7 Books to Help Build Young Brains

Special thanks to The New York Public Library and to the article’s writer Gwen Glazer for sharing. See the original article here.

Yet more scientific evidence has emerged that — shocker! — reading books is good for young children. So, the question isn’t WHETHER to read to kids, it’s WHAT to read.

Here are seven newly released picture books perfect for kids’ parietal-temporal-occipital association cortexes … and the adults who love them.

One Family

by George Shannon, illustrated by Blanca Gomez

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Families come in all shapes and sizes … and numbers. This early counting book beautifully illustrates the diversity of city families, big and small.

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Abukacha’s Shoes

by Tamar Tessler

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Cool collages and multimedia art enhance the tale of “the biggest shoes in the whole wide world” — a Holocaust story passed down through the author’s family.

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Little Red Henry

by Linda Urban, illustrated by Madeline Valentine

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In this retelling of the “Little Red Hen” story, well-meaning helicopter parents will find a kind reminder not to hover too much.

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Bird and Bear

by Ann James

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A day in the life of two friends — alike yet different — is the subject of this gentle story and its watercolor illustrations.

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Where Is Pim?

by Lena Landström, illustrated by Olof Landström

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The Velveteen Rabbit finds a kindred spirit in Pim, a rag doll who’s spirited away by a dog in the park and eagerly sought after by his owner and pal.

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