Newest in the I Spy with My Little Eye series. This time the cut out on each page hints about a pet that is revealed with the turn of a page. The special feature of the pet's fur, feathers, scales are seen through a small opening and then are seen in one very lavish illustration on the reveal page. Made with sturdy paper stock, this is made for little hand and their page turning explorations. There is not a lot of language, but there is a lot of possible talk and illustrations that are memorable. Good for knowing and naming fun. 2-5.

Age: Toddlers, Preschool. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Just in time for summer and all the annual fairground attractions, Maisy and her pals will give little ones a preview of the fun they may expect to have or the fun of replaying some of the rides they may have enjoyed. The action packed pull tabs make the bumper cars move, and there's a bouncy castle, a swing that goes high and low, a giant slide, a roller coaster, ferris wheel, treats to eat and a merry-go-round, of course. You'll want to use this together, since little hands may accidentally break the paper engineering pieces. That said, this is a fun interactive book. 3 & up.

Age: Preschool. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Duck cannot find his new blue socks. So begins this journey in verse with Duck asking fox and oxand finally the peacocks if they by chance have seen his socks. A fun read-aloud and a good one for breaking the code for beginning readers. It’s a one-joke book that is pretty predictable, but probably satisfying enough to hear more than once.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

A reissued treasure, this classic story retold and illustrated by one of the great picture book artists of the 20th century. Now in a new collection of Folk Tale Classics from Houghton Mifflin. Good fun to read aloud with all the rhyming names repeated again and again as Henny Penny and Cocky Locky and Ducky Lucky run off to spread the news that the sky is falling! Sounds a little like the news on TV, too. Spoiler Alert: In case you forgot—Foxy Loxy is the last of the cast. 4 & up.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2013.

A laugh-out-loud parody of a classic song. In an imagined conversation Yankee Doodle's Pony is trying to get him to go to town to buy a hat. But Crankee Doodle is not in the mood. A fun read-aloud or an even funnier shared read-aloud. Go on and ham it up! Of course, if they don't know the song, Yankee Doodle, the whole joke will be lost. 6 & up.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

An almost wordless book about a puppy who is looking for a playmate. None of the animals in the pasture want to play "Stick" until another puppy comes along and the others get the idea and make off with the stick. But, never mind, the two puppy dogs have something better--each other. A good choice for encouraging children to tell their own stories in their own words.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Piggie found a polka dotted ball, but then a BIG guy took it. Gerald does his best to get it back until he sees just how BIG the guy is. As always, Mo Willems manages to create a small drama that is told in few words for the beginning reader. This one really has a simple enough text for early readers to find their way through. It also says something worth saying about big guys not always being as powerful and happy as little guys think they are. 6-8

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Duck cannot find his new blue socks. So begins this journey in verse with Duck asking fox and ox and finally the peacocks if they, by chance, have seen his socks. This will be a fun read-aloud and a good one for breaking the code for beginning readers. It's a one-joke book that is pretty predictable, but probably satisfying enough to hear more than once. 4-7

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

It's all in the family-toddler time. It's a busy day with everyone in the family wanting one thing or another. Baby wants Mama, Cat wants fish, Daddy wants supper, Pup wants dish. Lively illustrations are matched with easy rhymes. A just right read-aloud for toddlers. 18 months & up

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Lily is having a bad day. She is not really helping her busy mom. Then to make matters worse she tosses her toy dog, Bobbo in the air and he goes flying off on top of the school bus. Will Lilly find Bobbo? A small adventure with just enough suspense to satisfy young listeners. 4 & up.

Age: Preschool. Award Year: 2013.