Explore Children's Literature Today
Discover more than 400 children's books suitable for
infants through 8th grade!
Explore Children's Literature Today
Discover more than 400 children's books suitable for
infants through 8th grade!
welcome to "Open a book- open the world!"
Our Mission
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Our Mission
We believe in the power of reading
to transform lives. Our mission is to
assist parents and teachers in
identifying quality children's books
and recommended reading that will
inform and inspire young people.
Book Lists
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Our Mission
Our recommended reading lists feature
a variety of children's books that cater
to a range of interests and will engage children of all ages. Highlighted are
both long-time favorites and new titles, books for boys and girls, and books exploring a variety of cultures.
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Each month, we will shine the spotlight on one or more books for preschool and school-age children, providing suggestions and lesson plans for incorporating learning activities at home and in the classroom.
We also look forward to sharing your reviews and recommendations.
February 2026 spotlight
Let's Be Friends
This month, we are celebrating friendship. What makes a good friend? How can you be a friend to others? The Spotlight books help children answer these questions. In Do You Want to Be My Friend? by Eric Carle, a mouse meets many animals, but none seem to be interested in being his friend. Young children will enjoy the predictable text and finding out which animal will be mouse's friend!
For older children, The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky by Holly Schindler demonstrates how one person can be a friend to many. You will meet Auggie and her grandpa. Together, they use their creativity and concern for others to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors. You might also want to read two graphic novels about friendship. Girls will enjoy Real Friends by Shannon Hale, while boys will be able to relate to Joe and Ravi in the book Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks.
To all my friends- Happy Valentine's Day!!
Let's Be Friends
Preschool
Eric Carle, the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar,
has written a simple picture book for children to enjoy. In
Do You Want to be My Friend? a small mouse goes on a
search for the perfect friend. The bright pictures help young
ones explore colors, animals, and sounds. The text will
guide children in learning what makes a perfect friend.
School-Age
In the book The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky, Holly Schindler introduces Auggie, who lives with her grandpa in Serendipity Place. When new members of the House Beautification Committee find the homes in their neighborhood as “against code”, Auggie partners with her grandpa to use their resources and creativity to demonstrate friendship with their neighbors and maybe even save the community.
January 2026 spotlight
Share a Smile- Books with Humor
I love a good joke but am terrible at remembering them. I always forget the punch line! As the new year begins, I thought it would be fun to focus on books that are fun and funny. There were many to choose from, and I ended up including a third book this month for beginning readers.
For young children, The Napping House by Audrey Wood is a cumulative story (think "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly) about a granny who is joined by others as she tries to take a nap. You will love the ending! Other humorous books for preschool include Look! by Jeff Mack and The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak.
This month, I am also sharing one of the books in the Roscoe Riley Rules series by Katherine Applegate. in the first book of the series, Roscoe wants to help his teacher control his class, but he learns you should Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs".
For school -age children, I urge you to read Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. Although this book was written over 50 years ago, I found myself laughing out loud as a read about Peter and his brother, Fudge. I also recommend Louis Sachar's Sideways Stories from Wayside School, a collection of poems entitled My Dog May be a Genius by Jack Prelutsky, and for those with strong stomachs, How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell.
Grab a blanket and get ready to laugh!
share a smile
Preschool
Beginning Readers
Beginning Readers
Audrey and Don Wood have written a funny cumulative tale about a granny takes to her bed for a nap. But before long, she is joined by a grandchild and some sleepy animals. With everyone piled on top of granny, what will it take to wake them up?
The Napping House will have young children laughing and wanting to out the story out with their stuffed animals!
Beginning Readers
Beginning Readers
Beginning Readers
Meet Rosco Riley, a first-grader who only wants to help! When his class has trouble sitting still while waiting to perform for their parents, Roscoe comes up with a sure-fire way to help that involves super-mega-gonzo glue. Uh-oh! Here comes time-out!
The first book in the Roscoe Riley Rules series by Katherine Applegate.
School-age
Beginning Readers
School-age
Peter knows that being an older brother is hard, but it is nearly impossible when your little brother is almost three, has tantrums, and destroys your things. When Peter's pet turtle, Dribble, goes missing, things really get interesting. Hilarious antics will have you laughing until the final page.
Judy Blume's story has been loved by children and parents for more than 50 years!
Lynn's reading nook
February 2026- Let's Be Friends
February is the "Love" month. Adults celebrate with romantic dinners, flowers, and don't forget the chocolate! But for children, this month should be about friendship. As the saying goes, "To have a friend, you must first be a friend." That doesn't happen naturally. In this world of virtual reality, social media, and AI, people are missing opportunities to practice the skills of friendship- concern for others, listening, encouraging, and spending time together (IRL). Children learn these skills through teaching, modeling, and practice. Think about how often you demonstrate friendship to others in front of your children. Maybe this month we all need to work a little harder in this area. I know I do!
This month's Spotlight books will help introduce or remind children of the qualities of a good friend. I hope these stories will encourage your child make friendship a priority!
Happy Reading!
January 2026- Start the Year with a Smile
Welcome to 2026! I hope that you are expecting great things for your family this year. While I enjoy the hectic holiday season, January brings a return to a normal schedule and a sense of calm. If you happen to live in an area that gets snow (I don’t!), the white blanket of snow gives everything a sense of cleanness and newness. As we begin a new year, I thought it would be fun to start by sharing some humorous books. I am terrible with jokes, but love the rib-tickling stories in this month's Spotlight books. I have even included an extra Spotlight book for beginning readers. It was too good to pass over. I pray that these books will remind you to keep your home’s atmosphere fun, light-hearted, and filled with joy!
December- "Tis the Season"
December is truly “the most wonderful time of the year!” Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, this season is about family, faith, and giving. It is a season of love, light, and laughter. Family traditions play an important role as they connect the past to the present. I hope that your family has many special traditions that you celebrate year after year. But don’t let that prevent you from beginning new ones that bring meaning to the season. In addition to decorating the tree and attending Christmas programs, I have added watching the movie “Elf” to our family’s “must do” list in December.
This month, I have selected two books that present this season’s themes. For young children, Corduroy by Don Freeman and Barbara Robinson’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
Take time to savor this season with a mug of hot chocolate as you share these wonderful books with those you love. Wishing you a happy and faith-filled holiday season!
November- Family, Friends, Food, and Heritage
For many people, November is the month between Halloween and Christmas. But it is so much more. As we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, we reconnect with family and friends over mounds of food. Many people who do not have family close by celebrate the day with friends ("Friendsgving"). November is also Native American Heritage Month. As a child, I was fascinated by the culture of American Indian tribes. Their music, crafts, food, and dress captured my imagination. This month's preschool Spotlight book, Fry Bread, looks at a traditional food prepared by a contemporary Native American family. The school-age Spotlight book, The Sign of the Beaver, shares the story of a white boy who is befriended by a boy from the Wampanoag, or Beaver tribe. Both of these books present Native Americans as kind, helpful, intelligent, and family-oriented. May your family be blessed this month!
October- Fall in Love with Fall
I love fall- football, falling leaves, food, and family! During this season, I tend to reflect on old-fashioned things like farms, family reunions, and all things "apple". Fall is also a great time to make new family memories. Go for a hike, play in the leaves, or visit a petting zoo. Make an apple pie, attend a state fair, or visit extended family.
Even better, visit the library and check out books that celebrate the season. Two of these, Otis and Charlotte's Web are in the Spotlight section this month. Other books you might like include The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown, The Very Busy Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri, How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman, The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant, and A Gathering of Days by Joan Blos. Grab a blanket and take your books outside to enjoy the changing season! Happy Fall, Ya'll!~ Lynn
WELCOME!
I am so excited to share this site with you. As an educator, school psychologist, and most importantly, a grandmother, I have a desire to see children develop a love for learning through engaging children's books. Books are a major source of knowledge and can help children expand their horizons. However, walking into a library or bookstore can be overwhelming, especially when searching for the best elementary reading options. The printable lists shared on this site can help guide your selections, including preschool book recommendations and toddler book lists. You may ask, 'How were books chosen?' I made an effort to include both classic and newer books, books for boys and girls, and books about various cultures. The printable lists feature additional recommended reading not highlighted on the website, along with important book information such as number of pages and reading levels.
I encourage you to use these lists throughout the year. As I have learned with my own grandchildren, they can serve as 'wish lists' for birthday and Christmas gifts. Children can mark the books they have read and those they would like to read. The lists can help children choose books for reports or for pleasure. However you use this site, I wish you and your children many hours of happy reading!
- Lynn S. Wogamon, Ed.D.