Grandma Mimi’s Book Corner

Mimi Schaffner is a retired Kindergarten teacher who worked many years for the Ithaca City School District. Here are some of Grandma Mimi’s favorite books to share with young children.

Little Gorilla, by Ruth Bornstein.
A well loved young gorilla moves through the forest meeting other animals as he grows and grows to become a big gorilla celebrating a birthdaay. He is still loved by everyone! Charming story and illustrations.

The Runaway Bunny, by Margaret Wise Brown.
A little bunny talks about running away from his mother. She tells him that she will always come after him and find him. Sweet story and illustrations.

Today Is Monday, by Eric Carle.
Eric Carle’s version of an old song (music in the back of the book). Each day of the week brings new food. On Sunday all the world’s children are invited to come and eat it up. Great follow-up toThe Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Who Is Tapping At My Window?, by A. G. Deming, pictures by Monica Wellington.
A young girl wonders who is tapping at her window, and from all around the farmyard the animals echo the refrain “It’s not I.” Children like to join in!

Lunch, by Denise Fleming.
A very hungry little mouse eats a large lunch comprised of some very colorful food. Very few words per page. Great illustrations.

Ten Red Apples, by Pat Hutchins.
Told in rhyming verse with animal sounds, children count the apples disappearing from the apple tree. Children love the ending of this book!

Little Blue and Little Yellow, by Leo Lionni.
Two colors share some wonderful adventures together. One day they can’t find one another. When they meet they are so happy they hug until they become green. A great book to read when introducing mixing colors.

The Snail’s Spell, by Joanne Ryder, pictures by Lynne Cherry.
An outstanding science book for young children, imagining being a small snail in a garden. Beautiful illustrations.

Too Much, by Dorothy Stott.
Little duck seks to find a place just right for a swim. He finds it at last with his family. Simple text, endearing characters and illustrations.

Silly Little Goose, by Nancy Tafuri.
Goose sets out to find just the right place to mke her nest. She searches all over the farmyard and finally finds the perfect spot. Beautifully illustrated, simple, repetitive format. A real favorite!

Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell, illustration by Patrick Benson.
Three young owls worry about their missing mother. Children love the rhyming and repetition of the story and they are so relieved when the mother owl returns. Such lovely illustrations!

Noisy Nora, by Rosemary Wells.
Nora is the middle mouse child, desperate for attention from her busy parents. She finally gets their attention in a dramatic way. Delightful rhyming text, with few sentences per page. Always holds children’s interest.

The Chicken Book, by Garth Williams.
Five little chickens are very hungry. They want breakfast but don’t know how to get their own food. Their wise mother shows them how. Simple illustrations, first published in 1946.

I Went Walking, by Sue Williams, illustrated by Julie Vivas.
A little boy takes a walk and a collection of animals follow him. Simple rhyming sentences with repetition. Happy illustrations.

Sleepy Book, by Charlotte Zolotow, illustrated by Ilse Plume.
All animals, insects and birds sleep in their own special places, in their own special ways. Little children do, too. A reassuring goodnight book.

Ten, Nine, Eight, by Molly Bang.
A father and daughter count backwords to get one little girl all ready for bed.

The Carrot Seed, by Ruth Krauss, illustrated by Crocket Johnson.
A determined little boy plants a carrot seed and despite warnings from every member of his family that it won’t come up, he waits patiently for it to grow. And grow it does!

Mary Had A Little Lamb, photo-illustrated by Bruce McMillan.
This well-known poem is illustrated in a colorful way with lovely photographs. A charming book.

“More, More, More,” Said The Baby: Three Love Stories.
Grown-ups express joy and love for a child, in three multiethnic families. This book is especially good one on one with a child.

Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown.

Hattie And The Fox and Time For Bed, by Mem Fox.

From Head To Toe, by Eric Carle.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, by Bill Martin, Jr.

Chicka Chicka BOOM BOOM, by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault