Book picks similar to
Two Pairs of Shoes by P.L. Travers


picture-books
juvenile
special-collection
traditional-literature

The Hand-Me-Down Doll


Steven Kroll - 1983
    Keep me and love me and give me a name, begs the doll. Finally, her luck changes when she meets a little girl who appreciates her and takes her home. Originally published in 1983, the slightly shortened text is beautifully interpreted in Dan Andreasen's nostalgic oil-painted illustrations.

Rumpelstiltskin


Paul Galdone - 1985
    The funny little man who spun straw into gold and helped the miller's daughter marry the king, gives her three days to guess his name or he will take away her child.

The Rough-Face Girl


Rafe Martin - 1998
    But only the girl who proves she can see him will be his bride. The two beautiful but spoiled daughters of a poor village man try their best to be chosen, but it is their Rough-Face-Girl sister, scarred on her face and arms from tending fires, who sees the Invisible Being in the wonder of the natural world.The dramatic illustrations reflect the vibrant earth colors of the native landscape and the wisdom and sensitivity of the protagonist.

The Crane Wife


Odds Bodkin - 1998
     This retelling of a traditional Japanese folktale teaches readers young or old a lesson about life and love.

The Wolf Who Cried Boy


Bob Hartman - 2002
    How he wishes his mother would serve up a nice platter of his favorite dish: Boy! But Boy is hard to come by these days. As Little Wolf trudges home from school one day, he decides to postpone his boring dinner by shouting "Boy! Boy!" But what will happen when a real boy finally comes along? In this hilarious twisted tale, Little Wolf learns the same timeless lesson that the boy who cried "Wolf!" did so many years ago.

Ninja Red Riding Hood


Corey Rosen Schwartz - 2014
    Wolf just can’t catch a break! Ever since the three little pigs started teaching everyone Ninja skills, huffing and puffing just hasn’t been enough to scare up a good meal. His craving for meat sends Wolf to classes at the dojo, and soon he’s ready to try out his new moves. A little girl and her tiny granny should be easy targets--right? Not if Little Red has anything to say about it! Kiya!

Dick Whittington and His Cat


Marcia Brown - 1950
    Illustrated.

Yes, I Can!


Wayne W. Dyer - 2012
    Wayne W. Dyer, is taken from his latest book for adults, Wishes Fulfilled. I AM teaches kids a simple but profound message: God is not far off in the distance, or even merely beside us. In other words, we are not separate from God—we are God!       Knowing that God’s love and strength is a part of everyone can help kids grow to meet their greatest potential in life. The book uses a rhyme and illustrations to teach this lesson and help children realize that they are greater than they ever imagined! There is also a special section at the end that teaches the important meaning and way to use the words I am to create love, happiness, and greatness in their own lives and the world

The Hunterman and the Crocodile


Baba Wagué Diakité - 1997
    A hunterman and a crocodile take turns being captive and captor in a humorous folktale that teaches the importance of living in harmony with nature and is illustrated with ceramic-tile paintings.

Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition


Jewell Reinhart Coburn - 2000
    By following her mother's admonition to perform every task with care and love, a poor young Mexican girl wins the devotion of the governor's son.

Alice from Dallas


Marilyn Sadler - 2013
    . . Pennsylvania. Each day she puts on her favorite boots and hat and sets off on her stick pony for school with a “Yippee ki-yay!” Alice is used to being the only cowgirl around, until Lexis from Texas arrives at school one day. Lexis seems to be a real cowgirl, with her fancy hat, jingling spurs, and lasso tricks. Alice decides there’s only one way to know who the best cowgirl is: a school-yard showdown at high noon! But will Alice learn there’s room for more than one cowgirl in town?Bestselling author and illustrator Marilyn Sadler and Ard Hoyt team up to create a rollicking tale of friendship that will have readers dancing the Texas Two-Step and shouting “Yee-haw,” no matter where they’re from. Praise for Alice from Dallas "The comic watercolor-and-ink illustrations don’t miss a beat in capturing the amusing rivalry that turns into friendship...The clever ending is a yee-haw moment that will rope in readers as quick as tumbling tumbleweeds."--Kirkus Reviews"Hoyt’s bright ink-and-watercolor illustrations gleefully capture the girls’ enthusiasm for all things western, from their fringed cowgirl blouses to the bandannas tied jauntily around their necks. A lively story for cowgirls everywhere, with a breezy lesson about jealousy."--Booklist

John Henry: An American Legend


Ezra Jack Keats - 1965
    in full color. The Caldecott Medalist's powerful classic is now reissued in a handsome paperback edition, as well as a library edition.

The Five Forms


Barbara McClintock - 2017
    . . but is shocked to find that doing so conjures real animals right into her home! The chaos escalates as she releases a leopard, a snake, and a dragon, each creature larger and more destructive than the last. It is only once she manages the fifth and final form that things return to normal. But will she be able to clean up the mess she’s created before her mother returns home?A New York City Public Library Notable Best Book for Kids

The Hidden Folk: Stories of Fairies, Dwarves, Selkies, and Other Secret Beings


Lise Lunge-Larsen - 2004
    Or was it just the odd light of dusk or dawn playing tricks? As Lise Lunge-Larsen’s magical, timeless stories reveal and Beth Krommes’s enchanting scratchboard illustrations capture, the hidden folk are there, all right: you just have to know where—and how—to look.

My World Of Color


Margaret Wise Brown
    Here she introduces the concept of color to children with a wonderfully playful, lyrical text. Loretta Krupinski's jewel-toned palette, charming characters, and plentiful details perfectly complement the text.