Bears…
Beets…
Bunnies.
(Forgive me. I’ve been watching a lot of The Office.)
Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens was one of the first picture books I fell in love with as an adult. With amazing illustrations (hence, a Caldecott Honor) and a story that blends the trickster stories of long ago with elements of fables, Tops and Bottoms can be a lovely read-aloud or a chance to start conversations about hard work, planning ahead and not letting others get the best of you.
I recommend Tops and Bottoms for ages 4 to 8 (but The Office should probably wait until at least middle school).
Paul Rondema 