![Peek-a Who?](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0811826023.jpg?itok=C2K83688)
What can you “peek-a” through the die-cut window? Does it “moo”, say “boo” or could it be YOU? Turn the page and find out! A predictable format and bold illustrations are sure to engage and delight.
Peek-a Who?
![I Kissed the Baby!](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0763624438.jpg?itok=4t-EmWnv)
A new baby creates lots of excitement and all the animals want to kiss the baby duckling! Black pages with bold white lines depict the animals with splashes of color to highlight the joy and a repeating text makes this just right to encourage young children.
I Kissed the Baby!
![Won Ton and Chopstick](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0805099875.jpg?itok=J6_LgOWq)
Won Ton the cat is back with a new arrival: a puppy! How the adult cat and small dog get on — or not — (until ultimately they learn to live in harmony) is told in haiku. The staccato language of 17 syllable form adds humor and verve to ideally complement the expressive illustrations.
Won Ton and Chopstick
![Sweep Up the Sun](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0763669040.jpg?itok=PTCh-MQa)
The poem encourages readers to “Spread your feathers,/sweep up the sun,/ride the wind and explore.” When combined with stunning photographs of birds, many in motion, the natural world comes into crisp focus for a unique, lyrical exploration of North American birds.
Sweep Up the Sun
![Flutter and Hum: Animal Poems / Aleteo y Zumbido: Poemas de Animales](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/1627791035.jpg?itok=ffIRkPfv)
Short poems about animals appear in English and Spanish accompanied by textured illustrations reminiscent of folk art. An author’s note reveals that she is neither a poet nor native Spanish speaking but was launched into both Spanish and poetry when she discovered the work of Pablo Neruda.
Flutter and Hum: Animal Poems / Aleteo y Zumbido: Poemas de Animales
![Welcome to the Neighborhood](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0763665940.jpg?itok=9BbKIst5)
Forest animals “live as neighbors” and survive by building. The homes and their inhabitants are presented in stunning, earth-toned pop-ups accompanied by a brief but informative and engaging text.
Welcome to the Neighborhood
![The Rookie Blue Jay](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/030797782X.jpg?itok=QzcZd4aX)
Baseball fans Mike and Kate solve the mystery surrounding the lackluster play of their favorite rookie. Fans of baseball are sure to enjoy this easier to read mystery, the latest in an appealing series.
The Rookie Blue Jay
![How Things Grow](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0448487683.jpg?itok=gf-wIHae)
A word on one side is illustrated on the opposing page of each spread. Lift the sturdy flap, and the egg becomes a chick, the acorn becomes an oak tree, etc. Even a very familiar caterpillar becomes a handsome butterfly in this thoughtfully presented glimpse of spring things.
How Things Grow
![Hooray for Hoppy](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0374301298.jpg?itok=GKr34BQP)
Hoppy, a small gray rabbit, uses his five senses to find out if spring has arrived yet. When it does, he calls his rabbit friends to share it with him. A recap of the five senses and what they do (and how Hoppy used them) finishes this lively look at a new and colorful season.
Hooray for Hoppy
![Finding Spring](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0062250191.jpg?itok=QwHKds0t)
As Maurice’s mother begins to hibernate, the bear cub impatiently goes out to find spring. Other animals — and readers — will recognize Maurice’s mistaken token of spring and enjoy the lush collage illustrations of the season when it finally arrives.
Finding Spring
![Flotsam](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0618194576.jpg?itok=iQexay0o)
A bright, science-minded boy goes to the beach equipped to collect and examine flotsam — anything floating that has been washed ashore. Bottles, lost toys, small objects of every description are among his usual finds. But there’s no way he could have prepared for one particular discovery: a barnacle-encrusted underwater camera, with its own secrets to share … and to keep. (2007 Caldecott Medal Winner)
Flotsam
![This Is a Moose](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0316213608.jpg?itok=s67QA1pQ)
Moose wants to be an astronaut but the film is entitled “This is a Moose.” Even Moose’s lacrosse-playing grandma and doctor giraffe buddy can’t convince the filmmaker to change his role. That is, until Moose is launched into outer space. Cartoons and sophisticated asides make this goofy, offbeat tale outrageously funny with a touch of filmmaking vocabulary included.
This Is a Moose
![Oh Dear Geoffrey!](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0763666599.jpg?itok=nk6CFwHR)
Geoffrey is tall and clumsy and downright awkward. He slips and slides, scaring the meerkats. At the watering hole, his splashing and sploshing only makes mud, not friends. But his height comes in handy to help a troop of monkeys. Lively language and textured illustrations present a humorous tale of self-acceptance and developing friendship.
Oh Dear Geoffrey!
![Naughty Kitty!](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0545576040.jpg?itok=R4UP7XoS)
Lily wanted a dog but instead gets a tiny, fluffy kitty. Could that small feline cause all of the trouble and mess in Lily’s house? Lily thinks so, telling the poor thing that it’s a “naughty kitty!” But readers realize from the first end pages what Lily doesn’t see. Hilarious action in comic illustration let readers stay ahead of Lily and her ultimately lionized kitty.
Naughty Kitty!
![Little Puppy and the Big Green Monster](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0823430642.jpg?itok=ENVo2rEZ)
What’s a puppy to do when everyone is too busy, too lazy, too boring, or too mean to play? Find a new friend — a large green monster reading in the park — of course! Even the grumpiest monster is no match for the friendly little puppy’s persistent overtures and game-playing. Cartoon illustrations on open pages and short sentences present a jolly, unique friendship.
Little Puppy and the Big Green Monster
![It's an Orange Aardvark!](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0062252062.jpg?itok=vYOiMnFP)
“Goodness! Gracious! Yikes!” exclaim a timid group of carpenter ants as they peer out of holes made by one brave insect, viewing a rainbow of color. What they discover instead of an ant-eating, ketchup-carrying, orange aardvark with pack of green geckos will delight young readers as they see the vivid colors through die cuts and bold shapes in this satisfying, humorous tale.
It’s an Orange Aardvark!
![Froodle](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/159643922X.jpg?itok=FiGFyeyA)
It all started with a little brown bird that tired of making and hearing the same old sounds: caw, coo, chirp, peep. Instead, it said “Froodle sproodle!” which came as an unwelcome shock to the crow, cardinal and dove. But the small brown bird’s continued wordplay inspired the others — even the crow. Simple, bold illustrations and varied type present a comical tale of individuality and lots of potential for wordplay.
Froodle
![The Troublemaker](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/054772991X.jpg?itok=nl_BTe7D)
There’s a troublemaker making trouble for a boy and his sister, but it isn’t a naughty child. Rather, it’s a furry masked bandit — a raccoon — that snitches stuffed toys and even a blanket until the culprit is discovered. Strong lines of the idyllic setting are just right to hide the real thief on many pages.
The Troublemaker
![Telephone](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/1452110239.jpg?itok=gtCLkhuO)
When Peter’s mom asks other birds to tell him to come home for dinner, the message takes on each bird’s special interest, from sports to firefighting. The variety of birds, all simply but effectively illustrated, sits on a telephone wire in this playful riff of a familiar game.
Telephone
![Stella's Starliner](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0763614955.jpg?itok=kqlabotC)
Stella loves her silver starliner — a mobile home — until she’s teased about living in a trailer. When other kids think her home is gorgeous, Stella comes to appreciate what they see and feels pride, actually like a “squillionaire!” Signature illustrations effectively convey Stella’s rollercoaster emotions and the ultimate comfort of friends, family and home.
Stella’s Starliner
![Rupert Can Dance](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0374363633.jpg?itok=72tSJtnE)
Mandy loves to dance and so does her cat, Rupert, although he practices only when Mandy is asleep. Mandy discovers Rupert’s secret one night and the feline dance stops entirely — until Mandy comes up with an idea. Characteristic line and wash combine with the straightforward text for an engaging and imaginative tale.
Rupert Can Dance
![A Possum's Tail](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/184976221X.jpg?itok=-11UcAsg)
Samuel Drew takes his dog-on-wheels toy with him to the London Zoo where unbeknownst to Samuel, four young possums follow the pull-dog. But before returning to the zoo via balloon, the possums join Samuel for a picnic. Delicate, detailed illustrations and a rhyming text create a story and a city worth examining.
A Possum’s Tail
![Pig and Small](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/1561457973.jpg?itok=WVOTnz-f)
Can a big pig and a small bug be friends? At first it seems impossible, but then the duo finds that they can happily share some activities. The silly story is comically illustrated and told in a straight narrative to augment the humor.
Pig and Small
![Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla](/sites/default/files/styles/book_cover_mobile_1x/public/book/0544252306.jpg?itok=6LGoyA_p)
Ivan lived like a human until he began to grow into a silverback gorilla. He was just an infant when captured by poachers in his native country in Africa and was in captivity for over half his life. Using spare text and evocative illustrations, Ivan’s story comes into focus for younger readers. Those interested in Ivan’s story will learn more from the back matter and may be interested in reading Applegate’s Newbery Medal winning The One and Only Ivan (opens in a new window) (Harper).