These aren’t just books that I like, although I certainly do like them. These are books that I’ve read and re-read and then held in my hands and marveled at how well they did whatever it was they set out to do.
They make me say, “Wow!”
They’re kind of like Mary Poppins – practically perfect in every way.
Picture Books
- 17 Things I’m Not Allowed to Do Anymore – by Jenny Offill
- Agnes Caws – by Candace Fleming
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day – by Judith Viorst
- And Then It’s Spring — by Julie Fogliano
- A Mother for Choco – by Keiko Kasza
- A Tree for Emmy – by Mary Ann Rodman
- Babies Can’t Eat Kimchee – by Nancy Patz and Susan Roth
- Boris and Bella – by Carolyn Crimi
- The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians – by Carla Morris
- Chicken Soup With Rice – by Maurice Sendak
- Christmas Mouseling – by Dori Chaconas
- Chrysanthemum – by Kevin Henkes
- Clorinda – by Robert Kinerk
- Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus – by Mo Willems
- Earth to Clunk – by Pam Smallcomb
- The Elegant Pelican – by Mildred Whatley Wright
- Estelle Takes A Bath – by Jill Esbaum
- Frederick Finch, Loudmouth – by Tess Weaver
- Grace for President – by Kelly DiPucchio
- How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? – by Margaret McNamara
- Is Your Mama a Llama? – by Deborah Guarino
- Koala Lou – by Mem Fox
- Knuffle Bunny – by Mo Willems
- Llama, Llama, Red Pajama – by Anna Dewdney
- Library Lion – by Michelle Knudsen
- Melissa Parkington’s Beautiful, Beautiful Hair – by Pat Brisson
- Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile – by Gloria Houston
- Miss Fannie’s Hat – by Jan Karon
- Miss Rumphius – by Barbara Cooney
- The Monster at the End of This Book – by Jon Stone
- Odd Velvet – by Mary E. Whitcomb
- Owen – by Kevin Henkes
- Pickle-Chiffon Pie – by Jolly Roger Bradfield,
- Possum Magic – by Mem Fox
- Prudence Wants a Pet — by Cathleen Daly
- Shrinking Violet – by Cari Best
- Stand Straight, Ella Kate – by Kate Klise
- Stars — by Mary Lyn Ray
- Thank You, Sarah – by Laurie Halse Anderson
- The Chicken of the Family – by Mary Amato
- The Paper Princess – by Elisa Kleven
- The Paper Bag Princess – by Robert Munsch
- The Velveteen Rabbit – by Margery Williams
- This Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown – by Cressida Cowell
- Tummy Girl – by Roseanne Thong
- Wanda’s Roses – by Pat Brisson
- What Mary Jo Wanted and What Mary Jo Shared – by Janice May Udry
- When I Have a Little Girl – by Charlotte Zolotow
- Wombat Divine – by Mem Fox
Books for Older Readers
- Anne of Green Gables (all eight books in the series) – by L.M. Montgomery
- Bad Kitty Takes a Bath – by Nick Bruel
- Because of Winn-Dixie – by Kate DiCamillo
- Being Teddy Roosevelt – by Claudia Mills
- Boy Meets Boy — by David Levithan
- Bridge to Terabithia – by Katherine Patterson
- Ellie McDoodle – Have Pen, Will Travel – by Ruth McNally Barshaw
- Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree – by Lauren Tarshis
- Frindle – by Andrew Clements
- Greetings from Nowhere – by Barbara O’Connor
- Harry Potter (all seven books in the series) by J.K. Rowling
- Hate That Cat – by Sharon Creech
- How Oliver Olson Changed the World by Claudia Mills
- Jimmy’s Stars – by Mary Ann Rodman
- Love That Dog – by Sharon Creech
- Millicent Min: Girl Genius – by Lisa Yee
- Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little – by Peggy Gifford
- Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List – by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
- Saving Marie – by Kevin Henkes
- Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (all four books in the series) – by Ann Brashares
- The Earth, My Butt and Other Big, Round Things – by Carolyn Mackler
- The Fault in Our Stars — by John Green
- The Mulberry Project – by Linda Sue Park
- The Reluctant Dragon – by Kenneth Grahame
- The Westing Game – by Ellen Raskin
- Wednesday Wars – by Gary Schmidt
