Check It Out

Books recommended for young readers by Ilene Abramson, senior librarian for the children’s literature department, Los Angeles Public Library:

Preschool and kindergarten: “Let’s Paint,” by Ivan Bulloch and Diane James

Watch out--Junior’s paintbrush is off and rushing to design colorful abstracts on pots, masks, stones and blocks.

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First and second grades: “My Very First Nature Craft Book,” by Anna Curti

Take the children for a walk and then help them turn the rocks they find into animals, the flowers into bookmarks and the shells into mobiles.

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Third grade: “Ed Emberley’s Great Thumbprint Drawing Book,” by Ed Emberley

Emberley, who can teach the inept artist how to draw recognizable objects, provides a sketchbook of ideas made by sticking a thumb on an ink pad.

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Fourth grade: “Addy’s Craft Book,” by Rebecca Sample Bernstein

In this entry from the American Girls Collection, children can learn the same crafts as a youngster living in 1864.

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Fifth grade: “My Indoor Garden,” by Carol Lerner

This volume explains how to choose the right plants, how to grow them from seeds and cuttings, and how to water, fertilize and repot the new garden.

Story Time

Some of the books to be read on KCET’s “Story Time,” Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

* “Go Away, Big Green Monster,” by Ed Emberley

This is a cutout book of different colors and shapes that accumulate to create a big green monster and then slowly come apart to make him disappear. Themes: feelings of fear, shapes and colors.

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* “Borreguita and the Coyote,” by Verna Aardema

Borreguita is a little lamb who lives at the foot of a mountain. A coyote wants to eat her for dinner, but by using different tricks, she is able to prevent him from doing so. Themes: fairy tale and resourcefulness.

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* “Froggy Gets Dressed,” by Jonathan London

Froggy wakes up to find snow outside, and he is eager to get out and play. He’s getting ready to go out, but his mother keeps reminding him of an article of clothing that he has forgotten to put on. Themes: family (mother) and responsibility.