Author/Illustrator: Roger Duvoisin
Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books, 2016; originally in 1961
Age: 3-8
Themes: forests, forest animals, hunting
Opening: Mr. Bobbin lived in a little house by the edge of the forest. he loved to sit on the bench by his door and smoke his pipe while he watched the hills, the sky, and the wild animals.
Summary: (from my library’s catalog) A man who lives at the edge of the forest buys himself all the proper hunting equipment, and is very happy walking through the forest and aiming his gun, but never shooting.
Why I like this book: One more beautifully illustrated classic for April, but and this one is new to me. I identify with our protagonist: I also like to sit on the bench by my front door and watch my surroundings, although the only truly ‘wild’ animal I ever see is my one-year old neighbor, Jane. She roars, AND eats picture books! The writing is perfectly paced to savor this sweet story, any time of year.
Resources/Activities: discuss what your child(ren) can see from their front door, where they might otherwise like to go to view nature; go on a hike or nature walk; make a list of wild animals that are natural to your areas.
For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.
Author/Illustrator: Bernard Waber
Why I like this book: Another classic, and an old friend that time and again needs revisiting. The limited color palette and loose style leaves plenty of room for imagination, excitement, and emotion to unfold. The storytelling has the matter-of-fact attitude that children understand best. Of course they continue to welcome this crocodile into their own family! Enjoy!
Resources/Activities: Have you ever moved to a new home and found something the previous owner left behind? No? Make one up! Create a new story with the object; also read Lovable Lyle, or Lyle Walks the Dogs, from Bernard Waber.
For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog 
Author/Illustrator: Syd Hoff
Why I like this book: It’s a favorite of my youth and a classic easy reader with excellent read-aloud-ability for a toddler storytime. The illustrations are just right for kids learning to read through both word and pictures.
Resources/Activities: for a dinosaur theme read together with Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct/Mo Willems, and We Are the Dinosaurs/Laurie Berkner and Ben Clanton.
For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog 
Author: Elaine Magliaro
Summary: (from my library catalog) Told in rhyming text, the story takes us through a child’s day, focusing on the animals and objects around the child.
Why I like this book: 
Resources/Activities: go for a spring walk or hike, and take along some of the highlighted words in the book’s text; see how you might find something that ‘flits’, is ‘buzzy’, ‘bold’, or ‘dazzles’.
For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog 
julie rowan-zoch 