A story to nurture a child's imagination about magical fairies and the fairy houses we build for them. Not only does Willow believe in their existence but she believes in the determination of a friend yearning to fly.

Six siblings are walking to grandma's house for her birthday. On the way, they hope to find a birthday present. While the kids love the magic of everyday objects like pinecones, coins, and stones, they don't think grandma will be impressed. When the kids arrive with a rollicking song, grandma is as happy as can be.

A pay-it-forward story featuring animals in a city park. Watercolor illustrations amplify the charming message of helping your neighbors. 1-2 sentences per spread make this extra attractive for storytime (although the physical book is on the smaller side).

Concept Skill: Opposites

Lucy Cousins always provides perfect read-aloud material with big pages and bold illustrations. Bonus: although no narrative is present, the text rhymes, giving the book an added oomph for the storytime crowd.

A family travels to the city for an all-day trip to sell their lemon crop. Gorgeous illustrations capture this exciting adventure across Nigeria, giving life to the simple text of Atinuke.

Familiar Experience: Grocery shopping with grandpa
Location: India

A grandfather and his granddaughter are off to the market to fetch some tasty bites for a celebration later (grandma's birthday maybe?). Counting down from 20, it's hard to read this book without getting grumbles in your tummy. 1-2 numbers per page spread (with distinct, visible numbers), soft crayon-style illustrations, and rhyming, simple text make this an excellent read-aloud and beginning introduction to numbers higher than 10.