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APH/Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Audio Booklist
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June 2021
Quiero a mi papa Porque (I Love My Daddy Because English / Spanish edition)
Written by Laurel Porter Gaylord.
Illustrated by Ashley Wolff.
“I love my daddy because he plays with me. . .”
This book begins with a heartwarming scene between a human parent and child, but moves on to loving care in many animal families. “He sings me songs,” says a gray wolf cub. “He keeps me safe and warm,” says a young penguin. Children will love reading about how baby animals spend time with their dads, and daddies everywhere will love celebrating Father’s Day—or any occassion!—with this adorable gift from their little ones.
May 2021
One Leaf, Two Leaves, Count with Me!
Written by John Miklos, Jr.
Illustrated by Clive McFarland.
This playful counting book shares the colorful highlights of the four seasons in charming illustrations.
Count your way through the seasons! In spring, the tree’s leaves appear, one by one. By summer, there’s a glorious canopy. And when autumn winds blow, leaves fly from the tree, one after another, leading us into winter. There’s a world of activity to spy in and around this beautiful tree as the wild creatures, and one little boy, celebrate the cycles of nature. As little ones count leaves, look for animals, and enjoy the changing seasonal landscape, bouncy rhymes and bold illustrations make learning to count easy—corresponding numerals reinforcing the learning fun.
April 2021
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter.
Follow the story of naughty Peter Rabbit as he squeezes under the gate into Mr. McGregor’s garden and finds himself in all kinds of trouble!
March 2021
February 2021
Daniel Finds a Poem
Written and illustrated by Micha Archer.
Stunning collage art full of rich color, glorious details, and a sense of wonder—reminiscent of the work of Ezra Jack Keats—illustrate this delightful story celebrating the poetry found in the world around us.
What is poetry? Is it glistening morning dew? Spider thinks so. Is it crisp leaves crunching? That’s what Squirrel says. Could it be a cool pond, sun-warmed sand, or moonlight on the grass? Maybe poetry is all of these things, as it is something special for everyone—you just have to take the time to really look and listen. The magical thing is that poetry is in everyone, and Daniel is on his way to discovering a poem of his own after spending time with his animal friends. What is poetry? If you look and listen, it’s all around you!
The Pudgy Where Is Your Nose? Book
Written by Grosset and Dunlap.
Illustrated by Laura Rader.
Where is your nose…your eyes… your ears? Young children can play along with the simple, interactive text, pointing to different parts of their bodies as they turn the pages of this fun and sturdy book.
January 2021
Look Out Kindergarten, Here I come
Written and Illustrated by Nancy Carlson.
Last Stop on Market Street
Written by Matt De La Peña.
Illustrated by Christian Robinson.
Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don’t own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them.
This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share, and comes to life through Matt de la Pena’s vibrant text and Christian Robinson’s radiant illustrations.
I Am a Rainbow
Written by Dolly Parton.
Illustrated by Heather Sheffield.
Have you ever been tickled pink? Green with envy? Or just plain blue? Well, it’s good to know that we all have a rainbow of feelings inside.
Beloved music legend Dolly Parton provides children with a fun way to talk about their feelings in this colorful, upbeat picture book. And by understanding their own feelings, they can learn to respect the feelings of others.
I Am a Rainbow will encourage children of all ages to acknowledge their feelings and take control.
Good Morning, Farm Friends
Written and illustrated by Annie Bach.
Rise and shine! This charming board book about farm animals waking up and getting ready for a busy day is perfect for the youngest readers.
As the sun rises, the animals on a bustling farm get ready for the day. Pigs roll around in the mud, cows wait at the milking stall, and horses run through pastures. But is everyone awake? The rooster will make sure of it! The fun rhyming text and colorful illustrations in this delightful book will help little ones start their day off just right.
December 2020
Coat of Many Colors
Written by Dolly Parton.
Illustrated by Brooke Boynton Hughes.
Dolly Parton lends the lyrics of her classic song “Coat of Many Colors” to this heartfelt picture book for young readers.
Country music legend Dolly Parton’s rural upbringing in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee provides the backdrop for this special picture book. Using lyrics from her classic song “Coat of Many Colors,” the book tells the story of a young girl in need of a warm winter coat. When her mother sews her a coat made of rags, the girl is mocked by classmates for being poor. But Parton’s trademark positivity carries through to the end as the girl realizes that her coat was made with love “in every stitch.” Beautiful illustrations pair with Parton’s poetic lyrics in this heartfelt picture book sure to speak to all young readers.
The Snowy Day
Written & Illustrated by Ezra Jack Keates.
Waking up to a world of snowy white-what could be better? Young peter can’t wait to jump in his snowsuit and run out to explore. There are snowmen to build snowballs to pack, mountains to climb and snow banks to collapse in-to carve a snow angel! And when the day is done, there’s a dark night of dreams and drifting snow, and a new snowy day to awake to.
Baking Day at Grandma’s
Written by Anika Denise.
Illustrated by Christopher Denise.
A Christmas-cookie sweet story perfect for families to share!
Three bouncing little bear siblings, wrapped tight in their winter clothes, can’t wait to tromp through the snow for Baking Day at Grandma’s! In a rhyming text that begs to be sung, the bears and their grandma pour and mix and stir–with breaks for hot cocoa and dancing–to create the perfect wintry treat. Then they wrap it up in ribbons to show that sweets are even better when they’re shared. With a recipe in the back, this is a perfect family feel-good story for the fall, winter, and any holiday spent with grandparents.
Llama Llama Red Pajama
Written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney.
Llama, Llama red pajama
waiting, waiting for his mama.
Mama isn’t coming yet.
Baby Llama starts to fret.
Anna Dewdney’s classic tale of nighttime drama has been charming readers for over a decade. Now everyone’s favorite Llama Llama who wants his Mama is available in a lap board book format. These infectious rhymes are perfect for bedtime reading anywhere, anytime!
November 2020
October 2020
I Love My Mommy Because
Written by Laurel Porter-Gaylord.
Illustrated by Ashley Wolff.
“I love my mommy because she gives me great big hugs.”
This book begins with a heartwarming scene between a human parent and child, but moves on to loving care in many animal families. ”She listens when I talk,” says a mewing kitten. “She tucks me in,” says a joey kangaroo. Children will love reading about how baby animals spend time with their moms, and mammas everywhere will love celebrating Mother’s Day—or any occassion!—with this adorable gift from their little ones.
September 2020
The Ring Bearer
Written and illustrated by Floyd Cooper.
Mama’s getting married, and Jackson has an important job to do! A story about love, weddings, and the special joy that is a blended family.
Jackson’s mama is getting married, and he gets to be the ring bearer. But Jackson is worried . . . What if he trips? Or walks too slowly? Or drops the rings? And what about his new stepsister, Sophie? She’s supposed to be the flower girl, but Jackson’s not sure she’s taking her job as seriously as she should.
In a celebration of blended families, this heartwarming story, stunningly illustrated by the award-winning Floyd Cooper, is a perfect gift for any child who’s nervous to walk down the aisle at a wedding, and shows kids that they can handle life’s big changes.
Little Poems for Tiny Ears
Written by Lin Oliver.
Illustrated by Tomie dePaola.
August 2020
Sleep Train
Written by Jonathan London.
Illustrated by Lauren Eldridge.
A perfectly pitched bedtime story and counting book for sleepy train lovers, illustrated in dramatic 3D sculptures!
A little boy climbs into bed with a book and starts counting the train cars in it, between the engine and caboose. “Ten sleepy cars going clickety-clack,” reads the refrain. But as the boy counts cars and gets sleepier and sleepier, his room looks more and more like one of the train cars from his book–the sleeping car, of course!
Rhythmically told by the author of the Froggy books, Sleep Train is also stunning to look at. 3D illustrator, Lauren Eldridge, has sculpted an entire train full of intricate details. Part bedtime story, part counting book, part children’s fantasy, Sleep Train is a magical ride to dreamland.
Baby Sounds
Written and illustrated by Joy Allen.
A baby-sized introduction to sounds we hear every day, and a delightful companion to Baby Signs
Long before they can speak, babies are listening. And with this book of fourteen everyday sounds, babies and toddlers are encouraged to interact with parents, caregivers, and the noisy world around them in ways that widen their sensory awareness and expand their vocabulary. From a tweeting bird to clanging pots, a beeping phone to honking cars, the splash! of water to the sound of a kiss–mmmwah!–this book is full of the sounds that fill a baby’s day. Perfect for little hands to grasp, this is a delightful stand-alone or a lovely companion to Baby Signs.
July 2020
The First Strawberries
Retold by Joseph Bruchac.
Illustrated by Anna Vojtech.
From an award-winning Native American storyteller comes this captivating re-telling of a Cherokee legend, which explains how strawberries came to be.
Long ago, the first man and woman quarrelled. The woman left in anger, but the Sun sent tempting berries to Earth to slow the wife’s retreat. Luminous paintings perfectly complement this simple, lyrical text.
Quiero a mi papa Porque (I Love My Daddy Because English / Spanish edition)
Written by Laurel Porter Gaylord.
Illustrated by Ashley Wolff.
“I love my daddy because he plays with me. . .”
This book begins with a heartwarming scene between a human parent and child, but moves on to loving care in many animal families. “He sings me songs,” says a gray wolf cub. “He keeps me safe and warm,” says a young penguin. Children will love reading about how baby animals spend time with their dads, and daddies everywhere will love celebrating Father’s Day—or any occassion!—with this adorable gift from their little ones.
June 2020
Last Stop on Market Street
Written by Matt De La Peña.
Illustrated by Christian Robinson.
Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don’t own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them.
This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share, and comes to life through Matt de la Pena’s vibrant text and Christian Robinson’s radiant illustrations.
I Just Want to Say Goodnight
Written and illustrated by Rachel Isadora.
Caldecott Honor-winner Rachel Isadora’s stunning oil paintings illustrate this delightful bedtime tale, set on the African plains.
The sun has set and the moon is rising, and that means it’s bedtime. But not if Lala has a say—because she’s not ready to go to sleep! First she needs to say good night to the cat. And the goat. And the chickens. And, and, and . . . Lala’s adorable stalling strategy will ring true for all parents whose little ones aren’t ready to say goodbye to the day—and all will appreciate the wonderful culmination to the bedtime ritual.
May 2020
Tale of Peter Rabbit
Written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter.
Follow the story of naughty Peter Rabbit as he squeezes under the gate into Mr. McGregor’s garden and finds himself in all kinds of trouble!
Here’s how to download and play an APH/DPIL digital audio book using an NLS Digital Talking Book Player:
- Connect a USB drive to your computer, such as a blank NLS digital Talking Book cartridge or a commercial flash drive.
- In the book list above, find the title of the book you want.
- Click the download link for the title. Depending on your browser, you may see a dialog box that asks what you would like to do with the file. Choose “Save.” The file you are saving is a “zipped” file, meaning it contains several files inside it. Select the location to save the zipped file—either to your computer’s internal hard drive or to the external USB drive that you connected in step #1.
- If the downloaded zipped file did not unzip automatically, unzip it now. Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Mac OS X all have the built-in ability to unzip files. The unzipped file will create a folder containing all of the files needed to play the book.
- If you downloaded the files to your internal hard drive, copy the unzipped folder to the external USB flash drive or NLS cartridge. Note that the book will not play unless ALL of the files are present on the flash drive or cartridge.*
- Follow instructions provided with your NLS digital player to listen to the audio book.
*For example, if you download the zipped file for The Little Engine that Could, you will receive a file called: the_little_engine_.pdtb.zip When you unzip this file, a folder will be created called the_little_engine_.pdtb This folder contains 15 files. This folder and all 15 files must be copied to your USB flash drive or NLS cartridge for the book to play.
