Book Finder

Where do you find needles? All over the world, of course! Readers will recognize many things in these stories from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and other Central Asian countries where stories, riddles, and more are told at mealtimes to feed the soul as well as the body. As with many folktales, readers recognize what they share with people in another part of the world while celebrating what makes them unique.

Striking illustrations highlight the drama of this Chinese version of Red Riding Hood. Instead of one girl, three sisters confront and ultimately confound the fearsome, hungry wolf who pretends to be the girls’ grandmother.

Read about Jack and the famous beanstalk, how Jack stopped folk from dying, and more — all with a distinctive Appalachian flair. This collection is meant to be shared aloud, sure to delight listeners (and readers) of all ages.

BaMusa takes a break from selling his hats — only to have them stolen by mischievous monkeys. Told in rhythmic language sprinkled with words from Mali, BaMusa’s work to retrieve his hats is illustrated with strong line and bold form.

The tale of herdsman Ki-pat is set on a dry African plain and is told in the familiar cadence of “The House that Jack Built”. Animals are introduced, tension builds and the resolution pours forth as the rhyme builds. Stylized illustrations create place and mood in this engaging verse.

Ashpet is “hired out” and makes her employers jealous because of her loveliness. But she gets help from old granny to attend the church social and finds a way to get the attention of the doctor’s son — a fine young man. This distinctive Appalachian version of Cinderella creates its unique setting in jaunty language and comic illustrations of a plucky, bright heroine.

Andy helps an escaped circus lion by removing a thorn from his paw. This simple act of kindness — and bravery — done by a boy on his way to school is rewarded by friendship and loyalty. Limited color and strong line combine with lively language in this very American version of an old fable attributed to Aesop.

Ferdinand is not an ordinary bull. Instead of kicking and fighting and butting heads like the other young bulls, he prefers to sit and smell the flowers. When Ferdinand unwittingly sits on a bee while men are searching for the fiercest bull for the bullfights in Madrid, his dramatic reaction gets him chosen! Black and white illustrations and understated text create humor and a message of nonviolence.

From huffing and puffing to “chinny-chin-chin” hair, this retelling of the familiar folktale keeps all the standard lines while textual asides and cartoon illustrations create a fresh and comic angle.

Peter’s disobedience almost gets him cooked while his siblings, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail enjoy a tasty supper in this timeless and satisfying tale. Potter’s carefully detailed and highly realistic illustrations amplify the fantasy and dramatize Peter’s possible consequences.

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the classic story of Harold, who turns an ordinary walk into an extraordinary adventure! With his purple crayon and vivid imagination, he draws his way into and out of trouble. Simple line drawings — including lines from Harold’s crayon — complement the simple text, for a story that celebrates creativity and problem solving using a tool with which every child is familiar!

Chibi is a young boy who is excluded on the playground because he is different — he has autism. His peers only discover their admiration for him after a wise, nurturing teacher encourages his unique talent in connecting with animals. Subtle illustrations evoke Japan’s countryside and traditional art.

Milne’s classic books, Winnie-the-Pooh and House at Pooh Corner are brought together in one volume. Short, episodic chapters and playful language punctuated with Ernest Shepard’s line drawings make this an ideal read-aloud that can be read over time.

A traditional tale has set in China as three Zen monks come to a remote village where residents are wary of strangers. The villagers gradually add ingredients to the initial soup the monks begin from a stone, building a community feast. Radiant illustrations successfully recast the tale.

A turkey hatches from a found egg, creating great anticipation by an old woman and her cat. They look forward to a yummy Thanksgiving dinner of roast turkey! The happy ending is as humorous as it is tasty; the friends all gratefully share their vegetarian meal together.

Take a culinary tour around the world, with foods and activities from a variety of countries and cultures. Each recipe is ranked for difficulty, and is sometimes a familiar dish with an exotic name!

From soup to desserts, this book introduces the reader to a wide variety of recipes. There is something for the novice as well as the skilled cook — and the adventurous as well as the finicky eater! Information on safety and nutrition are included in this appetizing presentation.

A Chinese family goes out for dim sum (“little dishes”), choosing their favorites off the restaurant cart and sharing with each other. The illustrations evoke the textures and patterns in this traditional meal, and an endnote provides background on the cultural history and customs surrounding dim sum.

The Little Red Hen’s grandson, a fine rooster, finds her cookbook and decides to cook up a special treat with the help of some unusual farm animals including a pot-bellied pig and an iguana. Lively language and funny illustrations show how everyone enjoys the fruits of their labor. Their strawberry shortcake recipe is included, so readers can try it, too!

Pecos Bill could tame ’most anything in the Wild West — at least until he came up against a gal called Slewfoot Sue and a horse named Lightning. Steven Kellogg’s signature style is ideal for this funny glimpse of a tall tale hero in the pioneer days of the old West.

Paul Bunyan and his ox named Babe are larger than life tall tale heroes — who quite literally helped shape the American landscape. The huge lumberjack is introduced through animated illustrations and lively language as he creates the Grand Canyon and more.

The lives of real people inspire the tales that are told about them. Retold here with humor and colorful language, the stories and people of the mountains are larger-than-life in the actions and pictures of this tall tale book.

When Kumak snags a fish — a really big fish — it takes the entire village to bring it in. This original tall tale set in the Arctic has light-hearted illustrations that add vigor and glee to the playful story.