This cleverly self-aware, interactive picture book, loosely based on Waiting For Godot, introduces a charming cast of characters illustrated in Marianna Coppo’s quirky and delicate style. Young readers will learn that instead of waiting around for stories to happen, they should go out into the world and create their own! Perfect for fans of The Monster at the End of this Book and The Book with No Pictures.

     "A brilliantly playful book that experiments with the physical boundaries of the book as an object, encouraging interaction and imagination." --Oliver Jeffers, bestselling illustrator of The Day the Crayons Quit See what happens when flipping the page of this gleeful picture book gets you--SPLAT!--a pie in the face, followed by--SQUISH!--an insect sandwich, and--SPLASH!--a deluge of water balloons. Bright colors and appealing visual gags add up to a perfect mess--no cleanup necessary.

    Through thoughtful and fanciful questions Ashford explores what we risk when we ask for love and what special rewards may be waiting for us in return. Subdued watercolor illustrations perfectly capture the book's gentle tone and important message. The perfect book for any occasion when a gift of love is needed.

    When Sofia loses her beloved teddy after a day at the beach, she is heartbroken. But the sea saw it all, and maybe, just maybe, it can bring Sofia and her teddy back together. However long it may take... Exquisite collage artwork is paired with an assured, moving text in this very special picture book.

    Even though the houses are different on the inside, it doesn't reflect how they feel on the outside. The bathroom of the full house was full of many bathroom-y things. There was a big bathtub with gold clawed feet, a sink shaped like a seashell, a hairbrush and comb made of bone,and cakes of lilac soap. In the bathroom of the empty house was just a toilet and a sink. In the evening when the two houses grew tired of dancing, they would rest on the hillside and look out at the world together.

         9-year-old Gabe (Gabriella) Murray lives and breathes hockey. She's the youngest player on her new team, she has a nifty move that her teammates call "the Gabe," and she shares a lucky number with her hero, Hayley Wickenheiser: number 22. But when her coach hands out the team jerseys, Gabe is stuck with number 9. Crushed, Gabe wants to give up hockey altogether. How can she play without her lucky number? Gabe's grandmother soon sets her straight, though--from her own connection to the number 9 in her hockey-playing days to all the greats she cheered for who wore it, she soon convinces Gabe that this new number might not be so bad after all.      A lovely intergenerational tale and a history of the storied number 9 in hockey, The Highest Number in the World is a must-have for any hockey fan.

    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.

    When his friends start suggesting improvements, Big Bear obligingly follows their advice. To his dismay, his big boat is turning out all wrong. It's because he hasn't followed his own dream, and he knows exactly how to fix it. With all the simplicity, warmth, and wisdom of Little Bear's Little Boat, this book honors an important step in growing up.

    He is alone, but happy. One day he sees another wolf approaching, a little wolf. Without a word, Little Wolf sits down next to Big Wolf. He stays all night and all the next day. At first Big Wolf is suspicious. He also is worried that Little Wolf will grow bigger and become a rival. After a while, however, he starts to feel fond of his small companion. He decides to let Little Wolf share his covers, just a little, so he isn’t cold at night. The next day he shares some of his lunch. Just as Big Wolf is starting to get used to his new friend, and even to care for him, Little Wolf disappears. Big Wolf is too proud to cry or get upset, but the reader cannot miss the great mix of emotions he feels, which are movingly portrayed in Olivier Tallec’s sensitive illustrations. Big Wolf loses his appetite and cannot sleep. He spends his time staring at the horizon, waiting for Little Wolf to return, but without the slightest reason to hope that he will. But with the arrival of spring Little Wolf does return. Big Wolf is so happy his heart almost bursts. The two wolves shyly admit that without each other they found life lonely. Never again will they leave each other’s side.Prix de l’album 2007 CherbourgPrix France Télévision 2006Prix des Enfants 2006 du Salon Chrétien de TroyesPrix littéraire jeunesse de 2006 Chambray-les-toursAdopted by the French National curriculum

    They're best friends, and whatever Fluff does, little Billy does too: climb, slide, swim, splash, run, and jump. Together, they have fun in their enchanting polar world--until something happens that rocks their friendship. Children--and parents too--will instantly recognize and relate to this familiar situation, and rejoice in how the penguin pals resolve their conflict.

    James does all kinds of things that only older brothers can do—like write his name, read books, cross the street, and ride the school bus. But there’s one thing James doesn’t do: take a nap. Because big brothers don’t take naps. James assures Nicholas that someday he’ll be able to do all the things James does. And when the brothers begin to share a very special secret, it looks like that special day may be approaching very soon….

    Whatever you're doing, I'm sticking with you. It's wonderful to have good friends to see you through the good times and the bad. But sometimes, friends can also be a bit . . . well . . . overbearing. A gorgeously warm, funny book about everything a friendship can be – for anyone who's ever had a friend.

    Smiley Shark longed to dip and dive, jiggle and jive, dart and dash with a splash and a splash with all the other fish; but whenever he smiled at them they swam away. But when all of the other fish are trapped in a fisherman's net, it's up to Smiley Shark to find away to free them-and he saves the day with his big, toothy smile!

    His brother and sister don't believe there is such a thing, but his trusty companion Boggan is ready to join Charles on a journey to find out. And along the way, they discover that wishes can come true in the most unexpected ways.

    But he keeps crashing. Then Otto comes up with an idea that will have everyone swinging!Recognizing Words-Word repetition-Familiar words and phrases-Simple sentencesStarting to Read-Simple stories-Increased vocabulary-Longer sentencesReading Independently-More-complex stories-Varied sentence structure-Paragraphs and short chaptersReading Proficiently-Rich vocabulary-More-challenging stories-Longer chaptersTO PARENTS AND TEACHERS:Children learn to read in a variety of ways: through formal teaching in school, by being read aloud to at home, and reading on their own, using all the tools they've learned for making sense of letters and words. The process starts with a child's first awareness that letters on the page form words, which make sentences, which make stories. No one method of learning is right for every child, but all children need books they can read successfully.Ready-to-Read books feature classic stories and interesting nonfiction by authors who really know how to write for this age group. They're grouped at four levels: Pre-Level One, with repetitive text and simple sentences for children who can recognize words; Level One, with an increased vocabulary and longer sentences for children who are just starting to read; Level Two, for those who are reading independently and are ready for slightly greater challenges; and Level Three, for children who can read fiction and nonfiction on their own, with fewer illustrations and longer texts. At each level, the books are all written, designed, and illustrated to suit the interests, needs, and abilities of new readers.Children in preschool and the early elementary grades are universally fascinated with reading, and are already saying, "I'm ready to read." When they finish a Ready-to-Read book, we want them to say, "I am reading, and I like it!"