Their intentions are dark--they plan to deface the famous painting with a mustache! Can brave Jack come to the rescue . . . before it's too late?           With bold cartoony illustrations and action-packed text, the talented Meghan McCarthy has created a whirlwind spy tale filled with speeding cars, daring escapes, and astounding heroism. *Names may have been changed to protect secret-agent identities.Includes an author's note with information about the actual theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911.

    Ray the magician and his bunny assistant are best friends. They work together all day, performing their act in front of admiring crowds and return each night to the tiny apartment they share. But then comes the day downtown when the friends become separated, and suddenly Bunny is lost and alone. How will he ever find Ray in the hustle and bustle of the city? With its wonderfully detailed black-and-white illustrations strategically sprinkled with yellow (look carefully!), this tender story from a talented new author-illustrator will have you believing in the magic of friendship.

    But bees swarm the fruit, and Francisco has trouble picking them from the tree. He returns to his father several times, and each time his father shares a different proverb to inspire Francisco to continue trying. "Querer es poder. Where there's a will, there's a way!" Finally, Francisco is able to gather some mangoes, and on his way home he stops to visit his uncle, grandmother, and aunt. Francisco shares his mangoes with them, and by the time he gets home he no longer has any! "Es mejor dar que recibir. Sometimes it's better to give than to receive." Luckily for Francisco, his generosity does not go unnoticed. "Amor con amor se paga. Love is repaid with love."Readers are sure to be charmed by this humorous story about problem solving and sharing. The book includes a glossary of Spanish words.Praise for A Mango in the Hand“A "story told through proverbs" could easily go terribly wrong, but this sweet tale succeeds beautifully. This smoothly written family story is filled with warmth and humor and incorporates a blending of well-placed proverbs in both Spanish and English to drive the story’s themes. Digitally colored pencil-and-ink cartoon drawings reflect the lush greens of summertime and outdoor living in this intergenerational barrio.” –Kirkus Reviews

    What do you see? If you are Dr. William Carlos Williams, you see a wheelbarrow. A drizzle of rain. Chickens scratching in the damp earth." The wheelbarrow belongs to Thaddeus Marshall, a street vendor, who every day goes to work selling vegetables on the streets of Rutherford, New Jersey. That simple action inspires poet and doctor Williams to pick up some of his own tools--a pen and paper--and write his most famous poem.In this lovely picture book, young listeners will see how paying attention to the simplest everyday things can inspire the greatest art, as they learn about a great American poet.

    Join the star of the hit animated TV series in a classic Valentine's Day story about the importance of friendship, not only on February fourteenth but all year round.

    But after a long, happy day of beep-beeping and vroom-vrooming, even the busiest engines need to rest. This bright, bouncy, noise-filled book brings together all the vehicles that children adore.

    Believing in the power of kindness and patience, Doc taught Jim to spell, recognize the primary colors, and even make change from a cash register!Performing in shows across the country, Jim stunned audiences with his incredible skills. But when some people called Jim a fake, Doc set out to prove them wrong and to show the world that, thanks to the power of kindness and patience, Jim was truly a wonder horse.Caldecott Medalist Emily Arnold McCully’s account of this fascinating, true story comes alive in her striking illustrations.Wonder Horse is a 2011 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

    He tries with all his best tricks to attract the attention of passers by, but no one is interested. Just when he's about to give up all hope, something extraordinary happens to change his luck. Written and illustrated by a fresh new talent, this gentle and humorous story will appeal to everyone who loves a clown.

    There would be beautiful castles, kings and queens, good knights, bad knights, fair ladies in danger, evil dragons from the mountains, and a giant troll that roars and eats anything. What kid hasn’t dreamed of living in fairy-tale times—hasn’t imagined himself as the bravest knight in all the land (or at least the knight’s faithful squire). As he has done in his celebrated There’s a Nightmare in My Closet and its follow-ups, Mercer Mayer brings childhood fantasy hilariously to life here. Bad knights are forced to pick flowers for the king, a day’s adventure involves rescuing a cat from a tree, and our hero boldly fights a fire-breathing dragon using his trusty slingshot.This silly charmer, originally published in 1968 as Terrible Troll, has been entirely redone in vivid color. It’s a rediscovered gem with timeless appeal.

    Facts about the composition of the earth are conveyed painlessly and memorably.’ —SLJ. ‘An exciting adventure. . . . Illustrations [by Caldecott Medal winner Marc Simont] explode with color and action.’ —CS. Best Books of 1979 (SLJ)Children's Choices for 1980 (IRA/CBC)A Reading Rainbow Selection

    An older brother is strong and respected, just like an elephant. A mother is stately and beautiful, but she prefers not to stand out—a tall feat for a giraffe! How are animals like humans, and humans like animals? Readers of all ages will delight in Laurent Moreau's richly rendered, thought-provoking illustrations, and then they will entertain perhaps the most wildly illuminating question of all: What makes you special?

    She knows that if her lolo will show her how to jig the lines, to set the hook, and to pull in a fish, hand over hand, she can prove to everyone in their Filipino fishing village that she deserves her turn in the boat, girl or no!

    I am Darn Tough is a story to show how to keep going even when something is difficult. This beautifully illustrated narrative can inspire any child, anytime, who wants to run toward greater confidence in her/himself.

    Sofia leads her family on a brave expedition to find him, and shows Amber that spending the holiday with loved ones is better than any present. This beautifully illustrated hardcover jacketed picture book is perfect for the holidays, and includes a special appearance by Princess Aurora!

    "An excellent glossy catalogue of entertaining information about a civilization of antiquity. Family life, household effects, cosmetics, sports, children's dress and games--all these and more are on display in eye-filling spreads. Either read chronologically or browsed through, each page offers up a sterling visual feast guaranteed to spur discussion and provoke thinking about the early Romans."--Kirkus.