Books for Letter E

Books to Read for Letter E

We hope you find some new favorites in this list of books to read for letter E!

Emily’s Balloon, by Komako Sakai

If you are the parent of a toddler, you must check this one out.  This beautifully simple book begins with Emily getting a balloon tied to her finger.  After it flies up to the ceiling several times, her mother ties it to a spoon so that it can go everywhere with her.  Emily and her balloon play together until a gust of wind blows it into a tree.  Emily is heartbroken until her mother promises to get a ladder and bring it down the next day.  “‘Really and truly?’  ‘Really and truly.  Goodnight, honey.'”

Eggday, by Joyce Dunbar

In this colorful book, Dora the Duck announces that there will be an egg contest.  The pig, horse, and goat all try to lay their own eggs until the hen sets them straight.  “But pigs don’t lay eggs.  Pigs have piglets.  And you’re not even a sow.” In this way the book combines a funny story with a little science lesson.  At the end the chicken gives them each her own eggs to decorate.

But No Elephants, by Jerry Smath

This was one one of my favorite books growing up, and my kids took to it right away.  Grandma Tildy accepts each new pet the pet man tries to sell her… “but no elephants!”  When winter comes and the elephant has no place to stay, she finally relents.  This is such a fun, classic book that it’s worth buying without having read it first!

The Empty Pot, by Demi

Our family first became acquainted with this book when it was given to us as a going-away present after our semester in Hong Kong.  Ping, a little Chinese boy, has a love for flowers and grows them beautifully. One day the Emperor calls all children to his palace. Each child receives some special seeds. After a year’s time, whoever grows the most beautiful flower will become the next ruler.  Ping rushes home and tenderly plants and cares for his seeds. But nothing grows.  With a heavy heart he brings his empty pot to the palace amidst all the other children’s bright and blossoming flowers. It turns out that the Emperor had given each child cooked seeds that should not grow, and Ping’s honesty is rewarded.

Edward the Emu, by Sheena Knowles

“Edward the emu was sick of the zoo.  There was nowhere to go, there was nothing to do.”  So each night, Edward finds a new animal cage and pretends to be that animal. After sharing a cage with a seal, lion, and snake. Edward returns to his own cage – only to discover a new emu has taken residence there.  “‘Hello, I’m Edwina! It’s nice meeting you. You’re the best thing I’ve seen since I came to the zoo!'”  Children will enjoy the sequel, Edwina the Emu.

The Ear Book, by Al Perkins

This is a book with no plot, but young listeners will enjoy its rhythmic text and bright pictures. 

Emma’s Pet, by David McPhail

Emma longs for a big, soft, cuddly pet, but nothing she finds will do.  The mouse is too small, the frog too wet, and the dog belongs to someone else. But at the end of the book she finds the biggest, softest, cuddliest pet ever — her father. 

The Little Engine that Could, by Wally Piper

When the train carrying the toys and treats break down, the toys plead with every passing engine to carry them over the mountain to the good little boys and girls who are waiting for them. Each engine is too proud or too tired to help, until at last the little blue engine (“I think I can, I think I can…”) carries them to the waiting children.  

Edward’s Overwhelming Overnight, by Rosemary Wells

Rosemary Wells, creator of the popular Max and Ruby books, has many other gems, and Edward is one of them. In this book he plays at a friend’s house but must stay overnight when a snowstorm comes.  Poor Edward is too sad to play.  He won’t eat, and he can’t sleep.  Finally his friend’s father puts chains on the tires and drives him home. In this book and its companions, Edward Unready for School andEdward in Deep Water, we learn that not everyone is ready for the same things at the same time. 

An Extraordinary Egg, by Leo Lionni

This is the tale of three frogs who live together on Pebble Island. One frog, Jessica, loves to explore and bring back pretty rocks to show her friends. One day she brings back an especially beautiful stone, only to discover that it’s an egg. Since they are familiar only with chicken eggs, the frogs call the baby alligator a chicken throughout the story, which will delight small children.  Jessica and the baby “chicken” become good friends, and the baby is reunited with its mother at the end of the book.

Elephant Families, by Arthur Dorros

This book is an informative but accessible nonfiction book for young children.  My kids were interested to learn that young elephants have babysitters, elephants can peel oranges with their trunks, and that some people kill elephants for their tusks. 

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