First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. First the Egg. Roaring Brook Press; First Edition edition (September 4, 2007). 32 pages. ISBN: 978-1596432727. Picture book. Ages 2 and up. Official website: http://www.studiolvs.com/website_root/StudioLVS_Home/Home.html

 "First the egg, then the chicken. First the caterpillar, then the butterfly. First the tadpole, then the frog." A picture book that shows sequences of development within the natural world. Each is introduced followed by a die cut leading to a page showing maturity or later development. A little caterpillar is followed by a page showing a cocoon hanging and finally a mature monarch butterfly. 

This introduces many concepts in a deceptively simple way and is more 'scientific' than stories with a complex narrative. This book also includes painting pictures ("first the paint") and writing stories ("first the words"). Seeing that stories are just long sequences of words is helpful for children learning to read. It also makes the reading process much easier. One word is easier to handle than a book full of sentences. 

Laura Vaccaro Seeger has won many awards for multiple books.