Book Finder

A wee piggy escapes his boy at the fair for a very colorful adventure around the fair. The naughty pig “wallowed in white to go with the red…” but “It’s not polite to wallow in white…” The boy catches up just in time to see his pig win a blue ribbon. Funny, animated illustrations accompany the rhyming tale inspired by “I Know an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly.”

Good news: rabbit has a picnic to share with his friend mouse; bad news: it starts to rain. So it goes — good and bad events — until mouse is overwhelmed by the bad news, hurting rabbit’s feelings. The duo reconciles, which is “very good news.” Understated text and simple illustrations enliven the series of improbable events for a comical picnic.

Can the Lunch Lady protect the Breakfast Bunch of Thompson Creek School from evil mutants posing as “mathletes” in a school math competition? Readers will find out in the latest installment of kids and their offbeat superhero done in signature black/white illustration in graphic format.

Daisy loves to collect words and decides that the perfect word is just the right gift to give to her teacher as a wedding present. Daisy’s daily activities, her friendships, and even dealing with a bully are sure to resonate with newly independent readers.

The author introduces himself as the author, the book’s illustrator, and the main character, Chloe, as the book opens. The conflict between author and illustrator has a significant impact on Chloe’s book adventure in this funny, sophisticated presentation. As the author and illustrator pop in and out, style of illustration and text is varied for maximum effect.

Sophisticated readers will appreciate the themes of the poems presented in this large, attractively illustrated collection of poems. In varied forms, each poem celebrates books and reading and the pleasure it brings even to “The End/…an invitation back/to the beginning.”

Best friends don’t have to be alike, just look at tall Gollie and short Bink! They share a day at the state fair playing Whack-a-Duck, a talent show, and a visit to Madame Prunely. The line drawings capture the humor, the fun of a fair and the solid friendship of this appealing duo first introduced in Bink & Golly (opens in a new window).

Lily has always wanted a dog and so was thrilled to find something wonderful, big and brown with a wet nose, in her garden. The unusual dog’s owner collects it soon enough but not before Lily and her pet share routine but fun, doggy adventures. The understated humor is presented in comic illustrations and restrained text which lead to a very satisfying conclusion.

The ever popular dinos are back, this time making and eating cookies always using their best manners. Rhyming text and outrageous illustrations are humorous. Two recipes and “scratch & sniff” are extras presented in this brief board book.

Zebra lines up participants to begin this very funny alphabet book. As A bounds up stairs to take the stage, Zebra peeks out. All goes smoothly until Moose says D is for Moose, bouncing Duck; Moose continues to irritate other letters until Z. Children who know the alphabet will delight in the slapstick humor and satisfying conclusion.

Pigeon (of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (opens in a new window) fame) is back. Here, he’s irritated that a very polite duckling gets a cookie by simply asking! Could good manners really matter? Understated humor abounds in both minimal text and characteristic illustration.

Dinosaurs ready for the dance contest in this silly, lively, lighthearted look at popular programs. Rhymes and wordplay present dressed up dinosaurs doing everything from tap to the twist until the unnamed dino-emcee comes for his dinner — the contestants!

Moms and dads often do the same things in different ways but one thing they share in common, they both love their children “the exact same way.” Lighthearted illustrations and a predictable narrative depict the lively, affectionate relationship between a young child and her parents.

Larry, like the boy who cried wolf, is known for his prevarication. He winds up a hero, however, when he tells the truth about space aliens. Illustrations in comic book format and jazzy rhyming text and coded alien-speak are sure to tickle funny bones.

Humorous, sometimes slightly gross, always kid-friendly poems are accompanied by lighthearted black and white sketches. A range of readers, from sophisticated to those less initiated, are sure to find chuckles in this thick but accessible collection of short, rhythmic poems.

Absorbed in his book, a child ignores his mother’s persistent calls, creating his own outrageous, imaginative adventures with the use of the word “meanwhile…” Wit and ingenuity abound in text and illustration until the boy’s adventures — and the book — conclude.

When George can’t bark like most puppies, his mother takes him to the vet who also tells George to “bark!” An exhausted doctor literally pulls out the reasons George “meows” and more with funny and surprising results. Spare, comic line drawings add to the silliness.

A field trip to the art museum becomes a mystery for the Breakfast Bunch to solve – perhaps without the help of Lunch Lady! Read more adventures of this unique superheroes team in Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians (opens in a new window), Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown (opens in a new window), Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta (opens in a new window), and Lunch Lady and the Bake Sale Bandit (opens in a new window).

Meet the Breakfast Bunch: three regular kids, and their not-at-all-ordinary Lunch Lady! With the help of amazing and useful kitchen gadgets, Lunch Lady defeats a plot by cyborg subs to take Teacher of the Year Award. The launch of this graphic novel series for younger readers is sure to delight with its humor and recognizable situations.

This humorous and heartwarming novel takes place during the summer of 1962, when narrator Jack Gantos turns 12 and has been “grounded for life” by his parents. He takes on a summer job writing obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his Utopian town, Norvelt. Gantos expertly mixes truth and fiction in this book. For mature readers 9-12 and teens. (2012 Newbery Medal Winner)

Nate’s prominence in his scout troop is threatened by a newcomer with hilarious results.

As they share everyday activities, Grandma calls the narrator lots of loving names using rhythmic, rhyming language – just like familiar animals and their young.

Who can help the Greenstalk family on County Fair Day? Unlikely though it seems, it is capable cows to the rescue! The slapstick humor and repeated refrain is sure to delight.

Cars of every shape and color zoom through and across the pages of this lively, rhythmic, and colorful look at these vehicles and their drivers.