Night settles over a town and families and neighbors get ready for bed by saying goodnight — everyone except for a wide-awake cat on the rooftop who wants someone to play with.
Goodnight, Goodnight
A retelling of 10 fables by Aesop including “The Fox and the Crow,” “The Crow and the Water Jug,” and “The Lion and the Mouse.”
Once a Wood: Ten Tales from Aesop
Benny Bakes a Cake
Sam the zookeeper has the job of feeding the animals every day at three o’clock. Could Sam have forgotten to feed Elephant, the other zoo animals wonder. Follow Sam on his rounds — with bananas for the monkeys, red berries for the bear, a fish for the seal (“Deliciously good!” barks Seal).
Sam Who Never Forgets
This lively picture book shows that friends can have differences and disappointments without becoming enemies. Best friends and neighbors Debbie and Tina are alike in many ways, and the warm, lively, ink-and-watercolor pictures show them having lots of fun together: dressing up, cycling, watching a spooky movie at a sleepover, and more.
The Cardboard Piano
For babies and toddlers, each moment is full of wonder and discovery. This delightful collection of original poems celebrates the everyday things that enthrall little ones, such as playing peekaboo, banging pots and pans, splashing at bath time, and cuddling at bedtime. Full of contagious rhythm and rhyme, this inviting picture book introduces young children to the sound of poetry.
Little Poems for Tiny Ears
Different woodpeckers swoop, slam, tap, click, and grow throughout the seasons. They are introduced in handsome collage illustrations and a rhythmic text which uses alliteration and onomatopoeia to bring the birds alive. Additional details and identification is included at the conclusion.
Woodpecker Wham!
Fourteen critters are presented here through well-placed photographs and fascinating factoids. From small (“the female tarantula lays 500 to 1000 eggs in a silken sac…”) to tall (“a giraffe’s tongue is black”), to up in the air (the hummingbird) or down in the water (a seahorse), this book is fun and informative.
Weird and Wild Animal Facts
A poetic, playful look at an orangutan family in the wild takes as they dance their way through the trees of the rainforest. A poetic form called the “tanka” combines with animated illustrations for a jaunty glimpse of these appealing primates.
Orangutanka
The octopus is not only intelligent, it can be remarkably adaptable able to change color, shape and even skin texture. This fascinating overview is illustrated with attractive watercolors and includes additional detail in back matter. For older readers (ages 9 to 12), The Octopus Scientists (opens in a new window) by Sy Montgomery with photographs by Keith Ellenbogen follows octopus scientist, Jennifer Mathers, and her international team as they learn about and try to better understand this clever creature.
Octopuses! Strange and Wonderful
From whales to wasps, glimpses into animal behavior makes for intriguing reading. A pig eating python concludes the brief, engaging book illustrated with cut and torn paper collage. Back matter includes a bit more detail about the creatures described.
How to Swallow a Pig: Step-by-Step Advice from the Animal Kingdom
The authors followed a wolf pup and his pack for six years, living in the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho. Their observations provide readers with a look at life for a shy wolf whose life becomes better with a strong companion shared in dynamic photographs and an informal narration.
A Friend for Lakota: The Incredible True Story of a Wolf Who Braved Bullying
Meet the flightless, unkempt-looking bird, a native of Australia, in this large, handsome and informative picture book. The way the male emu is responsible for protecting the eggs and raising fledglings is engagingly presented and sure to spark further interest.
Emu
Follow three scientists as they study the osprey, a fascinating raptor, in and around Missoula, Montana. How these large birds are tracked and studied is revealed in a highly accessible well-researched text and color photos. Further information appears in sidebars and back matter.
The Call of the Osprey
The narrator is angry at her friend, James, because of a simple misunderstanding. It all started when James told Aden who told Hunter and so on until it comes full circle; the narrator employs the dreaded silent treatment. All ends well in this satisfying and recognizable yarn.
What James Said
Maybelle, a cockroach decked out with a pink bow, can’t resist the temptation of a cake and so winds up at a school bake sale. How she escapes unharmed and rescues her flea friend make a very funny school story. Line illustrations add to the humor.
Maybelle Goes to School
Even though Magnolia assures her teacher that her large, green alligator won’t be any trouble, together girl and reptile prove the opposite. Messy, mischievous Magnolia not only gets her name on the board but three checks beside it and a trip to the principal in this rollicking tale.
If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, DON’T!
The narrator is convinced she’ll never get a star next to her name. She’s not particularly good at anything — that is, until her teacher, Mrs. Benson, discovers Rose’s real talent is art. Almost childlike illustrations are the ideal complement to Rose’s voice in this encouraging tale.
I Will Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson’s Blackboard
Step by step instructions on how the read — and enjoy — a book are presented in lively illustrations and an encouraging narrative. A messy-coifed boy and his dog show the process all the way to THE END, and “if it was a really good story … start all over again.”
How to Read a Story
A straightforward, illustrated narration tells the story of the brave Pakistani girl who fought for girls’ rights to an education. Malala’s efforts advocating for the right to learn is presented in this accessible, readable, and brief book.
For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story
Oliver calms his nervous dad on the first day of school in this humorous turn-around tale. Children will see themselves — and perhaps a parent — in this lighthearted saga sure to cause chuckles beyond the start of school.
Dad’s First Day
Fashion conscious Birdie has heard lots of negative things about school and so is quite nervous about her first day. But while she still misses her mom and Monster, her dog, she is thrilled to find that school is actually quite wonderful.
Birdie’s First Day of School
Ally, a great dinosaur aficionado, has first day jitters — but then so do the other imaginative kids in kindergarten. They come together and learn they actually have a great deal in common, including ways to create new adventures.
Ally-saurus and the First Day of School
Cornelius Washington was proud of his hometown, New Orleans. His job as a sanitation worker was important before Hurricane Katrina devastated the city but became even more important after when Cornelius worked with others to help restore it. Textured illustrations and a hope-filled narrative combine fact with fiction for a moving look at a catastrophic event.