My love of books about cats is hardly a secret. But Brendan Wenzel's wonderful, Caldecott Honor Book, "They All Saw A Cat" (2016) isn't so much about the feline in question as it is a wonderful exploration of perspective. Told through the eyes of the various creatures who encounter the titular cat - a child, a bee, a goldfish, a flea, among others - Wenzel uses his skills as an artist to play with the ideas of how the same subject looks in very different contexts. It's a wonderful way to begin to teach young children, free of boring pedantry, that theirs is not the only view of the world. ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ #noodlenutskidsbooks #theyallsawacat #brendanwenzel #catsofig #musthavekidsbooks #booknerdigans #childrensbooks #caldecott #kidslit #librariansofinstagram #childrenslibrarian #homeeducator #montessoriathome #charlottemasoneducation #secularhomeschool #creativechildhood #readyforschool #readingwithkids #booksforgifts https://www.instagram.com/p/B48X4CYn71W/?igshid=1803adhweetgo

Some combinations are just guaranteed winners. Chocolate and peanut butter, popcorn and butter, cheese and crackers... And when I saw Jory John and Bob Shea's names together on the cover of "I Will Chomp You!" (2015), I knew I was in for a treat. A colourful, over-the-top, fourth-wall-breaking treat, that is, of the sort that'll have your kids laughing from start to finish. From the moment you open the book to a toothy dinosaur threatening to chomp you if you don't put it back down again, to the discovery that his motives are perhaps not what you'd expect, "I Will Chomp You!" is read-aloud gold. ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ #noodlenutskidsbooks #bookstagraminthe6ix #iwillchompyou #joryjohn #bobshea #dinosaur #sillybooks #kidshumor #sillystories #storytime #bookrecommendation #childrenbooks #whattoread #picturebook #preschoolisfun #raisingareader #bookrecs #classroomlibrary #creativechildhood #picturebookart #bestofbookworms #firstyearteachers #invitationtoread #getkidsreading #kidsbookslove #dadreading #readinfullcolor #musthavekidsbooks #bookstagramclub #beautifulkidsbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/B3XmksNnSRT/?igshid=1gkgy09zkpaum

I hesitated about sharing this one... I'm a huge fan of vintage early readers, as many of you know, which always seem so much better than the current licenced junk. And in that regard, "Uncle Elephant" (1981) by beloved author/Illustrator Arnold Lobel, is a beautiful example. But the book starts off with the young elephant's parents being lost at sea, and it seemed like it might upset some little ones. I am happy to report, however, that there is a happy ending (of which you can reassure young readers), and between start and finish, plenty of sweet, gentle lessons about dealing with sadness and learning to cope with difficult situations. "Uncle Elephant" may not be the most cheerful book around, but it's a lovely one nonetheless, and well worth seeking out. ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ #noodlenutsclassickidlit #noodlenutskidsbooks #bookstagraminthe6ix #uncleelephant #arnoldlobel #anicanreadbook #icanreadbooks #earlyreading #earlyreaders #easyreader #teachersofinstagram #kidsofinstagram #reading #teacherfriends #booksforkids #oldbooks #readingisfun #readingteacher #homeschoolcollective #homeschoolreading #kidsread #vintagechildrensbooks #childrensclassics #readingstrategies #preschoolreaders #childhoodfavourites #musthavekidsbooks #earlychapterbook https://www.instagram.com/p/B3NjZQZHzle/?igshid=1jumgf22v8ube