Bonus Books for January: Top choices for children's story time

Picture books rule this month, with illustrations and stories for preschool and early elementary kids. Shop your local bookstore and add these to your library list for winter reading.

“Ellie Mae Dreams Big!” by Kristina McMorris, illustrated by Amanda Yoshida (Sourcebooks, ages 3 – 6)

If you have a little kid with a big imagination, you will love Ellie Mae. What will she be? Anything she wants! This one explodes with creativity and joy.

“I Am Money”by Julia Cook and Garrett Gunderson, illustrated by Josh Cleland (Sourcebooks, ages 4 – 8)

Subtitled “And I Don’t Grow on Trees,” this fun picture book is a gentle introduction to financial literacy, including how to earn, save, spend and give away money – and that it can’t buy happiness.

“The Little Tiger” by Nicola Killen(Paula Wiseman, ages 4 – 8)

Killen’s illustrations are a delight, as always, in this sweet birthday story that makes a wonderful introduction to little ones who are looking forward to their own birthday or maybe to attending a friend’s party (and who might be just a little bit anxious about it all).

“10 Dogs” by Emily Gravett (Boxer Books/Union Square & Co, ages 3 – 5)

Counting, addition, subtraction and even fractions can be taught (sort of) with this adorable picture book about 10 silly dogs and how they share (or not) 10 tasty sausages.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Bonus Books for January: Top choices for children's story time