Adapted from the familiar folksong, There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Here, the habitat is changed to the seaside and the bold cheerful illustrations go hand in hand with a lively rendition sung on the CD. Kids can follow along with the words and follow the circular cutaways as they sing the refrain or just sing along from memory. There are two versions on the CD; one is a sing-along the other is karaoke.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

A charming paperback of a classic tale with lift the flaps and a CD with word-for-word text. For beginning readers, this is a good way to reinforce vocabulary and eye sweep. Lifting the flaps just adds to the fun. For preschoolers the story will be enjoyed for pure listening pleasure. The narrator uses multiple voices as he plays the many characters on the way to tell the king that the sky is falling. And, yes that fox keeps popping up in the oddest places.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2010.

This CD and book would have been a lot better if the CD followed the sequence of the book so that young readers could follow along. Instead it starts with a poem/song that is in the back portion of the book and then hops around. Perhaps the artist wanted the reader/listener to do each of these activities separately-- enjoy reading or listening. The songs and poems are as promised in the title totally silly. Some are funnier than others. Good--not great.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

This anthology includes seven Curious George stories in one big book. The art is as it always was and so is the text. The only question is will you like holding this hefty book in your lap when sharing it with young children? Just in case you would rather not, the publisher has taken recordings of all the stories and put them on two CD's that are tucked inside the front and back cover. So, this is a collection kids can enjoy with an adult or on their own.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Cat, Squirrel and Duck live happily in a little white house where they share music, food and friendship--that is, until Duck decides to try to make Pumpkin Soup. Kathleen McInerney's narration is colorful, the music is lively and both add just the right touch to a little story of friends who fall out and then find a way to make it up. For this time of year, it's so nice to have a pumpkin story without witches and goblins. After you listen to this together, your child can follow the signals for turning the pages and listen alone. After that you just might want to try making some pumpkin soup…even if it does get a little messy. 

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Tucker, a zippy little dog is all excited about Christmas coming. When he snarfs up a holiday cookie from a hot pan his nose turns bright red! But, not to worry. On Christmas eve he gets to take a special trip with a jolly old fellow and that red nose comes in handy!  Here's a perfect package to take along on a holiday trip or to enjoy at home. It's another charming package in the Candlewick Storybook Animations collection. There's a small book, stickers, a small poster and best of all a two-sided disk that plays a DVD animated version of the story on one side and the audio on the other side. 

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

We've written about many of these stories about the loveable Arthur and his all so real child adventures... at a First Sleepover, with a New Puppy, having a Birthday or losing a tooth. There are six different stories on this single disk. Kids can read along (if you borrow or buy the books) or they can relax and just listen.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

An award-winning book is no less magical in 2009 than it was when it won the Caldecott award years ago. The paperback copy of the book is handsome and enhanced with a CD read in several voices and plenty of charm by Sean Schemmel. Beginning readers will soon be able to read this story since the format of the text repeats itself with small variations and the entire story is told with a simplicity of words that capture the boy's excitement from first snowflake to enchanted white winter wonderland. Children as young as 3 will enjoy this, but we especially think 6's and 7's who are just learning to read will like this, too.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Tucker, an adventuresome dog, wants to be something spooky for Halloween. His owner dresses him in cute costumes, but Tucker is tired of looking cute. Finding Halloween stories that are right for younger children can be hard, but this one is right on the mark. It’s another charming package in the Candlewick Storybook Animations collection. There's a small book, stickers, a small poster and best of all a two-sided disk that plays a DVD animated version of the story on one side and the audio on the other side.  Ages 3-6.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Long before Shrek! reached Hollywood's big screen, William Steig, master storyteller and illustrator wrote this delightful story of a monster so ugly that flowers and trees bent as he passed their way. Steig's delicious verse and his comic illustrations make this great good fun to read aloud to your kids. Or, bring home a paperback and CD  and have none other than Stanley Tucci stand in for you with a hilarious reading. Kids can follow along in their book or just kick back and listen. You might like to do a little comparative lit by viewing the film Shrek! after you have shared the book and CD. How are they the same? How are they different? A perfect choice for any time of year, but especially right for Halloween entertainment.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.