PLC Children's Bookshelf WOYC — Wyoming Early Childhood Professional Learning Collaborative

“The purpose of the Week of the Young Child® is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.”
(https://www.naeyc.org/events/woyc/faq)

This year, let’s join the early childhood community in our state and nation to celebrate the Week of the Young Child! This Booklist from the PLC will energize and delight the children daily throughout the week. The themes of music, art, togetherness, tasty food, and families will let children, staff, families, and the community know something special is happening April 6-12th! Books are a great way to start planning when you have a theme. Some of the books are so good they can be shared on more than one day!

Music Monday

Sharing stories and music adds magic to your environment and interactions with the children in your program. Kick off your WOYC with songs, stories, and movement on Music Monday! Here are some books to get you started.

Featured Favorite:
Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo by Jon Lithgow

A summer evening concert in the park next to the zoo becomes a hilarious, delightful disaster when the animals escape and take the stage! Talk about their experiences listening to live music. Ask children to Imagine what would happen in their town if the animals took the stage. What instrument would a pronghorn play? How about a grizzly bear? Children will be enchanted by the YouTube video read/sung by the author, John Lithgow. (Ages 2-6)

Stories You Can Sing and Songs You Can Read!

John Denver’s Grandma’s Feather Bed by John Denver Adapted and Illustrated by Christopher Canyon (2007) Ages 1-5 years (Grown-ups will like it, too!)

Score and CD Included

Old MacDonald Had a Truck by Steve Goetz Illustrated by Eda Kaban (2016) Ages 2-7 years

Over in the Meadow by Olive A. Wadsworth Illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats (1995) Ages 1-4 years

If You’re Happy and You Know It! Adapted by Anna McQuinn Illustrated by Sophie Fatus (2011) Ages 2-7 years

Baby Beluga by Raffi and Ashley Wolff (1997) Ages Baby to 3 years

Wheels on the Bus by Raffi Illustrated by Sylvie Kantorovitz Wickstrom (1998) Ages Baby to 3 years

More Musical Favorites

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees (1999) Ages 2-4 years

My Family Plays Music by Judy Cox Illustrated by Elbrite Brown (2018) Ages 4-8 years

Stomp, Wiggle, Clap and Tap: My First Book of Dance by Rachelle Burk (2021) Ages 1-3 years

Wild Symphony by Dan Brown and Susan Batori (2020) Ages 2-6 years

Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin By Lloyd Moss, Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman

Tasty Tuesday

Tasty Tuesday is a day of yummy learning! Children are often surprised to learn that some unfamiliar foods taste great! Encourage conversation about likes and dislikes and where our food comes from. This is a perfect day to invite families to share traditions around mealtime and to join you for some tasty treats.

Which Food Will You Choose? by Claire Potter

After reading Which Food Will You Choose, you may want to have Tasty Tuesday all week! A cranky mother is tired of serving the same foods to her children every day. She invents a fun way to involve children in making choices to liven up their mealtimes. Each day, they go to the market and choose foods by color! On Monday, the children choose three red foods; on Tuesday, three yellow foods; and on Wednesday, three green foods. The bright illustrations make all the possible choices look yummy! What a fun way to engage children reluctant to try new foods! How could you try this idea in your program and share it with families? (Ages 2-8)

Tasty Choices

Amara’s Farm by JaNay Brown-Wood Illustrated by Samara Hardy (2021) Ages 3-7 years

Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban Pictures by Lillian Hoban (1964) This timeless story for developing readers is also perfect for ages 3-6 years as a read-aloud.

Eating the Alphabet Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z (1989) and Growing Vegetable Soup (1990) Written and Illustrated by Lois Ehlert Ages 2-5 years

Every Night is Pizza Night by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt Illustrated by Gianna Ruggiero (2020) Ages 3-5 years

Lunch by Denise Fleming (1996) Ages 3-7 years

Mealtime by Elizabeth Verdick Illustrated by Marieka Heinlen (2011) Ages 1-3 years

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Mallard Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal (2019) Ages 2-6 years

Round as a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes by Roseanne Greenfield Thong Illustrated by John Parra (2013) Ages 3-5 years

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (1994) Ages 1-5 years

Try It! How Frieda Caplan Changed the Way We Eat by Mara Rockliff Illustrated by Giselle Potter (2021) Ages 4-8 years

Work Together Wednesday

When communities come together and include children, everyone benefits. Being part of a community of learners gives children the opportunity to practice working and playing together. Sharing stories is a way to engage children in conversations about characters who discover the benefits of respecting others, lending a hand, and being a friend.

Together We Can! by Caryl Hart

“All over the world and since time began. We show every day that together we can!” Working, playing, helping, comforting, baking and making, sharing and loving, when children work together, friendships blossom. Everything is more fun when daily routines and activities are filled with cooperation and acceptance. Work together to make a class mural or book depicting how children in the space work together. Using drawings, photos, quotes, and labeling, encourage children to bring their cooperation and friendship to life. Invite families to join and add their own experiences. What a powerful way for children to “show every day that together we can!” (Ages 3-6)

Stories About Working Together

Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris Illustrated by LeUyen Pham (2019) Ages 2-5 years

Boxitects by Kim Smith (2020) Ages 3-7 years

Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury (2017) Ages 3-7 years

Green Green: A Community Gardening Story by Marie Lamba and Baldev Lamba, Illustrated by Sophia Sanchez (2017) Ages 3-6 years

Thank You, Omu by Oge Mora (2018) Ages 3-6 years

The Little Red Hen La Gallinita Roja Retold by Carol Ottolenghi Illustrated by Reggie Holladay (2007) Ages 1-5 years Both English and Spanish on each page.

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister (1992) Ages 1-5 years

The Squirrels Who Squabbled by Rachel Bright, Illustrated by Jim Field (2018) Ages 3-5 years

Up the Creek by Nicholas Oldland (2017) Ages 3-7 years

Want to Play Trucks by Ann Stott Illustrated by Bob Graham (2018) Ages 3-7 years

Artsy Thursday

Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg

Torn and bent paper, drips and smudges, and other “beautiful oops” become surprising opportunities for art in this interactive treasure. Children will learn that when things don’t turn out the way you planned, it may be a chance to create something unique. A perfect addition to Artsy Thursday and your classroom or home library to encourage young (and not so young) artists to see that art doesn’t always go as planned. Sometimes, what we make of the OOPS is more beautiful than what we initially imagined. (Ages 4+)

Artsy Books to Share

Alma’s Art by Roda Ahmed Illustrated by Anita Cheung (2022)

Ages 2-5 years

When I Draw a Panda by Amy June Bates (2020) Ages 4-8 years

Color Dance by Ann Jonas (1989) Ages 4-8 years

Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni (2017) Ages 2-5

I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont Illustrated by David Catrow (2005) Ages 2-5 years

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh (1989) Ages 2-5 years

Not a Box by Antoinette Portis (2006) Ages 2-5 years

The Dot by Peter Reynolds (2003) Ages 4-8

The Scraps Book Notes from a Colorful Life by Lois Ehlert (2014) Ages 4-8 years

Family Friday

On Friday, Work Together to create your own “Family album.” Offer children materials to do an Artsy representation of their family, play some Music, and enjoy some colorful, Tasty treats!

Families by Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly

It looks more like a family album and reflects all kinds of people in all types of families. Children will see families like their own and those that are different, but they all have fun together, celebrate together, take care of one another, and love each other. The book's last line says, “There are many different kinds of families. What about yours?” On Family Friday and every day, remember to celebrate the most important people in the lives of the children in your program.

More Family Friday Favorites

Around the Table That Grandad Built by Melanie Heuiser Hill, Illustrated by Jaime Kim (2019) Ages 3-7 years

A Family Is a Family Is a Family by Sara O’Leary Illustrator Qin Leng (2016) Ages 4-8 years

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes (1991) Ages

Happy In Our Skin by Fran Manushkin Illustrated by Lauren Tobia (2015) Ages

Last Stop On Market Street Words by Matt De La Pena Pictures by Christian Robinson (2015) Ages

Let Me Tell You About My Mom photography by Ron Hayes Written by Casey Rislov with Ron Hayes (2023) Ages 4-7 years

My Heart Fills With Happiness by Monique Gray Smith Illustrated by Julie Flett (2016) Ages Baby to two years

Powwow Day by Traci Sorell Illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (2022) Ages 4-8 years

The Napping House by Audrey Wood Illustrated by Don Wood (2009) Ages Baby-4 years

Who Takes Care of You? By Hannah Eliot Illustrated by Jade (2021) Baby to 2 years

Printable Version of the Booklist Here!

Celebrating Week of the Young Child Booklist