Book Finder

Ole Scamp learns to like himself better once he’s changed by a peculiar witch. This wacky story uses comic illustrations to convey a positive message in a lighthearted, Seussian way.

Lighthearted illustrations provide just the right tone for brief looks at what happens when children lose their teeth in various places around the world. The title indicates what is done in Korea while an American child awaits the tooth fairy’s exchange. A map provides a quick glimpse of this intriguing, quick world tour just right for browsing.

Peter thinks his house is too noisy. The bed creaks, the floors squeak — it’s no wonder he’s having a hard time falling asleep! But when he follows the village wise man’s advice, he soon discovers that his house isn’t that noisy after all.

Folktales collected in the 1930s have been adapted, retold, and freshly illustrated for contemporary readers. Find out why dogs hate cats, why waves wear whitecaps, and more. This clever collection is ideal for sharing aloud.

Though Herb enjoys reading, he doesn’t appreciate how important it is to treat books with care. Then he falls asleep and finds himself in a book of fairy tales that he has changed. Readers who are familiar with the standard tales will delight in this fresh, funny, and fractured book.

Rabbit cannot go into her own house for fear of the ferocious-sounding animal inside. Told as a play with masked actors, this cumulative tale gradually unfolds to a surprising and very satisfying conclusion.

When an orphaned boy fulfills an ancient prophesy and becomes a dragon rider to help Firedrake find the Rim of Heaven, he finds more than just adventure. The fantastic journey is filled with characters from folklore, and the classic struggle between good and evil makes a spirited good read aloud.

A boy sets off to rescue a baby dragon and has a series of adventures before the happy conclusion. Though written long ago, the slightly eccentric tale continues to engage young readers.

A brief history of classical ballet opens this handsome, richly told collection of seven stories from ballets. Each story is introduced with information on the production and time period in which the ballet was first performed.

This cheerful picture book presents a day in the life of a bird who was an elephant long ago and has just returned to its small Hindu village in India.

Otto, a gentle giant, is understandably upset when a fellow named Jack steals his pet hen. When Otto descends the beanstalk to retrieve it, he encounters several boys named Jack (who readers may recognize from other tales!) – until he finds the right Jack and makes an equitable deal. Humor abounds in the text and illustration of this fractured fairytale.

The Gift of the Crocodile, a tale from the Spice Islands in Indonesia, offers a colorful and dramatic twist on the universally adored Cinderella story.

Like most young girls, Aree likes fine clothing and jewelry. But she is just a wee bit spoiled and has more dresses and accessories than she needs. So when word comes of a dance, Aree can’t make up her mind.: “Now I can show off my fine clothes! But which color shall I wear?” She decides to wear them all, until she learns that excess can be a burden, and that impressing her friends is not the same as keeping them.

To escape the horrors of slavery, some people who remembered the old magic flew away from their enslavement. This is a richly illustrated homage to the reteller of the folktale (that first appeared in a 1985 collection) and to the dignity and history of African Americans.

Once upon a time three pigs built three houses, out of straw, sticks, and bricks. Along came a wolf, who huffed and puffed… So, you think you know the rest? Think again. With David Wiesner at the helm, it’s never safe to assume too much. When the wolf approaches the first house, for example, and blows it in, he somehow manages to blow the pig right out of the story frame, and the perplexed expression on the wolf’s face as he looks in vain for his ham dinner is priceless. One by one, the pigs exit the fairy tale’s border and set off on an adventure of their own. (2002 Caldecott Medal Winner)

The enduring wisdom of Aesop’s fables have been retold and newly illustrated. The large, attractive format invites readers to consider how the actions of the animals are similar to their own.

Stunning, bold collage illustrations carry the action in this reworking of the traditional Greek myth. Here, Icarus becomes Ikarus, a boy of color, who learns to fly in spite of the society in which he lives.

The cumulative tale of a child’s lost mitten — but found to become home to a host of animals — is told in straightforward language and intricate, bordered illustrations. Now 20 years old, Brett’s interpretation of a Ukrainian folktale will be enjoyed anew.