G. Esperanza celebrates the culture of the Boogie Down Bronx. Boogie boogie, y’all.The city boogied all day.Busy, busy, busy,Till one kid stopped to say,Woah, woah, woah!Look at the art on the wall!The city is alive with vibrant art in every corner of the parks, the shops, the trains. But most people are too busy to see it—or worse, choose to ignore it! When three children stop to marvel at the art around their community, they realize it’s up to them to show everyone else how truly special it is when art and reality dance together so seamlessly.

    Messing with nature is fun at first, until we see how hilariously wrong things go. Oinking otters! Picketing ground hogs! Stage-crashing pigs! What could be next? With deadpan text and eye-popping art, this raucous picture book builds gleefully to a riot of craziness that brings the whole fantasy tumbling down―in a comedic warning against imaginary menageries that kids will find hilarious.

    Affectionate farewells, of the sort that parents and their children share, are uttered to each animal as he slowly progresses through the zoo. Unfortunately, Tortoise spends so long with his heart-warming goodbyes that it is too dark for an adventure by the time he reaches the exit to the zoo.

    . . . The pictures pick up color as the guests arrive and the activities get livelier. To further focus attention on color, the words are printed in boxed insets of the appropriate hue. . . . The music-a simple, singable tune-is printed at the end. The subject and the highly predictable pattern of text have appeal for just-beginning readers as well as for preschool listeners and singers."-Language Arts

    Other times they are warm and comforting. And mommies always know when to laugh, where to play, and how to love. Through simple, moving text and endearing illustrations, Sebastien Braun captures the spirit of motherhood in a celebration for every mother and child.

    The old man's son is a farmer and needs a new sheepdog to replace Nell, who has grown too old to work, so the old man decides to give his son Floss. Somewhere in her memory Floss knows about sheep and she soon learns how to be a sheepdog. But one day when Floss is on the hillside herding sheep, she sees the children playing with a new ball and can't resist joining in. Meanwhile the sheep escape -- and the farmer is very angry. Floss is put in the doghouse, while Nell rounds up the sheep. But after this Floss becomes a very good sheepdog -- although, when she has time, she still likes to play ball with the children.

    It's a perfect morning for a family waddle, when puff!One of little Dilly's feathers blows away!What is she to do?"Stop that feather!" she quacks.But with each gust of wind Dilly's feather blows farther away.Her friends, Spike the porcupine and Nibble the field mouse, help Dilly in their own ways, but is the downy feather lost for good?And what will she tell Mama?

    At the Jungle Dance, the warthogs waltz, the chimps cha-cha, and the lions tango. "Giraffes can't dance," they all jeer when it's Gerald's turn to prance. But with some sound advice from a wise cricket, Gerald starts swaying to his own sweet tune.

    They don’t care if the notes are wrong! But uh-oh, Big Brown Bear is fast asleep. Will their lively music wake him up? A small moment of trepidation segues into a jubilant performance in a story that will be sweet music to little ears.

    Come sing and dance around in an octupus’s garden in the shade! The classic Beatles song comes to life with colorful illustrations from bestselling illustrator Ben Cort and a CD with a new music recording and audio reading from stellar musician Ringo Starr.I’d like to be under the sea In an octopus’s garden in the shadeHe’d let us in, knows where we’ve been In his octopus’s garden in the shadeWho wouldn’t like to visit an octopus’s garden? Well, now you can! This lively picture book, complete with a CD of the beloved song, brings Ringo Starr’s joyful underwater tale to life and is perfect for reading, sharing, and singing again and again.

    "Hush baby polar bear. Sleep in the snow, and dream of the places where sleeping bears go." Readers follow a baby snow-white plush polar bear that has been brought to life by his owner's imagination from the back of a whale with the sea spray surrounding, to a land of tall grass where butterflies fl oat by up into the sky itself…and happily right back through the window into the loving arms of his owner asleep in bed. Mack's lush and lovable illustrations suit the lulling, rhyming text to make a perfect bedtime book sure to leave readers and listeners with warm and fuzzy feelings read after read.

    Sweet and positive in its message, with bright, beautiful art, this book is sure to be a hit. Perfect for sharing!

    He's up against the talents of Mules Davis's cool duo and Ella Finchgerald's singing group.Colorful artwork from artist Tim Bowers ensures this story doesn't miss a beat. A glossary of musical terms and intruments rounds out this perfect introduction to jazz for young readers.

    Fun and informative back matter takes the shape of an interview so that readers learn more right from the bird's bill. Ken Pak's lively illustrations, paired with Rita Gray's words, render a visual and sonorous picture book to be enjoyed by young naturalists.

    Words and music on last page.