Best Picture Books for Storytelling

As this blog is all about books I felt I must mention some of our favorites books about books (or stories).   The wonder of storytelling and the art of books - that is what draws me to childrens' picture books.  They seem to weave these two so artfully.

My husband and I both have theatre backgrounds so the theatrical comes a little easier during our storytimes, but I still enjoyed Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud To Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever by Mem Fox.  It is so true that time reading with our children helps to shape their future. 

I also learn a lot from many of these picture books.  There are great lessons, even for parents.  A Few Blocks has such a lesson.

First, I must mention the absolutely amazing story about books - The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce.  It is available in book, short Oscar-nominated film or app format.  See more information about it at Best Books & Learning App's.

No Bears by Megan McKinlay,  illustrated by Leila Rudge.  A fairytale without bears.  The storyteller is determined, but is it possible to have a fairytale without them?

Wild About Books by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown

The animals are each introduced to the perfect books and their vocabulary explodes.  A lovely nod to loving literature.

Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates.  Dog love books so he decides to start his own bookstore.  He knows just what to recommend.

The Little White Owl by Tracey Corderoy, illustrated by Jane Chapman.  Stories help bring people (and owls in this story) together.   

Our favorite series, Elephant and Piggie Books, offers up We Are In a Book! by Mo Willems.  Great fun!

Read It, Don't Eat It! by  Ian  Schoenherr
Rhyming advice on how to take care of a library book.

Limelight Larry by Leigh Hodgkinson  

This is a wonderfully hilarious story all about Limelight Larry - or at least he would like it to be.

Wolves by Emily Gravett

Rabbit borrows a book about wolves.  This story is written in such a way that it is very informative and yet so engaging and entertaining.

Calvin Can't Fly: The Story of a Bookworm Birdie by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Keith Bendis

Find the Magic by Lee Cohen, illustrated 
by Julia Harnett Harvey. Euripides, the frog, takes his friends on an adventure in which they find magic in the pages of books. From a series of books by Susan Yost-Filgate and  Leonard Filgate - now with a new author/illustrator team, but just as good.

A Few Blocks by Cybele Young. This is storytelling at it's best. I try to use this method to distract uncooperative children.  Viola uses imaginative storytelling to distract her brother so that he will go to school. The 3-D paper sculptures used to create this story are fabulous!

Chalk by Bill Thompson
A wonderfully creative book with no words.  Magical chalk  helps the childrens' drawings come to life.  So much fun to play with chalk and explore magical worlds after enjoying this story!

We love new books at our house - if you love any literature on this topic that didn't make my list, please do share!

Great Books for Respect

Respect is such an important thing within a family.  As parents, we want our children to respect us and we, in turn, need to respect them.  It is cyclical.  It goes both ways.  

But as there is no manual for parenting, I tend to seek out picture books.  They teach the kids and I actually learn of good ways to parent through reading many of them.  Here are some of our favorite books about respecting others.


Chrysanthemum
by Kevin Henkes
Acceptance of differences, bullying...this book is so amazing for so many topics.  The girl with the different name and how kids come to respect her for it. 

Do Unto Otters
by Laurie Keller
This is a brilliantly funny book.  The kids think it is a hoot, but it truly is great for inspiring conversations about respect and manners. 

If I Were a Lion
by Sarah Weeks, illustrated by Heather M. Solomon
As the "How Do Dinosaurs..." book series shows wild beasts behaving badly, so does this.  This book is gorgeously illustrated and so sweet.  My kids adore this book and actually recall it when they happen to act wildly!

Stellaluna
by Janell Cannon
There are so many differences in the world today, even within families and children will grow to be stronger adults if they can respect that.  Stellaluna is a beautiful story of differences and embracing them.

The Scallywags
by David Melling
The kids laugh so hard when reading this.  The Scallywags are so unruly.  They have no manners.  But what happens when they lose friends due to their behavior.

The Grouchy Ladybug
by Eric Carle
Most kids go through a stage where "please" and "thank you" are the hardest things to say.  The Grouchy Ladybug won't say them either.  He is the perfect negative example to get kids to see how their behavior can effect others.

Both of the following books are about girls who stand apart from the rest and how they come to respect themselves and, in a way, command the respect of others.  We particularly love anything illustrated by David Catrow.  His illustrations are so whimsical.
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon
by Patty Lovell, illustrated by David Catrow

Odd Velvet
by Mary Whitcomb, illustrated by Tara Calahan King

How Full is Your Bucket for Kids 
by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer, illustrated by Maurie J. Manning
How our attitude effects those around us throughout our day.  Empathy can be such an important catalyst for respect.  This book helps kids to be more aware of this.

We love new books at our house - if you love any other literature on this topic, please share!

Great Picture Books for Quiet

Aren't all books great for quiet?  Well, not always, some should be read with great gusto. The following picture books are great for showing children how to have quiet moments, how to enjoy the quiet and of course, just by reading, they become quiet.  There are certainly some silly books that are just not appropriate for calming kids down for bedtime.  I believe all of the following are great last books of the day.

Goodnight Moon 

by Margaret Wise Brown
An obvious classic, this is our favorite last book of the night.  It is naturally peaceful and quieting.  

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr
A girl and her father go owling late at night.  The girl must learn to restrain her natural tendencies, so as not to scare off the animals.  Going for regular nature hikes is a great way to practice quiet.  

The Quiet Book 

by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Renata Liwska

This is just such a lovely book that we instantly fell in love with.  Kinds of quiet that we may not even notice and can certainly appreciate.  The author has also written The Christmas Quiet Book for finding quiet at the most hectic of times and the antithesis of these is The Loud Book.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee 

by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin Stead
Amos' friends from the zoo come to spend some quiet time with him when he is sick and unable to visit them.  

Extra Yarn 

by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen

2013 Caldecott Honor Book
I am a big believer in old-fashioned toys.  The kids are usually more entertained by a box than expensive toys.  Such a simple, beautiful book reminds us that it really doesn't take much for a quiet happiness.  

Red Knit Cap Girl 

by Naoko Stoop
This book is almost Zen-like in quality.  The girl wants to talk to the moon, but how?   The texture of the artwork is wonderful.

Quiet Bunny 

by Lisa McCue

The quiet bunny is quiet, but wants to find a voice among the forest creatures.  He wants to be like the others, but really just needs to find his own way.  There are many subsequent Quiet Bunny books that are just as beautiful.

The Story of Ferdinand 

by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson
Ferdinand is a calm, quiet bull, content to just smell the flowers.  But he does not fit in with the rest.  Another lovely book about just being yourself, while also showing that calm and quiet can be wonderful, too.

Can I Just Take a Nap? 

by Ron Rauss, illustrated by Rob Shepperson
A very fun book, that my kids just adored.  It reminded me of a favorite of mine, Stay Awake Sally by Mitra Modaressi.  Can I Just Take a Nap? is a boys quest to find a quiet place to rest. This book won Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories contest in 2010, so you may have found this book in a box of Cheerios!

We love new books at our house - if you love any literature on this topic that didn't make my list, please do share!

Great Picture Books for Patience

Patience is such an important topic for young children.  It is certainly not something that comes easily for most children, let alone adults.  Surprisingly it is quite difficult to find really good books to convey patience.  I had only been familiar with a couple of these books.

Llama Llama Red Pajama
by Anna Dewdney
One of our favorites right now, as our three-year-old wants what she wants and wants it NOW.  And it is almost always Mama that she wants.  So patience is a constant discussion point at our house.  This book is sweet and fun.  "Mama Llama's always near, even if she's not right here."  That is my new favorite line!



Remy the Rhino Learns Patience
by Andy McGuire
Remy is terribly impatient, until his horn gets stuck in a tree and he must learn patience the hard way.  Cute illustrations and a nice little story.

The Carrot Seed
by Maurice Sendak

Watching seeds grow takes a lot of work and even more patience.  The young boy in The Carrot Seed does a great deal of both and surprises everyone around him.  I love many of Sendak's books, but this one is so perfectly simple and we adore it.

Owl Moon
by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr
A father and daughter go owling in this Caldecott Medal Winner.  It takes quiet and patience to hear/see the owls.  Beautifully illustrated.

Play With Me 
By Marie Hall Ets
Similar to Owl Moon, this book teaches about nature and how to be gentle and patient with it.  A girl runs after animals and scares them off, but when she sits quietly they come to her.

Patient Rosie 
by Mary Morgan-Vanroyen
This book is perhaps not as subtle as some, so it is perfect for small children to understand that being patient can have it's rewards.

Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake
by Michael B. Kaplan, illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch
I adore chocolate, so this book couldn't be more appropriate.  But I also adore healthy eating.  Betty Bunny must be patient for dessert.  Sweet fun for the kids!



We love new books at our house - if you love any literature on this topic that didn't make my list, please do share!

Great Picture Books for (helping) Others

This topic could really fall under the theme of Kindness or Cooperation, but it is just so important to emphasize this at a young age that it can only help more to follow up with books about helping others.  Children don't always understand or yet grasp what is right and what is wrong, but they can understand how nice it feels to help others.  Even if it is just helping those in your everyday life or reaching out to people in your community.

The Lion and the Mouse 

by Jerry Pinkney
A wordless picture book with gorgeous artwork of the African Savannah in this wonderful retelling of a classic fable.  This is one of our favorite books.  The kids can "read" it to us and the story and illustrations are just magical.





The Little Red Hen
Really any true version of this story is fantastic.  Right now my kids' favorite incarnation is a free iPad app book from Mindshapes. I also wrote on the Cooperation theme about The Little Red Pen, which is a fun newer version of this timeless tale.  The Little Red Pen replaces the farm animals with office supplies, but my oldest adores this book so much that he reenacted the book with our very own Pen, Stapler, Ruler, etc.

The Three Questions 

by Jon J. Muth

A retelling of an old Tolstoy fable that has a special place in my heart.  It was part of a children's theatre piece that I directed in Italy.  It is a fantastic philosophical story.  The very young can't really grasp the concept, but the kids adore the animals and some of the overall message of helping someone.  

Horton Hears a Who
by Dr. Seuss
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!  We have been reading a lot of Dr. Seuss in the past week and this particular book incites some great conversations with your kids.  Horton believes that there are living beings on a speck, but few others believe.  He goes to great lengths to help the Who's.  



The Little Engine That Could
by Watty Piper
A wonderful classic and I am certainly partial to the original edition from Watty Piper as that is what I grew up with.  The new print with illustrations by Loreen Long is a whimsical update.  I think I can.... I think I can...





And oddly enough three "Tree" books!  When I narrowed down my list, these three made the top and all had very similar titles.  

The Mitten Tree 
by Candace Christiansen
A woman knits mittens for a young boy who has none, but this is only the beginning of a beautiful story that inspires us to help others.

The Giving Tree 
by Shel Silverstein
A boy/man on his journey of life and how a tree selflessly helps him in times of need.

The Night Tree 
by Eve Bunting
A bit dated, perhaps, but a cute story to share at the holidays each year.  Most children have a difficult time seeing past the receiving of the holiday spirit.  This book can motivate us to have our own family holiday traditions of giving.  

We love new books at our house - if you love any literature on this topic that didn't make my list, please do share!

Great Picture Books of Numbers and the Alphabet

I adore the playful use of the alphabet and numbers through picture books.  My youngest is still working on learning these.  My oldest, while he knows his alphabet and numbers quite well, is thoroughly invested in these books.

It is so difficult to limit the list of alphabet books, because we love so many.  When I started looking at this list I thought I would have the top five of both categories, but there are just too many great choices.  The best way to learn is through repetition and having many books to pull from can really help.  I try to always have some of these books on hand. 

Great Numbers Books

10 Minutes Till Bedtime
by Peggy Rathmann
From the author of the classic Good Night, Gorilla, comes my children's favorite book about numbers.  My son really figured out numbers using this book.  There are ten hamsters with shirts numbered 1-10.  Each picture can be used as a seek-and-find.  They do some pretty silly stuff while getting ready for bed.  Entertaining and educational - the perfect combination.

Museum 123
by Metropolitan Museum of Art
City 123
by Zoran Milich

These are both creative books showcasing the numbers using art from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and photography from around New York City.

Zero

by Kathryn Otoshi

This book delves into the value of numbers and adding zeros to make 10, 100, 1000....  Great for learning numbers, value and accepting being different. It is amazing that Otoshi managed to fit all of these into one simple, yet beautiful book.

20 Hungry Piggies
by Trudy Harris, illustrated by Andrew N. Harris

Most other books only go up to the number 10, so this book is good to expand upon the early number learning.  The big, bad wolf even makes an appearance, but how the pigs rid themselves of him is so much fun!

Some classic numbers books that we have enjoyed: 

1, 2 Buckle My Shoe
by Anna Grossnickle Hines

Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3

by Bill Martin Jr and Michael R Sampson, illustrated by Lois Ehlert

Ten, Nine, Eight
by Molly Bang

Ten Little Caterpillars

by Bill Martin Jr

Great Alphabet Books

Astonishing Animal ABC
by Charles Fuge

One of our favorite alphabet books is from our beloved author/illustrator, Charles Fuge.  More lovely illustrations of animals and some creative animals.  Some of illustrations show more use of the letters than is in the text, so it is fun to discover more with the kids.  The end is a surprise that it is not a zebra, which was a disappointment to me at first, but the kids love it because it is silly.  

Creature ABC
by Andrew Zuckerman

Gorgeous photography of animals.  

Alphabeasties: And Other Amazing Types 

by Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss 

"Beasties" of animals made using type.  Such a fun, creative way for kids to see the letters of the alphabet repeatedly.

The Sleepy Little Alphabet: A Bedtime Story from Alphabet Town

by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

A really excellent way to introduce the alphabet. 10 Minutes Till Bedtime engages my children in a way similar to this book.  Each letter of the alphabet is going to sleep and on the final pages we talk about all the letters together and the nearby objects that start with their letters.  The illustration by Melissa Sweet is so adorable and really makes the letters come to life.

E-mergency!
by Tom Lichtenfeld
Brilliant play on words - the "E" is down for the count.  Th story gts difficult to rad bcaus all of ths lttrs ar missing.  Fun, but mayb mor so for th advancd :) 

An Annoying ABC

by Barbara Bottner
An awesome use of alliteration and bad, bawdy behaviors make this an entertaining read for kids.  We can talk about manners and the alphabet all in one!

Alphabet City
by Stephen Johnson
OR 

ABC NYC: A Book about Seeing New York City
by Joanne Dugan

These are both books of clever photographs in which you can find a letter of the alphabet. Alphabet City is more outdated while the latter is a more modern version, but both are enjoyable to discover where the photographer found the letters.

LMNO Peas
by Keith Baker

Highlights hobbies and careers using each letter of the alphabet.  Wonderfully illustrated and great use of "pea-ple."

A is for Salad

by Mike Lester

This book is so ridiculous, but so fun. Really should be for older kids who have a grasp of the alphabet already.  All the letters are jumbled - an alligator is eating a salad, so to get the most out of this book the children have to understand that the A is really for the Alligator.

Some classic alphabet books that we have enjoyed: 

Eating the Alphabet
by Lois EhlertChicka Chicka Boom Boom
by Bill Martin Jr

Dr. Seuss's ABC

by Dr. Seuss

Animalia
by Graeme Base

We love new books at our house - if you love any literature on this topic that didn't make my list, please do share!

Picture Books for Major Changes (Divorce and Moving)

In my last post I covered loss and this topic sprung from that.  Moving and Divorce are connected to loss, but I like to keep my lists of recommended books concise.  

These two major changes can greatly effect our children without our even realizing it.  As with anything, I believe that reading these books helps us to better communicate with our children.  It helps to spur a dialogue and I often find myself learning new ideas and strategies in how to work with my kids.   

MOVING

We made a big move ourselves three years ago.  At the time, we only had one nearly two year old.  Some of these books helped us to explain the move to Greysen.  His favorite part of the move was his new room.  It was the first thing that I painted and then I stenciled  the alphabet and numbers around the tops of the walls.  He was so proud, I don't think he missed his old home for long!

Augustine
by Melanie Watt 
I love this book! Gorgeous illustrations, fantastic story. Augustine deals with the changes in her life through drawing. Her illustrations allude to many famous artists such as Van Gogh, Warhol, Magritte, even the title name comes from Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The story about the move is great, but the illustrations alone are worth checking this book out.

A move told through the perspective of the family pet:

Lily
by Abigail Thomas, illustrated by William Low

Big Ernie's New Home: A Story for Children Who Are Moving 

by Teresa Martin and Whitney Martin

A New Room for William by Sally Grindley, illustrated by Carol Thompson

A great example of how to make the new home a "home" for kids.  That makes all the difference to William as he begins to accept his new home.

Goodbye House 

by Frank Asch 

A sweet and simple book.

DIVORCE

This topic we do not have immediate experience with, but some children that are close to mine are going through this now.  Reading these books helps my kids to understand what is happening to their friends.  On sensitive subjects, we as parents should always read the literature first before sharing it with our children.  

Let's Talk About It: Divorce 
by Fred Rogers 
Mr. Rogers has a wonderful way of explaining difficult situations to children.  That has been extended in the new PBS show Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, which we love at our house.  This book is great for most children, although visually may seem a bit out of date.

Was It the Chocolate Pudding?: A Story for Little Kids about Divorce 
by Sandra Levins, illustrated by Bryan Lando
Great book for kids and showing them that this is a grown-up issue and not about something the kids did.  Cute illustrations, very engaging.  

It's Not Your Fault Koko Bear: 

A Read-Together Book for Parents and Young Children During Divorce 

by Vicki Lansky

Similar to Chocolate Pudding, this book helps to show that the kids are not at fault.  This book also shows a very amicable family, which is not always the case in these books.

Mama and Daddy Bear's Divorce 
by Cornelia Maude Spelman
A wonderful book that talks about how things may be changing and that some things can still stay the same. 

The Spider and the Bee 
by Michele Shen 
A simple book for even the smallest children.  The spider and the bee are married and find that they can no longer live together. 

And I happened upon this extra book for parents in my research and thought it might be really helpful to some:

Helping Your Kids Cope With Divorce the Sandcastles Way 

by M. Gary Neuman, illustrated by Patricia Romanowski Bashe

I'm sure that this short list doesn't even come close to scratching the surface on these topics - if you love any literature on this topic that didn't make my list, please do share!

Great Picture Books for Loss

Recently I learned about Bibliotherapy, or an expressive therapy that uses an individual's relationship to the content of books and poetry and other written words as therapy. I think this is at the very foundation of our children's growth into adults. The more they read (and we read to them), the more well-rounded and intelligent adults we hope they will become. This is essentially bibliotherapy, although most may believe it only focuses on life's major events and changes. I believe every one of these topics is essential to creating and nourishing good human beings. Here is a good website for many bibliotherapy topics and related childrens' books: http://www.best-childrens-books.com/bibliotherapy.html

We are fortunate to not have yet had loss and death come too closely to our family, but we are recently familiar with losing a family dog.  We do often find the children asking us about where are Daddy's grandparents or Grandpa's parents?  These questions can only be answered by discussing death and what that means.  



We also have a precocious five year old who says things like,"When I die, I will come back as a baby."  He is a very deep thinker.  He randomly came out with statements like these long before introducing any of these books to him.  It has been very good for him to have a deeper knowledge of death and life.

The finality of never seeing their cousins' dog again was difficult to explain.  It has certainly been interesting with a 2 and a 5 year old (and my nieces and nephews, ages 2-7).  These books have helped both of my kids to somewhat grasp the topic of loss or death at their own level of understanding.  

Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children 
by Bryan Melloni and Robert Ingpen
It begins, "There is a beginning and ending for everything that is alive. In between is living." The book is about the circle of life.  A wonderful, simple way to introduce this subject to young children.  There is even a video on YouTube that reads this book.


Grandma's Gone to Live in the Stars 
by Max Haynes 

Very simple, but wonderful little book told through Grandma's perspective as she says goodbye.

Death in a Nut 
retold by Eric Maddern and illustrated by Paul Hess
A little more abstract and silly book, but it is really about showing kids the importance of being okay with death.  It is based on a Scottish folktale and takes place on a farm.  Beware it has some graphic ideas of how animals may die or be injured.  This is not depicted in the pictures and not really in the text, but some things are implied.  Despite this, I still love this story.

Ghost Wings 
by Barbara M. Joosse and illustrated by Giselle Potter 
A beautiful story about a little girl who loses her grandmother.  This book is of special interest to me because I went to school with the author's daughter.  But it is a wonderful story about holding the memories close to your heart.

Always and Forever 
by Alan Durant, illustrated by Debi Gliori
Another great book about holding onto the special memories.  Told through the perspective of animals: Mole, Hare, Otter and Squirrel.

When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death 
by Laurie Krasny Brown, illustrated by Marc Brown
Not really a story, but attempts to answer some very deep and profound questions.  It may be more well-suited for ages 5 and up, but my nearly-3-year-old has asked many of these questions.  And you know the need answers from their all-knowing parents.  Here are the answers. 


And What Comes After a Thousand 
by Annette Bley
Beautiful, playful illustrations won me over (and I think the kids, too).  But the story is even sweeter.


There are also a number of excellent books specifically about the loss of a pet:

Dog Heaven or Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant

Saying Goodbye to Lulu by Corinne Demas

I'll Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm

The Legend of Rainbow Bridge by William N. Britton
The Tenth Best Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst

We love new books at our house - if you love any literature on this topic that didn't make my list, please do share!

Great Picture Books for Kindness

Such a wonderful thing to share with your children the gift of kindness.  They can learn so many things from this.  Most of these books we have read at some time randomly, but I just recently got them all from the library at the same time.  Now we simply have to remind our kids to please be kind and they actually think about it (and sometimes do it).

This book is by far our favorite:
Kindness Is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler 
by Margery Cuyler, illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa
Fun rhyming scheme and great ideas for how to be kind in so many different ways.


Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson
How one good deed from a small girl can change the world.

Zen Ties by Jon J. Muth
A little more subtle tale of kindness, but the kindness is felt just as much as in the other stories.  A panda bear helps three children bestow kindness upon an old woman and she helps them nearly as much as they help her.

How Kind by Mary Murphy
A very simple book for even the youngest of children, but even my five year old enjoys it's simplicity.

One Smile by Cindy McKinley
The kids didn't think the illustrations were anything spectacular, but I just love the idea that one smile can have so much power.


The Spiffiest Giant in Town by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
A great story of kindness and generosity, the "kindest giant in town" helps others and his good deed comes back to him.

Fly Free! by Roseanne Thong, illustrated by Eujin Kim Neilan
A little different turn of the pass-it-on kindness.  If you do a good deed, then it will come back to you.

Paulie Pastrami Achieves World Peace by James Proimos
A fun book showing that kindness and peace aren't all that difficult to attain.

Kindness to pets
At our house everyone is very good about this, but we do have children visit on a regular basis that are not from a home with a pet.  So we like to share these stories of how to show kindness to a pet.

Nico and Lola: Kindness Shared Between a Boy and a Dog by Meggan Hill, illustrated by Susan M Graunke
A beautiful story about a boy and an animal.  My kids are madly in love with this book, perhaps because they are madly in love with our dog.

Please Don't Tease Tootsie by Margaret Chamberlain
A silly, silly book, but one with a great lesson.

We love new books at our house - if you love any literature on this topic that didn't make my list, please do share!

Great Picture Books for Jealousy

We have not yet had real problems with jealousy.  Perhaps it is because we read many of these books before our youngest's arrival. Big brother has always been a very welcoming and kind sibling.   

But we do deal with jealousy on birthdays - this year in particular.  Greysen recently celebrated his fifth birthday at a party with all of his friends.  We decided long ago that we would only do family birthdays until the fifth birthday.  However, Camden is about to turn three and is now expecting that she will get the same kind of party.  So we are doing our best to help her understand.  Of course, the usual birthday jealousy comes from one child being jealous of the attention and gifts.  Some of these books are great for kids to learn to be respectful that this is someone else's special day. 

A Birthday For Frances by  Russell Hoban, 

illustrated by Lillian Hoban
For the oh-so-common sibling birthday jealousy.

When I Feel Jealous (Way I Feel Books) by Cornelia Maude Spelman, illustrated by Kathy Parkinson.  This particular book does an excellent job describing a number of different ways that children can feel jealous.  For young children who have trouble finding words to express their feelings this is a great book to teach them.

The Berenstain Bears and the Green-eyed Monster by  Stan and Jan Berenstain

Sister is jealous of Brother's new bike.  Also made into a nice short film.

Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss

All three stories are great tales of humility.  They help to show that jealousy is never good.

A To Z Do You Ever Feel Like Me? : a guessing ALPHABET by Bonnie Hausman, photography by Sandi Fellman.  A great book on many levels - discussing 26 different feelings, the alphabet and seek and find in the border pictures.  This book could have been so much better, some pages rhyme while others do not.  An odd inconsistency in an otherwise enjoyable read. 

Sometimes I Feel Awful by Joan Singleton Prestine

A young girl has a day full of different moods. Although she starts out happy, she begins to feel different throughout the day. She does not want to share with her friend and gets upset when he plays with her toys. She learns what she should have said to make her family and friends understand.

Books that are great for new sibling jealousy: 

Little Monster Did It! by Helen Cooper 

Beautifully illustrated story about Amy, who is not so sure if she likes the new baby.  When odd things happen she blames her toy.

Grumpy Gloria by Anna Dewdney
Gloria has to share attention with her owner's new doll and this makes her grumpy.  The children try to cheer Gloria up (also a wonderful lesson for kids) in this silly story.

Marshmallow by Clare Turlay Newberry
An old classic (Caldecott winner 1943), this is a good one for kids to learn about sharing attention with a new sibling.  The story is about a cat and a rabbit, but the lesson is perfect for children to understand the concept of dealing with jealousy.

Noisy Nora by Rosemary Wells
Nora makes a lot of noise because she feels neglected.  Her attempts for attention are told very simply and are wonderful for even the smallest of children.

Buzz Bumble To The Rescue by Lynn E Hazen, illustrated by Jill Newton

Fun illustrations with a bit of humor only adults will pick up on, but still a good book for new sibling jealousy.

Howler by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Neal Layton. This story is reminiscent of Lady and the Tramp.  An entertaining look at a dog's view of a new baby in the house.

We love new books at our house - if you love any literature on this topic that didn't make my list, please do share!