Book Finder

Young stargazers learn about different star colors and brightness, how to locate major constellations, and how to make mini-planetariums by using coffee cans and flashlights.

Toot goes to a family reunion in Scotland, promising Puddle that he’ll be back in Woodcock Pocket in time for Christmas. But a huge snowstorm strands him far away from home on Christmas Eve! As Puddle waits anxiously for his friend, another holiday traveler helps Toot find his way to Woodcock Pocket, just in time.

That silly puppy Spot! He’s hiding from his mom right before supper and so she — with the reader’s help — must find him by looking in, under, and behind commonplace objects. Start the search by lifting sturdy flaps until Spot is found.

In this first book about Yoko, she and her classmates learn to appreciate her Japanese heritage as well as their own backgrounds. This and other Yoko books introduce young readers to familiar issues in colorful illustration and relatable language.

Livingstone Mouse discovers that the woodland creatures just don’t have the rhythm needed for an effective musical performance. Even though he’s told to mind his own business, he puts a band together and makes it all work. The adventures of this mouse-explorer, first introduced in Livingstone Mouse (HarperCollins, 1996), are told and illustrated with humor and verve.

Have you ever wondered what a small red puppy might do on Halloween? Read this story about young Clifford to find out.

Cllifford’s first day at school is filled with fingerpainting, cookie-baking, and other messy misadventures that make Clifford more loveable than ever!

Follow Clifford the Small Red Puppy as he experiences Valentine’s Day for the first time.

Emily Elizabeth and Clifford try to color Easter eggs, but only succeed in coloring Clifford when he falls into the egg dye after crushing most of the fragile eggs. Clifford redeems himself, though, when he helps Emily Elizabeth and her friends find the hard-to-reach Easter eggs.

Emily Elizabeth sets out with her small red puppy, Clifford, to make her mother the perfect Mother’s Day present. Clifford tries to help but only winds up making a gluey, sticky mess. The two friends learn that for little girls and puppies alike, Mother’s Day is not about presents – it’s about showing your mother how much you love her!

Emily Elizabeth has a big red dog – the biggest, reddest dog on her street, and his name is Clifford. How big is he? He’s so big that when he runs after cars, he catches them in his mouth, and his doghouse is bigger than Emily Elizabeth’s house. Needless to say, he makes an excellent watchdog.

It’s Valentine’s Day and Clifford receives valentines from all his friends. Then, when it snows, Clifford decides to give everyone a very special valentine in return!

What will the inhabitants of Mousopolis do when invaded by Dogzilla, the larger-than-life (but harmless looking) pooch? Can they reclaim their town before it’s chewed to bits? Collages using photographs and paintings illustrate this zany parody of old horror films. Those who enjoy Dogzilla may also appreciate Kat Kong. The titles tell it all!

The Lee family, first introduced in Star Fisher (HarperCollins, 1997), is Chinese. Living in Clarksburg, West Virginia, in 1927, they stand out in the community. Joan Lee and her siblings want to fit in and celebrate a non-Chinese holiday, Christmas. The children’s parents agree, but only if the children behave according to the parents high standards. Understanding and friendship gradually emerge in this touching novel based on the experiences of the author’s mother.

Even young monsters on Mars can have trouble adjusting to the first day of first grade. Not only does Horus miss the comforts of Martiangarten, but a know-it-all student harasses him. At his mother’s insistence, a very reluctant Horus returns the next day. Once there, he is able to forget his own problems when he helps a new and even more timid Martian. Characters are vividly colored and peculiarly shaped to create a comical but sympathetic school story of adjustment and emerging friendship.

Five short stories about best friends celebrate everyday activities. Each of them has a very distinctive personality; but Frog and Toad find that their differences are what make their friendship special. Gentle illustrations and an easy-to-read text create treasured tales. Be sure to read other stories about the amphibious friends in Frog and Toad Together (opens in a new window) and Frog and Toad All Year (opens in a new window).

George and Martha’s friendship is revealed in a series of short stories each illustrated with seemingly simple but hugely expressive illustrations – appropriate for the size of these hippos’ happy friendship.

When Gossie loses her beloved red boots, she searches everywhere for them. Ultimately, she finds Gertie, another gosling, wearing her boots! The small yellow birds settle their issue and go off together, each wearing one red boot. The small, square book ideally supports the crisp, appealing illustrations.

There are no other kids on Henry’s block so his parents agree that a dog to play with will ease Henry’s loneliness. This is the start of an unforgettable friendship between a boy and a big pooch named Mudge.

Peter finds a special way to invite Amy, the only girl and a singular friend, to his birthday party. But the wind catches his letter just as he puts it in the mailbox. Keats’ well-liked character (first introduced in A Snowy Day) is back for another everyday drama.

When Martha, a slightly frumpy white and brown mutt, eats alphabet soup, the letters go to her head not to her stomach. The result is the first in a series of very funny adventures with a talking dog and her sometimes flummoxed human family.

Can Tracker, Fritz, Sheena, and Jake find Rosie before the dogcatcher finds them all? The quest starts when Rosie heads back to the city to find her former owner. Each puppy has his or her distinct personality; each lives with loving humans in Buxton, a small town where Rosie comes to live, too. The canine sleuths are captivating in this and other books in the series. 

Easy-to-read books for beginning readers often amount to dreary drivel: not in this case. In a paean to chicken soup, hot tea and one feline-tolerant dog, friendship turns out to be the best medicine of all.