Mrs. Swanson's Recommendations

Mo Willems writes fantastic books for littles that all include lessons about friendship, fun, and loveable characters. Elephant and Piggie are some of my favorites, but Pigeon books are great too.

You can count on anything by Lauren Child to be funny, colorful, and relatable. Charlie and Lola are lovable characters

Herve Tullet writes the best interactive books and kids love them! They are colorful and easy to read.

You can't go wrong with an Oliver Jeffers book. They are all eye catching, quirky, and just fun to read. 

Jory John has written a series to help teach kids about important virtues in a fun-to-read way. The illustrations are fantastic.

Drew Daywalt books are a win every time. This one is hilarious and will have parents laughing right along with their children.

Lois Ehlert's writing style is simple, her illustration style vibrant and creative. Collage style pictures and interesting topics keep kids coming back to them.

Jon Agee books are just plain fun to read. Usually there is a lesson to be learned, like in Terrific. Eugene is a pessimist who learns the value of perseverance and optimism from an unlikely friend.

I love all of the Harry Potter series, but the third book, Prisoner of Azkaban, is my absolute favorite. There is no shortage of imagination, suspense, and friendship throughout. Don't miss this book, but PLEASE read The Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets first! You won't be sorry!

Anne Shirley is an orphan who hopes to find a home with Matthew and Marilla at Green Gables. Her many adventures, mishaps, and friendships offer the reader a whole range of emotions. This is a beautiful and timeless story.

Charlie Bone is a boy who was born endowed with the power to jump into photos and paintings to experience what was happening in them. He soon learns of a school where other endowed children with various powers attend. This is an exciting and imaginative series.

Salamanca Tree Hiddle is an unusual girl on a road trip to see her mama with her eccentric grandparents. Along the way she entertains them with strange but true stories of her experience living in her new home in Euclid, Ohio. They make some stories themselves along the way. I love this book.

Cyrus doesn't feel brave, and with a firefighter and former football star for a dad, it's even harder for him to find courage. When he finds a stray dog on his doorstep, he begins to realize some things are worth standing up for.

Lexington Willow lives in a zoo. She believes she can communicate with the elephants. This story is full of twists and inexplicable elements, but those elements come together in a powerful story about friendship and love.

Opal has moved to a brand new town in a brand new state. What she needs is a friend, and what she finds is many, all because of Winn-Dixie. This is such a heart warming and funny story! Read it and anything else by Kate DiCamillo.

Nick Allen thinks outside the box. Some teachers may see him as a trouble maker, but he really is just a regular kid with the grit to make big things happen. Andrew Clements writes great stories about regular kids who do extraordinary things.