Book Finder

When Lucy suspects there’s a monster in her bedroom, her mum knows exactly what to do; make a guard dragon, Gruffen, to look after her. See also: Gauge (opens in a new window), another book in The Dragons of Wayward Crescent series.

Happy puppies,/scrappy puppies … each one needs a name … and ideal names from A to Z are presented in 26 descriptive poems. Aspen is the color of leaves in fall, Melody likes to sing, and Zipper loves to run, zipping everywhere. These poems are wonderful to read aloud to one child or a whole group.

A junkyard bulldog helps a small hamster build his racer to compete in a hot rod happening. The small rodent is asked to choose from a range of components as the car comes together — and ultimately takes the prize. Snappy language and repetition combine with engaging illustrations as the smallest critter wins the race to become the Hot Rod Hamster.

Mr. Mutt responds to canine concerns, writing practical advice letters. He shares his Dogwood home with The Queen, a tiara-wearing cat who adds her distinctly feline advice on her own embossed stationery. The result is wildly different perspectives, lots of laughs, and action suggested by the correspondences and extended by realistic, outrageous, and very funny illustrations.

A comic hen wants only to make jokes but is misunderstood by the farmer and so she strikes out on her own. Before long she meets other humor-loving but underappreciated animals: a dog, a cat, and a cow. Like the familiar Bremen Town musicians, this quartet foils a group of robbers and opens their own comedy club. Bad puns and silly jokes are sure to cause groans and laughter in this silly parody.

Thulani enjoys sitting in the sun, and he is tired of milking his cow. When he sells his cow to buy a goat, however, his problems are just beginning. What will it take for his luck change? Illustrations are done in a folkart style and filled with little details of South African rural life.

All scientific inquiry begins with a question, something at which Jack is quite adept. He wonders why crackers have holes, why feet stink, why hair doesn’t hurt when cut — and more. Child-like simplicity and expressive illustrations create a satisfying story that can be read on many levels — sure to generate even more inquisitiveness about children’s everyday experiences.

“She’s nice, my mom.” Through a child’s words, we meet a mom who can sing like an angel and roar like a lion while taking care of her family in so many different ways. She is indeed a Supermom! Young readers will recognize some of their favorite things about their mothers in the imaginative illustrations of this simple, loving tribute.

The Potter children’s adventure to find the long-forgotten but wise Whangdoodle begins when they meet Professor Savant at the Bramblewood Zoo. Their journey to find the reclusive Whangdoodle makes for high adventure filled with extraordinary creatures. Told with a storyteller’s voice, this gratifying fantasy reads aloud well.

After his bath, a young boy, clean but without clothes, must get dressed. Each garment he seeks is hidden on playful, action-packed double page spreads until the boy — and his friends — are dressed to go outside. Child-like activities and imaginative play are sure to remind readers of all ages that play requires only a bit of inventiveness.

An elephant finds an intriguing red thingamabob but neither he nor his friends can figure out what it does — until it begins to rain. Children will recognize the red thing immediately and are sure to delight in the animals’ process of discovery and invention. Textured illustration with gentle lines brings this engaging, imaginative tale alive.

When feathers and buttons (and more) come together in school they just may make something quite special: an amazing, creative picture! Rhythmic language, playful collage and a host of inanimate but animated characters make a picture on a double foldout to conclude this inventive tale. It may just inspire additional handiwork by young artists!

Everyone knows that there are two sides to every story. Read a cleverly illustrated poem one way for one side; read the same poem in reverse and learn the other. Well known fairy tales are presented through reversible poems sure to intrigue sophisticated readers of all ages. Each book comes with a CD, so pop it in and follow along!

Enjoy short, lively, and varied poems for different occasions and from Monday (“…Washday,/sloshday…”) to Friday which is “…fishday in out town/Fat-fish, flat-fish/Cod- and cat-fish…” Line drawings on richly hued pages make an attractive and engaging collection to be read cover-to-cover or to dipped into for a special treat.

Chester, the chubby but charming feline, wants to create his own masterpiece. But a writer/illustrator named Melanie Watts continues to thwart his creative efforts by hiding the tools of his trade. The competition between Watts and Chester results in a humorous book that appears to have been written and reworked with sticky notes and red marker.

In this latest installment of the ever-pink and imaginative rodent, Babymouse, she discovers she needs help from a pal to make her soap box car. However, at the derby, it is Wilson who needs help. It’s Babymouse to the rescue! Pink is used successfully to define the fantasy in the otherwise black and white cartoons in this ever-fresh graphic novel series.

Miss Brooks, the librarian at the narrator’s school, brings books alive by dressing up for reading circle. But the narrator still doesn’t find books intriguing like Miss Brooks — that is until she finds one filled with all of the gross things she enjoys; she’s discovered Shrek! Cartoon-like illustrations present the eccentric but lovable characters in this playful tale.

Jacob learns a great deal from his favorite television baker, Chef Monty. And he puts those skills to great use just in time for his parents’ anniversary making dessert — a peach pie — the celebration’s first course. Jacob’s good humor and problem solving skills (with a little help from his sister) make for sweet reading.

Their city adventure begins when the four big chickens follow a bag of feed into the farmer’s truck — and off they go! Lively language and comic illustrations combine to create a rowdy fowl adventure which ends happily back in the farmer’s truck heading home.

Amelia Bedelia is back! This time she is keeping everyone at the library on their toes. Between knitting book “jackets,” hiding from the scary thesaurus, and stealing the bookmobile, no one — especially the librarian — knows what will happen next. Will Amelia Bedelia’s good intentions save the day?

Stella Louella has lost her library book on the day it’s due! She embarks on a hilarious neighborhood search that all library-goers can relate to in order to find her book before the library closes. Readers will enjoy the engaging illustrations and eagerly turn the pages to see how it all turns out.

If anyone is looking for a new pet, they may want to consider a rhinoceros. In this amusing book, there’s one for sale “cheap.” Black line drawings with an occasional splash of color and a straightforward text reveal the unique strengths of an unlikely friendship with characteristic Silverstein flair.

Young readers (or listeners) are invited to share whimsical, imaginative, sometimes head-turning, always laugh-inducing poems in this classic collection.

The creature with the missing piece (in the book of the same title) is back. Here it searches for a friend and meets the Big O, learning what it means to have a buddy that suits you well. Simple black line drawings and unadorned language make this a powerful tale that works on many levels.