An annotated booklist compiled by the children's librarians at the San Francisco Public Library, June 2007. The books listed are a sampling of the titles available for ages 5 through 8. Ask your Children’s Librarian for further suggestions, and tell us which are your favorites.
A dachshund dons cape and spandex suit and comes to the rescue of the other dogs and a bullying cat in his neighborhood.
A young village boy is easily distracted from the. job of watching his grandfather’s cows in this story sprinkled with Swahili words.
A Mexican girl disguises herself as a boy in order to pursue her dream of being a glassblower.
Reissue of the thought-provoking fable about a bird that helps others yet stays true to himself.
A Filipino boy helps organize a protest against the demolition of a hotel in his San Francisco neighborhood. Bilingual English-Tagalog.
Lily is six and longs to be best friends with Tamika who is seven and has other ideas.
Shy Melissa wows her class with the best show-and-tell item of the year.
One "sneaky finicky troublesome WET yellow cat with FLEAS" somehow finds a happy home.
While dawdling on the way home from school, Pearl, a pig, discovers a talking bone, and life is never quite the same again. (also available in Japanese, Korean and Spanish)
Based on her own childhood, the author tells about coming to San Francisco from Taiwan and anxiously awaiting the green cards that would make it legal for her parents to work.
A tall tale about a judge gets his comeuppance when he refuses to believe the words of those brought before him.
This wordless adventure follows a smart little dog named Polo as he tries to retrieve his stolen book from a mischievous glowing alien.
Eight familiar tales are clearly set up to be read by pairs—two beginners or an adult and a child.
Ornate borders and dramatic paintings enhance this retelling of three Arthurian legends.
Twenty-one well-known stories, complete with morals, spaciously designed for read-aloud or read-alone.
A young boy outwits a frightening giant in this witty retelling of the classic fairy tale.
Here are fifteen variations, from many cultures, of five familiar tales: The Three Pigs; The Bremen Town Musicians; Rumpelstiltskin; The Frog Prince; and Hansel and Gretel.
Twelve lively stories, handsomely illustrated by four Latino artists, with notes on their worldwide origins. (also available in Spanish)
The Egyptian variant of a Middle Eastern folk hero is featured in fifteen humorous tales.
In this original tall tale about a tall girl, Angelica Longrider wrestles a huge bear whose enormous appetite has threatened the settlers.
A hilarious collection of fourteen takeoffs on traditional children’s songs. Also: I’m Still Here in the Bathtub and Are You Quite Polite?: Silly Dilly Manners Songs
Twenty short poems celebrate our universe. Also: Handsprings and Zoo’s Who
In 32 haiku-like poems, a boy spends the day folding origami animals, imaginatively engaging them in play. Also: Origami for Beginners (j736.982 TEMK 2002)
People and animals appear from coast to coast in this delightful collection of 28 poems by the prolific Children’s Poet Laureate. Also: Awful Ogre’s Awful Day and If Not for the Cat
Bill Robinson, "the greatest tap dancer of all time," moves across crisp white pages bringing joy to all he meets. Also: Jazz on a Saturday Night
This collection introduces pets from cat and dog to snake and tarantula in an attractive beginning-to-read format.
A beautifully designed and illustrated book that examines the wonder and variety of seeds. Also: An Egg Is Quiet
Body parts, where babies come from, and more, all explained with clarity and candor.
Bright art helps introduce interjections and conjunctions in this eighth and final title in a lively series on the parts of speech.
Scientists don’t know everything as this book proves! See how we have learned all sorts of fascinating facts about dinosaurs.
Stunning, realistic cut-paper collages bring to life the history of living things…a history that goes back four billion years. Also: Actual Size and Almost Gone: The World’s Rarest Animals
Sharp color photographs and brief text introduce this beautiful, Northern California locale.
This entertaining guide to nutrition has been revised to reflect the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new food pyramid. Also: Follow the Money, Measuring Penny and Messages from Mars
A lucid explanation of how the sun’s rays are harnessed to make light and energy for our use. Also: Common Ground: The Water, Earth, and Air We Share
Provocative, informative introduction to sculpture, showing a wide variety of styles and materials, with appealing color photos.
The noted author-illustrator’s autobiographical series continues with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and Christmas 1941 as seen through Tomie’s second grader eyes.
You’ll never think of flies in quite the same way after reading about this budding friendship between a boy and his pet fly. Also: Shoo, Fly Guy! and Super Fly Guy
Funny riddles, jokes and puns relating to frogs are presented in beginning reader format. Also: Dino Riddles and Piggy Riddles
Five more stories about two best friends and their happy adventures. (also available in Chinese, Japanese and Spanish)
Gus feels comfortable with his training wheels, so his new two-wheeler is not a welcome sight.
Mrs. Parks explains why she refused to give up her seat on the bus in Montgomery, Alabama and her role in the Civil Rights Movement.
A brother and sister take a Tae Kwon Do class in this very first ready-to-read story.
A knight helps three small dragons make a special, but messy, birthday present for their good friend, that very same Good Knight.
Recommended series: Amelia Bedelia (Parish); Biscuit (Capucilli); Commander Toad (Yolen); Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa (Silverman); Fox (Marshall); Henry and Mudge (Rylant); Iris and Walter (Guest); Little Bear (Minarik); Minnie and Moo (Cazet); Mr. Putter & Tabby (Rylant); Nate the Great (Sharmat); Oliver/Amanda Pig (Van Leeuwen); Young Cam Jansen (Adler); Zelda and Ivy (Kvasnosky).
Bean is slow to acknowledge her new neighbor, but when she does the two become best friends and allies.
A beloved pet pig’s fondness for buttered toast leads to the discovery and capture of a robber in the family home.
Elmer Elevator uses each of the unusual supplies he has brought with him during his adventures on Wild Island (also available in Japanese)
Six delightful, secret escapades of three toy friends. For read aloud or read alone.
A cape-wearing Chinese American girl with a zest for life reluctantly prepares for the arrival of her cousin from China. Also: Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything
Judy Moody’s younger brother is inspired by a class field trip to a Gross-Me-Out museum exhibit to create the most terrible smelling sneakers possible.
Wilson struggles with his third grade multiplication tables and the fact that his beloved kindergartner brother can do them with ease.
Recommended series: Bunnicula (Howe); Cam Jansen (Adler); Captain Underpants (Pilkey); Catwings (Le Guin); Henry Huggins/Ramona (Cleary); Horrible Harry (Kline); Judy Moody (McDonald); Julian/Huey (Cameron); Junie B. Jones (Park); ); Magic Tree House (Osborne); Martin Bridge (Kerrin); Marvin Redpost (Sachar); Owen Foote (Greene); Pinky and Rex (Howe); Time Warp Trio (Scieszka).
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