Every spring, butterflies emerge and dazzle the world with their vibrant beauty. But where do butterflies come from? How are they born? What do they eat — and how? With a simple, rhyming text and glorious color-drenched collage, Lois Ehlert provides clear answers to these and other questions as she follows the life cycle of four common butterflies. Complete with flower facts and identification tips, as well as a guide to planting a butterfly garden, this butterfly book is like no other.
Waiting for Wings
Something stunning happened in an isolated desert town in 1947 that made Roswell, New Mexico, famous. Fact and fiction about the space ship and alien sightings in Roswell are presented and put into a broader historical context. Sketches and open format help create a not-too-serious tone for this appealing book.
What Really Happened in Roswell? Just the Facts (Plus the Rumors) About UFOs and Aliens
When Everybody Wore a Hat
Recommended by Bill – This one was a favorite, not only of mine, but also of my four kids’. As we would read the poems together, we all loved the rhythm of the verse, as well as the sly humor.
Where the Sidewalk Ends
While We Were Out
White Dynamite and Curly Kidd
Who’s That Knocking on Christmas Eve?
Based on an ancient Chinese story (which pre-dates European versions), a girl overcomes her wicked stepmother to marry the prince. When Ye-Shen is forbidden to attend the annual Spring Festival, a powerful spirit grants her a gown of azure blue and delicate golden slippers. That night, everyone marvels at the beautiful, mysterious young woman at the ball. Jewel-like illustrations by Caldecott medalist Ed Young bring this variation of the classic tale to life.
Country of origin: China
Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China
On a snowy winter morning, Sam and his mom bake cakes to surprise their friends in the neighborhood. Sam delivers them all by himself — with a little encouragement from Mrs. Bear as she waits in their pick-up truck. Their morning adventure ends back home with a cake and a cup of hot cocoa for both Mrs. Bear and Sam. This reassuring story is told in gentle, engaging language supported by appealing illustrations that evoke the frosty weather.
You Can Do It, Sam
On the last page of the Caldecott-winning book Jumanji, young Danny Budwing is seen running after his brother, Walter, with a game tucked under his arm. Twenty years later, Chris Van Allsburg is ready to reveal what happens when Danny and Walter roll the dice. This time, the children face the challenges of space, time, and dimension as they read the new game cards. They journey to the planet Zathura and as ringed planets and spaceships swirl past the windows, the boys find their way to teamwork and even affection.
Zathura
When Zigby the Zebra receives a tent from his aunt Zandra, he and his friends decide to camp out in the deepest, darkest part of the jungle. When they’re frightened, cold, and hungry, they gladly accept Ella the Elephant’s offer to come home and have dinner. Zigby then finishes his campout in the safety of his own backyard. Bold color and strong line add humor to this recognizable story.
Zigby Camps Out
The robust pig first introduced in I Like Me (Viking, 1990) and her friends celebrate an alphabet soup of positive qualities and behaviors. They are awesome and brave, use imagination, and occasionally yawn as a bedtime reminder.
ABC I Like Me
In this picture book full of majestic paintings, a young boy reveals his favorite places around the family farm. When his baby sister is born, he shares with her the wonders of their surroundings.
All the Places to Love
There’s a saying that “slow but steady wins the race.” In this richly illustrated book, the saying is recast as a Tibetan tale about a boy and his reliable yak and an impatient rider on a speedy horse, both on their way to the holy city of Lhasa.
All the Way to Lhasa: A Tale from Tibet
Look how different we are and see how much we are the same! Readers will surely see themselves in the pages of this book, which is full of color photographs of children’s faces. The rhyming text and images celebrate the tapestry of cultures, religions, and physical appearances of children throughout the United States.
I Am America
Elections are anything but dull, and participation is very important in a democracy. Just consider what it must be like in places where citizens can’t vote! This playful introduction to presidential elections provides a brief history of voting in the U.S. (including the “chad story”) and encourages young people to get involved.
America Votes: How Our President Is Elected
What has six legs, is very strong, always busy, and probably lives in your neighborhood? The ant, of course! Find out more about this small insect, then try your hand at some ant-related projects. Clear photographs and readable text in this attractive book will start your ant-venture. (For an ant’s eye view of the insect world in photographs, take a look at In Front of the Ant: Walking with Beetles and Other Insects by Ryuichi Kuwahara).
Ants (A Denver Museum of Nature & Science Book)
In Arthur’s Nose, first grader Arthur decides that he doesn’t like his nose. He goes to the rhinologist to change it, but ultimately decides, to the relief of his friends and family, “I’m just not me without my nose!”
Arthur’s Nose
Before Arthur was a television series, he was the star of his own series of books. Children of all ages enjoy Arthur’s everyday adventures at school, home, and camp. Younger children will enjoy picture books about the young aardvark, while a series of early chapter books are just right for the newly independent reader.
Arthur Series
Baby Tamer
José lives in a diverse neighborhood where he’s just as likely to hear Spanish, English, or Chinese. The appealing photographs in this book document José’s life at home, at school, and on the streets of his colorful barrio in San Francisco, a city that is a dynamic mosaic of different cultures. Available in a Spanish.
Barrio: José’s Neighborhood / Barrio: El barrio de José
Left alone to graze, Borreguita outsmarts the fierce coyote who thinks the small lamb would be a tasty lunch. This tale from Ayutla, Mexico, is retold with sly humor and illustrated with dramatic, full color illustrations.
Borreguita and the Coyote
When Mama announces that the relatives are coming and starts the flurry of preparations, Baby Bubba and his dog, Beau take refuge down in the mud hole. Big Bubba finds them, washes them and dresses Baby Bubba in a brand new stiff sailor suit. When Cousin Arlene, wearing a frilly dress, and her yippy little dog, Bitsy, arrive, the foursome find paradise in the mud hole. Comic illustrations add to the understated text for a satisfying, funny, and recognizable family story with a decidedly Texas twinkle.