Pick of the Decade 1998-2008 The Best Books for Children Grades k-8

The Best Books for Children Grades K-8

Woodbridge Public Library

www.encounteringenchantment.com

Bonnie Kunzel bkunzel@aol.com

Youth Services Consultant

www.bonniekunzel.com

Pat Vasilik vasilik@cliftonpl.org

Clifton Public Library

"Terrific," says Eugene after winning an all-expenses-paid cruise to Bermuda. "I’ll probably get a really nasty sunburn." Unfortunately, his luck is much worse than that until he meets a parrot that helps him change his luck. (See also: Z Goes Home.)

Eddie is at home and the bear is in the forest. Both are lonely with only their teddies to talk to, but when they meet in the woods, they find a way to become friends. (See also: Where’s My Teddy? and It’s the Bear!)

Gladys the gorilla who loves bananas, ventures out of the zoo to discover the source of the tantalizing new aroma.

In Texas, brand-new baby boy Bubba and brand-new puppy Beau, are best friends enjoying a variety of adventures together. (Sequels: Bubba and Beau Go Night-Night and Bubba and Beau Meet the Relatives.)

Baby Bird is too young to fly, so when she falls out of her nest, she cannot

A young boy’s day begins when the sun wakes him in the morning and as the hours pass by, the boy appreciates all the ways of his favorite star.

Little Bitty Mousie sneaks into a house one night and discovers many tantalizing new things, as well as one very scary thing.

Ten different animals from ten different countries come to drink at the water hole, which diminishes with each set of visitors, until a single drop of water begins the cycle all over again.

When a storm comes, Rover expects to have his doghouse all to himself but finds that various other animals, including a skunk, come to join him.

Bergman, Mara. Snip Snap! What’s That? 2005.

Three siblings are frightened by the wide mouth, long teeth, and strong jaws of the alligator that has crept up the stairs--until they decide they have had enough.

When a studious polar bear meets an inquisitive goose, they learn to be friends. (Sequel: Treasure.)

This original version of the classic cookie’s misadventure has twists of its own. (See also: Goldilocks and the Three Bears; The Mitten; The Town Mouse, Country Mouse.)

Although his mother is a little worried, a young boy is delighted to discover that every shop in town is giving away real dinosaurs to their customers.

Little bear has fun going out on the lake in his little boat that is just the right size for him. One day he finds the boat is too small and he must make a decision about its future.

A young boy and his father stand on a cliff and watch a pod of orcas swimming by. As they go the boy imagines the conversations the whales could be having.

Dawdle Duckling delights in daydreaming, exploring and playing, even though Mama Duck keeps trying to get him to follow along with his siblings. (Sequel: Ready or Not Dawdle Duckling.)

A procession of rainforest animals chides the sloth for being lazy, but the sloth extols the benefits of taking his time. (See also: The Very Hungry Caterpillar; The Very Busy Spider; The Grouchy Ladybug; The Very Quiet Cricket; From Head to Toe; and Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too?)

A brand-new batch of rubber ducks is loaded onto a ship and sent off to be delivered to children everywhere. But when a storm strikes, 10 little ducks are tossed into the sea and swept away in 10 different directions -- with some wonderfully unexpected adventures along the way.

Ella Sarah asserts her independence by selecting a striking outfit of her own.

Feeling misunderstood and unappreciated by her owner George, Emma the dog asks for advice from the local canine advice columnist and soon makes herself useful by becoming a successful stage actor with a traveling theater company.

Jay Jay, an African-American boy, spends Sunday at his grandmother’s house.

In a collection of five short stories, Mama Jumbo tells what life is like in her African community as she walks the busy street of Zanzibar Road into town, meeting a cast of colorful animal characters of all professions, shapes, and sizes along the way.

De Paola, Tomie. Meet the Barkers, 2002.

Twin pups Moffie and Morgie are excited to be starting school. Once there, they discover they are each good at different things. (Sequels: A New Barker in the House and Trouble in the Barkers’ Class.)
DiCamillo, Kate. Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken, 2008.

Longing for adventure, intrepid Louise leaves her comfortable nest and ventures out into the great, wide world where she encounters a vast array of colorful characters.

This jazzy tribute to African-American tap dancer, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, taps out a rhythm all over town.

Counting and dancing go hand in hand at Mambo Jamba's, the place where hippos hokey-pokey and meerkats macarena and ten little chimps do the cha-cha-cha, until Mama Chip says, "Time for bed!"

Simple verses that describe the life cycle of the butterfly are accompanied by illustrations saturated with color. (See also: Top Cat; Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf; Feathers for Lunch; Eating the Alphabet; and Planting a Rainbow.)

Sam is ready to fly his new kite, but Dad says it should be someone bigger. Each big person gets swept away until Sam takes control.

Like her older brother, the Gingerbread Boy, who was eventually devoured by a fox, the Gingerbread Girl eludes the many people who would like to eat her but also has a plan to escape her sibling's fate.

Falconer, Ian. Olivia, 2000.

Olivia, a precocious pig, whirls through every activity with boundless energy. (Sequels: Olivia Saves the Circus; Olivia—and the Missing Toy; Olivia Forms a Band; and Olivia Helps with Christmas.)

Six silent turtles sit still on a log, while energetic movement by the other animals in the pond leap, creep, flicker, flutter, swirl, and lurch all around them.

Mr. McGreely finally plants the vegetable garden he’s always wanted but then he must find a way to stop hungry critters from nibbling it all away. (Sequel: Tippy-Tippy-Tippy, Hide!)

Kittens, Fluffy and Skinny do whatever Mama Cat does, be it washing with her paws, digging or sharpening her claws, but little Boris would much rather take a nap.

Buster the dog thinks that everything is perfect at home until his owner brings home Betty, a fluffy white kitten. (Sequel: Buster Goes to Cowboy Camp.)

Following the pattern of “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” a snowman lists all the gifts its young human brings.

When a cow loses her moo, she searches to see if another animal in the barn has it. (See also: The Everything Book; Alphabet Under Construction; Pumpkin Eye; and Time to Sleep.)

Joining in a game of ball with the local kids, a little dog notices a lonely boy on the sidelines looking sad and so begins to wonder which one of his new playmates will invite the little boy to play with them.

A wizard’s wandering headpiece adorns head after head, transforming each grown-up to one animal or another until the wizard appears. (See also: Hattie and the Fox and Possum Magic.)

Among the people lining up for a ride on the roller coaster is a child who’s never ridden before. All embark for an exhilarating ride, which whisks readers along in all the dips and dives, leaving everyone ready to ride again.

When James and Eamon go to Nature Camp and stay at Eamon's grandparents' house, they are much more interested in eating waffles and playing video games than in nature until something unexpected happens to change their minds.

Stella, who discovers delight wherever she goes, leads her brother through the forest, providing fanciful answers to all of his questions. (See also: Stella, Star of the Sea; Stella, Queen of the Snow; Good Night, Sam; Good Morning, Sam; What Are You Doing Sam?; and Stella, the Princess of the Sky.)

Abby transforms her household chores into magical activities as she, by playing dress-up each day of the week, becomes exactly what Mama needs.

A child provides an ever-increasing list of characteristics that make Lyle a very special dog, despite appearances.

Relates, in rhyming verse, how dump trucks and paving machines layer and compact hot asphalt to make a street.

A beautifully illustrated edition of the folk song (Kathy Jakobsen, illustrator).

When a school bus gets stuck in the mud, Red Truck the tow truck saves the day by pulling it out.

While trying to escape from a wolf, four frightened chickens keep getting themselves into the very predicaments they are trying to avoid. (Sequel: Big Chickens Fly the Coop.)

Wemberly worries about everything but her biggest worry concerns her first day of school.

Henkes, Kevin. Kitten’s First Full Moon, 2004. (SP)

Kitten mistakes the moon for a saucer of milk and embarks on an outdoor adventure to try to reach it.
Henkes, Kevin. Old Bear, 2008.

When Old Bear falls asleep for the winter, he has a dream that he is a cub again, enjoying each of the four seasons.

When Sara Ann brings home three little kittens, Katie the dog's enthusiasm frightens the kittens away, until she learns that a quiet patience is sometimes needed to begin a friendship.

When Mrs. McGee passes through a beautiful garden asking whose it is, the gardener is the first to claim it, followed by all of the garden's inhabitants plus the sun and the rain, who also claim it as their own.

Alfie explains what he and his little sister can do together and with their family. (See also: Alfie’s Feet; Alfie Gives a Hand; An Evening at Alfie’s; The Big Alfie and Annie Rose Storybook; The Big Alfie out of Doors Storybook; Rhymes for Annie Rose; Alfie’s ABC; and Alfie and the Birthday Surprise.)

The birthday girl celebrates all the members of her family as they gather to celebrate her special day. (See also: Good Night Owl; The Very Worst Monster; The Doorbell Rang; Where’s the Baby?; Shrinking Mouse; and We’re Going on a Picnic.)

A boy helps his grandfather on the farm, showing the hen that follows them all that he can do.

A penguin turns up on his doorstep and a young boy, believing the bird is lost, is determined to return him to the South Pole. When they arrive, he discovers his feathered friend wasn’t lost, just lonely.

Bear, Lion and Elephant strive to prove which of them is the mightiest, but a little old lady surprises them all. (See also: The Wolf’s Chicken Stew; The Pigs’ Picnic; When the Elephant Walks; and A Mother for Choco.)

Marcel, a gosling, and Farfallina, a caterpillar, become fast friends. When they are reunited after a separation, at first they do not recognize each other.

Keisha Ann is proud of all the things she can do during her day at school.

An extra monkey partakes of succeeding adventures, all wreaking havoc wherever they go. (Sequel: Seven Spunky Monkeys.)

In the African savannah, a baby monkey waits impatiently for his turn while an assortment of animals drinks their fill.

When a young girl awakens to a gray and dreary day, she is beyond grouch until she ventures outside with her family to play in the rain.

Kuskin, Karla. Green as a Bean, 2007.

Questions in verse about the many things you could be if you were square or soft or loud or red or small or fat or fierce or dark.
L’Engle, Madeleine. The Other Dog, 2001.

The family poodle is feeling put out when the mistress brings home the “new dog,” which is, in fact, the new baby.

A little chick travels around the barnyard, conversing with his friends in their own languages.

Tacky, the always-different penguin, ends up on a tropical island proving to an elephant that he is who he says he is. (See also: Tacky the Penguin; Three Cheers for Tacky; Tacky and the Emperor; Tackylocks and the Three Bears; Tacky and the Winter Games; A Porcupine Named Fluffy; Score One for the Sloths; and Something Might Happen.)

A pirate's son shares the things he loves about his father, including climbing the mast together to yell "Land ho" and sharing the booty when they find buried treasure.

While the other villagers nap during the heat of the day, Pocu wanders off into the forest. Finding a peacock feather, he creates an imaginary tiger, which may be too real after all. (See also: The Big Bug Ball, Tortoise Brings the Mail, and Sitting in My Box.)

When a family visits a restaurant in Chinatown, they each enjoy a variety of “little dishes.” (See also: The Ugly Vegetables, Fortune Cookie Fortunes, Kite Flying, and Our Seasons.)

A Chinese American family prepares for and celebrates the Lunar New Year, in a book that includes endnotes discussing the customs and traditions of Chinese New Year.

Froggy goes to a sleep-away camp, where all of his fun seems to cause trouble for the camp's director. (Previous titles: Froggy Gets Dressed; Let’s Go Froggy, Froggy Learns to Swim, Froggy Goes to School, Froggy’s First Kiss, Froggy’s Halloween, Froggy Plays Soccer, Froggy’s Best Christmas, Froggy Goes to Bed, Froggy Eats Out, Froggy Plays in the Band, Froggy Goes to the Doctor, Froggy’s Baby Sister, Froggy’s Day with Dad, Froggy Rides a Bike, and Froggy Plays T-Ball)

Jenny and her grandmother prepare to celebrate her little brother’s first moon with a traditional Chinese party, even though Jenny thinks the one-month-old doesn’t deserve it. All he does is eat, sleep and cry. (See also: Uncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding.)

Carried along by snappy rhyme, a group of bunnies boldly go where no bunnies have gone before. (See also: Cowboy Bunnies and Scuba Bunnies.)

The Rooster’s song begins the day in this poetic text which is in English and Spanish.

Lund, Deb. Dinosailors, 2003.

After spending time sailing, some seasick dinosaurs decide they have had enough of the high seas. (Sequel: All Aboard the Dinotrain.)
Manning, Maurie. The Aunts Go Marching, 2003.

In this story that puts a clever twist on an old song, a young girl and her aunt go shopping in the rain.

2002.

Panda Bear observes a procession of endangered animals. (See also: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?; Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?; White Dynamite & Curly Kidd; and Knots on a Counting Rope.)

Illustrations and rhyming text portray a young bear searching for its mother and meeting many North American animals along the way.

101 rambunctious digits have a rollicking time climbing an apple tree. (See also: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.)

Worried about going back to attend his second day of school, Digby's mother loads up his pockets with handfuls of kisses in the hopes of giving him all the reassurance he needs for his busy day ahead.

A day in the life of family pets, Hondo and Fabian, is depicted, as Hondo the dog spends time at the beach and Fabian the cat eludes a toddler at home. (Sequel: Fabian Escapes. See also: T Is for Terrible.)

A version of the Biblical creation story boldly illustrated by a Caldecott-winning artist. (See also: Anansi the Spider; Arrow to the Sun; Tim O’Toole and the Wee Folk; Zomo the Rabbit; Raven; Coyote; and Jabuti the Tortoise.)

Widget, a small stray dog, has been adopted into a home with lots of cats. Adapting to the ways of the felines, he shows them in the end that being a dog can be a good thing too. (Sequel: Widget and the Puppy.)

A gleeful garbage truck extols the joys of collecting the trash. (See also: I’m Mighty, I’m Dirty, and I’m Bad.)

Bathtime becomes a nautical adventure for a young lad garbed as a pirate.

Excited about giving his friend Big Brown Bear a special picnic on the riverbank for his birthday surprise, Rat ends up getting the biggest surprise of all when Big Brown Bear sees an empty boat passing by and decides that the two should take a ride down the river! (Previous titles: Big Brown Bear and Big Brown Bear Goes to Town. See also: Something Special; Tinker and Tom and the Star Baby; and Mole Music.)

Martha, the dog who can talk because of eating alphabet soup, discovers how the Perfect Pup Institute turns dogs into obedient robots and then does something about it. (Previous titles: Martha Speaks; Martha Calling; Martha Blah, Blah; Martha Walks the Dog; and Martha and Skits.)

Buoyant verse describes the antics of frog and his farmyard friends as they frolic in the cool of the pool.

Doäna Flor, a giant lady with a big heart, sets off to protect her neighbors from what they think is a dangerous animal, but soon discovers the tiny secret behind the huge noise.

A small cloud that has always dreamed of becoming a police officer discovers that he might not be suited to the job.

If you take a mouse to school, watch out. Not only will he ask you for your lunch box, but also he will then want a sandwich to go in it and that’s only the beginning. (See also: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, If You Give a Pig a Party, If You Give a Bear a Brownie, and If You Give a Cat a Cupcake.)

A husband and wife wizarding duo miscast one spell after another.

The farm is perfectly peaceful until it is discovered that a peck of pickled peppers has been pilfered. Then, Ducktective Web and his partner are called in to solve the case. (See also: Piggie Pie, Zoom Broom, and Broom Mates.)

Neon colored illustrations accompany a text that encourages an appreciation of diversity. (See also Peace Book and The Feel Good Book.)

Mrs. Spitzer lovingly tends her garden all summer long, just as she nurtures her students during the school year.

A duck arrives at her pond to find that it is still frozen, but when she concentrates on spring, the ice begins to melt.

A newly illustrated edition of the classic fable of the hen who is forced to do all the work of baking bread and of the animals who learn a bitter lesson from it.

A boy brings home various dinosaurs from the pet store, but discovers that neither the biggest nor the smallest, the softest nor the scariest, makes an ideal pet.

Polacco, Patricia. Emma Kate, 2005.

Emma Kate and her best friend share many activities, such as homework and soccer practice, and even have their tonsils out at the same time, all the things best friends do. But there is more to this best friend than meets the eye.
Raschka, Chris. Five for a Little One, 2006.

A young rabbit explores the world using his five senses.

A young boy delights in playing in the rain wearing his red rubber boots.

When a duck lands in the swamp, he promptly gets stuck in the muck and an increasing number of creatures try to free him. (See also: What Baby Wants and Oliver Finds His Way.)

When Bear decides to visit the city, he becomes overwhelmed with all the noise, but luckily some helpful children guide him on his way home again.

When centipede stubs a toe, he decides shoes are the way to go, but the footwear proves more difficult than he thought.

An assortment of animals, including a goat in a coat, a quick chick, and a hairy bear, ride the bus to and from school.

Donning their coats and mittens, a young girl, her friend, and grandmother partake in an array of fun activities during a crisp winter's day as snow falls from the sky, lands on the trees, covers the ground, and coats their whole world in a brilliant sheet of glistening white.

In a variant of a classic tale, a young possum is constantly muddling his mama’s instructions. (Sequels: Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail and Epossumondas Saves the Day.)

On their way to school one day, a group of children concoct more and more imaginative ways to proceed. (See also: Cool Time Song.)

After learning about dragons at school and making their own out of colored paper and feathers, the classmates are suddenly whisked away to a magical world where they collectively become a dragon, flying over snowcapped mountains and swooping through vast meadows. (Sequel: Kids Like Us.)

With each new season a brown bunny takes delight in his garden.

Three easy-to-read stories reveal the close friendship between Dog and Bear. (Sequel: Dog and Bear: Two’s Company.)

Duck teaches himself to ride a bike and inspires all the farmyard animals to do likewise.

Except for his bath, Fergus experiences the perfect doggy day, from chasing cats and motorcycles to being scratched on his favorite tickle spot.

Young David makes a mess in every room but his mother loves him just the same. (Sequels: David Gets in Trouble and David Goes to School.)

Mother hen and her chicks go to the garden every day, but when a loud dog suddenly blocks their path, it is the littlest chick that comes up with a way to save them all.

A boy and his grandfather enjoy a variety of activities together.

Ms. MacDonald, a ewe who is completely comfortable with her tool belt on, has her friend and neighbors join her in constructing her special project.

When librarian Molly McGrew mistakenly drives the book mobile to the zoo, she entices the animals to a love of books by reading aloud her rollicking rhymes. (See also: The House That Drac Built.)

Miss Bindergarten, a black and white canine, and her class celebrate the last day of kindergarten with a party and good wishes. (Previous titles: Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten; Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100^th Day of Kindergarten; Miss Bindergarten Stays Home from Kindergarten; Miss Bindergarten Takes a Field Trip with Kindergarten; Miss Bindergarten Plans a Circus with Kindergarten; and Miss Bindergarten Has a Wild Day in Kindergarten.)

When a stuffed elephant the same pattern as his name accidentally ends up in the trash, he turns his abandonment into a successful search for his perfect match.

When he is unable to reattach the fallen leaves to the trees during a crisp autumn day, a young bear decides to give up and take a nap, yet when he finally awakes, an entire season has passed as he opens his eyes to a beautiful spring day and a new bounty of green leaves hanging on the branches above.

Big Brown Rooster, the great-grandson of the Little Red Hen, decides to make strawberry short cakes, but runs into some problems of his own.

Early in the morning, a bird begins to sing at #1 Fish Street, waking the man next door and his dog, and before long, as one noise leads to another, everyone on the street is awake!

Mr. Frimdimpny, a stern crocodile, insists that readers not laugh at all and then relates three humorous stories.

Minerva, a curious chicken, embarks on a rollicking Christmas Eve adventure when she spies a rather plump man in a red suit on the roof and decides to follow him down the chimney. (Previous titles: Minerva Louise; A Hat for Minerva Louise; Minerva Louise at School; A Friend for Minerva Louise; Minerva Louise and Her Farmyard Friends; Minerva Louise at the Fair; Minerva Louise and the Red Truck; and Minerva Louise and the Colorful Eggs.)

In this version, the little red hen decides to go with an Italian entrée, but still has difficulty getting

the help she needs. (See also: This Little Pirate.)
Swanson, Susan. The House in the Night, 2008.

Illustrations and easy-to-read text explore the light that makes a house in the night a home filled with light.

Explores the options available to a monster from the time it is born, such as becoming the scary monster under someone's bed or playing on the school basketball team.

After wandering out at night to watch a magical star shower, a polar bear cub returns home to snuggle with her mother in their warm den.

When the other barnyard animals comment on how tiny the littlest chick is, the proud little one peeps louder, stands taller, and runs faster than any of them.

With his mother on the phone, his father checking e-mail, and his sister playing with her friends, a little boy feels as if he is all alone in the house, and no matter how badly he behaves, no one comes to stop him.

Clarabella wants to go and play with her friends, but first she must brush her teeth. Unfortunately, that takes quite awhile since crocodiles have a lot of teeth, but her friends come up with a workable solution.

Katy Mouse teaches her younger brother, Tiny, the names of some of the things they see, including a boot, a snail, and a pheasant, when they go to the cornfield to play games. (See also: The Pig in the Pond; Owl Babies; Farmer Duck;, Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear?; Let’s Go Home, Little Bear; You and Me, Little Bear; Good Job, Little Bear; Snow Bears; and Hi, Harry!)

Annie owns her own apple orchard and makes a myriad of apple-related items from her homegrown fruit. (See also: Zinnia’s Flower Garden.)

Yoko’s classmates make fun of her for bringing sushi for lunch, but then someone tries it and everything changes. (Sequel: Yoko Writes Her Name.)

All the activities of a typical kindergarten year are compiled in this handy compendium. (See also: Emily’s First 100 Days of School, Timothy Goes to School, Shy Charles, and Bunny Cakes.)

Three ambitious children make morning more palatable by whipping up a batch of pancakes.

When the bus driver takes a break he instructs readers not to let the pigeon drive the bus but the pigeon doesn’t give up easily. (Sequel: The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!, Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay up Late, and The Pigeon Wants a Puppy.)

As hard as he tries to be scary, Leonardo is terrible at being a monster. He searches until he finds someone that he can scare, but when he finds the perfect, nervous little boy, will he be able to scare him?

Edwina is well-known in her neighborhood, she plays with kids, she bakes delicious chocolate chip cookies and helps old ladies cross the street. She is well-loved by everyone except for one person: Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie. He knows for a fact that dinosaurs are extinct and tries to convince everyone that they are. What happens when Edwina finds out?

The three pigs escape the big bad wolf by jumping into other stories.

A small creature finds the secret of world peace but everyone is making too much noise to listen to him.

The winter wind is blowing but Bear’s animal friends have gathered for a party in his cave while he is sound asleep. (Sequels: Bear Wants More, Bear Stays up for Christmas, Bear’s New Friend, Bear Feels Sick., and Bear Feels Scared.)

Every day, Angelina dreams of her home in Jamaica and imagines she is there, until her mother finds a wonderful way to convince her that New York is now their home.

Different dinosaurs demonstrate ways to say good night and ways not to say it. (Sequels: How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food? How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? )

Picture Books

Addy, Sharon. When Wishes Were Horses, 2002.

On his way home, Zeb wishes for a horse. Much to his amazement his wish is granted, but soon things gallop out of control.

Milo is trying hard to be a successful magician but is a dismal failure until a bear comes along and teaches him some useful tricks. (See also: Terrific.)

When too many barnyard friends climb in "Old Blue" to go to town, Chuck's truck breaks down, but Handyman Hugh knows just what to do to get them up and running again. (Sequel: Chuck’s Truck.)

When Henrietta becomes the first chicken in her coop to learn how to read, she uses her skills to save her aunties from becoming chicken soup. (See also: Hen Lake, Peeping Beauty, Eggs Mark the Spot, Bantam of the Opera, Nutquacker, Poultrygeist, The Princess and the Pizza, and Chickerella.)

An artist describes his "cat," who can usually be found either sleeping or eating. (Sequel: When the Silliest Cat Was Small.)

When Meggie joins Digger and Tiger, two boys who love to hang out at the junkyard, she is bursting with imaginative ideas and leads the way to myriad adventures.

When Max cuts out words from magazines and newspapers, collecting them the way his brothers collect stamps and coins, they all learn about words, sentences, and storytelling. (Sequel: Max’s Dragon.)

Libby Gaborchik, a highly unusual fairy, helps Marvin, a poor peasant, win the hand of the beautiful but love-starved Princess Vera.

An imaginative exploration of superlative adjectives. (See also: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatball and Pickles to Pittsburgh.)

Goats roaming through libraries, giraffes sitting in movie theaters, and porcupines riding in subways are some of the silly things featured in this amusing tale.

A young child ruminates on the favorite weather of ten different animals.

Oliver the cat investigates the things that lurk in the alluring shadows of a night time garden.

Bear's efforts to keep out visitors to his house are undermined by a very persistent mouse.

Sara’s Russian grandmother insists she wants no presents for her birthday, so Sara and her family search for the perfect, “no present.” (Sequel: When Catherine the Great and I Were Eight!)

When his prospective victims ignore him because they are engrossed in their books, a wolf decides to learn to read himself.

Devoted to making lists about everything in his life, Wallace the mouse discovers the joys of spontaneity and adventure when he becomes friends with his neighbor Albert.

Rhyming text reveals the surprising ways that teachers behave when their students are not at school.

In this take on the well-known cumulative rhyme, a teacher inadvertently swallows a flea, then follows it with an assortment of classroom pets while her students look on in surprise.

After working together to obtain honey, the African honey badger always shares it with his partner, the honeyguide bird, until one day when the honey badger becomes greedy and his feathered friend decides to teach him a lesson. (See also: Berlioz the Bear, Comet’s Nine Lives, Hedgie’s Surprise, The Hat, and Daisy Comes Home.)

Although his mother is a little worried, a young boy is delighted to discover that every shop in town is giving away real dinosaurs to their customers.

When only an alphabetic variety of vegetables remain in the house for Kitty to eat, she responds by unleashing a veritable A to Z of woe upon her owners. (Sequel: Bad Kitty Gets a Bath.)

An introduction to six-year-old Melvin Bubble as presented by his family, friends, and others. (See also: Boing!)

After Mrs. Seahorse lays her eggs on Mr. Seahorse's belly, he drifts through the water, greeting other fish fathers who are taking care of their eggs.

Henry tells his mother that he did not like his first day of first grade, but as he describes what he did and learned, he begins to realize that he might enjoy it after all. (Previous title: Look out Kindergarten, Here I Come. Sequels: Henry’s Amazing Imagination and Henry and the Valentine Surprise.)

Raised from an egg by Mother Duck, Guji Guji is quite content with his life as a duckling, despite the fact that he doesn’t look anything like his brothers. Then one fateful day he meets up with three nasty, grinning creatures who not only convince him that he is, like them, a crocodile, but also try to persuade him to deliver his fat, delicious duck relatives for their dinner!

A plain brown rat longs for three things: a home, an owner and most of all a name. So, he sets out to secure all three.

The quietest kid in her class, Lili is so shy that her voice is never heard in class until the day a good friend needs her help.

Detective Doggedly persistently attempts to track down the Big Bad Wolf. (See also: Olive and the Magic Hat, Jerome Camps Out, The Great Pig Escape, and The Great Pig Search.)

Upon moving to a new house, young Caroline and her parents encourage wildflowers to grow and birds and animals to stay in their yard, which soon has the whole suburban street living up to its name.

Most people leave the park when rain begins to fall, while others enjoy the sights, sounds, and feel of the cool water--until thunder and lightening come near.

Cronin, Doreen. Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type, 2000.

Farmer Brown hears a clickety-clack coming from the barn and discovers that his cows are typing him messages demanding better working conditions. (Sequels: Giggle, Giggle Quack, Duck for President, Dooby, Dooby Moo, and Thump, Quack, Moo: A Whacky Adventure.)

A worm adorned in a baseball cap, relates the ups and downs of his daily life. (See also: Diary of a Spider and Diary of a Fly.)

Groundhog doesn’t want to hibernate, so he frolics through the fall but ends up cold, hungry and lonely in the winter. He tricks his friends by declaring the arrival of spring early so they will share their feast with him, but when they discover it, they prepare a trick for him as well.

In South Africa, Jamela falls in love with the new fabric for Mama’s dress, but when she gets it stained during her imaginative play, no one is happy with her. (See also: Papa Lucky’s Shadow. Sequels: What’s Cooking Jamela, Where’s Jamela, and Happy Birthday, Jamela!)

Sarah Jane has some worries about the first day of school but when she finally makes it, readers are in for a surprise. (Sequels: First Year Letters and Last Day Blues.)

A witch makes room for an assortment of animals on her broom but when a frog accidentally snaps it in two, the animals must rescue the witch.

A bilingual boy and his father, who only speaks Spanish, spend a day together sharing stories, laughter, adventure, and hugs.

Hunter the raccoon irritates his bossy older sister by repeating everything she says, but when Glenna has a tree-climbing accident, Hunter's copycat behavior saves the day.

Stella is distressed because she cannot find her library book and the townsfolk join in the search to help her locate it. (See also: When Bluebell Sang, Walter’s Tail, The Letters Are Lost, Goldilocks Returns, and Wake up, It’s Spring!)

When George’s mother instructs him to bark, he tries to comply, but every time the canine opens his mouth, a different animal sound comes out.

Miss Malarkey vows to find each of her students a book to love by the end of the school year, but one video-game loving boy proves to be a challenge. (Previous titles: Miss Malarkey Doesn’t Live in Room 10, Miss Malarkey Won’t Be in Today, Testing Miss Malarkey, You’re a Good Sport Miss Malarke, and Miss Malarkey’s Field Trip.)

In post World War II Holland, Katje receives a relief box from Rosie in the US, and this begins the sending of supplies that helps the townspeople survive the winter (based on a true story).

A young boy sees such fearsome and exotic creatures as a cobra, gorillas, and crocodiles when he goes on safari.

I.Q. is the class rodent that Mrs. Furber brings to school in September. He is not content to simply be the class pet, he wants to be a star pupil. (Sequels: I. Q. Goes to the Library; I. Q., It’s Time; and I. Q. Gets Fit.)

A wombat relates her week of antics as she becomes chummy with her human neighbors. (Sequel: How to Scratch a Wombat.)

A visit from Sam's baby brother to Mr. Judd's class prompts all of the children to bring in their baby pictures and share them with the class, and when they see Mr. Judd's baby picture, they realize that everyone starts out as a baby!

Wanting to keep his sister safe from all the elements that could do her harm, like monsters and beasts, young Ben fearlessly takes on all the challenges of the day to complete his task and live up to his courageous reputation.

Illustrations and rhyming text explore the sights and sounds of nature in each season of the year.

When Will is the only one who notices a bird with a broken wing in a city full of hurried people, he takes it home and cares for it, hoping in time it will be able to return to the sky.

Best friends Randolph, a beaver, and Ivy, a goose, do everything together until Ivy is invited to a girls-only birthday sleepover party and Randolph, full of bad feelings, tries to spoil her fun.

Miss Mingo helps all of the animal students in her class overcome their shyness on the first day of school by encouraging them to share something special about themselves.  Includes facts about animals.

When her teacher announces that he is getting married, Lilly the mouse sets her heart on being the flower girl at his wedding. (Previous title: Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. See also: A Weekend with Wendell; Sheila Rae, the Brave; Chester’s Way; Jessica; Julius, the Baby of the World; Chrysanthemum; Wemberly Worried; and Owen.)

There once was a boy, a rabbit, a magic seed, and a book. The boy, who was bored, went looking for something to do. The rabbit, who was curious, explored until he was lost. The seed was thirsty, but soon it grew and grew and grew.

Summer in the city is hot, hot, hot, and Tessie rejoices when rain showers down on them at last.

The hard-working daughter of two bakers and a perfectly nice stray dog live lonely lives in the same town, until they meet one very stormy day.

Duck and Goose learn to work together to take care of a ball, which they think is an egg. (Sequel: Duck, Duck, Goose.)

Six days a week the chickens help the Greenstalk family and their animals recover from mishaps that occur on the farm, but they need one day to rest.

When Sara Ann brings home three little kittens, Katie the pooch is so excited that she can't stop chasing after them, but when they become frightened and start to run away, Katie has to find a way to reassure them that she only wants to play!

Thirteen short stories feature text that is engagingly designed for an adult and child to read together. (Sequels: Very Short Fairy Tales to Read Together, Very Short Mother Goose Tales to Read Together, and Very Short Scary Stories to Read Together.)

Celebrates people's diversity, discusses race, and examines identity through vibrant illustrations and simple rhyming tales that encourage self-awareness and pride in one's self.

Horace, Morris and Dolores, a trio of mice who are best friends, have loads of fun together until the boys join a club that does not allow girls. (Sequels: Horace and Morris Join the Chorus (But What About Dolores? and Horace and Morris Say Cheese (Which Makes Dolores Sneeze!) )

Deciding to venture out of their toy box and go to the land of Somewhere, stuffed dog Woggy and his pal wooden airplane, Cosmos, take to the skies, flying over rooftops and traveling to a land high above where they meet the Cloud Monster and end up in an adventure of a lifetime!

A trio of jazz musicians wake the neighborhood with music in 1930’s Harlem.

When three ducklings wander far from home, the older two convince the youngest to play, “one step,” to make it home safely.

Even before Baby Brains is born, Mr. and Mrs. Brains spent a great deal of time reading, singing, and instructing their unborn child in the hopes of giving it a good start in the world, but once their child was born, the Brain family got much more than they had expected when Baby Brains turned out to be the smartest baby in all the world! (Sequels: Baby Brains Superstar and Baby Brains and Robomom.)

Stranded on the moon after his extraordinary airplane takes him into outer space, a boy meets a marooned young Martian with a broken spacecraft, and the two new friends work together to return to their respective homes.

A little girl tells about the special kitchen window at her beloved Nanny and Poppy's house from which a person can see anyone or anything coming and going. (Sequel: Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie.)

Moko the dog loves his life with Michelle until she reads him a book about wolves. Then he decides it would be better to be wild and free. He runs away but learns that maybe being on his own in the wild isn’t the place for him.

Bored with eating apples, worms, and roots, hungry Badger pronounces that he is so hungry he could "eat a horse," yet when his words are overheard by a nearby horse, Badger knows he will have to set the record straight to put his four-legged friend's mind at ease.

After playing in the snow all day, Annie realizes that she’s lost a mitten and sets off to locate it.

Pearl has new skates. They are shiny white with red tassels, and she loves them. Will Pearl ever skate in real life the way she skates in her dreams?

Realizing that she will be the next chicken chosen for the special of the day at the Cock-a-Doodle-Doo café, Pauline Poulet makes a run for it the minute the cage is open and squawks for her life as she is chased, dunked, and spun around while attempting to make her big escape!

When Clorinda the cow discovers ballet, she dreams of becoming a bovine ballerina. (Sequel: Clorinda Takes Flight.)

Sam, a mouse who lives in the library, leaves his stories in different parts of the library for humans to find.

A lion starts visiting the local library but runs into trouble as he tries to both obey the rules and help his librarian friend.

Chaos ensues when Z thinks that its time for him to go first in the alphabet for a change.

Mavis wants to be the person who makes wishes come true. She practices waving a magic wand and winking in the mirror until she meets Cindy, the new girl in school who could really use her help.

At the end of the day, while Farmer Joe gets ready for bed, his animals tune their instruments to perform in a big concert as a rock band called Punk Farm. (Sequel: Punk Farm Tour.)

Three stories delineating the relationship between two fox sisters. Zelda, the oldest, is always the boss and Ivy always the one who gets to do whatever Zelda dreams up. (Sequels: Zelda and Ivy and the Boy Next Door; Zelda and Ivy One Christmas; and Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways.)

A girl imagines what her cat would tell her about its exotic travels to such places as the foggy English coast, Spanish bullfights, and an art gallery in Montmartre, France.

Betsy tries valiantly to protect her sheep but a wolf tricks her into blowing her whistle for help. When, eventually, no help comes, Betsy discovers another way to solve her difficulties.

Being the new girl at school and not knowing anyone, Lissy decides to make a collection of paper friends, but when the origami birds and animals come to life and venture out into the world, Lissy knows it is time to find real friends of her own.

A group of fun-loving children play throughout the summer day. (See also: The Eyes of the Gray Wolf; Like Butter on Pancakes; Fireflies, Fireflies, Light My Way; Ice Bear and Little Fox; Baby Whale’s Journey; and When the Fireflies Come.)

Jeremy becomes a buccaneer and discovers the ups and downs of being a pirate. When he decides it’s time to head for home he convinces the pirates to bury their treasure in his backyard and makes it home it time for soccer practice. (Sequel: Pirates Don’t Change Diapers.)

Shy Halibut Jackson rarely ventures far from home, but when he does, he is always camouflaged to match his surroundings until the day he attends the queen’s party and miscalculates what to wear.

A poor family is searching down the back of a chair for Dad's lost car keys and, miraculously in the mess of things back there, their financial problems are solved. (See also: Dashing Dog and The Rattlebang Picnic.)

Velma starts first grade in the shadow of her memorable older sisters, and while her newfound interest in butterflies helps her to stand out, it also leads to an interesting complication.

In Victorian England, Charlotte likes to take her teddy bear and play in the mud or climb trees, and she takes her new porcelain doll, Dahlia, with her.

A first grader is frightened on her first day of school after hearing a rumor that her teacher is a 300-year-old alien with a purple tongue who steals baby teeth from her students.

Best friends and roommates Sylvie the rabbit and True the water snake live happily in their apartment in the big city and, despite their differences, find ways to share in the interests they have in common, like bowling and going out to eat. (See also: Santa’s Book of Names, Edward and the Pirates and Edward in the Jungle.)

Justine is so small, everyone calls her "Just Teenie," but one day she receives a plant that grows so tall, it gives her a different perspective.

Moses and his classmates, who are all deaf, attend a concert. They sit up front where they can feel the percussion instruments and later meet their teacher’s friend, the percussionist, who is also deaf. (Sequels: Moses Goes to School, Moses Goes to the Circus, and Moses Sees a Play.)

Ranch hand, Joe Cinders, thinks he has far too many chores to do to go to the fiesta until a mysterious stranger gives him some magical help.

When her neighbor, Mrs. Muddle, creates a unique--and fun--holiday for each month, Katie comes up with a special holiday of her own that leads to the biggest celebration her neighborhood has ever seen.

Kate encounters an old woman at the top of the beanstalk who tells her she must recover the treasures the giant stole and return them to their rightful owner.

Willy and Wally, two big bad wolves, disguise themselves as sheep to catch their dinner, but Betty Mutton and Meryl Sheep aren’t as easy to deceive as the wolves hope. (Sequel: Bad Boys Get Cookie!)

Three billy goats, unable to cross a bridge because they cannot pay the toll, form a car pool with The Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack of beanstalk fame to get past the rude Troll. (See also: Mary Had a Little Ham, The Perfect Pet, Earthquack, and Moo Who?)

After they all agree to ignore the story of "The Farmer in the Dell," the rat, cat, dog, child, farmer, and his wife have a party featuring the tempting hunk of cheese.

Paul, Ann Whitford. Count on Culebra: Go from 1 to 10 in Spanish, 2008.

When Iguana stubs her toe and cannot make her popular candies known as cactus butter dulces, Culebra the rattlesnake finds a cure that introduces the Spanish words for the numbers from one to ten.

(Previous titles: Maana Iguana and Fiesta Fiasco.)
Paye, Won-Ldy. Mrs. Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile, 2003.

When the crocodile captures Mrs. Chicken, she concocts a story to convince him to let her go.

Drew A. Blank forgets to bring to school the things he needs for pajama day and uses his imagination to come up with inventive substitutions. (See also: School Picture Day, Teacher Appreciation Day, Book Fair Day, Science Fair Day and Book Fair Day.)

Violet has a great new backpack with wheels and zippers, but when the many pockets distract and cause her to misplace her homework she tells a lie to cover it up, so the teacher gives her an even harder assignment.

When his favorite tree begins to lose its leaves in the autumn, Fletcher the fox worries that it is sick, but instead a magical sight is in store for him. (Sequel: Fletcher and the Springtime Blossums.)

Farmer Nuthatch’s chickens grow bored with their ordinary feed. Their rooster, who has been watching cooking shows, comes to the rescue with some Southwestern cuisine. (Sequel: Buffalo Wings.)

Two girls named Shakeeta and Mia become friends when Shakeeta boasts that she has a pet iguana and Mia learns how to help Shakeeta "feel at home" even when she is in school.

As four kittens who have never seen winter watch the seasons pass, three of them declare the reasons they will dislike snow when it arrives, while the fourth cannot wait to experience it for himself.

When the emperor in ancient Peking dies, the imperial elephant is inconsolable. Sing Lo emerges from his selfishness to try to bring comfort to the royal creature.

When Annalisa refuses to kiss the cow, the cow refuses to give milk.

Determined to get over her shyness, multi-talented Amandina prepares for her own big show by renting a theater, setting up the stage, and sending out the invitations, but when it appears that no one has shown on the big night, Amandina carries on like a pro and gets quite a surprise in the end.

Puppy Gracie Rose is not happy when noisy painters disturb her peaceful home, so when they put her outside for barking, she decides to dash through the open gate, causing the whole town to run after her. (See also: The Relatives Came, Night in the Country, Mr. Griggs’ Work, The Bookshop Dog, The Ticky-Tacky Doll, and The Whale.)

Donning their coats and mittens, a young girl, her friend, and grandmother partake in an array of fun activities during a crisp winter's day as snow falls from the sky, lands on the trees, covers the ground, and coats their whole world in a brilliant sheet of glistening white.

Skippyjon Jones, a Siamese kitten, imagines he is a doggy Zorro with chaotic results. (Sequels: Skippyjon Jones in the Dog House, Skippyjon Jones in Mummy Trouble, Skippyjohn Jones and the Big Dig. and Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones. See also: Grannyman.)

Scotton, Rob. Splat the Cat, 2008.

On Splat the cat's first day of school, he brings along his pet mouse, Seymour, just in case he doesn't make any new friends, but when Seymour escapes from Splat's lunchbox and chaos ensues. (Sequel: Love Splat.)

A good-natured monster thinks a pie made out of flies would be a good dessert, and invites all his friends and relatives over to try it.

When B.B. Wolf, who now lives in the Villain Villa Retirement Residence, is invited to the library for a storybook tea, he is careful to follow the advice of his crocodile friend and impresses everyone with how polite he can be.

Camilla Cream’s concern with what everyone else thinks leads her to breakout into stripes and that is only the beginning of her skin’s changing patterns. It doesn’t stop until she does something simply because she loves it even though no one else does. (See also: The Rain Came Down.)

While picnicking a family befriends a charming pup and when they return to the same spot a week later, they decide to adopt him, saving him from the dogcatcher. (See also: The Goose That Almost Got Cooked.)

The Blue Fairy has turned Pinocchio into a real boy, but she did it in the middle of the night so no one realizes it, not even Pinocchio. This creates problems for him as he searches the town for some soup for an ailing Geppetto.

Mrs. Biddlebox wakes up on the wrong side of the bunk, but with a little bit of magic cookery, she transforms the day.

Goldie, who likes everything to be just right, is really looking for a friend when she wanders into the house of the three bears.

A tennis ball lands in a prairie dog hole and they all want a share of the fuzz. (See also: Tops and Bottoms.)

A child describes pleasant ways to stay warm during the winter, from sipping hot chocolate and eating grilled cheese sandwiches to wearing wooly sweaters and sitting near a glowing fireplace.

Elizabeti, a Tanzanian village girl, longs for a doll to care for the way her mother cares for her new brother, so she select a smooth stone to be her doll. (See also: Elizabeti’s School, Mama Elizabeti, and Babu’s Song.)

Before alarm clocks were invented, people where paid to be “knocker-ups,” and this is Mary Smith’s job. Early in the morning she makes her way from house to house, shooting dried peas at windows to wake the inhabitants (based on a true story).

An inquisitive feline walks through the rooms of a house, jumping into one mess after another, before landing in the loving arms of its owner.

Old Cricket gets out of his chores by pretending to be ailing but when Old Crow tries to snap him up for dinner, his injuries are real enough. (See also: Turk and Runt; Sailor Moo; and Porcupining.)

Fifteen felines find themselves marooned on an island and are not sure what to do.

The meat-eating dinosaurs challenge the plant-eating dinosaurs to a hockey match.

In this folktale, the spirited Beatrice outwits the giant to help her family. (Sequels: Clever Beatrice and the Best Little Pony and A Clever Beatrice Christmas.)

Sammy hates lima beans and buries them in a vacant lot to avoid eating them. Soon all the neighborhood children do likewise with their unwanted vegetables, but unbeknownst to them, they are creating a monster.

The adventures of a boy and his dragon friend are recounted in this classic song from the 1960s.