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In reply to the request for classic American children's books and songs, I would *highly* recommend Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel by Virgina Lee Burton! Another great classic is Corduroy by Dan Freeman.

Here are some others that may or may not be classics but our son has enjoyed them:

In the The Tall, Tall Grass - Denise Fleming
In the Small Small Pond - Denise Fleming
Playtime Rhymes - selection by Shona McKeller,
        illustrated by Priscilla Lamont, DK Publishing
Yellow Ball - Molly Bang
Little Gorrila - Ruth Bornsteing
THe Very Hungry, Little Caterpillar - Eric Carle
More, More,More said the baby - Vera B. Williams
Goodnight Gorrila - Peggy Rathman
David Weitzman - 
        Old Ironsides: Americans Build a Fighting Ship
        Thrashin' Time: Harvest Days in the Dakotas
        Superpower: The Making of a Steam Locomotive
Make Me a Peanut Butter Snadwich and a glass of milk

Reading is Fundamental Reading List

               Favorite Books of RIF Kids
               Provided by Reading Is Fundamental, Inc.

For Preschool to Kindergarten Age Children

                    Allard, Harry. Miss Nelson Is Missing!
                    Ames, Lee J. Draw Draw Draw.
                    Anonymous. Fairy tales, folk tales, and nursery
rhymes including: "Cinderella," "The
Gingerbread Man," "Little Red Riding Hood," "The Three Little Pigs,"
"The Three Billy Goats Gruff," "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," and
Mother Goose rhymes.
                    Bemelmans, Ludwig. Madeleine.
                    Berenstain, Stan and Jan. The Berenstain Bears.
                   Bridwell, Norman. Clifford, the Big Red Dog.
                    Brown, Margaret W. Goodnight, Moon.
                    Carle, Eric. The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
                    Mayer, Mercer. There's a Nightmare in My Closet.
                    McCloskey, Robert. Make Way for Ducklings.
                    Piper, Watty. The Little Engine That Could.
                    Potter, Beatrix. The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
                    Rey, H.A. Curious George.
                    Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are.
                    Seuss, Dr. The Cat in the Hat.
                    Solbodkina, Esphyr. Caps for Sale.
                    Waber, Bernard. Ira Sleeps Over.
                    Zion, Gene. Harry the Dirty Dog.

American Library Association Reading List Provided by the American Library Association

        Preschool
                    Brown, Margaret Wise. Goodnight Moon.
                    Carle, Eric. The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
                    Freeman, Don. Corduroy.
                    Hughes, Shirley. Alfie Gives a Hand.
                    Martin, Bill Jr. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
                    Potter, Beatrix. The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
        Ages 5 - 7
                    Keats, Ezra Jack. The Snowy Day.
                    Lobel, Arnold. Frog and Toad Are Friends.
                    McCloskey, Robert. Make Way for Ducklings.
                    Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are.
                    Steptoe, John. Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale.
                    Viorst, Judith. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Da
y.