The following is a list of books have been featured on the blog.

PREPARING TO EXPLORE THE WORLD

To Be a Kid by Maya Ajmera and John D. Ivanko

Captures the spirit, wonder and playfulness of children across the globe as they play ball, paint, share stories, dance and enjoy life. The beautiful photographs especially appealed to my three year old.

Somewhere in the World Right Now by Stacey Schuett

This book is perfect for sparking an interest in geography but also introduces the concept that as we are getting ready to sleep, other people are starting a new day. It starts with a baker in London and ends with a child going to sleep in Boston, with jaguars gliding through the jungle in between. It was also a great book to read just after the time change. It explains how daylight savings came about, the reason for the International Date Line and why it's crooked!

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman

All you have to do to make an apple pie is go buy the ingredients at the store, right? What do you do if the market is closed… take a trip around the world in search of the ingredients! Since we are eating our way around the world, this was a great way to start. We found seminola wheat in Italy, a chicken (for its egg) in France, bark from the kurundu tree in Sri Lanka for cinnamon, sugar cane in Jamaica, and apples in Vermont. A tasty journey indeed!

Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney

This book introduces maps. It begins with "This is me" and uses a simple drawn map of "my room," "my house," and then moves to "my street," and on to town, state, country and the world. Then she works backwards until she concludes with "...everybody has their own special place on the map.“

ASIA

Japan

Yoko by Rosemary Wells

First Book of Sushi (World Snacks) by Amy Wilson Sanger

I Live in Tokyo by Mari Takabayashi

Yoko's Paper Cranes by Rosemary Wells

Tree of Cranes by Allen Say

The Peace Bell written by Margi Preus

Korea

Bee-Bim Bop! by Ho Baek Lee, Part 1 & Part 2

K is for Korea by Hyechong Cheung and Prodeepta Das   

China

My Little Book of Chinese Words written by Catherine Louis with calligraphy by Shi Bo

In the Snow, by Huy Voun Lee

Red Is a Dragon: A Book of Colors by Roseanne Thong

Dim Sum for Everyone! written and illustrated by Grace Lin

Celebrating Chinese New Year by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith

Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year (Reading Rainbow Books) by Kate Waters and Madeline Slovenz-low

Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Chinese New Year: With Fireworks, Dragons, and Lanterns by Carolyn Otto

Happy New Year! / Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts'ai! by Demi

Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin

Yum Yum Dim Sum (World Snacks) by Amy Wilson Sanger

India

Monsoon Afternoon, by Kashmira Sheth

Chaats and Sweets (World Snack Book Collection) by Amy Wilson Sanger

Prita Goes to India by Prodeepta Das

One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale by Demi

The Monkey and the Crocodile by Paul Galdone

Counting Crocodiles by Judy Sierra

Indonesia

Welcome to Indonesia by Patrick Ryan

Indonesia by Robin Lim

Rice is life by Rita Golden Gelman

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/orangutan/

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/orangutan/

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/orangutans-just-hangin-on/introd...

AFRICA

Africa for Kids: Exploring a Vibrant Continent, 19 Activities by Harvey Croze

Africa Is Not A Country by Margy Burns Knight

The Hatseller and the Monkeys by Baba Wagu Diakite

The Hunterman and the Crocodile by Baba Wagu Diakite

The Magic Gourd by Baba Wagu Diakite

I Lost My Tooth in Africa by his Pende Diakite

Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions from Around the World by Selby Beeler

Anansi and the Talking Melon by Eric Kimmel

The Talking Vegetables, a Liberian folktale

Zoo-ology by Joelle Jolivet

African Animals by Caroline Arnold

100 Things You Should Know About Elephants by Camilla de la Bedoyere

Kids Discover Magazine: Elephant Issue, Volume 21, Issue 3, March 2011

Beatrice's Goat by Page McBrier

GENERAL BOOKS ABOUT FOOD

Blue Berries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Jamberry by Bruce Degen

Peter in Blueberry Land by Elsa Beskow

Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban

Irving and Muktuk: Two Bad Bears by Daniel Pinkwater

Today is Monday by Eric Carle

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, by Judi Barrett

Food For Thought by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers

The Science Chef: 100 Fun Food Experiments & Recipes for Kids by Joan D'Amico and Karen E. Drummond

The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story by Joseph Bruchac and Anna Vojtech

Toast and Jam for Francis by Russell Hoban

Jam and Honey by Melita Morales

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big, Hungry Bear by Audrey & Don Wood

The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher by Molly Bang

Cook A Doodle Doo by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel

I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato (Charlie and Lola) by Lauren Child

My Wobbly Tooth Must Not Ever Never Fall Out (Charlie and Lola) by Lauren Child

Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins

Apple Fractions by Jerry Pallotta

The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons

Apples For Everyone by Jill Esbaum

The Life & Times Of The Apple by Charles Micucci

Bring Me Some Apples and I'll Make You A Pie: A Story About Edna Lewis by Robbin Gourley

Ana Cultiva Manzanas / Apple Farmer Annie: A Bilingual Edition in Spanish and English by Monica Wellington

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss

Charlie & Lola, I Really Wonder What Plant I’m Growing by Lauren Child

Vegetables by Sara Anderson

Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert

Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert

Two Old Potatoes by John Coy

Bud by Kevin O'Malley

The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin

Strega Nona’s Harvest by Tomie DePaola

Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Wings by Christopher Myers

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni

Goin' Someplace Special by Patricia McKissak

Aunt Flossie’s Hats (And Crab Cakes Later) by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard

Sweet Potato Pie by Kathleen D. Lindsey

More Than Anything Else by Marie Bradby

Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine

Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport

Fishing Day by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Ellington Was Not A Street by Ntozake Shange

SUMMER READING LISTS
Looking for Summer Reading Recommendations? The following are great resources:

Newbery Awards
Awarded yearly to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

(Theodor Seuss) Geisel Awards
The Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers.

Gryphon Award

Best easy-to-read books for children Grades K - 4.

Caldecott Awards
Awarded yearly to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) other book and media awards

The Association for Library Service to Children - Notable Book Lists

Reading Rockets
Includes the Big Summer Read list, a Themed Booklist, Information on struggling readers and many other helpful resources.

Children's and Young Adults Bloggers' Literacy Awards

Includes the following categories:
Easy Readers & Early Chapter Books
Fantasy & Science Fiction (Middle Grade)
Fantasy & Science Fiction (Young Adult)
Fiction Picture Books
Graphic Novels (Middle Grade)
Graphic Novels (Young Adult)
Middle Grade Novels
Nonfiction Books (Middle Grade & Young Adult)
Nonfiction Picture Books
Poetry
Young Adult Novels

Minneapolis Public Library - Beginning Books
Includes lists for Starting To Read, First Easy Readers, Advanced Early Readers, First Chapter Books, Series Books

St. Paul Public Library - Grow A Reader, List of Books
Includes different categories and list s that promote emergent literacy.

Duluth Public Library - Kid's Booklist
There is also a link for teen booklists

6 Pre-Reading Skills Booklist
Categorizes books by the six pre-reading skills: print motivation, vocabulary, print awareness, narrative skills, letter knowledge & phonological awareness

PBS Bookfinder
Search for books by age, theme or keyword.