Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Makes It Big
A high-energy read-aloud that leans into Dolly's signature charm and visual gags to make a simple story about confidence feel like a concert.
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The Contest
by Nonny Hogrogian
Picture book · ages 5–8 · 420L · 1974
A slyly philosophical folk-tale picture book disguised as a comedy about two bumbling robbers—Hogrogian's pen drawings are spare and expressive, and the absurdist logic lands hard on reread.
Journey Cake, Ho!
by Robert McCloskey
Picture book · ages 4–8 · 530L · 1953
A rollicking Appalachian tall tale that reads aloud beautifully—McCloskey's illustrations are his usual gift, and the chase-and-chaos plot moves fast enough to hold even restless 5-year-olds.
It Could Always Be Worse
by Margot Zemach
Picture book · ages 5–8 · 520L · 1976
A Yiddish folktale adapted with Zemach's exuberant, chaotic illustrations that make the absurdity visible — kids laugh hard and genuinely internalize that 'worse' is always possible, so appreciate what you have.