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Experience the explosion of color and movement of jazz as you pulsate with its beat in a vibrant series of poems and paintings. This father-and-son team explores a variety of jazz forms in an unforgettable book.

In 2008, the first Odyssey Award (opens in a new window) for distinguished children’s/young adult audiobook was presented to this read-along title. This package brings together the illustrations of the book with the featured Jazz music.

Ruby Lu is an exuberant second grader who takes her responsibility to help her cousin transition from China to his new school in America. Unfortunately, it lands both children in summer school where Ruby remains daunted by a long book. The humor lies in the ordinary of a likeable, effusive child who just happens to be Chinese American.

Henry and Chin both live in San Francisco, both are about eight years old, both adore “penny dreadfuls,” and both survive the 1906 earthquake. Chapters alternate between Henry and Chin’s narrations to provide a look at what happened in very different parts of the city on that fateful day. The story of destruction and survival is told from the perspective of two young boys.

Blackbeard’s story is “a tale to billow a pirate’s sail!” Told here in a series of poems, including brief bits of factual information and dramatic images, this is a book that will capture the imagination of any pirate enthusiast. An author’s note provides additional information, a timeline and sources for what we know about this fierce pirate.

Once, long ago, a young man named John Chapman traveled the United States. Not only did he like being with his own thoughts, he liked apples and so helped plant apple trees wherever he traveled gaining a nickname and planting seeds for an orchard of stories. Johnny Appleseed comes alive in simple but expressive illustrations showing how one person can change the look of a country.

In rhymes that are meant to be shared aloud, Annie and her brother, Alfie, share the everyday pleasures of childhood presented in playful language and true-to-life illustrations. The siblings joyfully make a huge difference to each other and their family in everyday activities.

It’s time for Carnival! Three short stories in this Easy Reader present the adventures shared by Rafi and Rosi, charming and mischievous young tree frogs who are brother and sister, and live in Puerto Rico. The stories include young Rosi dressing up in “Queen for a Day,” as well as Rafi’s “magical” periscope, used to watch the Carnival parade. Children and adults alike will enjoy the amusing experiences of these two siblings, as well as the cheerful and colorful illustrations. Spanish version also available.

To escape the coming conflict, young Soo leaves North Korea without her mother. Though her mother plans to join Soo and her father, the Korean War begins and Soo has only memories of her mother’s bravery. Darkly hued illustrations combine with the lyrical narrative in this story based on the authors’ own family.

Henry and Mudge visit Henry’s Great Grandpa Bill in his home with all the other old grandpas, bringing slobbery kisses, great joy, and lots of energy. Together, the Great Grandpas along with Henry and his dad go swimming and lean on Mudge — literally — when they get tired proving that even a big, wet dog can make a difference!

When a tsunami orphans a young hippopotamus, a group of concerned Malidi (on the east coast of Kenya) villagers figure out how to capture the 600 pound baby thus beginning his new life in an animal sanctuary with a new and unlikely companion — a 130 year old tortoise named Mzee. Full color photographs and straightforward text are used in this inspiring, appealing and true story told first by a young girl and her father.

Scieszka has collected short stories with special appeal to guys; after all, they were written by guys! In this collection, readers will learn about guys who write for guys who read &mdash and love to laugh (and occasionally get grossed out), including a Scieszka family story.

When paired for a class trip, Chipmunk gets on the bad side of the school bully, Joe Sweety. When Sweety decides it’s time for payback, Chipmunk’s friend Bernie Bridges comes up with a plan to stop him and save his Rotten School buddy from harm. Kids will enjoy this slightly spooky and deliciously funny edition in the Rotton School Series.

What could be grosser than a cockroach on a pizza? A cockroach on a pizza in the Oval Office in the White House! That’s just where young Wilky, struck with wanderlust, finds himself — setting off a Presidential chase with international implications. Cartoon art and sophisticated humor create an urbane look at pests in the White House.

What makes YOU grumpy? Is it opening a birthday present and finding UNDERWEAR? (Oh, poop!) Is it getting a sloppy smooch from your aunt? (Oh, yuck!) Is it when your peas get into the GRAVY? (Oh, gross!) Playful illustrations and a humorous text capture the essence of the gross grumpies for kids of all ages.

William Archibald Spooner was really a professor at Oxford University (England) who was known for his wit and brains and was notorious for flip-flopping the initial sounds of words. This makes an intelligent man a “fart smeller” and complimenting a little girl with “dirty pimples.” A complete list of unscrambled answers to the questions posed is provided at the end.

Trash isn’t gross with Mr. Gilly at the wheel of the collection truck. In fact, he is proud of his job picking up the trash around town — from the school to the pizza parlor. Boldly colored illustrations and a catchy rhyme tell the story of this Trashy Town — and how we all helped make it so!

A witch with long, stringy hair and a big nose — even a cat named Fred — can’t do very scary or even remotely witchy things. So after making Fred sick from her gross and disgusting potion, she takes off her witch gloves, her witch hat, and her witch mask — to reveal a little girl beneath. This satisfying story is once again available for a new generation.

Quirky but appealing, crass but informative, Dr. Dog is the Gumboyle family’s pet beagle who provides health advice when they most need it, such as “don’t scratch your bum and suck your thumb.” Dr. Dog also gives competent counsel regarding certain culinary treats and their potential impact. Gross but funny, Dr. Dog provides digestible information.

Hally is the much loved pet of the Tosis family. They love everything about her except for her bad breath which may bring their happy days as a family to an end — that is until Hally saves the day by bungling burglars! This pun-filled text teams with laughs that come in a variety of smells.

What icky creature looks the same from both ends? The worm, of course! For the first time ever, get the insider’s view of life from this creepy crawler’s perspective. He lives underground with his family, eats his homework and does his best to annoy his sister — documenting it all in a diary. Simple illustrations are the ideal complement to the understated humor (though nonetheless laugh-out-loud tone) of the text.

Ever tried to cram something in too small a space before you know if you can get it out — like a lima bean up your nose? Well, that’s just one of many really bad ideas presented in this very engaging book. Textured, high energy illustrations make the bad ideas and their unfortunate consequences virtually leap across the pages.

This collection offers children an introduction to poetry through rich imagery and vivid illustrations. The stream-of-consciousness style sticks to familiar childhood themes to keep children engaged.

Each poem, told from the point of view of a young child, speaks to childhood dreams, fears and perceptions, and to the realities of growing up Black in America. This old favorite is becoming a top choice for a new generation of readers.