• Oh, Look! by Patricia Polacco
• Over in the Garden by Jennifer Ward
• Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
• Pierre: A Cautionary Tale by Maurice Sendak
• Rolie Polie Olie by Willian Joyce
• Snip Snap! What’s That? by Mara Bergman
• This Is the Bear by Sarah Hayes
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

May 1^st - Traditionally, the first day of May or May Day has been a celebration following the cold of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Three favorite ways to celebrate over the years have been dancing the maypole dance where dancers circle with ribbons, crowning the Queen of the May and giving “May baskets,” small baskets of flowers left anonymously on neighbors’ doorsteps.

“Two Days in May by Harriet Peck Taylor” (PreK-3rd)

Based on a real-life incident that occurred several years ago in Chicago, Taylor tells the story of a city girl who discovers five deer grazing in the small garden behind her apartment building and how the deer are brought back to safety in the wild.

“Little Grey Rabbit’s May Day” by Alison Uttley (PreK-3rd)

First published seventy years ago Little Grey Rabbit is one of the classic gems of children’s literature. The woodland animals are preparing for a May Day celebration by making garlands and crowns of spring flowers. Wise Owl tells them that they need to have the most special flower of all, the Crown Imperial, for the scepter. Now they need a brave one to go to the village to find one.

“May Day/Lei Day” by Jeffrey Kent; Minako Ishii (photographer) K-2nd)

For centuries Great Britain and Hawaii have shared a liking for celebrations, royalty and flowers. This book tells how May Day is celebrated in England, where it originated over 700 years ago and how it came to be known as Lei Day in Hawaii.

“Chicken Soup with Rice: A Book of Months” by Maurice Sendak (1st – 3rd)

This classic written in 1962 is loads of fun. It features a catchy rhythmic poem that teaches about the months. The format is small but the content will capture the children’s attention. It is available in musical form within “Really Rosie” by Carol King.

May 5^th - Cinco de Mayo is a date observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture.

“Cinco de Mouse-O!” by Judy Cox, illustrator Jeffrey Ebbeler (PreK-2nd)

This is a lively cat and mouse tale which offers a fun and easy introduction to the music, dancing and treats of the Cinco de Mayo holiday.

“Cinco de Mayo (Rookie Read-About Holidays)“ by Mary Dodson Wade (PreK-3rd)

This is a non-fiction book that shares information for young children about the traditions and festivities of Cinco de Mayo.

“Big Bushy Mustache” by Gary Soto; illustrated by Joe Cepeda (K-2nd)

For his class’s Cinco de Mayo play, Ricky chooses a fake mustache for his role as a Mexican soldier because it makes him look like his Dad. Learn what happens when Ricky loses the mustache and how his parents help him solve the problem with a clever solution. A few Spanish words are sprinkled in the English text.

“Marco’s Cinco de Mayo” by Lisa Bullard; illustrated by Holli Conger (K-2nd)

Marco loves the food, parades, and fun of Cinco de Mayo. This year he’s one of the dancers. As he listens to the mariachi music, Marco thinks of the brave Mexicans at the first Cinco de Mayo. Find out the different things people do to celebrate this holiday.

“Cinco de Mayo” by Linda Lowery; illustrated by Barbara Knutson (K-2nd)

This book explores the origin of Cinco de Mayo and the many ways it is celebrated.

“Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the Mexican Hat Dance” by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy (K-3rd)

This book is about preparing for Cinco de Mayo by learning a Mexican dance. In addition, it includes information about Cinco de Mayo.

“Viva Mexico!: The Story of Benito Juarez and Cinco de Mayo” by Argentina Palacios and Alex Haley; Howard Berelson (2nd- 4th)

This is an easy, short biography of the Zapotec Indian who grew up to become the President of Mexico. This book includes an accurate explanation of the basis for the holiday celebrated as Cinco de Mayo.

“Cinco de Mayo: Celebrating the Traditions of Mexico” by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith, photographer Lawrence Migdale (3rd -5th)

Follow Rosa, a Mexican-American girl from California, as she learns about her heritage and celebrates Cinco de Mayo with her family, friends and community.

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert (PreK-1st)

Young children learn about the variety and color in a flower garden and the excitement of gardening. The yearly cycle and process of planning, planting, and picking flowers in a garden are shared.

How Flowers Grow by Emma Helbrough; illustrated by Maggie Silver and Uwe Mayer (PreK-2nd)

This is a great book to teach young children the basics of flowers and plants.

The Reason for a Flower by Ruth Heller (PreK-2nd)

The reason for a flower is to manufacture seeds, but Ruth Heller shares a lot more about parts of plants and their functions in her trademark rhythmic style and teaching interesting words to children.

My Garden by Kevin Henkes (PreK-2nd)

In this imaginative book children are invited into a most unusual garden. It never needs weeding, the flowers are ever-blooming, and colors change just by thinking of them. The artwork brings this book alive for reading to groups.

Flower Garden by Eve Bunting; illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt (K-1st)

An urban African-American girl and her father buy plants, potting soil, and a window box at the supermarket, ride the bus to their apartment, and put together a colorful gift for the child’s mother.

Cactus Hotel by Brenda Z. Guiberson; illustrated by Megan Lloyd (K-2nd)

Birds and other animals are busy searching around for food on a hot day in the desert. When they get tired, they stop to rest in a giant cactus. It is their hotel in the desert!

Plant Plumbing: A Book About Roots and Stems by Susan Blackaby; illustrated by Charlene Delage (K-2nd)

This is an informational picture book about how plants store food and carry water up to the leaves.

Oh Say Can You Seed?: All About Flowering Plants (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library) by Bonnie Worth; illustrated by Aristides Ruiz (K-3rd)

The Cat in the Hat examines the various parts of plants, seeds and flowers, as well as photosynthesis and pollination.

The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A Book About How Living things Grow by Joanna Cole; illustrated by John Speirs and Bruce Degan (K-3rd)

Ms. Frizzle’s class is growing a beautiful garden, but Phoebe’s plot is empty. Her flowers are at her old school! So, the students climb aboard the Magic School Bus to go get some of her old flowers. Follow the students’ adventure as they learn how living things grow.

Vincent Van Gogh: Sunflowers and Swirly Stars by Joan Holub (K-3rd)

This book is written as though it’s a child’s report about Van Gogh which is informative and helps students relate the artist to life.

“Junie B. Jones Is (Almost) a Flower Girl” by Barbara Park (1st-3rd)

How come everyone treats Junie B. like a baby? It’s not fair. But her aunt Flo is getting married. What a perfect chance for Junie B. to show everyone how grown-up she is! Too bad she wasn’t picked to be the flower girl in the wedding so she could really show off. But surely Junie B. can still find some way to get everyone’s attention.

“Frindle” by Andrew Clements (3rd – 6th)

An amazing story about a creative boy, an idea and a teacher. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, he’s got the inspiration for the “frindle.” Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Things begin innocently but spiral into something truly big.