Ocean Animals from Head to Tail


Stacey Roderick - 2016
    First, readers are shown a close-up illustration of an unusual part of an animal's body and asked to guess its owner: “What ocean animal has a head like this?” Then the following spread reveals the animal's name (e.g., “A hammerhead shark!”), along with an illustration of the whole animal in its habitat. There's also a brief description of the animal's traits with a special emphasis on the featured body part. For example, readers learn that a blue whale's mouth contains baleen, which help it capture krill to eat, and that the tail of a seahorse curls so it can hold on to sea plants for stability. Young children will recognize that every animal has its own distinctive features and body parts that help it survive. Author Stacey Roderick has created a perfect beginning exploration of the physical traits of ocean animals that's both engaging and informative. Paper collage illustrations by Kwanchai Moriya in bright, eye-catching colors bring the animals to vivid and appealing life. The fun, interactive nature of the guessing game makes this book ideal for a read-aloud. It would be a terrific addition to an early life-science class on the characteristics of living things or on types of ocean animals. A bonus spread includes information on eight more ocean animals.

Red Red Red


Valeri Gorbachev - 2007
    And that’s hard for turtles to do. But he’s off to see something red and he can’t be late. But is it red like Rabbit’s roses? Or Goat’s socks? Or Fox’s roof? All the neighbors want to know, so off they go in a long parade to follow Turtle. But when he finally stops, there’s nothing red in sight. Until all at once they see red, red, red. Yet another trip into the inviting world of Valeri Gorbachev awaits young readers in this charming story. As the anticipation builds, so does the fun. And readers will be tickled—red—by the warm, rosy ending.

Wally Does Not Want a Haircut


Amanda Driscoll - 2016
    His hair is perfectly fine. Sure, it trips him up a tad and gathers a bit of greenery.But Wally does NOT want a haircut.He doesn’t even want one after his mama and their barnyard friends show off their own fun new ’dos. But when his unruly hair holds him back from the hoedown, he might have to reconsider.

Snow


Walter de la Mare - 2014
    'No breath of wind,No gleam of sunStill the white snowWhirls softly down'As the day draws to a close, a family prepares for Christmas - decorating the tree, hanging stockings by the fire, putting out a plate of mince pies...Outside, the world turns to white.

The Really Awful Musicians


John Manders - 2011
    Pipe and drum player Piffaro heads for the border, collecting other refugee musicians on the way. Their jam session on the road is so bad that the horse pulling the wagon figures out a way to make them all play the same music at the same time—a system of lines and hoofprints. (In fact, there was a time before musical notation was devised, but that’s the only part of this story that is true!) Includes afterword.

April Foolishness


Teresa Bateman - 2004
    When his grandson reports that the cows have gotten loose, Grandpa calmly makes breakfast because he knows the kids are trying to play an April Fool's trick. Full color.

The Forever Tree


Tereasa Surratt - 2018
    It grew from love.The animals and humans always knew their tree was special. The trunk was the best place to host championship bingo tournaments, and the branches were perfect for swinging in the shade!But when the tree gets sick, neighbors new and old will have to join forces if they have any chance of saving their treetop home.A touching tale based on the true story of one special tree, and the community that brought it back to life.

Everyone's Awake


Colin Meloy - 2020
    Instead of settling down to sleep, Dad bakes bread, Mom fixes the roof, and Grandma plays cards with a ghost. And between the dog, the cat, Sister, and Brother, there's at least three different wars being waged!

I Love Mom with the Very Hungry Caterpillar


Eric Carle - 2016
    Show Mom just how much she means with this colorful book from the World of Eric Carle. Join The Very Hungry Caterpillar as he honors Mother's Day and celebrates incredible parents everywhere. With joyful illustrations and colorful creatures, this charming keepsake is a great way to show parents, grandparents, soon-to-be mothers, aunts, friends, or whomever you call "Mom" just how much you care.

Warts and All: A Book of Unconditional Love


Lori Haskins Houran - 2017
    Whether you’re awkward as a baby ostrich, prickly as a tiny hedgehog, or drool like a puppy pug, someone loves you no matter what! This new story from the team that created Next To You features an irresistible array of adorably stinky, grouchy, burpy, and warty animals to drive the point home.

Ella and Penguin: A Perfect Match


Megan Maynor - 2017
    So it only makes sense that they like all the same things. But Ella loves tutus. Penguin does not. Ella loves finger painting. Penguin does not. Oh no! They don’t match! They must not be friends after all. Then again, maybe Ella and Penguin don’t need to like all the same things to love being friends.An irresistible follow-up to Ella and Penguin Stick Together!

The Broken Ornament


Tony DiTerlizzi - 2018
    More. More. More! So, when Jack breaks a dusty old ornament, he’s not sure why his mom is so upset. They can always get more ornaments, so what’s the big deal? Turns out the ornament was an heirloom, precious for more reasons than one. And Jack has a lot to learn about the true meaning Christmas. A fairy emerges from the shattered ornament. She has the power to make the most magical Christmasy things happen. Suddenly trees are sprouting, reindeer are flying, and snowmen are snowball fighting. All of it is so perfect, or it would be if she could fix Mom’s ornament. But she can’t. So it’s up to Jack to make some Christmas magic of his own.

Sakura's Cherry Blossoms


Robert Paul Weston - 2018
    In America, Sakura misses the blossoming cherry tree where she and her grandmother would play and picnic. How will she feel at home in this new and unfamiliar place? What if she forgets the beloved grandmother she left behind? Making friends with her neighbour helps Sakura feel more settled and when springtime finally arrives, a gorgeous and fateful surprise awaits her.Sakura's Cherry Blossoms captures the beauty of the healing power of friendship through Weston's Japanese poetry-inspired text and Saburi's breathtaking illustrations.

Poor Louie


Tony Fucile - 2017
    Even the playdates with Mom's friends despite their little crawling creatures who pull Louie's ears aren't all that bad. But then things get weird: cold food on the floor, no room in the bed, and lots of new stuff coming into the house in pairs: two small beds, two little sweaters, two seats in the stroller. Does that bode double trouble ahead, or could there be a happier surprise in store for Louie?

George and Martha Rise and Shine


James Marshall - 1976
    In five brief episodes two hippos confirm their friendship: “The Fibber,” “The Experiment,” “The Picnic,” “The Scary Movie!,” and “The Secret Club.”