Book Finder

Girls didn’t always have the freedom to choose what they wanted to do. This is certainly true for Callie Tate, the only girl in her family. How she follows her interests and deals with not being taken seriously is revealed in rich, well-paced language. Callie’s story started in The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate though both books can be read without the other. Both will appeal to sophisticated readers.

Pearl, a bonnet-wearing pig in pink, finds a magic bone that fell from a witch’s basket. Can she and the magic bone save Pearl from the jaws of a hungry fox? Cartoon illustration and exceptional language make this a must to read aloud.

Clementine hates change. And there’s a lot of change about to happen: summer is approaching and the end of third grade means goodbye to her beloved teacher, Mr. D’Matz. Plus her family expects a new baby. Like other books in the series, this seventh and final one is sure to cause laughter as Clementine works to come out successfully on the other side of change.

Is it one story or four? Is it about cows, commuters, a thief, or a boy? Careful reading and re-reading is required to tell. Warning: it may take young readers to explain how this clever Caldecott-winning book works!

Serafina Sow returns from her retirement in the Gulf of Pasta to help her three pig offspring to defeat the big bad wolf, Tempesto. Elements of the more traditional story are here (houses of brick, straw and sticks) but made fresh and funny (such as the family business of waffle-making) in this creative recasting of an old tale illustrated in the artist’s signature style.

Tacky is an odd bird, very unlike his friends and colleagues. But it is Tacky’s peculiarities that save he and his friends from hungry predators. Humor is created by offbeat illustrations of Tacky’s behavior and clever language.

A tenacious bird finally inspires Rocket, a small white dog with black spots, to learn to read and spell. Children will empathize with Rocket as they see the expressive illustrations and hear the straightforward telling showing the passage of seasons but Rocket’s gradual ability to read.

Ahmed must carry his secret with him as he does his chores throughout the bustling, colorful streets of Cairo. Later in the day with his family all around him, Ahmed shares his wonderful secret: he can write his name in Arabic. Mild tension will keep children guessing what it is that Ahmed carries with him and detailed realistic watercolors are sure to inspire discussion.

Cheerful, childlike depictions of Maria and her much loved llama set the familiar rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, in a Peruvian village. The little white llama follows Maria to school, makes the children laugh, but with a distinctive and unique setting and characters in a familiar cadence.

Little Llama Llama has a major meltdown when he tires of shopping with Mama in the shop-o-rama. But Mama Llama is smart and figures out how do end the llama drama. The rhyming text shares not only a common experience but a great deal of llama wisdom all told with good humor and rhyme.

Peekaboo! Lift the paws and what do you see? Boldly colored, textured, cuddly animals giving — and getting — soft kisses to the reader. Ideal for sharing one-on-one, this predictable, repetitious, and interactive book has become a modern classic.

What can you “peek-a” through the die-cut window? Does it “moo”, say “boo” or could it be YOU? Turn the page and find out! A predictable format and bold illustrations are sure to engage and delight.

A new baby creates lots of excitement and all the animals want to kiss the baby duckling! Black pages with bold white lines depict the animals with splashes of color to highlight the joy and a repeating text makes this just right to encourage young children.

Twelve poems for each of the four seasons come together to provide a unique perspective of the seasons.

Attractive illustration combines with wide-ranging poetry to recognize and celebrate words and language.

This collection of poems by Karla Kuskin, David McCord, and Janet Wong features rhymes about mathematics, numbers, and having fun, accompanied by illustrations in a naïve style.

Well-known figures in American history are presented by diverse poets in a range of styles, pictured in folk art style portraits. 

What do books and libraries mean to readers young or old? Fifteen poems pay tribute to just that. Poets included are generally well known and are accompanied by jaunty, playful illustrations which together are sure to please.

The charm and sensibilities the late 19th and early 20th century are captured by illustrator Jessie Willcox Smith.

Real inventions come into focus in this poetry collection, some factually, others fancifully; each is sure to make readers think anew about what is often taken for granted!

Work by both well and lesser-known poets is presented by subject for an inspiring glimpse of American history as well as varied styles of poetry complemented by bold illustrations.

Readers will recognize the emotional impact of one year in the writer’s life, a year of change, growth, pain and joy. It is presented in economical but powerful poems.

The diversity of the United States is celebrated in this collection of poems accompanied by handsome, realistic watercolors.

Won Ton the cat is back with a new arrival: a puppy! How the adult cat and small dog get on — or not — (until ultimately they learn to live in harmony) is told in haiku. The staccato language of 17 syllable form adds humor and verve to ideally complement the expressive illustrations.