See A-B-C,
120

I Spy,
130

Ice Blocks,
97

Indoor

Camping,
44