Gail Gibbons

ages 3-10+
I am a huge fan of Gail Gibbons because she makes nonfiction accessible to the very young. Children of all ages love hearing about how the world works but it can often be difficult to find a book to read to a 3-year-old that they can understand and still uses sophisticated vocabulary. Gail has mastered this area. She has published over 130 picture books on almost every nonfiction topic imaginable. She explains plants, animals, ecosystems, weather, inventions, space, holidays, seasons, occupations, locations, and the list goes on. Her books are illustrated by her clear, colorful and child-friendly artwork.
Hearing and reading nonfiction books helps kids get used to the unique features of this genre. It is crucial that children start being exposed to these types of books at a young age. Point out some of these differences as you read with your child. For example, discuss why some of the words are in bold type, some of the pictures are labeled with words and that some of the pictures have captions explaining what is being shown. Your child will quickly internalize the elements of nonfiction and begin to use them in their own reading experiences.

My Favorites By Gail Gibbons:
Apples
Christmas Is...
Frogs
From Seed to Plant
Halloween
Monarch Butterfly
Penguins
Polar Bears
Pumpkins
Sea Turtles
Stargazers
The Moon Book
The Honey Makers
(But really I highly recommend them all!)

Check Out Her Website:
www.gailgibbons.com