The Reading Chair
My Argument for Hardcovers... and
Paperbacks
The first five years of life are the best years for children to fall in love with
books. Their curiosity is blossoming, their language skills are emerging, and
their young minds are taking shape as they prepare for the academic years that
lie ahead. For young children, picture books are more than just interesting
stories. They provide a chance to be nurtured in a parent’s lap, share a calm
moment with classmates as teachers read aloud, or fall in love with artful
illustrations and the rhyme and lilt of language. With both hardcover and
paperback editions available, it’s important for educators to choose the type
of book that will optimize reading opportunities.
In the preschool classroom, nothing takes
the place of hardcover books. Their endurance, higher quality paper, stitched
binding, and vivid colors are a tactile and visual treat. The weight of a
hardcover book says “something of importance is here.” Hardcovers even smell
special! Because they stand up when presented at story time, it is much easier
for children to see a hardcover than a floppy paperback. Hardcovers, with wide
spines and titles large enough for children to identify, are inviting when
lined up on a bookshelf. Paperbacks, which often topple over on the shelf, are
more frequently found in a bin or stacked on one another, less accessible to
children.
All schools have limited funding, and
hardcovers are about twice the price of paperbacks. I vote for quality, not
quantity. The familiar request “Read it again” proves that children do not tire
of a good story. Two shelves of well-made hardcovers by authors children love
will be much more inviting than stacks of paperbacks. Besides, a class of
children will wear out three paperbacks in the time it takes them to wear out
one hardcover.
That said, the quality of paperbacks is on
the rise and they do have an important place in schools. Some programs simply
cannot afford a classroom library of only hardcover books. Many programs now
provide funds for lending libraries through which books are borrowed by parents
and shared with the family. Paperbacks are an excellent choice for lending
libraries when hardcovers are not a financially realistic option. In fact, some
favorite titles are now available only in paperback. And as children get
older and start reading novels and carrying heavy backpacks, paperbacks are
often preferred. Because it can be hard to decide which paperbacks to buy (as
new hardcover books get the most press), I thought it would be helpful to
provide you with the following list.
150 Great Books Available in Paperback,
Appropriate for Ages 2 to 7
Abiyoyo (no CD), by Pete Seeger. Illus. Michael Hays. 1994.
Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689718101.
About Insects: A Guide for Children, by Cathryn Sill.
Illus. John Sill. 2003. Peachtree. ISBN 1561452327.
Amos and Boris, by William Steig. 1992. Holtzbrinck. ISBN
0374403600.
Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock, retold by Eric A.
Kimmel. Illus. Janet Stevens. 1988. Holiday House. ISBN 0823407985.
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing, by Judi Barrett.
Illus. Ron Barrett. 2006. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 1416912320.
Ape in a Cape, by Fritz Eichenberg. 1980. Harcourt Brace. ISBN 0156078309.
Apples and Pumpkins, by Anne Rock-well. Illus. Lizzy Rockwell. 2005. Simon &
Schuster. ISBN 1416908315.
Baby Beluga, by Raffi. Illus. Ashley Wolff. 1992. Random House. ISBN
0517583623.
Barnyard Banter, by Denise Fleming. 1997. Holtzbrinck. ISBN
0805055819.
Bear In a Square, by Stella Black-stone. Illus. Debbie
Harter. 2004. Barefoot Books. ISBN 1841481203.
Big Fat Hen, by Keith Baker. 1999. Harcourt Brace. ISBN 0152019510.
Big Orange Splot, by Daniel Manus Pinkwater. 1977.
Scholastic. ISBN 0590445103.
Blueberries for Sal, by Robert
McClos-key. 1976. Penguin. ISBN 014050169X.
Borreguita and the Coyote, by Verna Aardema. Illus. Petra Mathers. 1998. Random House. ISBN 0679889361.
Bread Bread Bread, by Ann Morris. Photog. Ken Heyman. 1993.
Harper Collins. ISBN 0688122752.
Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina. 1968. HarperCollins. ISBN
0064431436.
The Carrot Seed, by Ruth Krauss.
Illus. Crockett Johnson. 1973. Harper- Collins. ISBN
0064432106.
A Chair for My Mother, by Vera B. Williams. 1982. HarperCollins.
ISBN 0688040748.
Charlie Parker Played Be Bop, by Chris Raschka. 1997. Scholastic.
ISBN 0531070956.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bill Martin. Jr. and John Archambault.
Illus. Lois Ehlert. 2000. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 068983568X.
Chicken Soup with Rice, by Maurice Sendak. 1991. HarperCollins.
ISBN 006443253X.
A Cool Drink of Water, by Barbara Kerley. 2006. Random House. ISBN
0792254899.
Corduroy, by Don Freeman. 1976. Penguin. ISBN 0140501738.
Curious George, by H.A. Rey. 1993. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN
039515023X.
Curious George Goes to the Hospital, by Margret &
H.A. Rey. 1993. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395070627.
Day of the Dead, by Tony Johnston. Illus. Jeanette Winter.
2000. Har-court Brace. ISBN 0152024468.
De Colores and Other Latin American Folk Songs for Children, by José-Luis Orozco. Illus. Elisa
Kleven. 1999. Penguin. ISBN 0140565485.
Diez Deditos / Ten Little Fingers and Other Play Rhymes and
Action Songs from Latin America, by José-Luis Orozco. Illus. Elisa Kleven.
Penguin. ISBN 014230087X.
Don’t Forget the Bacon! by Pat Hutchins. 1987. Harper-Collins. ISBN
0688087434.
The Doorbell Rang, by
Pat Hutchins. 1986. HarperCollins. ISBN 0688092349.
Down by the Bay, by Raffi. Illus.
Nadine Bernard Westcott. 1990. Random House.
ISBN 0517566451.
Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z, by Lois Ehlert.
1989. Harcourt Brace. ISBN 0152244360.
The Empty Pot, by Demi. 1996.
Holtzbrinck. ISBN 0805049002.
A Fine, Fine School, by Sharon Creech. Illus. Harry Bliss. 2001.
HarperCollins. ISBN 0060007281.
Firefighters A to Z, by Chris L. Demarest. 2003. Simon &
Schuster. ISBN 0689859996.
Fish Is Fish, by Leo Lionni. 1987. Random House. ISBN
0394827996.
Five Little Ducks, by Pamela Paparone. 1997. Chronicle Books.
ISBN 1558587004.
Five Little Ducks, by Raffi. Illus. Jose Aruego and Ariane
Dewey. 1992. Random House. ISBN 0517583607.
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, by Eileen
Christe-low. 1989. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395557011.
Flower Garden, Eve Bunting. Illus. Kathryn Hewitt. 2000.
Harcourt Brace. ISBN 0152023720.
Follow the Leader, by Erica Silverman. Illus. G. Brian Karas.
2003. Holtzbrinck. ISBN 0374424039.
Freight Train, by Donald Crews. 1978. HarperCollins. ISBN
0688117015.
From Head to Toe, by Eric Carle. 1997. HarperCollins. ISBN
0064435962.
George and Martha, by James Marshall. 2000. Houghton Mifflin.
ISBN 0395199727.
Germs Are Not for Sharing, by Elizabeth Verdick. Illus. Marieka
Heinlen. 2006. Free Spirit. ISBN 1575421976.
The Gingerbread Boy, by Paul Galdone. 1975. Houghton Mifflin.
ISBN 0899191630.
Good Night, Gorilla, by Peggy Rathmann. 2000. Penguin. ISBN
0698116496.
Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown. Illus. Clement
Hurd. 2005. HarperCollins. ISBN 0064430170.
Good Thing You’re Not an Octo-pus! by Julie Markes.
Illus. Maggie Smith. 2001. Harper- Collins. ISBN 0064435865.
Gracias, the Thanksgiving Turkey, by Joy Cowley.
Illus. Joe Cepeda. 1998. Scholastic. ISBN 0590469770.
The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher, by Molly Bang. 1996.
Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689803818.
Hands Are Not for Hitting, by Dr. Martine Agassi. Illus. Marieka
Heinlen. 2000. Free Spirit. ISBN 1575420775.
Happy Birth Day! By Robie H. Harris. Illus. Michael
Ember-ley. 2002. Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763609749.
Happy Birthday, Moon, by Frank Asch. 2005. Simon & Schuster.
ISBN 1416903070.
Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson. 1983.
HarperCollins. ISBN 0064430227.
Harry and the Terrible Whatzit, by Dick Gackenbach. 1977. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN
0899192238.
Harry the Dirty Dog, by Gene Zion. Illus. Margaret Bloy Graham.
2002. HarperCollins. ISBN 006443009X.
Hats Hats Hats, by Ann Morris.
Photog. Ken Heyman.
1989. HarperCollins. ISBN 0688122744.
Hattie and the Fox, by Mem Fox. Illus. Patricia Mullins. 2005.
Simon & Schuster. ISBN 1416903089.
Have You Seen My Duckling? by Nancy Tafuri. 1984. Harper-Collins.
ISBN 0688109942.
Henny Penny, retold by Paul Galdone. 1968. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN
0899192254.
Here Are My Hands, by Bill Martin. Jr. & John
Archambault. Illus. Ted Rand. 1989. Holtz-brinck. ISBN 0805011684.
Hot, Cold, Shy, Bold, by Pamela Harris. 1995. Kids Can Press.
ISBN 1550743228.
Houses and Homes, by Ann Morris. Photog. Ken Heyman. 1992.
HarperCollins. ISBN 0688135781.
I Love My Hair! by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley. Illus. E.B.
Lewis. 1998. Hachette Book Group USA. ISBN 0316523755.
Inch by Inch, by Leo Lionni. 1995. HarperCollins. ISBN
0688132839.
In the Small, Small Pond, by Denise Fleming. 1998.
Holtz-brinck. ISBN 0805059830.
In the Tall, Tall Grass, by Denise Fleming.
1995. Holtzbrinck. ISBN 0805039414.
It Looked Like Spilt Milk, by Charles G. Shaw.
1988. Harper-Collins. ISBN 0064431592.
I Went Walking, by Sue Williams.
Illus. Julie Vivas. 1989. Harcourt Brace. ISBN 0152380116.
Jamberry, by Bruce Degen. 1983. HarperCollins. ISBN 0064430685.
Jennie’s Hat, by Ezra Jack Keats. 1994. Penguin. ISBN
0142500356.
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White
Carlstrom. Illus. Bruce Degen. 2005. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 141690834X.
Katy and the Big Snow, by Virginia Lee Burton. 1971. Houghton
Mifflin. ISBN 0395185629.
Katy No-Pocket, by Emmy Payne. Illus. H.A. Rey. 1972.
Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395137179.
Knots on a Counting Rope, by Bill Martin. Jr. & John Archam-bault. Illus.
Ted Rand. 1997. Holtzbrinck. ISBN 0805054790.
Lifetimes, by Bryan
Mellonie. Illus. Robert Ingpen. 1983. Ran-dom House. ISBN
0553344021.
Little Blue and Little Yellow, by Leo Lionni. 1995.
Harper-Collins. ISBN 0688132855.
The Little House, by Virginia Lee Burton. 1969. Houghton
Mifflin. ISBN 039525938X.
Little Red Hen, by Paul Galdone. 2001. Houghton Mifflin.
ISBN 0899193498.
Madeline, by Ludwig Bemelmans. 1998. Penguin. ISBN 014056439X.
Make Way for Ducklings, by Robert McCloskey. 1999. Penguin. ISBN
0140564349.
May I Bring a Friend? by Beatrice Schenk De Regniers. Illus. Beni
Montresor. 1989. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689713533.
Mice Squeak, We Speak, by Arnold L. Shapiro. Illus. Tomie dePaola.
2000. Penguin. ISBN 0698118731.
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, by Virginia Lee
Burton. 1967. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395259398.
Millions of Cats, by Wanda Gág. 1956. Penguin. ISBN 0698113632.
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten, by Joseph Slate. Illus. Ashley Wolff.
2001. Penguin. ISBN 0140562737.
Mop Top, by Don Freeman.
1978. Penguin. ISBN
0140503269.
More More More, Said the Baby, by Vera B. Williams.
1990. HarperCollins. ISBN 0688147364.
Mother for Choco, by Keiko Kasza. 1999. Penguin. ISBN
0698113640.
My Car, by Byron Barton. 2001. HarperCollins. ISBN 006058940X.
My Lucky Day, by Keiko Kasza. 2005. Penguin. ISBN
014240456X.
Noisy Nora, by Rosemary Wells. 2000. Penguin. ISBN 0140567283.
No Mirrors in My Nana’s House, by Ysaye M. Barnwell. Illus. Synthia
Saint James. 2005. Harcourt Brace ISBN 0152052437.
Oh Lord, I Wish I Was a Buzzard, by Polly Greenberg.
Illus. Aliki. 2003. Chronicle Books. ISBN 1587172208.
One Duck Stuck, by Phyllis Root. Illus. Jane Chapman. 2003.
Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763615668.
One Fine Day, by Nonny Hogrogian. 1986. Simon &
Schuster. ISBN 0020436203.
One Monday Morning, by Uri Schulevitz. 2003. Holtzbrinck. ISBN
0374456488.
On Mother’s Lap, by Ann Herbert Scott. Illus. Glo Coalson.
1992. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0395629764.
Our Granny, by Margaret Wild. Illus. Julie Vivas. 1994. Houghton
Mifflin. ISBN 0395883954.
Over in the Meadow, by Olive A. Wadsworth. Illus. Anna Vojtech.
2003. Chronicle Books. ISBN 0735818711.
Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell. Illus. Patrick Benson. 2002. Candlewick Press. ISBN
0763617105.
Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle. 1998. Simon & Schuster.
ISBN 0689822464.
Pierre: A Cautionary
Tale, by Maurice Sendak. 1991. Harper-Collins. ISBN 0064432521.
Planting a Rainbow, by Lois Ehlert. 1992. Harcourt Brace. ISBN
0152626107.
Pumpkin Circle: The Story of a Garden, by George Leven-son.
Illus. Shmuel Thaler. 2002. Ten Speed Press. ISBN 1582460787.
Red Riding Hood, retold by James Marshall. 1993. Penguin.
ISBN 0140546936.
The Relatives Came, by Cynthia Rylant. Illus. Stephen Gammell.
1993. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689717385.
Rosie’s Walk, by Pat Hutchins. 2005. Simon &
Schuster. ISBN 1416908358.
Runaway Bunny, by Margaret Wise Brown. Illus. Clement
Hurd. 2005. HarperCollins. ISBN 0064430189.
The Seals on the Bus, by Lenny Hort.
Illus. G. Brian Karas. 2003. Holtzbrinck. ISBN 0805072632.
Snow, by Uri Schulevitz. 2004.
Holtzbrinck. ISBN 0374468621.
The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats. 1976. Penguin. ISBN
0140501827.
Someone Special, Just Like You, by Tricia Brown.
Illus. Fran Ortiz. 1995. Holtzbrinck. ISBN 0805042687.
Sometimes I’m Bombaloo, by Rachel Vail. Illus. Yumi Heo. 2005.
Scholastic. ISBN 0439669413.
Sophie, by Mem Fox. Illus. Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson. 1997.
Harcourt Brace. ISBN 0152015981.
Stone Soup, by Marcia Brown. 1997. Simon & Schuster. ISBN
0689711034.
The Story about Ping, by Marjorie Flack. Illus. Kurt Wiese. 1977.
Penguin. ISBN 0140502416.
The Story of Ferdinand, by Munro Leaf. Illus. Robert Lawson. 1977.
Penguin. ISBN 0140502343.
The Story of Little Babaji, by Helen Bannerman. Illus. Fred
Marcellino. 1996. Harper- Collins. ISBN 0060080930.
The Stray Dog, by Marc Simont. 2001. HarperCollins. ISBN
0064436691.
Swimmy, by Leo Lionni. 1992. Random House. ISBN 0394826205.
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, by William Steig.
1980. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0671662694.
Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter.
1991. Penguin. ISBN 0140542957.
Tails Are Not for Pulling, by Elizabeth Verdick. Illus. Marieka
Heinlen. 2005. Free Spirit. ISBN 157542181X.
The Teeny-Tiny Woman, by Paul Galdone. 1984. Houghton Mifflin.
ISBN 089919463X.
Ten, Nine, Eight, by Molly Bang. 1983. HarperCollins. ISBN
0688104800.
The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, by Judith Viorst.
Illus. Erik Blegvad. 1988. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689712030.
There’s a Nightmare in My Closet, by Mercer Mayer.
1976. Penguin. ISBN 0140547126.
The Three Bears, by Paul Galdone. 2000. Houghton Mifflin.
ISBN 089919401X.
The Three Billy Goats Gruff, by Paul Galdone. 2001. Houghton
Mifflin. ISBN 0899190359.
The Three Little Pigs, by Paul Galdone. 1998. Houghton Mifflin.
ISBN 0899192750.
Tikki Tikki Tembo, retold by Arlene Mosel. Illus. Blair Lent.
1989. Holtzbrinck. ISBN 0805011668.
Time to Sleep, by Denise Fleming. 2001. Holtzbrinck. ISBN
0805067671.
Timothy Goes to School, by Rosemary Wells. 2000. Penguin. ISBN
0140567429.
To Be an Artist, by Maya Ajmera & John D. Ivanko. 2005.
Charlesbridge. ISBN 1570915768.
To Market, To Market, by Anne Miranda. Illus. Janet Stevens.
2001. Harcourt Brace. ISBN 0152163980.
The Tomten, adapted by Astrid Lindgren. Illus. Harald Wiberg. 1997. Penguin. ISBN
0698115910.
Tough Boris, by Mem Fox.
Illus. Kathryn Brown. 1998. Harcourt Brace. ISBN 0152018913.
Two Homes, by Claire Masurel. Illus. Kady MacDonald Den-ton. 2003.
Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763619841.
A Tree Is Nice, by Janice May Udry. Illus. Marc Simont.
1984. HarperCollins. ISBN 0064431479.
We All Sing with the Same Voice, by J. Philip Miller
& Sheppard M. Greene. Illus. Paul Meisel. 2001. Harper-Collins. ISBN
0060739002.
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen. Illus. Helen
Oxenbury. 2003. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0689853491.
The Wheels on the Bus, by Raffi. Illus. Sylvie Kantorovitz
Wickstrom. 1990. Random House. ISBN 0517576457.
When I Was Young in the Mountains, by Cynthia Rylant.
Illus. Diane Goode. 1982. Penguin. ISBN 0140548750.
Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak.
1991. Harper-Collins. ISBN 0064431789.
White Dynamite & Curly Kidd, by Bill Martin. Jr.
& John Archambault. Illus. Ted Rand. 1989. Holtzbrinck. ISBN 0805010181.
Whose Mouse Are You? by Robert Kraus. Illus. Jose Aruego. 2005.
Simon & Schuster. ISBN 1416903119.
Words Are Not for Hurting, by Elizabeth Verdick. Illus. Marieka
Heinlen. 2004. Free Spirit. ISBN 1575421569.
Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka.
1998. Scholastic. ISBN 0531071081.
Isabel Baker,
MAT, MLS, is
president of The Book Vine for Children, a national company dedicated to
getting good books into the hands of preschool children and their teachers.
Isabel has worked as a children’s librarian and is currently a presenter on
early literacy and book selection.
Copyright © 2006 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. See Permissions and
Reprints online at www.journal.naeyc.org/about/permissions.asp.
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