Cassie loved to dance and aspired to grow up to dance in a troupe. The only problem was her fear of performing in front of people. Even Jake, a real dance show-off, is afraid to dance in front of his father. The satisfying resolution will encourage many young dancers, performers, and readers.
If the Shoe Fits
Slide back to 1897 with Mattie, Alex, and Sophie where they meet a young writer named Jack London who might be involved in the mystery of a stolen dog. Before the children return to their own time, they learn about life during the Yukon Gold Rush in this highly readable fantasy, part of the Time Spies series.
Gold in the Hills: A Tale of the Klondike Gold Rush
Could the chicken’s dream of buried treasure — a treasure of cracked corn under a great pink pig — be true? His friend George thought so. And so Chicken and George set out to follow the dream. Corny jokes abound in this funny, fast fable sure to delight (as well elicit groans!).
Gimme Cracked Corn and I Will Share
When Buzz and his family go on vacation, they don’t want to take Buzz’s pet, Fly Guy, with them — but he joins them nonetheless. Though small, the fly proves his mettle and saves the day with his flying skills. Bug-eyed cartoon characters and broad humor make this an entertaining read for newly independent readers.
Fly High, Fly Guy!
For one glorious, hot summer week, James went to stay with his friend Eamon’s grandparents so the boys could go to a nature camp. Though the boys seem to prefer playing video games and staying indoors, the truth is in the comic illustration. Adults will recall summer vacation while young readers will enjoy its unbridled joy.
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever
Annie and her big (big) brother Simon have a special relationship. Simon is very patient and quite the opposite of his sister, but together they share summertime adventures, including Annie getting a bee sting and going out in a boat to hear a loon. Cartoon-like illustrations complement each short chapter in this warm book.
Annie and Simon
No words are needed to share a child’s seaside adventure as she plays with the waves, is knocked down by one, and then discovers the sea’s gifts brought to shore by the wave. Softly lined wash in a limited color palette evoke a summer afternoon on the beach.
Wave
The familiar, lively, cumulative song entitled “And the Green Grass Grew All Around” has been refashioned. Here, word and picture show children watching birds hatch in a tree where the “green leaves grew around… and the birds went, ‘Tweedle-Dee-Dee!’”
Tweedle Dee Dee
As her cat goes out, a girl imagines his world travel: on a gondola in Venice, in Spanish soccer games, and more before he returns to his home and favorite person. The rhyming text combines with richly detail, naive illustrations for a satisfying armchair adventure.
Someday When My Cat Can Talk
Lilly is an effervescent child who enjoys each season and the special things that can be done during them. Comic book-like format and conversation balloons clearly depict her delight and make this book easy to follow and to read.
Silly Lilly and the Four Seasons
Dumpling, an enthusiastic dog with a poor sense of smell, enjoys her life with the Frisbees. With a useless sniffer, she has no dog pals and befriends a small black animal with a wide white stripe down its back. Eventually, the dog’s family learns to keep tomato juice handy in this satisfying family story.
Skunkdog
Scaredy Squirrel comes by his name honestly; he’s a bit frightened of just about everything! Can his preparation for a day at the beach protect him adequately? Readers will laugh at Scaredy Squirrel’s ultimate realization that there is a lot to enjoy at the beach!
Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach
What is summer without a rainstorm? Alliterative language and richly textured collages create a day’s play interrupted by rain — until the sun returns.
Rain Play
A young pig is warned to be careful with a pointy stick — but it’s not really a stick. It’s a paint brush, it’s a fishing pole, it’s “not-a-stick”! Children and adults will recognize a child’s imaginary play and an adult’s concern for safety in the brief text, simple line, and flat color in this good-natured book.
Not a Stick
During the hot summer, Devon likes to visit Mitch. Mitch is a man who makes sparks fly as he creates welded metal sculptures — and invites Mitch to make one with him. As the boy decides what to make, he begins to see things differently — because of “that fiery metal man.”
Metal Man
Max and his brothers play outdoors on a summer day, but Max is the first to see his dragon. When chased by a dark cloud that looks surprising like a fierce dinosaur, only a rhyme — and the breeze from the dragon’s sneeze defeats it. Textured, rounded figures and playful language combine to present this imaginative summer adventure.
Max’s Dragon
Maisy the mouse is used to introduce opposites. Maisy stops and goes; she’s messy and clean; says hello and goodbye. Signature illustrations use bold color and broad line with limited text create a fresh look at the two sides of many things.
Maisy Big, Maisy Small
A young otter named Otto does many things well, but swimming isn’t one of them. With the help of his sister, Otto does learn to swim well, little by little. Idealized illustrations and a gentle text help the satisfying story to unfold.
Little by Little
When new neighbors move near Rabbit; he learns from a wise owl to “do unto otters as you would have otters do to you.” That includes saying please and thank you (in several languages), cooperating, and more. The humorous take on manners makes them fun to see in practice, in stylized, engaging illustrations.
Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners
Instead of taking a nap, Carl, the loveable large dog, and his human charge, Madeline, use the time to go boating, explore the playground, and even play a bit of baseball. Tired out, dog and toddler sleep through dinner and fireworks. Their adventures are related through realistic watercolor illustration.
Carl’s Summer Vacation
In order to beat the heat that summer, most of the residents of Clermont County practically lived in the pool. That is, everyone except Eric Dooley. He and his rubber giraffe were afraid of the water. How Eric learns to overcome his fear is told with humor and bubbly illustrations.
The Boy Who Wouldn’t Swim
Benny is busy being a pirate and doesn’t want to play with his little sister. But when Penny seems to be lost, Benny realizes that sometimes playing alone isn’t all that much fun. Words and illustration in a comic book-like format create an appealing, short novel for emerging readers.
Benny and Penny in Just Pretend
Bonnie takes ballet classes while her little sister, Sylvie, waits outside for her. That is, until Sylvie follows Bonnie in one day and wins a place in the class. The warm relationship between the girls is revealed through Bonnie’s voice. Expressive illustrations are sure to be appreciated by dancers and non-dancers alike.
Ballet Sisters: The Newest Dancer
Everyday is an adventure with a silly baby who gets switched at the zoo, the circus, and other places. When the silly baby is retrieved by mom, that happy child makes joyful noises all the way to bedtime — or playtime! The jaunty illustrations complement the predictable adventure.