Let's Do Nothing!


Tony Fucile - 2009
    What's left to do? Nothing! Ten seconds of nothing! Can they do it? Can they act like stone statues in the park? Can they simply hold their breath and not blink an eye? With a wink to the reader and a command of visual humor, feature film animator Tony Fucile demonstrates the Zen-like art of doing nothing...oops! Couldn't do it!

Orion and the Dark


Emma Yarlett - 2014
    So one night the Dark decides to take Orion on an adventure.

Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum


Lisa Wheeler - 2004
    How will they escape when a big blue truck comes straight toward them?Written in lively, lyrical rhyme and accompanied by hilarious, colorful illustrations, Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum is an irresistible picture book for reading aloud. If your kids like the Wonky Donkey, they’ll love Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum!For the 2017 Michigan Reads! program the Library of Michigan selected Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum written by Lisa Wheeler and illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith and distributed 4,000 copies throughout libraries in Michigan. Michigan Reads is a program modeled after “One Book, One Community” and is intended to support the development of early literacy skills as a foundation to future reading and success in school and beyond.

Pirates Go to School


Corinne Demas - 2011
    They learn reading and math, and they bring pirate treasure for show-and-tell. For pirates, going to school is as much fun as a game of "walk the plank"!

Little Lola


Julie Saab - 2014
    . . especially school. What is school like? Find out when Lola the cat heads to school herself and gets a paw (or two) into just about everything. Lively, funny, irresistible, and mischievous, Lola will appeal to fans of Olivia and Peppa Pig.When an apple hits Lola the cat on the head and wakes her up, she knows it is going to be that kind of day. So when she sees something curious, she decides to follow it . . . right onto a school bus (fun!) and right into school. The kids have never seen a cat at school before, but this classroom is open to everyone and everything, and soon Lola is having the time of her life. This lively introduction to Little Lola the curious cat is a winning choice for back-to-school, as well as for sharing aloud all year long.The husband-and-wife team of Saab and Gothard introduce Lola, an irrepressible street cat who decides to have an adventure at school, donning pink eyeglasses, a cute outfit, and a backpack, and following schoolchildren onto the bus. The kids love Lola, and she thrives at school: “Lola practiced painting, playing, hiding, singing, swinging, and sharing.” Gothard’s watercolors have a retro, Richard Scarry simplicity and showcase Lola’s personality at every turn, whether she’s learning “subtracting” by eating goldfish crackers or showing off her many talents (including cheerleader and one-cat-band) during show-and-tell. An entertaining and promising debut for both Lola and her creators. Ages 4–8. Publishers Weekly, starred review

The Rabbit Listened


Cori Doerrfeld - 2018
    All the animals are sure they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn't feel like chatting. The bear thinks Taylor should get angry, but that's not quite right either. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to process this loss, and one by one they fail. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen, which is just what Taylor needs.Whether read in the wake of tragedy or as a primer for comforting others, this is a deeply moving and unforgettable story sure to soothe heartache of all sizes.

Florette


Anna Walker - 2018
    She’ll miss the apple trees, the daffodils, and chasing butterflies in the wavy grass. But there’s no room for a garden in the city. Or is there?

A Tale of Two Daddies


Vanita Oelschlager - 2010
    The boy says he heard that the girl has two dads. The girl says that is right--she has Daddy and Poppa. True to a child’s curiosity, practical questions follow: "Which dad helps when your team needs a coach? / Which dad cooks you eggs and toast?” To which she answers: "Daddy is my soccer coach. / Poppa cooks me eggs and toast.”Intended for 4- to 8-year-olds, this book introduces a type of family increasingly visible in modern society. Neither favoring nor condemning, it reflects a child’s practical and innocent look at the adults who nurture and love her. It becomes clear that the family bond is unburdened by any cultural discomforts.

Clark the Shark


Bruce Hale - 2013
    Clark zooms into school, crashes through the classroom, and is rowdy at recess. Clark loves life—but when his enthusiasm is too much for his friends, Clark's teacher, Mrs. Inkydink, helps him figure out a way to tone it down.Clark the Shark celebrates boisterous enthusiasm—and knowing when it's time for indoor voices!

The Biggest Kiss


Joanna Walsh - 2010
    Who likes to kiss? I do, I do! Even the shy do, Why not try, too? Everyone needs kisses - so what could be better than a book that is full of them? From kisses with lipstick to sleepy goodnight kisses, there's a kiss here for everyone. Find out whether worms kiss underground, with the soil all around, or whether fish kiss like this - splosh, splash, splish. And find out which kiss is the best kiss of all in this fabulous feel-good book that is full of wamth and humour.

Sparky!


Jenny Offill - 2014
    Like the Caldecott Medal-winning Officer Buckle and Gloria, Sparky stars a pet who has more to offer than meets the eye. When our narrator orders a sloth through the mail, the creature that arrives isn't good at tricks or hide-and-seek . . . or much of anything. Still, there's something about Sparky that is irresistible.Winner of the Charlotte Zolotow Award

The Storm Whale


Benji Davies - 2011
    One night, a great storm washes a small whale onto the beach. The boy discovers the whale is a good listener. The father discovers the boy is lonely. Together, they return the whale to the sea. And from that day on, the boy learns that the father can be a good listener too, in Benji Davies's heartwarming tale, The Storm Whale.

Bernice Gets Carried Away


Hannah E. Harrison - 2015
    First, everyone else gets a piece of cake with a frosting rose. But not Bernice. Then, everyone else gets strawberry-melon soda. Bernice gets the prune-grapefruit juice. And it's warm. The last straw is the one lousy (squished) candy she gets from the piñata. So when the balloons arrive, Bernice knows just what she has to do: grab them all. And then, poor cross Bernice gets carried up, up, and away. Luckily, she figures out just how to make her way back down to the party...and she brightens lots of other animals' days on her way.Hannah Harrison’s gorgeous animal paintings come alive in her second picture book. Her “exceptionally polished” debut, Extraordinary Jane, received starred reviews from Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, and  School Library Journal.

I'm Sticking with You


Smriti Prasadam-Halls - 2020
    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.

Little Elliot, Big City


Mike Curato - 2014
    In spite of the challenges he faces, Elliot finds many wonderful things to enjoy—like cupcakes! And when his problems seem insurmountable, Elliot discovers something even sweeter—a friend.