Storytime: Five Books to Add to Your Collection

Story time can be special family time that is full of adventure, learning and togetherness. Teach your children that reading is an exciting social activity. Bring life and excitement to your time with fun books they will want to read over and over again. 

We've scoured some best new and noteworthy bookstore racks and found five books that we recommend adding to your collection. 

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Giraffes Can’t Dance 
​by Giles Andreae

We love this book because it’s about friendship and embracing your own uniqueness in terms of strengths and weaknesses.

Gerald the giraffe longs to dance, but his legs are too skinny and his neck is too long. At the Jungle Dance, the warthogs waltz, the chimps cha-cha, and the lions tango. "Giraffes can't dance," they all jeer when it's Gerald's turn to prance. But with some sound advice from a wise cricket, Gerald starts swaying to his own sweet tune. 

Gerald the giraffe longs to dance, but his legs are too skinny and his neck is too long. At the Jungle Dance, the warthogs waltz, the chimps cha-cha, and the lions tango. "Giraffes can't dance," they all jeer when it's Gerald's turn to prance. But with some sound advice from a wise cricket, Gerald starts swaying to his own sweet tune. ​

I Wish You More 
​by Amy Krouse Rosenthal 

This book breaks the stereotypical “I love you” book with short little sentiments that perfectly capture moments and memories as wishes. 

Some books are about a single wish. Some books are about three wishes. Wishes for curiosity and wonder, for friendship and strength, laughter and peace. Whether celebrating life's joyous milestones, sharing words of encouragement, or observing the wonder of everyday moments, this sweet and uplifting book is perfect for wishers of every age.

Touch the Brightest Star 
by Christie Matheson

We love this book because kids are invited to interact with every turn of the page. The book is imagination-fueled and child-powered.

What happens while you're sleeping? With lush, beautiful watercolors and cut-paper collage, Christie Matheson reveals the magic of the nighttime sky, using the same kinds of toddler-perfect interactive elements as her acclaimed Tap the Magic Tree. Wave good-bye to the sun, gently press the firefly, make a wish on a star, rub the owls on their heads, and . . . shhhh. No two readings of this book will be the same. That along with the gentle, soothing rhythm, makes Touch the Brightest Star a bedtime winner—no matter how many times you and your child read it.

The Wonderful Things You Will Be 
by Emily Winfield Martin

This book should be in your collection because it explores hopes, possibilities and love for the little ones in your life. 

From brave and bold to creative and clever, Emily Winfield Martin's rhythmic rhyme expresses all the loving things that parents think of when they look at their children. With beautiful, and sometimes humorous, illustrations, and a clever gatefold with kids in costumes, this is a book grown-ups will love reading over and over to kids—both young and old. A great gift for any occasion, but a special stand-out for baby showers, birthdays, and graduation. The Wonderful Things You Will Be has a loving and truthful message that will endure for lifetimes.

The Book with No Pictures
​by B.J. Novak

This book is simply silly and fun. Kids will love having you read this story over and over because it encourages adults to be silly and say ridiculous things, the book actually demands it.

You might think a book with no pictures seems boring and serious. Except . . . here’s how books work. Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud. Even if the words say . . .

BLORK. Or BLUURF.

Even if the words are a preposterous song about eating ants for breakfast, or just a list of astonishingly goofy sounds like BLAGGITY BLAGGITY and GLIBBITY GLOBBITY.
Cleverly irreverent and irresistibly silly, The Book with No Pictures is one that kids will beg to hear again and again. (And parents will be happy to oblige.)

What Are Some Books That You Recommend?