A prairie chicken named Mary McBlinken, “heard a rumbling and a grumbling and a tumbling” fearing that “a stampede’s a comin’!” Others join her to alert Cowboy Stan and Red Dog Dan to the impending danger. Almost sidetracked by a tricky coyote, Stan and Dan save the day and stop the rumbling of Mary’s tummy. A take-off of “Chicken Little” is made even more humorous by rib-tickling illustrations.
Prairie Chicken Little
In 1741, mean-hearted John Leep set out to evict a tenant on Friday, October 13th on a cold and very dark evening. As Leep clip-clops to the widow’s house on his horse, hoof beats are matched by an unseen rider to and from the house. Dark, dramatic illustrations enhance the truly spooky story with an unexpected ending sure to make readers or listeners jump.
Ol’ Clip-Clop: A Ghost Story
When Nelly May takes a job as housekeeper for Lord Ignasius Pinkwinkle, she must learn a new vocabulary. Lord Pinkwinkle becomes “Most Excellent of All Masters,” his bed a “restful slumberific” and so on — until she must put it all together to save the Master and his home. Jauntily illustrated, a fresh version of an old English tale is sure to engage children.
Nelly Has Her Say
Two friendless creatures with “brains no bigger than a pebble” vow not to hurt the other. But when the crocodile takes the scorpion to the other side of the river, there is little doubt that they both wind up at the bottom of the “big, brilliant blue river.” A brief telling of a little-known fable combines with abstract, angular and brilliantly colored illustrations for a memorable tale.
The Crocodile and the Scorpion
Little Chick is not distracted like his mother, Mama Nsoso. He only chases tasty treats after their ilome, a warm new home of grass and mud, for his family is complete. This lively telling based on a fable told by Nkundo people of Central Africa is illustrated with swirling, animated illustrations, complementing the alliterative, onomatopoeic language.
Busy-Busy Little Chick
Musa ventures out alone for the first time to collect firewood, where a loud noise and the dark forest frighten him. A squirrel and a cow calm the panicky boy who returns home safely without any wood — but with a good story to tell. Highly stylized folk art effectively conveys Musa’s emotions in a fast-paced story and introducing a tradition of central India.
Alone in the Forest
Charles Darwin came across a distinctive frog in Chile during his ventures on the Beagle. The exceptional characteristics and the mysteries it created are presented in engaging text, photographs and notable, realistic collage illustrations. Additional resources are included.
The Mystery of Darwin’s Frog
The strength of Spiderman’s web wasn’t far from reality. Biologist Randy Lewis’ work proves it. A highly readable text and captivating photographs make a complicated topic, related issues, and current research understandable for sophisticated readers of all ages.
Stronger than Steel
Poems intended for two voices celebrate nature and how its creatures are interrelated. Seeds helicopter, hitchhike and travel by bird; worms snack; snails leave trails and more in playful verses made more accessible by the large, colorful, almost whimsical illustrations.
Seeds, Bees, Butterflies and More! Poems for Two Voices
Like most snakes, pythons are often vilified. Realistic watercolors, however, of a Diamond Python (native to Australia) and informative text present a slice of her life from warming in the sun to hatching eggs — and, of course hunting and eating.
Python
Interesting factual tidbits inspired imaginative animal portraits. The strong graphic design on large pages encourages close reading so that “while the creatures …may look a little silly, they are all based on real animal facts.”
Paul Thurlby’s Wildlife
Meet different kinds of monkeys — all of which come in many colors — shown in crisply lined, full-color illustration and brief text. Additional information about each of the 12 monkeys introduced and a world map concludes this brief, enticing introduction.
Monkey Colors
In one lifetime, creatures presented will grow or show one behavior repeatedly. Limited text combines with textured illustration to reveal these estimates from one papery spider egg sac to a thousand baby seahorses. Animal and math information conclude this unique glimpse of animals.
Lifetime: The Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives
Meet a panda, moon bear, sloth bear, sun bear, and other kinds (plus a teddy bear) in simple rhyming text and gentle illustrations. Bear facts and where to find additional information conclude this easy informational picture book.
If You Were a Panda Bear
Rhythmic text and lush illustrations invite young readers (or listeners) to eat like a bear from April until midwinter. Textured illustrations and more thorough backmatter conclude this engaging introduction to brown bears and their habitat.
Eat Like a Bear
Bats come in different sizes with different characteristics but each serves a particular purpose. Crisp photographs and lucid writing provide a riveting introduction to these often maligned creatures.
Bats: Biggest! Littlest!
With simple words and clear pictures, this bilingual picture-book biography introduces young readers to the Mexican American leader who led the labor struggle of poor migrant farm workers. Beginning with Chavez’s early childhood on his parents’ farm in Arizona, the biography tells of the family’s time as migrant workers during the Depression, and then of Chavez’s long years working to organize the United Farm Workers and fight violence and discrimination. Inspired by Gandhi, Chavez always insisted on nonviolence, and the stirring pages show him on a hunger strike and leading labor strikes and boycotts.
Cesar Chavez: A Struggle for Justice / César Chávez: La lucha por la justicia
On the first day of school, Josephine must tell her new classmates in the Bronx about her native Italy. Even though she understands English, she keeps thinking of the words in Italian! Based on the childhood experiences of the author, this book offers a tribute to the many immigrant children who have built a new life in this country — in English, of course.
In English, of Course
Este es un cuento sobre Josephine quien había emigrado de Napoli, Italia a Nueva York. Cuando Josephine empezó su año escolar en los Estados Unidos su primer ejercicio fue de describir de dónde era. Josephine todavía estaba aprendiendo el inglés y trataba de enfocarse en lo que los otros estudiantes decían sobre sus países. Cuando le tocó a Josephine hablar de su país, ella se dio cuento que no sabía las palabras para poder expresar lo que quería decir. Finalmente, Josephine comenzó a hacer pantomimas de lo que le sucedió en Italia, mientras que el maestro le proveía con las palabras necesarias para completar su historieta.
Este libro demuestra la importancia de que los niños se diviertan y que hablen sin sentir vergüenza, aunque lo que digan no tenga mucho sentido. Dejando la vergüenza de lado, Josephine aprendió muchas palabras nuevas en su primer día de clases y también aprendió a tener mejor autoestima. Este es un buen libro para que usted le lea a sus hijos, pues les enseña a jugar con el lenguaje que aún están adquiriendo.
En inglés, por supuesto
This book is about a girl named Erin who dreams that she has a vegetable garden. She finds a friendly neighbor, Mr. Martinez, who decides to plant a garden with her. As their vegetables grow, so does their friendship. This story is a great example of a wonderful summer adventure in which two people get to share their individual cultures and gain a great deal more than a flourishing garden.
Vegetable Dreams/Huerto Soñado
Benny
Don Pedro and his family make skeletons for el Día de los Muertos celebration in Mexico City. When the papier-mache Calaveras go to market on fiesta day, each skeleton acts out a letter of the alphabet. Richly toned illustrations in an appealing folk art style introduce the alphabet — from ángel to zapatero. This handsome book concludes with an alphabet glossary and a brief explanation of the Spanish alphabet.