Amazing Grace
by Mary Hoffman
illustrated by Caroline Binch
(Scott-Foresman, 1991)

Perfect for children discovering their own powers, this is the story of a young girl who loves to take on roles—Anansi the Spider, Aladdin, and Hiawatha. Even so, some of her classmates tell her she can’t be Peter Pan in the class play because she is black and because she is a girl. Enter a wise grandmother, a trip to the theater, and a dawning recognition that we can be anything. Young children will love the illustrations, especially the homemade costumes that Grace concocts to play her roles.
Also available in Spanish.

Big Al
by Andrew Clements
illustrated by Yoshi
(Aladdin, 1997)

Big Al, a sweet and very scary looking fish, frightens away any potential friend. After several failed attempts to be just one of the fishes, Big Al saves the day when he frees a school of fish caught in a net. His act of bravery reveals that a kind nature is more telling then a scary look, and Big Al is never without a friend again. Taking the part of Al will require making some very scary faces, and his new “friends” might have to squeal—even if they are fish.

Caps for Sale
by Esphyr Slobodkina
(HarperTrophy, 1987)

There may be no other book (besides The Three Billy Goats Gruff) enacted more times than Caps for Sale. It’s the old tale of the peddler who piles his head with caps to sell [“Caps! Caps for sale! Fifty cents a cap!”], and then pauses for a nap beneath a tree. That’s when the fun begins, as monkeys crawl down the trunk to snatch away the hats. “You, monkeys, you. You give me back my caps!” the waking peddler must shout as he shakes his fist. “Tsz, tsz, tsz,” the monkeys imitate, shaking their fists at the peddler. This, of course, infuriates the peddler, but satisfies all the “monkeys” who take the parts, learning firsthand what it means to “ape”—in a most playful way.
Also available in Spanish.

The Carrot Seed
by Ruth Krauss
illustrated by Crocket Johnson
(Harper, 1945)

No one—not mom, dad, or big brother—think the seed will grow. “It won’t come up,” they tell the plucky hero. Their disbelief doesn’t stop him. He continues to water and weed his seed until his persistence pays off, and a giant carrot grows. Crockett Johnson’s simple illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to Ruth Krauss’ sparse and straightforward text. Try saying this: “You plant the seed, and I’ll be mom, dad, and the brother.”
Also available as a board book.
Also available in Spanish.

The Day the Babies Crawled Away
by Peggy Rathmann
(Putnam, 2003)

All the adults are preoccupied with preparations for the fair when the babies begin to crawl away. The young hero, complete with fireman’s hat, is the only one who notices. Responsibly, he follows the babies, saves them from the kinds of catastrophes babies are so good at, feeds them, naps them, and brings them safely home. Rathmann’s silhouettes are set against changing colors of the sky, signaling the passing of the day.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
by Mo Willems
(Hyperion, 2003)

Both critically- and child-acclaimed, this Caldecott winner, written entirely in speech balloons, puts the child listener immediately into the story. As a bus driver walks away in the first spread, he asks “us” to remember, “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus!” Enter a wily pigeon, who requests politely, pleadingly, and persuasively to let him drive the bus. “No,” we answer. He wheedles and whines. We don’t give in. So, he pitches a full-fledged tantrum. We readers and listeners are beguiled, but steadfast. “NO!” we shout. Even so, the pigeon is not defeated. Look at that big truck over there….

Eloise
by Kay Thompson
Illustrated by Hilary Knight
(Simon & Schuster, 1969)

To be six, to live in the Plaza, to cause an endless series of disruptions, and then to order room service. Such is the life of Eloise, whose first person account of her antics are filled with confidence and honesty. She is unfettered by niceties and expectations. Knight's delightful illustrations successfully bring Eloise’s high jinx to life in this timeless classic.
Also available in Spanish.

Goldie and the Three Bears
by Diane Stanley
(HarperCollins, 2003)

And what if Goldilocks were really a very nice little girl (in her heart), but just couldn’t seem to find a friend? And what if the smallest bear just happened to be in need of a friend, too? Diane Stanley has retold the traditional story in a contemporary setting. The ending will ring true for every child who wishes for a friend who is “just right.”

I Like It When
by Mary Murphy
(Harcourt, 1997)

In the simplest of text set against the boldest of colors, a young penguin tells a parent favorite things they do together: “I like it when you read me a story.” “I like it when you dance with me.” “I like it when you let me help.” Each page is illustrated with the parent-child duo enacting the favorite thing. What a perfect time to stop to act out the pages yourself with a baby or toddler—including the “tickle,” the “hug,” and the “kiss goodnight.” On the closing page, the words circle the illustration and remind, “You’re wonderful.”

Little Red Hen
by Paul Galdone
(Clarion, 1973)

“Not I.” When it comes to doing work, Dog, Cat, and Mouse are no help. Little Red Hen must take on every task herself, until the day she teaches the lazy trio an important lesson. Play this one on a day you are making treats. “Who will help me FROST the cupcakes?” The responses are likely to be, “I will!” “I will!”

Look What I Can Do
by Jose Aruego
(Simon & Schuster, 1979)

"Look what I can do!" "I can do it too!" A contest between two water buffalo becomes a bigger adventure than either ever imagined. With the book’s limited text and big potential, it’s perfect fare for competing water buffalo at home or school to take the lines and “play” even more actions. Take your camera and make your own “Look What I Can Do” book.

The Mitten
by Jan Brett
(Putnam, 1996)

Drape a sheet over a table (to make a mitten), and then crawl under to read and “play” this beautiful retelling. A mitten, lost on the snow, must stretch and stretch to provide shelter to a steady parade of forest animals seeking a warm hideaway. Eventually, the mitten becomes so full that it can no longer contain all the animals, and it shoots into the sky. Finally, the owner of the mitten, a young boy, spots his white mitten against the blue sky. Jan Brett’s trademark page borders are intricately knitted.
Also available as a board book.

The Monster at the End of This Book
by Jon Stone
illustrated by Michael Smollin
(Golden Book, 1971/1999)

You may have loved this one when you were small. Like the Pigeon in Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (by Mo Willems, Hyperion, 2003), Sesame Street’s Grover talks directly to the reader/listener: “Did that say there will be a Monster at the end of this book? IT DID? Oh, I am so scared of Monsters!!!” Across each spread, Grover begs us not to turn the pages, and when we do, he emotes: “YOU TURNED THE PAGE!” We can’t help it. Even when Grover ties the pages with rope, nails the book shut, or builds a barrier wall, we turn the pages. The drama still works. Kids still laugh, still talk to Grover, and still find out that the only monster at the end of the book is loveable, furry old Grover himself: “I told you and told you there was nothing to be afraid of.” Everyone likes to play Grover.

Mr. Gumpy’s Outing
by John Burningham
(Holt, 1971)

Mr. Gumpy owns a boat and lives in a house by the river. Nearly everyone asks for a ride in his boat. To each child and animal, Mr. Gumpy’s answer is positive, along with a bit of a reminder for proper behavior on board. To the rabbit: “Yes, but don’t hop about.” To the chickens: “Yes, but don’t flap.” In brown cross-hatched ink, Burningham’s illustrations show the passenger load growing precarious on the left-hand page, while the cue to the next ride-seeker is in full color on the facing page. “Playing” the book comes naturally, and what fun to play it in the bathtub, where the inevitable dip in the drink can be thoroughly enjoyed.

Oh, Look!
by Patricia Polacco
(Philomel, 2004)

Polacco’s newest is her version of the “bear hunt.” When a gate is left unlocked, three goats set off on an adventure. Complete with noises perfect for mimicry and repetition perfect for little ones to know by heart, Oh, Look is a welcomed addition to the genre of “bear hunt” books.

Olivia
by Ian Falconer
(Atheneum, 2000)

Reminiscent of the irrepressible Eloise, Olivia is the tale of a self-possessed little pig. With touches of red, Falconer accents the black and white pig. Her self expression takes the form of moving the cat (several times, trying on all her clothes (daily), being expert at sandcastles, and making (inspired) art on the walls. “You know, you really wear me out,” says her mom, “but I love you anyway.” And Olivia returns her goodnight kiss, and says, “I love you anyway, too.”
Also available in Spanish.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff
by Paul Galdone
(Clarion, 1981)

“Who’s that walking across my bridge?” It is nearly impossible not to take parts in this classic folktale of three goat brothers and an evil ogre. The repetitive phrases simply satisfy. It works to “act” it on your lap. Use fingers for the goats (“Trip-trap, trip-trap, trip-trap”), and move across the bridge from “hillside” to “hillside.” Galdone’s version is a traditional retelling with appealing illustrations. This is one children choose to “play” over and over again.
Also available in Spanish.

The Story of Chicken Licken
by Jan Ormerod
(Walker, 1999)

Delightfully detailed and inventive illustrations add a new twist to this retelling of Chicken Licken. The reader is part of the audience in a staged production of the tale, but not all the action is on stage. As the play progresses, a baby from the audience begins to make its way to the stage—silhouetted against the action. The tension is two-fold, as the anticipation of the baby parallels the characters’ progression toward the trickster ready to take advantage of their fear that the sky is falling.

The Three Little Pigs
by James Marshall
(Puffin Pied Piper, 1989)

Marshall’s version of the traditional tale provides just a bit of “cheekiness” on the part of the pigs (“Go right ahead” says the little pig to the wolf threatening to huff and puff), as well as some delightful illustrations. The wolf, for example, rides a bike and wears a striped tee-shirt. In this version, two piggies get gobbled up, and the wolf gets his just desserts, so if you’re looking for a kinder, gentler story to enact, this one is for gobblers and gigglers.

Where the Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak
(Harper, 1963)

The adventure begins when mischievous Max is sent to his room. Suddenly, a forest begins to grow, and Max travels to the place “where the wild things are.” Confident and in control, Max tames the wild things and is crowned king. A rowdy party ensues, and Max and the Wild Things create quite a ruckus—spread edge-to-edge across Sendak’s pages. Everyone loves the ending: When Max begins to miss home and travels back to the comfort of his room, his supper is still waiting—and “it was still hot.” Children will “roar their terrible roars” and “dance their terrible dance” in this critically acclaimed testament to independence and connection.
Also available in Spanish.

You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You: Very Short Fairy Tales to Read Together
by Mary Ann Hoberman
illustrated by Michael Emberley
(Little Brown and Co., 2004)

Here’s the welcome companion to the favorite You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You: Very Short Stories to Read Together by Mary Ann Hoberman (Little Brown & Co., 2001). Just made for playing out traditional tales, the text is in two columns, each a different color—so emerging readers can find success, while younger children will “remember” and create their roles. Here’s an example from “The Princess and the Pea”:

There are eight tales in all in a book that’s the perfect size for two laps.

Yo! Yes?
by Chris Raschka
(Orchard Books/Scholastic 1998)

Perfect for new readers, this two-part “minimal” conversation unveils a budding friendship across cultures—all accomplished in two words: “Yo” and “Yes,” with the changing punctuation that represents the range of meanings of those two words. The text is perfect for acting out with your child. Then, as you talk about what the two characters may be planning or working out, your child will be reading with deep understanding(!)--and having a great time doing it.