Even goldfish can use a vacation as three children learned. They let their fish, Barracuda, Patch, and Fiss, — as well as many other kids’ fish — vacation in a fountain built by the architect of Grand Central Station! At the end of the summer, the goldfish returned to their homes and children. The “perfectly true made-up story” is based on actual events in NY City,
Goldfish on Vacation
Two dudes, a platypus and a beaver, paddle out to ride a wave but see a threatening fin nearby. Is the huge shark a threat or a friend waiting to be made? This wacky, almost wordless tale is told in large spreads and smaller panels of expressive characters complemented by the equally expressive typeface of the few words used. Get it, dude!?
Dude!
Lucy always wanted a dog but Bear becomes a bit of a problem. In addition to sleeping for months, he is messy and eats endless bowls of porridge. When Bear runs away, both he and Lucy find out that friendship overcomes most things. Readers will immediately recognize the mistaken identity seen only in the simple illustrations and enhanced in humorous dialog.
A Dog Called Bear
A small, gray elephant has a bad back itch. Can anyone help him? The alligator is a bit scary, the sloth is too slow, and meerkats are too tickly. Relief comes for elephant but maybe not so much for the hedgehog. Simple comic strip-like illustrations and dialog in various sizes are rib-tickling.
Can Somebody Please Scratch My Back?
Where’s the dog? Lift the flap to find out! Small hands are able to play the game lifting the flaps with less worry as the flaps made from soft but durable felt in this brightly colored title, one of a series.
Where’s Mr. Dog?
It’s a happy day for Ducky Duckling as it plays in the rain, hugs bugs, and more. Simple sentences and lots of quacking combine with colorful, naïve illustrations that will encourage engagement as well as delight young listeners.
Splish, Splash, Ducky!
A small yellow chick in need of a playmate spies small puppy. The eager pup is more than happy to frolic but what do a pip and a pup share in common? Though wordless, their story of friendship emerges through gentle, expressive illustrations just right for slightly older toddlers.
Pip & Pup
Pete the Cat is marching with his look-alikes from one to ten, each adding an instrument to the cheerful conclusion. The riff on a familiar rhyme (“Ants go marching”) may inspire others as listeners or readers enjoy the humor.
Pete the Cat: The Petes Go Marching
Two tall giraffes greet an ostrich trying asking the bird how it feels. Ultimately, they all decide that they’re quite pleased to have found new friendships and are thrilled to share a fiesta. Expressive illustrations and the bilingual text depict the joy of the experience.
How Are You?/ ¿Cómo estás?
Who has feet like these? Turn the page to find out! Crisp photographs of animals with different feet are briefly described (e.g., webbed, scaly, even happy) ask then answer the question, introducing animals and one way to identify them.
Feet
A mother duck and 5 ducklings waddle onto a bridge. And one by one, the ducklings fall (or perhaps dive) into the water below. What’s a mother duck to do? She joins them, of course. Simple illustrations extend the fun of the repeating narrative.
Ducks Away!
What you be if you had a tongue like a windshield, or an air conditioner, or even a tongue that could blow bubbles? Find out about the animals (including a human!) as you guess your way about the fascinating tongue! Additional information concludes this lively and informative picture book.
Terrific Tongues
Descriptive language enhanced by handsome, boldly shaped illustrations present a range of rainforest dwellers. Additional information concludes this attractive book which may inspire art in addition to animal studies.
Rainforest
The hippy-hoppy toad’s rhyming adventure begins and ends calmly with the toad “in the middle of a road/on a teeter-totter twig”. Lots of things happen to the small critter in between in this animated and humorously illustrated tale of a positively engaging amphibian.
A Hippy-Hoppy Toad
Earth’s oceans hide giants, colorful creatures, critters that play hide-&-seek and other wonders. Headings on sturdy double-page spreads introduce each category; readers lift flaps to discover additional information. This playful introduction is sure to encourage further interest in the ocean and its hidden worlds.
Hidden World: Ocean
Moose and the other animals really want Groundhog to join them for their Valentine’s party. But when Groundhog sees his shadow he returns quickly to his cozy home. Could Groundhog be afraid of his shadow? Might shadow games help? Readers will enjoy the humor in lush illustrations and the warm relationship between animal friends in this celebratory book.
Groundhug Day
Peekaboo! Lift the flap of a partially covered animal face to find animals in action. Large flaps are sturdy enough for inquisitive hands to discover or rediscover familiar animals.
Peekaboo! On the Farm!
Young readers will find the adult cat hiding from an energetic kitten until both wind up in the same bed for a much-needed nap. Simple forms outlined in black and straightforward text tell a tale that both children and adults recognize.
Cat Nap
Buster, a small white dog, hides from a child as they play enthusiastically all day. But turnabout is fair; in the evening, the toddler waits for Buster to find her in bed. Charming illustrations and lively text capture the energy of a baby and her dog.
Buster and the Baby
Animal characteristics provide clues as different animals ask the reader to guess who they are. Each clue is clearly pictured on a white page; then turn the page to view the entire animal on a double-page spread. Crisp collage illustrates each
creature. The accessible volume ends with additional information (including size comparisons).
Who Am I? An Animal Guessing Game
Who’s the real pest eating up dog, donkey, sheep, and duck’s garden? Is it the groundhog or someone with feathers? Cartoon illustrations and repeating text create a silly tale sure to tickle multiple funny bones. The animal friends share another silly adventure in What Is Chasing Duck? (another story in the Giggle Gang series).
There’s a Pest in the Garden!
The words are familiar but Grimly’s illustrations present a slightly irreverent, distinctive farmer and his loyal animals. The bear, however, who chases them all away from their barn, is an uninvited guest. The author’s signature illustrations and a nostalgic note at the end create a memorable tale.
Old MacDonald Had a Farm
From one child to many creatures in different locations, life on earth is very diverse but delicate. This important message is gently delivered in lyrical text and highly detailed line and wash illustrations.
Many: The Diversity of Life on Earth
Join the young koala’s search for a safe place to live and eat when he outgrows his mother’s pouch. A dramatic text on realistically illustrated pages is accompanied by additional factual information in a different font to both engage and inform.