Best Fiction Books by Grade at VCL: Kindergarten

He could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. He went to sleep with gum in his mouth and woke up with gum in his hair. When he got out of bed, he tripped over his skateboard and by mistake dropped his sweater in the sink while the water was running. He could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Nothing at all was right. Everything went wrong, right down to lima beans for supper and kissing on TV. What do you do on a day like that? Well, you may think about going to Australia. You may also be glad to find that some days are like that for other people too.

It's a fine bright day, and all the animals are working--all except Anansi, that is! He's sleeping, as usual. Warthog, Lion, and Zebra laugh so hard at his messy house that they wake him up. Anansi stomps off in a huff--right into an amazing secret! Hyena has a magic stick that follows his orders. If Anansi steals the stick, he'll never have to work again, and his home will be the neatest one in town. Is the magic stick his secret for success? Or the beginning of disasters he can't even imagine?

"Bark, George," says George's mother, and George goes: "Meow," which definitely isn't right, because George is a dog. And so is his mother, who repeats, "Bark, George." And George goes, "Quack, quack." What's going on with George?

Oliver is thrilled that his mother is expecting a baby and convinced that his new sibling will be the brother of his dreams. Imagine his shock and disappointment when a little sister shows up instead! Oliver is determined to do what it takes to find a boy baby, even if that means trading in his sister; but when his hilarious efforts are unsuccessful, he comes to realize that no one can take the place of his family's lovable new addition, even if she's a girl.

The peddler wakes up bright and early, ready to begin his day and sell some caps. But everyone in town is missing. Where could they be? Then he realizes they must be at the county fair, and he rushes off to sell his caps to the crowd. Instead of selling, though, he finds himself caught in the middle of a circus on parade. And before he knows it, he and his caps are one of the star acts! Come to the circus, one and all -- but don't forget those caps are for sale!

An insatiable boy made of clay devours everything in sight until a fiesty goat ruins his appetite.

Corduroy is a toy bear who sits on a shelf in a toy department of a large store. He dreams about someone taking him home, but nobody wants to buy him. People keep running around without even noticing Corduroy. Then one day his dream almost comes true: a young girl stops and looks at him, and tells her mother that she wants this bear.

. . . She comes in the middle of the night, when everyone is sleeping. When she sees a smooth little head on a pillow, she can't resist giving it a cow kiss sluuurrrp!

While visiting the museum with Jimmy's class, Curious George can't resist climbing onto one of the exhibits. The director of the museum isn't very happy about that, but George sure knows how to make a field trip interesting!

Flora's brothers and sisters tease her when she plants a brick in a flowerpot and insists that she's growing a house. But Flora has the last laugh the following spring when she discovers that her flowerpot has grown into the perfect house - for a nesting mother bird!

Join eight hardworking machines for a day at the building site. Don Carter combines the irresistible lure of heavy machinery with simple learning concepts and bright dimensional art -- as vivid and appealing as the toys in the toy box.

He's been Student of the Week, but will I.Q. ever get a library card? When Mrs. Furber announces that it's Library Week, I.Q. can't be more excited. During his first visit, I.Q. makes the amazing discovery that he can borrow books once he gets his own library card. He wants to take out the funny book that Mrs. Binder, the librarian, reads to the class. Each day that week, I.Q. has a lot of fun learning about all the different materials and types of books at the library. But I.Q. worries that he'll never be able to find the funny book. And he still needs someone to sign his permission slip for a library card. Will he be able to borrow a book like the other students?

A young llama asks his friends if their mamas are llamas and finds out, in rhyme, that their mothers are other types of animals.

In an old, vine-covered house in Paris live 12 little girls. They wear wide-brimmed hats and matching yellow outfits, and walk in two perfect rows. Madeline is the smallest girl, and the most daring. She's not afraid to touch a mouse or go near a tiger in the zoo.

Brian P. Cleary takes on the alphabet in this whimsical tour of everyone's 26 favorite letters. Rhyming verses are illustrated with colorful collage. Can you find the letters and objects hidden on every page?

When a studious polar bear meets an inquisitive goose, they learn to be friends.

Time for bed, Biscuit! Biscuit is a little yellow puppy. And like most puppies, he would rather play than go to bed. Will Biscuit ever go to sleep?It's Biscuit's bedtime, but this lively little puppy doesn't want to go to sleep! Before he gets into bed, Biscuit plays out the familiar bedtime drama of wanting just one more thing.
* Part of a series: Biscuit

A reluctant little kitten resists his parents' attempts to get him to go to bed.

Meet Gossie, a small yellow gosling who loves to wear bright red boots--every day. One morning Gossie can't find her beloved boots. She looks everywhere for them: under the bed, over the wall, even in the barn. Preschoolers will enjoy helping Gossie find her red boots and delight in where Gossie finally finds them.
* Part of a series: Gossie

Once they can recognize and identify the words used to tell each story, they will be able to successfully read on their own. Features a word list.

Inspired by toys and other objects in his room, a boy imagines all sorts of visitors, from a jet pilot to slimy aliens, as he thinks about who might come and play with him.

Harry loves the Fun Fair. He can't wait to take a ride on the carousel. Magic, the horse, takes him on quite an adventure!

Its simple vocabulary, rhyme and rhythm, and vivid picture clues make it perfect for emergent readers, introducing them to an inviting underwater world and a successful reading experience! G. Brian Karas has created absolutely gorgeous art vignettes to showcase the incredibly varied fish and the kids who love them.

A child lists some of the many things he loves about trees.

A child watches his kite fly high in the sky

It's loose. It's loose. My tooth is loose! Lola Schaefer's energetic text and Sylvie Wickstrom's exuberant illustrations perfectly capture the anxiety and excitement of a child losing his first tooth in an appealing book just right for the youngest readers.

Horses live on a farm. Apples grow on a farm. A tractor drives on a farm. What else might you find on a farm? Read along and look at the photographs to find out!

Learn about a little girl's day in the rainy weather!

The Flip-a-Word series invites children to flip pages to reveal new words.
*Part of a series: Flip-A-Word

The sun and the moon shine down on a young boy as he spends a day by the sea. "Sun shines on the mountains, sun shines on the sea. Sun shines on my pillow, and says wake up to me."

A group of children at a birthday party attempt to guess what is squeaking inside a wrapped package.

Goldilocks visits a house, inside are three sizes of everything! She finds just the right size for her. That is until the three little bears get home!

The adventures of the three little pigs as they each build a house to protect them from the wolf.

Tiny likes to go places with his best friend. But when they go to the library, Tiny has to wait outside. Soon it's time to bring the books home. Tiny is a very big help! Not since Clifford has a big dog been so appealing!
* Part of a series: Tiny

A boy and his pet dragon play basketball with friends and learn about good sportsmanship.
* Part of a series: Dear Dragon