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In My Library Tote: Preschool Books Featuring Animals

For a kid who is mostly indifferent about real-life animals, Jona sure loves books that feature animals in the story. Maybe because he knows that the book won’t spontaneously start barking, or because horses in a story are far less large and intimidating than the real deal. Either way, we do read lots of books with animals around here, and here are a few we’ve enjoyed lately.

{preschool book picks: books with animals}

{Daredevil Duck by Charlie Alder} For a duck who’s afraid of pretty much everything, Daredevil Duck seems like an ill-fitting nickname. The other ducks laugh at him and tell him just that. However, when a mole loses his balloon and seeks Daredevil Duck’s help in getting it back, will he finally prove his bravery to everyone?
     Preschooler approved? Yes, Jona loved this one, we read it a lot. Also, since Jona is my Mr. Cautious, I always love a book that inspires bravery.

{Go Sleep In Your Own Bed by Candace Fleming} It’s bedtime at the farm, so all the animals head to their cozy beds. So Pig heads to bed but finds Cow snuggled up in his spot; then Cow leaves but finds Hen sleeping in his stall, and so on.
     Preschooler approved? Yes, this was pretty cute and funny.

{Pirate’s Perfect Pet by Beth Ferry} Captain Crave has pretty much everything he needs to be a good pirate, according to Be Your Best Buccaneer magazine. However, one thing he’s missing is a pet. So he and his crew travel everywhere, in search of the perfect one.
     Preschooler approved? Oh yes, this was a favorite. I thought it was pretty cute too, although I cringed at the thought of Jona quoting “Shiver me shih-tzus!” and perhaps not being clear about it…

{Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss} Lazy Mayzie Bird wants to take a vacation instead of sit on her egg and wait for it to hatch, so she asks Horton the elephant to take her place. Through wind, rain, and snow, Horton sits faithfully on the egg, and even the threat of hunters doesn’t move him. When Mayzie finally returns to her hatching egg, with plans to reclaim it, she’s in for quite a surprise.
     Preschooler approved? Yes, although he said “Wow, that’s a long one!” I read a lot of Dr. Seuss as a kid, and his are always favorites of mine.

{Petunia by Roger Duvoisin} Petunia is known as a silly goose until the day she finds a book. She heard that books make one wise, so she carries the book around with her wherever she goes, sticking her neck out with pride. She shows off her wisdom wherever she goes, giving advice to her animal friends. The advice she gives isn’t necessarily good advice, and one day her instructions backfire.
     Preschooler approved? I wasn’t sure Jona would enjoy this classic, written in 1950, but he did. It’s still a good one!

Have you read any good books with the little people in your life? Did you read Petunia or Dr. Seuss as a child?