In a story recounted through the daily log of Captain Allan Hope, the sailors aboard the Rita Anne become mesmerized and transformed by a mysterious glowing rock, and only music and books can restore them to normal.

    They pull on their helmets, gloves, and boots. Then off they roar in their trucks—zooming away to save the day!

    Full color.

    Now it's up to Magnolia to find a way to send this troublemaker home--but what could possibly scare an alligator away?

    Nicholas". No one claimed authorship until 13 years later. Clement Clarke Moore, a professor and poet, said that he wrote the piece for his children. Unbeknownst to him, his housekeeper had sent it to the newspaper to be published. However, the family of Henry Livingston Jr. contended that their father had been reciting “A Visit from St. Nicholas” for 15 years prior to publication. Regardless of the true author, the poem is now a Christmas classic.

    With stalling techniques as creative as this, it's a wonder she ever makes it to school at all! Sarah Maizes and Michael Paraskevas create another funny, fresh book for every parent who wants to foster creativity in their family's everyday routines.

    He is 77 percent sure that a spaghetti-slurping serpent lives in his sewer. Sammy and his sidekicks his sister, Sally, and their slobbery dog, Stan set out to discover the truth. What Sammy finds is a surprise in this tongue twisting mystery featuring the slippery letter S. The bright, fun artwork was created in colored pencil.

    Little birds hush as he walks by, and the rabbits and other small woodland creatures watch in silence as he performs his very special evening task and returns to his house among the trees. Small readers and listeners, too, will sense the serenity of this poetic story, and will be comforted to learn that the twilight is a gentle, friendly time.Exquisite pictures extend and illuminate the text, to reveal the nightly miracle so faithfully performed by Grandfather Twilight. Perfect for reading aloud and for sharing at bedtime, this beautiful and reassuring book will be cherished by old and young alike.

    . . and it's not over yet. Just as he's preparing for a good night's sleep, the fire bell rings yet again.

    Little mouse goes for a walk in a dangerous forest. To scare off his enemies he invents tales of a fantastical creature called the Gruffalo. So imagine his surprise when he meets the real Gruffalo.

    I come from a world of stories.A little girl sails her raft across a sea of words, arriving at the house of a small boy. She invites him to go away with her on an adventure into the world of stories... where, with only a little imaginaton, anything at all can happen. Irresistibly engaging characters by Oliver Jeffers set sail and chart their way through Sam Winston's fascinating typographical landscapes in this extraordinary ode to the power and promises of storytelling. Forty treasured children's classics and lullabies are featured in the pictures, providing endless opportunities for discovery, memories and sharing. Woven together by a simple story line, the one-of-a-kind illustrations in a A Child of Books provide an unforgettable reading experience that will inspire and encourage readers of all ages to explore, question, and imagine timeless stories of their own.

    She wants to draw. But as she's working on her masterpiece, Lucy creates . . . Monster! Monster just wants to play. And play. And play some more--until even Lucy is exhausted. It's going to take some quick thinking (and drawing) to get this tireless monster to bed. . . .        Natasha Wing and Sylvie Kantorovitz have created a sweet and hilarious bedtime tale reminiscent of Harold and the Purple Crayon. It's a story about friendship, imagination, and turning the tables on those little monsters who just won't go to bed!

    When you might think there is nothing to do, Nate is just happy to enjoy the view. Instead of wanting more, Nate is grateful for what he's got.Smile along with Nate as he enjoys all the good things life has to offer.

    But when Sir Zack and Caspar are taken inside for bed, King Jack - alone on his throne - finds himself feeling a bit less brave . . . especially when he hears a thing approaching, a thing with four legs.A rollicking read-aloud with a charming surprise ending and Helen Oxenbury's spare, expressive illustrations, this kid-pleaser is a classic in the making.

    They search for the right place, looking through the windows, wondering "What if...?" while making surprising discoveries along the way.