Nightime

The Good Little Mermaid’s Guide to Bedtime written by Eija Sumner

An anti-bedtime book about a mermaid who is definitely NOT your typical mermaid!

Gray Fox in the Moonlight written and illustrated by Isaac Peterson

Gray Fox wanders alone in the forest at night. The woods are illuminated in the silvery light of the full moon and stars. She gazes around in wonder at the light in the birch grove and stops to look at her reflection in the river. But something calls to her in her reverie. She must return to her den by dawn to care for her kits when they wake. With simple poetry young children will love, Gray Fox in the Moonlight is a journey through a nighttime wonderland that celebrates the love between parents and children.

Good Night Little Bookstore written by Amy E. Cherrix

Join the Little Bookstore’s friendly staff as they draw the curtain on another busy day of browsing and matchmaking. Choose a bedtime story, say your good nights, and pet the shop’s feline mascot on your way out. Snuggle up to a loved one for a read-aloud, then drift off to sweet dreams of adventure and enchantment to come.

In the Night Garden written and illustrated by Carin Berger

A collage-illustrated bedtime read about the often mysterious and always beautiful experiences to be found in nighttime spaces.

Night in the City written and illustrated by Julie Downing

When children are fast asleep, some people are hard at work keeping the city safe and clean, and when daylight comes they go home to sleep.

The Night Frolic written by Julie Berry

Before they go to sleep, children travel on a dreamy, whimsical journey to visit the Night Tiger, the Night Walrus, the Night Elephant, and others

The Midnight Club written by Shane Goth

Milly and big sister Becca are members of the Midnight Club. And tonight is Milly’s first outing! At exactly midnight, Milly wakes her sister. With Becca leading the way, they tiptoe along the shadowy hall and down the creaky stairs. There’s so much adventure to be had in the middle of the night! They sit in Dad’s big chair, dip into his jar of jellybeans, try on Mom’s coat. One moment they’re frightened by a shadow that looks like a monster, and the next, they’re making shadow play of their own. A scratch at the back door has Milly’s heart going boom bump boom, but it’s just the president of the Midnight Club, their cat Oliver, who leads the way to more shenanigans.

As Night Falls: creatures that go wild after dark written by Donna Jo Napoli

From microscopic organisms to giant cats, it’s surprising who you’ll find awake in the middle of the night! Dinoflagellates guzzle floating bacteria, bumblebee bats loop and swoop, racer snakes slither, weasels sneak and circle, and spot-bellied eagle owls leap and sweep. One by one, the animals of the food chain find their next scrumptious treat.

Dark on Light written by Dianne White

As night falls, a trio of siblings stumble upon some of nature’s hidden nighttime beauty, including timid fawns, blossoming lavender, silent owls, and many more wonders of the night.

Nonfiction

The Night Sky written by Kathryn Hulick

his field guide highlights 100 objects that can be seen in the night sky. Readers will gain a greater understanding about how to spot these things, including constellations and objects in our solar system. Features include a helpful introduction to the topic, a glossary, additional resources, and an index.

Science Experiments: Twinkle Twinkle Stars: https://www.pinayhomeschooler.com/2015/11/simple-experiments-twinkle-twinkle-stars.html

Paint the night sky craft: https://playteachrepeat.com/invitation-paint-night-sky/

Constellation Jar Lamp: https://craft.ideas2live4.com/2015/04/24/diy-constellation-jar-lamp/

Snow and Snowflakes

I’m Going to Build a Snowman written and illustrated by Jashar Awan

When a little boy wakes up to see a blanket of snow covering the world outside, there’s only one thing to do: make a snowman, and not just any snowman–he wants the best snowman ever. But when his perfectly packed and powdery dreams clash with cold, slushy reality, he realizes the best snowman ever may be out of reach…but he can make his best snowman yet.

So Much Snow written and illustrated by Hyunmin Park

It snowed all night long. It snowed so much that when two children awake in the morning and want to go outside to play, a shovel isn’t even close to being enough. It’s SO MUCH SNOW!

Just One Flake written and illustrated by Travis Jonker

Determined to catch a perfect snowflake, Liam sticks out his tongue and tries a number of tricks, all to no avail, but after giving it one last shot, he grabs one in an unexpected way.

We Want Snow! A wintry chant written by Jamie Swenson

In this raucous, rhyming plea for snow, a group of youngsters imagines the cold-weather delights they’ll enjoy once winter arrives. From sledding down hills and skating on ponds to building snow forts and snowmen to sharing crackling fires and mugs of hot cocoa, they want snow and plenty of it! The snow can’t arrive soon enough. But once the flakes start to fall, are the youngsters in for more than they bargained for?

Little Red written and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand

The annual tree-lighting is one of the most beloved nights of the year. But a snowstorm has blanketed the streets and made it difficult for the community to get around. Enter Little Red! A cute-as-a-button pickup truck with a mighty spirit and a heart of gold. Little Red will stop at nothing to help his neighbors–the show must go on!

Maisy’s Snowy Day written and illustrated by Lucy Cousins

Maisy wakes up in the morning to find that it’s snowing–what an exciting surprise! She and her friends bundle up and head to the park to play.

Words to Make a Friend: a story in Japanese and English written by Donna Jo Napoli

When a young Japanese girl moves into her new house, she is happy to see a girl her age playing in the snow just outside her window. The only problem is the Japanese girl doesn’t speak English and the American girl doesn’t speak Japanese. But each girl’s love of the snow teaches them that they don’t need to speak the same language to have fun!

Fizzy snow: a sensory science exploration: https://inspirationlaboratories.com/fizzy-snow/

Melting snow science experiment: https://creativefamilyfun.net/snow-science-prediction-and-observation/

Experimenting with snow: https://teachingmama.org/experimenting-snow/

Shivery snow paint recipe: https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/snow-paint/

Over and Under the Snow Building Activity: https://www.pre-kpages.com/snow-building-activity/

Snowstorm art painting project: https://onelittleproject.com/winter-painting/

Immigration and Emigration

What You Need to be Warm written by Neil Gaiman

During the coldest season, when the world feels scary — what do you remember about being warm? Baked potatoes. Trust. A kettle on the stove. Blankets. A smile. And, most of all, the reassurance that you belong. In his powerful and moving poem, featuring illustrations from thirteen extraordinary artists, bestselling author and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Neil Gaiman draws together many different memories to answer the question, ‘what do you need to be warm?’

Finding Papa written by Angela Pham Krans

Follows young Mai and her mother’s perilous journey from Vietnam to America to find Papa–who left ahead of them to start a better life for their family.

To the Other Side written and illustrated by Erika Meza

A girl reframes the dangerous border crossing between Mexico and the United States as a game to help her brother through the journey.

With Lots of Love written by Jenny Torres Sanchez

Rocio and her family move from Central America to the United States, leaving behind their extended family and many happy memories, but Rocio’s Abuela finds a way to send her something special for her birthday.

The Notebook Keeper: a story of kindness from the border written by Stephen Briseño

After traveling to Tijuana, Mexico, Noemi and her mother are denied entry at the border and must find the refugee in charge of the notebook, an unofficial ledger of those waiting to cross into the United States.

My Two Border Towns written by David Bowles

A boy and his father cross the United States-Mexico border every other Saturday, visiting their favorite places, spending time with family and friends, and sharing in the responsibility of community care.

I Dream of Popo written by Livia Blackburne

When a young girl and her family emigrate from Taiwan to America, she leaves behind her beloved popo, her grandmother. She misses her popo every day, but even if their visits are fleeting, their love is ever true and strong. Includes author’s and illustrator’s notes detailing their personal experiences, and glossary of Chinese words connected to the story.

Facing fear: an immigration story written by Karen Lynn Williams

Enrique is a U.S. citizen-but the rest of his family isn’t. When he hears a rumor of a police raid, Enrique must face the possibility of being separated from his parents and sister.

Anita and the Dragons written by Hannah Carmona

Anita watches the dragons high above her as she hops from one cement roof to another in her village in the Dominican Republic. But being the valiant princesa she is, she never lets them scare her. Then one day, Anita must face her fears to begin a new life in a new country. Will she be brave enough to enter the belly of the beast and take flight to new adventures?

Like a Dandelion written and Illustrated by Huy Voun Lee

Like feathery seeds, a young girl and her mother take flight, putting down roots in an adopted country. Soon they blossom in their new home, strong and beautiful among hundreds of others just like them. . . A poetic tribute to the bravery of immigrants and refugees, inspired by the author’s childhood experience of moving to the United States from Cambodia.

Nonfiction

Until Someone Listens: a story about borders, family, and one girl’s mission written by Estela Juarez

The true story of Estela Juarez, a young American girl who writes letters to her local newspaper, to Congress, and even to the president, pleading for someone to listen and reunite her family after her mother’s deportation.

Books about Books

The Little Library written by Margaret McNamara

Jake, a reluctant reader, becomes a book lover when the new librarian finds Jake a book about woodworking.

Help Wanted: Must Love Books written by Janet Sumner Johnson

Shailer loves bedtime until her father gets distracted by a new job, so she advertises for a replacement “Bedtime Storyteller” and finds herself interviewing her favorite fairytale characters.

No Buddy Like a Book written by Allan Wolf

Rhyming text follows children as they explore the world through reading. The book offers an invitation to reading and reminds us that books, no matter how they are consumed, give readers of every background the same opportunity to let their imaginations soar.

Just a Story written and illustrated by Jeff Mack

A young reader comes upon an alluring book and he starts to read, becoming blissfully unaware of increasingly odd and outlandish occurrences looming all around him.

The Wolf Who Fell out of a Book written by Thierry Robberecht

“In this illustrated fractured fairy tale for kids, a book falls to the floor and a wolf tumbles out. The wolf needs to get back to his story, but a hungry cat has other ideas. Jumping from book to book, this wolf is on a journey to find a new home (and to avoid becoming dinner). His sharp, pointy teeth don’t help him fit in with the dinosaurs, and his shiny black fur doesn’t get him into the ball. But a little girl in a red hood is waiting for someone just like him to arrive.

The Perfect Seat written by Minh Lê

This child and their parent are almost ready for story time — but first, they must find the perfect seat! This cozy picture book takes readers through various opposites (“Too rough! Too slippery!”) as characters search for just the right spot.

Inside This Book : (are three books) written by Barney Saltzberg

Given blank books by their mother, Seymour, Fiona, and Wilbur let their imaginations fly, then put their stories, poems, and pictures together in a single, shared book.

Tiger in my Soup written by Kashmira Sheth

Left in the care of his older sister, a boy begs her to read his favorite book but she is too absorbed in her own reading even to notice when a tiger comes to life in the steam from his soup.

Lyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarian written by Jacob Sager Weinstein

When evil Dr. Glockenspiel threatens all the books in the world, only one person can stop him–a book-wielding, super-secret operative called Lyric McKerrigan.

Castle of Books written and illustrated by Alessandro Sanna

The two children in Castle of Books go on a creative journey to discover the answer to the question, ‘Why do we need books?’. As they look through piles and piles of books and discover the incredible words within, they find lots of answers to this question; to observe, to discover, to imagine, to understand each other and so much more.

HOW TO MAKE A BOOK WITH ONE PIECE OF PAPER: https://teachbesideme.com/easy-folded-book/

EASY HOMEMADE BOOK: https://teachbesideme.com/easy-homemade-book/

How to Make Paper: https://tinkerlab.com/how-to-make-paper/