I SEE THE SUN IN NEPAL
Written by Dedie King, Illustrated by Judith Inglese

At dawn, the sun paints the mountains gold. At noon, the sun is high above the river. At night, the moon makes the snowy mountains glow. Follow one child through her daily routine. She goes to school, plays with her friends, does chores, and has dinner with her family. Her day is much like your child’s day — except that the child in the book lives in a small village in Nepal.

This book brings children into village life in Nepal, where breakfast is rice and tea, and children from three villages walk to the same school. The children play in the bazaar after school, and elders play the harmonium in the evenings.

The simplicity of the story is part of the book’s charm. The child in the story tells about a day in her life. Young readers will be able to read the story for themselves, with some assistance on the few Nepalese words that are included.

Children love the delightful pictures. The illustrations are colorful collages of photographs and drawings that capture the routine and beauty of life in Nepal.

The book is written in both English and Nepalese, which gives readers a glimpse into another written language. There is a glossary and an overview of the country for parents and teachers. This book is part of a series of books about children’s lives in different countries.

Highly recommended for ages 5 and up.

Published by Satya House, this book is available at your local bookstore.

THE CHANGING COLORS OF AMOS
Written by John Kinyon, Illustrated by Kay Selvig Flanders

If it’s Tuesday, then Amos the leprechaun is certainly blue. Not sad, but a bright blue from head to toe. Each day, Amos turns a different color. One day he is as red as apples in autumn, the next he is as purple as ripe plums. Friday he is yellow and can hide on a dandelion. Saturday he is orange and can hide on a pumpkin. But Sunday is Amos’ favorite day. On Sunday, Amos can be any color he can dream up. He can even be all the colors of a rainbow!

Filled edge to edge with vibrant illustrations, this book is sure to charm children as they learn about colors and the days of the week. The words are in a gently rhyming cadence, and full of whimsy. Even children who cannot read will shout out the colors as the names are written in color. Each page is a fun chalk drawing of things that are the same vivid color as the leprechaun is that day.

This book is a fun way to teach and reinforce color recognition and the days of the week. It can also be used for vocabulary building, as children will want to point out and name the animals, plants, and objects in the pictures.

Recommended for ages 3-6.

Published by Cherished Publications, this book is available at your local bookstore.

THE EARTH BOOK
Written and illustrated by Todd Parr

I use both sides of the paper, because I love trees and owls need a place to nest. I turn off the faucet when brushing my teeth, because I want the fish to have lots of water to swim in. I turn off the lights to use less electricity, because I want the polar bears to stay cool.

The children in this book do small things that can have a big impact on the planet. Their examples help young readers see that their choices make a difference, and they can help take care of the earth.

The appealing and simple illustrations are lively and exuberant. The people and animals are colorful and fun too; some of them are purple, or striped, or covered in multi-colored dots. They may encourage your child to draw their own ideas for how they can help the earth. There is also a pull-out poster in the back to help children remember the tips.

This book is great as a read-aloud book for the youngest children. It is also an excellent choice for young readers, with just one sentence of simple words on each page. The pictures offer clues to the story, to help beginning readers along.

Positive and cheerful, this is an excellent introduction to ecology and the environment for young children.

Recommended for ages 3-6.

Published by Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers, this book is available at your local bookstore.

DRAW PLUS MATH: ENHANCE MATH LEARNING THROUGH ART ACTIVITIES
Written and illustrated by Freddie Levin

How many ways can you count the fish in the tank? Can you draw an odd creature — one with odd numbers of legs, arms and eyes? Can you count the ladybugs by twos or threes? Are there more orange cats or more purple cats in the picture?

This book is designed to help children develop better understanding of math concepts through art exercises and games. It also includes some basic drawing techniques.

This book has enough ideas for a month of rainy days — or a year of early math. There are counting and number games, exercises with shapes and patterns, sorting games, and lots more. In all, there are twenty lessons, each with several different activities, which progress from basic counting to fractions and graphs.

So many concepts are presented that adults will want to guide children through the book so they do not become overwhelmed or confused. The activities are meant to enhance and supplement math learning, not introduce new ideas. Younger children may just want to create the drawings, while older children can excel at the games and activities as they deepen their understanding of math ideas.

For ages 6 and up.

Published by Peel Productions, this book is available at your local bookstore.