The best thing about a good picture book is that it's fun for adults to read too. In fact, you might even find yourself sneaking a look at some of these picture books when there isn't a child around to read to. 

31 Uses for a Mom by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Rebecca Doughty

Harriet Ziefert, an amazingly prolific writer for children, has also written 33 Uses for a Dad. From beach chair to bottle opener and tooth puller to tailor, you'll laugh at all the things a mom is for the children she loves, but the last one is the best of all.

The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill, illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith

She's big. She's bad. She's Mean Jean, the Recess Queen. Her "pushing, smooshing, and lollapalooshing" skills hold the playground kids in awe. Nobody does anything without Mean Jean going first, until a tiny but spunky new kid named Katie Sue shows up. She simply isn't afraid of Jean. Not only that, she (gulp!) wants to be Jean's friend! The other kids hold their breath. What will Jean do with someone who isn't afraid of her, but actually likes her? Will she "hammer, slammer, kitz and kajammer" her, too?

Over the Moon by Rachel Vail, illustrated by Scott Nash 

"Places everybody!" for the rehearsal of Hiram Diddle Diddle's well-loved nursery rhyme, "Hi Diddle Diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon." Unfortunately, the cast is having a few technical difficulties. For one thing, the cow is a real problem because her artistic inspirations don't quite go with Hiram's original nursery rhyme. Under the moon, through the moon...Hiram is ready to pull out his hair. Will they ever get the cow to go over the moon? Are they going to have to bring in a stunt cow?

All of these titles are available at the Gail Borden Library. (The Bartlett Public Library and the Schaumburg Township District Library have the first two titles, but not Over the Moon.)

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