File Under Fear


Geraldine wall - 2014
    As she discovers more about each one she is at first amused and then alarmed and finally horrified and saddened as she realises the true nature of her task. But when her own family are drawn into a scenario of crime and violence that she had never suspected existed on the streets of Birmingham and the quiet fields and farms of Warwickshire she must dredge up every ounce of courage and resourcefulness that she possesses to expose the horror of what she finds and save the people she loves. At the same time she is fighting a different battle, one which she cannot tell anyone about, one she can barely admit to herself. As her beloved husband Harry fades deeper into his illness she struggles to control her growing passion for Steve. He is always in her life as a neighbour and a colleague but they can never speak or touch as they long to do. Throughout it all her family, quirky, argumentative and demanding as they can be, also give her the strength and determination to fight for what she loves and believes in.

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.

Dreamland


Noah Klocek - 2018
    But finding her dreams is not always easy, and she often has to set out in search of them. As Amelie ventures into the surreal world that lingers behind her closed eyes, she overcomes cold toes, too-bright moonshine, tangled blankets, hidden shadows, and ticking clocks to finally uncover her favorite dreams. From illustrator and production designer Noah Klocek comes a breathtaking depiction of a half-asleep landscape sure to lure readers into a dreamland of their own.

Bloom


Doreen Cronin - 2016
    Bloom and her mud fairy magic might be able to turn weeds into flowers and spin sand into glass, but the people of the kingdom ceaselessly complain about the trails of dirt and puddles of mud that seem to follow her every step, and finally they cast her out.But when the glass castle begins to crack, then cracks some more, the King and Queen in a panic search for the long-banished fairy, but they can’t find Bloom anywhere. Desperate to save their home, they send their meekest, most ordinary subject, a girl named Genevieve whose sole task until now has been to polish the Queen’s crystal sugar spoon—to coax any worthy fairy to come and save the kingdom. Genevieve finds Bloom exactly where the king and queen failed to see her, and Bloom knows exactly how to save the kingdom. But it will take the two girls working together, along with a mighty dollop of self-confidence—and some very messy hands—to accomplish the extraordinary.

The Library Dragon


Carmen Agra Deedy - 1994
    Who could guard books better than a REAL dragon?"She kept a fiery eye out to make sure no one removed any books from the shelves...The very thought of sticky little fingerstouchingandclutching,pawingandclawing,smearingandtearingher precious books just made her hot under the collar."The teachers, singed and scorched, formed a delegation. But not even sweet Miss Lemon could convince Miss Lotta Scales that "the library belonged to the children."Fortunately, nearsighted Molly Brickmeyer stumbles into a copy of "Snuff the Magic Dragon" and reads the tale out loud. Her storytelling beckons the children back to the library and brings them face to face with the Library Dragon.Can an open book temper the flames of the school's hot-headed librarian?

The Big Bad Wolf in My House


Valérie Fontaine - 2021
    At first the wolf is sweet and kind to her mom, though the girl notices the wolf’s cold eyes from the very beginning. When her mom arrives home late one day, the wolf suddenly hurls angry words and terrible names at her. From that day on her mother doesn’t smile anymore. The girl is careful to clean her room and brush her teeth and do everything to keep the peace, but the wolf is unpredictable, throwing plates on the floor, yelling at her mother and holding the girl’s arm so tightly she is left with bruises. Whenever the yelling begins, she hides under the covers in her room.How will she and her mom cope as the wolf becomes increasingly fierce?Valérie Fontaine and Nathalie Dion have created a powerful, moving story about violence in the home that ends on a note of hope.

Do Super Heroes Have Teddy Bears?


Carmela LaVigna Coyle - 2012
    Are super heroes always brave and daring? We're brave and bold and kind and caring. After five successful books in the "Princesses" series, Carmela LaVigna Coyle now turns her attention to an all new childhood fantasy in this wonderful new story about imagination and play. Every little boy and girl has a super hero somewhere inside just waiting to come out. Tie on your cape (blankies recommended) and join the adventure. P.S. Do super heroes have teddy bears? Why, yes, they do! Check out the trailer on YouTube

Snotty Crocky


Gary Lucas - 2010
    Despairing from the relentless teasing Crocky enlists the help of a local witch doctor who has an ingenious plan to deal with the monkey menace.A disgustingly funny story, Snotty Crocky is both hilarious and simple in its execution of a tale about standing up to bullies.A combination of read-along-verse by Papa G (Pedro The Ugliest Dog In The World) and illustrations by Carlos Patino which perfectly capture the humour of the story, Snotty Crocky is an excellent picture book for children to read along with their parents.

Where Is Bina Bear?


Mike Curato - 2022
    Is that Bina hiding under a lampshade? It looks like Bina . . . but it must be a lamp. Is that Bina beneath the fruit bowl? It could be . . . but it's probably just a table. Searching for Bina, Tiny realizes something is wrong—and sets out to make it right. This is a humorous yet sincere picture book about friendship, understanding, and embracing our loved ones just as they are.Godwin Books

Stella Louella's Runaway Book


Lisa Campbell Ernst - 1998
    Studious Stella Louella is frantically trying to find her missing library book, so she can return it before the due date passes. Looking every place she can imagine, Stella ends up visiting everyone in town, from the people at the fix-it shop, the diner, the police station, the scouts, and each neighbor in between. “From the start of this cheerful cumulative tale, Ernst gives youngsters crowded spreads chock-a-block with amusing particulars.” – Publishers Weekly

When I'm Sleepy


Jane R. Howard - 1985
    As a little girl wonders what it would be like to sleep like animals do - curled up in a basket, or hanging upside down, or lying in a hollow log - the carefully detailed pictures show her peacefully slumbering as she rests on a cat's warm fur, hangs companionably next to a bat, and is lovingly held by a raccoon. Although many of the pictures are funny, the overall atmosphere of the book is tender, dreamy and (yawn) very soporific.

The Royal Slumber Party (Sofia the First: Disney Junior)


Catherine Hapka - 2013
    What if her old friends don't get along with her new ones? Advice from Sofia's mom comes at just the right moment, and Sofia's slumber party winds up being a royal blast!

Trip Trap Trouble


Katie Pye - 2020
    It doesn’t take long for his goat companions to tire of Big Billy Goat's quest. Not to mention the frustrated troll enduring trip-trapping on the bridge overhead. But how can peace be restored when Big Billy Goat Gruff is unwilling to be thankful for anything but the best? And will Big Billy Goat Gruff end up with the greenest grass he is seeking? Start conversations about gratitude with this book, one of many in the Fairytale Fraud series of well being for children.

Little Ree


Ree Drummond - 2017
    When I first arrived, I felt so out of place! But eventually, I looked around and discovered all the wonderful things about country life. So I decided to write a story about my experiences, as seen through the eyes of a little girl named Ree.Little Ree moves to the country and feels as scared and unsure as I was. But then she finds that if she sets her mind to it, being a country girl is a pretty cool thing. Come along on her adventures!"Little Ree trades in her city days for a country way of life when she moves with her family to her grandparents' ranch. She's excited to ride horses, swim in the pond, and help Grandma cook for everyone. But on her first day, she finds that living on a ranch can be tough.She has to get up at the crack of dawn, learn to herd cows, and make sure her horse, Pepper, doesn't eat everything in sight. And that's all before breakfast! Will she ever get used to this new place? Luckily, the end of the day brings a big family barbecue...and the happy discovery that being a country girl isn't about the right pair of boots, it's all about the right attitude.With warmth, humor, and stories inspired by life on the ranch, Ree Drummond's picture book introduces us to a spunky new picture book star and treats us to a special pancake recipe at the end!

Mathilda and the Orange Balloon


Randall de Sève - 2010
    How can a small sheep become a big orange balloon?With a lot of imagination and determination—anything is possible!