Milk doesn't just appear in the refrigerator, nor do apples grow in the fruit bowl. Before we eat, many people work very hard-planting grain, catching fish, tending animals, filling crates and stocking shelves.

We celebrate firemen and soldiers-and rightly so. But let's also celebrate teachers, bus drivers, shop keepers, postmen and the others who keep the world spinning around every day. And let's give a nod to children, too-children who are kind and brave and help each other. They're heroes too. In structure, flow and pitch, very much like Pat Brisson's Before We Eat (ISBN 978 0 88448 652 7).

This lively board book unfolds accordian-style in a floor-standing arc, encouraging babies to lift their head while they are lying on their tummy, while toddlers will love the photos of diverse babies.

Dan Tavis's humorous illustrations crank up the delight, and a child wanting to learn more will find it in the natural-history backmatter. Pat Brisson employs a variety of verse forms in the book, and she shows how it's done in a back-of-book feature called "A Peek into the Poet's Toolkit." Common Critters is a three-tool STEAM book with delightful reading, natural history, and language skills rolled into one.

Before we eat, many people work very hard-planting grain, catching fish, tending farm animals, and filling crates of vegetables. With vibrant illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Mary Azarian, this book reminds us what must happen before food gets to our tables to nourish our bodies and spirits. This expanded edition of Before We Eat includes back-of-book features about school gardens and the national farm-to-school movement. Fountas & Pinnell Level L

Benny McBride starts his day with five new pennies and is determined to spend them all. His mother wants him to buy something beautiful. His brother wants something good to eat. His sister wants something nice to wear. Benny knows his dog and cat would like something too. With the help of generous and thoughtful neighbors, Benny fulfills each request with a penny and arrives home loaded with five but simple gifts.