Short and round, Gunner Smith didn’t look like a football player but he practiced hard enough to make third-string quarterback on his town’s Pee Wee team. Gunner gets his chance to use his arm in the championship game in this bright tale with a surprise ending.
Gunner, Football Hero
When a second guinea pig is added to keep the first classroom pet company, the animals quickly add up — until they find other homes and are subtracted. The rhyming text is as fast and funny as the animated cartoon illustrations.
Guinea Pigs Add Up
Sheep climbs on the tractor while Farmer Dougal sleeps, making the sound of the engine as he sits behind the wheel. Other farm animals join them, each adding their voices until the cacophony awakens the farmer. Colorful, comic illustration and onomatopoeia encourage participation.
The Gobble Gobble Moooo Tractor Book
When Chicken Little is bonked on the head by an acorn, the not-too-bright bird assumes that the sky is falling and so begins his journey. Along the way, he is joined by other equally clueless birds all of which are nearly eaten by a wily fox. Bold, colorful, abstract illustrations augment the humor in this simple retelling.
Chicken Little
When his mother gives away his too-small shoes, Alfie decides to runs away from home. His mother helps Alfie pack for a sojourn to his own back yard, and welcomes him home with open arms. Gentle illustrations convey Alfie’s recognizable range of emotions.
Alfie Runs Away
Young Zeus — the Greek god who grew up to rule on Mount Olympus — is introduced with contemporary language and lighthearted illustrations. The large format effectively supports the myth’s grand proportions.
Young Zeus
Bill Key, born a slave, overcame many obstacles to become a veterinarian and a businessman. Key’s horse, Jim, was eventually recognized as the world’s smartest horse and accompanied Key in his work with the Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This fascinating story is based in truth.
Wonder Horse: The True Story of the World’s Smartest Horse
A calendar is cleverly used in this story of one lone rabbit. The tale begins in January and ends a year later with a surprise popping up for the reader. Humor abounds in the asides and added-in invitations, announcements, and Fibonacci mentions in this bouncy book for sophisticated readers.
The Rabbit Problem
The rescue of a baby snow leopard named Leo found on a mountain in northern Pakistan is chronicled in handsome, well-captioned photographs and detailed text. The collaboration between Pakistan and the United States results in a new home for Leo and the possibility of new ways to help endangered animals.
The Snow Leopard: The True Story of an Amazing Rescue
One Thursday morning, Imogene wakes up with a large pair of antlers atop her head. Her mother faints but others in her privileged household find many uses for them. This funny fantasy is as fresh as when first published 25 years ago and is sure to delight a new generation of readers.
Imogene’s Antlers
The bald eagle that came to be known as Old Abe, a heroic Civil War mascot, began as a small eaglet found by Chief Sky. Old Abe’s remarkable tale is based on a true story presented in uncomplicated text and evocative watercolor and line illustration.
Old Abe, Eagle Hero: The Civil War’s Most Famous Mascot
Elsie and her father leave Boston to begin afresh after Elsie’s mother dies. Elsie takes with her a pet canary. It is Timmy Tune and a host of other animals that help Elsie turn “her house into a true prairie home.” Lyrical language and evocative watercolors tell a touching story.
Elsie’s Bird
Angelica Longrider, the “wildest wildcat in Tennessee” and larger than life (first introduced in Swamp Angel) moves to the open spaces of Montana where she finds a fine, feisty steed to be her sidekick. This original tall tale is folksy in its telling and exaggerated paintings, and sure to please.
Dust Devil
On his first day in the country, City Dog not only runs off-leash but befriends a frog. Dog and frog play through summer and remember their fun in autumn, but frog leaves in winter. Life’s cyclical nature is shown in dramatic watercolors and frank text for a moving tale.
City Dog, Country Frog
In this latest in the graphic novel series, Stone Rabbit and his friend save a homemade pizza business, defeating the incredibly speedy but totally mediocre new pizzeria, the Ninja Slice. Lots of comic book illustration and action create the book’s appeal.
Stone Rabbit: Ninja Slice
Knuffle Bunny is accidentally left on the plane when Trixie and her parents visit the grandparents in Holland. Though Trixie is miserable without her snuggle buddy, she finds him on the plane bound for home where Trixie shows remarkable growth and selflessness. A note from Daddy completes the book’s emotional circle.
Knuffle Bunny Free
Snake asks to play catch with elephant and Piggie but gets beaned by the ball as he has no arms with which to catch it. The friends come up with a creative solution for them all to play catch. Cartoon illustrations are as clear as the speech bubbles in this funny addition to the series.
Can I Play Too?
Bink and Gollie are as different as possible in appearance, likes, and styles. In spite of their dissimilar approaches, the girls remain the best of friends in what may be the first of a fresh new series.
Bink & Gollie
Babymouse is back, this time to win the contest for selling the most cupcakes in support of a new school library. As in others of the satisfying, humorous series, Babymouse’s imagined scenarios are shown in pink.
Babymouse: Cupcake Tycoon
The unexpected occurs when two lizards — one an accomplished artist, the other a beginner — begin painting. Fast-paced and often funny, the two voices of the characters are as distinct as their individual creative process. This ingenious book works on several levels.
Art and Max
The bright, lively, and one-of-a-kind girl is back, this time to find out the difference between wanting something and actually needing it. Dyamonde is caught by her own cleverness, sure to gain readers’ empathy.
Almost Zero: A Dyamonde Daniel Book
Children familiar with the traditional versions of well-known princess folktales (e.g., Cinderella, Snow White) will giggle at the clever parody that brings the stories together in this oversized book. Humor abounds in the comic book style format and in asides and comments made throughout.
There’s a Princess in the Palace: Five Classic Tales
Elinor Smith was a girl whose dream of flying was realized in the 1920s, a time when girls and women weren’t encouraged to do so. Based on a real person, Elinor’s story is well told and dramatically illustrated. Equally interesting is the author’s endnote in which she reveals how she researched this fascinating woman.
Soar, Elinor!
While looking for gold, four French boys accidentally discovered what was to be considered the best preserved and most famous prehistoric art. How the Lascaux cave was found is presented here in rich watercolors and stimulating text. The author’s note provides additional information as well as a photograph of the discoverers.