Sky High


Germano Zullo - 2012
    Kids will love spotting the funny details hidden in this witty take on an age-old moral, while their parents—particularly any who've ever undertaken a remodel—will chuckle with recognition.

Pura’s Cuentos: How Pura Belpré Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories


Annette Bay Pimentel - 2021
    She crows ¡Qui-qui-ri-quí! for Señor Gallo, booms Borom, Borom for Señor Zapo, and tells of a beautiful cockroach who loves a mouse. Pura clings to these stories like coquíes cling to green leaves. When Pura grows up and moves from Puerto Rico to Harlem, she gets a job at the library, where she is surrounded by stories—but they’re only in English. Where is Señor Gallo? Where is Pérez the mouse? Where is Puerto Rico on these shelves? She decides to tell children the tales of her homeland in English and in Spanish. Lyrically written, with lively illustrations, Pura’s Cuentos captures the exuberant spirit and passion of Pura Belpré: celebrated storyteller, author, folklorist, and the first Latina librarian in New York City. A pioneer of bilingual storytimes, she welcomed countless new families to the library, formed cultural bridges in her community, and broke the rules by telling stories that weren’t printed in books—at least, not yet.

A Little Courage


Taltal Levi - 2020
    Then when she sees a mysterious shadow lurking beyond her books and paper clips, she must summon her courage. But wait! Could this fluffy, purring creature be a friend?

WWE Undertaker


Kevin Sullivan - 2009
    It teaches children the ins-and-outs of his finishing moves, his nicknames, signature taunts and manager, as well as helping them become more comfortable with reading.

The Inside Tree


Linda Smith - 2007
    Potter lives all alone in his little house. And outside is a little yard with just enough room for one little tree. In fact, it’s such a fine tree that good-hearted Mr. Potter feels bad that it stands there all alone in the yard while he stays warm by the fire inside the house. It doesn’t seem right that the tree is never invited in. And so he decides to do just that. But what will happen when the tree grows and grows and grows—and his little house stays exactly the same size?

A Small Blue Whale


Beth Ferry - 2017
    A small blue whale sits in a silver sea . . . wishing, wanting, waiting for a friend. Waiting is hard, but he doesn't mind; he's sure a friend will be worth the wait. First, the whale meets a quiet pink cloud, and he thinks this might be the friend he's been waiting for. But when he finds himself in trouble, a group of penguins comes to his rescue and the small blue whale finally gets his wish. This heartwarming story about friendship--what it looks like, sounds like, tastes like, and feels like--will have readers agreeing that a true friend is definitely worth the wait.

The Favorite Book


Bethanie Deeney Murguia - 2019
    And sometimes, selecting one can take a little longer as you consider all the options. The choice is yours: you can have many favorites or none at all. You might even find that your favorite changes. From colors to animals to the perfect hat, there are so many things to love . . . and even help you learn a little about yourself in the process. Playful and thought-provoking, this cheerful rhyming story encourages young readers to reflect on how they make decisions and pick their own favorite -- or two.

Little Owl's Night


Divya Srinivasan - 2011
    Hedgehog sniffs for mushrooms, Skunk nibbles at berries, Frog croaks, and Cricket sings. A full moon rises and Little Owl can't understand why anyone would want to miss it. Could the daytime be nearly as wonderful? Mama Owl begins to describe it to him, but as the sun comes up, Little Owl falls fast asleep.Putting a twist on the bedtime book, Little Owl's Night is sure to comfort any child with a curiosity about the night.

Albie Newton


Josh Funk - 2018
    He’s a whiz at inventing things. But is he inventive enough to figure out how to make friends? When precocious inventor Albie Newton enters a new preschool, he concocts the perfect plan for making friends. Unfortunately, it involves stealing the hamster’s wheel, snatching the wings off of Dave’s toy airplane, and generally making a giant mess. Now everyone’s angry at Albie! Will his new invention delight the other kids enough to make everything right—and finally win their friendship?

How to Train with a T. Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals


Michael Phelps - 2009
    What does it take to win eight gold medals? Napping away three summer vacations? Eating enough broccoli to fill the back of a pickup truck? Swimming the length of the Great Wall of China three times?

Mother Ghost: Nursery Rhymes for Little Monsters


Rachel Kolar - 2018
    With clever rhyme and spooky illustrations, Mother Ghost is perfect for getting in the Halloween spirit. Boo!

Santa's New Jet


David Biedrzycki - 2011
    They're too out of shape. Fortunately the elves build Santa a fancy jet in time to deliver all the gifts. But the new jet crash-lands on rooftops and doesn't have a light as bright as Rudolph's nose. What's more, Blitzen's not on board to help choose which toys to give each child. Santa is in need of some serious help this Christmas!

Oh Look, a Cake!


J.C. McKee - 2021
     When Sloth and Lemur come across a giant, mouth-watering cake, they can’t believe their luck. Sloth wonders if they should tell the others, but Lemur is pretty sure they shouldn't. As Sloth lists each friend one by one, Lemur is ready with excuse after excuse as to why it’s better to keep the cake to themselves. In the end, that’s just what they do . . . but then the true owner of the cake comes along. With impeccable comedic timing, ample visual humor, and a subversively hilarious ending, this highly entertaining story, complete with a memorable reminder about the importance of sharing, will have readers young and old giggling at every page turn.

If You Ever Want to Bring a Piano to the Beach, Don't!


Elise Parsley - 2016
    She is NOT talking about the piano. But Magnolia is a little girl with a big idea, determination, and one very heavy upright piano that, she insists, she needs to take with her. What's the worst that can happen? In a riotous series of mishaps, Magnolia quickly learns that--not surprisingly--a piano doesn't mix well with sand, sun, and seagulls!

Hippos Go Berserk!


Sandra Boynton - 1977
    Illustrated by the author, this is a vibrant full-color picture book.