Amos and Boris
(by William Steig, Farrar Straus $17 Score:) Few storybooks capture so well the meaning of friendship as this classic tale of a small mouse and a giant whale and how they help each other-one with his brain and one with his brawn. Don't miss the majesty of this memorable story that may remind you of Aesop's Lion and Mouse. 5-8

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 1994.

Where the Wild Things Are
(by Maurice Sendak, HarperCollins $15 Score:) When Max is punished by being sent to his room without dinner, her embarks on one of the most remarkable fantasy romps in children's literature. Some fours may enjoy this, but it's a better choice for slightly older kids who understand the difference between real and make-believe. 5 and up.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 1994.

Ed Emberly's Fingerprint Drawing Book
(by Ed Emberley, Little Brown $6.95 Score:) Forget the rubber stampers—use your fingers, an inkpad, colored pencils, and Emberley's playful step-by-step lead to create a world of birds, bees, and chugging choo-choos. It's one way to get kids to look at details and work in a sequential way. This newest edition suggests using a greater variety of washable ink pads and paints with a brighter palette than those in his earlier books. 6 & up.

Age: Early School Years,Later School Years. Award Year: 2002.

The Prince's Bedtime
(by Joanne Oppenheim/illus. by Miriam Latimer, Barefoot Books $9.99 Score:)

While we don’t give ourselves awards, this is truly one of our family’s favorite bedtime stories. There’s a little prince who can’t fall asleep no matter what his parents try . . . wizards, musicians . . . but with no success. A much simpler approach does the trick. A must-read for reluctant young sleepers! 3–7.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2007. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Nicolas, where have you been?
(by Leo Lionni, Knopf $16.99 Score:) A reissue of a classic Lionni tale that speaks to the idea of lumping people together as all good or all bad. Mouse learns from the generosity of a family of birds that the big bad bird who frightened him was not the only kind of bird in the world. A bit of a preachment, but one worth sharing! As always, Lionni’s papercut collages are a study in artistic economy.

Age: Preschool,Early School Years. Award Year: 2007.

Tico and the Golden Wings
(by Leo Lionni, Random House $16.99 Score:)

Tico has no wings like the other birds. When he is granted a wish he is still different because his wings are golden. In time he gives them all away and only then realizes that we are all different in our own ways with our own memories and dreams. A beautiful old favorite that is reissued for another generation. Welcome back, Tico! 5 & up.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2008. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

The Mysterious Tadpole
(by Steven Kellogg, Dial $16.99 Score:) This is the 25th anniversary edition of a delightfully funny fantasy. Celebrating advances in printing technology and his own wish to add dimension to some of the characters, Steven Kellogg gives a new generation a more fully realized version of his well loved story of a boy and a magical tadpole that keeps growing and growing. Next, we hope Kellogg will write the sequel about the hatchling that Uncle MacAllister brings for Louis's next birthday! 5-9

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2003.

Ian's Walk:A Story About Autism
(by Laurie Lears/illus. by Karen Ritz, $14.95 Score:) Ian, who has autism, hears, tastes, and sees things differently from his two sisters. So a simple walk to the park to feed the ducks is anything but simple. Told in the first person by his sister, this tender tale captures the ambivalent feelings that a sibling must deal with as she also deals with her brother's special ways of experiencing the world. A reassuring tale for siblings. 5 & up.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: .