The Very Fairy Princess: A Spooky, Sparkly Halloween


Julie Andrews Edwards - 2015
    She's also a little nervous about leaving Miss Pym... what if her new teacher doesn't let Gerry wear her wings and crown? Change can be hard, even for a fairy princess! Thankfully, she realizes that new things can bring their own sparkle. From the mother-daughter team of Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton comes another delightful story in the #1 "New York Times "best-selling Very Fairy Princess series.

Willow Finds a Way


Lana Button - 2013
    That is, until Kristabelle starts using the powerful threat of un-inviting children from her “fantastic” birthday party to keep them in line, and Willow decides she's finally had enough. Surprising everyone, even herself, Willow steps up and bravely does something shocking, and it changes the entire dynamic of the classroom. This child-friendly and relatable story about bullying is elegantly told with honesty and heart. The simple artwork by Tania Howells beautifully captures the subtleties of the story; the children are the main focus of the spare illustrations, allowing their body language and facial expressions to leap off the page and showcase exactly how they're feeling. This is a book that will have young children on the edge of their seats at storytime, deeply sympathetic to the dilemma faced by Willow and her classmates. What makes this book particularly helpful is that it presents a model for how any child, even a shy one like Willow, can find his or her own way to deal with a bossy or bullying classmate. It offers a pitch-perfect lesson on how to stand up for yourself, terrifically aligning with character education lessons on courage. The empowering message here also helps promote individual self-awareness, self-esteem and good decision making.

T. Rex and the Mother's Day Hug


Lois G. Grambling - 2008
    Rex wants to plan something really special for his mama. He wants to DO something, not just give something. This year, T. Rex has the perfect gift idea that he knows Mama Rex is going to love sooo much. At least, he thinks she will. . . .In this sweet, funny story, Lois G. Grambling and Jack E. Davis demonstrate that sometimes less is more.

Click, Clack, Boo!: A Tricky Treat


Doreen Cronin - 2013
    So he draws the shades, puts on his footy pajamas, and climbs into bed. But do you think the barnyard animals have any respect for a man in footy pajamas? No, they do not. For them, the Halloween party has just begun. And we all know these critters far prefer tricks over treats. There are big surprises in store for Farmer Brown!

The House with Chicken Legs


Sophie Anderson - 2018
    A real friend. Not like her house with chicken legs. Sure, the house can play games like tag and hide-and-seek, but Marinka longs for a human companion. Someone she can talk to and share secrets with. But that's tough when your grandmother is a Yaga, a guardian who guides the dead into the afterlife. It's even harder when you live in a house that wanders all over the world . . . carrying you with it. Even worse, Marinka is being trained to be a Yaga. That means no school, no parties--and no playmates that stick around for more than a day. So when Marinka stumbles across the chance to make a real friend, she breaks all the rules . . . with devastating consequences. Her beloved grandmother mysteriously disappears, and it's up to Marinka to find her--even if it means making a dangerous journey to the afterlife. With a mix of whimsy, humor, and adventure, this debut novel will wrap itself around your heart and never let go.

Athena the Brain


Joan Holub - 2010
    She has never quite fit in at Triton Junior High, but who would've guessed that Athena is actually a goddess? Principal Zeus's daughter, to be exact.When she's summoned to Mount Olympus Academy, Athena thinks she might actually fit in for the first time in her life. But in some ways, school on Mount Olympus is not that different from down on Earth, and Athena is going to have to deal with the baddest mean girl in history: Medusa!

The Ugly Pumpkin


Dave Horowitz - 2005
    He leaves the pumpkin patch, and by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, he discovers the truth about who he is. Full color.

Beauty and the Beaks: A Turkey's Cautionary Tale


Mary Jane Auch - 2007
    When Lance, a very pretentious turkey, arrives on the farm and boasts that he is the only bird invited to a special feast, no hen is impressed, but when Beauty learns that Lance is the main course, she convinced others to save him.

Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving


Kimberly Dean - 2013
    But when Pete the Cat gets onstage, he makes learning the story of the first Thanksgiving fun. With thirteen flaps that open to reveal hidden surprises, this book is sure to be a holiday favorite for every Pete the Cat fan.

Rechenka's Eggs


Patricia Polacco - 1988
    Old Babushka is preparing her eggs for the Easter festival when she takes in Rechenka, an injured goose, who shows her that miracles really can happen. A Reading Rainbow Feature Title. Full color.

Trick or Treat, Marley!


John Grogan - 2011
    Cassie and Baby Louie are having lots of fun putting up spooky decorations. And Marley’s having even more fun destroying them. The kids hang a creepy skeleton. Marley runs away with the leg bone. The kids string fake spider webs on the stairs. Marley sweeps them up with his tail. The kids carve pumpkins. Marley gets his head stuck in a jack-o’-lantern. Worst of all—he eats every piece of Halloween candy! Will Marley’s family be able to have any Halloween fun with their naughty puppy around? Richard Cowdrey’s illustrations bring the charming and mischievous Marley to life.

Timothy Goes to School


Rosemary Wells - 1981
    Claude sits next to him, and he wears all the right clothes, says all the right things, and garners all the praise from his teacher and classmates. Timothy is feeling down, until he meets a girl who's having the same problem with her seatmate...."Children will easily relate to this tale, in which humor and realism effectively mesh." --Booklist, starred review

A Chick 'n' Pug Christmas


Jennifer Sattler - 2014
    Chick wants one just like it . . . until Pug explains how Santa delivers presents to kids everywhere all in one night, and Chick can't believe his ears. Clearly, Santa Claus is a superhero! And Chick wants to be his fearless sidekick. Spreading holiday cheer is no easy feat, but Chick is ready and willing, even if Pug, of course, would rather nap.Brimming with the same humor and charm fans have come to know from their favorite dynamic duo, readers will delight in this new adventure as Chick and Pug celebrate the holiday season.

So You Want to Be a Wizard


Diane Duane - 1983
    until she discovers a mysterious library book that promises her the chance to become a wizard. But she has no idea of the difference that taking the Wizard's Oath is going to make in her life. Shortly, in company with fellow beginner-wizard Kit Rodriguez, Nita's catapulted into what will be the adventure of a lifetime—if she and Kit can both live through it. For every wizard's career starts with an Ordeal in which he or she must challenge the one power in the universe that hates wizardry more than anything else: the Lone Power that invented death and turned it loose in the worlds. Plunged into a dark and deadly alternate New York full of the Lone One's creatures, Kit and Nita must venture into the very heart of darkness to find the stolen, legendary Book of Night with Moon. Only with the dangerous power of the wizardly Book do they have a chance to save not just their own lives, but their world...

Music Class Today!


David Weinstone - 2015
    But for one hesitant little music maker, it is all a bit overwhelming at first. With energetic and bright illustrations, this reassuring story about the courage it sometimes takes to try something new will resonate with children everywhere.From David Weinstone, the creator of the wildly popular Music for Aardvarks program, and the pitch-perfect Vin Vogel comes this infectious celebration of music class that will make you want to sing and dance with your own little ones!