2024 Book Selections

Written By: Lloyd Suh

Illustrated By: Nicole Kang Ahn

Ages: 3-5

It’s harvest time at Bina’s family’s apple orchard, and this year she’s finally old enough to join in. As Bina eagerly picks apples, she discovers that there’s a right time for everything and patience is sometimes the most important part of the process.

The book is also available en Español. Both versions of the book contain a READ Guide from the Rollins Center for Early Learning and Literacy (Atlanta Speech School). We are thankful for the generous funding support of PNC, who helped bring this creative partnership together. 

Click here to view the READ Guide.

Click here to view the READ Guide en Español.

Written By: Michaiah David Booker

Illustrated By: Robin Boyer

Ages: 0-2

Our board book for infants and babies has been written by 13-year-old Michaiah Booker, who came to us through an exciting new partner, Young Authors Publishing, an Atlanta-based publisher with a global reach that amplifies the stories of young people of color. Noah’s Family Farm is a sweet tale of a young boy’s exploration of his grandfather’s farm, knowing that it will someday be his own.

Click here to view the READ Guide.

2023 Book Selections

Written By: Mark Valdez

Illustrated By: Nicole Kang Ahn

Ages: 3-5

As the seasons come and go in this Georgia forest, so too do all of the varied wildlife. Except, of course, for the curious cardinal, CC, who stays put the entire year, curiously exploring all of the changes that the seasons bring. This book celebrates the majesty of the natural habitats of Georgia and the daily adventures of an ever-changing world.  

The book is also available en Español. Both versions of the book contain a READ Guide from the Rollins Center for Early Learning and Literacy (Atlanta Speech School). We are thankful for the generous funding support of PNC, who helped bring this creative partnership together. 

Click here to view the READ Guide.

Click here to view the READ Guide en Español.

Written By: Alice Schertle

Illustrated By: Jill McElmurry 

Ages: 0-2

The big city sure is a speedy, noisy place for a country truck like Blue. With everyone pushing to be first, soon there’s a giant traffic jam! Luckily, Little Blue Truck comes to the rescue in true Blue style.

This new adventure makes working together and taking turns more fun than ever.

Click here to view the READ Guide.

2022 Book Selections

Written By: Breanna J. McDaniel

Illustrated By: R. Gregory Christie

Ages: 3-5

Commissioned for the MSRC by our partners at the Alliance TheatreAtlanta, My Home asks readers to close their eyes, jump on MARTA, and imagine the sights and sounds of the city so that they can take Atlanta along with them wherever they go. 

The book contains a READ Guide from the Rollins Center for Early Learning and Literacy (Atlanta Speech School). We are thankful for the generous funding support of PNC, who helped bring this creative partnership together. 

Written By: Jean Ciborowski Fahey

Illustrated By: Simone Shin

Ages: 0-2

In this charming picture book, children and their caregivers work together to build home libraries and discover the magic and wonder of reading books. Told in simple, sweet rhyme I’ll Build You a Bookcase celebrates the joy of reading and discovering new stories.

2021 Book Selections

Written By: Maya Lawrence

Illustrated By: R. Gregory Christie

Ages: 3-5

Commissioned for the MSRC by our partners at the Alliance TheatreDo You Love the Dark? contains a READ Guide from the Rollins Center for Early Learning and Literacy (Atlanta Speech School). We are thankful for the generous funding support of PNC, who helped bring this creative partnership together.  

If your little one is afraid of the dark, you’ll enjoy this story of how to overcome fear with love from the heart.

Written By: Anna Dewdney

Ages: 0-2

What’s the best part of bedtime? Stories with Mama! Before cuddling, Llama Llama must splish and splash in the tub, then put his red pajamas on.

Dewdney’s catchy rhymes, effortless rhythm, and adorable artwork can now be enjoyed by even younger audiences. Toddlers will love this perfect read-aloud.

2020 Book Selections

Written by: Will Power

Illustrated by: R. Gregory Christie

Ages: 3-5

Commissioned for MSRC by our partners at the Alliance TheatreIn the West End contains a READ Guide from the Rollins Center for Early Learning and Literacy (Atlanta Speech School). We are thankful for the generous funding support of PNC, who helped bring this creative partnership together.  

In the West End is an excellent depiction of a historic town in the city of Atlanta. Will Power and Gregory Christie explore the various places in the West End to find healthy food. Take a trip and explore the rich history and diversity of Atlanta’s West End.

Click here to view the READ Guide.

Click here to view the READ Guide en Español.

By: Sherri Duskey and Tom Lichtenheld

Ages: 0-2

As the sun sets behind the big construction site, all the hardworking trucks get ready to say goodnight. One by one, Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator finish their work and lie down to rest—so they’ll be ready for another day of rough and tough construction play! With irresistible artwork by best-selling illustrator Tom Lichtenheld and sweet, rhyming text, this #1 New York Times bestseller will have truck lovers of all ages begging for more.

Click here to view the READ Guide.

2019 Book Selections

Written By: Pearl Cleage and Zaron Burnett Jr.

Illustrated By: Radcliffe Bailey

Ages: 3-5

Commissioned for MSRC by our partners at the Alliance Theatre, In My Granny’s Garden contains a READ Guide from the Rollins Center for Early Learning and Literacy (Atlanta Speech School).

As a young boy, Zaron Burnett spent a great deal of time on the large North Carolina farm of his extended family. He has great memories of being invited to work in his grandmother’s garden and of the early morning hours they spent together growing some of the food that would feed the household. This real memory was used to shape a story that takes a city child who, like too many city children, thinks food comes from a grocery store and allows him to see where food really originates. His appreciation for his grandmother’s skill inspires him to think of her as a Superhero because “we need food to live.” There are also quiet moments between the grandson and grandmother where she encourages him to “dream big.” He promises her that he will.

Click here to view the READ Guide.

Click here to view the READ Guide en Español.

By: Karen Katz

Ages: 0-2

In Grandpa and Me, Grandpa and baby are making pizza. Lift the large flaps to find everything you need! Children love discovering what is under the flaps and enjoy reading these books over and over.

In Grandma and Me, Grandma is coming for a very special visit! Peek under the big, easy-to-lift flaps to see all of Grandma’s surprises!

Click here to view the READ Guide.

2018 Book Selections

Written By: Jane Buchanan

Illustrated by: Charlotte Riley-Webb

Ages: 3-5

Rose and her brothers mock the old Birdman, who sits in his wheelchair surrounded by ugly gray pigeons. The Birdman thinks his pigeons are beautiful, but the only things Rose thinks are beautiful are gardens full of red and yellow and blue flowers. The Birdman fills Rose’s hand with seeds and tells her they are magic if she plants them outside her window they will grow a garden. Her brothers don t believe, but Rose sets the seeds out and waits. Soon, just as the Birdman promised, a garden appears before her eyes a musical flurry of blue and red and yellow birds, drawn to Rose’s window by seed magic.

Click here to view the READ Guide.

By: Felicia Bond

Ages: 0-2

Written and illustrated by Felicia Bond, the illustrator of the bestselling If You Give… series, Tumble Bumble is a fun-filled tale of a tiny bug who goes for a walk and meets all kinds of creatures!

When a tiny bug decides to go for a walk, anything can happen! He might meet a cat, a crocodile, a pig, or even a bee to dance and play with, and that means more friends for everyone.

Click here to view the READ Guide.

2017 Book Selections

 

By: Rollins Center for Language & Literacy at the Atlanta Speech School

Ages: 3 to 5 

Amari is at it again!  She’s on a quest to make a difference in her community. Amari is working with her neighbors and friends to make life easier for Nia and her family as they welcome Baby Jax home into the neighborhood. Will Amari be able to pull off her big idea?   

Amari’s generosity and compassion will inspire young readers to become agents for change.  Amari’s Big Idea also includes ideas for adults to use while reading. These ideas will build children’s language and vocabulary skills and prepare them to be on a path to “read to learn” by 3rd grade.

Written By: Jacqueline Briggs Martin

Illustrated by: Eric-Shabazz Larkin 

Ages: 6 to 8

Will Allen is no ordinary farmer. A former basketball star, he’s as tall as his truck, and he can hold a cabbage–or a basketball–in one hand. But what is most special about Farmer Will is that he can see what others can’t see. When he looked at an abandoned city lot in Milwaukee he saw a huge table, big enough to feed the whole world.

No space, no problem. Poor soil, there’s a solution. Need help, found it. Farmer Will is a genius in solving problems. In 2008, the MacArthur Foundation named him one for his innovative urban farming methods, including aquaponics and hydroponics.

By: Leo Lionni

Ages: 0 to 2

Elephants are gray. Pigs are pink. Only the chameleon has no color of his own. He is purple like the heather, yellow like a lemon, even black and orange striped like a tiger! Then one day a chameleon has an idea to remain one color forever by staying on the greenest leaf he can find. But in the autumn, the leaf changes from green to yellow to red . . . and so does the chameleon.

When another chameleon suggests they travel together, he learns that companionship is more important than having a color of his own. No matter where he goes with his new friend, they will always be alike.