Although his mother is a little worried, a young boy is delighted to discover that every shop in town is giving away real dinosaurs to their customers.

Liz says:

“This charming story will delight kids, especially those who love dinosaurs.”

After she falls headfirst into a birds nest, a baby bat is raised like a bird until she is reunited with her mother.

Cara says:

“A beautiful story with pictures to match. A great resource for information on bats in the back of the book.”

When Daisy, a middle child, is invited to spend the night at her friend’s house, her family finally pays attention to her.

Liz says:

“For all middle children or for anyone who’s ever felt disregarded, this story is for you. The text and illustrations are wonderful.”

A homemade quilt ties together the lives of four generations of an immigrant Jewish family, remaining a symbol of their enduring love and faith.

Liz says:

“Patricia Polacco’s picture books are among the best ever. This one is an all time favorite for many – including me. Her stories are almost always semi-autobiographical and focus on family life and traditions.”

A caterpillar and a young goose become great friends, but as they grow up they undergo changes which separate them for awhile.

Liz says:

“This book is the winner of the Charlotte Zolotow Award. It is one of the sweetest books about friendship. As Farfallina and Marcel grow and change so does their friendship. The illustrations are charming.”

Every Friday a father and his child share a special ritual.

Liz says:

“‘Slow down you move to fast. You got to make the morning last.’ This is the story of a father and son who every Friday go to the local diner for breakfast. Their intimate bonding time is contrasted to the busy world that goes on around them. It’s a wonderful book with a great message and beautifully nostalgic 1950s style illustrations.”

Duck and Goose learn to work together to take care of a ball that they think is an oversized egg.

Liz says:

“This is my daughter’s absolute favorite and it’s also one of mine. Duck and Goose learn to work together and form a most endearing friendship. The illustrations are amazing.” (There’s a sequel, Duck, Duck, Goose, which is available from Amazon but not linked here for technical reasons.)