Best of
Picture-Books

1987

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale


John Steptoe - 1987
    Who will the king choose?Award-winning artist John Steptoe’s rich cultural imagery of Africa earned him the Coretta Scott King Award for Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters. The book also went on to win the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. This stunning story is a timeless treasure that readers will enjoy for generations.Coretta Scott King Award for IllustrationCaledcott HonorReading Rainbow BookBoston Globe-Horn Book

Heckedy Peg


Audrey Wood - 1987
    “The inherent drama of the story, combined with the haunting images the art provides, gives the picture book a timeless quality.”--Booklist

Winnie the Witch


Valerie Thomas - 1987
    He was black too. And that is how the trouble began. Everything in Winnie's house is black - the carpet, the chairs, the bed and the sheets, the pictures on the walls, and even the bathtub! And of course her cat, Wilbur, is black too - all except for his bright-green eyes. Whenever poor Wilbur closes his eyes and tries to take a catnap, Winnie stumbles right over him. Or accidentally sits on top of him. Until one day, when Winnie gets a brilliant idea. What if Wilbur were a different color?

Sheila Rae, the Brave


Kevin Henkes - 1987
    Just because Sheila Rae is older, she doesn't always know better!This classic picture book about overcoming fear is written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes, the nationally bestselling and celebrated creator of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Owen, and Kitten's First Full Moon."I am very brave," Sheila Rae said, patting herself on the back. She wasn't afraid of anything—not thunder, not lightning, not the big black dog at the end of the block. And when she wanted to walk home a new way and Louise wouldn't, she called her sister a scaredy-cat and set out alone. But all the bravado in the world failed to help when Sheila Rae found herself lost. Luckily, her sister was not far behind."Children will love it."—School Library Journal

Owl Moon


Jane Yolen - 1987
    The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird.But there is no answer.Wordlessly the two companions walk along, for when you go owling you don't need words. You don't need anything but hope. Sometimes there isn't an owl, but sometimes there is.Distinguished author Jane Yolen has created a gentle, poetic story that lovingly depicts the special companionship of a young child and her father as well as humankind's close relationship to the natural world. Wonderfully complemented by award-winning John Schoenherr's soft, exquisite watercolor illustrations, this is a verbal and visual treasure, perfect for reading aloud and sharing at bedtime.

Where the Forest Meets the Sea


Jeannie Baker - 1987
    But for how much longer will the forest still be there, he wonders?Jeannie Baker's lifelike collage illustrations take the reader on an extraordinary visual journey to an exotic, primeval wilderness, which like so many others is now being threatened by civilization.

My Place


Nadia Wheatley - 1987
    Winner of Australia's Book of the Year 1988. Full-colour illustrations.

Silver Packages: An Appalachian Christmas Story


Cynthia Rylant - 1987
    Year after year, Frankie hopes that one particular gift a very special gift will be tossed to him from that train. It is this enduring hope that will guide him to the true meaning of the season. Full color.

A House for Hermit Crab


Eric Carle - 1987
    But what will happen when he outgrows this shell and has to say good-bye to all the sea creatures who have made Hermit Crab's house a home? Children facing change in their own lives will relate to Hermit Crab's story -- and learn a lot about the fascinating world of marine life along the way.https://openlibrary.org/books/OL81969...https://openlibrary.org/books/OL24238...

Little Bear's Trousers


Jane Hissey - 1987
    All the toys have seen them and used them in some way - Rabbit as a skiing hat, Duck as a flag and Dog as a holder for his bones. From the author of Little Bear Lost.https://openlibrary.org/works/OL84760...

There's an Alligator under My Bed


Mercer Mayer - 1987
    Full-color illustrations.

Meanwhile Back at the Ranch


Trinka Hakes Noble - 1987
    Meanwhile back at the ranch, all that happens is Elna strikes oil, inherits a fortune, and is visited by the President. Never has the West been wilder or funnier. A Reading Rainbow Feature Selection. Full-color illustrations.

Mrs Armitage on Wheels


Quentin Blake - 1987
    Before very long she has added three very loud horns, a bucket of water to wash her hands, a complete tool kit. And by the time she has also added a seat for Breakspear, two umbrellas, a cassette player and a mouth-organ, Mrs Armitage is riding a very eye-catching contraption. But it is when she finally adds the mast and sail, that Mrs Armitage really runs into trouble. . .

The Wolf's Chicken Stew


Keiko Kasza - 1987
    He spots a chicken who seems just right, but then he thinks how much more stew there will be if he fattens her up before dining himself. So he goes home and begins to cook all kinds of scrumptious food for the chicken to eat. A big surprise is in store for the wolf when he finally visits Mrs. Chicken to collect his meal.

Jack In The Green


Allen Atkinson - 1987
    It is a time of grayness and chill, and Graylock is plotting to keep the world in that state forever. His plan is simple: Spring will never return to the world again. So begins this tale of fantasy and ancient magic that involves the courage of a simple gardener, Jack in the Green, and a quest to restore the cycle of the Seasons to earth.

The Monster That Grew Small


Joan Grant - 1987
    A retelling of an Egyptian folktale in which a timid boy finds courage by going after a monster that seems to shrink when confronted.

The Z Was Zapped


Chris Van Allsburg - 1987
    A dramatic black-and-white presentation of the alphabet in which the two-time Caldecott Medalist depicts a mysterious transformation of each letter.

Whiffle Squeek


Caron Lee Cohen - 1987
    But one nigh t Whiffle Squeek meets a hungry monster with almost disastrous results. Full-color illustrations.

Lily of the Forest


Brian McConnachie - 1987
    When a bored young girl becomes lost in the forest, several animals come to her rescue.

A Difficult Day


Eugenie Fernandes - 1987
    Waking up grouchy, Melinda's mood goes from bad to worse -- can anything save her day now? An understanding mom makes a grumpy mood go away in this reassuring story that reminds children (and their parents) that everyone has difficult days, and sometimes a hug is all you need to chase the blues away.

The Snow Kept on Falling


Kathie McQueary - 1987
    

Over the Rainbow


Judy Collins - 1987
    When all the clouds darken up the skyway, there's a rainbow highway to be found, Leading from your window pane to a place behind the sun, just a step beyond the rain. You may not immediately recognize these words...but you definitely know and love the song to which they belong. This is the introductory verse to "Over the Rainbow," sung with such memorable poignancy by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz. Although she actually recorded these opening lyrics, they were never used in the film. Now, this classic song has been transformed into a magnificent picture book and CD set. Breathtaking and magical artwork by Eric Puybaret will carry young readers from a little red farmhouse up over the rainbow, into the sky where bluebirds fly and castles rise high in the clouds, and beyond.The extraordinary soundtrack for this book is performed by Judy Collins, who has recorded what might be the very best version of "Over the Rainbow" ever sung. The winner of a Grammy Award, Collins's glorious voice is one of the most admired of the 20th and 21st centuries. Her version of this classic will delight and touch the heart of every parent and child who listens.  As an added bonus, the enclosed CD also contains two delightful additional songs recorded by Judy Collins: White Choral Bells and I See the Moon.

Jesus the Healer


Catherine Storr - 1987
    Retells the life of Jesus Christ as he teaches, preaches, and performs miracles.

Miracles By The Sea


Catherine Storr - 1987
    A simple retelling of the New Testament accounts of miracles performed by Jesus Christ.

Picasso the Green Tree Frog (Era keystone paperback)


Amanda Graham - 1987
    A green tree frog enjoys for awhile the multicolored skin he aquires when he falls into a jar of jelly beans, but then he wishes for his familiar color back.

Clifford The Sheep: Derrydale Childrens Library (Derrydale Children's Library)


Sally Sheringham - 1987
    Grey.

David and Jonathan: Genesis 27:1-28:5, 10-11 [Sic] for Children (Arch Books)


Alyce Bergey - 1987
    Parents trust these colorful books to teach their children Bible stories from Genesis through Acts in a fun, memorable way.The Arch Books series of 100 titles is conveniently divided into 8 sections that include related stories for an organized journey through the Bible.

Give Us This Day the lords prayer


Tasha Tudor - 1987
    

No Jumping on the Bed


Tedd Arnold - 1987
    Higher and higher he bounces gleefully, until his hair brushes the ceiling. But when he lands back on the bed--thump, creak, crack--it crashes right through the floor! Suddenly Walter finds himself visiting all the downstairs neighbors in his apartment building in a most unusual way!"Hip, hip, hooray for this delightful urban fantasy, a comic morality tale that explores the consequences of ignoring that age-old 'momilie, ' 'If I've told you once I've told you a million times, no jumping on the bed!'"--School Library Journal

The Giraffe Who Got in a Knot


John Bush - 1987
    In the heat of the African sun, Cardwell the giraffe sees a camel thorn tree and can't resist a nibble. He tucks in so enthusiastically that he gets his neck tied up in a knot, and the other jungle animals have to rise to the challenge of untying him.

The Magic Leaf


Winifred Morris - 1987
    The story combines three traditional Chinese folk tales by having Lee Foo make all three traditional mistakes.

I'll Tell You What They Say


Anna Grossnickle Hines - 1987
    Andy tells his dog Sam to stay behind when he takes his teddy bear around the barnyard to introduce him to all the animals.

Frogs' Holiday


Margaret Gordon - 1987
    Crumple's launderette.

The Seed


Joy Cowley - 1987
    Annie and Bobbie plant a watermelon seed.

The Devils Who Learned To Be Good


Michael McCurdy - 1987
    After feeding two starving beggars, an old Russian solider receives a magical flour sack and deck of playing cards which help him to remove some pesky devils from the Tsar’s palace.

Raggedy Ann's Nighttime Rescue


Eleanor Hudson - 1987
    

The Great Marathon Football Match


Janet Ahlberg - 1987
    

The Sparrow's Story: At The King's Command


Judith Crabtree - 1987
    A sparrow delivering the Storyteller's story to the King experiences numerous adversities en route.

Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant


Gavin Bishop - 1987
    Mrs McGinty becomes famous and happy and makes friends - the plant has transformed her life.

Idalia's Project ABC: An Urban Alphabet Book in English and Spanish


Idalia Rosario - 1987
    Introduces the alphabet by means of brief bilingual descriptions of city life.

Fido (Hello Reader)


Stephanie Calmenson - 1987
    One day when the head of a large company doesn't feel well, he sends his dog, who looks just like him, to work in his place.

The Mulberry Tree


Jan Wahl - 1987
    Children story book, hardcover, with classical illustrations of nature and animals.

Fox Trot


Corinne Czarnecki - 1987
    Running away from hunters, Fox takes refuge in the old village church where a rummage sale is in progress and an old lady mistakes him for a fur wrap.

From Me To You


Paul Rogers - 1987
    A grandmother shares her memories of three generations with a young granddaughter and presents her with a precious gift.

A Witch Got On At Paddington Station


Dyan Sheldon - 1987
    When a witch boards the bus at Paddington Station, wonderful, magical things happen to the tired and grumpy riders.

Little Brown Bear Has Fun at the Park (Little Brown Bear Series)


Claude Lebrun - 1987
    Imaginative illustrations and simple text invite very young readers into Little Brown Bear's cozy home and loving family, while each book's smaller size fits just right in little hands. Young children just beginning to learn how to read will love this series because of its familiar subjects, thus encouraging them to want to read more on their own. The gentle world of Little Brown Bear will prove to be a wonderful reading experience for every child.

The Ugly Duckling (A Lift-the-Flap Book)


Susan Hellard - 1987
    Lifting the flaps reveals hidden animals.

If You're Happy and You Know It


Nicki Weiss - 1987
    Summary: An illustrated collection of camp songs and traditional songs with piano and guitar music, including A tisket, a tasket, Pop! Goes the weasel, and Do your ears hang low.

Little Miss Muffett


Ian Beck - 1987
    Or do they? Ian Beck has taken the well-known nursery rhyme and married it to the spirit of children's theater to create a completely new and longer rhyme that will surprise and delight every child. His colorful illustrations recreate a small stage, complete with traditional scenery and footlights, on which the charming mini play takes place. A wonderful new cast of characters -- the spangly witch, a fantastic frog, Yip-Yip the dog, the silvery Moon and more -- is introduced scene-by-scene until the spider eventually makes his appearance for the long-awaited finale

Toby Claypot's Wishing Well (Rainbow's End)


Jane Patience - 1987
    Illustrated by John Patience

A Day at the Zoo (Disney Babies)


Elizabeth M. Steinkamp - 1987
    

The Book of the Royal Year


Tim Graham - 1987
    

The Magic Room


Scott Spencer - 1987
    Phoebe's parents, who are magicians, forbid her to enter the magic room where they work, until an accident shrinks them to tiny size and they need her help in returning to normal.