Book picks similar to
The Musicians of Bremen by Linda M. Jennings


picture-books
readalouds
classic-childrens
folktale

Sowa's Ark: An Enchanted Bestiary


Michael Sowa - 1996
    A miniature pig splashing in a bowl of soup; a duck leading a wheelbarrow down a country lane; a woman gently stroking her daughter's face with a rabbit: take a trip into Sowa's brilliant and darkly comic imagination, where a menagerie of creatures adopt strange personae and pop up in the most unexpected places. In the same realm as Chris Van Allsburg and Maurice Sendak, Sowa's paintings take on the other-worldly look of a whacked-out fairy tale—each work full of irony, a wry Brothers Grimm for grown-ups. These witty and satirical images—a cross between Magritte and The Far Side—are sure to attract a well-deserved and passionate following in the States.

The Golden Mare, the Firebird, and the Magic Ring


Ruth Sanderson - 2001
    With her help he becomes the Tzar's best huntsman, only to be sent on impossible tasks by the jealous Tzar. Will the Golden Mare be able to help him win Yelena the Fair?

Dust Devil


Anne Isaacs - 2010
    Swamp Angel has a reputation as the greatest woodswoman and wildest wildcat in all of Tennessee. But when she grows too big for that state, she moves to Montana, a place so sizeable, even Angel can fit in. It’s there that she wrestles a raging storm to the ground and, at its center, finds herself a sidekick—a horse she names Dust Devil. And when Backward Bart, the orneriest, ugliest outlaw ever known, starts terrorizing the prairie, seems like Angel and Dust Devil may be the only ones strong enough to stop him. Dust Devil received four starred reviews and was named a New York Times Notable Children's Book of the Year and an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Winner. Children will be captivated by the beauty and exaggerated humor of Paul Zelinsky’s American primitive–style paintings and the wit and energy of Anne Isaacs’s unparalleled storytelling. Here is an original folktale starring an extraordinary gal who is as feisty as she is funny and as courageous as she is kind.

Rabbit's Gift


George Shannon - 2007
    Just in time, a turnip turns up, and a second one, too. Who in the woods wouldn't want to tuck away an extra turnip for the long winter? Not Rabbit. He chooses a different path--and starts a wave of generosity that spreads among all his forest friends.    Admired picture-book team George Shannon and Laura Dronzek have created a heartwarming tale about the true meaning of friendship.    Includes an author's note and a chart that translates the Chinese calligraphy in the book.

The Chinese Emperor's New Clothes


Ying Chang Compestine - 2017
    But Ming Da has a plan. With the help of his tailors, he comes up with a clever idea to outsmart his devious advisors: He asks his tailors to make “magical” new clothes for him. Anyone who is honest, the young emperor explains, will see the clothes’ true splendor, but anyone who is dishonest will see only burlap sacks. The emperor dons a burlap sack, and the ministers can’t help but fall for his cunning trick.

Lousy Rotten Stinkin' Grapes


Margie Palatini - 2009
    He's nothing if not crafty, and in this humorous new spin on the well-known fable, fox's scheme is taken to new heights.

I Am Tama, Lucky Cat


Wendy Henrichs - 2011
    Little does he know that the hungry, shivering animal he names Tama would bring him both friendship and good fortune beyond his dreams. Illustrations.

Freddie Frog is Hungry


Kari Brimhall - 2011
    Your child will delight in reading this funny tale over and over again as you learn different colors and sizes. The bright illustrations and easy to read words will have your child reading along and chanting "I'm still hungry!"

49 Ways to Steal the Cookie Jar (The 49... Series Book 2)


James Warwood - 2013
    Got a sweet tooth?... Can't wait till dinner time?... Here's 49 (extremely silly) ways to reach the Cookie Jar! Join the hilarious adventure of these cheeky kids who will try absolutely anything to get their hands on the Cookie Jar. With an illustration for each haphazard attempt, you're guaranteed to laugh, smirk, and chuckle for hours. Disclaimer: reading this eBook will probably make you giggle, but won't help you get a cookie. Recommended Age: 10+

The Storyteller


Evan Turk - 2016
    It had fountains of cool, refreshing water to quench the thirst of the desert, and storytellers to bring the people together. But as the kingdom grew, the people forgot the dangers of the desert, and they forgot about the storytellers, too. All but one young boy, who came to the Great Square for a drink and found something that quenched his thirst even better: wonderful stories. As he listened to the last storyteller recount the Endless Drought, and the Glorious Blue Water Bird, he discovered the power of a tale well told. Acclaimed illustrator Evan Turk has created a stunning multidimensional story within a story that will captivate the imagination and inspire a new generation of young storytellers.

The Three Little Pigs Book & CD


Paul Galdone - 1971
    All three pigs set out to seek their fortune, but two of them come to a sorry end.

Anansi and the Magic Stick


Eric A. Kimmel - 2001
    Warthog, Lion, and Zebra laugh so hard at his messy house that they wake him up. Anansi stomps off in a huff--right into an amazing secret! Hyena has a magic stick that follows his orders. If Anansi steals the stick, he'll never have to work again, and his home will be the neatest one in town. Is the magic stick his secret for success? Or the beginning of disasters he can't even imagine?

Tico and the Golden Wings


Leo Lionni - 1964
    But the wings he gets are made of gold and his bird friends turn against him. “You think you are better than we are,” they say. What Tico does with his golden feathers—and the important lesson he learns—is a fable that children will take to their hearts.

There Was an Old Fly Who Swallowed a Lady


Jason Pierce - 2012
    Once upon a time,"there was an old lady who swallowed a fly"...Well, the fly is back!He's bigger.He's badder.And he wants revenge!

Good Night, Wind


Linda Elovitz Marshall - 2019
    But no one wants to shelter so cold and blustery a Wind--not the townspeople, not the country innkeeper, not even the gnarled tree who is worried about frozen roots. Finally, Wind does what any of us do when we are overtired: Wind has a tantrum. And it is only with the help of two small children brave enough to weather the storm that Wind finally finds the perfect place to sleep. Gentle language coupled with intricate photo-illustrations of collage dioramas tell this sweet tale about empathy and friendship. The visuals in this book are striking for their vibrancy, palette, and movement.