Bernard Goes To School by Joan Elizabeth Goodman

Illustrated by Dominic Catalano. 32 pages. Boyds Mills Press, 2001.

As soon as Bernard (a little elephant) arrives for his first day of preschool with his Papa, Mama, and Grandma, he announces that it's time to leave. He is very unresponsive to suggestions to play with various toys and other children, but finally, reluctantly agrees to help his teacher feed the fish. The teacher is able to engage him with another elephant-child around this activity. After this, when Bernard says it's time to leave, he means that it's time for Papa, Mama, and Grandma to go home. Papa and Mama assure him that they will always come back, and he assures them that he'll be right there. This story will help children who hesitate to go to school see that even others who feel the same way can become comfortable there.

Ages: 2-6
Cultural Context: non-human

The Girl in the Castle Inside the Museum by Kate Bernheimer

Illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli. 40 pages. Schwartz and Wade, 2008.

Imagination can feel like a world apart, like the lonely girl in this story who lives in a magical castle inside a glass globe in a museum. She dreams of children coming to visit her. She even dreams that the child reader comes to visit her - and on one page, there's a place for the reader to put a picture of him- or herself, so that the girl in the story won't have to miss him or her. The multimedia illustrations, which incorporate painting, clay models, photography, and digital media, convey the dreamlike quality of this tale. Children can use this story as a reminder to stay connected with the world of imagination.

Ages: 4-8
Cultural Context: European American

Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens

34 pages. Harcourt Brace, 1995.

A poor, but clever, hare strikes a deal with a wealthy, lazy bear to plant vegetables in the bear's field. Each season, the bear gets to choose the tops or bottoms of the vegetables, and each year, gets the less useful part of the plant. When the bear finally chooses both tops and bottoms, the hare plants corn. The hare gives the bear the tassels at the top and the roots at the bottom -- and keeps the ears of corn. Bear learns from this to plant and harvest his own vegetables. Like many other books on this topic, this one has no explicit nutritional information, but is a fun story in which vegetables play an important role.

Ages: 3-7
Cultural Context: non-human

Nobody Owns the Sky: The Story of "Brave Bessie" Coleman by Reeve Lindbergh

Illustrated by Pamela Paparone. 26 pages. Candlewick, 1996.

This rhyming story is a biography of Bessie Coleman, who in 1921 became the first licensed Black aviator in the world. Although people told her she could never fly because she was female and of African descent, she followed her passion learned to fly in France, returning to the United States as a stunt flier and lecturer. She died during an air show, but her life left an inspiring message about commitment to a dream in spite of prejudice.

Ages: 5-9
Cultural Context: multicultural

Happy Birthday to You by Dr Seuss

55 pages. Random House, 1959.

A birthday is a wonderful occasion to celebrate a child's joy in being who she or he is, an idea reflected in the birthday customs of the imaginary land of Katroo. Accompanied by the Birthday Bird, the birthday child enjoys unlimited snacks, wondrous flowers, a delicious lunch followed by a swim, a new pet, and finally, a party in a special palace, with live music, fish who spell out "Happy Birthday," and a spectacular cake. Finally, the Birthday Bird flies the child home to bed. One special birthday ritual is that the child shouts to the world that he or she likes him- or herself, and there are several wonderful statements about being glad to be one's own self. A joyful celebration of the uniqueness and value of each individual, this book is perfect as a birthday present.

Ages: 3-9
Cultural Context: non-human